St Giles Hospice launches new podcast for Dying Matters Week with honest conversations about death and dying

First episode features CEO and Director of Clinical Services discussing leadership challenges and the future of hospice care

A new podcast series tackling one of society’s biggest taboos has launched this week to coincide with Hospice UK’s Dying Matters Week, encouraging people to have the conversations we often avoid about death, dying and hospice care.

We’re Dying to Tell You Something is a four-part series created by Birmingham City University students Maya Davis and Kyle Salmon in collaboration with St Giles Hospice in Whittington, Staffordshire.

The first episode, ‘Leading with Heart’, features St Giles CEO Elinor Eustace and Director of Clinical Services Leon Ratcliffe in an honest conversation about the challenges facing hospices today, from funding pressures to maintaining high-quality care in an increasingly stretched health and social care system.

Listeners hear about the reality of running a hospice that spends close to £10 million a year providing care, with less than a quarter funded by the Government. Elinor and Leon discuss what keeps them awake at night, why they chose to work in hospice care, and their vision for the future as the Government’s 10-year NHS plan emphasises shifting care from hospitals into the community.

The episode tackles difficult topics head-on, with Elinor and Leon talking openly about the emotional toll of working in end of life care, the financial challenges facing the hospice sector, and what makes good hospice care in their view.

But it’s not all challenges. The episode also explores the moments that make the work worthwhile, the stories that stay with them, and why breaking down the stigma around death and dying matters so much.

Elinor Eustace, Chief Executive of St Giles Hospice, said: “This podcast series is an important step in breaking down the stigma surrounding conversations about death and dying. By working with talented students from Birmingham City University, we’re able to share the real stories behind hospice care – the challenges we face, the incredible people who support us, and the compassionate care we provide to local families at the most difficult time of their lives.”

The podcast launches during Dying Matters Week, which runs from 4th-10th May and this year focuses on the theme ‘Let’s talk about Death and Dying’. Over the coming months, three more episodes will be released featuring volunteers, fundraisers, community nurses and loved ones who have experienced St Giles’ care first-hand.

Natalie Lewis, Head of Marketing and Strategic Communications at St Giles Hospice, added: “We are so proud of this collaboration and the powerful content the BCU students have created. We’re Dying to Tell You Something addresses difficult topics with empathy, honesty and warmth. These are stories that need to be heard, and we hope the podcast will reach new audiences while shining a light on the vital role hospices play in our communities.”

The podcast was recorded at St Giles Hospice in October 2025 and created by BCU media students as part of their course under the guidance of Senior Lecturer Meera Darji and Editor Dan Whitehouse.

Future episodes will feature long-time volunteer Joan Fairley, who was invited to the Princess of Wales’ Christmas carol service, Rachel and Andy Barker who met at a Bereavement Help Point after both losing their spouses, and extreme fundraiser James Lewis, who is currently running and dribbling a football thousands of miles from Africa to Rugeley to raise funds for the charity. Also featured will be community nurse Jack Rees alongside family member Ann Freeman.

We’re Dying to Tell You Something is available now on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. You can also find out more about it via this link