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Deadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 48 - Learnings and Insights from Disaster Specialist Lucy EasthopeDisasters happen……. tsunamis, terrorist attacks, bushfires, pandemics. No amount of wishing they didn’t happen makes them go away. But it’s comforting to know there are people preparing for these situations. People like Lucy Easthope.Lucy has played a vital role in the response to some of the world’s most significant disasters such as 9/11, the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the 7/7 London bombings, the Manchester Arena attack and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic to name but a few.She is one of the world’s leading authorities on disaster recovery and emergency planning and the author of...
2025-11-2647 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 47 - The importance of ceremony and ritual in grief and lossIn 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 talk about why rituals matter, how they give us stability in times of unc...
2025-10-0744 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 46 - Conversations with a Funeral DirectorFuneral 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 for many people, it’s the last thing they want t...
2025-08-311h 14Deadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 45 - Honouring a Final Wish: A Sea Burial StoryToday 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. It was a true community effort - a coming together of family, fun...
2025-07-0149 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 44 - What we can learn from the Irish wakeMany 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 alone. Today, I dive into the rich traditi...
2025-03-1758 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 43 - The power of autobiography in Palliative CareEvery 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
2025-03-1526 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 42 - The Power of Biography in Palliative CareEvery 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 run an award-winning biography program where their volunteers work one one-on-one with clients to allow them to record and tell their life stories. Today I am interviewing Annie – one of their wonderful volunteers.Eastern Palliative Care
2025-02-2624 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 42 - Taking Them Home: Navigating Repatriation After DeathHave 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
2025-01-1647 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 41 - Understanding baby loss and griefIn 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 silence.Today, I am honoured to speak with Nicole Hasseldine. Nicole’s experience is personal: h...
2024-11-2056 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 40 - Practical ways to provide help and supportWelcome 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 people to support each other in meaningful ways. Susan will share...
2024-10-0133 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 39 - Death Administration: where to beginWhen 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 are important to know to make the process easier, less stressful and more efficient.
2024-09-0841 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 38 - Your story MattersToday, 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 preserve your own story or would like to encourage your loved...
2024-07-2036 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 37 - Supporting children in grief & lossI 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 up for children. Scott is...
2024-05-1735 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 36 - How ashes can help grow a treeMost 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 ashes are scientifically treated to avoid causing any harm and are infused into a carefully chosen tree...
2024-04-0154 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 35 - Body DonationOn 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 with hands-on learning experiences to advance their medical knowledge that is crucial for their training & potentially impact countless lives for generations to...
2024-02-2915 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 34 - Living wake/funeralThis 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 about them. But Mary Anne got...
2024-02-021h 03Deadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 33 - Surviving the unimaginable and learning to move forward following a devastating loss.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 unique pain of...
2024-01-1758 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 32 - What to do with cremated ashes 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 decision about what to do with their ashes. Just recently there was a lot...
2023-10-2536 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 31: Is this normal?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 conversation, normalising grief in the early days after someone dies
2023-09-1233 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 30: Understanding early pregnancy loss20 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 pregnancy loss and it is very important that we all lea...
2023-05-2354 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 29: Supporting those who are grievingI 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. Navigating how to comfort a friend or family member during such a difficult time is overwhelmi...
2023-02-0748 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 28 - How funerals have changed over timeFunerals 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 way for those of us who work in the industry now. And I really enjoyed hea...
2022-10-0721 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 27 - Home Based death careIn this episode of the podcast, I have a wonderful chat with Rebecca Lyon Rebecca is an Independent Funeral director based in Tasmania who works in the area of Home Based death care and family led funerals She is also the founder of You N Taboo, a local Tasmania Initiative, dedicated to promoting and dispelling some of the taboos around death and dying to encourage a healthier culture around death and Helping to make the conversation about death and dying, just another part of life. In this rich conversation with have a frank and ho...
2022-07-1931 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 26 - Advanced Care PlanningIn this episode of the podcast I talk to the Lovely Dr Annetta Mallon from Gentle Death Education and Planning about Advance Care Plans. During our conversation we discuss why Advance Care Plans are so important and how they allow you to think about and document your wishes should you be unable to make those decisions yourself. Advance care plans are not only for the elderly or the unwell. They are important things to think about at any age.All of us are different and we need to ensure that our values and preferences ar...
2022-04-1337 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 25: End of Life conversations: Anne & Greg's storyEnd of Life conversations are tough conversations to start. We tend to avoid them because we don't want to cause upset, often we don't want to face reality and they may bring up uncomfortable emotions. Anne supported her partner Greg through his cancer diagnosis and his treatment. But following a terminal diagnosis, they had to learn how to live in the face of death. Throughout their life together, Anne and Greg discussed everything, so it seemed only natural that following Greg's terminal diagnosis that their discussions included his end of life care. They also spent time...
2022-02-2348 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 24 - Sibling griefIn this episode of the podcast, I have a chat to Katie Anne from a charity called Jacinta’s Smile is passionate about helping those suffering the loss of a sibling for bereaved children and young adults. Katie Anne knows too well the grief when a sibling dies. In an extraordinary set of circumstances, she has experienced it 3 times with the death of her brother Declan when she was a child, and her sister Jacinta and her brother Fintan when she was an adult. Sibling grief is a forever process and there are so many differe...
2022-01-1441 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 23 - Voluntary Assisted DyingThis episode of Deadly Serious Conversations is on the topic of Voluntary Assisted Dying. " Voluntary Assisted Dying" is the term given in Australia, referring to the assistance given by a health practitioner to a person to end their life. The term “voluntary” assisted dying emphases the voluntary nature, of the choice, of the person and their enduring capacity to make this decision. Put simply, Voluntary Assisted Dying, means that some adults, can now ask for medical help to end their life, if they have a disease or illness, that is so severe that it is goin...
2021-12-181h 16Deadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 22 - Where there is a will there is a wakeIn this episode of the podcast, I chat to the lovely Karin from Heavenly Catering. Karin has over 20 years experience as a caterer for wakes and celebrations of life. Through her catering company Heavenly Catering, she helps co-ordinates gatherings of any size and in any location, including church halls, private homes, and funeral function centres. Using her experience she has written a beautiful book called “Where there is a will, there is a wake”. It is a great little resource whether you are preparing for the death of someone close to you or whether you are creating...
2021-11-2254 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 21 - Understanding stillbirthIt has always been my goal for Deadly Serious Conversations, to normalise tough conversations. October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month. As a society we don’t like to talk about uncomfortable and difficult things. This is an area that I really believe we need to become more comfortable. The discomfort that accompanies stillbirth, leaves many parents feeling alone with their pain. We all have a responsibility to learn and understand about pregnancy & infant loss. Thankfully, the culture around baby loss is slowly changing but no parent should ever feel that the...
2021-10-0552 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 20 - All things Audio, visual and live streamingOn this episode of the podcast, I have a chat to Belinda from Belinda Jane video. Belinda and her wonderful team, work behind the scenes in creating all the audio and visual tributes to personalise funerals, such as Music, Order of Services, Memorial cards, bookmarks, Reflections of life slideshows and in more recent times, funeral recording and live streaming. We have a great chat on how funerals have changed and how live streaming has made this challenging time during COVID a little bit easier. We also talk about music and what families should avoid if the...
2021-09-1059 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 19 - Funeral photographyOn this episode of the podcast, I have a chat with John Slaytor, funeral photographer. Funeral Photographer is a genre of photographer that we don’t hear talked about a lot. For some people this concept may seem disrespectful or even morbid. But through the course of conversation, John shares with us the concept that his clients felt he “was their eyes when they couldn’t see with grief”. We have a lovely conversation about the kindness and compassion that is often seen at funerals and how important these images may be one day in years to c...
2021-08-1737 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 18 - Organising a funeral for someone who was not traditional in any way.Shots of Fireball, singing Karaoke live music, tears and laugher. The was Sarah's swan song. Sarah was only 34 when she died suddenly leaving her family and friends reeling in shock. She lived life to the full. She love performing, travelling and having a good time. Her loved ones didn't know where to start in planning her farewell. But what they did know is that a traditional funeral would really upset her. Sarah's swan song allowed her loved ones to honour her and her love of life in a really authentic way.
2021-07-0530 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 17 - When death becomes a project of loveIn this episode, I have an absolutely wonderful chat with Annie Bolitho.Annie is the author a beautiful book called "Death a love project". It is a great resource for anyone who is having to think about decisions about their own death or for someone they love, before they meet with a funeral director. We also chat about all sorts of things including Death cafes, the use of ritual in ceremony, zoom funerals and we explore how funerals can look different from one family to the next.
2021-06-1838 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 16 - Living and dying well - a chat with Zenith ViragoZenith Virago is renowned for leading the way in helping demystifying death, dying and funerals in our society for over 25 years. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge which she freely shares in this episode of Deadly Serious Conversations. Conversations like this one are so important, to inform listeners of some of the choices available to them, prior to and following the death of a loved one. These choices can help to prepare us for living and dying better. Zenith Virago Natural Death Care Centre
2021-05-0343 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 15 - Motherless Daughters Today, I chat to the lovely Danielle from an organisation called "Motherless Daughters" about the impact of the death of your mother at any age can have on your life. Motherless Daughters is a wonderful organisation that helps connect woman and girls whose mother has died.
2021-04-0719 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 14 - Living with a Terminal DiagnosisIn this episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, I chat to the lovely Meg Marshall. Meg was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at 28 and since then she has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She has been incredibly busy living ever since. She has put in place many plans for her love ones for a time when she is not here. In this episode, Meg shared her honest and open experience of living with a Terminal Diagnosis Links Ring Theory
2021-03-1523 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEposide 13 - Executing a Will after someone dies.In this episode I am chatting with Lucy from Head and Heart Estate Planning. in this episode we chat about the next steps in handling someones estate after they pass away. We also chat about what happens if someone dies without a Will. https://www.instagram.com/headandheartestateplanning/ Services Australia has a checklist of some of the more common organisations you may need to notify.
2021-02-0528 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 12 - Learning to live with GriefIn Episode 12 of Deadly Serious Conversations, I have a chat with the lovely Jo Betz. Jo courageously talks to us about learning to live with grief, following the sudden and unexpected death of her husband Craig. She also shares some insight on how her grief has evolved over time and how she has come to accept that grief will always be a part of her life.Through her experience, Jo has written a beautiful book called “Grief – a guided journal” to help others express their feelings, following the death of a loved one.
2021-01-0648 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 11 - Sorting out your loved one's possessions when they dieOn this episode of the podcast I chat to Lisa Oshlack from Moving on. One of the many services that moving on provides is helping families take care of the daunting task of organising personal belongings after someone has died, Lisa offers some great suggestions on how to alleviate the emotional challenge of this task.
2020-11-2318 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 10 - Surviving after Suicide LossThe word “suicide” is a sensitive word and it really conjures up different ideas in everyone’s mind. This is a tough subject but one that is very important to talk about. Speaking more openly about suicide is something that we need to get better at. Today on this episode I am talking to the lovely Imogen Carn. Imogen is the host of own podcast “Good Mourning” - a wonderful podcast which normalises the topic of grief and Loss. Imogen has lived through the experience of losing her lovely mum Vanessa when she died by suicide. And i...
2020-11-1135 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 9 - In lieu of funeral flowersIn this episode of the podcast I chat with the lovely Victoria from Telopea flowers .Victoria shares her expertise on how we can use flowers in meaningful rituals, how we can protect our environment and how we can really personalise the ceremony space in a beautiful way.
2020-11-0122 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 8 - The Loss of a much loved petIn this episode, I have a chat with Lance Stringer. For those who own a much loved family pet, you will understand that losing an animal is like losing a much loved family member. And this can trigger all sorts of painful emotions. Lance has a lot of experience supporting families at this time. His companies, Lawnswood and Edenhill's pet cremations provide incredible caring support to those mourning the loss of a much loved animal companionPet-Loss-Grief-BrochurePet bucket list
2020-10-1527 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 7 - Grief in the early daysIn this episode, I chat with Katrina Schalager. Katrina is a psychologist in a private practice and in this episode we talk about some of the normal responses to losing a loved one and how grief can encompass a wide range of emotions. We also explore some of the steps we can take to adjusting to a new reality of living with the absence of a loved one.Katrina SchlagerLifeline Take them a meal
2020-09-3026 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 6 - Writing a willToday on the Podcast, I am speaking to Jacqui Brauman. Jacqui is the principal solicitor and director at TBA Law. And she specialises in the area of Wills and Estates. Jacqui has many years experience of guiding families through the process of documenting their wishes, to how their estate and belongings are dealt with, after they pass away. It’s a topic none of us like thinking about, but none the less it is very important. As dealing with the consequence of the problems of dying without any clear instructions, can be very complicated and difficul...
2020-08-0916 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 5 - Choosing music for a funeralToday on the podcast, I am chatting to Phoebe Deklerk. Phoebe is a funeral singer, who loves to use music to celebrate and honour the life of someone who has passed away. Music plays a very important part of a funeral service. It can be very emotive and it usually helps to set the tone of the ceremony. Phoebe believes in empowering families to take more control of the music choice that they use for their loved one’s funeral. And she suggests not to leave the decision making to the last minute. Conversa...
2020-08-0614 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 4 - Writing and delivering a EulogyIn this episode, I speak to Kaylene Ledger who shares some valuable advice for writing and delivering a Eulogy for a loved one. Link to Kaylene's book From the Heart with Tears https://www.kayleneledgar.com.au/
2020-08-0523 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 3 - Choosing a celebrantIn this episode, I chat about what is a funeral celebrant and some important considerations when choosing a celebrant for your loved ones funeral https://www.bigloveceremonies.com.au/funerals
2020-08-0411 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 2 - What to expect if someone is receiving Palliative CareIn this episode Margo Collins shares her experience of supporting and guiding those who are receiving palliative care, their families and loved ones.
2020-07-1722 minDeadly Serious ConversationsEpisode 1 - What happens when someone dies an expected death at homeIn this episode, Fiona chats to Jo Lincoln. Jo is a death doula and in this episode she offers a wealth of knowledge and experience to those facing the death of a loved one at home.Resources:https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/what-to-do-after-someone-diesLinkshttps://www.bigloveceremonies.com.au/funeralshttps://www.fionathefuneralcelebrant.com.au/
2020-07-1523 min
Deadly Serious ConversationsIntroduction to Deadly Serious ConversationsAn introduction to Deadly Serious Conversions, a little bit about the host and what you can expect https://www.fionathefuneralcelebrant.com.au/
2020-07-0803 min