The Life and Death Podcast

S6 Ep6: Grief, menopause and saying the unsayable with Leslie Gray Streeter

What happens when the worst thing happens, and you survive? In this funny, fearless and deeply human conversation, journalist and memoirist Leslie Gray Streeter joins host Stephen Rumford to talk about life after the sudden death of her husband Scott. Together they explore what grief really feels like, the messiness, the humour, the fury, and the pressure to be resilient. Leslie shares how widowhood changed her, why she’s done saying sorry for taking up space, and what menopause and mourning have in common. From dating disasters to fixing-up houses, writing a book to parenting through pain, this is a joyful, direct and honest conversation about what it means to live on, with love, with sadness, and with no intention of keeping quiet. Follow Ashgate on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice Support resources: Ashgate Hospice Find out more about Leslie: https://lesliegraystreeter.com/ This episode of The Life and Death Podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

S6 Ep5: Why end of life care needs to change with Professor Allan Kellehear

Dying isn’t just a medical event, it’s a deeply social one. In this powerful episode of The Life and Death Podcast, Professor Allan Kellehear, sociologist and founder of the Compassionate Communities movement, joins Stephen Rumford to explore how we can all play a part in supporting people at the end of life. From challenging our assumptions about what care means, to sharing stories of connection, meaning and even visions of near death, Allan invites us to see dying differently. This is a conversation about presence, belonging, and why we need a more compassionate, inclusive approach to death, dying and grief. Follow Ashgate on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice Support resources: Ashgate Hospice This episode of The Life and Death Podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

S6 Ep4: What is an end of life doula?

How can a doula support people who are dying and those important to them?  Dr Emma Clare, chartered psychologist, end of life doula, and director of End of Life Doula UK, joins host Stephen Rumford to unpack the often misunderstood role of the doula. Unlike a healthcare professional, a doula offers emotional, practical and human support at the end of life, simply by being there, witnessing, and walking alongside. Drawing on her clinical training, academic research, and personal experience, Emma shares how doulas help people reflect on their lives, find meaning, and feel less alone in the face of death. Together, Emma and Stephen explore what it means to be truly present, why connection matters so deeply, and how anyone, not just professionals, can bring more honesty, care and calm to conversations about dying.  This is a grounding, moving conversation for anyone interested in what it means to show up with compassion at the end of life. Follow Ashgate on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice Support resources: Ashgate Hospice Find out more about End of Life Doula UK:  www.eol-doula.uk  This episode of The Life and Death Podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

S6 Ep3: Death, beauty and the macabre: a conversation with Joanna Ebenstein

Artist, curator and writer Joanna Ebenstein joins host Stephen Rumford to explore the rich, sometimes eerie, but always fascinating ways we try to make sense of death. Joanna is the founder of the Morbid Anatomy project and author of Memento Mori, a beautiful collection of imagery showing how death has been depicted throughout history and across cultures. Her work invites us to consider what these depictions can teach us about grief, memory, and how we live alongside the knowledge that we’ll one day die. Together, Joanna and Stephen talk about why people are drawn to the macabre, how rituals and aesthetics can help us process mortality, and what happens when we stop turning away from death, and start looking more closely. This is a thought-provoking, tender conversation for anyone curious about the spaces where death, beauty and culture overlap. Follow Ashgate on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice Support resources: Ashgate Hospice Resource Centre Explore Joanna’s work: morbidanatomy.org This episode of The Life and Death Podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.

S6 Ep2: How doodling helped Gary Andrews find hope after his wife’s death

When illustrator Gary Andrews’ wife, Joy, died suddenly from sepsis, everything changed in an instant. Left raising their two young children, aged 7 and 10 at the time, Gary picked up a pen and started doodling - not to create perfect pictures, but to let his feelings out, one sketch at a time. Those nightly doodles became a lifeline. He shared them online, where they struck a chord with thousands of people grieving or struggling with loss. Through simple drawings, some heartbreaking, some full of laughter, Gary showed what grief really looks like: messy, painful, but also threaded with love and hope. In this episode, Gary talks about how creativity helped him survive the hardest days, how a community grew around his drawings, and how it all led to his book, Finding Joy, a tribute to Joy, and to the small moments that keep us going. Follow us on Instagram: @ashgate_hospice Support resources: Ashgate Hospice Resource Centre Find out more about Gary and his work: www.garyscribbler.co.uk This episode of The Life and Death podcast was produced by Olivia Swift and it’s a Reform Radio production.