Welcome to the home of our Art of Dying Well podcasts. These monthly programmes aim to make death and dying something we can talk about openly without discomfort or fear. Each month we interview a guest on a key topic, engage in a little ‘death chatter’ before getting the 'View from the Chaplain’s chair’.
15th June 2018
Something’s not right. You’ve not heard from your father-in-law for a few weeks. You’re close. That’s not normal. The milk’s on the doorstep, yesterday’s papers are poking out of the letterbox. You know what’s happened but you don’t want to think it – let alone say it. This is exactly what happened to Erica Buist. Listen to her extraordinary story in this month’s podcast. Fr George Bowen gives The View From The Chaplain’s Chair.
6th February 2018
This month’s podcast features an extended interview with BBC financial journalist Sally Bundock – co-presenter of the BBC’s flagship business programme ‘Business Live’. Sally’s story is moving and inspiring. Sadly last Summer, after an eight-year battle with cancer, her husband Paul died. Devastating – especially when you leave a wife and three young children behind – but in the face of this grief, Sally is strong, positive and gives a great example of Christian witness.
19th December 2017
This month’s podcast focuses on music. Whether it acts as the soundtrack to our lives or as consolation at a time of grief, music is at the heart of the human experience. We get a really interesting perspective from Eric Clarke, an Oxford University Professor, look at an online memorial tool called mylastsoundtrack.com and finish with a great piece on Requiems – the music of mourning.
10th November 2017
November’s podcast continues the theme of remembrance. It is right that we remember the fallen of our wars and conflicts, and we do so, but we also wanted to shine a light on how other cultures, traditions and faiths commemorate and pray for their dead. We listen to four interesting perspectives. ‘Death Chatter’ shifts the discussion to whether we are ever in danger of disrespecting the dead and we finish with our ‘Chaplain’s Chair’ reflection from Bishop John Sherrington.
9th October 2017
It’s the time of the year when we stop to remember those who died in the two World Wars and later conflicts. Today we’re joined by the former Catholic Bishop of the Forces the Rt Revd Richard Moth. We discuss how service personnel cope knowing their lives are frequently on the line. We also talk about the issue of mental health and another form of mourning – coping with the loss of a limb.
15th August 2017
Today we look at the world of the funeral director – looking after families and final wishes in the immediate aftermath of the death of a loved one. Not an easy job. Paul Allcock is our main studio guest. ‘Death Chatter’ asks ‘Funeral Directors – Who Cares?’ and we finish with ‘The View from the Chaplain’s Chair’. Our guest is the excellent Rev Andrew Goodhead.
28th July 2017
Today we’re looking at care for the elderly at the end of life. Nina Mattiello Azadeh visits The Charterhouse – a former monastery in London that provides accommodation to a community of elderly residents known as ‘Brothers’. We also discuss unusual final resting places and the value of getting out the photo albums to unlock precious memories.
28th June 2017
Carolyne Barber’s a very interesting lady. She has over 30 years of nursing experience caring for sick and dying people in many countries around the world. She’s also a talented award-winning photographer who uses her images to inspire those she cares for. In this podcast we also talk about sudden loss and conclude by asking “Who cares for the carers?”
25th May 2017
There’s an ‘art’ to living well and an art to dying well. This month our guest is Louise Winter – a funeral professional and the founder of Poetic Endings – a creative funeral provider. Louise started work on the front line in the fashion industry but a ‘quarter-life crisis’ saw a switch of focus to helping grieving people to put together the best possible funeral for their loved one.
27th April 2017
This month we’re talking about palliative care with the wonderful and hugely experienced Dr Kathryn Mannix who has worked in palliative and end of life care for over 30 years. April’s ‘Death Chatter’ looks at how children deal with grief and we finish with ‘The View from the Chaplain’s Chair’ joining Fr George Bowen, a former hospital chaplain at the Royal Marsden.
20th March 2017
Today we’re talking about child bereavement with our main studio guest Sue McDermott from the charity Rainbows GB. Also in this episode, we discuss the extraordinary on-air cancer diary of broadcaster Steve Hewlett and finish by getting the view from the Chaplain’s Chair from Bishop Paul Mason – the Catholic Church’s healthcare bishop.
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