Good Goodbyes. The funeral facts podcast
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more if you are arranging your own? Industry experts Simon Savage an independent funeral director from Devon in the UK and Tina Naldrett an independent Celebrant offer advice and myth busting in this informal chat about all things funeral and celebration of life. Occasionally we have guest episodes.
95 Stacey James Licenced Lay Minister chats about grief, faith and working for a funeral director.
Stacey James a licenced Lay Minster and funeral assistant chats about her faith and her role
Link to Stacey's favorite Hymn The Summons will you come and follow me
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more if you are arranging your own?
Industry experts Simon Savage an independent funeral director from Devon in the UK...
94 Sophie Pierce Author of The Green Hill, talks about the loss of her son Felix
in 2017, Sophie Pierce's life changed forever when her 20 yr old son Felix died suddenly and unexpectedly. By writing letters to Felix-composed during walks and swims taken close to his burial place by the river Dart in Devon, Sophie learned how to live in the landscape of sudden loss, navigating the weather and the tides of grief.
This conversation is about Felix, the book and Grief.
Resources
find Sophie and her webpages here
to contact Sophie you can email at sophieATsophiepierce.co.uk
Purchase the book...
93. Lets Talk Doulas with Emma Clare from End of life Doula UK
This episode finds Dr Emma Clare CEO of End of life Doula UK and Tina talking about what a Doula does, how to become one , what families, people dying and their communities can gain from having Doulas alongside.
Resources and links
End of life Doula UK
epiosde on green and natural funerals
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arr...
92 Julie from Fiesta Farewells talks about Probate and planning for funerals
Julie from Fiesta farewells joins Tina to talk about Probate and how to plan for the administration of your estate and the sharing of your possessions.
Julie also talks about the creation of Fiesta farewells and the inspiration being it
Resources
Some information about probate in the uk
Fiesta Farewell link
link to episode on the loss of a friend
link to episode about digital legacy
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes...
Summer Break
Just taking some time off for good behavior in August. Will still be there for our clients conducting funerals and celebrations of life but an opportunity for you to catch up on all our 91 back episodes.
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more if you are arranging your own?
Industry experts Simon Savage a...
91 Ashes into Art, with Artist Lanson Moore
This episode is all about how you can use ashes with paint to create something beautiful.
Lanson talks us through how this came about for her, the mediums that can be used, the graceful process with the family and so much more.
Resources
find lanson here at Ashes into Art
find the Bulgarian company who put ashes into pencils here
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happen...
90 Our Song Request personalised music. A chat with Colin
This episode is all about the option of choosing a personalised song for a funeral, to remember or use in a celebration of life.
Colin the founder of Our Song Requests talks us through what it means for people to have special musical arrangements for themselves and their family.
Resources
Our song request website
the loss of a friend episode 73 with Jasmine
Music for my mind charity link
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobye...
89 Grief: A chat with two therapists, Sarah Brason and Susan Hollins
This is a conversation — that helps listeners understand the many different ways people experience grief, and the different kinds of support available from professionals like Sarah and Susan.
Resources
Box breathing link a short video
Link to episode 80 with Dr Lisa Cherry on the joy of dying
link to Sarah Brasons website , www.griefnavigator.co.uk
where you can link to her open invitation to my free monthly Griefspace - an online gathering held at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of the month. All grief welcome and you can...
88 The Student Grief Network a chat with the founder Anna May
Grief when at University and a student has a whole extra layer of complexity.
Here Anna May the founder of the student grief network, which offers resources, education and work in Universities talks about her own loss and the way this network supports people and encourages conversations about loss and grief.
Resources
Link to the Student Grief Network and Anna May
link to Winstons wish
Suicide&Co
New Normal
Lets talk about loss
Get in Touch, we would love to...
87. Funeral Traditions Paging
Simon and Tina begin the first of a few episodes in which traditions are featured this one is about the act of Paging
Resources
Paging a short video
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more if you are arranging your own?
Industry experts Simon Savage an independent fun...
86 Pet memorials and remembering a beloved Pet with Monika
Pet loss is such a significant thing for many of us . Monika talks us through some ways we can remember in our own homes and by using digital methods.
we about why pets matter so much to us, the gaps they leave and how to honour and celebrate them
email Monika for the free download and to share ideas at [email protected]
Resources
Episode 36 Pet loss and Childhood bereavement with Lorna Vyse
the cinnamon Trust
Monikas website for Pet Legacy
G...
85. Postmortems lets talk about them
Tina and Simon talk about postmortems. Why they are needed and what happens.
Resources
The Royal college of Pathologists, what happens at a postmortem article
NHS Uk page about Postmortems
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more if you are arranging your own?
Industry experts Simon Savage an indep...
84 A chat with Samantha from Aura Flights, Ashes in Space
Ever considered having your Ashes scattered in Space.
Samantha from Aura flights talks us through how their company is taking Ashes into Space.
Find out how this happens and listen as you consider if this is something for you or yours ?
Resources
link to Aura Flights
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you m...
83. How long to speak for at a funeral ?
Simon and Tina have a cheeky little conversation about how long to speak for at a funeral. The dilemmas of those who "cant keep to time" and the "no surprises" approach for families.
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more if you are arranging your own?
Industry experts Simon Savage an independent funeral d...
82 Heavenly Stars, Fireworks with Ashes
Did you know you could go off with a bang, that fireworks with ashes are becoming more established.
Listen in to this chat with Tina and Colin from Heavenly Stars to learn more
Resources
Heavenly Stars website
Please see below links to some memorial displays
Professional Display Videos:
Antonio Carluccio Tribute – PLAY VIDEO
Ruby Venezuela Tribute - PLAY VIDEO
Traditional Tribute Display – PLAY VIDEO
Musical Tribute Display– PLAY VIDEO
Pendennis Castle - PLAY VIDEO
BBC artic...
81 Unattended funerals
In this episode Simon and Tina chat about unattended funerals, what are they and what happens at them ?
With a link below to our Direct Cremations episode
Resources
Direct Cremations Pros and Cons episode
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like...
80 Dr Lisa Cherry finding the joy in dying series
Dr Lisa Cherry is an author, researcher, leading international trainer and consultant, she was diagnosed with incurable cancer in November 2023 and being given months to live in July 2025, Lisa is responding to a clinical trial, buying her precious time. She arrives into this conversation living in the liminal space between living and dying.and talks to Tina in this episode about the joy in dying series she has developed with Dr Arzhia Habibi an educator and interfaith practitioner.
listen in for heartfelt truths about how it can feel for us if we learn that we are dying a...
79 Digital Gravestones A chat with Monika Piotrowska
This episode is all about digital gravestones.
Listen in to hear why Monika started this business, what they are all about..
What can you put in a digital gravestone page ?
How do you access them ?
This and so much more is answered in this conversation
Resources
Afterlife the drama link here
Link to digital gravestones
link to comprehensive online memorial
Link to the Penicuik witch trials
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
...78 Kirstie Atherton from Dead Positive, talks about death education, language , kindness and love
Kirstie, an independent celebrant and founder of Death positive joins the show to kick of the year with an excellent conversation about Death, and Dying and funerals.
We chat about love, authenticity, death education communities and so much more
Resources
Dead positive website
Kirsties email contact [email protected]
Maslows Hierarchy the low down
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any q...
77 Future and previous episodes: What can you listen to that you may have missed ?
As 2026 begins Tina talks briefly about the episodes ahead and what you can listen to from the back catalogue of episodes.
Which you can find here via this link
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more if you are arranging your own?
Industry experts Simon Savage an independent funeral director from Devon in the UK...
76 Endings and exits at funerals services and memorials
In this episode Simon and Tina chat about ways in which we can end a ceremony or service.
The many choices on offer and things to consider
Resources
Options for ending a funeral service
What happens at a funeral ? a guide
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more...
75 Sadness and Crying at Funerals and Memorial services
Tina and Simon chat about Crying and sadness,
How do people feel about crying ?
Or not being able to cry?
Resources
How to avoid crying at funerals... an interesting article
Its ok to Cry
Emotional numbness and grief, Marie Curie
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrang...
74 Grief at Christmas 2025
Its that time of year again and Sy and I wish you all a happy and contented Christmas and share this episode with you...
link to Cruise coping with grief at Christmas
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more if you are arranging your own?
Industry experts Simon Sa...
73 Justine Chats about the loss of a friend and how we can celebrate a friends life.
Justine Coombs award winning celebrant from kent in the UK joins the podcast to talk about how we can deal with the loss of a friend.
How can friends be included in ceremonies and services?
How can you as a friend remember and commemorate those special friendships ?
How can family members include friends in the planning of a service and /or ceremony ?
Join us for a chat that includes a mention of the red arrows, wine and MCDonalds.
Resources
A link to Justine
a lin...
72 Family Disagreements and Funerals
Tina and Simon talk about family disagreements and funerals.
What can you do if your in the midst of family disagreements at this time ?
How can funeral professionals navigate this issue ?
Resources
family conflicts after death article
coping with family fighting after a death
How to handle difficult families in funeral service
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any qu...
71. Berni talks about the Windphone and grief
Berni Benton Award winning independent Celebrant talks about the Windphone concept started by Itaru Sasaki and his Phone Booth of the Wind.
We chat about how it works, what people may gain from using a wind-phone and Segway into a funny little moment talking about What 3 Words.
Resources
BBC Article about Windphones
link to Berni Benton Independent Celebrant
Link to Windphone information and map
link to what 3 words
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral...
70 Sending Christmas Cards to the bereaved. A bitesized episode
What can you write in a card to someone who has had a loss ?
Tune in to this short episode about sending Christmas cards... what to write and if you should send one at all ?
Resources
link to Cruise advice on this topic
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might like to know more...
69 Death by Suicide Episodes review with Sy and Tina
In this episode Tina and Simon talk about their roles when it comes to Suicide and arranging the ceremony. Also taking a moment to reflect on the recent episodes from Pete's Dragons and Sobs and what they can teach us.
Resources
Link to the Petes Dragons Episode
Link to the SOB Charity episode
Link to the Samaritans
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now th...
68 In Conversation with Alison from Petes Dragons the suicide and bereavement charity
Tina and Alison talk about this UK based charity born from a personal loss.
Alison talks about the work the charity does with families and young people and the ways we can all reduce the stigma of talking about death by suicide.
Find out Alison's Dragon name and pick up some tips on how to talk to people who are bereaved and where to seek help if needed.
Resources
Link to Samaritans if you are having suicidal thoughts
link t...
67. In Conversation with Josie, CEO of Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide SOB
With a focus on death by suicide. Tina chats to Josie from the charity Survivors of bereavement by suicide about this topic.
What are useful things to say when someone has died by suicide ?
What help is on offer ?
and so much more
Resources
Help if you are having suicidal thoughts Samaritans helpline
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide website
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondere...
66. Silence at funerals
This bitesized episode , where Tina and Simon explore the use of silence at funerals and memorials.
When might this be useful and why?
how long can a silence last
How can funeral professionals use silence ?
Resources
moment of silence article
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? Ever think you might...
65 Talking with Brendan about Greener Globe funeral standards
Brendan from Greener Globe funeral standards talks with Tina about these standards funeral directors can sign up to do in the UK.
There is also talk about natural burial grounds, wildflowers, and ways to be green and eco friendly in your own funeral plans.
Resources
Choosing a natural burial ground the natural death center
Greener Globe Funeral standards
Episode on Trees and remembrance
Episode on Willow Coffins
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Go...
64. Kate talks about being an Embalmer
in this episode We are joined by Kate from Norman Lock and Son who is an Embalmer.
Kate chats about how she came to be one, what she finds rewarding about it and some of the myths people have about embalming along the way.
Resources
The embalming process step by step
Kates episode about being a female funeral director
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at fu...
63 Abi Talks about being a Gravedigger
Abi from Woven Farewells is also a Gravedigger.
We chat about how she came to do this , some of the things involved and where she finds her peaceful moments.
Resources
Association of Natural Burial grounds link
Link to the Trees Episode
Link to the Willow coffins episode
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arrange one? E...
62 Funerals and the weather
Its taken a while .... but here it is an episode from a UK funeral director and celebrant about the weather?
How can it impact the funeral ?
What should you be thinking about in relation to the weather.
You might also like this episode on Dress Codes at Funerals
click the link to go straight there
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you...
61 Guest David talks about Ashes in Blooms, Seedballs, Rabbits and more.
Daavid joins Tina to talk about his Ashes to Blooms work, which featured as a finalist in the recent green funeral awards.
How he came to have the idea, how to make your own Ashes and Blooms seedball and how it helps to remember our people and pets through growing seeds alongside ashes
We talk about rabbits, containers, green-washing, pot noodles and so much more
Resources
Ashes to Blooms website
How to make your own seedballs with ashes
Episode 58 Richard from scattering ashes <...
60 The Wake. What is it & do you need one ?
What is a Wake? why is it called that. Do you need to have one and what might you do at one?
Why has Tina been to one with bright pink salmon sandwiches ?
Tina and Sy discuss all this and more
Resources
Check list for a wake
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arran...
59 The words we use about death
What words do we use when describing death, dying and dead?
Does it matter if we use these words or others?
Sy and Tina explore this topic.
Lets us know your thoughts and any colloquialisms you have come across
Resources
A guide to talking about death, St Clares Hospice
Get in Touch, we would love to hear from you
The Good Goobyes , funeral facts podcast.
Ever wondered about what happens at funerals? Have any questions now that you find you have to arr...
58 Richard from Scattering Ashes in a discussion about the many choices we have for ashes.
Richard Martin from Scattering Ashes, talks with Tina about the many choices that accompany dealing with Ashes.
What do we need to think about in relation to the environment?
What emotions might we be feeling?
What are our choices?
How can the free Ashes Register help?
What might communities do with the many uncollected ashes at funeral directors and crematoriums ? ideas are shared and links to good information given
If you have ashes you would like to do something with or wanted to make your own wishes clear...
57 Guest Philip from New wood Trees joins us. How can we use Trees to remember and celebrate our people?
Philip Nieuwoudt from Artisan Nursery New Wood Trees in Devon in the UK joins us on the podcast to talk about Trees and how we can use them in remembrance and memorialising. How can we use them to reflect the character of our person?
Which ones are good in which situations? Which might grow to big?
What is it useful to think about when planting Trees ?
This lighthearted and informative chat is a must for all Tree lovers
Resources
Link to the website for New Wood Trees
...
