Over My Dead Poddy

A few weeks ago, Poddy regular David Knowles said he'd welcome an inspection from the NAFD.Well, guess what? They've been! 👀 So we're back behind the mic finding out how it went, what he learnt and why he remains convinced of the need for greater regulation in the funeral industry and if you hear Nichola say 'Registration' instead of 'Regulation', just pretend you didn't. 🤦‍♀️🤣

Proof that our little podcast is making things happen. Sort of. 😂

Part of  a140 year-old family business W. Uden & Sons,  Matthew Uden  also has an audience of over 24,000 on TikTok, where his straightforward views on funerals regularly get people talking.

So we invited him onto Over My Dead Poddy for an honest conversation about how funerals are changing, what families want today and whether some of those changes are always for the better.

In particular, Matthew explains why he believes choosing a direct cremation with no funeral service can be one of the most selfish decisions a person makes.

It’s a passionate view, but one that opens up a much bigger discussion about grief, choice and who a funeral is really for.

Open, informed and thought-provoking. This is one that may just change the way you think about funerals.                                      Download it now wherever you usually get your Podcasts.

 In Season 3, Episode 10, When Trust Is Broken, Nichola and Carl are joined by funeral director David Knowles to reflect on the sentencing of convicted funeral director Robert Bush.

At the heart of this conversation are the families affected and the extraordinary courage they have shown in demanding answers and accountability. We consider what this case means for the funeral profession, the urgent questions it raises around standards and regulation, and the work now needed to rebuild public trust.

If something positive can emerge from such a deeply painful case, it must be meaningful change: stronger regulation, greater transparency, better-quality care and an industry determined to ensure that every family—and every person who has died—is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

This is a heartfelt, difficult and deeply human episode. It would have been easier to stay silent, but you know that's not us. We promised you we'd tackle the tough conversations and that's exactly what we'll keep on doing! 

Everyone experiences grief... but almost nobody is taught how to live with it. In Part 2 of our special conversation with grief educator Carole Henderson, we move from understanding grief to learning how to navigate it.

💙 Why can grief feel so overwhelming?

Whether you're grieving the death of someone you love, the end of a relationship, your health, a job, a pet, or any other significant loss, this episode explores the very real (and very normal) emotions that grief can bring, along with practical, compassionate ways to cope with them.

Because grief isn't something to fix, and there isn't a finish line to cross. But understanding what's happening can make those difficult days feel a little less frightening... and remind us that we're never as alone as we think.

If Part 1 helped you understand grief, this episode is about helping you learn to live alongside it.

💙 To find out more about Carole's work, visit:

https://www.edu-therapy.uk/

Everyone experiences grief - almost nobody knows what to do with it.

In this first of a two-part special,  Nichola sits down with grief educator Carole Henderson to unpack one of life's biggest, messiest and most misunderstood emotions.

💙 Is there a right way to grieve?

Whether you've lost a loved one, a relationship, your health, a pet or simply want to be better equipped to support someone else, across the next two episodes we begin to unpick what grief actually is,  whilst trying to give you some tips on how to help yourself & others navigate it.

Talking about grief won't make it happen. But it might just make it easier when it does. 💙

If you want to find more about Carole's work you can find her here:https://www.edu-therapy.uk/ 

You asked. We answered. We're back again answering all the questions you fire at us on a regular basis including: 

💀 Is there really a secret second deck in a hearse... and if so, what's it for?

📖 What actually is an Order of Service... and do you really need one?

🧬 Can you still donate your body to Medical Science & would they actually want it?

Plus, the funeral habit we'd happily wave goodbye to forever... 👀

If you've ever found yourself thinking, "I've always wondered that...", this one's for you.

⚰️ Talking death... without killing the conversation

In the episode where Carl is proved right for once, we’re opening up the conversation around what faith-led funerals, specifically Church of England services, can look like in 2026.

Because religious doesn’t have to mean rigid. Traditional doesn’t have to mean impersonal. And faith and personality absolutely can sit together in the same service without anyone breaking out in a cold sweat.

We’re joined by the brilliant Rev Canon Martin Fletcher to talk through the options families really have, how services can be shaped with warmth and meaning, and how belief, ritual and personal celebration can work together to honour someone properly.

It’s thoughtful, honest, surprisingly funny in places, and, against all expectations, it even had Nichola thinking differently by the end she and Producer Steve didn’t burn (yet!). Which is always a bonus.                                                                                     

Ever wondered if Cllr Carl Tate gets scared at funerals? Or whether Nichola Reeder would agree to take the funeral of a convicted criminal? Well, you asked. So we answered.

Armed with a glass of wine and the trademark honesty you expect from us, this episode sees us tackle some of the

trickiest listener questions we've ever received.

Some answers might surprise you. Some might challenge you. And a few reveal a little more about who we really are behind the microphones.

No scripts. No hiding. Just two people talking openly about life, death, funerals and the complicated bits in between... whilst Producer Steve Reeder desperately tries to keep us the right side of libel with the help of his trusty water pistol. 

It's heartfelt, occasionally uncomfortable, unexpectedly funny and unmistakably Over My Dead Poddy. 

Fresh coffee. Honest conversations. Unexpected hope. ☕🖤

This week on the show, we’re joined by David Martin from Maple Park Café @ Thirsk Crematorium, for a conversation that goes far beyond tea urns and sausage rolls.

We’re talking about the reality of running a coffee shop inside a crematorium. The sensitive act of balancing business and grief. The quiet pressure of getting it right for families on one of the hardest days of their lives. And why the most important thing to families after a funeral is often comfort, connection and somewhere to just be.

With the usual honesty and humour,  David shares how coffee and cake are unexpectedly helping people talk about grief,  build a community,  and perhaps even find some  hope.

Because sometimes the conversations people can’t have in the Crematorium … start over a brew instead.

It’s thoughtful, funny, honest and full of the kind of humanity we love best. 🤘🏻☕

Most people never see what happens behind the scenes in a funeral home… but this week, we’re talking to the people who do it all. 🖤

From late night call-outs and private ambulances, to caring and preparing for your loved one with dignity, carrying coffins and making sure every detail runs exactly as it should... Funeral Service Operatives (FSO's) are the unsung heroes of funeral care, and one of the most vital cogs in our engine. 

We're discussing what they do and what it takes to be an exception FSO, with one of the best in the industry. It’s honest, emotional, insightful and full of  humanity - just as you’d expect from Over My Dead Poddy.

You can also find out what happens about those intimate piercings you know your loved one had, but were too embarrassed to mention to the FD! 

Download our latest episode and settle in for a great listen!