What happens when the worst thing happens, and you survive? In this funny, fearless and deeply human conversation, journalist and memoirist Leslie Gray Streeter joins host Stephen Rumford to talk about life after the sudden death of her husband Scott.

Together they explore what grief really feels like, the messiness, the humour, the fury, and the pressure to be resilient. Leslie shares how widowhood changed her, why she’s done saying sorry for taking up space, and what menopause and mourning have in common.

From dating disasters to fixing-up houses, writing a book to parenting through pain, this is a joyful, direct and honest conversation about what it means to live on, with love, with sadness, and with no intention of keeping quiet.

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Support resources: Ashgate Hospice

Find out more about Leslie: https://lesliegraystreeter.com/

This episode of The Life and Death Podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

Dying isn’t just a medical event, it’s a deeply social one. In this powerful episode of The Life and Death Podcast, Professor Allan Kellehear, sociologist and founder of the Compassionate Communities movement, joins Stephen Rumford to explore how we can all play a part in supporting people at the end of life.

From challenging our assumptions about what care means, to sharing stories of connection, meaning and even visions of near death, Allan invites us to see dying differently. This is a conversation about presence, belonging, and why we need a more compassionate, inclusive approach to death, dying and grief.

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Support resources: Ashgate Hospice

This episode of The Life and Death Podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

How can a doula support people who are dying and those important to them? 

Dr Emma Clare, chartered psychologist, end of life doula, and director of End of Life Doula UK, joins host Stephen Rumford to unpack the often misunderstood role of the doula. Unlike a healthcare professional, a doula offers emotional, practical and human support at the end of life, simply by being there, witnessing, and walking alongside.

Drawing on her clinical training, academic research, and personal experience, Emma shares how doulas help people reflect on their lives, find meaning, and feel less alone in the face of death. Together, Emma and Stephen explore what it means to be truly present, why connection matters so deeply, and how anyone, not just professionals, can bring more honesty, care and calm to conversations about dying. 

This is a grounding, moving conversation for anyone interested in what it means to show up with compassion at the end of life.

Follow Ashgate on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice

Support resources: Ashgate Hospice

Find out more about End of Life Doula UK:  www.eol-doula.uk 

This episode of The Life and Death Podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

Artist, curator and writer Joanna Ebenstein joins host Stephen Rumford to explore the rich, sometimes eerie, but always fascinating ways we try to make sense of death.

Joanna is the founder of the Morbid Anatomy project and author of Memento Mori, a beautiful collection of imagery showing how death has been depicted throughout history and across cultures. Her work invites us to consider what these depictions can teach us about grief, memory, and how we live alongside the knowledge that we’ll one day die.

Together, Joanna and Stephen talk about why people are drawn to the macabre, how rituals and aesthetics can help us process mortality, and what happens when we stop turning away from death, and start looking more closely.

This is a thought-provoking, tender conversation for anyone curious about the spaces where death, beauty and culture overlap.

Follow Ashgate on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice

Support resources: Ashgate Hospice Resource Centre

Explore Joanna’s work: morbidanatomy.org

This episode of The Life and Death Podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

When illustrator Gary Andrews’ wife, Joy, died suddenly from sepsis, everything changed in an instant. Left raising their two young children, aged 7 and 10 at the time, Gary picked up a pen and started doodling - not to create perfect pictures, but to let his feelings out, one sketch at a time.

Those nightly doodles became a lifeline. He shared them online, where they struck a chord with thousands of people grieving or struggling with loss. Through simple drawings, some heartbreaking, some full of laughter, Gary showed what grief really looks like: messy, painful, but also threaded with love and hope.

In this episode, Gary talks about how creativity helped him survive the hardest days, how a community grew around his drawings, and how it all led to his book, Finding Joy, a tribute to Joy, and to the small moments that keep us going.

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Support resources: Ashgate Hospice Resource Centre

Find out more about Gary and his work: www.garyscribbler.co.uk

This episode of The Life and Death podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

In the first episode of season six, journalist and author Erica Buist opens up about how the sudden death of her father-in-law forced her to confront her own mortality. Her quest to understand how different cultures approach death took her across seven countries, from Mexico’s Day of the Dead to Indonesia’s corpse parades.

Erica, author of This Party’s Dead, explores how these cultures celebrate death and allow grief to be expressed in ways that are communal and meaningful, in stark contrast to the isolated, sanitised practices common in the West. Along the way, she shares insights about grief, the role of humour in coping, and the liberating power of cultural rituals.

This episode invites us to rethink our relationship with death and grief, and to consider how cultural practices can help us navigate death in a more open, less fearful way.

Don’t miss this conversation that challenges taboos and reminds us of the importance of shared rituals in our journey with death.

Follow us on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice

Support resources: Ashgate Hospice Resource Centre

Read more about Erica and her travels: ericabuist.com

This episode of The Life and Death podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

Joining the final episode of the series is Josefine Speyer, a German psychotherapist based in London who has dedicated much of her life to changing the way we approach death and dying. Josefine co-founded the Natural Death Centre in 1991 with her late husband, Nicholas Albery. This educational charity has been a beacon of support, offering free and impartial advice on all aspects of dying, bereavement, and consumer rights, including assistance with burials and funerals.

Josefine shares her captivating journey, from her unconventional start in Frestonia to her profound spiritual experiences following her husband's tragic death. We delve into her artistic nature, her move to the UK, and her deep-seated belief in the power of natural burials and non-traditional funerals.

Josefine's insights are not only enlightening but also deeply moving, providing a rich tapestry of experiences and wisdom on the often-taboo subject of death. Join us as we explore her thoughts on making our final journeys meaningful and personal, and learn from her unique perspective on life, death, and everything in between.

Tune in to this poignant episode of The Life and Death Podcast with Josefine Speyer, and be prepared to see death in a new light.

Find out more about The Natural Death Centre http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/

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Support resources: https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/resource-centre/

This episode of The Life and Death podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

We explore a topic often overlooked—coping with pet loss. Our guest, Dr. Katie Lawlor, a psychologist based in San Francisco, shares her personal and professional experiences with the profound grief that comes with the death of a beloved animal companion.

Dr. Lawlor discusses how her journey through the loss of her rabbit, Gem, during the pandemic led her to create her Instagram page, petlossdoctor. She opens up about the challenges of discussing her pet's death with colleagues and how this inspired her to support others facing similar experiences.

Growing up as the introverted middle sister, Dr. Lawlor found solace in the company of animals. Her summers in Ireland, surrounded by animals, shaped her understanding of the unique bond between humans and their pets. She highlights the lack of specialised services for pet loss and stresses the importance of acknowledging and addressing this grief.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Lawlor addresses common questions about pet loss, such as coping with guilt and regret, and offers insights on navigating this difficult time. She emphasises that grief is a natural response to losing someone you love, whether they are human or animal.

Tune in to hear Dr. Lawlor's heartfelt stories and valuable advice on coping with pet loss. Learn how her work is providing comfort and support to others experiencing grief. This episode is essential listening for anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet.

You can follow Dr. Katie Lawlor on her Instagram page.

Find out more about her book; A Tribute to My Beloved Animal: A Journal to Process Grief & Loss.

Follow us on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice

Support resources: https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/resource-centre/

This episode of The Life and Death podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

Simon Critchley is a renowned philosopher at the New School for Social Research in New York. Simon teaches the popular course "Critchley on Tragedy," and has been recognised as one of the top 25 most influential philosophers today.

Simon delves into his fascinating life story, including his early years in Hertfordshire, a life-changing accident, and his journey into philosophy. He shares insights from his book, The Book of Dead Philosophers, which examines how the deaths of 190 philosophers reflect their lives and ideas.

Join us as Simon recounts some intriguing tales, such as Pythagoras's peculiar death and Jeremy Bentham's posthumous display at University College London. He discusses the therapeutic side of philosophy and how confronting our mortality can lead to greater freedom, compassion, and understanding.

Tune in for an episode filled with humour, deep reflections on mortality, and the wisdom that philosophy can offer in understanding life and death.

Find out more about Simon his book here: https://www.simoncritchley.org/

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Support resources: https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/

This episode of The Life and Death podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

Julie McFadden is better known by her online persona Hospice Nurse Julie. With her background as an ICU nurse, Julie developed a passion for educating people about death and dying. For the past eight years, she has been making a significant impact as a hospice nurse, helping others face end of life issues with compassion.

Julie’s journey into online education began when her young nieces introduced her to TikTok. She started sharing insights about death and dying, and soon her videos went viral, garnering a large following. Her content, ranging from biological processes at the end of life to demystifying deathbed phenomena, helps normalise conversations about death and offers comfort to many. She emphasises that understanding death can reduce fear and enhance our lives.

Julie’s new book, "Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully," is a valuable guide for anyone seeking peace in the face of mortality. It combines educational insights with personal stories, making it a comforting resource for both patients and caregivers.

Follow Julie on:

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@hospicenursejulie

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hospicenursejulie

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hospicenursejulie

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Hospice-nurse-julie/100077937666311/

Follow us on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice

Support resources: https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/

This episode of The Life and Death podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.