Send us Fan Mail

Having cared lovingly for her own father before and after he died, Claire understood the benefits and deepest healing experience creating a home funeral "only with love" can bring. In this episode, we hear from Claire, MBE, founder of Only With Love; we hear about her work and her story. We see the accessibility to being vulnerable, and it’s okay to feel a certain way and to feel able to be honest about the support that is needed when going through this time. For more information, her website is the link below
https://www.onlywithlove.co.uk/

About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or rushed through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

On No One Gets Out of Here Alive, Holly brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from her own work, she explores the questions we often avoid but that connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone at the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive isn't a reason for despair. It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid. 

Connect with Holly: 

www.hollylyonhawk.com

www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

www.gentleendings.com 

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...

Send us Fan Mail

Patsy Freeman is a bereavement counsellor and author. Her book, In Search of You: Letters to a Daughter, is a powerful chronicle of her own grief after the death of her 39-year-old daughter, Jasmine, in 2013. Patsy describes her searing grief as 'a gift' that took her deep into the heart of life. Discover what she learnt from her daughter's life, illness, death, funeral, and the deep loss she experienced. 

 

About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or rushed through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

On No One Gets Out of Here Alive, Holly brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from her own work, she explores the questions we often avoid but that connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone at the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive isn't a reason for despair. It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid. 

Connect with Holly: 

www.hollylyonhawk.com

www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

www.gentleendings.com 

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...

Send us Fan Mail

Patsy Freeman is a bereavement counsellor and author. Her book, In Search of You: Letters to a Daughter, is a powerful chronicle of her own grief after the death of her 39-year-old daughter, Jasmine, in 2013. Patsy describes her searing grief as 'a gift' that took her deep into the heart of life. Discover what she learnt from her daughter's life, illness, death, funeral, and the deep loss she experienced. 

About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or rushed through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

On No One Gets Out of Here Alive, Holly brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from her own work, she explores the questions we often avoid but that connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone at the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive isn't a reason for despair. It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid. 

Connect with Holly: 

www.hollylyonhawk.com

www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

www.gentleendings.com 

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...

Send us Fan Mail

What is the work of an end-of-life doula?

Here's part 2 of my podcast with the wonderful Aly Dickerson and Emma Clare, who run End of Life Doula UK, about offering full, holistic support to dying people and their families. 

Discover how they're transforming the dying process.
Find out more about their wonderful work at https://eol-doula.uk.

About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or rushed through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

On No One Gets Out of Here Alive, Holly brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from her own work, she explores the questions we often avoid but that connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone at the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive isn't a reason for despair. It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid. 

Connect with Holly: 

www.hollylyonhawk.com

www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

www.gentleendings.com 

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...

Send us Fan Mail

 What is an End-of-Life Doula?

In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with the wonderful and inspiring Dr Emma Clare, Chartered Psychologist, end-of-life doula and Chief Executive of End of Life Doula UK -  the UK's leading membership organisation for end-of-life doulas and now a registered charity dedicated to improving how we approach death, dying and bereavement.

Together, we explore what an end-of-life doula actually is, why more people are seeking this kind of support, and how compassionate, non-medical care can transform the experience of dying for individuals and those who love them.

We discuss the growing movement to bring death back into the heart of our communities, helping people feel less afraid, more informed and better supported during one of life's most profound transitions.

The conversation comes at a fascinating time, with End of Life Doula UK and the wider death doula movement receiving increasing national recognition. During 2026, Dr Emma Clare and fellow members of the charity have been featured by the BBC, helping to bring conversations about dying, grief and compassionate community care into the mainstream.

BBC Features:

•BBC News - "What death doulas can teach us about dying"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5n5g0n2zxo (BBC News feature with Dr Emma Clare and End of Life Doula UK members).

• BBC Radio 4 Today Programme
Following Nicole Kidman's announcement that she had trained as an end-of-life doula, Dr Emma Clare appeared on the programme to discuss the growing role of death doulas in modern society.

As society becomes more willing to talk openly about death, organisations like End of Life Doula UK are helping people reclaim dying as a natural part of life - one that deserves time, compassion and meaningful human connection.

Find out more about their wonderful work:

https://eol-doula.uk


About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they have faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or hurried through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

**No One Gets Out Of Here Alive** brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from Holly's own work, the podcast explores the questions we often avoid, but which connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone approaching the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive is not a reason for despair.

It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid.

Connect with Holly

Website: www.hollylyonhawk.com

Gentle Goodbye: www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

Gentle Endings: www.gentleendings.com

 

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...

Send us Fan Mail

Gary Ramsey is an Alexander Technique and voice teacher based in New York City.
In 2015, he received the devastating news that he had cancer that would probably kill him. The diagnosis kicked off an inspirational journey of healing and resilience, one in which Gary learned following your bliss is the way to a brave and beautiful new world.
Listen to part 2 of my podcast with Gary – and read his book, Bliss: One Here's Journey. 

About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or rushed through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

On No One Gets Out of Here Alive, Holly brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from her own work, she explores the questions we often avoid but that connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone at the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive isn't a reason for despair. It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid. 

Connect with Holly: 

www.hollylyonhawk.com

www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

www.gentleendings.com 

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...

Send us Fan Mail

Gary Ramsey is an Alexander Technique and voice teacher based in New York City.
In 2015, he received the devastating news that he had cancer that would probably kill him. The diagnosis kicked off an inspirational journey of healing and resilience, one in which Gary learned following your bliss is the way to a brave and beautiful new world.
Listen to part one of my podcast with Gary - and read his book, Bliss: One Here's Journey.  

About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or rushed through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

On No One Gets Out of Here Alive, Holly brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from her own work, she explores the questions we often avoid but that connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone at the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive isn't a reason for despair. It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid. 

Connect with Holly: 

www.hollylyonhawk.com

www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

www.gentleendings.com 

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...

Send us Fan Mail

The second part of my podcast with the wonderful Diane. Hear about how to help a grieving animal - and much more.
If you've been affected by pet bereavement, whether it's a recent loss or happened some time ago, you can contact the Blue Cross helpline: 0800 0966606  or email them at [email protected]
 

About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or rushed through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

On No One Gets Out of Here Alive, Holly brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from her own work, she explores the questions we often avoid but that connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone at the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive isn't a reason for despair. It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid. 

Connect with Holly: 

www.hollylyonhawk.com

www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

www.gentleendings.com 

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...

Send us Fan Mail

In this first part of a two-part chat with the lovely Diane James, Pet Bereavement and Loss Support Service Manager at Blue Cross For Pets, talks about the very real topic of pet bereavement.

Diane James is the manager of Pet Bereavement and Loss Support Service at the Blue Cross.
She is absolutely passionate about supporting people as they go through the incredibly painful and hard time of saying goodbye to their pets, their companions and friends. 

Blue Cross helpline - https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss
Call the Blue Cross Bereavement Helpline between 8.30am - 8.30pm on 0800 096 6606
or email them via - [email protected]

About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or rushed through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

On No One Gets Out of Here Alive, Holly brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from her own work, she explores the questions we often avoid but that connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone at the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive isn't a reason for despair. It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid. 

Connect with Holly: 

www.hollylyonhawk.com

www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

www.gentleendings.com 

All content © 2021 

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...

Send us Fan Mail

In this second and final  part of this podcast episode, Holly Lyon-Hawk speaks with Felicity Warner.

Felicity Warner created the idea of Soul Midwifery for the dying after sitting with many hundreds of people at the end of life.

Her pioneering work over the last twenty-five years has brought a new dimension to holistic and spiritual palliative care, both in the UK and abroad (there are now Soul Midwives working in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Europe). She is a respected lecturer, teacher and author of four acclaimed books – ‘Gentle Dying’, ‘A Safe Journey Home’, ‘The Soul Midwives’ Handbook’ and ‘Sacred Oils’. 

About the Host

Holly Lyon-Hawk is a holistic funeral director, ceremonial care of the body specialist, end-of-life doula, educator, speaker and founder of the International Institute for Supported Ceremonial Care.

For over a decade, Holly has walked alongside hundreds of families as they faced death, grief and profound change. Her work has taken her into homes, hospices, hospitals, woodlands and natural burial grounds, helping people rediscover something that modern society has often forgotten - that death does not have to be hidden away, feared or rushed through.

She believes that ritual matters. That caring for the body after death can be a final act of love. That grief deserves space. And that when we are willing to look mortality in the eye, life itself becomes richer, deeper and infinitely more precious.

On No One Gets Out of Here Alive, Holly brings together honest conversations about death, dying, grief, spirituality, love, purpose and what it truly means to be alive. Through interviews, stories and reflections from her own work, she explores the questions we often avoid but that connect every one of us.

Whether you're caring for someone at the end of life, grieving a loss, working in healthcare, or simply curious about the human experience, this podcast offers a gentle place to reflect, learn and remember that none of us walks this path alone.

The reality that no one gets out of here alive isn't a reason for despair. It is an invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and leave nothing important unsaid. 

Connect with Holly: 

www.hollylyonhawk.com

www.gentlegoodbye.co.uk

www.gentleendings.com 

More about Felicity: 

‘The Soul Midwives’ Handbook’ is a textbook used by both complementary therapists and in medical and nursing schools.

After winning two major national awards for her services to the dying, she says:

“To have the validation and support of the UK’s top clinicians and policymakers is a major step forward for Soul Midwives and the work we do. I am absolutely delighted to have won these prestigious awards, but I’m sharing the honour with all the wonderful Soul Midwives I have trained, who are taking the work out into their communities and helping the dying in many places.”

Felicity was also named End-of-Life Doula of the Year by The Good Funeral Awards in 2017 in recognition of her services to the bereaved. She holds an honorary Knowledge Exchange Fellowship with the University of Winchester, and she lectures both internationally and across the UK.

In 2010 Felicity was nominated for the prestigious Woman of the Year award for her campaigning and work in palliative care and was named one of the most Inspirational Women of the Year by the ‘Daily Mail’ in 2017.

Her passion is for doing ordinary work with “extra” ordinary love, supporting the dying and their families, promoting end-of-life education, and collaborating with important community projects.

Her teachings also focus on understanding the mysteries of death and dying and the less obvious aspects of the journey and how to embrace them.

Felicity's website: https://www.soulmidwives.co.uk/
Soul Midwives Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulmidwives.co.uk

Support the show

Support the Podcast

No One Gets Out of Here Alive exists because conversations about death, grief, love, loss and what it means to be human matter.

Every episode is independently created, researched, recorded and edited with the hope of making these often difficult conversations more accessible and less frightening. My aim is simple: to help people feel a little less alone when facing death - whether that is their own, someone they love, or the loss of an animal companion.

If you have found comfort, inspiration or hope through the podcast and would like to support its future, donations are deeply appreciated. Your contribution helps cover the very real costs of production, including recording and editing software, hosting platforms, technical equipment, travel, and the time needed to create thoughtful, high-quality conversations.

More importantly, your support helps these conversations reach more people and contributes to a culture where talking about death is no longer something we avoid, but something that helps us live more fully.

There is absolutely no expectation to donate - simply listening and sharing the podcast with others is a wonderful way to help. But if you would like to become part of supporting this work, I would be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for walking this path with...