Keep It Grief
Keep It Grief is a podcast about grief and loss, hosted by long-time friends Jonny Meah and Neil Collins. After losing Jonny's mum and Neil's fiancée, they sit down weekly to share stories, memories and laughs as they navigate life after loss. The show covers everyday triggers, tough conversations and the unexpected humour that often sneaks in. It's a series of real conversations, real emotions and real friends.
Episodes
How Do You Live with a Long Goodbye?
This week on Keep It Grief, Jonny and Neil have an honest, heartfelt conversation about anticipatory grief and the complicated emotions of grieving a loved one while they are still here. Responding to an email from listener Charlotte, the hosts explore her story of navigating the loss of her mum alongside a sudden, life-altering accident involving her husband, Liam. From the weight of holding your
Finding Purpose After Loss
This week on Keep It Grief, Jonny and Neil have an honest, heartfelt conversation about navigating life after loss, responding to a listener's powerful email about feeling lost without their mum, and learning to find meaning in life again when grief changes everything.From emotional memories and special moments with family to the little signs that make us feel our loved ones are still close, t
The Side of Loneliness Nobody Warns You About
This week’s episode of Keep It Grief explores the many different sides of loneliness after loss, beginning with a powerful listener email from someone who describes feeling completely alone while grieving alongside the very people living under the same roof.After spending three weeks travelling through France in his van, Neil opens up about the loneliness he experienced being on his own, the fear
MAFS CHANITA STEPHENSON: Losing My Mum Changed Everything
Chanita Stephenson from MAFS joins Jonny for this week's episode of Keep It Grief. A qualified social worker, content creator and Married at First Sight favourite, Chanita opens up about losing her mum to cancer and the ways grief has changed her life almost three years on.Chanita shares the story behind the 50th birthday party she organised for her mum, bringing friends and family together to
HIS GRIEF: Raising a Son Through Loss
Ben Kennedy (founder of His Grief UK) joins Jonny for this week's episode of Keep It Grief, while Neil is away.They read an email from listener Emma, who reflects on the devastating sudden loss of her husband three years ago and the complex struggle of rebuilding life as a young single mother without feeling like she is leaving him behind. Connecting over shared experiences, Ben opens up about
A Breakup You Didn't Want...
This week's episode of Keep It Grief opens up with a poignant listener email from Steven, who reflects on the devastating sudden loss of his wife, Mandy. Reconnecting over shared experiences of unexpected loss, Neil reflects on the initial shock, police proceedings, and overwhelming emotions following his partner Lottie's passing. Moving through the personal realities of daily life after l
Dealing With Grief After Suicide...
In this week's episode of Keep It Grief, Jonny & Neil are joined by listener Holly and Louise Williams from the charity Suicide&Co. Marking World Suicide Prevention Day, they open up a vital and deeply personal conversation about navigating grief after suicide, overcoming the unique silence, shock, and isolation that families often carry. Holly shares touching memories of her sister Br
Do You Ever Feel Robbed By Loss?
This week on Keep It Grief, Jonny and Neil share a heartwarming email from a listener, Shelly, about how tracking the little things can keep a loved one's memory alive. It sparks a raw conversation about the realisation that "grief is a thief," leaving families feeling robbed of future opportunities and milestones. They talk about Neil's recent emotional blowout, the struggle of
GRIEF, GUILT & PERMISSION TO TALK ABOUT THEM...
This week on Keep It Grief, Jonny and Neil read out a beautiful email from a listener, Sarah, about grieving quietly and the guilt of feeling like everyone else has stopped wanting to hear about the person you've lost. It sparks a raw conversation about survivor's guilt, why "why me?" might be the wrong question, and why the answer might really be "why them?"They talk a
LUKE ALFANO: Losing My Dad at 21…
In this episode, Jonny & Neil are joined by Luke Alfano, who shares his story of losing his dad suddenly at just 21 years old while in his final year of university. Luke opens up about how he channeled his grief into building the "Too Young to Grieve" community to support young adults navigating loss, mental health, and the unique challenges of major life steps without their loved on
When Grief Feels Like Homesickness...
Jonny and Neil explore the small, unexpected moments that make us feel connected to the people we've lost.Sparked by a listener's heartbreaking poem about losing her husband to cancer, the guys open up about the "signs" that have found them recently.Along the way, they talk honestly about the exhaustion of carrying grief while putting on a brave face for the world, and why lookin
Why Do We Leave 'I Love You' Until It's Too Late?
In this episode of Keep It Grief, hosts Jonny and Neil dive into a powerful conversation about the finality of life and our tendency to withhold our deepest feelings until it is too late. Triggered by a request from Jonny’s father, the guys reflect on why eulogies and profound expressions of love are almost always heard by everyone except the person they are actually about. They urge you at home t
Should You Profit Off Your Pain? The Truth About Grief Clickbait...
This episode of Keep It Grief brings a deeply personal and poignant perspective to the table. Hosts Jonny and Neil open up about the milestones and everyday moments that shape their lives after loss. Jonny shares a heart-melting yet difficult moment from his week when his three-year-old son, Louis, unexpectedly initiated a conversation about death, asking if his late Nana and a family dog were tog
Why Does Grief Make People Awkward?
This episode of Keep It Grief brings a deeply personal and poignant perspective to the table. Hosts Jonny and Neil open up about the milestones and everyday moments that shape their lives after loss. Neil celebrates a major breakthrough as his camper van, Lottie, is finally completed and back on the road. What started as a bittersweet decision after his partner's passing has evolved into a 2.5
ALANA SPRINGSTEEN: "Why Are You Seeing a Therapist?"
Alana Springsteen, the Nashville-based country music sensation, joins Jonny and Neil in this week's episode of Keep It Grief.Visiting London during her UK headline tour, Alana joins the guys in the pub for an incredibly raw, vulnerable, and perspective-shifting conversation about what it means to grieve when there is no physical death. At just 25 years old, Alana opens up about a different kin
Why Grief Looks Different for Everyone
Everyone loses the same person, but nobody loses the same relationship. Because every bond is unique, grief looks completely different for everyone - meaning one person’s comfort can easily be another’s heartbreak.In this episode of Keep It Grief, Jonny and Neil explore how these differing perspectives play out within families navigating loss. They discuss the heavy physical exhaustion that comes
How Grief Changes the Way You See the World...
Jonny and Neil talk about why birthdays can become some of the hardest days to navigate after losing someone you love.Neil also reveals how he'd genuinely react if he won £1 million, reflects on the unique perspective he's gained witnessing grief while filming weddings and explains why those emotional moments never stop affecting him.Meanwhile, Jonny shares a heartfelt message from his son
CICI FROM FIRST DATES: Grieving, dating and what Fred is REALLY like...
Cici Coleman, best known for her role on the hit Channel 4 dating show First Dates, joins Jonny & Neil for a powerful and honest conversation about grief, loss, resilience, relationships, and finding your way after tragedy.Cici opens up about losing her mum at a young age, navigating her teenage years without her, and how grief has shaped her outlook on life, love, dating, and relationships. S
How Dying Changed The Way I Live | Howard Enders
Jonny and Neil are joined by Howard Enders, COO of The Estate Registry. Howard shares his remarkable story of technically dying and how the experience completely changed his perspective on life, parenting and his own emotions. He also reflects on the traumatic experience of losing a close friend and what grief has taught him about carrying on after loss.Plus, the boys mark Father's Day with a
Is It Normal To Think About Them Less As Time Goes On?
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, Jonny and Neil discuss what it feels like to think about someone you've lost, less than you once did! Plus, have you ever considered what someone went to heaven thinking of you?There's also a conversation about what happens when you lose the last
We Found a White Feather!
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, Jonny & Neil discuss what it's like to work as a Wedding Photographer after losing your fiancee, including the surprising reason your work improves! Plus, a sign from above lands on the pub floor... and Jonny insists on wearing his Arsenal shirt!
Dealing With Grief When As a Parent...
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, Jonny and Neil revisit the difficulties involved with explaining loss to a child, how keeping up appearances (not the TV show) can affect how you cope with grief, and there's a van update from Neil, too!If you’ve ever lost someone, supported someone
The Physical Effects of Grief...
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, Jonny and Neil discuss what happens when grief leaves your headspace and moves to the physical worlds, from crying in public to the reappearance of underlying health issues.If you’ve ever lost someone, supported someone through grief, or just want real c
Why It's Important to TALK When Grieving...
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, how Akon inspired Jonny to reflect, why anticipatory grief offers some unique challenges, and what grief teaches you about your own mental health. Plus, Neil reveals the people he resents the most, and there's chat around dating after losing somebody.If
Natasha Hamilton: The Grief She Never Talked About
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, Natasha Hamilton shares her grief journey, and it's not as simple as it seems! From trying to keep a grip on her freedom at a young age, losing one of her biggest supporters, and now adapting to life without children in the house - there's a lot
How Long SHOULD You Live With Grief?
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, Jonny & Neil discuss the reality of living with grief for an extended period of time, whether that's because you don't want to let go or you simply don't know how. Plus, the boys chat about grief support groups, dating after losing a part
Our Most Difficult Episode Yet...
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, Jonny & Neil mark 3 years since Lottie passed. Neil reflects on how this anniversary has changed over the years, how he deals with the difficult moments and, importantly, give us an update on Lottie the Van!If you’ve ever lost someone, supported some
Losing Your Biggest Supporter | Kitty Scott Claus
In this episode of Keep It Grief, Jonny and Neil are joined by RuPaul's Drag Race legend, Kitty Scott Claus. Recently, Kitty's experienced two types of grief - the loss her biggest supporter and Grandma, Beryl, and then the loss of her friend and colleague, The Vivienne.Kitty reveals how she managed to perform on the day of Beryl's funeral, what's helped her the most in dealing wit
Is a Breakdown Actually a Breakthrough?
In this episode of Keep It Grief, Jonny and Neil explore the thin line between falling apart and moving forward, and whether a breakdown might actually be part of a breakthrough.They talk honestly about not being ready to hear a loved one’s voice again, avoiding photos and videos, and the guilt that can come with that. They also open up about something rarely discussed - secondary loss - when losi
Talking to Children About Loss | The Wiggles
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, Jonny & Neil are joined by one of The Wiggles, Dominic Field AKA The Tree of Wisdom. Dominic's parents lost his sister, Bernadette, before he was born, and in this conversation, he reveals how they dealt with their grief as a family.If you’ve ever lost s
Why Everything Reminds You They’re Gone...
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, Jonny and Neil discuss the parts of grief people that don’t always say out loud. Trying to keep ties with friends and family, not losing yourself in the process and the strange ways loss starts showing up everywhere you look, even before it's happene
Why Being Honest About Grief Makes Things Awkward...
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, we talk about how normal conversation can become tricky when you're 100% honest about how you're feeling, why phone companies should consider those who are living with grief, and the difficulties of talking to children about losing someone.If you’ve ever
Nobody tells you how HARD funeral planning really is...
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, we reflect on what it takes - both emotionally and logistically - to plan a funeral, why it's important to connect with grief rather than ignore it, and how taking on projects after loss can help re-direct those difficult emotions.If you’ve ever lost som
Making Grief Your Friend
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode Jonny and Neil talk openly about what grief really feels like and how people slowly learn to live alongside loss.They discuss the idea that “grief is love with nowhere to go”, why some people don’t want their grief to fade, and the strange everyday moment
Matt Terry: I Grieved the Person I Once Was
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.In this episode, X Factor winner, Matt Terry, opens up about a rarely discussed form of grief: mourning the person he used to be. After winning The X Factor, Matt found himself shaped into someone he no longer recognised and quietly began grieving the version of himself
Where Do We Even Start?
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two mates talk honestly about loss, life after it, and everything that comes with grief.This episode reveals how Jonny and Neil arrived at this point in their lives and the experiences that led them to this pub table for an honest conversation about the tough times.If you’ve ever lost someone, supported someone through grief, or just want real conversations
Introducing Keep It Grief
Welcome to Keep It Grief, the show where two friends, Jonny and Neil, talk honestly about loss and share a few smiles along the way!Keep It Grief is brought to you in partnership with The Estate Registry which supports people through the practical realities that follow the loss of a loved one.💙 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY 💙Email us: hello@keepitgrief.comFollow us on: Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!
