It's A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply Human Podcast About Death & Life

We had an absolute blast at Birmingham City Library for the Matter of Life and Death Festival with Brum Yodo - that's You Only Die Once, a brilliant group making death conversations feel normal and even fun.In this special compilation episode of It's a Death Sentence, Carrie and I pull together our favourite bits from the day. We chat with Sarah Barton from Stirchley Art Room about her death-inspired art, a funeral director on the realities of the job, a death doula sharing end-of-life wisdom, a nurse on hospital experiences, and GIOVANNI ESPOSITO (aka Spoz) from the Dead Good Death Cafe dropping hilarious truths about farts, funerals, and family secrets.What We Uncover- Art That Faces Death: Sarah Barton on how creating around loss helps process grief and spark conversations.- Behind the Curtain: A funeral director and death doula reveal the everyday realities of guiding people through their final chapters.- Hospital Truths & Cafe Laughs: A nurse's frontline stories and Spoz's no-filter take on family farts and funeral awkwardness.This festival reminded us why talking about death doesn't have to be heavy - it can be healing, hilarious, and human.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

How do we date when death has already changed us and how honest do we need to be about the grief we carry?In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we talk openly about dating after loss. Whether through bereavement, serious illness, miscarriage or sudden change, death has a way of reshaping how we relate, trust and attach. And yet, dating culture rarely makes space for that reality.Together, we explore what it means to return to dating when you’re no longer the same person you were before loss. We talk about timing, disclosure, fear, desire, awkward conversations, and the quiet tension between wanting connection and wanting to protect yourself.What We Explore- How Loss Changes the Way We Date: We reflect on how grief reshapes identity, attachment and expectations, and why dating after loss can feel both tender and terrifying.- When and How to Talk About Death: We explore the unspoken rules around disclosure - when to share, how much to say, and why honesty doesn’t mean leading with trauma.- Love, Risk and Letting Yourself Be Seen Again: We talk about vulnerability, fear of future loss, and the courage it takes to open yourself to connection when you already know what it costs.As we reflect, one truth becomes clear: dating after death is not about going back - it’s about moving forward as someone new. Loss doesn’t make us unlovable, broken or too much. It makes us human.This episode is an invitation to approach dating with more gentleness - for ourselves and for each other. To allow complexity, to soften expectations, and to remember that love doesn’t require us to forget what we’ve lost in order to begin again.If you’re dating with grief in your pocket, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just doing it honestly.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

What does it mean to work with death every day and how does that change the way we think about living, grieving and planning our own endings?In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we’re joined by Allyse Worland, a first-generation funeral director and embalmer from the United States, whose career began at just 15 years old after a deeply personal experience of loss.We talk openly with Allyse about entering a profession many people fear, the emotional and physical toll of death work, and why she has built her career around one core principle - being the person she needed when she was younger. Along the way, we explore embalming as an art, funeral traditions across cultures, and why talking about death early is one of the kindest things we can do for the people we love.What We Explore- Finding Purpose in Death Work: We talk about what draws people into the funeral profession, the importance of mentorship - especially women supporting women and why openness and shared knowledge matter in a field that can be emotionally demanding and isolating.- Embalming, Ritual and Changing Traditions: We explore embalming as both a technical skill and an art form, how funeral practices have shifted over the last 16 years, and why seeing a loved one after death can be an important part of grief for many families.- Planning Ahead as a Final Act of Care: We reflect on pre-planning funerals, wills and wishes, and Allyse shares a powerful insight - that grief hijacks the brain, and planning ahead is heart work that protects the people we leave behind.As this conversation unfolds, one truth becomes unmistakable: talking about death does not make it darker - it makes it kinder. Allyse reminds us that dignity, clarity and compassion don’t begin at the funeral - they begin long before, in the conversations we’re willing to have while we’re still alive.This episode is an invitation to think differently about death, to plan with intention, and to see preparation not as morbid, but as one of the greatest gifts we can leave behind.If this conversation resonates, we encourage you to start the conversation with someone you love - because silence never protects, but understanding often does.Connect with Allyse Worland on LinkedIn.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

What if we didn’t wait for children to experience loss before teaching them how to understand it?In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we talk openly about a landmark change coming to UK education. From September 2026, grief and bereavement education will become part of the statutory RSHE curriculum, and we wanted to take time to unpack what that really means - for schools, for children, and for families.We speak directly to teachers, school leaders, pastoral teams and anyone working with children and young people. Together, we explore why this change matters, what the new guidance includes, and how schools can deliver it with confidence, care and creativity rather than fear.We also share why this shift aligns so closely with everything this podcast stands for - normalising conversations about death, dying, loss and grief, and giving people language and understanding before they need it most.What We Explore- Why Grief Belongs in the Classroom: We look at the scale of childhood bereavement in the UK and why acknowledging loss as a natural part of life is long overdue in education.- Language, Fear and Getting It Wrong: We explore why adults often avoid talking about death with children, how unclear language creates confusion, and why saying the words ‘death’, ‘dying’ and ‘dead’ matters.- Supporting Schools Through Mini Pod Workshops: We introduce our mini pod workshops and explain how podcasting can offer a safe, age-appropriate and creative way for pupils to explore grief, ask questions and build emotional literacy.If we can help create a generation that knows how to talk about loss, ask for support, and sit with difficult emotions, then this curriculum change has the potential to be genuinely transformative.If you work in a school and want to explore how our mini pod workshops could support your delivery of the new RSHE guidance from 2026, we’d love to hear from you.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

Is the short fuse, the sudden tears, the “why am I fighting everyone?” moment just you… or is it grief wearing a disguise?In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down and ask the question we (and probably you) keep wondering: how do we know if we’re just having a bad day… or if grief is quietly driving the wheel?From screaming at partners over nothing, to realising your tolerance for bullshit has vanished, to wondering why the gym suddenly feels like a boxing ring, we explore the messy overlap between normal human moods and the long, sneaky tail of bereavement.What You’ll Learn- Anger as Armour: Why it’s easier to snap than to say “I’m heartbroken”… and how that rage can hide in plain sight for months (or years).- The Grief Litmus Test: Simple questions to ask yourself when patience evaporates.- Permission to Be Both: You can be fiery bitch AND grieving. You can be healing AND still lose your shit. Both things can be true.This is the conversation you wish you’d overheard in the pub - one that reminds you you’re not going mad, you’re just grieving in a world that expects you to be “over it” by now. If you’ve ever wondered “is it grief?”, this one’s for you.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

New year, new me? Yeah, right! When you’re carrying grief, January 1st doesn’t magically wipe the slate clean - it just swaps the tinsel for a hangover and a side of guilt.In this episode, we ditch the resolutions and get real about what “new year, new me” actually feels like when someone you love is missing from the table. We explore why grief doesn’t give a toss about the calendar.What You’ll Learn- New Year, Same Grief: Why the fireworks and “this is my year” posts can feel like salt in an open wound.- The Only Resolution That Matters: Feel the feels, trust yourself, take positive risks, and let the rest slide.- 2025’s Hard-Won Lessons: Patience is key, online dating is hell, and leaving the house is overrated.Spoiler: 2026 isn’t “our year” because we’ve suddenly fixed everything. It’s our year because we’re still here, still laughing through the tears, and still refusing to pretend it’s all shiny and new.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

You’ve just lost a loved one in hospital. Everyone’s crying. And then… the admin avalanche begins.In this no-filter, step-by-step guide we walk you through the exact bureaucratic gauntlet of what happens if a loved one dies in hospital. From bank-holiday hell to coroners, certificates, and finally getting your loved one to the funeral director - this is the episode nobody wants to need… but everyone eventually does.What You’ll Learn- The Bank-Holiday Trap: Why dying on a Friday (or any public holiday) can leave you in limbo.- Coroner or No Coroner: Who gets referred, who doesn’t, and why it completely changes the timeline.- The Paperwork Maze: Death certificate → cremation forms → registrar → funeral director: the exact order (and who can actually help you).If you ever have to do this, you’ll wish you’d listened first. Because nobody hands you the manual and now you’ve got one.(And yes… the best advice we’ve got? Try not to die on a bank holiday.)It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

Think Christmas is all twinkly lights and mince pies? Think again - history is full of people who met their end courtesy of a festive fir tree, toxic stockings, and a seven-year-old with a rifle.In this gloriously dark seasonal special of It’s a Death Sentence, we unwrap the wildest, weirdest, and most lethal Christmas deaths on record. From the Victorian Christmas Holiday Effect (a genuine spike in mortality from 22–25 December) to poisoned dye in festive stockings, electrified trees, lead-tinsel poisoning, toy-gun disasters, and one poor child who asked his brother to “shoot me just for fun”, they prove the holidays really can be killer.What You’ll Learn- The Christmas Holiday Effect: Why mortality actually jumps every December (and it’s not just overeating and loneliness).- Death by Decoration: Toxic tinsel, electrified trees, deadly dye in stockings, and the boy who died from a hand wound caused by his new toy gun.- Modern Safety Rules: Don’t water the tree while the lights are plugged in and never give a seven-year-old a rifle, obviously.If you thought Christmas was dangerous only for your waistline, buckle up - this episode is a hilarious, horrifying reminder that the most wonderful time of the year has always been the most wonderfully deadly.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

Is it just another day… or the one day that can break your heart all over again?In this festive special of It’s a Death Sentence, we rip open the glittery wrapping on Christmas when you’re grieving. We explore the pressure to create “perfect” memories, the guilt of wanting to hide under the duvet, and why sometimes the best gift is permission to do Christmas completely differently.What You’ll Learn- The Golden Ticket: How to (guilt-free) dodge the big production when grief has already stolen the spotlight.- Old Traditions, New Rules: Why keeping some rituals and ruthlessly binning others can be the kindest thing you do for yourself and your family.- It’s Just Another Day: The surprisingly freeing truth that helps you survive December 25th when everyone else is posting #bestchristmasever.Stripped-back trees, shop-bought puddings, or full-on hiding until January - whatever gets you through the festive period, this episode is your reminder that you’re allowed to make Christmas whatever you need it to be. Because when grief is your uninvited guest, love looks a lot like lowering the bar and raising a glass to simply surviving.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

In this special episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we hand the mic over to the wonderful psychic medium Helen Milwood for the full, unedited live readings she did for us earlier this year.Both readings are funny, emotional, and scarily accurate in places – exactly the kind of chaotic spirit energy we love on It’s a Death Sentence.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

From itchy palms to shoes on the table, Irish mammies have a superstition for everything - but when death knocks, the rules get delightfully dark and downright bizarre.In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we tumble down the rabbit hole of deathly omens and gloriously grim rituals - from doppelgängers dropping doom, birds stealing souls and clocks frozen at the fatal hour.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

Grief doesn’t always arrive with a funeral - it can slip in quietly after a divorce, an empty nest, or the slow realisation that part of who you were is gone.In this episode, we sit down with Lucy, who shares her profound journey from losing her mother to brain cancer and her stepdad soon after, to founding a bereavement support service and organising uplifting events like her upcoming Grief Festival. Drawing from personal trauma and professional insights, Lucy explores how grief manifests in divorce, abuse, job loss, and even motherhood's identity shifts, emphasising the power of feeling emotions fully without judgment.We dive into the myths of "normal" grieving, the role of community in healing, and practical steps for navigating life's inevitable losses.What You’ll Learn- Beyond Bereavement: How everyday setbacks like divorce, financial woes, or empty nests trigger grief, and why acknowledging them is the first step to recovery.- Personal Pivot: Lucy's story of turning double loss into a mission, from bedside vigils to launching support groups and a grief festival that blends tears with inspiration.- Embrace the Pain: Why avoiding emotions only delays healing, plus tips for giving yourself permission to feel, release, and grieve on your own timeline.Lucy’s compassionate wisdom reminds us that grief isn't a straight path - it's a shared human experience where vulnerability opens the door to profound strength and connection.Connect with Lucy and find out more about her events at lovelifecoaching-events.co.uk.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

Suzanne McArthur, occupational therapist turned grief guru with 30 years in end-of-life care, joins us to share her journey from oncology work within the NHS to Marie Curie and Birmingham Hospice - where redundancies sparked her to launch Evolve and Flourish for workshops and Thriving Connections for grant-funded, community-co-developed projects tackling barriers to grief support.We dive into instant-impact training, co-designing with learning-disabled groups and inmates, and why your red folder is the ultimate family gift.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

What if we honoured life’s big changes not just with milestones like weddings and funerals, but with rituals that truly acknowledge who we’re becoming?In this special episode from Brum YODO recorded live at Birmingham Central Library as part of Death Matters, we sit down with Dionne, a celebrant whose work reimagines how we commemorate both beginnings and endings. After sharing an incredible near-death story from her travels in Peru, Dionne reflects on the power of ceremony to help us navigate life, loss, and transformation.What You’ll LearnRitual and Transition: How ceremonies can help us acknowledge not just life events, but personal transformations and endings too.Menopause as a Rite of Passage: Why menopause deserves to be marked, honoured and supported rather than silently endured.Holding Space: How conscious, compassionate ceremony can strengthen families, relationships and communities.Dionne’s work is a reminder that ritual isn’t about the past - it’s about creating meaning in the present. By marking the moments that shape us, we open the door to healing, connection and growth.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

In this Halloween special of It’s a Death Sentence, we lean right into the season of spooks. From childhood terrors to modern traditions, we explore why Halloween holds such a grip on our imaginations. We wander through our Halloween memories, including the infamous BBC Ghostwatch that traumatised a generation.We talk broomsticks, witches, and trick-or-treating, dive into how Halloween evolved from ancient Celtic festival Samhain and explore how American pop culture supercharged it into the spectacle we know today.What You’ll LearnThe Roots of Halloween: How pagan rituals, Christian traditions, and pop culture merged into the festival we celebrate today.Collective Fear: Why Ghostwatch (1992) terrified a nation and why it still sticks in people’s minds.Legends and Lanterns: The urban myth of Stingy Jack and why we carve pumpkins every year.Halloween isn’t just about jump scares - it’s about the stories we carry, the rituals we repeat, and the strange comfort of being a little scared together.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

What happens when grief becomes the starting point for real human connection rather than something to hide away from?In this episode, we sit down with Ben, co-founder of The New Normal, a charity providing free, non-judgmental peer-to-peer support for people navigating grief and mental health. What began with one conversation between two young men - bonded by the loss of their fathers - has grown into a thriving community built on honesty, compassion and shared experience.Ben reflects on the origins of The New Normal, the power of creating spaces where people feel seen and heard, and why community can transform the way we move through loss.What You’ll LearnConnection Through Grief: How shared experiences can create powerful, lasting bonds.Building Community: Why peer support can be a lifeline for people navigating loss.Embracing Mortality: Why accepting death can help us live more fully in the present.This conversation is a reminder that grief doesn’t have to be faced alone and that from the hardest moments, the most extraordinary communities can emerge.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

How do you grieve a parent you’ve already been saying goodbye to for years?In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, Emma shares the story of her dad, Peter Skipp - a kind, intelligent man who lived a vibrant life before Alzheimer’s slowly altered the rhythm of their family’s world.Emma reflects on the long arc of her father’s illness, from the first signs of dementia to the moments before his death, and the strange calm that followed the funeral. It’s an honest, unflinching conversation about memory, care, guilt, laughter, and the unexpected ways grief unfolds when you’ve been grieving long before someone dies.What You’ll LearnThe Long Goodbye: How dementia reshapes grief, often beginning long before the final day.Caring in a Flawed System: The realities of navigating diagnosis, healthcare, and daily caregiving with love and frustration in equal measure.Moments That Stay: How small gestures, humour and fleeting lucidity become anchors in the storm of loss.This is a story of holding on, letting go, and remembering the full person behind the diagnosis.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

How do you grieve a sibling when the world forgets you’re grieving too?In this episode, Carrie shares the recent loss of her brother, who died of cancer at just 45 years old. She opens up about the raw reality of sibling grief—the kind that often goes unseen as attention is directed toward parents, partners, and children.From the humour and mischief her brother brought to life, to the anger and privacy he clung to in illness, Carrie paints a portrait of a man fully himself—and of the void he leaves behind. Together, we explore how sibling loss unsettles the natural order of things, and how unconditional love can be carried forward for the family who remains.What You’ll Learn- The Forgotten Griever: Why siblings are often overlooked in grief, and how their lifelong bonds make the loss uniquely profound.- Legacy Through Voice: How recording memories and voices can preserve someone’s essence in ways that photographs and stories alone cannot.- Transforming Love Into Action: How grief can become an act of service—supporting surviving family members and carrying forward love that has nowhere else to go.Carrie’s story is a powerful reminder that grief is not only about what we’ve lost, but also about how we choose to love, honour, and support in the aftermath. Her words give voice to a kind of loss rarely acknowledged, yet one that cuts deeply and reshapes who we are.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

What if funerals weren't a production line-but a chance to truly reflect a life?In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we're joined by Fran Glover and Carrie Weeks, co-founders of A Natural Undertaking, the Birmingham-based funeral directors transforming the way we say goodbye. From personal loss and unanswered questions to creating a business that empowers families, Fran and Carrie share their journey of challenging the old funeral model and building something more authentic, personal, and human.We talk about why mainstream funerals often feel alien, how natural burials and family-led ceremonies return us to something more traditional, and why transparency, choice, and creativity matter. Along the way, Fran and Carrie open up about their first funeral, the mentors who supported them, and the power of word-of-mouth in building their now 11-year-old business.What You'll LearnRedefining Tradition: Why natural funerals and family-led rituals are closer to true tradition than the industrialised norm.Empowerment through Choice: How open conversations, transparency, and education give families control in their time of grief.The Human Touch: Why compassion, creativity, and personal detail transform funerals into meaningful celebrations of life.Fran and Carrie remind us that death doesn't have to be hidden in mystery-it can be met with openness, beauty, and care that honours the people we love.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

What if the spirit world was closer-and more real-than we dare to believe?In this episode, we sit down with psychic medium Helen Millward, founder of Helen's Angels of Tranquillity. From childhood visions and family roots in Irish Traveller traditions, to decades of readings, stage demonstrations, and encounters with both light and dark presences, Helen shares her extraordinary journey of living between two worlds.We hear how she first discovered her gift, the times it terrified her, and how she learned to protect herself while bringing comfort to others. Helen opens up about the power of spirit communication, the role of angels and guides, and the profound messages that can change-and even save-lives. From supermarket encounters to hospital wards, her stories reveal just how intertwined the spirit world is with our everyday lives.What You'll Learn- Life with Spirit: How Helen's gift emerged in childhood and shaped her path as a medium.- Light and Shadow: Why protection is vital when connecting with spirit, and how to navigate darker encounters.- Messages that Matter: The profound comfort, healing, and even life-saving warnings that spirit communication can bring.Helen's story reminds us that belief, protection, and openness can unlock a connection to something far greater than ourselves.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.