In this episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, I’m joined by Megan Sheldon, a cultural mythologist, a humanist celebrant and end-of-life doula based in North Vancouver, Canada. Megan has a deep understanding of the power of ceremony and ritual, especially in times of grief and loss. In many cultures, rituals once played a central role in marking life’s changes, yet in our modern world, they are often forgotten, even though they come so naturally to us. In this conversation, we t...

Funeral directors play a pivotal role in guiding families through one of the most difficult times in their lives. But how do you choose the right one? What should you look for and what can you expect from them? Together with Lillian from The Last Time Funeral Directors in Sydney, we will unpack these questions and more, offering insights to help you make informed decisions and be aware of the choices available to you. Organising a funeral must be one of life’s toughest tasks and ...

Today I am joined on the podcast by Simon and Sameiko from Candour Funerals - a Melbourne-based funeral company. Together, we have a wonderful chat about something very special and deeply meaningful; the first sea burial to take place in Victoria in over a decade. In this episode, we have a wonderful chat about the practicalities and logistics of making it happen, but more importantly, we hear about the deep respect shown to honour one person's final wish to be laid to rest at sea...

Many people assume the Irish wake is just an excuse for a drinking session, but in reality, it’s so much more than that. The traditions surrounding death in Ireland run deep, woven into the fabric of the culture and community. The dead are honoured with great reverence, and the grieving are embraced, supported, and given the space to mourn in a way that is both personal and communal. The Irish wake is a time of remembrance and connection—a way of ensuring that no one faces loss a...

Every life is a collection of stories—big and small, joyful and heartbreaking, ordinary and extraordinary. These stories shape who we are and how we’re remembered. Eastern Palliative Care runs an award-winning biography programme where their volunteers work one one-on-one with clients to allow them to record and tell their life story. Today I am interviewing Annie Martin, one of their wonderful volunteers. Eastern Palliative Care

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you had a loved one die overseas? Or, perhaps it is their wish for their body to be transported back to their home country? Today I am chatting to Ghislaine from a family-run business based in Melbourne called Repatriation Solutions to discuss the implications of moving someone’s body to another country after they die. Repatriation Solutions

In today’s episode, we’ll discuss the deeply sensitive and seldom-discussed topic of baby loss — a subject that makes many uncomfortable yet is so vitally important. These are sobering statistics. Miscarriage occurs in one in four pregnancies. Six babies are stillborn in Australia every day, with one in 120 births being a stillborn baby or a newborn death. These statistics are a reality that often leaves people unsure how to respond, creating an uncomfortable...

Welcome to another episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, where today we are joined by Dr. Susan Palmer from Gather My Crew, an incredible organisation dedicated to helping people rally around loved ones during times of crisis. When someone’s world is turned upside down – whether that’s through illness, the loss of a family member, or any other life-changing event – it can be hard for people to know exactly how to offer help. That's where Gather My Crew steps in, making it easier for ...

When someone dies suddenly there is so much death administration to start taking care of. It’s hard to know where to start. Many people are surprised to learn that it can be a very long & sometimes complicated process dealing with wills, estates, and all sorts of death administration. Today on Deadly Serious conversations I have a wonderful chat with Danielle from Sage Executor Solutions about the role of an executor of a will and some of the things that&nbs...

Today, I have a special episode featuring Dan from 'All about me films'- a Melbourne-based company dedicated to preserving life stories on Film for future generations. We delve into the importance of storytelling for family history and how it gives us a sense of belonging that can shape who we are today. This episode reminds us that we continue to exist long after we are no longer physically here, living on through the stories and memories we leave behind. So whether you're looking to pre...

I am often asked how to support children who are grieving I am no expert but I am delighted to share this episode of the podcast, where I have a chat to Scott Andrews from the National Centre for Childhood grief. Knowing how to support a child deal with loss and grief can feel overwhelming. It's hard to know what is the right thing to do to help them. Scott offers gentle suggestions on language to use, whether they should be involved in the process and how grief may show...

Most people are familiar with the traditional burial and cremation practices, such as using a cemetery, or storing the ashes in an urn. Some people choose to scatter their loved ones ashes but do not realise that this may be harmful to the environment. Mornington Green Legacy Gardens in Victoria are beautiful botanical gardens situated on the Mornington Peninsula. They offer an environmentally safe way for people to go back to nature after they die. The cremated as...

On this episode of the podcast, I have a wonderful conversation with Lesley who works as the co-ordinator of the Body Donation program at Melbourne Uni. Body donation is when someone chooses to donate their body after their death so that it can be used in the training and education of future healthcare professionals including medical, dental, physiotherapy, science and nursing students. Through the incredible generosity of donors, the university can provide these students w...

This episode of the podcast is one that challenges the conventional narratives surrounding end-of-life ceremonies and funerals. In it, I have a wonderful chat with Tim and Paul, whose mum Mary Anne decided to face her own mortality and embraced the idea of a living wake after deciding not to continue treatment for Bowel cancer. Often at funerals, people remark to me that it is a shame that the person who died didn’t hear all the lovely things that others had to say abou...

We hear it all the time that life changes in a second, and nothing can prepare us for it when that does happen. We all think and hope it will never happen to us. Jacinda has been living with the loss of her son Harper and his dad Matt, when they were both killed in a freak accident. Losing 2 people you love at the same time seems unimaginable. In today’s episode, Jacinda shares with us a glimpse into what life after the loss of a child looks like 4 years on, the...

As the cost for a traditional burial rises each year and as people have become more environmentally conscious about our land shortage, Cremation has become the preferred choice for many Australians, With over 70% of funerals now involving a cremation. There is no textbook to tell you what to do in these circumstances, and suddenly you find yourself in a situation having to decide whether to cremate or bury your loved one. Subsequently, you then have to make a decisi...

Jo Lincoln is no stranger to the podcast. In fact, she was my first ever guest and I am absolutely delighted to have her back, talking about her new book - "Is this normal?" Grief is uncomfortable, it is complex and everyone experiences it differently. At times it feels overwhelming and all consuming, and indeed very abnormal. Jo is a death doula, a celebrant, a certified grief educator, a counsellor with Griefline and now a published author. And today we have a lovely conver...

20 percent of women or 1 in 5 may experience a pregnancy loss in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. That is 1 early pregnancy loss every 5 mins in Australia. Behind these statistics are real people. So many people walk this lonely road, yet often we never know. It’s such a silent and isolating grief, not being able to talk with anyone about it. And having to act like it never happened... The chances are someone you know and love will have experienced an early ...

I believe we have a collective responsibility to continue to do death better. Grief is a very lonely and isolating experience for those going through it. Grief can also make us feel uncomfortable because we don't know what to say or do to offer support Today in this episode of Deadly Serious Conversations podcast, Melinda Whyman and I discuss how to help us learn to be a better support person to someone who is grieving. Naviga...

Funerals have changed dramatically in the last decade. Not that long ago, they followed a very standard procedure. Often mourners wore black, Most funerals were burials Religion played a big part and there were very few personal touches. In this episode of the podcast, I have a wonderful chat with Stan Commings who is almost 94 years young! Stan dedicated his working life to working in the funeral industry. People like Stan paved the...