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This week Gabriella and MORTAL co-creator Olivia go to meet funeral director and founder of Poppy’s Funerals, Poppy Mardall. In their conversation Poppy talks to Gabriella about the journey of a body after death; demystifying the process and the different options available to a grieving family. Poppy is passionate about bringing humanity and care to the funeral sector. She speaks about normalising what death looks like, why she finds working in funeral care fulfilling, and how ritual can help us in grief. Afterwards they visit the Poppy’s mortuary, and Olivia and Gabriella discuss fear of death and facing the truth of mortality. We hope you enjoy this episode 🦋 — Content note: MORTAL contains conversations around death, bereavement and loss 🕊️ __ Mentions & Links Poppy’s Funerals : www.poppysfunerals.co.uk For signposting to support for any of the topics covered in this episode 🌀 https://linktr.ee/MortalPodcast __ Follow us on: 👉🏽 Instagram @themortalpodcast 👉🏽TikTok @mortalpod 👉🏽 YouTube @mortal-pod — Created by: Gabriella Wilde & Olivia Percival Editors: Olivia Percival & Alexandra Quinn Music composed by Robert Logan Comms: Jordan Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merlin Sheldrake is a biologist, writer and speaker with a background in plant sciences, microbiology, and ecology. His special interest is in studying fungi; extraordinary organisms that support our lives in so many different ways. He is the author of bestselling book, Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures 🍄 In this episode Gabriella and Merlin discuss how reconnecting to ancient and natural rhythms of death, decomposition and rebirth might change how we feel about our own mortality. Merlin expresses awe at the way in which our cells are dying and regenerating all the time inside our own bodies, as well as discussing the potential of certain types of mushrooms in palliative care & the impact we might have on the earth and soil when we die. We really hope you enjoy this episode 🦋 — Content note: MORTAL contains conversations around death, bereavement and loss 🕊️ __ Mentions & Links Merlin’s website: www.merlinsheldrake.com For signposting to support for any of the topics covered in this episode 🌀 __ Follow us on: 👉🏽 Instagram @themortalpodcast 👉🏽TikTok @mortalpod 👉🏽 YouTube @mortal-pod — Created by: Gabriella Wilde & Olivia Percival Editors: Olivia Percival & Alexandra Quinn Music composed by Robert Logan Comms: Jordan Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabriella is joined by psychotherapist, author and grief expert Julia Samuel MBE. She is the founder / patron of Child Bereavement UK and the author of best selling books: Grief Works, This Too Shall Pass and Every Family Tells a Story. In 2015 Julia received an MBE for her services to bereaved children. Gabriella and Julia discuss growing up with an awareness of loss before they understood it, the role of 'forget and move on’ in our cultural history as well as the non linear process of grief, its role in our lives, and why the love and support of others is so crucial when we are suffering. Julia speaks about the importance of having conversations within families before people are ill, and why we need to be courageous in connecting with people who are dying and grieving. We hope you enjoy the episode🦋 — Content note: MORTAL contains conversations around death, bereavement and loss 🕊️ __ Mentions & Links Julia’s website which includes details of her books and other resources & support: https://www.juliasamuel.co.uk For signposting to support for any of the topics covered in this episode 🌀 https://linktr.ee/MortalPodcast __ Follow us on: 👉🏽 Instagram @themortalpodcast 👉🏽TikTok @mortalpod 👉🏽 YouTube @mortal-pod — Producers: Gabriella Wilde & Olivia Percival Editors: Olivia Percival & Alexandra Quinn Music composed by Robert Logan Comms: Jordan Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabriella speaks with filmmaker and author Bruce Parry who has travelled all over the world to live with indigenous communities. In this episode Bruce shares what he's learned from cultures with a very different relationship to death; specifically a community in Sumba, Indonesia who live amongst the tombs of their dead and who continue to have a strong reciprocal relationship with their ancestors.  Gabriella and Bruce explore belonging, fear of death, why living in community is important as we age, as well as Bruce’s admission that as a result of his experiences he has begun to talk directly to his loved ones who have died.  We hope you enjoy the first episode 🦋 — Mentioned in this episode: Die Wise by Stephen Jenkinson  Bruce’s Marapu BBC Tribe Episode — Follow us on: 👉🏽 Instagram @themortalpodcast  👉🏽 YouTube @mortal-pod — Producers: Gabriella Wilde & Olivia Percival Editors: Olivia Percival & Alexandra Quinn Music composed by Robert Logan  Comms: Jordan Maxwell  You can contact MORTAL on [email protected]  — 🌀Signposting to support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MORTAL is a new podcast hosted by Gabriella Wilde, exploring mortality, grief and our relationship with the dead. Launching Autumn 2026. Follow us at on Instagram @themortalpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.