Death: A Funny Business

This week on the show, Becky and Tash celebrate Halloween and all things end of life on the last episode of the season! They are joined in studio by London's Day of the Dead producer Juliette Tuke to discuss bringing the Mexican traditions to the UK. Later in the show, they were joined by grief speaker, podcaster and author of Black Woman Grief Natasha Smith to talk about culturally grief during Black History Month.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by Grieve Leave founder Rebecca Feinglos who shared her experience of taking a year off work to grieve her parents and the link between grief and your dating life! Also on the show was grief activist and author of 'Grief is a Sneaky Bitch' Lisa Keefauver who discussed the myth that grief is a problem to fix and how to better deal with someone struggling with bereavement.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash are celebrating one year of the show with a very special guest: Becky's boyfriend Joe Langstaff! Having also lost his father when he was 18, the three of them examine the difference between the way they've grieved as men and women, as well as whether it strengthens or strains their relationship having both dealt with bereavement. The three of them also played Who's Most Likely To: Grief Edition!

This week on the show, Becky is joined by special guest co-host and grief coach Tanya Wilkinson! Together they spoke to Lisa Marshall, who was widowed at 31 when her husband Alan died by suicide. She discussed the difficulty of finding closure when you are left without a goodbye and without a note. Lisa revealed the difficulty of informing her three young children of their father's passing. The episode also investigated the types of grief and how the experiences can differ.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by trauma psychotherapist and author Meghan Riordan Jarvis. Meghan revealed how grief and trauma can manifest in your body and interestingly, the link between grief symptoms and menopause. They also discussed the power of therapy and the difference between trauma and PTSD.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by Jodi Wellman, author of 'You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets’ and founder of Four Thousand Mondays, a platform focused on helping people live with intention and reduce end-of-life regrets. Together they spoke about how the mundane things in your life can change it astonishingly. The girls also discussed their experience with anti-depressants and the choice to come off of them.

This week on the show, Tash is joined by special guest co-host and podcaster Tanya Wilkinson! Together they spoke to Dr Chloe Paidoussis-Mitchell a psychologist who specialises in healing loss, grief and trauma. Dr Chloe revealed the key symptoms for someone who is suffering with chronic grief and how this can manifest in your body.

This week on the show, Tash is joined by special guest co-host and audio producer Talia Augustidis! Together they spoke to grief coach and host of 'Death on the Daily' podcast Tanya Wilkinson. Tanya opened up on losing her daughter Ngākau Raiona 21 weeks into pregnancy, and how rituals helped her cope with such a devastating loss.

This week on the show, Tash spoke to Jen Hoye, author of the humorous grief memoire "Thick Thighs, Tattoos & Breaking Taboos". Together they spoke about Jen's experience with losing her brother to suicide and how she learnt to keep going. Also on the show was Tash's newly discovered doppelganger!

This week on the show, Tash spoke to Nathaniel Dye MBE, music teacher and campaigner, about who was diagnosed with stage 4 incurable bowel cancer at age 36. Together they spoke about the need for NHS reform and the mindset he has with less than a year to live. Tash also answered some of your questions about grief!

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by Michelle Cove from Experience Camps, an organisation which runs grief camps for grieving children across America. She spoke about the importance of supporting children through bereavement and how humour can be a useful tool for coping with trauma.

This week on the show, Tash is joined by special guest co-host and audio producer Talia Augustidis! Together they spoke to award-winning author Peter Godwin about his recent memoire 'Exit Wounds' and why he chooses to write about grief with humour. They also discussed his venture into ketamine therapy and how it has helped him move forward through his grief.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by award-winning audio producer Talia Augustidis, who discussed her quest to find out more about her mum Sallie who died when she was three. Talia spoke about memorialising someone you don't remember and how her family dealt with her mother's death being dramatized by the media.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by CEO and founder of Loop Biotech Bob Hendrikx, who is pioneering the future of sustainable funerals. Bob revealed how he began the journey of creating caskets made out of mushrooms which decompose in just 45 days. They also discussed how humans can live and die in harmony with nature and become a source of new life when they die.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by Carolyn Mayling, author of award winning memoire 'The Future is Rosie' and founder of Rosie's Rainbow Fund. Carolyn opened up about what it was like to lose her daughter Rosie suddenly at just 11 years old and the lack of support there was for grieving parents at the time.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by founder of The New Normal Charity Benjamin May, who discussed how a chance encounter with a grieving friend led to the creation of the foundation. They also discussed the importance of peer support in grief and how Benjamin turned his life around to deal with has anger.

This week on the show, Tash spoke to grief content creator Elena Ricci who's boyfriend took his own life and sent her list of 101 things he'd like her to do. She opened up about the all-encompassing grief she felt in the wake of his death and her decision years later to begin to complete the list. Also on the show was Kate Tym, co-founder of The Coffin Club, who discussed how funerals don't need to be all doom and gloom and the importance of having an amazing celebrant.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by grief illustrator and creator of 'GriefKid' Ann O'Malley who discussed the importance of consciously making time to grieve. Also on the show was author and hypnotherapist Di Goddard, who spoke about how she found motivation to keep living a happy life after losing many people close to her.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by intuitive grief guide and fellow podcaster Kendra Rinaldi, who gave some guidance on how to find gratitude in your life while grieving the death of a loved one. Also on the show was radio presenter and self love coach Claira Hermet, who spoke about the knock on effects that losing her mother at a young age had on her life, her relationships and her mental health.

This week on the show, Tash is joined by special guest co-host and grief influencer Matt Phipps! Together they spoke to renowned playwright and director Neil LaBute about his newest play 'How to Fight Loneliness' and how he was inspired by the death of his mother to tackle the tricky subject of assisted dying. Also on the show was Carla Fernandez, founder of The Dinner Party and author of 'Renegade Grief', who discussed the importance of community when getting support for grief.

This week on the show, Tash spoke to photographer Caroline Catlin about how she captures the heart-breaking yet beautiful moments at the end of someone's life. They also discussed her mindset after being diagnoses with a treatable yet incurable brain cancer. Also on the show was Leah Sian Davies, somatic grief healer and co-founder of Grief Disco, who talked about the power of dancing and the importance of giving yourself permission to have fun again.

This week on the show, Becky and Tash were joined by Amber Jeffrey, founder of The Grief Gang, to discuss how the death of her mother and best friend led her to create a community. Also on the show was Judy Lipson, author of Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late to Grieve, who spoke about suppressing her grief for thirty years and creating a fundraiser to celebrate her sisters.

This week on the show, Tash is joined by special guest co-host and grief influencer Matt Phipps! Together they spoke to Andrew Flewitt, author of 'Do You Believe In Life After Loss?' about how hitting rock bottom inspired him to write the book. Also on the show was Kate Ray, founder of The Art of Grieving who discussed how her art exhibitions encourage people to break the taboo and talk about death.

This week on the show, Becky and Tasha were joined by renowned grief expert and author Mary-Frances O'Connor who discussed the effect that grief can have physically on both your brain and your body. Mary-Frances also answered the age-old question - can you really die of a broken heart? The girls also discussed the upcoming anniversary of Becky's dad's death.

This week on the show, Becky and Tasha were joined by art therapist and neo-humour therapist Hephzibah Kaplan who explained how she uses humour with her patients to help them with their grief. Also on the show was GP and author Dr Tom Pelly who opened up about the sudden tragic death of his brother Matt and how this changed his view on the different ways his patients experienced grief.

This week on the show, Tash spoke to Julia Engelhorn, founder of PreciousScars.org about how she coped with the unimaginable grief of having her three-year-old twins murdered at the hands of her ex-husband. Also on the show was Andrea Walker, director and choreographer who discussed his new project Sad Book and how he conveys grief through the medium of dance. Tash also opened up about her personal experience with grief and the passing of her mum Vanessa.

This week on the show, Becky is joined by special guest co-host and founder of Breathpod Stuart Sandeman! Together they discussed Becky's experience at Stuart's breathwork class which resulted in her sobbing and screaming. Also on the show was Katie Rose Whiting, death and miscarriage doula, who discussed the grief that can come with a miscarriage and how best to support someone through this tough time.

This week on the show, Becky spoke to Victoria Tolchard about how art therapy can be used to help bereaved people process their grief. Also on the show was Iola Kreizman, founder of The Grief Retreat, who discussed how seeing how death was approached in other countries led her to start a new community in the UK for people dealing with loss. Becky also opened up about her personal experience with grief and the passing of her dad Mark.

This week on the show, Becky is joined by special guest co-host and founder of Breathpod Stuart Sandeman! Becky and Stuart spoke to holistic grief coach Kayleigh O'Connor, who spoke about how losing her dad when she was 15 caused her to spiral and ultimately led her to start the support platform 'Good Grief'. Also on the show was Diane James, Head of Pet Bereavement Support at Blue Cross, who revealed why losing a pet can be just as painful as a human loved one.

This week on the show, Becky and Tasha chatted with author and founder of Breathpod Stuart Sandeman about how discovering breathwork helped him to come to terms with the death of his partner Tiff. Also on the show was counsellor Georgina Sturmer who discussed all things attachment styles and gave her advice to people grieving.

This week on the show, Becky and Tasha chatted with intensive care doctor Dr Matt Morgan about his new book 'A Second Act' which tells the story of ten patients he's encountered who were brought back to life from the brink of death. They also discussed how his job has changed his perspective on mortality and his decision to have a living funeral.

This week on the show, Becky and Tasha chatted with author and end-of-life doula Anna Lyons who discussed how she helps dying people prepare for their passing. Also on the show was Beth French, founder of Lets Talk About Loss which organises meet ups for young people who are bereaved. The girls also opened up about struggling a lot this week and missing their parents.

This week on the show, Becky and Tasha chatted with Nathan Stilwell, campaign manager for My Death, My Decision about all things assisted dying. Nathan explained the urgent need for assisted dying reform in the UK as well as sharing some heart-warming stories from patients he's met across the world. The girls also discussed "the curse" of being scared to love again after losing someone you're close to.

This week on the show, Becky and Tasha chatted with content creator Abi Feltham who opened up about her terminal cancer diagnosis and revealed her mindset and goals after being given 15 years left to live. Also on the show was Michael Hebb, founder of Death over Dinner, who is encouraging people to host dinner parties with their loved ones to discuss the taboo topic of death.

This week on the show, Becky and Tasha chatted with content creator Matt Phipps about his decision to post about his grief online after losing his mother to cancer. Matt opened up about using humour as a coping mechanism and how the experience has shaped him. The girls also compared how they spent their festive periods and Becky discussed her venture into breathwork exercises.

In the final episode of 2024, Becky and Tasha discuss the struggle of celebrating Christmas after losing a family member. They were joined in the studio by James Watts, founder of Ashes into Glass, to discuss how he turns loved ones' ashes into jewellery. The girls also give their verdicts on the most inappropriate funeral songs!

This week on the show, Becky and Tasha chatted with Nicky Wake, founder of Chapter 2 Dating, who developed the dating app exclusively for widows after her husband passed in 2020 and she realised how awful the dating scene is for people who had lost their partners. Also on the show was funeral director Joseph Evans who discussed how he handles the emotional element of his job. The girls also discussed Becky's transformation after her retreat in Morocco last week!

This week on the show, Becky and Natasha speak to award-winning human rights activist Dan Glass about the stigma and close ties HIV has with death. They also spoke to woodturner Matt Underwood about how he decided to create a special urn after his father died.

This week on the show, Becky and Natasha speak to musician Brocarde who made headlines after revealing she married (and then later divorced) a Victorian ghost! They also spoke to Justin Harrison, founder of You Only Virtual about how we can use AI to speak to loved ones who have passed away.

This week on the show, it's a Halloween special! Becky and Natasha speak to psychic medium Danielle Close about how she's trying to break the stigma around what she does and revealed she even predicted the lottery numbers at 5 years old! They also spoke to Paola Feregrino, cultural ambassador for Mexico, about the Day of the Dead festival and what we can learn from how they grieve.

This week on the show, Becky and Natasha speak to award-winning grave digger Maria Brancati about what it really takes to be a female gravedigger in a male-dominated industry. They also spoke to musician Jarki Monno about his experience losing his dad at age 6 and using this tragedy to fuel his creativity. The girls also delved into romantic grief with the help of breakup coach Sara Davison!

This week on the show, Becky and Natasha speak to tattoo pioneer Paul Cutler who has developed the art of using ashes from loved one's cremations to remain with you forever via tattoo. Also on the show was comedian and performer Florence Lace-Evans who chatted all about her new show 'Yes We're Related' which combines, grief, sister relationships and strangely squirrels!

This week on the show, Becky and Natasha speak to award-winning taxidermist Elle Kaye to find out what really goes into her unusual craft. Also on the show was Movember ambassador Fraser MacDonald-Lister who opened up about losing his father at age 16 and the spiral of depression that followed. In honour of Mental Health Awareness week, he also spoke about what he is doing to create a space for discussions around mental health.

Welcome to the first episode of Death: A Funny Business! This week, Becky and Natasha delve into the life of 23 year old embalmer Izzy Walton to discover what drew her to such an unusual career path. Also on the show was author Lotte Bowser who discussed her brand new book 'Bitter Sweet', based on her experience of losing her boyfriend. The girls also delve into their own stories of losing a parent.