Dying for a Cuppa® - The Podcast

The Final Episode, Part Two – Cambodia, Reflections and Making the Most of This One LifeWell, would you believe it? I thought I’d said everything I needed to say in last week’s final episode.Apparently not! 😂I finished recording what was supposed to be the last episode of this series of Dying for a Cuppa®, reflecting on our incredible guests, the conversations we’ve shared and everything I’ve learned along the way.But then I went to Cambodia.If you listened last week, you’ll have heard me mention that I was heading off on a trek to raise money for my local hospice, a place that has played such an important part in my own life and career.Well, I’m home now, and I couldn’t quite close this series without sharing a little about that experience and, perhaps more importantly, some of the thoughts and reflections I’ve brought back with me.Because sometimes life has a wonderful way of reminding us what really matters.In this episode, I talk about Cambodia, the experience of being there, the challenges, the people, the memories and what it meant to me personally. But I also find myself reflecting on something much bigger: the importance of actually living our lives.And I don’t mean that we all need to climb mountains, trek across countries or have extraordinary adventures. Sometimes the most meaningful experiences are the smallest ones. The things that make us smile, the people who make us laugh, the moments that bring us joy and the choices we make simply because they feel right for us.It’s about doing you. Finding what makes your heart happy, making memories in whatever way you choose and recognising that your life doesn’t need to look like anybody else’s.Working alongside people who are dying has taught me so much about living, and perhaps one of the greatest lessons is that we don’t need to wait for something extraordinary to happen before we start appreciating the life we have.So this really is the final episode of the series. I promise. Well, I think so anyway!It’s a slightly more personal conversation, with a few stories from Cambodia and a final message that I really hope stays with you.Thank you for being part of this journey, for listening to these conversations and for continuing to make space for subjects that matter so deeply.We’ll be taking a little break before returning in January with more guests, more stories and, no doubt, plenty more conversations about life, death and everything in between.Until then, grab yourself one last cuppa for this series, and join me. And whatever you do, don’t forget to live a little along the way.Huge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episodehttps://matchanddispatch.com/© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

The Final Episode (Or So I Thought!) – Reflections, Conversations and a Whole Lot of GratitudeWell, here we are. The final episode of this series of Dying for a Cuppa®… or at least, that’s what I thought when I recorded it!As we come to the end of another incredible series, I wanted to take a little time to sit down, just you and me, and reflect on the conversations we’ve shared, the wonderful people who’ve joined me and everything this podcast continues to teach me.We’ve explored so much together. Life, death, dying, grief, love, spirituality, funerals, relationships and all those wonderfully complicated things that make us human. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve challenged perspectives and, hopefully, we’ve learned a thing or two along the way.And that’s really what Dying for a Cuppa® has always been about. Creating space for honest, open conversations, without judgement, without pretending to have all the answers and without being afraid to talk about the things that really matter.I’ve been incredibly fortunate to welcome some extraordinary guests, each bringing their own experiences, knowledge, stories and perspectives. And whilst their journeys may be very different, there’s something that connects them all: the value of sharing our stories and being willing to listen to one another.In this episode, I share some of my own thoughts and reflections on the series, what I’ve taken from these conversations and why I believe talking about death is, ultimately, so much about how we choose to live.There’s also a little mention of my upcoming trip to Cambodia, something that, as it turns out, would give me rather more to reflect on than I initially realised!So, although I genuinely thought this was my final word on the series, it seems I wasn’t quite finished. There is, in fact, a Part Two next week!For now, though, thank you. To every guest who has trusted me with their story, every person who has listened, shared an episode, sent a message or simply popped the kettle on and joined me. I never take any of it for granted.Grab yourself a cuppa and join me for what was supposed to be our final conversation of the series. Huge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episodehttps://matchanddispatch.com/© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

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=cmh2NnMybXYycmhiHuge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episodehttps://matchanddispatch.com/© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

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.If you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, someone working with children, or simply someone who believes we need to do better when it comes to death education, this episode really is one to listen to and share.The idea is this...By end of primary school, pupils will be taught:That change and loss, including bereavement, can provoke a wide range of emotions.That grief is a natural response to bereavement.That everyone grieves differently—and that is okay.By the end of secondary school, students will build on this foundation to explore:How families and relationships evolve over time, including through birth, death, separation, and the formation of new relationships.This inclusion recognises the crucial role schools can play in fostering resilience, emotional literacy, and a compassionate understanding of grief. It is also a direct result of extensive advocacy, heartfelt testimony, and cross-sector collaboration.John also has some wonderful resources available to support this work, including his book Don't Tell the Children, which he is very generously happy to give away. If you'd like a copy or want to find out more about the resources available for schools, please get in touch with either John or myself.You can also listen to John's own podcast, Death, a Changing Industry, where he continues to explore and challenge the way we approach death, funerals and bereavement.This is more than a conversation about education. It's about changing how we support future generations, and recognising that children deserve honest, compassionate and age-appropriate conversations about death and grief.Grab yourself a cuppa and join us. This is an important one.Huge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episodehttps://matchanddispatch.com/© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

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! Find Evie's book:Get Ahead of Being Dead – Available through book retailers, including Amazon. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Get-Ahead-Being-Dead-Planner/dp/180419378X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8Huge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episodehttps://matchanddispatch.com/© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

I first saw Silas Armstrong perform at the Child Bereavement UK Christmas concert in December 2025.I knew a little of his story - Silas and his family had experienced the unimaginable — the death of his three-year-old son, Teddy, from a brain tumour.What I didn’t know was just how much there was behind that story.Silas had already connected with and supported Child Bereavement UK before his family found themselves needing the charity’s support personally. And in this episode of Dying for a Cuppa®, he shares with extraordinary openness what life has looked like since Teddy died.We talk about Teddy, his life and his death. About being his dad. About the diagnosis and the realities of navigating hospitals and healthcare, including, very honestly, some of the good, the bad and the ugly.We talk about what grief does to a person.We also explore faith and spirituality, and how reaching towards something beyond ourselves can sometimes help us find connection or meaning when absolutely nothing about what has happened makes sense.And then there is music.Silas is an independent British artist whose music has achieved more than 55 million streams across platforms and projects. In 2024, an Instagram Reel featuring his music reached more than 60 million views, while his album About Time produced five consecutive BBC Introducing Track of the Day selections. Music has always been part of Silas’s life — he began playing and performing at just 11 years old — but following Teddy’s death, it has also provided somewhere for grief to go. We talk about creativity, songwriting and using music to express some of the things for which ordinary words simply aren’t enough.This is a conversation about the death of a child, so inevitably there are parts that are incredibly difficult. But it isn’t only about death. It’s about Teddy’s life. A father’s love. Grief. Music. Faith. Relationships. Anger. Hope. And somehow learning how to continue living when your world has changed forever.Silas trusted me with an incredibly personal conversation, and I’m very grateful that he did.Grab a cuppa and join us. ☕️❤️Please also take some time to discover Silas’s music and support the work of Child Bereavement UK.https://www.youtube.com/@silasarmstronghttps://www.childbereavementuk.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1693143101&gbraid=0AAAAADrvdLQ4kGXotrqjFlmg879OvLwG2&gclid=CjwKCAjwnvTUBhBoEiwAZNDxZ0CdFnkmYuqXtYeDneGgMA7EXQxXWOsM2Rvo9G9jT3ZadUX_6gXgeBoCrzgQAvD_BwEHuge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episodehttps://matchanddispatch.com/© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

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. Today, her community across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube exceeds two million followers. So having Penny join me on Dying for a Cuppa® was a real privilege.We go right back to the beginning — how she found her way into nursing and hospice care, what years alongside dying people have taught her, and how social media unexpectedly gave her a platform to educate people on an extraordinary scale. And, unsurprisingly, we talk very openly about dying.What actually happens to our bodies. Why understanding the dying process can take away so much fear. The expectations families can carry. And why avoiding conversations about death doesn’t stop death from happening.We also explore faith, spirituality and belief at the end of life — including the assumptions and expectations that can sometimes be projected onto dying people, and what Penny has actually witnessed after years of caring for people with many different beliefs and none.Penny is refreshingly open on social media about her own journey and the experiences that have shaped the woman she is today — something I think is a huge part of why people connect with her.No fluff. No euphemisms. Just an honest conversation about something that happens to every single one of us.I absolutely loved this one!!Two death educators. Two sides of the Atlantic. One very frank conversation about dying. Grab a cuppa and let us know what you think! ☕️❤️You can find Penny, her work and her book Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living at Hospice Nurse Penny⁠. https://www.hospicenursepenny.com/abouthttps://www.hospicenursepenny.com/bookHuge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episode⁠https://matchanddispatch.com/⁠© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

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. ❤️Cathy Chiplen is a fellow Soul Midwife, end-of-life companion, grief worker, holistic therapist and, most importantly to me, a friend. We’ve known each other for a number of years, connected through this strange and beautiful world of death, dying and Soul Midwifery, and this was an incredibly special conversation to record.Through Cathy Chiplen Compassionate Therapies, Cathy specialises in grief, bereavement, baby loss and end-of-life support. With almost 20 years’ experience as a holistic therapist, her work includes grief listening, holistic therapies and Grief-Crafting — using creativity, making and ritual to explore and express grief when words aren’t enough.Cathy is also a Trustee and Holistic Therapies Lead with Towards Tomorrow Together, a Somerset-based baby loss charity. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Loss & Bereavement from the Irish Hospice Foundation, gaining First Class Honours in 2026, and is currently studying for an MSc in End of Life Studies with the University of Glasgow.But, as you might expect when you put two Soul Midwives and friends in front of microphones, we wander much further than that!We talk about death and dying. Grief and loss. Soul Midwifery. Spirit dolls (yes, it’s a thing and I have one!). The privilege of accompanying someone towards the end of their life and what years of sitting alongside death have taught us both.And then we head out into the universe…Spirituality. Energy. Connection. What might happen when we die. The experiences we’ve had through our work that have made us wonder and question, and the possibility that perhaps there are some things we simply can’t explain.This isn’t about telling anyone what they should believe. It’s two friends sharing our own thoughts, experiences, questions and beliefs after years spent alongside death, dying and grief.Two Soul Midwives. Two friends. A cuppa. And a conversation that goes from grief and dying, right out into the universe.Grab yourself a cuppa, some cake, and join us. ☕🍰❤️Find Cathy:Cathy Chiplen Compassionate Therapiescathychiplen.comTowards Tomorrow Togethertowardstomorrowtogether.comCathy would also like to acknowledge her doll-making teacher Julia Inglis of Sacred Familiar, and Julia’s friend and teacher Nicole Ahava, who originally taught Julia this doll-making process.https://www.sacredfamiliar.com/Huge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training - for supporting this episode⁠https://matchanddispatch.com/⁠© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

This week’s Dying for a Cuppa® is a powerful one.I’m joined by Martin Cosser, Dad, Founder and CEO of Charlie’s Promise, a charity created in memory of his 17-year-old son, Charlie, whose life was tragically taken following a knife attack in 2023.Martin shares Charlie’s story with extraordinary openness. The events that changed his family’s lives forever, the unimaginable reality of losing his son, and the promise he made to Charlie while he was fighting for his life: to do everything he could to raise awareness of knife crime and its devastating impact.That promise became Charlie’s Promise.This is an intense and deeply emotional conversation. At times, it is a hard listen but it is an incredibly important one.We also talk about the work Martin is doing now to educate young people and create change, including Charlie’s Promise’s work alongside Fearless, the youth service of Crimestoppers, giving young people a safe and completely anonymous way to speak up about crime.Please take some time to find out more about Charlie’s Promise, follow their work and share their message.https://www.charliespromise.org/https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fearlessAnd for this episode, you might want to grab yourself an extra strong cuppa.This is Charlie’s story. And this is the promise his dad continues to keep. Martin, alongside his wife, Tara, has now dedicated his life to educating young people about the devastating consequences of knife crime, speaking in schools, colleges and communities across the UK. Through Charlie's Promise, Martin has now reached more than 117,000 young people with a message of hope, prevention and positive change. Martin said he was deeply grateful for the opportunity to join Katie's podcast to share Charlie's story, reflect on the family's journey and talk about the work being done to create a safer future for young people.https://www.charliespromise.org/https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fearlessHuge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episode⁠https://matchanddispatch.com/⁠© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

Some people really do seem to carry light with them, and Taru Devani is one of those people.Taru is an actor and singer whose career has spanned theatre, television and film. UK listeners may recognise her from EastEnders, alongside many other screen roles, and she has also recorded devotional and Bollywood music.I first met Taru through CARE, the extraordinary production at London’s Young Vic that I had the privilege of supporting and consulting on. Taru played Aditi, a woman approaching the end of her life, and in this episode we talk about what it meant to step into that character, the impact the role had on her personally, and the conversations the play opened up around ageing, care, death, dying and what really matters.But our conversation goes far beyond the stage.Taru shares stories from her own remarkable life — from her upbringing in Uganda and her time in Nairobi, to making a life in the UK and building a career as a performer.We talk about her Hindu heritage, spirituality and beliefs around death and dying, and the ways culture and faith have shaped her understanding of both life and death.Taru also speaks movingly about love, grief and the death of her husband just a few years ago, sharing some of what her own experience of bereavement has taught her.She is inspiring, warm and absolutely full of light. There are so many beautiful messages of hope throughout this conversation.It was an honour to meet Taru through CARE, a joy to have stayed in touch, and I’m incredibly grateful that she chose to share a little more of her life and her story with me on Dying for a Cuppa®.And if, after listening, you’d like to get to know Taru a little more, you can also find her on YouTube, where she shares more of her music, life and work.Grab a cuppa and join us for a beautiful conversation about culture, faith, grief, theatre, love, life — and, of course, death.https://www.youtube.com/@TarusWorldHuge thanks to Match and Dispatch - Outstanding celebrant training for supporting this episode⁠https://matchanddispatch.com/⁠© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.