We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Ever wondered what it's like to plan a funeral in a golf course or use a combi van as a hearse? Today, we're diving deep into the world of personalised farewells with Mon Jones, a funeral director at The Last Hurrah.Mon's journey into the funeral industry was unexpected, but it's clear she's found her calling. The Last Hurrah isn't your average funeral home - it's a family affair that's reimagining how we say goodbye to our loved ones. From cardbo...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)In this deeply moving episode, we explore the heart-wrenching journey of Sarah Eagle, a neurodivergent public speaker and consultant, who lost her brother Ben to schizophrenia. Sarah's story is a powerful testament to how profound loss can lead to transformative change and a lifelong commitment to mental health advocacy.Sarah takes us through the harrowing experience of Ben's disappearance in the Australian bush and the subsequent search that ende...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the heart of Aboriginal funeral traditions with Kaneesha Wise from the Aboriginal Advancement League and the Victorian Aboriginal Funeral Service. Kaneesha shares powerful insights into the cultural significance of Aboriginal funerals, the challenges faced by families, and the vital role of community support in honouring the deceased.From the importance of returning to Country for a proper burial to t...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)In today’s episode, I sit down with Emily Kisvarda, an integrated healer, alchemist, author, teacher and spiritual guide, to discuss her profound journey through grief and loss. Emily shares her deeply personal story of losing her husband and brother-in-law within two weeks, followed by her mother’s passing just three years later. Despite these heartbreaking experiences, Emily found strength and resilience, using her gifts and spiritual aware...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)⚠️ Trigger Warning ⚠️This episode contains discussions of sensitive topics including sexual abuse, childhood trauma, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.-From Troubled Past to Funeral Crasher: Meet Bill Edgar, Australia's Infamous Coffin ConfessorIn this gripping episode, I sit down with Bill Edgar, a man whose life story reads like a Hollywood script. From his tumultuous childhood as the son of a notorious gangster to becoming Australia's...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)In this episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I’m sitting down with the incredible Justine Phillips, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor and founder of Heart Matters Australia. Justine shares her jaw-dropping story of being clinically dead for 93 minutes – yes, 93 minutes – before her heart miraculously restarted. It’s a story of resilience, survival, and the determination of her family and paramedics who refused to give up on her.We talk about the life-s...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)In this episode of "Don't Be Caught Dead", I sit down with Jane Morris, President of Dying with Dignity Victoria, to unpack the complex journey of voluntary assisted dying legislation in Australia. From its controversial beginnings to its current stringent implementation, we delve into the challenges, triumphs, and ongoing struggles in the fight for end-of-life choices.Jane takes us on a captivating historical journey, starting with the formation ...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)TRIGGER WARNING: This episode covers the topic of suicideIn a world where mental health struggles often go unspoken, three young blokes from Melbourne are turning their personal tragedies into a powerful force for change. Meet Ben Farish, one of the founders of Speak and Share, a charity that's taking Australia by storm with its mission to normalise mental health conversations and prevent suicide.Born from the depths of their own mental health bat...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Ever wondered if there's a kinder way to say goodbye to your loved ones? Most of us are aware of burials and cremations, but have you heard of water cremation? Luke Cripps is a Director at Alluvium Water Cremations, established in 2023 with Director Brendan Cooper to bring a gentle, affordable, and eco-friendly method of final disposition to families in Tasmania, Australia. Luke has worked in the death space both practically and theoret...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Have you ever wondered what to say to someone who’s grieving? Or felt unsure about how to handle your own grief? In this episode, I chat with Bryan Petheram, a counsellor and group facilitator from Griefline, about the complexities of grief and how we can better support ourselves and others through loss.Bryan shares his journey from being a police officer to becoming a grief counsellor, offering unique insights into how our understanding of grief ...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)In honour of Dying to Know Day and Loneliness Awareness Week Australia, this week I chat with Associate Professor Michelle Lim, the inaugural CEO and Scientific Chair of Ending Loneliness Together.Michelle dives deep into the pervasive issue of loneliness and how it affects us all, especially those dealing with the death of a loved one.Michelle explains that loneliness is often misunderstood and concealed, with one in two Australians feeling lonel...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)This week is DonateLife Week (Sunday 28 July - Sunday 4 August 2024), and I've had the honour of speaking with Sam Stones from DonateLife Victoria. Sam shares the delicate and important work they do, helping families navigate the difficult decisions around organ and tissue donation when a loved one is dying.In this episode, Sam walks us through the process of donation conversations, explaining how she approaches families in their most vulnerable m...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Ever wondered what legal documents you need to have in place before you die? Or how to handle your assets and loved ones when the inevitable happens? In this episode of "Don't Be Caught Dead," I'm joined by Greg Russo, one of Victoria's most experienced and respected succession law solicitors. Greg shares his journey into law, driven by a love for maths and logic, and how he found his passion in succession law—a field where numbers meet human stor...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Today we’re talking about a revolutionary approach to farewelling our loved ones, pioneered by an extraordinary guest.Meet Jennifer Briscoe-Hough, the founder and CEO of Tender Funerals Australia. She's been on quite a journey to get to where she is now. She even has had a movie made about her journey! From her own personal experience with the death of her mother and the shocking costs of traditional funeral services, she was driven to find a...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)In honour of NAIDOC week 2024, the theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Also, because I simply love what this wonderful woman has to share, we explore the experience and philosophies of Aunty Jill...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Ever wondered what an anthropologist who studies death really does? Join me as I chat with Dr Hannah Gould, a fascinating cultural anthropologist who dives deep into the diverse rituals and beliefs surrounding death across the globe. In this episode of "Don't Be Caught Dead," I have the pleasure of welcoming Dr Hannah Gould, an anthropologist with a unique focus: the stuff of death and the death of stuff. Hannah's research delves into ho...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)In this episode, we're peeling back the layers of holistic death care with Libby Moloney, a pioneer in sustainable and meaningful funeral practices. We explore what it means to handle death not just with professionalism, but with heart and innovation.Libby shares her journey into holistic funeral care, emphasizing the importance of viewing each life (and death) in its unique context. From the tragic suddenness of accidents to the natural conclusio...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Just imagine being a young child, navigating through the unimaginable loss of a loved one. Feelings of isolation, confusion, and profound sadness can be overwhelming, right? Now imagine a place where these children can come together, share their experiences, and learn that they aren't alone in their grief. This week on 'Don't Be Caught Dead', I, Catherine Ashton, bring you a conversation with two inspirational women who are doing just th...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Would you return $40,000 to a donor because you don't have time to jump through hoops and need to be available for mothers, babies, and dying people?Would you pack up your life in a moment to go to Cambodia and make a difference there? In this heartfelt episode of Don’t Be Caught Dead, I sit down with Denise Love, a life and death doula whose experiences span the globe from Australian towns to Cambodian villages. Denise shares her journe...
We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Join us as we dive deep with Kristy and James Thomas, the compassionate founders of 'Feel the Magic,' an organisation dedicated to helping grieving children across Australia. Their journey began from personal losses and has blossomed into a nationwide initiative that offers solace and healing through unique camps and programs. Here's what we covered:The Birth of Feel the Magic: Hear how a personal tragedy led to the creation of a beacon of hope fo...