GRIEFCAST

What it does

Griefcast is a weekly podcast, hosted by Cariad Lloyd, a comedian who struggled for decades to deal with the death of her father when she was 15. Finally Cariad decided to create the podcast as a way to explore and come to terms with the grieving process

Each week Cariad invites another comedian to share their own experience of grieving a loved one – whether a parent, a spouse or a child. As she puts it, Griefcast “examines the human experiences of grief and death – but with comedians, so it’s cheerier than it sounds.”

How it helps

At first glance, making light of grief might sound like a terrible idea but that’s not really what Griefcast is about. Although Cariad is a comedian, as are most of her guests, they handle the subject with care and respect. They have all lost loved ones and many are still in the midst of the grieving process. Most of them share unexpected insights and practical tips – hard-won wisdom that can be invaluable to the recently bereaved.  

Cariad is a wonderful, empathetic host and she picks her guests with care. And it’s genuinely funny at times – that unique kind of gentle humour that comes from shared pain.

The podcast has multiple awards including “Podcast of the year” in 2018, which gives you an idea of the care and professionalism with which it is produced.

My only criticism is that Cariad tends to get overexcited and interrupts her guests a bit too often, but it’s really a small flaw compared to the wonderful sense of comfort and hope offered by the podcast.

Conclusion

If you’re struggling with bereavement, Griefcast can be a welcome spark of warmth, empathy and gentle humour in your week. They say grief shared is grief halved, and that’s definitely true of Griefcast.

What other users say

“I don’t even remember how I came upon this podcast but it has helped me cope with losing both my mum and dad within the last six months. I think friends thought it was morbid to listen to it every day on my way to work, but that lack of understanding of my need to listen was one of the reasons I was so thankful for the podcast. It definitely made me feel less isolated listening to others who understood. Yes, sometimes Cariad interrupts too much but I don’t care: I am just thankful that she created this wonderful podcast and brought death and grief into the open.”

What the experts say

“Whether you’re dealing with a terminal diagnosis, the loss of a loved one or you’re not yet ‘in the club’ this podcast elegantly and sensitively lets you know what you might expect, reassures you that you’re not alone and opens the door to further healing conversations.” – Sebastian Droesler, Psychotherapist