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PODCAST

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply Human Podcast About Death & Life

Carrie Smith & Emma Skipp

💀 It’s a Death Sentence 💀 A podcast about life and death — and everything awkwardly, hilariously and heartbreakingly in between. Hosted by two women in their 40s: one, an APT performing daily autopsies, the other; a professional singer! Both have stared grief in the face — historically and recently — and somehow learned to laugh anyway. A home for anyone who has lost someone . Because grief doesn’t just touch individuals. It ripples through families, friendships and whole cultural communities

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

24:05

You Better Watch Out: The Most Lethal Christmas Ever...

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/12/20

Think Christmas is all twinkly lights and mince pies? Think again - history is full of people who met their end courtesy of a festive fir tree, toxic stockings, and a seven-year-old with a rifle.In this gloriously dark seasonal special of It’s a Death Sentence, we unwrap the wildest, weirdest, and most lethal Christmas deaths on record. From the Victorian Christmas Holiday Effect (a genuine spike in mortality from 22–25 December) to poisoned dye in festive stockings, electrified trees, lead-tinsel

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27:36

The Christmas Holiday Effect: Surviving the Most...

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/12/13

Is it just another day… or the one day that can break your heart all over again?In this festive special of It’s a Death Sentence, we rip open the glittery wrapping on Christmas when you’re grieving. We explore the pressure to create “perfect” memories, the guilt of wanting to hide under the duvet, and why sometimes the best gift is permission to do Christmas completely differently.What You’ll Learn- The Golden Ticket: How to (guilt-free) dodge the big production when grief has already stolen the

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16:28

Helen Milwood: Live Psychic Reading

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/12/05

In this special episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we hand the mic over to the wonderful psychic medium Helen Milwood for the full, unedited live readings she did for us earlier this year.Both readings are funny, emotional, and scarily accurate in places – exactly the kind of chaotic spirit energy we love on It’s a Death Sentence.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.

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23:06

See a Penny Pick It Up: Superstitions, Myths &...

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/11/29

From itchy palms to shoes on the table, Irish mammies have a superstition for everything - but when death knocks, the rules get delightfully dark and downright bizarre.In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we tumble down the rabbit hole of deathly omens and gloriously grim rituals - from doppelgängers dropping doom, birds stealing souls and clocks frozen at the fatal hour.It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is

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32:01

The Interviews: Learning to Heal with Lucy

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/11/22

Grief doesn’t always arrive with a funeral - it can slip in quietly after a divorce, an empty nest, or the slow realisation that part of who you were is gone.In this episode, we sit down with Lucy, who shares her profound journey from losing her mother to brain cancer and her stepdad soon after, to founding a bereavement support service and organising uplifting events like her upcoming Grief Festival. Drawing from personal trauma and professional insights, Lucy explores how grief manifests in

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47:06

The Interviews: Normalising Grief with Suzanne McArthur

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/11/15

Suzanne McArthur, occupational therapist turned grief guru with 30 years in end-of-life care, joins us to share her journey from oncology work within the NHS to Marie Curie and Birmingham Hospice - where redundancies sparked her to launch Evolve and Flourish for workshops and Thriving Connections for grant-funded, community-co-developed projects tackling barriers to grief support.We dive into instant-impact training, co-designing with learning-disabled groups and inmates, and why your red folder is

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09:19

Death Matters: Dionne on Celebrating Change

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/11/08

What if we honoured life’s big changes not just with milestones like weddings and funerals, but with rituals that truly acknowledge who we’re becoming?In this special episode from Brum YODO recorded live at Birmingham Central Library as part of Death Matters, we sit down with Dionne, a celebrant whose work reimagines how we commemorate both beginnings and endings. After sharing an incredible near-death story from her travels in Peru, Dionne reflects on the power of ceremony to help us navigate life,

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26:11

Witches, Ghosts and Ghostwatch: A Halloween Special

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/10/31

In this Halloween special of It’s a Death Sentence, we lean right into the season of spooks. From childhood terrors to modern traditions, we explore why Halloween holds such a grip on our imaginations. We wander through our Halloween memories, including the infamous BBC Ghostwatch that traumatised a generation.We talk broomsticks, witches, and trick-or-treating, dive into how Halloween evolved from ancient Celtic festival Samhain and explore how American pop culture supercharged it into the

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25:45

The New Normal: The Power of Peer Support

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/10/25

What happens when grief becomes the starting point for real human connection rather than something to hide away from?In this episode, we sit down with Ben, co-founder of The New Normal, a charity providing free, non-judgmental peer-to-peer support for people navigating grief and mental health. What began with one conversation between two young men - bonded by the loss of their fathers - has grown into a thriving community built on honesty, compassion and shared experience.Ben reflects on the origins

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33:42

The Legend Peter Skipp

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/10/17

How do you grieve a parent you’ve already been saying goodbye to for years?In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, Emma shares the story of her dad, Peter Skipp - a kind, intelligent man who lived a vibrant life before Alzheimer’s slowly altered the rhythm of their family’s world.Emma reflects on the long arc of her father’s illness, from the first signs of dementia to the moments before his death, and the strange calm that followed the funeral. It’s an honest, unflinching conversation about

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27:39

Carrie on Living with the Loss of a Sibling

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/10/10

How do you grieve a sibling when the world forgets you’re grieving too?In this episode, Carrie shares the recent loss of her brother, who died of cancer at just 45 years old. She opens up about the raw reality of sibling grief—the kind that often goes unseen as attention is directed toward parents, partners, and children.From the humour and mischief her brother brought to life, to the anger and privacy he clung to in illness, Carrie paints a portrait of a man fully himself—and of the void he leaves

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44:24

A Natural Undertaking: Rethinking Funerals with Fran...

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/10/03

What if funerals weren't a production line-but a chance to truly reflect a life?In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we're joined by Fran Glover and Carrie Weeks, co-founders of A Natural Undertaking, the Birmingham-based funeral directors transforming the way we say goodbye. From personal loss and unanswered questions to creating a business that empowers families, Fran and Carrie share their journey of challenging the old funeral model and building something more authentic, personal, and

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49:36

Living Between Two Worlds: Helen Millward’s Story

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/09/26

What if the spirit world was closer-and more real-than we dare to believe?In this episode, we sit down with psychic medium Helen Millward, founder of Helen's Angels of Tranquillity. From childhood visions and family roots in Irish Traveller traditions, to decades of readings, stage demonstrations, and encounters with both light and dark presences, Helen shares her extraordinary journey of living between two worlds.We hear how she first discovered her gift, the times it terrified her, and how she

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54:45

Jo Arnold: Surviving Meningitis and Embracing Life's...

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/09/19

What if a brush with death could spark a bold new outlook on life?In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we sit down with Jo Arnold, a 43-year-old who survived a harrowing case of pneumococcal meningitis. Jo shares how a sudden fever turned into a fight for her life and how it fuelled her resilience and zest for living.What You'll Discover- Spotting the Signs: Recognise early meningitis symptoms like headaches, stiff neck, and light sensitivity.- Embracing Resilience: How a health scare

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49:55

Davina’s Journey: Grief and Grace

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/09/12

What if knowing your exact ‘end date’ could empower your life's journey? In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we welcome Davina Barua, who shares her heartfelt story of growing up with an older, unwell father. From family caregiving challenges to embracing grief and reflections on death, Davina offers raw insights into resilience, love, and finding peace amid loss.What You'll Learn- Caregiving Balance: Prioritise self-care while supporting loved ones to avoid burnout.- Grief Acceptance:

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29:25

Death: But It's Tradition

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/09/05

In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we unravel the evolution of death rituals, spotlighting how the Black Death reshaped mourning practices centuries ago. From Tibetan sky burials to Irish wakes, Maori tangihanga, Jewish Shiva, and Viking send-offs, we explore how diverse cultures honour the departed and how these traditions adapt today.What You'll Learn- Plague’s Lasting Echoes: How the Black Death spurred faster, safer burial practices that still influence modern

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44:00

Healing Grief Through Poetry and Community

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/08/29

What if poetry could transform personal grief into shared healing?In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we welcome Maggie Parsons, who founded Poetree in 2021 after her brother John's tragic death from COVID at age 53. Maggie shares her experience of discovering his passing during lockdown and how it inspired her to display poems on a tree outside her house, fostering community connection and comfort.What You'll Learn- Grief Outlets: Use poetry or art to process loss and create meaningful

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40:58

6 Feet Under

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/08/22

What if your final send-off could be as quirky as cryogenic freezing or as serene as a sea burial?In this episode of It's a Death Sentence, we explore the fascinating world of burials. From prehistoric interments to modern options like natural sites and home burials, we share insights on history, costs, and personal choices. What You’ll Learn - Burial Basics: Understand the reasons for six-foot depths to prevent smells and animal disturbances. - Modern Options: Explore

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36:33

Gutted: Popcorn, Penis and Pacemakers

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/08/15

Why do we shy away from talking about what happens to a body after death? In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we dive into autopsies with humour and curiosity. We explore the process of organ evisceration, debunk myths like popcorn-filled cremations, and touch on the history of grave-robbing for science.We cover Julius Caesar’s fatal wounds to modern challenges with bariatric bodies, unpacking death’s smells, sights, and stories.It's A Death Sentence is produced by Urban Podcasts.

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01:00:22

Nicki’s Fight: The MND Warrior

It"s A Death Sentence: An Unexpectedly Funny, Deeply... ·

2025/08/08

Nick opens up about his wife Nicki’s fight with motor neurone disease, a journey that started with a misdiagnosis and led them through a maze of a broken healthcare system. Nicki’s spirit never wavered - she planned her own funeral and dreamed up MND warrior t-shirts, her way of staying fierce and independent even as her body failed her.We talk about the weight of caregiving, the little signs that keep Nicki’s presence alive for Nick, and the memorial tattoo

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44 results

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