Don't Be Caught Dead

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) When Melissa King lost her baby in 2011, she discovered an unexpected silence. No information, no pathway to support, and very few people willing to talk openly about miscarriage. Out of that heartbreak, she founded Miscarriage Information Support Service (MISS), Australia’s first miscarriage-specific not-for-profit providing free resources, care...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Imagine a gay man planning his own funeral, only for his family to swoop in and rewrite everything. That’s what one of Bronte Price’s clients faced, and he had to fight to honour his wishes. In this episode I chat with Bronte Price, “your gay celebrant,” Australia’s trailblazing LGBTQIA+ celebrant shaking up weddings and funerals. We talk about bi...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Ever wondered what really happens in those final moments before someone dies, or how a death doula can turn a family's grief into something meaningful? In this episode, I chat with Barb Ferguson, a seasoned end-of-life doula, about her hands-on work with dying, death, and everything after. It's raw, real, and full of insights that might...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What do you give the love of your life as a final birthday gift when they only have days left? That's the tender moment Reverend Jim Colville shares with us in this powerful chat. It's an act of love that perfectly sums up Jim's radical, non-judgemental approach to life, death, and dying. Jim, the man who started Colony 47 in Hobart...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Ever wondered if a simple box of fabric and words could unlock the toughest chats about dying? In this episode, I dive into the world of the Bioscope with Chetan Shastri, a Melbourne designer who's turned death into a navigable map – literally. It’s not some dusty chart; it’s a tactile, embroidered toolkit that sparks real talk about end-of-l...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Ever wondered how architecture and landscape can turn contested land into a living tribute to lives lost and those affected by family violence? In this episode, I chat with Amy Muir, director of Muir Architecture, about designing Victoria's Family Violence Memorial located next to the Parliament Precinct in East Melbourne. It's a reminde...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Ever wondered what it’s like to face death – not your own, but the sudden loss of a child to suicide? In this raw and moving chat, I sit down with Christine Pedley , a grief counsellor, death doula, and author who turned unimaginable pain into purpose. If you’ve ever felt lost in the silence around death and dying, this episode reminds you that ta...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Are you making the most of your time before death catches us all? In this heartfelt episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I chat with Kate Christie, Australia’s leading time management expert, about how loss and grief can be the wake-up call we need to live intentionally. Kate shares her personal story of losing her ex-husband to pancreatic cancer...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Are you ready to face death head-on? In this episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I chat with Rose Sexton, a seasoned nurse and passionate palliative care educator from Wangaratta, Northeast Victoria. Rose shares her deep insights into palliative care, advance care planning, and the importance of having honest conversations about death and dying...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What does it mean to “do death differently”? In this episode of Don’t Be Caught Dead , I sit down with Reverend Amy Firth — interfaith minister, funeral director, and spiritual counsellor — to talk about her incredible journey through grief, loss, and finding her calling in end-of-life care. From training in London with the One Spirit Interfaith F...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What does it really look like to face death with choice, dignity and clarity? In this episode of Don’t Be Caught Dead , I sit down with two doctors who’ve seen death from every angle — and who aren’t afraid to talk about it. I’m joined by Dr Nick Carr, one of the first GPs in Victoria to be involved in voluntary assisted dying, and Dr Kane Treble,...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What happens when death touches your family before you even understand what it means? In this episode of Don’t Be Caught Dead , I sit down with funeral celebrant Leonie Fletcher Adams, whose life was profoundly shaped when her sister died at just four years old. That childhood loss not only shaped her family but also planted the seed for a lifelon...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) We all know death is coming for us, yet most of us avoid talking about it like it’s the plague. In this episode, I sit down with Baci Hillyer for an honest, heartfelt conversation about why facing our mortality head-on, including the controversial topic of assisted dying, can change the way we live. Baci and I dive into the uncomfortable yet essen...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What if I told you that talking about death could be one of the most empowering conversations you ever have? In this episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I sit down with Dr. Annetta Mallon, a leading expert in grief loss education and end-of-life care, to explore the profound impact of embracing death and the importance of open dialogue around it...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What if the way we say goodbye could heal both our hearts and the planet? In this profound episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, we sit down with Zimmi Forest, fibre artist, environmentalist, and creator of handwoven eco-coffins that challenge everything we think we know about death. Zimmi doesn’t just make baskets; she crafts vessels that reconne...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What happens when your worst nightmare becomes your greatest gift to strangers? Adele shares the moment her son's death transformed into hope. In this heartfelt episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I sit down with Adele, a mother who faced the unimaginable loss of her son, Dan, in 2020. Dan's tragic accident not only shattered Adele&apo...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What does it mean to TRULY save a life? For humanitarian Moira Kelly, the answer was simple—give a part of herself. In this episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, we dive deep into the extraordinary life of Moira Kelly, a remarkable humanitarian whose journey has been defined by compassion, courage, and the gift of life. From her early dreams of wo...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What if someone else's tragedy could become your lifeline?  In this powerful episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, we dive deep into the life-altering journey of Jessica Chappel, a passionate advocate for organ and tissue donation. Jessica's story is one of resilience, hope, and the profound impact of a second chance at life. After being...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) In this heartfelt episode of "Don't Be Caught Dead," I sit down with Barbara Allen, the visionary behind Australia's first animal chaplaincy program at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital from 2005 to 2011. Barbara shares her profound insights on the often-overlooked grief that accompanies the loss of our beloved pets. We delve into...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) In this thought-provoking episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I sit down with Dr. Simon Longstaff, a philosopher and the first executive director of the Ethics Centre. We dive deep into the complexities of life, death, and everything in between. Simon shares his unique journey, from his early days on Groot Island to his profound connection with...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) In this episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I sit down with the inspiring Emma Beattie, founder of Before and After Life, to explore the often-avoided topics of death, dying, and grief. Emma is a trailblazer in reimagining how we prepare for and respond to the realities of caring for those at the end of life. With a background in creative strate...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Ever been told to just give up and prepare to die after a diagnosis? What if I told you that’s the standard script handed to people with dementia — and it’s completely wrong?  Today, I’m chatting with Kate Swaffer, a powerhouse who refused to accept that narrative. She’s here to shake things up, challenge the world’s outdated views on dementia, an...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) In this heartfelt episode of "Don't Be Caught Dead," I chat with Charmaine Blanch, the founder of Tiare Funerals and Deathcare. Charmaine's mission is to empower families to reclaim their death rights and make decisions that truly reflect their values and culture. With a unique blend of creativity and deep empathy, she offers a...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Welcome back to another thought-provoking episode of Don't Be Caught Dead! Today, we dive deep into the fascinating world of neuroscience and the radical idea of abolishing death with our special guest, Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston. As a neuroscientist and author of The Future Loves You , Ariel explores the potential of brain preservation and th...

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Have you ever thought about who might be the biggest threat to the elderly in our lives? It’s not just the faceless strangers in nursing homes; it’s often their own family members.  In this eye-opening episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I chat with William J. Betts, a legal expert in family violence and elder rights at Peninsula Community Legal...