Episode 17 - Personal Care

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. ❤️