Don't Be Caught Dead: Grief, Loss, Death Literacy and Getting Prepared

Hosted by Catherine Ashton, founder of Australian social enterprise Critical Info. Learn more: www.criticalinfo.com.au
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After surviving a serious car accident in 2019, and then losing a close friend suddenly in 2023, Catherine Ashton discovered a hard truth: most families have no plan for death, and they pay for it in confusion, stress, and decisions made in crisis. Don't Be Caught Dead exists so yours doesn't have to. Each episode is an honest, often deeply personal conversation, with people who've lived through grief, sudden illness, and caring for a dying loved one, alongside experts in aged care, palliative care, estate law, funeral planning, and financial advice. It's a show for anyone quietly aware they're becoming the one responsible for a parent, a partner, or their own end of life planning, and who wants to feel ready rather than blindsided. Got questions after listening? Join Critical Chat Tuesdays, free, no-pressure conversations every Tuesday at 7pm where you can ask anything or just listen. No planning required, just come as you are:  https://criticalinfo.com.au/events?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=general You'll also pick up the practical groundwork here: how to prepare a will, appoint a power of attorney and enduring guardian, set up an advance care directive, plan a funeral in advance, and navigate the health and legal systems families are so often forced into with no warning.  The free Critical Info Platform can help you turn any of it into an actual plan, and if someone close to you has just died, our guide "My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?" walks you through the immediate steps. Hosted by Catherine Ashton, founder of Australian social enterprise Critical Info. Learn more: www.criticalinfo.com.au

  1. 6 days ago

    Home-Based Death Care, Family-Led Vigils and the Truth About Child Loss with Bonita Ralph

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What if the last thing you'd ever want for someone you love is a viewing at a funeral home? In this episode, I sit down with Bonita Ralph, a death educator, family support practitioner and former Holistic Funeral Director whose work spans home-based death care, infant and child loss, and paediatric palliative care. Bonita's journey began with a simple but profound question on a drive home from holiday: “What if I died? What would happen?” That moment sent her down a rabbit hole into community-led death care, eventually leading her to specialise in extended family-led vigils and the care of babies and children who have died. Bonita shares what she has learned from working with bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents, including the “concentric circles of support” model for knowing who to lean on, and who not to burden, in grief. We talk candidly about invisible infant loss, the myths that still shape what people believe is or isn't possible in after-death care, and why she pushes back when funeral providers say something “can't be done.” Bonita also explains what home-based death care actually looks like, what a shrouded witness cremation involves, and why she believes death education belongs in schools. We also explore her work in paediatric palliative care, where she says the first word that comes to mind is joy, and how holding both heartbreak and joy at once has shaped the way she supports families from diagnosis through to bereavement. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine Death is hard, make death admin easy with the Critical Info Platform.  It’s a simple, secure system that helps you prepare and share your legacy, wishes and personal paperwork. It’s packed with prompts, guides and even a To Do List to help you easily gather critical information for a complete end-of-life plan. Leave behind a legacy, not a mess. Sign up now to your free trial at critical info.com.au No credit card needed. Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays — free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen. No pressure.  No expectation. Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” —  it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way. Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW? Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here. SUPPORT SERVICES If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here. Support the show Support the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now. Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/ Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials: https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c1879300-84db-4c70-9270-18d17d3ec22a Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/

  2. 15 July

    Keeping People and Their Pets Together with Dr Alicia Kennedy

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) We talk a lot on this show about preparing for our own death. But what about preparing for the death of a pet, or making sure our pet is looked after if something happens to us? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Alicia Kennedy, an end-of-life veterinarian of over 40 years and the founder of Cherished Pets, a veterinary social enterprise and B Corp based in the Geelong region of Victoria. Alicia pioneered the field of veterinary social work in Australia, building a multidisciplinary HAB (Human Animal Bond) Care Team of vets, vet nurses, social workers and volunteers who support older people, people living with disability, and people experiencing mental illness, homelessness or family violence to stay together with their pets through life's hardest moments. Alicia shares the personal story behind Cherished Pets, the three guiding principles she uses to decide when it's time to say goodbye, what actually makes for "a good death" for a pet, and why she believes every health care plan, from GPs to aged care, should ask the question: "Do you have a pet?" We also talk about the growing world of home euthanasia, memorialisation and cremation options, how to support children and other pets through pet loss, and why planning ahead for vet bills and end-of-life care can save families from financial and emotional crisis. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine Death is hard, make death admin easy with the Critical Info Platform.  It’s a simple, secure system that helps you prepare and share your legacy, wishes and personal paperwork. It’s packed with prompts, guides and even a To Do List to help you easily gather critical information for a complete end-of-life plan. Leave behind a legacy, not a mess. Sign up now to your free trial at critical info.com.au No credit card needed. Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays — free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen. No pressure.  No expectation. Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” —  it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way. Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW? Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here. SUPPORT SERVICES If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here. Support the show Support the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now. Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/ Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials: https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c1879300-84db-4c70-9270-18d17d3ec22a Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/

  3. 8 July

    Compassionate Communities: Why We Need Each Other at the End of Life with Professor Samar Aoun AM

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What if the future of end-of-life care doesn't lie in hospitals, but within our communities? In this episode, I sit down with Professor Samar Aoun AM, internationally recognised palliative care researcher, Founder and Chair of Compassionate Communities Australia, and one of Australia's leading voices in grief, bereavement and public health approaches to end-of-life care. Samar shares how the death of her father and the contrast between community support in Lebanon and Australia inspired her groundbreaking research into grief and bereavement. Her work challenged traditional thinking and demonstrated that 90% of people cope with grief through the support of family, friends and community, while only 10% require professional intervention. Together, we explore why Australia is facing a demographic "tsunami of death" as the population ages, why our health and aged care systems are struggling to keep up, and how compassionate communities can help people live, die and grieve well. We discuss the importance of rebuilding death literacy and grief literacy, why caring networks matter, and how simple acts of kindness can transform the experience of caring, dying and grieving. What you'll hear in this episode: How Samar's personal experience following her father's death shaped her life's workThe groundbreaking grief research that found 90% of people rely on community supportWhy grief has become overly medicalised and what this means for societyWhat compassionate communities are and why they matterWhy Australia is unprepared for the coming "tsunami of death"The gap between where Australians want to die and where they actually dieHow the Compassionate Connector program reduced hospital admissions and improved social connectednessWhy building your caring network before you need it is essentialThe difference between transactional care and relational care in aged care settingsPractical ways every person can become part of a compassionate communityYou may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine Connect with Professor Samar Aoun AM Learn more about Compassionate Communities Australia: https://compassionatecommunitiesaus.org.au/ Learn more about Professor Samar Aoun's work at the Perron Institute  https://www.perroninstitute.org/research/research-groups/samar-aoun/ & the University of Western Australia: https://www.uwa.edu.au/   Resources Mentioned in This Episode Professor Allan Kellehear – internationally recognised pioneer of the Compassionate Communities movement and public health approaches to palliative care. His work inspired much of the global compassionate communities movement and Professor Aoun's own research. Learn more: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/k/allan-kellehear/ Professor Bruce Rumbold OAM – Australian researcher, educator and leading advocate for public health approaches to palliative care, bereavement and death literacy. Learn more: https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/bdrumbold Compassionate Cities: Public Health and End-of-Life Care by Professor Allan Kellehear Book information: https://books.google.com/books/about/Compassionate_Cities.html?id=wvNOP8hpEk4C Death is hard, make death admin easy with the Critical Info Platform.  It’s a simple, secure system that helps you prepare and share your legacy, wishes and personal paperwork. It’s packed with prompts, guides and even a To Do List to help you easily gather critical information for a complete end-of-life plan. Leave behind a legacy, not a mess. Sign up now to your free trial at critical info.com.au No credit card needed. Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays — free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen. No pressure.  No expectation. Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” —  it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way. Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW? Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here. SUPPORT SERVICES If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here. Support the show Support the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now. Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/ Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials: https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c1879300-84db-4c70-9270-18d17d3ec22a Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/

  4. 5 July

    Drawing to Remember: The Healing Power of Art After Baby Loss

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Six babies are stillborn in Australia every day. Two babies die within their first 28 days of life, and a miscarriage occurs every three and a half minutes. Yet despite how common pregnancy and baby loss is, it remains one of society’s most misunderstood and least talked about experiences. In this episode, I sit down with Larissa Reinboth, artist, author, and founder of Possum Portraits, an Australian charity providing free memorial portraits and bereavement support to families following miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Originally from Germany and now based in Melbourne, Larissa shares how a conversation with her sister, a midwife, sparked the idea that would eventually become Possum Portraits. What began as a single commissioned illustration for bereaved parents has grown into a national charity supporting families across Australia through art, education, memorial photography training, and grief resources. Larissa speaks candidly about her own experience of miscarriage, the misconceptions surrounding pregnancy and baby loss, and why society's discomfort with grief continues to leave so many families feeling isolated and unsupported. We also explore the healing power of creativity, the importance of memory-making after loss, and Larissa’s beautiful children's book, The House in Ollie’s Tummy, which helps families explain pregnancy and baby loss to siblings and young children. This conversation is compassionate, thought-provoking, and deeply important. It is about grief, remembrance, advocacy, and ensuring that no family has to navigate baby loss alone. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine Death is hard, make death admin easy with the Critical Info Platform.  It’s a simple, secure system that helps you prepare and share your legacy, wishes and personal paperwork. It’s packed with prompts, guides and even a To Do List to help you easily gather critical information for a complete end-of-life plan. Leave behind a legacy, not a mess. Sign up now to your free trial at critical info.com.au No credit card needed. Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays — free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen. No pressure.  No expectation. Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” —  it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way. Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW? Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here. SUPPORT SERVICES If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here. Support the show Support the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now. Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/ Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials: https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c1879300-84db-4c70-9270-18d17d3ec22a Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/

  5. 24 June

    Finding Purpose in Melbourne’s Forgotten Laneways with Tinky

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) When I first discovered Tinky’s tiny installations hidden throughout Melbourne’s laneways, I was instantly captivated. What looked like a whimsical miniature scene often revealed something much deeper: sharp observation, dark humour, storytelling, and a unique way of seeing the world. In this episode, I sit down with Melbourne-based artist Tinky, whose miniature street art has transformed overlooked corners, gutters, walls, and public spaces into unexpected moments of delight and reflection. Tinky shares the remarkable story of how a spontaneous trip to a vintage market and a toy Big Bird figurine unexpectedly launched an entirely new chapter of her life. From battling imposter syndrome and questioning whether she could even call herself an artist, to exhibiting in galleries, collaborating on major projects, and even catching the attention of Sophie Ellis-Bextor, her journey is a powerful reminder that purpose often arrives in the most unexpected ways. What unfolds is a conversation about creativity, humour, storytelling, noticing beauty in forgotten places, and how art can help us slow down and see the world differently. We also explore the ephemeral nature of street art, the role of dark humour in processing life, and the joy of creating something that makes complete strangers smile. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine Death is hard, make death admin easy with the Critical Info Platform.  It’s a simple, secure system that helps you prepare and share your legacy, wishes and personal paperwork. It’s packed with prompts, guides and even a To Do List to help you easily gather critical information for a complete end-of-life plan. Leave behind a legacy, not a mess. Sign up now to your free trial at critical info.com.au No credit card needed. Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays — free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen. No pressure.  No expectation. Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” —  it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way. Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW? Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here. SUPPORT SERVICES If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here. Support the show Support the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now. Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/ Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials: https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c1879300-84db-4c70-9270-18d17d3ec22a Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/

  6. 17 June

    From Personal Tragedy to National Impact: Robyn O'Connell's Story

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) When we talk about death, we often focus on what happens after someone dies. But what if we also talked about how we support the people left behind? In this episode, I’m joined by Robyn O’Connell, an experienced funeral celebrant, grief educator, author, speaker, and founder of the Rebecca Jane Foundation. For more than two decades, Robyn has helped families navigate some of life’s most heartbreaking moments while advocating for more open, honest conversations about death, grief, and child loss. Robyn shares the deeply personal story of losing her daughter, Rebecca Jane, to SIDS at just nine months old, and how that devastating loss shaped her life's work. We explore what makes a meaningful funeral, why Australia still struggles with grief literacy, how children can be included in conversations about death, and the importance of acknowledging loss rather than avoiding it. This is a compassionate and thought-provoking conversation about love, remembrance, and finding purpose after unimaginable heartbreak. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine Death is hard, make death admin easy with the Critical Info Platform.  It’s a simple, secure system that helps you prepare and share your legacy, wishes and personal paperwork. It’s packed with prompts, guides and even a To Do List to help you easily gather critical information for a complete end-of-life plan. Leave behind a legacy, not a mess. Sign up now to your free trial at critical info.com.au No credit card needed. Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays — free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen. No pressure.  No expectation. Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” —  it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way. Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW? Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here. SUPPORT SERVICES If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here. Support the show Support the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now. Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/ Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials: https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c1879300-84db-4c70-9270-18d17d3ec22a Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/

  7. 10 June

    Two Transplants, Three Birthdays & A Life Worth Living with Andrew Chapman

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What would you do if you were given a second chance at life? And then a third? For documentary photographer Andrew Chapman, surviving two life-saving transplants has given him a perspective few people ever experience. Rather than turning away from mortality, Andrew has spent decades documenting it, capturing the realities of organ donation, transplantation, and the everyday lives of Australians with honesty, compassion, and extraordinary insight. Andrew is one of Australia’s most respected documentary photographers, known for spending more than five decades capturing the people, places, and moments that shape Australian life. From politicians and shearers to transplant recipients and operating theatres, his work is driven by a deep curiosity about people and an unwavering commitment to documenting the truth as he sees it. In this episode, I speak with Andrew about his extraordinary journey through not one but two life-saving transplants, including receiving a liver transplant that saved his life and, years later, a kidney donated by his daughter. We explore how facing death reshaped his perspective, the emotional complexities of accepting a loved one’s organ donation, and why he remains endlessly curious about what comes next. Andrew also shares the powerful story behind his organ donation photography projects, including documenting both the withdrawal of life support and the life-changing gift of transplantation. His images have not only captured deeply human moments but have directly influenced decisions that helped save lives through organ donation. This conversation is about storytelling, gratitude, curiosity, legacy, and the remarkable impact one life can have on many others. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine Death is hard, make death admin easy with the Critical Info Platform.  It’s a simple, secure system that helps you prepare and share your legacy, wishes and personal paperwork. It’s packed with prompts, guides and even a To Do List to help you easily gather critical information for a complete end-of-life plan. Leave behind a legacy, not a mess. Sign up now to your free trial at critical info.com.au No credit card needed. Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays — free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen. No pressure.  No expectation. Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” —  it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way. Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW? Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here. SUPPORT SERVICES If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here. Support the show Support the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now. Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/ Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials: https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c1879300-84db-4c70-9270-18d17d3ec22a Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/

  8. 3 June

    The Reality of Navigating Death for Ageing Parents with Jean Kittson

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Jean Kittson has spent a lifetime making Australians laugh, but behind the humour is a deeply personal and confronting exploration of death, dying, grief, and the aged care system. In this episode, I sit down with comedian, author, speaker, and Patron of Palliative Care Nurses Australia, Jean Kittson, to talk about how her own fear and avoidance of death transformed into advocacy and education around end-of-life care. Jean shares how growing up in a family that never spoke about death left her feeling frightened, unprepared, and emotionally disconnected from grief. She reflects on the first time she saw a dead body, the misconceptions she held about palliative care, and the surprising warmth, humour, and humanity she discovered within the palliative care community. Together, we unpack the realities of navigating ageing, hospitals, residential aged care, advance care planning, and the heartbreaking gaps families can fall through when support systems fail. Jean speaks candidly about the traumatic deaths of both her parents, the emotional toll of advocating for them, and the lessons she wishes every family knew before facing end-of-life decisions. This conversation is raw, honest, funny in moments, and deeply important. It’s a reminder that planning matters, conversations matter, and that no matter how informed we think we are, none of us should have to navigate death and dying alone. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine Death is hard, make death admin easy with the Critical Info Platform.  It’s a simple, secure system that helps you prepare and share your legacy, wishes and personal paperwork. It’s packed with prompts, guides and even a To Do List to help you easily gather critical information for a complete end-of-life plan. Leave behind a legacy, not a mess. Sign up now to your free trial at critical info.com.au No credit card needed. Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays — free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen. No pressure.  No expectation. Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” —  it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way. Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW? Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here. SUPPORT SERVICES If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here. Support the show Support the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now. Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/ Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials: https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c1879300-84db-4c70-9270-18d17d3ec22a Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/

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After surviving a serious car accident in 2019, and then losing a close friend suddenly in 2023, Catherine Ashton discovered a hard truth: most families have no plan for death, and they pay for it in confusion, stress, and decisions made in crisis. Don't Be Caught Dead exists so yours doesn't have to. Each episode is an honest, often deeply personal conversation, with people who've lived through grief, sudden illness, and caring for a dying loved one, alongside experts in aged care, palliative care, estate law, funeral planning, and financial advice. It's a show for anyone quietly aware they're becoming the one responsible for a parent, a partner, or their own end of life planning, and who wants to feel ready rather than blindsided. Got questions after listening? Join Critical Chat Tuesdays, free, no-pressure conversations every Tuesday at 7pm where you can ask anything or just listen. No planning required, just come as you are:  https://criticalinfo.com.au/events?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=general You'll also pick up the practical groundwork here: how to prepare a will, appoint a power of attorney and enduring guardian, set up an advance care directive, plan a funeral in advance, and navigate the health and legal systems families are so often forced into with no warning.  The free Critical Info Platform can help you turn any of it into an actual plan, and if someone close to you has just died, our guide "My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?" walks you through the immediate steps. Hosted by Catherine Ashton, founder of Australian social enterprise Critical Info. Learn more: www.criticalinfo.com.au

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