Opening Ceremony Podcast with Jess May

MARRIAGE LAW REFORM is a subject close to my heart. Consultation to update an archaic legal system is currently starting to happen in  the UK. I am joined by 2 experts in this field. In it we discuss what is at stake, what it means for you and how you can shape the future. It's a good one. x You can find Jess here:  https://www.jess-may.com/

HERE'S ONE FOR HALLOWEEN If you'd like to support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368233/supporters/new Dr Jennifer Uzzell is a freelance researcher and academic in the field of Pagan Studies and Death and Bereavement Studies. Her doctorate, from the Centre for Death and Life Studies at Durham University looks at the ritualisation of Death among modern British Druids. Jenny is a me...

SELF WORTH & CEREMONIES WITH MIRANDA ASH https://www.mirandathecelebrant.co.uk/ Miranda Ash is a Celebrant with a rich and varied career behind her and ahead of her now firmly rooted in created warm, authentic ceremonies across the UK and beyond.  She has 13 years experience in this particular role as a Celebrant and she is known for her down to earth approach, thoughtful touches and a strong...

Hi there! My podcast is a free resource and I'd love it if you could support it. Click here to donate if you'd like to: THANK YOU https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368233/supporters/new Dr Jennifer Riley is a research fellow in Divinity at the University of Aberdeen. Her current research explores grave goods in the UK today – the objects and items placed with people when they die, which almost...

REAL LIFE WEDDINGS FOLLOW UP SERIES MEET MY COUPLES AND FIND OUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEIR WEDDING CEREMONIES. HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED? WHAT IS GOING ON FOR THEM? I loved this opportunity to meet up with one of my grooms Gareth Tanner who has since become a painter and moved on significantly in his life with his lovely wife Lisa. I haven't seen Gareth since the day he married Lisa in a woodland...

Megan Trump who recently featured in the film Rave on for the Avon married the River Avon...for real. On Opening Ceremony this week we meet 2 incredible Environmental Activists passionate Wild Swimmers taking peaceful Direct Action to affect policy change for our polluted rivers. Hear from accomplished poet Megan and her Celebrant Ruth Sidgwick all about why a wedding ceremony, a river and an inde...

INTRODUCING THE DEAD PET GIRLS! This platform and community delves into the world of pet death, offering a welcoming space for honest conversations whilst exploring the quirky cultural aspects of pet loss that are often left unspoken. 57% of UK households and 66% of US households have pets, with a whopping 97% considering them family. Pet loss, then, becomes a powerful unifier for us all. It touch...

Meet the founders of Soul Films! Wendy Pye & Sybil Ah-Mane  Soul Films are sensitively produced short films that remember and celebrate someone who has died or is reaching end of life. A QR code linking to the film online can be printed on to a memorial plaque that will be placed in a significant public space, creating a lasting legacy and an alternative memorial site. Listen in and hear all a...

THE WIDOW COACH Karen Sutton Join us as we chat about Widowhood and the amazing way in which Karen re-invented herself and found new purpose after the sudden death of her husband whilst her children were still young. Determined not to be defined by his death she set about rebuilding her life and in the process decided to start supporting fellow widows in their grief. Inspiring in her positivity, c...

Janelle Ketcher from POSTAL SERVICE FOR THE DEAD Postal Service for the Dead is an ongoing, collective project where people send letters to anyone in their life who has died. Birthdays, death days, anniversaries, holidays, or seemingly random days can all spark grief. Writing letters to those who have died has always been a powerful tool, but we felt something was missing – the physicality of stam...

Toby Angel is a co-founder and Manager and Director of Sacred Stones a community memorial provision for cremation ashes... Toby is part of a development in reclaiming ancient burial traditions including Barrows The long barrows are beautiful visit www.sacrestones.co.uk to find out more. #memorials #livingfunerals #communitymemorials #celebrationsoflife #jessmaycelebrant # You can find Jess here: ...

Today we have Dagmara Rudkin sharing with us about her astonishing shrouds. I first met Dagmara a couple of years ago and was blown away by her gorgeous shrouds which are unlike any I've ever seen. I can't wait for you to hear more about them. We are obviously talking about death in this episode and so if that is a trigger for you this might not be for you x I will let her speak for hers...

MEET SALLY, Menopause Mindset Mentor and hypnotherapist based here in Brighton. We had a lot of fun laughing out our former selves in this episode,  but also acknowledging the importance of the ceremonial at different stages of our lives including menopause. Sally Garozzo is a multi award winning Clinical Hypnotherapist using Rapid Transformational Therapy and a Trauma Informed Coach.  She has a s...

This episode is long for a reason. It's fun, it's hopeful it's insightful and it has Dave the Plantman....internet sensation... who will tell you all about his 45 year relationship with plants, memorial roses and the use of trees and plants in memorialising. His relationship to death and how that has been influenced by his experience of the natural world. Full of great tips on how t...

I love this episode so much! It is all about how we use language in our current age here in the UK, how euphemism can serve a purpose and all the different assumptions professionals make about how the general public want to use death language. I learned a lot! Amy Dugmore has most recently been the content director for Funeral Choice, the UK’s leading funeral comparison and advice platform.  She h...

Warning...your life may never be the same again! Meet Kate & Kate, Comediennes of the Funeral scene, all round good eggs, founders of Coffin Club UK, a Funeral Training Programme for would be Funeral Revolutionaries, and full time Celebrants for fabulous people everywhere. Here we talk 'gatekeeping' Funeral Directors, the impact of sexism on the lives of Celebrants and put the Celebr...

Meet Melanie Wilson, Funeral & Memorial Celebrant, Founder of Death of the Party NYC as she shares her journey about founding DEATH OF THE PARTY NYC . In this episode we discuss her grief journey and how she founded the organisation Death of the Party NYC! She is joining us from New York. In her own words: " Death of the Party NYC is about 'Proving loneliness wrong when it comes to g...

Howard Williams is an Archaeologist with a passion for The Archaeology and Heritage of Death and Memory - Past & Present  He is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Chester (2008–present). He specialises in mortuary archaeology and medieval archaeology as well as the history of archaeology and public archaeology. He has a BSc in Archaeological Science, an MA Burial Archaeology and a P...

David Holmes is the founder of Ashes to Blooms and Sussex Seed Balls and he creates memorial seed balls form the ashes of your loved ones! Listen to the story of his pet rabbit and how she started his business! Handy Links https://www.nationalfuneralexhibition.co.uk/ https://ashestoblooms.com/ https://sussexseedballs.co.uk/ https://blackoutshop.co.uk/ You can find Jess here:  https://www.jess-may....

Roxy is an award winning Humanist Wedding Celebrant, who marries couples all over the south of England and abroad. A lover of all things ritual, she creates bespoke, fun, joyful wedding ceremonies for couples who want to stand out from the crowd. Passionate about celebrating peoples uniqueness and triumphing authenticity, Roxy passionately believes that no two weddings should be the same.  When no...

Martin Fox AKA Maria Hurtz is a Celebrant friend and genuinely wonderful person. Martin's Celebrant business is known to us as Proudfox Ceremonies and anyone who is anyone needs to know about it. Martin is the first UK Celebrant to conduct ceremonies in his Drag persona as Maria Hurtz, he also conducts ceremonies as Martin. Find him here:  https://www.proudfoxceremonies.com/about/ Front and c...

Let me introduce you to Nigel Pedlingham he is an incredible person and we are very lucky to have an opportunity to hear all about his ceremonial experiences. He is a change maker and social justice advocate, a consciousness guide, ceremony leader and  psychedelic facilitator  As well as being a loving husband and father.  He is the founder of MAGUEY, a practice for healing and growth based in Ams...

Meet Katie Costello, force of nature and all round brilliant human!  A multi Award-Winning Soul Midwife & Funeral Celebrant she has tended to hundreds of people at the end of their lives and created hundreds of funerals too.  She is passionate about end of life choices and is leading the field with her training programme Dying for a Cuppa.  She is also a new but already dear friend to Jess.  J...