In this podcast episode with Catherine Ashton, I reflect on my journey as an interfaith minister and funeral director, and what it really means to “do death differently.” From barefoot backyard funerals to community Death Cafés, I share how ritual can hold truth, grief, and healing in all their complexity.

Creating keepsakes and moments of connection at funerals can be a beautiful way of honouring someone’s life. A small object can carry so much meaning – a phrase, a colour, a symbol that speaks to who they were and what they leave behind. Badges, in particular, hold a kind of quiet magic.

As a funeral director, I’ve come to understand that there are moments in grief that catch us off guard. One of those moments is when I knock on your door holding the ashes of your loved one. This quiet exchange is often more emotional than people expect. This gentle guide offers 3 simple ways to allow this moment to feel supported.

This ANZAC Day, I'm remembering - and reflecting on a pilgrimage taken ten years ago - to the battlefields of France, where the footsteps of my ancestors still echo in the soil and the violence in the earth called me belly to the ground.

Odd confession: I love writing eulogies. I’m mindful that this isn’t the case for most people. Writing a eulogy can feel like a very daunting task - how do you capture an entire lifetime in just a few minutes? Here are my tried & tested six tips to craft something that feels alive with the unique, brilliant essence of your person.

Open, honest, and heartfelt conversation about death, dying, and living well - over cake and a cuppa. In a world where death is often a taboo topic, a Death Café offers a rare space to talk openly about our mortality, our fears, our hopes, and how we make meaning of our time here.

I believe in taking children to cemeteries. I believe in including them in funeral ceremonies & the rituals of death - not to frighten or alarm them, but to teach them that dying is a part of life and that grief is a part of love.

As both a Funeral Director and a musician, helping you choose the right soundscape for a funeral ceremony is something I am deeply passionate about. But where to even start?! I’ve put together a series of playlists to help guide and inspire your choices.

We mark the beginning of a marriage with vows, rings, and celebration. But when a marriage ends, there is often no ceremony - just paperwork, division of assets, and a quiet, complicated grief that society doesn’t always know how to hold.

For many people, the words ‘funeral celebrant’ and ‘funeral director’ sound interchangeable. But in reality, they’re distinct roles - and, as someone who wears both hats, I want to share why that matters.

I’ve always been drawn to life’s big transitions - the moments that crack us open, break us down, lift us up, and reshape us. Ceremony has been woven through my life for as long as I can remember, thanks in no small part to my grandmother…

Funerals are traditionally gatherings where family and friends come together to grieve, share stories, and say goodbye. But what happens when the person who has died was estranged from their family? What if their relationships were fractured, complicated, or even painful? Does everyone deserve a funeral?

Despite it being one of life’s only certainties - not many people like to think about death. It’s one of those topics we push to the edges. And truly, I hope you never need me. But when you do, know that I am here.

“Givvus a kiss, I’ve got my lippy on tonight.” 💋 11 years after her sudden death, I revisited the eulogy I gave at my Nan’s funeral in 2013 - and I learnt a lot about speaking through grief.