Despite advances in medical science, 100% of people still die. A cultural reluctance to discuss death and dying means that many people die unprepared and leave things unsaid. Death as a taboo topic has been contested on a number of levels and Kingston Borough Councillor Sharon Young will talk about the rise in popularity of Death Cafes and the role they play in shaping perceptions of death and dying. Sharon set up the first Death Cafe in Kingston Upon Thames, using real life examples taken from two years working as a facilitator to highlight the importance of discussion on end of life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx