Broadcaster Jonny Meah’s weekly podcast – launching in February in partnership with The Estate Registry – will explore grief, loss and life’s biggest emotional transitions – ‘with warmth, honesty and humour’.
A powerful new podcast being launched by TV and radio presenter Jonny Meah is set to explore grief in all its forms – with celebrity and listener stories spread throughout each series – but without the sugarcoating so often associated with discussions about death.
Hosted by Meah – a familiar and trusted voice across the Heart Radio Network, and seen on BBC One’s flagship shows – the weekly podcast Keep It Grief will offer a candid exploration of life during and after loss, and the many different forms grief can take, aiming to promote open and honest discussion.
Set to launch on February 18th, in partnership with The Estate Registry, the UK’s leading provider of bereavement notification and estate management services, Meah promises that Keep It Grief won’t be a podcast “drenched in sadness”.
Joining Meah – who was inspired to create this after losing his mother, Betty, to breast cancer in 2023 – is his close friend Neil Collins – whose fiancée Lottie died suddenly in her sleep in the same year.
The pair bring two very different personal experiences and perspectives of grief into open, reflective conversation and hope to encourage others to do the same.
The series will not only hear from celebs across each series, but consciously involve listeners, too, helping to build a community. Experts will also occasionally appear to help those navigating a bereavement and dealing with end-of-life-admin.
Episodes will tackle everything from sudden loss and anticipatory grief to how bereavement affects work, relationships, identity and mental health — topics still rarely discussed openly in public life.
Keep It Grief will focus on reality, resilience and recovery – the constant connection to the listener is designed to feel like a conversation with a friend, rather than a clinical or preachy discussion.
Jonny Meah said: “Grief is something every single one of us experiences at some point, yet we’re still so uncomfortable talking about it.
“Keep It Grief is about changing that – being honest, being human, and recognising that even in the heaviest moments, connection, openness, discussion and expressing your emotions really matter and can help you through those worst moments in life.
“We intend to persuade well-known public figures and listeners to talk more openly about loss without sugar-coating it, while remaining human, relatable and, believe it or not, with a touch of humour too!”
A play on the phrase “keep it brief”, Keep It Grief captures the tone of the podcast perfectly says Meah: emotionally honest, intimate and conversational, with space for warmth and moments of levity alongside deeply personal stories.
Each episode will blend personal storytelling from Jonny and Neil, listener experiences and carefully selected guest voices to create a space that feels emotionally safe, modern and grounded.
Neil Collins adds: “First and foremost, the reason I said yes to Jonny about joining him weekly on the podcast is I love talking about Lottie. She is still the most important person in my life, and I will talk about her to anyone that will listen.
“Grief is hard, there is no easy way through it and I feel there is a lot of toxic positivity around grief which I don’t feel is most people’s genuine experience. I want people to know its ok to not be ok when you lose someone you love.”
The podcast is launching in partnership with The Estate Registry, whose services support people through the practical realities that follow loss – from death notification and probate support to digital legacy planning.
Howard Enders, Chief Operating Officer at The Estate Registry said: “Grief doesn’t begin and end with paperwork, and it certainly doesn’t follow a neat timeline. At The Estate Registry, we see every day how loss affects people emotionally and practically, often at the same time, and often when they feel least equipped to cope.
“That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with Keep It Grief. This new podcast will create the kind of honest, compassionate space that is still missing from many public conversations about loss.
“It recognises that grief is human, complex and ongoing – and that people need both emotional understanding and practical support, not one without the other.
“In partnership with Jonny and Neil, we’re backing a project that treats grief with realism, warmth and respect, and will help to make conversations about loss more open, not something to be hidden away or only addressed in moments of crisis.”
The partnership reflects a shared belief that support through grief should be accessible, compassionate and part of everyday life – not something reserved solely for crisis moments.
The series is being produced by award-winning independent podcast production company, Cold Fries, whose roster of podcasts have racked up over 3.5 million plays.
Laurence Hall, founder of Cold Fries, said: “From the very first conversation, it was clear that Keep It Grief was doing something different. This isn’t a podcast trying to ‘solve’ grief or package it neatly – it gives people permission to talk honestly about loss in a way that feels human, relatable and safe.
“Jonny and Neil bring real chemistry, lived experience and emotional intelligence to the conversations, which is incredibly powerful. Listeners don’t want lectures – they want connection – and this podcast creates that in a way we rarely see.
“However grief ends up looking, sounding or feeling, Jonny and Neil’s only guarantee is a real, weekly catch-up between two friends, and a welcome space for those who need it.
“We’re proud to be producing a series that tackles such an important subject with warmth, integrity and authenticity, and which has the potential to grow into a genuine community, not just a podcast.”
Alongside the audio series, Meah hopes the project will grow into a broader nationwide community, with future live events and audience-led discussions already part of the long-term vision.
With grief increasingly recognised as a universal – yet often hidden – human experience, Keep It Grief aims to fill a clear gap in the podcast landscape: honest conversations about loss, told with empathy, credibility and heart.
