Don't Be Caught Dead
Welcome to Don’t Be Caught Dead - a podcast encouraging open conversations about dying and the death of a loved one. I’m your host, Catherine Ashton - Founder of Critical Info - and I’m helping to bring your stories of death back to life.
Because while you may not be ready to die, at least you can be prepared.
Episodes
97 episodes
ENCORE: Living Well to Die Well: A Philosophical Perspective
This is an encore episode of the Don't Be Caught Dead podcast and a listener favourite from Season 2.In this thought-provoking episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I sit down with Dr. Simon Longstaff, a philosopher and the first executive di...
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Season 2
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Episode 65
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59:34
ENCORE: This Is What Dignity Looks Like: A Daughter’s Story in Support of Voluntary Assisted Dying
This is an encore episode of the Don't Be Caught Dead podcast and a listener favourite from Season 2.In this heartfelt episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I sit down with Barb Gering, who shares her deeply personal journey as she navigated ...
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Season 2
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Episode 58
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57:32
ENCORE: Grief Without Permission: Rosie Batty on Challenging Silence and Speaking Truth
This is an encore episode of the Don't Be Caught Dead podcast and a listener favourite from Season 2.In this powerful episode, I sit down with the incredible Rosie Batty, a fierce advocate for family violence prevention and a beacon of r...
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Season 2
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Episode 55
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1:06:22
No More Death Denial: Alicia Ng's Story of Turning Fear into End-of-Life Wisdom
Ever wondered how staring down your deepest fear of death could actually make you live bolder and more intentionally? That's exactly what today's guest, Alicia Ng, discovered on her wild journey from corporate life in Singapore to end-of-life p...
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46:28
When There's No Funeral: Honouring Babies Lost Before 20 Weeks with Melissa King
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 ...
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57:44
Beyond the Grave: Fighting Heteronormativity in Funerals and Weddings
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, “you...
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1:06:53
Facing Death Head-On: A Doula's Guide to End-of-Life Care
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...
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54:11
Meaning Over Ministry: Jim's Unique Approach to Grief and Funerals
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-ju...
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55:22
The Fabric of Dying: How a Stitched Map Sparks End-of-Life Talks
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....
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58:59
Building Resilience: How Architecture and Landscape Can Assist With the Process of Grieving
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 Fam...
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54:30
Facing the Unfathomable – Grief, Suicide, and Living Fully After Loss
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...
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1:11:34
TIME'S UP: Facing Death and Finding Your LIFE LIST
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...
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44:47
Advance Care Planning: The Gift of CHOICE Before Death
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 c...
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1:03:48
Death, Grief and Ritual: Lessons from an Interfaith Minister
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 thr...
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1:09:11
Voluntary Assisted Dying: The Doctors Who See Death Differently
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 j...
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54:25
How My Sister’s Death at Four Shaped My Life
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 sis...
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1:21:02
VAD: Choice, Compassion, and the End of Life.
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 controvers...
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1:09:32
FOUND Family: The Importance of Compassion in Grief
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 c...
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58:57
Weaving Life and Death: The Art of Eco-Friendly Coffins
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...
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Season 2
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47:52
The Gift of Life: Adele's Journey Through Grief and Organ Donation
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 th...
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37:55
FACING DEATH: Moira Kelly's Mission to Save Lives
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 humanitaria...
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1:00:39
Life After Death: The Impact of Organ Donation on Families
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. Jessic...
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1:11:50
Healing Hearts: Navigating Grief After Pet Loss
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 th...
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56:55
Living Well to Die Well: A Philosophical Perspective
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. S...
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59:34
Community, Kindness, and Care: Death & Grief with Emma Beattie
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 r...
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1:05:34