Death: A Changing Industry

Colin Wilson, a business strategist working with funeral homes across Australia, joins John to talk about what separates a good funeral business from a great one. Drawing on his experience coaching teams through change, he explores why culture, trust, and communication matter as much as the service itself. You can learn more about Colin and his team here - https://keyba.com.au/meet-the-team/ ⸻ 🙌...

John Adams sits down again with Ross, a funeral director and recently outgoing president of SAIF, twelve months on from their first conversation. Having spent a year travelling the country meeting independent funeral directors, he reflects on what he set out to achieve and on the change reshaping the profession: the rise of online, unattended direct cremation and the marketing budgets driving it....

John Adams sits down with Sumita Paul, Chair of New Zealand’s Grief Centre, to discuss grief, loss, and the work being done to support bereaved people across New Zealand.

The conversation focuses on how grief and trauma are held within the body, and how simple practices like conscious breathing can support healing and resilience. Our guests, Helen Spencer and Elle Riley from Pathways to Resilience (https://www.pathways-to-resilience.co.uk) discuss the role of breathwork in schools, the importance of supporting young people’s wellbeing, and how small, daily practice...

In this episode of Death: A Changing Industry, John Adams speaks with Olivia, who lost her mum at just 12 and is now campaigning for bereavement education in schools. She shares her experience of navigating grief as a child and the impact of limited support within education. The conversation highlights why schools must do more to support grieving young people, and how honest, compassionate communi...

In this episode of Death: A Changing Industry, John Adams is joined online by Dr Lauren Breen, a researcher from Australia whose work has helped shape conversations around grief literacy, loss, and how society supports people through difficult life experiences. Drawing on her research and practice, Lauren reflects on how young people often understand grief more broadly than adults do, particularly...

With 43 years in funeral service and a deep commitment to supporting bereaved families, Don Burstow shares the personal journey that led him into the profession and the philosophy that continues to guide his work today. The conversation explores how the funeral profession is changing, from the rise of direct cremation and the decline of traditional religious funerals to what Don describes as a gro...

In this episode of Death: A Changing Industry, I sit down with Luke Gregson, funeral director and Junior Vice President of Funerals Australia, at his family funeral home on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. We discuss the future of Australia’s funeral profession — from staffing shortages and industry wages to regulation, direct cremation, and the importance of ceremony in supporting healthy grief. As...

In this episode of Death: A Changing Industry, I sit down with Asha Dooley, Funeral Director at Grace Funerals and President of Funerals Australia, at her family funeral home located in Sydney, Australia.⸻🙌 OUR SPONSORSPrincipal SponsorNational Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) (https://nafd.org.uk)A progressive and inclusive voice for the funeral profession and bereaved people across the U...

In this episode, we talk to Chad Rynehart, a former Anglican minister turned funeral director, to explore the changing role of religion, grief, and community. From his personal journey out of organised religion to the authentic, human-centred approach he now brings to funerals, this conversation offers profound insights into why traditional structures no longer serve everyone and what we can do in...

In 2019, 39 people lost their lives after being found in a lorry in Essex, having travelled illegally from Vietnam to the UK.Funeral director Edward Cutler shares the emotional, ethical, and logistical reality of being entrusted with bringing them home — and the weight of responsibility that comes with it.⸻👤 ABOUT THE GUESTEdward Cutler is a London-based funeral director known for his compassiona...

This groundbreaking episode of Death: A Changing Industry removes the mystery around cremation in the UK, showing every respectful stage of the process, from the hearse arrival to the final committal, care of the deceased and the final release of the ashes. Alan José, a pioneer in public crematorium open days since 1977, shares why transparency matters and addresses the most common myths surroundi...

Grief brings a storm of emotions and that’s normal. In this powerful conversation with Nicola Marshall, we explore what real support looks like after a death: holding space, listening more than we speak, and resisting the urge to “fix”. Nicola shares candidly about losing her son Lucas, how community showed up, and why emotional honesty (for adults and children) is essential to healing. We discuss...

April Commons has never met her sister, Lola, who died before birth, but she has always known her. In this powerful conversation, April, just 15 years old, shares what it’s like growing up in a family where grief is open, honest, and part of everyday life. She speaks with remarkable clarity about “secondary grief,” the importance of honesty with children, and why wrapping young people in bubble wr...

At nine months pregnant, Lisa learned her daughter Lola had no heartbeat. In this deeply human conversation, she shares how that moment shattered everything and quietly set her on a path to becoming a grief and bereavement coach. She reflects on raising her rainbow baby, April, in a home where grief isn’t hidden but embraced and how rituals, honesty, and community support have helped her family he...

How do we better support children through grief? John and Kevin discuss the landmark moment Parliament debated including death, dying and bereavement in the national curriculum. Kevin reflects on the emotional December debate, the personal loss of his father and brother, and how his lived experience fuels his work in Westminster. They explore the impact of grief on young people, why breaking the t...

In this episode, we speak with Emma, Matt, and Michael from Laurelo – Path to Probate. Emma and Matt open up about the heart-wrenching loss of their partners and the raw reality of raising bereaved children. Their stories are honest, emotional, and inspiring, a testament to the resilience of families navigating unimaginable grief. They discuss the brutal moment of breaking devastating news to chil...

In this powerful episode of Death, A Changing Industry, we speak with Dr Emma Clare, CEO of End of Life Doula UK and Chartered Psychologist, about the quiet, peaceful side of dying that rarely makes headlines. We explore:– What an end of life death doula really does– How we’ve lost our cultural relationship with death– The rise of direct cremation and its emotional cost– Why community and calmness...

The funeral profession is under immense pressure. In this episode of Death: A Changing Industry, we’re joined by Rachel Bradburne of the NAFD, who unpacks the urgent need for regulation, shifting consumer behaviours, and the silent crisis affecting local funeral directors across the UK.This is a frank and powerful conversation about where the sector is headed. We explore:- Why unregulated funeral...

When Richard lost his wife Kerry, his world changed overnight. Left to raise three children alone, he chose a path of openness, connection, and empowerment, inviting his children into the heart of grief rather than shielding them from it. From sealing their mum’s coffin to placing birthday cards inside, every act became a moment of healing. In this emotional conversation, Richard reflects on Kerry...

From losing his father at just eight years old to leading a team of over 1,000 funeral colleagues, Lee shares how grief shaped his purpose and how the funeral sector is evolving. Whether you work in the funeral profession or have ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes, this episode offers rare insight with authenticity and heart.🙌 OUR SPONSORS National Association of Funeral Director...

In this deeply moving episode of Death, a Changing Industry, we sit down with Stuart Anderson, MP for South Shropshire, to explore his extraordinary life journey. From childhood bereavement and military service to battling PTSD and eventually becoming a Member of Parliament. Stuart shares his raw and personal experiences of grief, loss, and resilience, including the impact of losing his father at...

We welcome Ross Hickton, President of SAIF (The Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors), to discuss the biggest challenges facing the funeral sector today.🙌 OUR SPONSORS National Association of Funeral Directors: https://www.nafd.org.uk/ Westerleigh Group: https://www.westerleighgroup.co.uk/ Obitus: https://www2.obitus.com Laurelo: https://laurelo.co.uk/ Howden: https://www.howdenins...

What does a funeral really mean in today’s world? In this deeply moving episode, we speak with Kelly Scott, President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association, about the evolving nature of farewells, the quiet power of community, and why unattended cremations may leave families emotionally adrift. With over 35 years of experience in a family-run funeral home, Kelly opens up about the profou...

What role does architecture play in how we grieve? Professor Hilary Grainger OBE joins us to explore how crematoriums shape our experience of loss, remembrance, and even our own mortality. From ritual to reflection, and from landscape to legacy, we uncover how these often-overlooked buildings hold deep cultural and emotional significance. Whether you’re in the funeral profession, a student of arch...