Oak and Thorn - Under The Bough

Enjoy a fabulous catch up with Lia Crooks aka Lia the Celebrant. There isn't much we don't cover from how her celebrant journey began to where her dream wedding would be held!  You can find her via her website and socials here  Website Insta YouTube   Love and light  Michelle Under the Bough - Oak and Thorn Ceremonies.co.uk 

Welcome to my new podcast.  I have rebranded to Oak and Thorn Ceremonies and have changed my podcast name too-  Why Under the Bough? It is evocative of sitting under an old oak tree whiling away the hours talking to a good friend and putting the world to rights. I hope you’ll agree with me when I say, that's what creating this podcast feels like.. grounding, safe and a perfect way to pass some time Website Instagram LinkedIn Facebook        

In today's podcast I am joined by Rachel Snowball Dip FC a multi award winning funeral celebrant and founder of Sunshine and Shade a friendship and bereavement group based in Derbyshire.  Rachel chats about the challenges she faced setting the group up in lockdown and where it is now.  If you live in Derbyshire and want to know more about the support she offers you can get in contact with her [email protected]  

Sharon Buckley is a Grief Therapist and Burnout Specialist for women in perimenopause and beyond navigating life, responsibility and loss. A member of the ACCPH (Accreditation Council for Counsellors, Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists), certified in Edu-Therapy™ Grief Resolution and a qualified Therapeutic Art Practitioner, Sharon works with women who are holding everything together on the outside while quietly falling apart underneath. Sharon’s approach combines structured grief resolution, burnout coaching and therapeutic art — working at the intersection of grief, burnout and perimenopause because she knows from the inside what it costs to carry all three. She works online via Zoom and in Suffolk. Sharon is also a finalist in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2026 for Best Wellbeing Specialist in Suffolk & Cambs. Winning would give her a greater platform to educate people about grief and help more women feel less alone. Votes are open until 26th May — every vote counts. suffolkcambs.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/vote/ https://sharonbuckley.com/ [email protected]   IG: @theemotionalpainhealer   https://www.womeninspirednetwork.com/  

In this episode I am chatting with Terri Negus, one of the original celebrants and independent celebrant trainers in the UK.  She is the founder & Director of The Fellowship of Professional Celebrants, the organisation I trained with and train for. If you are interested in knowing more about the FPC you can do so via Terri on.... Telephone: 07964 285467 Email: [email protected]  Training website: www.celebranttraining.org.uk FPC Members website: www.professionalcelebrants.org.uk  

Very personal funerals. Tamara and Sian lead us through parlour funerals and how they can be so uniquely personal and actually very easy to arrange.  Give yourself space and time to organise a good send off. Give yourself time to grieve in a way that honours a life well lived.  Enlightening chat about just some of the things you can arrange for a final goodbye   thank you to  Dulcie, Tamara and Sian for their company and insight. You can contact them here    Dulcie James @celebrant_dulcie  Tamara Burgess @celebranttamaraburgess Sian Allen @magpieceremonies    AND  I am here  www.funkycelebrant.co.uk  @michelle_funkycelebrant 

when a group of friends come together over cheese and wine in front of an open log fire and conversations start to flow.... We explore friendship in our 50's and 60's, how they, we have evolved and what we would tell our 25 year old selves.  It's amazing how a group of diverse women can come together with commonality, shared self doubts and on some occasions self loathing, but allow themselves to be lifted by their friends.  Recorded ahead of IWD 2025, bonds of friendship seem even more important these days.   thanks to Jo, Angie, Sher & Hels for indulging me with raw honesty and vulnerability.  I adore you all x 

When over 20 women come together on a celebrant retreat, magic happens, crown are straightened and love, friendship, laughter and laughter is in abundance. Join me as I chat with just a few of my colleagues who were on the retreat.  Starting with the irrepressible Lisa Lister, founder of Independent Celebrant Retreats.  Want to know more?  Check out @independent_celebrant_retreats over on Instagram  or check Lisa out at lisalistercelebrant.com.    Thanks to all the lovelies that joined me for an interesting natter during the morning. Tamara Burgess @celebranttamaraburgess Mel Maelo @whiteravenceremonies  Helen @treasuredceremoniesinfrance  Beth Llewellyn  Dulcie James @celebrant_dulcie Vicky Griffiths @hwyl_ceremonies_celebrant  Katie Costello @katiesoulmidwife Sara Price @Sarapricecelebrant    What are you waiting for? Join in the fun in 2026 

A short series of 5 minute or less mindful wedding zen moments.  Episode 5  ~The Power of Pause: Reconnecting as a Couple Join me for some mindful moments of zen in an oasis of calm as you take a break from the stress of wedding planning, and remind yourselves who are the most important people in all of this.  Let's chat about how we can create the perfect ceremony for you  Michelle 

A short series of 5 minute or less mindful wedding zen moments.  Episode 4 ~ Nature's Inspiration: A Moment of Connection Join me for some mindful moments of zen in an oasis of calm as you take a break from the stress of wedding planning, and remind yourselves who are the most important people in all of this.  Let's chat about how we can create the perfect ceremony for you  Michelle