Over My Dead Poddy

Everyone experiences grief... but almost nobody is taught how to live with it. In Part 2 of our special conversation with grief educator Carole Henderson, we move from understanding grief to learning how to navigate it.
💙 Why can grief feel so overwhelming?💙 Why do our emotions seem so unpredictable?💙 How can we support ourselves without feeling we're "getting it wrong"?💙 And what's the best way to help someone else when there simply aren't any perfect words?
Whether you're grieving the death of someone you love, the end of a relationship, your health, a job, a pet, or any other significant loss, this episode explores the very real (and very normal) emotions that grief can bring, along with practical, compassionate ways to cope with them.
Because grief isn't something to fix, and there isn't a finish line to cross. But understanding what's happening can make those difficult days feel a little less frightening... and remind us that we're never as alone as we think.
If Part 1 helped you understand grief, this episode is about helping you learn to live alongside it.
💙 To find out more about Carole's work, visit:
 
https://www.edu-therapy.uk/
 
 
 
 

Everyone experiences grief - almost nobody knows what to do with it.
In this first of a two-part special,  Nichola sits down with grief educator Carole Henderson to unpack one of life's biggest, messiest and most misunderstood emotions.
💙 Is there a right way to grieve?💙 How can you help someone who's hurting?💙 What's normal... and what's not? (Spoiler alert: Normal is whatever you're feeling.)
Whether you've lost a loved one, a relationship, your health, a pet or simply want to be better equipped to support someone else, across the next two episodes we begin to unpick what grief actually is,  whilst trying to give you some tips on how to help yourself & others navigate it.
Talking about grief won't make it happen. But it might just make it easier when it does. 💙
If you want to find more about Carole's work you can find her here:https://www.edu-therapy.uk/ 

You asked. We answered. We're back again answering all the questions you fire at us on a regular basis including: 
💀 Is there really a secret second deck in a hearse... and if so, what's it for?
📖 What actually is an Order of Service... and do you really need one?
🧬 Can you still donate your body to Medical Science & would they actually want it?
Plus, the funeral habit we'd happily wave goodbye to forever... 👀
If you've ever found yourself thinking, "I've always wondered that...", this one's for you.
⚰️ Talking death... without killing the conversation

In the episode where Carl is proved right for once, we’re opening up the conversation around what faith-led funerals, specifically Church of England services, can look like in 2026.
Because religious doesn’t have to mean rigid. Traditional doesn’t have to mean impersonal. And faith and personality absolutely can sit together in the same service without anyone breaking out in a cold sweat.
We’re joined by the brilliant Rev Canon Martin Fletcher to talk through the options families really have, how services can be shaped with warmth and meaning, and how belief, ritual and personal celebration can work together to honour someone properly.
It’s thoughtful, honest, surprisingly funny in places, and, against all expectations, it even had Nichola thinking differently by the end she and Producer Steve didn’t burn (yet!). Which is always a bonus.                                                                                     

Ever wondered if Cllr Carl Tate gets scared at funerals? Or whether Nichola Reeder would agree to take the funeral of a convicted criminal? Well, you asked. So we answered.
Armed with a glass of wine and the trademark honesty you expect from us, this episode sees us tackle some of the
trickiest listener questions we've ever received.
Some answers might surprise you. Some might challenge you. And a few reveal a little more about who we really are behind the microphones.
No scripts. No hiding. Just two people talking openly about life, death, funerals and the complicated bits in between... whilst Producer Steve Reeder desperately tries to keep us the right side of libel with the help of his trusty water pistol. 
It's heartfelt, occasionally uncomfortable, unexpectedly funny and unmistakably Over My Dead Poddy. 

Fresh coffee. Honest conversations. Unexpected hope. ☕🖤
This week on the show, we’re joined by David Martin from Maple Park Café @ Thirsk Crematorium, for a conversation that goes far beyond tea urns and sausage rolls.
We’re talking about the reality of running a coffee shop inside a crematorium. The sensitive act of balancing business and grief. The quiet pressure of getting it right for families on one of the hardest days of their lives. And why the most important thing to families after a funeral is often comfort, connection and somewhere to just be.
With the usual honesty and humour,  David shares how coffee and cake are unexpectedly helping people talk about grief,  build a community,  and perhaps even find some  hope.
Because sometimes the conversations people can’t have in the Crematorium … start over a brew instead.
It’s thoughtful, funny, honest and full of the kind of humanity we love best. 🤘🏻☕

Most people never see what happens behind the scenes in a funeral home… but this week, we’re talking to the people who do it all. 🖤
From late night call-outs and private ambulances, to caring and preparing for your loved one with dignity, carrying coffins and making sure every detail runs exactly as it should... Funeral Service Operatives (FSO's) are the unsung heroes of funeral care, and one of the most vital cogs in our engine. 
We're discussing what they do and what it takes to be an exception FSO, with one of the best in the industry. It’s honest, emotional, insightful and full of  humanity - just as you’d expect from Over My Dead Poddy.
You can also find out what happens about those intimate piercings you know your loved one had, but were too embarrassed to mention to the FD! 
Download our latest episode and settle in for a great listen! 

Live West End vocals. Socks with meaning. Detroit Lions pride. Christmas carols. Ginger Shots. This wasn’t a typical funeral… this was Dan's funeral.                                                                                                                                                                                          In this heartfelt episode, Kay Jones joins us to share the story behind a farewell that refused to follow the rules and instead captured a life exactly as it was lived. From the pressure of suddenly having to plan everything, to the fierce determination to get every detail right, this is an honest, moving and  powerful conversation about love, loss and what it really means to say goodbye properly. It’s about the small things that turn out not to be small at all. The moments that matter. And the courage it takes to trust your instincts when it matters most.
It’s a longer listen… but it’s worth every minute.
🎧 Download now and hear what’s possible when a goodbye is built with love.

🎙💀🤘🏻 The Resurrection Episode - Dead Air Is Over Back with Bruises And Scars 🎙️💀🤘🏻
We’re back. Season 3, Episode 1 is live now with the usual host line up of Nichola and Carl and no, we haven’t been quietly behaving ourselves.
In Episode 1 we’re honest about why we’ve been off air, Nichola fully admits to taking an unexpected tumble, and Carl unveils a flashy new purchase that absolutely no one asked for but everyone will have opinions on.
Same dark humour. Same myth-busting. Same honest conversations about death that somehow still make you laugh in the wrong places.
You’ve had a few quiet weeks to recover from season 2... that’s over! Come and join our growing community of 1500 followers on Facebook and see what it's all about.
Download the new episode now wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️💀🤘🏻
 

 
In this wrap-up episode, we’re diving into your questions from the last few weeks. The curious ones, the heartfelt ones, the “is it normal if…” ones, and the ones that made us go… right, grab a beer, let’s talk about that. We also take a wander down memory lane for our favourite Season 2 moments. The laughs, the lump-in-the-throat bits, and the moments where we remembered exactly why we started this poddy in the first place.
And yes… Nichola gets a bit Ranty Pants™ about faffers at funerals. Not malicious. Not disrespectful. Just… the gentle chaos of people who don’t mean to be chaotic. If you know, you know. (And if you are a faffer… we still love you. )
 
It’s a sad one, because it’s the end of the series. But it’s also a proper community episode. Honest, warm, a little bit ridiculous, and full of gratitude. And don't worry, we'll be back with Season 3 really soon ....just give us chance to catch our breaths for a moment! 
 
🎧 Hit play, bring a brew, and come say goodbye to Series 2 with us...