In this forty-second episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Merryn Tenalach – death doula, funeral celebrant, writer and space holder – for a grounding, honest and deeply human conversation about grief, intuition and building a business that honours life’s thresholds. Merryn’s work sits at the meeting point of grief, ritual, psychology and the living world. She is the guardian of Soulton Long Barrow, an ancient burial place in Shropshire, where she facilitates seasonal gatherings, art-led programmes and threshold ceremonies that invite people into deeper relationship with land, loss and meaning. With a background in psychology and ongoing studies towards a Clinical Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Merryn weaves evidence-based understanding with intuitive, earth-connected practice. Her work supports individuals and communities to navigate life’s great thresholds, including death, birth, illness, identity change and spiritual reorientation. She is particularly interested in how we might reclaim ceremony as a living, relational act rather than a rigid tradition. In this episode, Merryn shares her journey from a nurturing childhood and an early fascination with psychology, to starting a business straight out of university and supporting children and families. She opens up about burnout, the moment she knew something had to change, and how that transition eventually led her to her work as a doula and death doula. This conversation explores authenticity, intuition and self-care, the quiet power of word of mouth, and what it really looks like to build a business rooted in compassion rather than hustle. Merryn also shares her vision for the future, including her doctoral studies, her writing and her ongoing exploration of ceremony as something deeply human, embodied and shared. This episode is a gentle reminder that success doesn’t have to be loud, fast or polished to be meaningful – and that allowing your work to change as you do can be one of the most powerful choices you make. In This Episode, Alex and Merryn Explore: Merryn’s nurturing childhood and early interest in psychology Starting a business straight out of university Supporting children and families and the path to burnout Recognising when something needs to change Transitioning into work as a doula and death doula Grief, ritual and reclaiming ceremony in modern life Balancing evidence-based psychology with intuition Building a business rooted in compassion, care and presence The role of word of mouth in sustainable business growth Studying towards a Clinical Doctorate and future visions Timestamps [00:00] Introduction and Merryn’s background [03:00] Early nurturing instincts and psychology [06:00] Starting a business and early career choices [09:00] Supporting children and families [12:00] Burnout and the moment of change [15:00] Becoming a doula and death doula [18:00] Word of mouth and organic growth [21:00] Ceremony, study and future work Key Highlights Burnout as an invitation to realign Why ceremony still matters in modern life Blending psychology with intuitive practice Redefining success beyond hustle culture Building meaningful work that evolves with you Connect with Merryn Merryn Tenalach is the founder of a Community Interest Company dedicated to compassionate presence, end-of-life care and education for those who hold space for others, including celebrants, therapists and volunteers. She also works one-to-one, offering accompaniment through grief, anticipatory loss and periods of profound transition. She is the author of Guided, a reflective and ritual-based book exploring how we might meet life’s thresholds with intention, tenderness and courage. Across her writing, teaching and spoken work, Merryn invites people to slow down, listen deeply and remember that transformation is rarely neat, but it can be meaningful, held and shared. Find Merryn’s work here: Guided (book): https://www.merryntenalach.com/product-page/guided Shropshire Grief Tending (CIC): https://www.shropshiregrieftending.com/ Independent work and current offering The Turning Year: https://www.merryntenalach.com/ Connect with Alex here: https://www.alexmccarthycoaching.com/ Book a business connection session here; https://www.alexmccarthycoaching.com/business-connection-sessions
