You, Me and the Elephant in the Room

11/09/2021

FINAL EPISODE

Something a little different to finish the first series of You, Me and The Elephant in the Room.

Many people email me to discuss how I have faced loss. Therefore, I asked my lovely friend Nick Knowles to join me on the final episode to speak openly about my journey the last 9 years.

Series 2 will be back in the Autumn.

Thank you all for listening ###

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1NdDeqBrNT3foZiDLZRHIJ?si=9qHfqpdGRe290_PP-o6wAg&dl_branch=1

23/08/2021

EPISODE 13

Thank you Sharon for sharing your experience of personal loss with me.

Sharon's Son David passed away due to heart complications. Listen to her account where she touches on her loss but also how her family were missed by a number of organisations due to David passing away outside of Wales. R xx

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3j1i5lz1jiAUXq6HeAVywe?si=WMyysKB9RYixM6mfiQf4jA&dl_branch=1

07/08/2021

Episode 11

Thank you to Jonathan for sharing his journey of loss with me.

An emotional talk about losing his Son Kieran through Su***de. 💔

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6K593Wm5qbQs1sTeRcbLQQ?si=EQq2LmiCR5Cu9l3LdMr9nw&dl_branch=1

26/07/2021

Episode 10

Thank you so much for speaking with me Jo.

Jo's Son Rhys was walking with his friends when he was involved in a road traffic accident. Rhys died of his injuries aged just 16 years old. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Jo and felt real privilege when she agreed to take part in this project. Much love to you and your family Jo. ###x

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mm7YfQMdCV6zZKz3sOst2?si=3GjtaoJ8R96LqKaL4SxyoA&dl_branch=1

15/07/2021

Following on from this week's podcast, Nicola, Tom's Mum, asked me to share the following details. Much love xx


‘Look beyond the smile’

Facebook search 4TOM

www.4tom.org
Contact me [email protected]

13/07/2021

Episode 9

Thank you Nicola Smerdon for sharing your heart-breaking story of losing your son Tom. Again so many lessons to be learned from how you heard about your beautiful Son's death. Sending you love as always ###

https://open.spotify.com/episode/62MH7C48056S5Xqnb4KB4S?si=QPiZSYfaRjOIlknOPqJzrQ&dl_branch=1

21/06/2021

A huge thank you to Claire, who talks to me on this episode about losing her Son Max through su***de.

A heartbreaking account of not just tragic loss but also one that highlights the importance of professionals communicating with families and supporting them immediately.

A difficult listen!

Much love to you Claire and your family. ❤️

https://open.spotify.com/episode/52TMFZtqAZtyCialiQ7a63?si=rK8hb-N2RvGMB3mPCSAlxA&dl_branch=1

11/05/2021

One of the reasons I wanted to do a series of podcasts was to get people talking and listening about bereavement. People are bereaved every minute of every day across the world. Its something that we will all face at some point and if I can do anything to make the process a tiny bit easer for both those who have experienced the loss or for those supporting the bereaved, then I will keep fighting.

Today, I have been told that a talk I am doing this week titled 'Living with Loss and a Mental Health Journey' has been taken down off the intranet of a company who were advertising it. They believe this could be an upsetting talk that they do not believe their team need to hear!!!

I am gobsmacked that this is their stance on mental health and bereavement. I am saddened staff, potentially bereaved staff, have not been given the choice to join the talk and I have raised my concerns around the ethos of a workplace who show such ignorance about bereavement especially as we come out of a pandemic.

There is one massive elephant in their office!!!!!!!!!!!! R xx

10/05/2021

Episode 6

A huge thank you to Ruth McDonald for speaking to me about losing her Son Ben. Ben died of a cardiac arrest in 2018 after crossing the finish line of the Cardiff Half Marathon. He was 25 years old. Their fun loving Ben is missed by the whole family every day - listen to Ruth talk so openly and lovingly about him. R xx

https://open.spotify.com/episode/67t5BCtpyZ1vQMXuIBhyC6?si=Mu_ynXaARdeMsC8SGtrDhw

29/04/2021

So after finishing the first series of You Me and The Elephant in the Room and speaking to twelve amazing parents I recorded the final episode today.

After having a number of messages from people asking me to be interviewed for an episode I reached out to a friend who I’ve spoken openly to before! Nick Knowles and I chatted about my loss today, how I have coped and about the highs and the lows! I told him he could ask anything and he did just that!

Thank you Nick! This episode will be released at the end of the series in about 3 months...

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26/04/2021

Thank you to everyone who has listened to my podcast. Please keep sharing and listening. It means so much to myself and to the lovely guests who each fortnight open up their hearts to you all. x

https://lnkd.in/ds5gbyA

24/04/2021

Episode 5 of our podcast You Me and the Elephant in the Room!

Thank you to Andrea for sharing her story. Andrea’s son Dai passed away aged 24. He took his own life.

He was survived by two very young children, one of whom he never met. His partner was 6 weeks pregnant at the time of his death.

###

youmeandtheelephantpodcast's Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/1IJ0Qchz6pYpQtyC67cZkM

21/04/2021

Hello! I just want to say a huge thank you to those Mums and Dads who came forward to speak to me for my podcast series You, Me and The Elephant in the Room. Series One has now been completed so I plan a few months off recording. There are 8 more episodes to come the next few months - all so emotional and heartbreaking. Your honesty and openness has been remarkable and each episode, I know, is already helping so many! R ###

08/04/2021

Going live this Saturday! Episode 4 of You, Me and the Elephant in the Room.

Thank you Karen Evans for talking to me so openly about losing your Son Stephen. Stephen died in a road traffic accident in 2017 and I have known this lovely lady ever since. R x

❤️

07/04/2021

Many of you have listened to Gareth Watkins Gemma Watkins talking about losing his daughter Taryn! Gareth has raised thousands and thousands of pounds for 2 Wish in memory of Taryn and this year he has done it once again! If you would like to donate his JG page is below ###

“On April 8th it will be 6 years since my beautiful 2 year old daughter Taryn Passed away suddenly. Throughout this period my family has been constantly supported by the amazing charity 2 Wish Upon A Star I will never be able to thank them enough for all they have done not only for my family but other families throughout Wales who suffer the unthinkable sudden loss of a child or young adult.

To show my appreciation over the past few weeks I have been doing a 865 mile virtual cycle ride from Lands End to John O Groats with the aim of hitting my target on the 8th April. Today I hit 870 Miles and passed the target 3 days ahead of schedule. I will keep riding over the next few days to keep raising awareness.

If there is anyone out there who would like to make a donation to this amazing totally self funded charity please follow the link below as every penny raised means so much to suddenly bereaved families here in Wales”

https://lnkd.in/du4JBdT

Help gareth watkins raise money to support 2 Wish Upon A Star