Death Becomes Him

By Brian Dowling

Personal Journals Society & Culture

What's Death Becomes Him about?

When Brian Dowling lost his mum Rosie two years ago, it changed his outlook on life.

Grief is a complicated journey, and one that Brian now endeavours to explore with the help of his friends and family. Join Brian and his nearest and dearest as they grow to understand death through open conversation, humour and honesty.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LAST EPISODE

Brian in conversation with ...

11.14.2021

Maria’s loss is so personal. Throughout this entire series we’ve heard from people who have had very unique experiences but Maria’s might be the one that is hardest for most to understand. In 2019, Maria Moynihan and her husband Danny ...

Death Becomes Him episodes:

11.14.2021 Brian in conversation with Maria Moynihan Maria’s loss is so personal. Throughout this entire series we’ve heard from people who have had very unique experiences but Maria’s might be the one that is hardest for most to understand. In 2019, Maria Moynihan and her husband Danny ...
11.07.2021 Brian in conversation with Cian Sullivan When we grieve, there is an overwhelming urge to relieve the pain. Our bodies cry out for comfort, for support, for numbing, for crying, for whatever coping may seem right. And when a death is unexpected, that need for relief ...
10.31.2021 Brian in conversation with Sinead Barry When we talk about loss we talk about the overwhelming sadness, the grief, the shock. But what we often forget is the disruption of death – it’s something that Sinead Barry was forced to face in 2019. On new years ...
10.24.2021 Brian in conversation with Geraldine Mullan Words fail to describe the tragedy of Geraldine Mullan’s loss. In August 2020, Geraldine and her family were driving home to Moville when the car veered into Lough Foyle. The accident claimed the lives of the three people Geraldine loved ...
10.17.2021 Brian in conversation with Lisa Cannon We’re so used to seeing Lisa Cannon composed, together and glammed up to the nines. But behind it all, Lisa has been deeply reflecting on her grief and how it has changed her. Today she opens up about losing her ...
10.10.2021 Brian in conversation with Colleen McNally Today Colleen McNally opens up about the passing of her son Daragh. In 2019, 11-year-old Daragh passed after a battle with aggressive lymphoma. Colleen has been sharing her grief and experiences on instagram since then on the page @daraghs_balloon_ride. Today ...
10.03.2021 Brian in conversation with Andrew McGinley For the first episode of this season we talk to a man who’s story has already been plastered over national media. In January 2020, Andrew McGinley lost his three children Conor, Darragh and Carla to homicide. His wife Deirdre, suffering ...
04.25.2021 Brian in Conversation with Fiona Tuomey For much of the time I have been doing this podcast we have been in a lockdown. It’s meant that these conversations have been one of the main supports for me as I coped with my own grief. It’s been ...
04.18.2021 Brian in conversation with Zoe Holohan On today’s episode, Brian talks to Zoe Holohan. Zoe opens up about the loss and trauma she suffered when husband Brian died on the couple’s honeymoon in 2018. The newlyweds we’re celebrating in Mati, Greece, when wildfires swept across the ...
04.11.2021 Brian in conversation with Sarah Battle On this episode of Death Becomes Him, I chat to Sarah Battle. Sarah is known for sharing snaps of her gorgeous home and family on her account house by the whitethorns. But behind it all, Sarah has been grieving her ...
04.04.2021 Brian in conversation with Bronagh Burke Often in the aftermath of loss, we enter into autopilot. Life needs to go on, the washing needs to be done and the children need to go to school. But for those who have lost people during 2020, these usual ...
03.28.2021 Brian in conversation with Kathie Stritch Kathie’s family rallied around her sister Elaine when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. After rigorous treatment, life was getting back to normal in 2015, when Elaine’s husband Pa suffered a fall and passed away. Just over a year ...
03.21.2021 Brian in conversation with Jess Redden Jess joins me virtually from Perth austraila where she has been since earlier this year with fiancé Rob Kearney. Jess opens up about her father’s passing last year and how he encouraged her to live life to the fullest. She ...
03.14.2021 Brian in conversation with Amanda Cambridge Amanda opens up about the loss of her son Avery in 2019 when the family were on holidays in Spain. While Amanda’s story is heart breaking, she has bravely made the decision to share what her family had endured in ...
03.07.2021 Brian in conversation with Lisa Shannon Lisa is known to many for her incredible talents as a makeup artist, she’s a gorgeous woman with a wide smile and beautiful young family. But today Lisa opens up and shares her story – a history that she has ...
02.28.2021 Brian in conversation with Benji Bennet Benji Bennet has dedicated his work to bringing happiness to families. He’s the much-loved author of the Adam’s Cloud books in which our young hero Adam adventures through space, saves Christmas and hunts for buried treasures. The series was inspired ...
02.21.2021 Brian in conversation with John McAreavey This week I speak to John McAreavey. In 2011, John suffered the loss of his new wife Michaela on Honeymoon when she was attacked and murdered by two intruders. The story of what happened was plastered on newspapers and John ...
12.10.2020 Rosie's birthday special: Brian in conversation once again with his sisters On this episode of death becomes him, I sit down once again with my sisters. Earlier in the year we got together to talk about our mums passing, the shock and the immediate aftermath. At the time I wanted to ...
11.09.2020 Brian in conversation with Jackie Fox Today’s conversation is one of the most important we can have. Over the last two seasons, though I’ve spoken to so many people with such varied experiences there is a commonality in their grief – there has been a tangible ...
11.02.2020 Brian in conversation with Mairead Ronan On today’s episode, Mairead Ronan laughs when she tells me about her mum encouraging her to pursue a career in radio. At the age of 20 she didn’t think she had the contacts or background to succeed in such a ...
10.26.2020 Brian in conversation with Baz Ashmawy We all know and love Baz and his mum Nancy from the Emmy Award winning show 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy. Beyond the show, family is integral to Baz’s success and work – from inspiring his teams to working ...
10.19.2020 Brian in conversation with Lisa Colhoun Today I sit down with Lisa Colhoun. I find Lisa’s story so tough because it’s a real reminder to make every day count. Lisa was married to Christopher and had two young children. The had bought their dream house, Christopher ...
10.12.2020 Brian in conversation with Jennifer Rock Jennifer is a vibrant business woman, a bestselling author and social media star. Her ever-growing success is down to her hardworking nature, her creativity and her supportive family. One person in particular influenced Jennifer’s success more than most – her ...
10.05.2020 Brian in conversation with Alan McGovern Alan McGovern and his wife Jenny were the dream team. They worked together, had a family together and enjoyed life together. They worked incredibly hard to build a wonderful life for their two children. When Jenny was diagnosed with pancreatic ...
09.28.2020 Brian in conversation with Eileen Loughlin of @Everything_Eileen Today Brian talks to Eileen Loughlin aka @Everything_Eileen. Eileen’s story is one of the hardest. Two years ago, in 2018, she lost her young daughter Anabelle after a tragic accident in the home. She chats about mourning the future Anabelle ...
09.21.2020 Brian in conversation with Shannen Joyce of @big_c_and_me This week Brian meets Shannen Joyce. Shannen brings a new perspective to grief and one that is so important. Since the age of 19 Shannen has battled through three boughts of cancer and for each diagnosis, she has missed key ...
09.14.2020 Brian in conversation with Alan Hughes This week Brian sits down with TV’s Alan Hughes. Alan is a household name, he’s a staple of Irish telly and someone we all feel like we know. But as we hear today, Alan has experienced many tragedies in his ...
09.07.2020 Brian in conversation with Rachel Gorry In this episode Brian meets Rachel Gorry, a young mum who lost her husband Daniel earlier this year. Rachel and Daniel were truly love's young dream. They were childhood sweethearts who married in their early twenties, had three beautiful daughters ...
05.05.2020 Brian in conversation with his sisters If you’ve been following or listening to my journey, you’ll know that this whole series was inspired by my desire to understand grief. Losing my mum two years ago turned my world upside down. She was my best friend, my ...
04.28.2020 Brian in conversation with Lottie Ryan This week I speak with Lottie Ryan. We all remember the day we got the news that Gerry Ryan had passed away. He was a national icon, part of all our lives. A state funeral was held in his honour ...
04.21.2020 Brian in conversation with Nicky Byrne This week Brian talks to Nicky Byrne about the sudden passing of his father in 2009. Nicky shared may things with his father; his passion for music, his love of sport and of course his name. Today he opens up ...
04.14.2020 Brian in conversation with Nadia Forde This week on Death Becomes Him I sit down with my good friend Nadia Forde. Nadia's story is a little different to those we've already heard. From the age of eight, Nadia was raised mainly by her grandmother and today ...
04.07.2020 Brian in conversation with Des Bishop This week Brian meets Des Bishop. Des has lost both his parents and today talks about how those experiences of grief differed. Des opens up about caring for his mother, managing complex relationships and where he believes his parents are ...
03.31.2020 Brian in conversation with Pippa O'Connor This week Brian sits down with his best friend Pippa. In 2014, Pippa's world was thrown upside down with the sudden passing of her Mum Louise. Pippa chats today about the moments of grief she experiences six years later but ...
03.26.2020 Brian in conversation with Arthur Gourounlian For two years, Brian has refuted any questions about grief with his catchphrase “I’m fine, I’m fiiine.” Here in episode one, with the support of his husband Arthur, Brian finally admits that he’s not as composed as he has made ...
03.25.2020 Introducing Death Becomes Him When Brian Dowling lost his mum Rosie two years ago, it changed his outlook on life. Grief is a complicated journey, and one that Brian now endeavours to explore with the help of his friends and family. Over the course ...