This conversation really stayed with us because it’s one of those stories that feels both deeply personal and quietly powerful.

In this episode of It’s a Death Sentence, we sit down with Jayne Thomson, a funeral director who came into the industry after losing her Mum, to explore what it’s like to work so closely with death every day. We talk about grief, purpose, the reality behind the role, and why creating spaces to actually talk about death matters more than we think.

What You’ll Discover

- From Loss to Calling: How Jayne's personal experience of losing her Mum led her into the funeral industry and shaped how she supports others.

- Why We Struggle to Talk About Death: The impact of language, avoidance, and how honest conversations can change everything.

- Creating Space for Real Conversations: From running a Death Café to “walk and talk” sessions, new ways to make grief and death less isolating.

What really stood out was Jayne's honesty about how difficult it can be when your world has changed, but everyone else seems to carry on as normal. That feeling of wanting to talk about it, but not always having the space or the people around you who are ready to listen. And that’s exactly why what she’s building now matters so much.

We also get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the funeral industry. From the emotional reality of working with families to the small but meaningful details that shape someone’s final farewell, it’s a perspective most of us never see until we have to.

This episode is a reminder that death isn’t something to avoid. It’s something to understand, to talk about, and to make space for in a way that feels human.

It's A Death Sentence shares real stories of life after loss and is produced by Urban Podcasts. Listener discretion is always advised.