The Life and Death Podcast

“If you ever want some good advice, talk to a funeral director.” Drew Lilleker talks about the emotional responsibility of his job, supporting bereaved families, and working around death. 

“What people give me I hold precious. They’re sharing the deepest part of themselves.” Siobhan Hoyes, Spiritual Care Practitioner at Ashgate Hospicecare, accompanies patients towards the end of their life journeys and discusses the role of spirituality in palliative care.

“When you find life a bit overwhelming it really makes you interested in the big questions.” Tunng band member, Sam Genders, discusses his recent musical project exploring death and palliative care. 

“The main thing for us is the patients. It was cruel what people had to go through.” 2020 was a difficult year for everyone, and palliative care was no exception. Three people share their unique experiences of palliative care in the time of COVID-19. 

“I’ve been dead. I know what it’s like, and I’m not frightened.” Terminally ill patient, David Lawton, shares his experience of dying and being brought back to life, and what he saw on the other side.

“People think communication is about what we say, when it’s actually about silence.” Author and palliative doctor Kathryn Mannix explains what happens when we die, and why we must talk about it.

“I learnt to let go of that guilt for feeling okay”. Arlene and Ellie discuss their personal experiences of bereavement, grieving at Christmas time, and how singing has helped their mental health.

“There are some people that just get under my defences”. Stephen, senior physiotherapist at Ashgate Hospicecare, chats with the hospice’s Chief Executive Barbara-Anne. They discuss the person behind the title, their views of life and death, and how their perspectives have been shaped by working in the hospice sector.

"You've got the fuel with what you've been through to be able to do it". Tom, who has been a passionate fundraiser since his Dad died in 2018, chats with fundraising manager Carl about family, loss, and the incredible cycling challenge he completed during lockdown.

“I think bereavement starts before somebody has died”. Sarah, whose partner Jackie died in 2017, and her bereavement counsellor Liz, chat about loss, coping with death, and how they have worked through Sarah's grief together. 

“All my patients have an incurable illness but like Lynette they are very much about living”. Dr Sarah Parnacott and her patient Lynette, who is living with an incurable tumour, chat about their relationship, providing care for patients with complex needs, and the importance of a dignified death. 

"You're on this earth to live, and the dying side sorts itself out". Physiotherapist Stephen, and his patient Roy, chat about what it means to live and die well, and what Ashgate Hospicecare means to them both.

Hear honest conversations about what a good death really means. Your host, Stephen Rumford, brings together givers and receivers of end of life care to chat about their unique relationships, hospice life, and dying well.