Griefcast
My goal right from the beginning was that I wanted it to be a podcast that, when it stopped, you didn’t feel worse,” says Cariad Lloyd, host of Griefcast, a weekly interview podcast where media personalities share stories about loved ones they've lost. “We’re all in this club that no one asked to join, and it’s really helpful when you realize there’s other people in the club. Part of grief is feeling quite isolated, so when you realize, ‘Oh, it's not just me,’ It does help.” In each episode, Lloyd makes space for natural, unhurried conversations for her guests to talk about death where, in her words, “Nobody’s going to change the subject.”
In 2016, the British actor, comedian, and writer came up with the idea of starting the show when she realized a lot of her comedian friends were doing podcasts. It coincided with her talking about her dad publicly, who passed away from pancreatic cancer when she was 15. “I’d kept it this hidden thing,” she says. "So once I started the podcast, and once people knew, people wanted to talk to me about it. It became this place where I could finally have those conversations I yearned to have.”
The multiple award-winning podcast—which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary and launched its eighth season—has evolved from Lloyd talking to her comedian friends in the UK to inviting a broader range of guests including actors, writers, and producers, allowing her to focus on more specific types of grief. This approach has been especially helpful for her listeners during the global COVID-19 pandemic, steering the show to become a salve during a time when grief has become a more prevalent topic. “I feel really glad that, when the pandemic hit, there was a bank of episodes for people to scroll through— because I feel that's been quite helpful in some ways,” she says. “When you lose someone, you often want the world to stop, and it's enraging that it doesn’t. And the world did stop. It's part of the important process of grief, that the world carries on. And that's really helpful because it reminds you that, ‘You know what? I need to carry on.’
Funny people talking about death and grief, a podcast. Hosted by Cariad Lloyd.
Podcast of the Year 2018 / Best Podcast ARIA 2018 / Rose D'or Nominee 2019
You Are Not Alone
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Our Editor's Take
Griefcast is a podcast for anyone who wants to hear others' experiences with loss. British comedian, improviser, and author Cariad Lloyd is the host. She started the show to help others find comfort as they grieve the loss of a loved one.
The host, Cariad Lloyd, has been featured on British TV shows such as Peep Show, QI, and Would I Lie To You? Griefcast won Best Entertainment Podcast and Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards. The show has also won an ARIA Award for Best Podcast. She wrote the 2023 book You Are Not Alone about the grieving process.
Many podcast episodes discuss the loss of family members. Poet Hollie McNish talks about losing her grandmother during the COVID-19 lockdown. Comedian Tom Allen shares about his father's sudden death from a heart attack. Some episodes explore how grief can influence creativity.
Indie folk band The Staves relay how their mother's death affected their music. Author and journalist Lisa Taddeo discusses how losing her parents influenced her writing. These stories show how grief may lead to new forms of expression and creativity.
As a comedian herself, Cariad often talks to other comedians about how they use humor to cope with grief. Romesh Ranganathan discusses his father's sudden death. Viv Groskop talks about her grandparents and humor's role in her grief. These episodes show that laughing and finding joy even while grieving is okay.
Several episodes touch on how grief can impact or center around mental health. Writer Jen Offord discusses her brother's suicide. Comic Marise Gaughan shares her late father's struggles with depression and alcoholism. Poorna Bell talks about the anger and emotional challenges that come with grief. These conversations may help others understand how to cope with loss as a result of mental health issues. They also highlight the importance of mental health support during the grieving process.
Griefcast offers a wide range of perspectives on grief. Listeners who are dealing with loss may find the show comforting and supportive. Hearing others' stories may help them feel less alone in their grief.
Episodes