It's A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply Human Podcast About Death & Life de Carrie Smith & Emma Skipp

She's helped millions talk about death. Now she's talking to us. With a social media audience of more than 2 million followers, American hospice nurse Penny Hawkins Smith, better known as Hospice Nurse Penny, became a viral sensation during the Covid pandemic by doing something many people still struggle with: talking honestly about death. With more than 17 years of experience in hospice and palliative care, Penny shares the realities of dying with refreshing honesty, compassion and a healthy dose of dark humour. Her videos help people understand what happens at the end of life, challenge misconceptions and reassure families who are frightened by things they've never witnessed before. And when we sat down with Penny, it quickly became clear that we'd found a kindred spirit across the Atlantic. In this episode of It's A Death Sentence Podcast, Emma and Carrie get together with Penny for a conversation that is as funny, fascinating and wonderfully candid as it is thought-provoking. We talk about what dying can…

From Victorian murder mysteries to modern-day poisonings, workplace scandals and an entire community exposed to toxic pollution… this episode is enough to make you look twice at what's lurking in the shed. This week, it's just Emma and Carrie, and we're in full throttle as we explore the fascinating, frightening and sometimes downright unbelievable world of poison. We're talking historical poisonings, notorious cases, questionable human behaviour and the extraordinary ways people have found to kill one another throughout history. Expect dark British humour, some genuinely jaw-dropping stories and the occasional bout of raucous laughter as we ask ourselves one very reasonable question: what on earth is wrong with people? We explore common poisons, from cyanide and carbon monoxide to medicines, lead and mercury, and discover how substances that have legitimate uses can also become dangerous or deadly.Then we turn to some extraordinary cases from history and closer to home. We also explore the tragic story of…

It’s Halloween month… so naturally, Carrie has turned up to the studio as Carrie Potter. This week, we’re heading into the magical world of Harry Potter to explore one of the biggest themes running through the entire franchise: death. There’s just one small problem… Carrie is a Harry Potter EXPERT. Emma… absolutely is not. In fact, Emma’s knowledge of the entire franchise is so embarrassingly poor that she admits she only watched the first few films before the Dementors scared her off completely. So while Carrie Potter arrives fully prepared, Emma is essentially trying to remember who everyone is. But beneath the Harry Potter chat is something much more serious — and something we think the books and films do brilliantly: they introduce children to death, grief and loss without pretending those things don't exist. Harry begins his story having already lost his parents. As the series develops, death becomes an increasingly important part of his world, alongside friendship, love, growing up and adventure. We…

This week, Carrie and Emma are going somewhere they probably shouldn't go quite so enthusiastically: we're talking about bizarre deaths. And when Carrie is an Anatomical Pathology Technician, that means Emma has an almost unlimited supply of questions. Naturally, Emma wants to know everything. What actually happens to the human body after a fire? Which parts of the body can burn? What does a body look like after a road traffic accident? What happens when someone decides to put something somewhere in their body that it really wasn't designed to go? And, perhaps most importantly, how does Carrie manage to keep answering Emma's increasingly enthusiastic questions without completely losing the will to live? In this episode, the two explore some of the strangest, most unusual and sometimes genuinely unbelievable deaths and medical situations, mixing historical cases with stories from Carrie's own career in anatomical pathology and her experiences working on the ambulance team. As always, Carrie discusses real…

Twelve months. One year. 365 days. And somehow… it still doesn't quite feel real. In this deeply personal episode of It's A Death Sentence, Emma and Carrie reflect on 12 months of grief after losing two of the people they loved most: Emma's dad and Carrie's brother. What actually changes when you reach that one-year mark? Is grief different at 12 months, or are you simply different because you've had 12 months to learn how to live alongside it? They talk about the strange, suspended feeling of grief — those moments when you instinctively think “I need to tell Dad that” or “I need to tell my brother this”, before remembering they're not there anymore. They explore the long goodbye of dementia and terminal illness, and whether some of the grieving had already happened before their loved ones died. They talk about the things nobody warns you about: · Missing the completely ordinary, mundane things you never expected to miss · Forgetting for a split second that they're gone · The random Tuesday-afternoon grief…

When we picture someone grieving, we’re often shown the same image: hollow cheeks, a shrinking body, clothes hanging from a suddenly smaller frame. The beautiful, tragic, almost glamorous picture of the bereaved person who has simply… stopped eating. But what happens when grief does the opposite? In this episode of It’s A Death Sentence, Emma and Carrie have one of their most candid conversations yet about weight, grief, trauma, food and the complicated relationship so many of us have with our bodies. Because for millions of people, stress and trauma don’t make the weight fall off. They make us eat. They make us comfort eat, lose our routines, reach for things that make us feel better for five minutes — and sometimes gain weight when we are already struggling to cope. And what about those of us for whom weight management was already a lifelong battle before grief came along? Emma gets brutally honest about her own relationship with weight, including her use of Ozempic and Mounjaro, the pressure to maintain a…

We are SO proud to have interviewed Francesca Amber on the podcast! For those who don’t know her, Francesca is a Sunday Times bestselling author, entrepreneur and host of the UK’s number-one self-development podcast, Law of Attraction Changed My Life. She’s also the author of Manifest Like a Mother — a book that, as it happens, played a rather important part in this particular episode coming to life… About a year ago, Carrie and I were out walking and discovered we were both reading Francesca’s book. Serendipity? Probably. We decided there and then: “We will interview her. It will happen.” We emailed. Nothing. We waited. Still nothing. Six to eight months, a few tags, another email and eventually a slide into the DMs later… IT HAPPENED. But this episode isn’t just about manifestation. We’re exploring a question we’ve become fascinated by: Can you manifest effectively whilst you’re grieving? Can gratitude, visualisation and the Law of Attraction sit alongside grief and loss — or can they sometimes feel…

We’ve talked a LOT about death and grief on this podcast… but what happens when you throw manifestation and the Law of Attraction into the mix? In this episode, Carrie and Emma get personal about their own experiences with manifestation, gratitude and visualisation — and why they’ve both loved and used the Law of Attraction in their own lives. Both of us started with The Secret, the classic beginner’s guide to manifestation, but Emma has a pretty good story about what happened when she took visualisation a little further… Back in 2009, while touring as a singer with The Enemy, Emma created a vision board with one very specific goal on it: Wembley Stadium. She was told she would only be doing the main leg of the tour — which was already pretty amazing — but The Enemy were also supporting Oasis that year. Emma put “Wembley Stadium” above her bed, making it the first thing she saw when she woke up and the last thing she saw before she went to sleep. And guess what? She performed at Wembley. But then we get to…

In this fascinating episode of It’s A Death Sentence, Carrie and Emma are joined by Ahmed Hraichie — The Muslim Undertaker, also known as the Aussie Mammoth — an Australian funeral service professional whose work and social media have reached a global audience. Ahmed takes us on a journey through his remarkable path into the death industry, from his early days working in mortuary removals and cemeteries to preparing and burying thousands of Muslim deceased according to Islamic funeral traditions. We hear about the physical, emotional and spiritual experiences that shaped his journey — and how his understanding of death has influenced the way he lives his own life. Together, we explore the fascinating differences and shared humanity between Islamic funeral traditions and Western funeral practices. We talk about: 🕌 What Islam teaches about death and burial ⚰️ Why traditional Islamic burial practices differ from many Western customs 🔬 What the Muslim faith believes about autopsy 👩‍⚕️ The role of women within…

How It All Began: The Story Behind It’s A Death Sentence Why on earth would two women decide to make a podcast about death, dying and grief? Well… there’s quite a story behind it. Carrie and Emma are both bereaved, and death has become as much a part of their lives as life itself. Carrie has lost her mother-in-law, her uncle and, more recently, her beloved brother David. Emma has lost both of her parents, as well as a heartbreaking number of young friends. And then there’s Carrie’s job. She works as an Anatomical Pathology Technician for the coroner, performing autopsies as part of her everyday working life. So, quite literally, Carrie works with death every single day. But the podcast didn’t actually start as a podcast. Carrie originally had the idea of creating something with her brother David — a way of capturing his voice and creating a lasting legacy for his son after they received the devastating news that David was terminally ill. It was a beautiful idea, born from something terribly sad. Sadly, David…

What if the very place we fear most at the end of life is actually where we find the most joy, connection, and purpose? In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we sit down with Stephen and Pete, two men who share their deeply moving experiences at the Primrose Hospice. Far from the sombre, quiet place they initially feared, they discovered a vibrant community filled with laughter, dominoes, and unconditional support. What You’ll Discover - Breaking the Hospice Stigma: Why hospices are not just places to die, but sanctuaries for living fully, finding purpose, and sharing a laugh with people who truly understand. - The Power of Shared Experience: How connecting with others facing similar health battles provides a unique, unspoken comfort that family and friends cannot always offer. - Finding Joy in the Present: The importance of having a routine, a community to wake up for, and how simple activities like art and dominoes can quiet an anxious mind. Whether you are facing a difficult diagnosis or simply need a…

When you hear the word "hospice," what is the first thing that comes to mind? In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we sit down with Sarah McDowell from Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre to dismantle the common misconception that hospices are simply places where people go to die. Sarah shares her personal journey into the charity sector, inspired by her mother's 16-year career as a hospice nurse, and opens up about the vibrant, life-affirming reality of modern hospice care. What You’ll Discover - Redefining Hospice Care: Why places like Primrose are focused on living well, offering day services, physiotherapy, and complementary therapies rather than just end-of-life beds. - Supporting the Whole Family: How dedicated family support teams provide vital bereavement counselling and tailored group activities for children and teenagers navigating loss. - The Power of Community: A behind-the-scenes look at the massive fundraising efforts and the army of 400 volunteers required to keep these essential,…

When multiple losses hit in quick succession, how do you find the space to grieve while still holding everything together for everyone else? In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we sit down with Jenna Smalley, a 34-year-old mother of two who experienced the unimaginable loss of three close family members in just two years. Jenna shares her deeply personal journey of losing her father suddenly to a ruptured aorta, followed by her 102-year-old grandmother, and finally her uncle, whom she cared for through his terminal cancer diagnosis. What You’ll Discover - Navigating Compound Grief: The emotional and physical toll of losing multiple family members in a short timeframe and why survival mode often delays the grieving process. - Systemic Failures in End-of-Life Care: A honest look at the lack of support from healthcare services, the administrative burdens placed on next of kin, and the vital need for better communication. - Finding Signs of Hope: How personal beliefs about the afterlife and small,…

How do you find the light in the darkest of times? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down with Rachel Watts, a social worker, trustee, and dedicated supporter of Primrose Hospice. Rachel shares her deeply personal journey following her sister Liz’s terminal cancer diagnosis, and how the hospice became a lifeline for her entire family. We explore the vital role of peer support for grieving teenagers, the importance of normalising conversations around death, and how Liz’s legacy continues to shape Rachel's life today. What You’ll Discover - Breaking the Hospice Stigma: Why hospices are far from the doom-and-gloom environments many expect, and how they provide a space for both serious support and light-hearted humour. - Supporting Grieving Teenagers: The vital role of peer groups in helping young people navigate loss, and why using clear, honest language about death is essential for their understanding. - Planning for the End: How taking the time to organise your own "death book" and final wishes…

What if the secret to truly living lies in accepting our own mortality? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down with the incredible Kim Chandler at the Primrose Hospice. Kim shares her journey of living with a terminal secondary breast cancer diagnosis, far outliving her original prognosis, and how she chooses to embrace every single day with humour, honesty, and a refreshing lack of filter. What You’ll Discover - Redefining the Hospice: Why places like the Primrose Hospice aren't just about dying, but are vibrant community hubs focused on living life to the fullest. - Finding Freedom in Finality: How accepting a terminal diagnosis can shift your perspective from anger to gratitude, and why we all need to just "look up" more often. - Breaking the Taboo: The importance of normalising conversations around death, from planning direct cremations and living funerals to talking openly with children about loss. Kim’s story is a powerful reminder that talking about death doesn't have to be morbid. By…

Ready for a fun, cheeky quiz to test how much you’ve been paying attention? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we put our (and your) knowledge to the test with a quiz covering everything from the biology of death and the body to grief, desire, psychology, and philosophy to revisit key themes from previous episodes. What You’ll Discover - Death and the Body: From the most common causes of death during sex to what happens to digestion and the brain as we approach the end. - Grief, Desire & The Nervous System: Why libido can increase or decrease during bereavement, the role of oxytocin, and how fear often sits beneath anger. - Philosophical Reflections: Big questions about mortality, continuing bonds, living authentically, and the paradox of death anxiety. Whether you’re a long-time listener or wanting to learn something new, this episode reminds us that talking about death doesn’t have to be solemn - it can be playful, thought-provoking, and deeply human. It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of…

What if the most profound way to honour the dead is to find the courage to truly live and maybe even laugh along the way? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down with David Ferrugio, host of the DEAD Talks podcast and author of the upcoming book, Not Dead Yet. David shares his deeply personal journey of losing his father in the World Trade Centre on 9/11 when he was just 12 years old. We explore how he navigated the overwhelming weight of a very public grief, the unique experience of growing up in a household of strong women, and why humour has become his ultimate coping mechanism. What You’ll Discover - Finding Light in the Dark: How dark humour and making jokes can serve as a vital, momentary relief from the heavy, concentrated pain of grief. - Navigating a Public Loss: The strange, isolating, and sometimes overbearing reality of grieving an individual loved one while the entire world is watching and mourning alongside you. - Embracing the Unknown: Why letting go of the illusion of control…

There is a strange, quiet comfort in knowing that the person standing next to you is feeling exactly as devastated as you are. In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we dive deep into the heavy, fascinating world of collective grief. From the profound national mourning that followed the death of Princess Diana to the shared, daily trauma of the Covid-19 pandemic, we explore why we cry for people we have never met, and what happens when an entire nation is forced to process loss at the exact same time. What You’ll Discover - Parasocial Loss and Its Power: Why we feel such a deep, personal ache when a public figure dies, and how the media shapes our permission to mourn. - When Shared Trauma Divides: How a global event like Covid-19 can simultaneously bring us together in solidarity while driving deep wedges between our closest relationships. - Why Rituals are Necessary: Why being denied the traditional, communal acts of saying goodbye - like funerals and bedside vigils leaves us with a complicated,…

This is one of those topics that we just don't talk about enough in our daily lives, mostly because we get so caught up in the busyness of simply getting by. In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we sit down once again with Emma Johnson. She shares a deeply personal account of what it was like to care for her father at the end of his life. We explore the complexities of navigating a difficult parent-child relationship, the profound reality of end-of-life care during the pandemic, and the existential terror that can accompany our thoughts on mortality. What You’ll Discover - The Complexity of End-of-Life Care: How caring for a parent with whom you have a complicated history can shift the balance of your relationship and offer a unique path to healing. - The Reality of Existential Terror: A deep dive into death anxiety, what truly triggers it, and how it manifests differently for everyone. - The Need for Open Conversations: Why we as a society tend to sleepwalk through life avoiding the topic of death, and…

Sex and death - two of life’s biggest taboos, explored with honesty and zero judgment. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we dive into the often unspoken connection between grief and sexuality. From heightened desire as a form of comfort or escapism to the phenomenon known as “widow’s heat,” we discuss how loss can reshape intimacy in surprising ways. What You’ll Discover - Grief and Libido: Why some people experience increased sexual desire during bereavement while others withdraw, and how sex can serve as grounding, distraction, or emotional release. - Widow’s Heat and Cultural Views: The real experiences of intense craving after loss, plus how different cultures approach intimacy and mourning. - The Philosophical Link: From “la petite mort” (the little death) to the deeper emotional crossover between sex and grief. Whether it’s seeking physical connection to feel something other than sadness or navigating complicated emotions after profound loss, there’s no single “right” way to grieve - including…

This was one of those episodes that took us right back to our childhood. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we unpack how Disney films shaped our early understanding of death - from parental loss in Bambi and The Lion King to dramatic villain endings, the afterlife in Coco, and the emotional punch of stories like My Girl and Watership Down. What You’ll Discover - How Disney Handles Death: Common tropes like temporary “deaths,” the circle of life, and off-screen losses. - Villains and Justice: Why bad characters meet dramatic but indirect ends, and what that teaches kids about consequences. - Grief, Remembrance & Nostalgia: From Coco’s focus on remembering the dead to how these films influenced the way we process loss. Disney often softens death while still introducing big ideas like grief, legacy, and moving forward. Whether through symbolic afterlives or sudden heartbreak, these stories gave many of us our first (sometimes confusing) window into one of life’s hardest realities. It’s a nostalgic,…

In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we explore near-death experiences - what people report seeing, feeling, and learning when they come close to dying and return. What You’ll Discover - Common Elements of Near-Death Experiences: Bright lights, feelings of peace and wholeness, out-of-body sensations, and encounters with loved ones or beings. - The Science vs. The Mystery: How the brain might create these experiences under extreme stress, and why they feel so similar across cultures and time. - Personal and Cultural Reflections: Stories of transformation, loss of fear of death, and why these experiences continue to fascinate us. What really stood out is how these accounts - whether explained by brain chemistry or something more profound - often leave people changed, with a deeper sense of peace and purpose. The conversation sits beautifully in that space between science and hope, reminding us that death and what might come after doesn’t have to be purely frightening. It can also spark curiosity, comfort,…

This episode felt different because we handed the big questions over to the children. In this special episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we run a kids’ workshop and ask young people what they think about death, grief, the afterlife, funerals, and how they’d support a friend who is sad. What You’ll Discover - Honest Answers from Children: What they believe happens when we die, whether they think there’s a heaven or hell, and how they’d comfort someone who is grieving. - The Curious Questions Kids Ask: Their raw, thoughtful, and often surprisingly funny takes on death and what comes after. - The Kids Turn the Tables: The curious and brilliant questions the children asked us in return. Their answers are honest, sometimes humorous, and often wiser than we expect. It’s a gentle reminder that death doesn’t have to be a scary or forbidden topic - it can be discussed with care, curiosity, and even hope. This episode was recorded as part of a school pilot on death education, showing how naturally young people engage…

This was one of those conversations where you end up equal parts fascinated and slightly horrified. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we getting into what actually happens to your body after you die. Carrie, who performs autopsies for a living, takes us through the full process of decomposition - from the very first changes to the bloating, purging, skin slip, maggots, and everything in between. What You’ll Discover - The Real Stages After Death: Pallor mortis, algor mortis, rigor mortis, livor mortis, autolysis (self-digestion), putrefaction, and how temperature, environment and body type all change the timeline. - The Messy, Honest Realities: Gas, bloating, fluids leaking from the mouth and nose, why bodies can look like old leather in dry conditions, and the unmistakable smell of death. - The Questions People Are Scared to Ask: Do bodies always poop? Why is the tongue sometimes removed? Can organs still be used? Decomposition isn’t just decay - it’s a natural biological process where life keeps…

This episode goes right to the heart of one of the most tender, complicated spaces we’ve ever explored. In this episode, we sit down with John Kramer, founder of Guardian Angels, to talk openly about using AI as a tool in grief. John shares his own journey through loss, the accidental beginnings of the platform, and how it evolved from an experiment into a structured, therapist-guided journaling experience designed to help people process pain rather than replace human connection. What You’ll Discover - From Digital Séance to Structured Healing: How Guardian Angels moved from conversational AI to reflective journaling rooted in evidence-based grief tasks. - Why Men Often Connect With This Tool: The safe, risk-free space it creates for those who struggle to talk about feelings or show vulnerability. - Guardrails, Ethics & The Path Forward: How the platform is built to support real healing, with clear boundaries, therapist input, crisis resources, and an intentional focus on integration rather than dependence.…

This episode felt different to record because, if we're honest, there’s a lot of frustration in it. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we take a proper look at social media. The good, the bad, and the parts that are genuinely dangerous. From the pressure to be liked, to the impact on our mental health, and the very real consequences for young people, this is an honest, unfiltered conversation about something most of us use every day but rarely stop to question. What You’ll Discover - The Pressure to Be Liked: Why social media is designed to keep us hooked, constantly seeking validation and comparison. - When It Turns Dangerous: How cyberbullying, harmful trends, and algorithms can contribute to serious mental health risks. - The Parenting Dilemma: Why there’s no clear answer when it comes to protecting young people without isolating them. What really stands out in this conversation is the contradiction. Social media connects us, grows communities, and even helps people access support in moments of…

We’ve both felt this, but no one really prepares you for it. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down and talk about how grief completely warps your sense of time. One moment everything feels frozen, like it just happened, and the next, months have passed in a blur you can barely remember. This is a raw, honest conversation about what that actually feels like, why it happens, and why it’s far more common than people realise. What You’ll Discover - Why Time Stops and Speeds Up: Grief disrupts your normal sense of time, creating a strange mix of slow-motion moments and lost months. - The Science Behind the Feeling: Time distortion is a real neurological response where the brain shifts into survival mode during trauma. - Why Nothing Feels Quite Real: From brain fog to disassociation, grief can make you feel like you’re watching life from the outside. What really stayed with us is how disorientating it all is. That sense of being stuck in the moment you heard the news, while the rest of the world…

This special bonus episode from It’s a Death Sentence offers a gentle, guided meditation designed to bring comfort, calm, and a sense of connection in moments of loss. Written and produced by Emma Skipp and Leon Payne, this meditation was created from a deeply personal place. Emma, who finds great comfort in guided meditation, wanted to craft something specifically for those navigating grief - a space to pause, breathe, and feel held. The meditation begins by guiding you into a state of deep relaxation through simple, soothing breathing techniques. From there, you are gently led into a reflective visualisation, inviting you to imagine your lost loved one beside you - a quiet, safe moment of connection. The soundscape has been carefully designed and tuned to 432Hz - often associated with healing and harmony - creating a warm and immersive listening experience. All music was performed and produced by Leon Payne and Emma Skipp, with natural birdsong recorded in Emma’s own garden adding an intimate, grounding…

This conversation really stayed with us because it’s one of those stories that feels both deeply personal and quietly powerful. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down with Jayne Thomson, a funeral director who came into the industry after losing her Mum, to explore what it’s like to work so closely with death every day. We talk about grief, purpose, the reality behind the role, and why creating spaces to actually talk about death matters more than we think. What You’ll Discover - From Loss to Calling: How Jayne's personal experience of losing her Mum led her into the funeral industry and shaped how she supports others. - Why We Struggle to Talk About Death: The impact of language, avoidance, and how honest conversations can change everything. - Creating Space for Real Conversations: From running a Death Café to “walk and talk” sessions, new ways to make grief and death less isolating. What really stood out was Jayne's honesty about how difficult it can be when your world has changed, but…

There’s this unspoken expectation that by six months in, you should be doing better. That the worst has passed, that life has settled, that you’ve somehow “moved on.” But in this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down and talk honestly about what grief actually feels like six months after loss. What You’ll Discover - Grief Doesn’t Follow a Timeline: Six months isn’t a milestone of healing, it’s often where the reality of loss starts to settle in and reshape everything. - The Hidden Weight of “Moving On”: How social expectations to be okay can make grief feel isolating, even when you’re still deeply affected. - How Grief Shows Up in Everyday Life: From dreams and unexpected triggers to physical symptoms and emotional waves, grief doesn’t stay in one place. What is clear is how messy and unpredictable grief is. One moment you’re laughing, getting through your day, doing your job, and the next something small, a memory, a date, even a conversation, brings everything rushing back. And the hardest part is…

We didn’t expect this conversation to be quite as powerful as it turned out to be. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we do something a little different. We hand the mic over to kids. What follows is one of the most honest, funny, and unexpectedly insightful conversations about death, grief, and what happens after we die. What You’ll Discover - How Kids Really Understand Death: Simple, honest answers that cut through adult discomfort and get straight to the heart of loss and meaning. - Grief Through a Child’s Eyes: Why sadness, confusion, humour, and even happiness can all exist at the same time. - Big Questions, Beautiful Answers: From heaven to reincarnation, kids explore life after death with imagination, curiosity, and surprising wisdom. What really stayed with us is how open and unfiltered this conversation is. There’s no pretending to have all the answers, no fear of saying the wrong thing. Just curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to explore the unknown. And maybe that’s something we lose a…

Grief has a funny way of stripping everything back. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we dive into the idea that losing someone does not just break your heart, it reshuffles your priorities. We’re talking bucket lists, the things we still want to do before we die, and the far more liberating f*ck it list, the things we are absolutely done with. From Tahiti and ballroom dancing to refusing to learn to ride a bike, we share what stays on the list and what gets thrown in the bin. What We Uncover - The Bucket vs The F*ck It List: Why grief pushes you to chase what matters and drop what never did. - Liberation in Midlife: How caring less about judgement, trends and social pressure can feel like freedom. - Present Over Perfect: Why being silly with your kids, booking the holiday and drinking the wine might matter more than ticking impressive boxes. Grief forces perspective. It makes you question why you are saying yes when you mean no. Why you are saving the good stuff for later. Why you are shrinking…

We didn’t quite know where this conversation was going to go when we hit record, and honestly, that’s what makes it so powerful In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down with Rob Oliver, an IT manager and musician, to talk about grief in its rawest form. From losing his Dad, Mum, and close friends, to navigating severe anxiety and depression, Rob shares a story that is both deeply painful and unexpectedly full of humour. What You’ll Discover - Grief Doesn’t Follow Rules: Loss hits differently every time, and even when you expect it, nothing prepares you for how it actually feels. - Dark Humour as Survival: Finding moments of laughter in the worst situations isn’t disrespectful, it’s often what gets you through. - There Is Help, Even When It Feels Impossible: From crisis teams to therapy, speaking up and reaching out can be the turning point, even when it feels like you’re at your lowest. What really stayed with us from this conversation is Rob’s honesty. He doesn’t try to tidy up grief or make it…

It’s thoughtful, it’s a bit chaotic, and yes, we also play a round of Stupid Deaths, because nothing says healthy death conversation like guessing whether someone was really squashed by a bus or taken out by a flying football boot. What We Uncover - Immortality Isn’t That Appealing: Why living forever sounds impressive until you imagine outliving everyone you love. - Afterlife or Absolute Blackness: Honest reflections on heaven, reincarnation, family signs and the uncomfortable possibility of nothing at all. - The Ideal Age to Die: Why quality trumps quantity, and how our own family histories shape what we hope for. We talk about spiritual moments around loss, dreams that feel bigger than coincidence, and whether death is predetermined or simply biological probability. There are laughs about dying mid-sex, debates about Tarzan throat polyps, and the usual slightly inappropriate tangents that somehow still circle back to something meaningful. Underneath the humour is what we always come back to. Death is…

Some conversations hit you in the chest and stay there. This is one of them. In this episode of It’s A Death Sentence, we sit down with Ross King for a raw, unfiltered conversation about surviving near-death experiences, losing his sister at 24, and watching his best friend die years later. Ross talks openly about suicide, car crashes, anger, counselling and the strange way grief hardens and softens you at the same time. From being told he might lose his foot after a 120 mile an hour collision, to sitting at the dinner table with an empty chair where his sister should have been, this is life stripped back to its bones. There is swearing. There is laughter. There are long silences. And there is honesty in every word. What We Explore - Sudden vs Expected Death: The brutal difference between losing someone in a split second and watching them decline over two years. - Control, Anger and Survival: How trauma reshapes personality, tolerance and the need to hold life tightly. - Living Like There’s a Date on Your…

We’ve been wanting to have this conversation for a while. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we talk openly about neurodivergence and what happens when grief enters the picture. Is grieving different if you’re neurodivergent, or is it simply that grief is never as neat or predictable as we pretend it is? We reflect on late diagnoses, masking, sensory overwhelm and the quiet exhaustion that can come from trying to perform “normal” while everything inside feels anything but. What We Uncover - Grief Has No Template: There is no correct timeline, no correct emotional response and no single version of what mourning should look like. - When the World Feels Too Loud: Sensory overwhelm can intensify during loss, especially in environments that demand social performance. - The Cost of Masking: Holding it together for everyone else can lead to burnout, shutdown or delayed emotional impact. If you are neurodivergent and grieving, this episode is a reminder that your response is not wrong just because it looks…

We all want to feel a bit more fabulous sometimes, but what if chasing that glow-up could actually kill you? In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we dive into the wild world of beauty treatments that turned fatal. From Botox blunders and filler fiascos to surgeries that went horribly wrong, we share shocking stories of people who died trying to look their best. What We Uncover - Botox & Fillers Gone Fatal: The horror tales of injections causing strokes, embolisms, and instant death and why "cheap" deals are the real red flag. - Surgery Nightmares: From liposuction infections that killed a mum-of-three to a tummy tuck that ended in organ failure, the risks hiding behind the promise of perfection. - Our Vanity Confessions: Why we'd take a magic potion over needles any day. This episode is a reminder that beauty's great, but not if it costs your life. It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised. Thank you for…

We love conversations that bring warmth and connection, and Amy Courtney's stories of linking people with their loved ones in spirit felt like a hug from the other side. In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we sit down with Amy, a medium who creates unforgettable evenings of spiritual connection. We chat about her journey, the loving messages she channels from spirit, and how these moments bring guidance, clarity, and real healing to those grieving. It's a gentle, uplifting talk about the authentic bonds that endure beyond life - perfect if you're open to the idea that love never really leaves. What We Uncover - Spiritual Connections: Amy's experiences of linking people with loved ones in spirit, turning grief into moments of peace and understanding. - Guidance from Beyond: How messages from the other side offer clarity and healing, helping us feel less alone in loss. - Authentic Healing: Our thoughts on why these loving encounters remind us death isn't the end of the story. Amy's warmth made this one…

In this Valentine’s special of It’s a Death Sentence, we explore one of humanity’s oldest, strangest and most uncomfortable pairings: love and death. From broken hearts that physically fail, to myths of abduction and devotion, to killings committed in the name of love, we examine how romance, grief, obsession and mortality have always been tightly interwoven. What We Explore - When Love Becomes Physical: We look at broken heart syndrome and the way extreme emotional stress can manifest in the body, reminding us that love, grief and loss are not just emotional experiences, but physiological ones too. - Love Beyond Life and Logic: We explore how different cultures and myths have tried to reconcile love and death - from posthumous marriages in rural China to the story of Hades and Persephone - asking whether these are love stories, coping mechanisms, or metaphors for grief and change. - Killing in the Name of Love: We confront the uncomfortable reality that people are still harmed and killed in the name of love…

We had an absolute blast at Birmingham City Library for the Matter of Life and Death Festival with Brum Yodo - that's You Only Die Once, a brilliant group making death conversations feel normal and even fun. In this special compilation episode of It's a Death Sentence, Carrie and I pull together our favourite bits from the day. We chat with Sarah Barton from Stirchley Art Room about her death-inspired art, a funeral director on the realities of the job, a death doula sharing end-of-life wisdom, a nurse on hospital experiences, and GIOVANNI ESPOSITO (aka Spoz) from the Dead Good Death Cafe dropping hilarious truths about farts, funerals, and family secrets. What We Uncover - Art That Faces Death: Sarah Barton on how creating around loss helps process grief and spark conversations. - Behind the Curtain: A funeral director and death doula reveal the everyday realities of guiding people through their final chapters. - Hospital Truths & Cafe Laughs: A nurse's frontline stories and Spoz's no-filter take on family…

How do we date when death has already changed us and how honest do we need to be about the grief we carry? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we talk openly about dating after loss. Whether through bereavement, serious illness, miscarriage or sudden change, death has a way of reshaping how we relate, trust and attach. And yet, dating culture rarely makes space for that reality. Together, we explore what it means to return to dating when you’re no longer the same person you were before loss. We talk about timing, disclosure, fear, desire, awkward conversations, and the quiet tension between wanting connection and wanting to protect yourself. What We Explore - How Loss Changes the Way We Date: We reflect on how grief reshapes identity, attachment and expectations, and why dating after loss can feel both tender and terrifying. - When and How to Talk About Death: We explore the unspoken rules around disclosure - when to share, how much to say, and why honesty doesn’t mean leading with trauma. - Love, Risk…

What does it mean to work with death every day and how does that change the way we think about living, grieving and planning our own endings? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we’re joined by Allyse Worland, a first-generation funeral director and embalmer from the United States, whose career began at just 15 years old after a deeply personal experience of loss. We talk openly with Allyse about entering a profession many people fear, the emotional and physical toll of death work, and why she has built her career around one core principle - being the person she needed when she was younger. Along the way, we explore embalming as an art, funeral traditions across cultures, and why talking about death early is one of the kindest things we can do for the people we love. What We Explore - Finding Purpose in Death Work: We talk about what draws people into the funeral profession, the importance of mentorship - especially women supporting women and why openness and shared knowledge matter in a field that can…

What if we didn’t wait for children to experience loss before teaching them how to understand it? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we talk openly about a landmark change coming to UK education. From September 2026, grief and bereavement education will become part of the statutory RSHE curriculum, and we wanted to take time to unpack what that really means - for schools, for children, and for families. We speak directly to teachers, school leaders, pastoral teams and anyone working with children and young people. Together, we explore why this change matters, what the new guidance includes, and how schools can deliver it with confidence, care and creativity rather than fear. We also share why this shift aligns so closely with everything this podcast stands for - normalising conversations about death, dying, loss and grief, and giving people language and understanding before they need it most. What We Explore - Why Grief Belongs in the Classroom: We look at the scale of childhood bereavement in the UK…

Is the short fuse, the sudden tears, the “why am I fighting everyone?” moment just you… or is it grief wearing a disguise? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down and ask the question we (and probably you) keep wondering: how do we know if we’re just having a bad day… or if grief is quietly driving the wheel? From screaming at partners over nothing, to realising your tolerance for bullshit has vanished, to wondering why the gym suddenly feels like a boxing ring, we explore the messy overlap between normal human moods and the long, sneaky tail of bereavement. What You’ll Learn - Anger as Armour: Why it’s easier to snap than to say “I’m heartbroken”… and how that rage can hide in plain sight for months (or years). - The Grief Litmus Test: Simple questions to ask yourself when patience evaporates. - Permission to Be Both: You can be fiery bitch AND grieving. You can be healing AND still lose your shit. Both things can be true. This is the conversation you wish you’d overheard in the pub - one that…

New year, new me? Yeah, right! When you’re carrying grief, January 1st doesn’t magically wipe the slate clean - it just swaps the tinsel for a hangover and a side of guilt. In this episode, we ditch the resolutions and get real about what “new year, new me” actually feels like when someone you love is missing from the table. We explore why grief doesn’t give a toss about the calendar. What You’ll Learn - New Year, Same Grief: Why the fireworks and “this is my year” posts can feel like salt in an open wound. - The Only Resolution That Matters: Feel the feels, trust yourself, take positive risks, and let the rest slide. - 2025’s Hard-Won Lessons: Patience is key, online dating is hell, and leaving the house is overrated. Spoiler: 2026 isn’t “our year” because we’ve suddenly fixed everything. It’s our year because we’re still here, still laughing through the tears, and still refusing to pretend it’s all shiny and new. It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban…

You’ve just lost a loved one in hospital. Everyone’s crying. And then… the admin avalanche begins. In this no-filter, step-by-step guide we walk you through the exact bureaucratic gauntlet of what happens if a loved one dies in hospital. From bank-holiday hell to coroners, certificates, and finally getting your loved one to the funeral director - this is the episode nobody wants to need… but everyone eventually does. What You’ll Learn - The Bank-Holiday Trap: Why dying on a Friday (or any public holiday) can leave you in limbo. - Coroner or No Coroner: Who gets referred, who doesn’t, and why it completely changes the timeline. - The Paperwork Maze: Death certificate → cremation forms → registrar → funeral director: the exact order (and who can actually help you). If you ever have to do this, you’ll wish you’d listened first. Because nobody hands you the manual and now you’ve got one. (And yes… the best advice we’ve got? Try not to die on a bank holiday.) It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life…

Think Christmas is all twinkly lights and mince pies? Think again - history is full of people who met their end courtesy of a festive fir tree, toxic stockings, and a seven-year-old with a rifle. In this gloriously dark seasonal special of It’s a Death Sentence, we unwrap the wildest, weirdest, and most lethal Christmas deaths on record. From the Victorian Christmas Holiday Effect (a genuine spike in mortality from 22–25 December) to poisoned dye in festive stockings, electrified trees, lead-tinsel poisoning, toy-gun disasters, and one poor child who asked his brother to “shoot me just for fun”, they prove the holidays really can be killer. What You’ll Learn - The Christmas Holiday Effect: Why mortality actually jumps every December (and it’s not just overeating and loneliness). - Death by Decoration: Toxic tinsel, electrified trees, deadly dye in stockings, and the boy who died from a hand wound caused by his new toy gun. - Modern Safety Rules: Don’t water the tree while the lights are plugged in and never…

Is it just another day… or the one day that can break your heart all over again? In this festive special of It’s a Death Sentence, we rip open the glittery wrapping on Christmas when you’re grieving. We explore the pressure to create “perfect” memories, the guilt of wanting to hide under the duvet, and why sometimes the best gift is permission to do Christmas completely differently. What You’ll Learn - The Golden Ticket: How to (guilt-free) dodge the big production when grief has already stolen the spotlight. - Old Traditions, New Rules: Why keeping some rituals and ruthlessly binning others can be the kindest thing you do for yourself and your family. - It’s Just Another Day: The surprisingly freeing truth that helps you survive December 25th when everyone else is posting #bestchristmasever. Stripped-back trees, shop-bought puddings, or full-on hiding until January - whatever gets you through the festive period, this episode is your reminder that you’re allowed to make Christmas whatever you need it to be.…

In this special episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we hand the mic over to the wonderful psychic medium Helen Milwood for the full, unedited live readings she did for us earlier this year. Both readings are funny, emotional, and scarily accurate in places – exactly the kind of chaotic spirit energy we love on It’s a Death Sentence. It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised. Thank you for listening - find us on socials @itsadeathsentencepodcast follow and like us for more episodes. Find contact info on our web page www.its-a-death-sentence.com here you can contact us, buy our merch and send us your stories. www.its-a-death-sentence.com YouTube- @itsadeathsentencepodcast Get in touch - we are Dying to talk to you Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From itchy palms to shoes on the table, Irish mammies have a superstition for everything - but when death knocks, the rules get delightfully dark and downright bizarre. In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we tumble down the rabbit hole of deathly omens and gloriously grim rituals - from doppelgängers dropping doom, birds stealing souls and clocks frozen at the fatal hour. It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised. Thank you for listening - find us on socials @itsadeathsentencepodcast follow and like us for more episodes. Find contact info on our web page www.its-a-death-sentence.com here you can contact us, buy our merch and send us your stories. www.its-a-death-sentence.com YouTube- @itsadeathsentencepodcast Get in touch - we are Dying to talk to you Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.