At some point in our lives, every single one of us will experience grief.  None of us are immune to it.   Grief is the price we pay for love.   If we love, we grieve.  That’s the deal.  

And yet, even though death is something every one of us will encounter, we rarely talk about it openly.

That silence creates stigma and it can leave people feeling incredibly alone at a time they need the most support.

This is especially true in the workplace, a place where many of us spend the majority of our waking hours.

The bills don’t stop, so many people return to work while navigating a life-altering loss, expected to function, perform and carry on as if nothing has changed.

Grief doesn’t switch off for 40 hours a week just because we are at work. 
 

And yet, so often, we’re expected to push our feelings aside, keep going and carry on as though everything is the same. But for some people returning to work when they are trying to deal with a loss, is incredibly difficult.  Perhaps they are navigating life after the loss of a spouse whilst also becoming a single parent. 

We are human first and employees second.  Today we are going to explore with a HR consultant Steph Bell and talk about how we can navigate returning to work after loss.

Disasters happen……. tsunamis, terrorist attacks, bushfires, pandemics.
 No amount of wishing they didn’t happen makes them go away. But it’s comforting to know there are people preparing for these situations.  People like Lucy Easthope.

Lucy has played a vital role in the response to some of the world’s most significant disasters such as 9/11, the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the 7/7 London bombings, the Manchester Arena attack and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic to name but a few.

She is one of the world’s leading authorities on disaster recovery and emergency planning and the author of the book ‘When the Dust Settles'.

Lucy’s work is about far more than logistics.  It’s about humanity, care and dignity in the most difficult of circumstances.  

And I am absolutely thrilled to have her as a guest on the podcast.

Lucy Easthope

When the Dust Settles 

In this episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, I’m joined by Megan Sheldon, a cultural mythologist,  a humanist celebrant and end-of-life doula based in North Vancouver, Canada. 

Megan has a deep understanding of the power of ceremony and ritual, especially in times of grief and loss. In many cultures, rituals once played a central role in marking life’s changes, yet in our modern world, they are often forgotten, even though they come so naturally to us.

In this conversation, we talk about why rituals matter, how they give us stability in times of uncertainty and how they can help us embody the emotions we feel during life’s most challenging moments. 

Megan also shares the inspiration behind Be Ceremonial , the world’s first guided ritual and ceremony app and how simple rituals can help us connect with ourselves, each other and the world around us.

In the words of Dr Alan Wolfelt: “When words are inadequate, have a ritual.”

Be Ceremonial 

Be Ceremonial instagram

Seeking Ceremony 

Funeral directors play a pivotal role in guiding families through one of the most difficult times in their lives. But how do you choose the right one? What should you look for and what can you expect from them?  

Together with Lillian from The Last Time Funeral Directors in Sydney, we will unpack these questions and more, offering insights to help you make informed decisions and be aware of the choices available to you. 

Organising a funeral must be one of life’s toughest tasks and for many people, it’s the last thing they want to be doing.

The reality of it all can suddenly hit when you find yourself in the process of organising a funeral. 

People panic when someone dies. Even if someone’s death is expected, it’s still a shock.   

People can be a little fearful as they may have never experienced a dead body before and therefore, they aren’t sure what to expect, so they think they will get somebody else to take over as quickly as possible.  

This episode offers practical advice and thoughtful discussions on the partnership between families and funeral directors. 

Last Time Sydney 

Today I am joined on the podcast by Simon and Sameiko from Candour Funerals - a Melbourne-based funeral company.  Together, we have a wonderful chat about something very special and deeply meaningful; the first sea burial to take place in Victoria in over a decade. 

In this episode, we have a wonderful chat about the practicalities and logistics of making it happen, but more importantly, we hear about the deep respect shown to honour one person's final wish to be laid to rest at sea.  It was a true community effort - a coming together of family, funeral professionals and authorities to ensure everything unfolded with care and dignity. 

It's a conversation about respect, dignity and going to great lengths to ensure a farewell that felt right for the family and their loved one. 

So, grab a cuppa and settle in for a truly remarkable story. 

Candour Funerals

Candour funerals full sea burial 

Many people assume the Irish wake is just an excuse for a drinking session, but in reality, it’s so much more than that. The traditions surrounding death in Ireland run deep, woven into the fabric of the culture and community.   The dead are honoured with great reverence, and the grieving are embraced, supported, and given the space to mourn in a way that is both personal and communal. 

The Irish wake is a time of remembrance and connection—a way of ensuring that no one faces loss alone. 

Today, I dive into the rich traditions of the Irish wake  with Ryan from Ireland and we  explore what we can learn from this ancient ritual. 

Some of the things we learned from is conversation. 

 1. It’s okay to stay close to the dead

The body is usually present in the home, often in an open coffin. Family and friends are invited to sit with the deceased, talk to them, touch them, and be with them. It helps bridge the reality of death — it’s not hidden or rushed away.

2. Grief belongs to the whole community

A wake isn’t just for the immediate family. Neighbours, co-workers, friends-of-friends — everyone drops by to pay respects. It shows that death ripples out and that support doesn't have to be formal or rehearsed. Just showing up matters.

3. Mourning and laughter can coexist

At a wake, you might find tears and sadness — but also laughter, stories, music, and occasionally a drink or two. We understand that honouring someone means remembering all of them — not just their death, but their life.  

 4. Ritual grounds us

From opening a window to let the soul out, to covering mirrors and stopping clocks,  — these gestures, passed down through generations, help make sense of something that often feels senseless. They create a rhythm and structure for mourning.

 5. Taking time matters

Wakes often span two or three days, giving people time to sit with their loss. There’s no rush to “get it over with.” 

6. You don’t have to do it alone

There’s a shared responsibility — people bring sandwiches, sweep the floor, make tea.   It’s about a community holding the grieving up. Grief is softened when it’s shared.

Growing up in the North of Ireland where the ritual of wakes is still very strong,  I feel have been trained on how to live with death all of my life.   

Every life is a collection of stories—big and small, joyful and heartbreaking, ordinary and extraordinary. These stories shape who we are and how we’re remembered.

Eastern Palliative Care runs an award-winning biography programme where their volunteers work one one-on-one with clients to allow them to record and tell their life story. 

 Today I am interviewing Annie Martin, one of their wonderful volunteers.

Eastern Palliative Care 

Every life is a collection of stories—big and small, joyful and heartbreaking, ordinary and extraordinary. These stories shape who we are and how we’re remembered.

Eastern Palliative Care run an award-winning biography program where their volunteers work one one-on-one with clients to allow them to record and tell their life stories. 

 Today I am interviewing Annie – one of their wonderful volunteers.

Eastern Palliative Care 

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you had a loved one die overseas?  Or, perhaps it is their wish for their body to be transported back  to their home country?  Today I am chatting to Ghislaine from a family-run business based in Melbourne called Repatriation Solutions to discuss the implications of moving someone’s body to another country after they die.

Repatriation Solutions 

In today’s episode, we’ll discuss the deeply sensitive and seldom-discussed topic of baby loss — a subject that makes many uncomfortable yet is so vitally important. 

These are sobering statistics.  

Miscarriage occurs in one in four pregnancies.   
 
Six babies are stillborn in Australia every day, with one in 120 births being a stillborn baby or a newborn death.

These statistics are a reality that often leaves people unsure how to respond, creating an uncomfortable silence.

Today, I am honoured to speak with Nicole Hasseldine. 

Nicole’s experience is personal: her daughter Isla passed away at just six days old. 

In this conversation, Nicole shares what it’s like to endure and navigate this type of profound loss, and how we can all offer more compassionate support for families experiencing such unimaginable grief.  
We all have a responsibility to do this type of loss better. 

Since Isla died, Nicole has turned her pain into purpose, dedicating herself to creating a space for professionals working with bereaved families. 

She is the founder of Isla Grief and Loss, whose mission is to support healthcare professionals supporting families who have lost a child.

In this episode, we hope to break through the discomfort and encourage listeners not to shy away.  Nicole will help us explore how to offer meaningful support in the face of such loss so that we can all respond with the compassion and the presence these families truly need.

RIng Theory

Isla Grief & Loss