This week on Dying for a Cuppa®, it’s Kate, Kate and Katie. And when you put three women this passionate about funerals, celebrancy, and choice in one conversation, there really isn’t much chance of anyone else getting a word in!

I’m joined by Kate and Kate from Coffin Club and Match & Dispatch, who I’m also delighted to welcome as proud sponsors of the next few episodes of Dying for a Cuppa®.

Between the three of us, we delve into the world of funerals, farewells and celebrancy, the importance of giving people genuine choice and autonomy, the magnitude and responsibility of the work we do with families, and why well-trained, educated and supported celebrants matter so much.

Kate and Kate are multi-award-winning funeral educators who are passionate about opening up conversations around death and funerals. Through Coffin Club and Match & Dispatch, they’re helping both the public and professionals understand that funerals can, and should, reflect the people at the heart of them.

It’s open, passionate and, unsurprisingly, there’s plenty to say.

And listen right to the end because we might just drop a little announcement of our own… 👀

Grab a cuppa and join the three Kates

https://matchanddispatch.com/

Huge thanks to Match & Dispatch for supporting this episode of Dying for a Cuppa® The Podcast

© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.

This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

In this episode of Dying for a Cuppa® The Podcast, I’m joined by Felicity Warner, founder of Soul Midwives and Principal of the Soul Midwives School and someone who has played a huge part in my own journey and the work I do today.

Our diaries have never quite aligned, until now, and I’m so grateful they finally did! We only had a short amount of time together, but we certainly made the most of it. Felicity shares some of her own journey, how Soul Midwifery came to be, and the experiences that shaped her approach to supporting people at the end of life. We also talk about the world of death and dying more broadly, and share our thoughts on what truly human, compassionate end-of-life care can look and feel like.

For anyone curious about Soul Midwifery, whether you’re considering training, already working in this space, or simply want to understand more about this beautiful approach to end-of-life care, this episode is absolutely one for you.

There was so much more we could have talked about so I’m sure this won’t be the last conversation. Felicity will hopefully be back for Part Two!

For now, grab a cuppa and join us

https://www.soulmidwives.co.uk/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Felicity-Warner/author/B0039XBY7S?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1787496563&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Felicity Warner is the founder of Soul Midwives, a global movement pioneering and teaching holistic and spiritual end-of-life care. Her work is used in hospitals, hospices, and care homes and within communities.

www.soulmidwives.co.uk

She is the principal of the Soul Midwives School, and lectures internationally on death and dying and sacred oils. She has authored four books, including Gentle Dying, A Safe Journey Home, The Soul Midwives' Handbook, and Sacred Oils: Working with 20 Precious Oils to Heal Spirit and Soul.

In her healing work, Felicity is a myrrhophore (a woman who works with myrrh) and holder of a lineage dating back to Mary Magdalene. She also teaches threshold consciousness and is co-founder of international research platform exploring death and beyond consciousness www.deathisnotend.com

She is an honorary Knowledge Exchange Fellow with the University of Winchester and has won many awards for her work, including End of Life Care Champion of the Year by the National Council for Palliative Care, and the End of Life Doula of the Year by The Good Funeral Guide. She was a finalist in the Daily Mail Inspirational Women of the Year Awards.

© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.

This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

Some conversations feel less like an interview and more like sitting alongside a friend. This is one of them. In this deeply personal episode, I’m joined by Emma Higham, someone whose journey has become closely intertwined with my own. I first met Emma when I had the privilege of supporting her husband, Rich, as his Soul Midwife, and later had the honour of leading both of his farewell services as their celebrant.

Together, we reflect on the connection that has grown between us over the past few years, and the experiences that have shaped it and come from it.

Emma speaks with incredible honesty about Rich, his approach to dying, the peace and spirituality that supported him at the end of his life, and the legacy of love he left behind. She also shares, with remarkable openness, what it has been like navigating life after his death while raising their two young daughters, and how her own connection with Rich has continued to guide and support her.

This series is all about spirituality and connection, and this conversation captures both in the most human way. It isn’t about having the answers. It’s about love, grief, hope, resilience and the invisible threads that continue to connect us, even after someone has died.

I’m so incredibly grateful to Emma for trusting me, and all of you, with such a personal part of her story. I hope you’ll listen with an open heart.

As always, I’d love to hear what resonates with you after listening. Please do leave a review, share the episode with someone who may need it, and let us know your thoughts.

© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.

This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

This episode takes us into what I lovingly call the “woo-woo.” I’m joined by world-renowned evidential medium Hannah McIntyre for a fascinating conversation about spirituality, connection and the idea that love continues beyond physical death.

I know this is a subject that often divides opinion. Many people have strong beliefs one way or the other, and that’s absolutely okay. My invitation isn’t that you have to agree with everything that’s shared, but simply that you listen with curiosity and an open mind.

This series is all about exploring the many ways people experience connection, meaning and spirituality. Mediumship is one perspective, one belief system and one way that some people make sense of life, death and the relationships that continue after someone has died.

Whether you are deeply spiritual, quietly sceptical or somewhere in between, I hope this conversation gives you something to think about. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts after listening. This is one of those episodes that will no doubt spark conversation, and that’s exactly what Dying for a Cuppa is all about.

Hannah Macintyre is an international evidential medium and host of the acclaimed Mediumship Matters podcast with a global fan base. Hannah’s unique journey into spirit connection brings a fresh, positive perspective on life beyond the physical. With over a decade's experience, her modern, down-to-earth style in mediumship and teaching has gained followers worldwide.

Known for her humour and honesty, Hannah captivates audiences as an accomplished platform medium, providing evidence & messages from the world beyond our physical senses.

www.hannahmedium.co.uk

© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.

This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

Today I’m joined by Maxine Edgar, owner of Bronze Ash Funeral Directors in Romford, for a powerful, honest and thought-provoking conversation that covers far more than funerals alone.

Together we explore race, sexism, representation, spirituality, culture and what it really means to care for families with compassion and understanding. Maxine speaks openly about her own experiences as a Black woman working in the funeral profession, sharing the prejudice she has encountered along the way, alongside the strength, resilience and determination.

We also delve into the rich traditions, spirituality and sense of community that are often at the heart of African and Caribbean funerals. Maxine offers a fascinating insight into the families she serves and why understanding different cultures is so important if we’re to provide truly person-centred care at the end of life.

Like me, Maxine is passionate about opening up conversations around death, dying and funerals. She believes that knowledge gives us choice, that representation matters, and that talking openly helps us better understand both one another and ourselves.

There are so many things I admire about Maxine, but perhaps most of all it’s her honesty. Some of the experiences she shares are difficult to hear. I found parts of this conversation almost unbelievable, yet sadly not surprising. They remind us that, while progress has been made, there is still work to do if we want to create a more equal, compassionate and inclusive world.

Above all, this is a conversation about humanity. About listening. About understanding experiences beyond our own. And about meeting every family, regardless of their background, with dignity, respect and kindness.

I’d love to hear what resonates with you after listening. Please leave a review, share the episode with someone who would value this conversation, and let us know your thoughts.

https://www.bronzeashfunerals.co.uk/

© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.

This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

In this deeply honest and moving episode, I’m joined by Tom Fitzsimons. Author, inspirational speaker and a man whose life has been transformed through recovery, resilience and human connection.

Tom shares the story of losing his dad when he was just 13 years old, and how that loss shaped the years that followed. He speaks with incredible openness about his struggles with alcohol addiction, the impact it had on his life, and the long road towards sobriety. Now many years sober, Tom dedicates his life to helping others, using his own experiences to inspire hope and show that change is always possible.

We also explore the healing power of movement and connection. Tom talks about discovering running, the profound effect it had on his mental health, and the extraordinary endurance challenges he has gone on to complete. His story is one of courage, determination and the reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always a path forwards.

I was deeply moved by Tom’s honesty throughout this conversation, but it’s what he shares in the closing moments that truly stayed with me. It reduced me to tears, and I hope you’ll stay with us until the very end, you’ll understand why.

This episode contains open conversations about grief, bereavement, alcohol addiction, recovery, death and dying. If these topics feel tender for you right now, please listen gently and take care of yourself.

I’d love to hear what resonates with you after listening. Please do leave a review, share the episode with someone who might need it, and let us know your thoughts.

You’ll find Tom’s links below. Please do give him a follow, explore his work, and if his story connects with you, I’d highly recommend reading his book.

Tom Fitzsimons |

LinkedInInstagram

https://www.tiktok.com/@thesoberbard?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.

This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

In this episode of Dying for a Cuppa®, I’m joined by Lisa Rainier, a healthcare chaplain with over 15 years’ experience supporting people at the bedside through some of life’s most profound moments.

Lisa and I first met at the hospice where I used to work, and she now continues her incredible work as a chaplain within a leading cancer hospital.

This is a conversation full of warmth, honesty and compassion. Together we explore what chaplaincy really is, the role it plays at the end of life, and why conversations around faith matter so much. We also unpack the important differences between faith, religion and spirituality, and how these can each offer comfort, meaning and connection in very different ways.

What I admire most about Lisa is her ability to meet people exactly where they are. Whatever someone’s beliefs, or none at all, she creates a space where they feel seen, heard and supported without judgement.

I’m so grateful to Lisa for sharing her own experiences, reflections and beliefs with such openness. It’s exactly what this series is all about: creating honest conversations that help us better understand ourselves, each other, and what it means to be human.

© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.

This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.

A little hello from me as I step into my 44th year!

Before the next instalment of Dying for a Cuppa® officially begins next week, I wanted to sit down, reconnect and share a few thoughts, reflections and little birthday ramblings with you.

No guest, no big topic, just me and a moment to pause before we begin the next chapter.

Thank you for being here, for listening, and for continuing these important conversations with me.

The first full episode lands Monday 13th, and I can’t wait to share what’s coming! (Sorry folks, new episode will be now 20th July!!)

© 2026 Katie Costello. Dying for a Cuppa® is a registered trademark of Katie Costello. All rights reserved.

This podcast and its content, including audio recordings, descriptions, and associated materials, are protected by copyright. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisations. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, legal, or medical advice.