Life & Loss Podcasts

Series 1

Life & Loss – Introduction

Here is an overview from Hannah of what you can expect from our new podcast series offering support and guidance for individuals facing a life-limiting Illness or navigating grief.

What does dying look like – Dr Amy Pharaoh

Dr Amy Pharaoh, Consultant in Palliative Medicine and Clinical Lead at Forest Holme Hospice, discusses the end-of-life stages and how they differ from person to person.

Living with a Brain Tumour – Mark Hayward

Mark discusses his journey from diagnosis through to cancer treatment and the impact that had on him and his young family and how his illness has shaped his future. He also reflects on life before and after his diagnosis, the treatment he’s received and offers advice for those with a similar diagnosis.

How Complementary Therapies Enhance Hospice Care – Dr Kate Smeaton

Dr Kate, a GP, Specialist Doctor at Forest Holme Hospice and acupuncturist, talk about her life as a GP, her passion for hospice care, and how complementary therapies can be used in a healthcare setting to aid a patient’s well-being.

From Strangers to Soulmates: A Journey Through Love and Loss – Christine Cross

Chris shares her experience of love and loss as she describes how her friendship with Des blossomed into a beautiful love story before their world was rocked by the devastating news of his terminal illness.

Grieving as a young adult – Jasmine Wall

23-year-old Jasmine, who lost her Dad to Pancreatic Cancer just over a year ago, talks about her experience of grief as a young adult and the emotional and practical challenges that she faces from losing her Dad at a young age.

Talking to children about a life limiting and terminal illness – Leo

Leo, a Social Worker based at Forest Holme Hospice, discusses when and how to begin discussing a terminal diagnosis with a child, sharing advice on age-appropriate language and communication strategies.

Let’s Talk about Karl: A Mum’s journey through loss – Sue Austin

Sue discusses the death of her son Karl in 2019, aged just 39, following a 9-year battle with Melanoma, the subsequent grief, how she keeps his memory alive and the significance of a grasshopper in the family.

Understanding Grief – Dania Moussali

Dania, a bereavement counsellor at Forest Holme Hospice, explains the diverse ways individuals experience grief and how it can affect people both emotionally and physically. She also offers advice and signposting to resources for anyone seeking additional support following the death of a loved one.

Insights from community palliative care nurses – Tory and Sarah

Tory and Sarah, two experienced community specialist palliative care nurses at Forest Holme, offer invaluable insights into their profession and share their personal journeys into palliative care, shedding light on the complexities of their roles within the community.

‘I couldn’t cry’: Grieving within stoic families – Caroline Fowler

Caroline talks about navigating grief within stoic families that uphold the “stiff upper lip” mentality, particularly focusing on the challenge of being unable to cry when someone dies.

Diagnosis and coping strategies – Kathy Lett

Kathy, a counsellor at Forest Holme Hospice, discusses the emotional impact of receiving a terminal diagnosis, or palliative prognosis and shares some coping strategies, while providing advice and guidance on how to deal with a diagnosis and where to go for help. 

Finding love again after loss – Nat Scott

Natalie shares her journey of love, loss, and resilience following the tragic loss of her husband, Nick, to Head and Neck Cancer in 2021 at the young age of 43, opening up about the challenges of finding love again after loss, while also supporting four children.

The importance of end-of-life care planning – Elizabeth Reynolds

Liz, an End-of-Life Care Educator based at Forest Holme Hospice, discusses what should be included in an End-of-Life Care plan and why they are so important to patients, and their loved ones.

Everlasting love: Clive’s journey after loss – Clive Gray

Clive discusses his experience of love and loss of his wife Sandie as they faced the unexpected challenges of both ME and cancer after 30 years of marriage.

Palliative care and quality of life – Dr Amy Pharaoh

Dr Amy, Lead Consultant at Forest Holme Hospice, explores the role of palliative care in enhancing the quality of life.

Finding purpose through loss –  Jennie Tofts

Jennie shares her experience of grief and finding purpose again following the loss of her Dad in 2013 just two weeks after her wedding, where her Dad’s presence was her greatest wish.

Navigating loss and finding healing – Mary Bevan

Mary discusses her personal experiences of grief following the loss of her husband Eric and offers her insights and strategies for navigating loss and finding healing.

Children and grief – Leo

Leo, a Social Worker based at Forest Holme Hospice, explores how children understand and cope with death.

Facing death: Personal journeys – Kathy Lett

Leo, a Social Worker based at Forest Holme Hospice, explores how children understand and cope with death.

Grieving the loss of a child – Martin Edwards

Martin Edwards, Chief Executive for Julia’s House, the Dorset and Wiltshire Children’s hospices, shares his insights on bereavement, remembrance and finding a way forward when your child has died.

Mindfulness as a tool for grieving – Lorien Holiday

Lorien Holiday, a mindfulness coach and wellbeing expert, highlights how mindfulness can be used as a tool for grieving, offering techniques or exercises can help with emotional turmoil.

Series 2

Living with MND – Danny Fudge-Harman

Danny discusses living with Motor Neurone Disease and the immense physical and mental challenges he has faced since his diagnosis 10 years ago, reflecting on life before and after his diagnosis, and becoming an advocate for the MND community.

You, Me and MND – Annabella Fudge-Harman

Annabella talks about her own personal experience of caring for her husband Danny, who is living with MND and the challenges and experiences involved in supporting a loved one through this cruel and relentless disease.

‘The life, loss and legacy of my sister’ – Esther Hubble

Esther discusses the loss of her much-loved sister Rebecca at the age of 37, who was diagnosed with cancer just 5 days before she was due to be a bridesmaid at Esther’s wedding. 

Missing Mum – Joe Manley

Joe discusses the death of his mum Bridget and how he took on the challenges of caring for her at home before she moved into Forest Holme Hospice for the final few weeks of her life.

Complicated grief, advice from a Clinical Psychologist – Melissa Girling

Melissa Girling, a clinical psychologist based at Forest Holme Hospice, explains the meaning of “complicated grief”, when professional intervention becomes necessary, and how clinical psychology can play a critical role in healing.

Working in the funeral industry – Leanne Adimi

Leanne, an experienced Funeral Director, talks about what it is like to work in the funeral industry, while sharing some common misconceptions people have about funeral services and exploring the compassionate side of funeral directing. She also gives insights into what happens to the body after a person dies.

MND: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Support – Annemieke Fox

Annemieke, a Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Coordinator at Forest Holme Hospice, explains what MND is and how it affects the body and the strategies or treatments recommended for controlling the symptoms.

One Day to Grieve: The Cost of Corporate Insensitivity – Emma Tomes

Emma discusses how she became a “mum on a mission” after her manager told her to return to work the day after the suicide of her former partner and father of her child at the age of 31.

Fear and anxiety around death – Chantal Dempsey

Chantal, an award-winning life coach, discusses the fear and anxiety people experience around death and how to help people overcome these challenges.

The silent struggle of young carers – Krista Cartlidge

Krista, CEO of MYTIME Carers, talks about the definition and responsibilities of a young carer, who often go unnoticed within their schools and communities.

Childhood Grief – Katie Russell

Katie shares her story of losing her nan Linda at a young age and explains how this experience has influenced her life, from her creative outlet in music, to her new perspective on grief and resilience.

When grief divides a family – Liz Wareing

Liz, a Psychotherapist based at Forest Holme, discusses family conflict after someone has died, highlighting some common reasons grief can cause divisions within families its impact.

Coping with loss at Christmas – Kathy Lett

Kathy, a Counsellor specialising in bereavement and serious illnesses, talks about navigating grief during significant dates such as Christmas and New Year, which can be particularly challenging times for those who have lost a loved-one.

Hospice at Home – Jacquie Upton

Jacquie, who leads the Hospice at Home Project at Forest Holme, discusses the Hospice at Home service, explaining what is and how it differs from hospice care on an inpatient ward, highlighting, with examples, why it is so vital to patients and families.

Coping with the death of a grandparent – Gary Kilminster

Gary shares his own personal experience of when his grandad was admitted into hospice care and the subsequent emotional journey that followed, describing their his relationship, the impact his of his diagnosis and how he stayed positive during his illness, and how he channelled his grief in a very creative way.

Building your self-confidence after the death of your partner – Chantal Dempsey

Chantal, a criminal profiler turned mindset coach, discusses the emotional impact of losing a loved-one and how to rebuild confidence and self-esteem following a bereavement, explaining how grief can affect self-esteem and highlights some of the signs and behaviours associated with low self-esteem.

Physical effects of grief – Dania Moussalli

Dania a Bereavement Counsellor based at Forest Holme Hospice, discusses how grief can physically affect the body, explaining some of the common physical symptoms people might experience during grief, while offering advice for those who may be experiencing concerning physical symptoms following a bereavement.

Losing a parent – Emma Griffen

Emma shares her personal journey of loss following the death of her dad, which she described as “being part of a club that no one wants to belong to”. She recalls her fondest memories of her dad, the impact of his illness and how hospice care made him feel safe, while also revealing the grieving journey she went on.

Palliative Care for the Homeless – Sarah Burrows

Sarah, a Community Specialist Palliative Care nurse at Forest Holme, discusses the unique challenges involved in providing palliative care to homeless individuals with life-limiting conditions, as well as the barriers the homeless face when accessing healthcare, including the prejudice and stigma, and the challenges of managing pain relief alongside addiction.