In this thought-provoking episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis speaks with Melissa, widely known as The Modern Mortician, to explore the deep intersections between death care, nature connection, and community learning. Beginning with light-hearted bug encounters and moving into meaningful reflections, the conversation spans Melissa’s career journey from traditional funeral homes to her current role as a death doula and advocate for greener, more intentional end-of-life practices. Together they unpack topics including green burial, water cremation, the realities and myths around “eco” death products, and how environmental considerations influence our final choices. They also discuss the emotional and cultural importance of involving children in death rituals, parallels between small animal burials at Forest School and human funerals, and how openness, presence, and hands-on experience can change our relationship with loss. With a mix of practical insight, personal stories, and gentle humour, this episode invites listeners to rethink death as a natural, participatory part of life.

🌲 Chapter Timings:
00:00 – Clay hairpieces, bug encounters, and the day’s woodland context
02:01 – Introducing Melissa: The Modern Mortician’s work and journey into death care
06:37 – Animal burials at Forest School and what really happens underground
09:19 – Green burial processes and Melissa’s personal story of exhuming her cat
12:24 – How grief and burial choices can shift over time
20:07 – Balancing professional knowledge with honouring people’s choices
24:14 – Water cremation explained: process, benefits, and environmental impact
26:39 – Why conservation burial tops the list for eco-friendly end-of-life care
31:18 – Myths, marketing, and the truth about “eco” burial products
37:24 – Local sourcing, human composting, and hidden environmental costs
50:52 – Why children benefit from involvement in death rituals
56:26 – Behind-the-scenes realities of funeral industry “natural” presentation
1:01:02 – Advice for Forest School leaders: normalising involvement and presence

🌲 Keywords: green burial, water cremation, human composting, conservation burial, natural burial, eco death care, death doula, child involvement in funerals, animal burials, Forest School rituals, end-of-life choices, environmental impact of funerals, grief and participation, cultural attitudes to death, The Modern Mortician

🔖 Hashtags:
#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #GreenBurial #WaterCremation #ChildLedLearning #EcoDeathCare #DeathDoula #ForestSchoolPodcast #NatureAndDeath #LifeCycles #CommunityRituals #SustainableFunerals #EndOfLifeEducation #HandsOnHealing #TheModernMortician

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