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For this, the first episode of 2026, our 'Art of Dying Well' podcast steps away from the usual interview format to bring you a special interfaith panel discussion titled 'Dying to Live'. Contributors from six major faith traditions - Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Christianity - shared their insights on dying, death, and bereavement.

Moderated by Associate Professor Maggie Doherty, Lead at the Centre for the Art of Living and Dying Well at St Mary’s University, this discussion not only explored how different religious and cultural practices are observed in end-of-life settings, but also presented findings from their recent community-based participatory research on death literacy and end-of-life care.

You'll hear from Ruth Jacobs representing the Jewish community, Shamim Merali from the Muslim community, Shobha Sharma from the Hindu community, Simon Romer from the Buddhist community, Harr-Joht Kaur from the Sikh community, and Christina Ronayne from the Christian community. 

The Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Bernard Longley, opens our discussion, and the Right Reverend Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham and Lead Bishop for Interreligious Dialogue for the Catholic Church in England and Wales, offers concluding reflections.

Whether you're a healthcare professional, someone supporting a loved one through their final journey, or simply interested in how different traditions approach this universal human experience, this conversation offers wisdom, compassion, and practical insights.