It's A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply Human Podcast About Death & Life

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 U...

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 differentl...

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...

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 wh...

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...

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.

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...

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 experi...

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...

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...

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 pri...

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 matter...

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 norm...

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 i...

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.

- Corone...

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”...

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 Tradit...

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.

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.

Grief doesn’t always arrive with a funeral - it can slip in quietly after a divorce, an empty nest, or the slow realisation that part of who you were is gone.

In this episode, we sit down with Lucy, who shares her profound journey from losing her mother to brain cancer and her stepdad soon after, to founding a bereavement support service and organising uplifting events like her upcoming Grief Festival. Drawing from personal trauma and professional insights, Lucy explores how grief manifests in divorce, abuse, job loss, and even motherhood's identity shifts, emphasising the power of...

Suzanne McArthur, occupational therapist turned grief guru with 30 years in end-of-life care, joins us to share her journey from oncology work within the NHS to Marie Curie and Birmingham Hospice - where redundancies sparked her to launch Evolve and Flourish for workshops and Thriving Connections for grant-funded, community-co-developed projects tackling barriers to grief support.

We dive into instant-impact training, co-designing with learning-disabled groups and inmates, and why your red folder is the ultimate family gift.

It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is a...

What if we honoured life’s big changes not just with milestones like weddings and funerals, but with rituals that truly acknowledge who we’re becoming?

In this special episode from Brum YODO recorded live at Birmingham Central Library as part of Death Matters, we sit down with Dionne, a celebrant whose work reimagines how we commemorate both beginnings and endings. After sharing an incredible near-death story from her travels in Peru, Dionne reflects on the power of ceremony to help us navigate life, loss, and transformation.

What You’ll Learn

Ritual and Transi...

In this Halloween special of It’s a Death Sentence, we lean right into the season of spooks. From childhood terrors to modern traditions, we explore why Halloween holds such a grip on our imaginations. We wander through our Halloween memories, including the infamous BBC Ghostwatch that traumatised a generation.

We talk broomsticks, witches, and trick-or-treating, dive into how Halloween evolved from ancient Celtic festival Samhain and explore how American pop culture supercharged it into the spectacle we know today.

What You’ll Learn

The Roots of Halloween: How pagan rituals, Christian traditions, and...

What happens when grief becomes the starting point for real human connection rather than something to hide away from?

In this episode, we sit down with Ben, co-founder of The New Normal, a charity providing free, non-judgmental peer-to-peer support for people navigating grief and mental health. What began with one conversation between two young men - bonded by the loss of their fathers - has grown into a thriving community built on honesty, compassion and shared experience.

Ben reflects on the origins of The New Normal, the power of creating spaces where people feel seen...

How do you grieve a parent you’ve already been saying goodbye to for years?

In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, Emma shares the story of her dad, Peter Skipp - a kind, intelligent man who lived a vibrant life before Alzheimer’s slowly altered the rhythm of their family’s world.

Emma reflects on the long arc of her father’s illness, from the first signs of dementia to the moments before his death, and the strange calm that followed the funeral. It’s an honest, unflinching conversation about memory, care, guilt, laugh...

How do you grieve a sibling when the world forgets you’re grieving too?

In this episode, Carrie shares the recent loss of her brother, who died of cancer at just 45 years old. She opens up about the raw reality of sibling grief—the kind that often goes unseen as attention is directed toward parents, partners, and children.

From the humour and mischief her brother brought to life, to the anger and privacy he clung to in illness, Carrie paints a portrait of a man fully himself—and of the void he leaves behind. Together, we exp...

What if funerals weren't a production line-but a chance to truly reflect a life?

In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we're joined by Fran Glover and Carrie Weeks, co-founders of A Natural Undertaking, the Birmingham-based funeral directors transforming the way we say goodbye. From personal loss and unanswered questions to creating a business that empowers families, Fran and Carrie share their journey of challenging the old funeral model and building something more authentic, personal, and human.

We talk about why mainstream funerals often feel alien, how natural burials and family-led ceremonies return us...

What if the spirit world was closer-and more real-than we dare to believe?

In this episode, we sit down with psychic medium Helen Millward, founder of Helen's Angels of Tranquillity. From childhood visions and family roots in Irish Traveller traditions, to decades of readings, stage demonstrations, and encounters with both light and dark presences, Helen shares her extraordinary journey of living between two worlds.

We hear how she first discovered her gift, the times it terrified her, and how she learned to protect herself while bringing comfort to others. Helen opens up about the power...

What if a brush with death could spark a bold new outlook on life?

In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we sit down with Jo Arnold, a 43-year-old who survived a harrowing case of pneumococcal meningitis. Jo shares how a sudden fever turned into a fight for her life and how it fuelled her resilience and zest for living.

What You'll Discover

- Spotting the Signs: Recognise early meningitis symptoms like headaches, stiff neck, and light sensitivity.

- Embracing Resilience: How a health scare can inspire you to cherish...

What if knowing your exact ‘end date’ could empower your life's journey? In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we welcome Davina Barua, who shares her heartfelt story of growing up with an older, unwell father. From family caregiving challenges to embracing grief and reflections on death, Davina offers raw insights into resilience, love, and finding peace amid loss.

What You'll Learn

- Caregiving Balance: Prioritise self-care while supporting loved ones to avoid burnout.

- Grief Acceptance: Embrace emotions fully to heal and honour memories with joy.

- Life Planning: Use...

In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we unravel the evolution of death rituals, spotlighting how the Black Death reshaped mourning practices centuries ago. From Tibetan sky burials to Irish wakes, Maori tangihanga, Jewish Shiva, and Viking send-offs, we explore how diverse cultures honour the departed and how these traditions adapt today.

What You'll Learn

-   Plague’s Lasting Echoes: How the Black Death spurred faster, safer burial practices that still influence modern customs.

-   Cultural Evolution: How ancient rituals like sky burials blend with innovations like eco-friendly cremations and virtual memorials for hear...

What if poetry could transform personal grief into shared healing?

In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we welcome Maggie Parsons, who founded Poetree in 2021 after her brother John's tragic death from COVID at age 53. Maggie shares her experience of discovering his passing during lockdown and how it inspired her to display poems on a tree outside her house, fostering community connection and comfort.

What You'll Learn

- Grief Outlets: Use poetry or art to process loss and create meaningful tributes.

- Community Building: Start simple initiatives like public displays...

What if your final send-off could be as quirky as cryogenic freezing or as serene as a sea burial?

In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we explore the fascinating world of burials. From prehistoric interments to modern options like natural sites and home burials, we share insights on history, costs, and personal choices. 

What You’ll Learn 

- Burial Basics: Understand the reasons for six-foot depths to prevent smells and animal disturbances. 

- Modern Options: Explore cryogenic freezing for future revival or eco-friendly wicker coffins in natural ground...

Why do we shy away from talking about what happens to a body after death? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we dive into autopsies with humour and curiosity. We explore the process of organ evisceration, debunk myths like popcorn-filled cremations, and touch on the history of grave-robbing for science.

We cover Julius Caesar’s fatal wounds to modern challenges with bariatric bodies, unpacking death’s smells, sights, and stories.

It's A Death Sentence is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Nick opens up about his wife Nicki’s fight with motor neurone disease, a journey that started with a misdiagnosis and led them through a maze of a broken healthcare system. Nicki’s spirit never wavered - she planned her own funeral and dreamed up MND warrior t-shirts, her way of staying fierce and independent even as her body failed her.

We talk about the weight of caregiving, the little signs that keep Nicki’s presence alive for Nick, and the memorial tattoo that brought him to BrumYODO where we met. Through the grief, bureaucratic headaches, and kindness from th...

Get ready for a lively spin through some of history’s strangest send-offs! Did cherries and iced milk really take out a president? Or a wrestler meet his end mid-match? In this episode, Carrie and I dig into the 19th and 20th centuries’ wildest deaths.

With quirky tales like hair-eating disasters, a mouse-swallowing mishap and a jockey’s eerie victory lap, we blend dark humour with a fast trip through history’s oddest exits.

It's A Death Sentence is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Dr Emma Johnson talks to the podcast about her wonderfully interesting life, from working as a prison officer to her journey into clinical psychology. Dr Johnson gives us her unique perspective on death and talks about her own experiences of life, education and working in acute mental health services.

Today the podcast interviews the wonderful Tom woods, a teacher ,creator, musician ,old soul and all round legend. Tom pays tribute to his brother Alex and talks about his view on life, loss and what happens after death.  we discuss everything from most haunted to to soul familys an intresting and enlightening interview.#Dreadboistudios #soulcluster #karate #dreds #kindredspirits #derekacorah #destinyofsouls #hikaru#itsadeathsentence #dyingmatters Now available on all major platforms, video on YouTube 

Today it's a death sentence welcomes the multi platinum award winning producer and 2 time producer & studio of the year, Mr Gavin Monaghan.  Gav talks to us about life, death, music and the magic of living life to the full. We had a wonderful time talking to gav and his insights on death and the afterlife are truly fascinating. Listen now on all major platforms, and available to watch on YouTube @magicgardenstudio @itsadeathsentencepodcast.

The its a death sentence podcast welcomes the lovely Sophie Skipp to the studio, Sophie is a very special guest as she not only brings her expertise as a grief counsellor and her own experiences of loss, she is the very own sister of one of the podcast hosts. A funny and frank interview with Sophie about the loss of her mother as a young adult and how she deals with grief both personally and professionally. Sophie helps us answer that age old question, what happens when we die?