Show Notes
There are some conversations on Dying for a Cuppa® that stay with me, deeply and personally, and long after we've finished recording. This is absolutely one of them. For this penultimate episode of the series, I'm joined by the incredible Preston Smiles, a transformational coach, speaker, author and someone whose work around spirituality, personal growth, authenticity and living a life of purpose I have admired for a long time. Preston is someone I have enormous respect for, not just because of the work he does, but because of the way he shows up in the world. He speaks openly, honestly and directly, sometimes challenging the way we think, the stories we tell ourselves and the beliefs we hold about who we are and how we should live. And I know that his language and approach might not resonate with everyone. But I believe there is so much richness, wisdom and value in being willing to listen to perspectives that might be different from our own. In this conversation, we bring Preston's world and mine together as we explore life, death, dying, spirituality, energy, purpose and what it really means to live authentically. We explore what it means to become the best version of ourselves, not necessarily by striving to be something more, but perhaps by recognising who we already are. Preston has a way of cutting through the noise and getting right to the heart of things. He's passionate, refreshingly honest and unapologetically himself, and I found so much value in hearing his perspectives. This is, without doubt, one of my personal favourite conversations I've had on Dying for a Cuppa®. I'm genuinely grateful that Preston gave his time to join me, and I hope you'll approach this conversation with an open mind, an open heart and a willingness to question, reflect and perhaps see a few things differently. We have just one more episode of this series before we take a little break and return in January, and I really couldn't think of a better conversation to share as we approach the end of the season. So grab yourself a cuppa, get comfortable, be prepared to be challenged, and join us. There is SOOOO much to take from this one. ☕💜 Find out more about Preston Smiles: Website: https://prestonsmiles.com/ https://www.instagram.com/prestonsmiles?rpxt=cmh2NnMybXYycmhi
Huge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episode https://matchanddispatch.com/
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More from Dying for a Cuppa - The Podcast
This week on Dying for a Cuppa®, I'm delighted to welcome back someone who is not only a regular guest, but also a friend of mine and the podcast. John, Past President of the National Association of Funeral Directors, is a passionate advocate for change within the funeral profession and the wider world of death, dying and bereavement. He is also an ambassador and supporter of several organisations, including Child Bereavement UK and The Good Grief Trust. But this conversation is about something particularly important. Something John has been working tirelessly towards for many years, and something that has the potential to make a real difference to generations of children. From September 2026, grief and bereavement will form part of the education children receive in primary and secondary schools in England. This is a huge step forward, and in this episode John talks us through what has changed, why it matters, what this education may look like and how we can all play a part in supporting children to better understand death, grief and bereavement. We also explore how this work is gaining international interest, including in Australia and New Zealand, and why conversations about death shouldn't begin only when someone dies. John is an absolute force for change, and I am incredibly proud to call him my friend. I'm also so grateful that he continues to give his time to share these important conversations with us.
Evie King – Get Ahead of Being Dead - Planning for death. Getting organised. And all the things you probably haven't even thought about! This week on Dying for a Cuppa®, I'm delighted to welcome back the wonderful Evie King, author of Get Ahead of Being Dead (and Ashes to Admin) Evie is an absolute font of knowledge, and thanks to her work within local government dealing with public health funerals, she has a truly unique insight into what happens when someone dies, particularly when plans haven't been made, arrangements aren't in place, or life takes an unexpected turn. And believe me, there are things you haven't even considered! This conversation is very much about the practicalities of dying and death. The planning, the paperwork, the decisions, the conversations and all those little details that can make such a difference to the people we leave behind. We explore the situations we might never imagine finding ourselves in, the assumptions we make about what happens when we die, and why getting our affairs in order isn't just sensible, it's an act of care and CONSIDERATION for ourselves and those we love. Evie's book, Get Ahead of Being Dead, is packed with practical information, guidance and insight, and this episode gives you a wonderful introduction to why these conversations and preparations matter so much. As always, Evie is an absolute joy to talk to. She's knowledgeable, refreshingly honest, wonderfully down to earth, and makes even the trickiest subjects feel approachable. If you've ever thought about getting your affairs in order, planning your funeral, or simply understanding what you need to consider before you die, this really is an episode not to miss. So grab yourself a cuppa, perhaps a notebook and pen, and join us. There's plenty to learn!
I first saw Silas Armstrong perform at the Child Bereavement UK Christmas concert in December 2025.
I’ll admit it. I had a bit of a fangirl moment with this one!! For years, I’ve followed Hospice Nurse Penny — Penny Hawkins Smith from across the pond, watching her talk about death and dying with the kind of honesty, humour and straight-talking approach that I absolutely love. Penny is a nationally certified hospice and palliative care nurse with more than 17 years’ experience. During the pandemic, she took her death education onto social media — using straight talk, storytelling, humour and the occasional TikTok trend to make conversations about dying accessible to millions of people around the world.
There are some conversations on Dying for a Cuppa® that are professional, and then there are those that are also deeply personal. This one is both. ❤️