This episode is with Becky Perry, a Funeral Director based in Salisbury. In her own words;

"I knew from roughly the age of 10 that I wanted to be a funeral director, and a successful work experience placement through my school, with a local funeral directors, sealed the deal! 

A local car museum hosted the hearse of the year show the year I started my work placement and at that event I met a funeral director from Salisbury and I convinced him to employ me when I turned 18. 

My first role was as an operative (driver bearer etc) and I fell in love with the role. I spent the next two years learning everything I could about the industry and moved to Salisbury from my home town of Southampton.

I then accepted a role as trainee funeral director and my passion for helping families just grew and grew.  I realised that change was so needed in the industry so became involved in different professional bodies and associations to start the conversations about the changing needs of the bereaved.

I was then lucky enough to be asked to become the Southern President of the NAFD, which is a role I proudly served in for 3 years (think I was only the second lady to reach president).  

I now manage four funeral homes in Wiltshire and manage a team of people who collectively care for and support our local communities.  This is addition to being involved with Rotary, our local Business chamber, and a local counsellor. "

Hilary welcomes Julie New, Author and Personal Recovery Coach into the studio for an unscripted discussion about grief and the impact that it can have on people.
Grief is such a unique experience for people that it can be difficult for many to let it show, or let it run its' course.

Julie talks about not only dealing with her own grief, but also about nurturing her daughters through the process too.

Julie and Hilary met through Twitter and are openly discussing grief and the impact it has. Coming from different angles, but with similarities, the conversation proves interesting and free flowing. 

www.julienew.co.uk

Grief has been playing tricks on me again as I approach my first Father's Day without my Dad. 
Even though I deal with death as part of my 'work' nothing can prepare you for when those grief tears will not stop flowing. 
I cared for my Dad at home until the day he died yet I discovered that there are a few issues I have to deal with regarding his end of life care/experience...

This is an unscripted episode that is recorded in one go, which captures the authenticity of the moment.  

As a practicing Funeral Celebrant I am not afraid to put my own emotions out there in the form of poetry and readings if it can help just one person start to grieve...then something is achieved out of pain. 

Denise Wilton is an Actress and Writer who is petrified of death and dying. Denise has joined Hilary Steel in the conversation to share what it is that scares her so much.

Together we explore the need to be able to talk about death, grief and our own feelings towards them both. 

This episode is a conversation that isn't scripted.

Grief is a strange emotion that creeps up on you at the strangest of times.
I was looking after my parents at home for over eight years, they both passed away in my home just three months apart.

This recording is ten minutes that is unscripted. It raises a few points that will definitely be explored further with other guests on the show.

As a funeral celebrant I can be found at www.kentfunerals.co.uk where there is definitely a synergy between my two roles. 

Sonya Kimpton de Ville is a business woman living in Kent who joined the Mortality and Me Podcast to share her thoughts on death and dying. 
It's one of those conversations we don't seem to have and Sonya shares her thoughts on 'why' that is.

Grief is a part of life that unfortunately is likely to touch us all. How we deal with it is individual but we have to be able to explore it. 

John kindly spoke to me about a change that happened in his own life which was also the motivating factor for him diversifying slightly from what he does as a current 'day job'.

Training as a bereavement counsellor has given him the motivation to open up his own practice. What I loved about speaking to John, was his involvement with his clients is on an individual basis and he is a keen advocate of grief being unique to each individual, even though there are commonly used 'stages of grief' - not everyone follows the same path.

Sarah Maxwell is a Lifestyle and Fitness Coach who gives her whole heartbeat in to everything she does. In this episode we open up the conversation around why people are afraid to talk about dying. 

You can check her out here https://www.sarahmaxwell.com/ - she certainly won't mind it if you say hello to her on her Facebook Page either...https://www.facebook.com/sarahmaxwelllifestyle/

If you would like to be part of a future conversation then please get in touch via [email protected]