Why should we be talking about death and dying? For the first episode of our new series, we talk to two people who have decided to spend their time helping others to have those difficult conversations. Megan Mooney, who runs a death cafe, and Barbara Altounyan, the Hospice Biographer, tell us about their work and explain just why having these conversations is so important for all of us.


Theme music is by Bernadette Ryan.


Find out more about death cafes at www.deathcafe.com


Find out more about the Hospice Biographers at www.thehospicebiographers.com/


Dying Matters online:


Twitter: @dyingmatters


Facebook: www.facebook.com/DyingMatters/


Instagram: @DyingMatters


Dying Matters is a part of Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice care. Registered in England and Wales No. 2751549. Charity registered in England and Wales No. 1014851, and in Scotland No. SC041112.   VAT No 731 304476.

S1 Ep1: Let's Talk About It

“Let’s talk about it.” Death and dying is one of those topics that’s just hard to talk about. We know that we will all have to face it one day, but we put that “difficult” conversation off until tomorrow. Or the day after… Well it doesn’t have to be that way.

The people we talk to on this podcast are people who do talk about it. They’re people who have learnt through personal experience how important it is to talk about our wishes before it’s too late, and they have a lot to say. Whether you’ve been bereaved, have a family member who’s approaching the end of life, want to support a friend, or just want to know how to start the conversation for yourself, this podcast is for you.

Dying Matters is a part of Hospice UK (https://www.hospiceuk.org/) , the national charity for hospice care. Registered in England and Wales No. 2751549. Charity registered in England and Wales No. 1014851, and in Scotland No. SC041112.

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Self-Improvement

Tracey Bleakley, CEO of Hospice UK, discusses the issue of racism in palliative care with Dr Jamilla Hussain, and how the hospice and wider end of life care sector must work together to address this. 

S3 Ep2: Challenging the status quo: racism in palliative care

Hospice UK’s Web Editor Leila Hawkins talks to Dr Rachel Clarke about her new book  Breathtaking – Inside the NHS in a time of pandemic, about her experiences of working on the frontline during the first wave of the Covid-19 outbreak. 





The palliative care doctor describes the unwavering dedication of NHS staff, the pain of being in the second wave of the virus, and her hopes for the future now there is a vaccine. 





“We had no treatments, no vaccines, it was a completely new virus. We didn't know if our PPE was going to protect us. We didn't know if we were going to bring Coronavirus into our houses and infect the people we love. We were frightened, but we wanted to help patients in need. We wanted to be where the need was greatest. 





“At the end of the day, I don't know what life is for if it isn't to try and help each other out when the need is there.”  






Dr Rachel Clarke - Inside the NHS in a time of pandemic

ehospice editor Leila Hawkins talks with Dr Rachel Clarke, author of the book Dear Life, a powerful memoir about end of life care.

S3 Ep1: Dr Rachel Clarke - Dear Life

Kevin Toolis has spent much of his career dealing with death, formerly as a journalist reporting and making films from conflict zones, but recently he started interrogating death and dying in a very personal way. He used his experiences with death to write ‘My Father’s Wake’, and reflect on how embracing the Irish way of dealing with death might help us to face our own mortality without fear. 



Kevin's book: 'My Father's Wake'






Dying Matters online





Twitter: @dyingmatters





Facebook: www.facebook.com/DyingMatters/





Instagram: @DyingMatters





Dying Matters is a part of Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice and palliative care. Charity registered in England and Wales No. 1014851, and in Scotland No. SC041112. 

S2 Ep5: 'If death was a marathon you had to run, you'd do a few practise laps'. Kevin Toolis

Greg Wise is well known as an actor and producer, but recently he took up another occupation: trying to get people to talk more about death and dying. In this podcast, Greg shares his experience of becoming a full-time carer for his sister, Claire, after she was diagnosed with cancer, and what he learned from sitting by her bedside as she died. 



Greg's book: 'Not That Kind of Love'






Dying Matters online





Twitter: @dyingmatters





Facebook: www.facebook.com/DyingMatters/





Instagram: @DyingMatters





Dying Matters is a part of Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice and palliative care. Charity registered in England and Wales No. 1014851, and in Scotland No. SC041112. 

S1 Ep1: Let's Talk About It

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