Don't Be Caught Dead

Catherine Ashton
  • 4.8 (18)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Don't Be Caught Dead is a podcast about the conversations most of us avoid — until we’re forced to have them. Each episode brings you honest, accessible conversations with experts across end-of-life, health, legal, financial, and care industries, alongside people with lived experience, to help you better understand your end-of-life choices and how to prepare a practical backup plan if you fall ill, become incapacitated, or die. Hosted by Catherine Ashton, award-winning speaker and founder of Critical Info, the podcast is grounded in lived experience — created so other people don’t have to go through what her family went through. From wills, powers of attorney, funerals, and estate administration, to caring, grief, sudden illness, and navigating systems when life doesn’t go to plan, Don’t Be Caught Dead exists to build confidence, clarity, and preparedness — before a crisis hits.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Preparing for Death as a Final Love Letter With Kathie Shearer

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) In this episode, I’m speaking with Kathie Shearer, a funeral celebrant for over 20 years who has supported families through some of life’s most emotional moments. We explore what truly matters at the end of life, and what people actually remember. Kathie shares that it’s not the achievements or milestones, but the memories, the relationships, and the way someone made others feel that stay with us. She also reflects on her own experience of loss with the death of her husband, Australian golf legend PGA Champion Bob Shearer and how that shaped her perspective on the importance of being able to say goodbye. We talk about end-of-life planning in a different way. Not as something heavy, but as something thoughtful and practical - like a love letter. A way to ease the burden on the people you love and give them something to hold onto when it matters most. Because sometimes, the smallest preparations can make the biggest difference Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared.   Take care, Catherine The Don’t Be Caught Dead Pub Quiz is back — now in its third year, and it’s a sellout event for a reason. Join us on May 12 at 7pm at Hotel Lona in Frankston, as part of the South Side Festival. Come solo and join a team, or bring your own crew — and compete for great prizes.  Go to criticalinfo.com.au/events  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/

    1hr 9min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    Why People Delay Writing a Will and How to Break the Cycle With John Malouff

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) In this episode, I’m speaking with John Malouff, psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of New England. John has spent much of his career researching procrastination, self-regulation, and the science of why people avoid the very tasks that could make their lives easier. And that includes one of the most important tasks many of us put off for far too long: end-of-life planning. We talk about why so many people delay writing a will, completing an advance care directive, or having conversations about their wishes. Often it isn’t about laziness or indifference. It’s fear, uncertainty, and the simple fact that we don’t see other people openly doing it. John shares practical psychological insights into why procrastination happens, what motivates people to take action, and how even small prompts can help us move from avoidance to preparation. Because while death itself may be confronting, the real impact often comes from what happens before and after it. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine The Don’t Be Caught Dead Pub Quiz is back — now in its third year, and it’s a sellout event for a reason. Join us on May 12 at 7pm at Hotel Lona in Frankston, as part of the South Side Festival. Come solo and join a team, or bring your own crew — and compete for great prizes.  Go to criticalinfo.com.au/events  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/

    54 min

  3. 18 MAR

    The Kind of Grief Society Doesn’t Recognise With Linda Rowley

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) There are some losses we never officially acknowledge. Not the kind that comes with a funeral, flowers, or a clear ending. But the kind that quietly reshapes a life. A diagnosis. A caregiving role. A sudden accident. A future that no longer looks the way we thought it would. In this episode, I speak with Linda Rowley, a wellbeing consultant, coach and facilitator based in regional Victoria. Linda has spent more than 20 years supporting people through change, loss, and uncertainty. Her work focuses on something many people have experienced but rarely have words for: ambiguous loss. Linda’s professional expertise is deeply informed by her own life experiences, including being diagnosed with stage three cancer in her thirties while raising a young daughter. That journey, alongside supporting her mother through cancer at the same time, reshaped the way she understands resilience, identity, and what it means to rebuild life when everything changes. Together, we explore how loss doesn’t always come with clear endings, why many of the most difficult life changes go unrecognised by society, and how we can support both ourselves and others through these complex transitions. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared.   Take care, Catherine The Don’t Be Caught Dead Pub Quiz is back — now in its third year, and it’s a sellout event for a reason. Join us on May 12 at 7pm at Hotel Lona in Frankston, as part of the South Side Festival. Come solo and join a team, or bring your own crew — and compete for great prizes.  Go to criticalinfo.com.au/events  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/

    59 min

  4. 11 MAR

    By the Time You Notice Alzheimer’s, It’s Already Too Late With Greg Sutherland

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What happens to your brain after you die? In this episode, I speak with Professor Greg Sutherland, Director of the New South Wales Brain Tissue Resource Centre. Greg leads one of Australia’s postmortem brain banks and works at the forefront of research into Alzheimer’s Disease and Alcohol Use Disorder. We talk about what a brain bank really is and why human brain tissue is still essential in understanding diseases that have no cure. Greg explains why Alzheimer’s is so complex, why symptoms mean irreversible damage has already occurred, and why prevention may be our most powerful tool. We also explore Alcohol Use Disorder — the stigma, the genetics, and why addiction cannot be reduced to willpower alone. This conversation is about research, reality, and the role brain donation plays in shaping what the future of prevention might look like. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine The Don’t Be Caught Dead Pub Quiz is back — now in its third year, and it’s a sellout event for a reason. Join us on May 12 at 7pm at Hotel Lona in Frankston, as part of the South Side Festival. Come solo and join a team, or bring your own crew — and compete for great prizes.  Go to criticalinfo.com.au/events  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/

    1hr 12min

  5. 4 MAR

    Dementia Is Terminal – But We Are Not Told How With Theresa Flavin

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Theresa Flavin was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s Disease at 47. What followed was not just a medical journey, but a profound reckoning with how unprepared our systems are for people living with dementia. In this deeply moving and confronting conversation, Theresa shares what it felt like to be dismissed, unheard and effectively “managed away” after diagnosis. From being told her diagnosis via dictaphone to discovering that dementia care systems are built around suppression rather than understanding, Theresa speaks with extraordinary clarity about what it truly feels like to live inside a brain that is changing. We explore behaviour, consent, dignity, palliative care, human rights, and the urgent need for proper pathways after diagnosis. Theresa also shares her powerful moment addressing the United Nations, advocating for cognitive diversity and the rights of people living with dementia. This episode is not about fear. It is about truth, agency and preparation. Thank you for listening. The Don’t Be Caught Dead Pub Quiz is back — now in its third year, and it’s a sellout event for a reason. Join us on May 12 at 7pm at Hotel Lona in Frankston, as part of the South Side Festival. Come solo and join a team, or bring your own crew — and compete for great prizes.  Go to criticalinfo.com.au/events  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/

    1hr 19min

  6. 25 FEB

    Suicide, Success and the Trauma We Carry With Penny Locaso

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) What happens when the person you thought embodied “success” dies in a way that completely unravels your definition of it? That’s where this conversation with Penny Locaso begins. Penny is a behavioural scientist and leadership coach, but this episode is not corporate theory. We talk about suicide, unanswered questions, grief that doesn’t follow a tidy process, and trauma that lodges itself in the body long after the event is over. Penny shares the story of her uncle’s death — officially classified as suicide, yet filled with ambiguity — and how that moment forced her to confront what success truly meant in her own life. We also explore intergenerational trauma, divorce, compassion, and the idea that trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside you. This is not about erasing pain. It’s about understanding it, acknowledging it, and choosing how you move forward. If you’ve ever wondered why certain triggers still sit in your chest or your gut, this conversation might resonate with you. Thank you for listening. The Don’t Be Caught Dead Pub Quiz is back — now in its third year, and it’s a sellout event for a reason. Join us on May 12 at 7pm at Hotel Lona in Frankston, as part of the South Side Festival. Come solo and join a team, or bring your own crew — and compete for great prizes.  Go to criticalinfo.com.au/events  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/

    55 min

  7. 18 FEB

    ENCORE: Beyond the Grave: Fighting Heteronormativity in Funerals and Weddings

    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 on the day and try to rewrite everything – that's the raw, heartbreaking reality one of Bronte Price's clients faced, and he had to advocate fiercely for his wishes.  In this episode, I chat with Bronte Price, a.k.a. “your gay celebrant,” Australia's trailblazing LGBTQIA+ marriage celebrant who's now shaking up funerals too. We unpack the deep challenges queer folks face, from advocating for dying wishes to ditching heteronormative assumptions that creep into every ceremony. We will return with our new season on Thursday, 26 February 2026. Thanks for listening. The Don’t Be Caught Dead Pub Quiz is back — now in its third year, and it’s a sellout event for a reason. Join us on May 12 at 7pm at Hotel Lona in Frankston, as part of the South Side Festival. Come solo and join a team, or bring your own crew — and compete for great prizes.  Go to criticalinfo.com.au/events  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/

    1hr 8min

  8. 11 FEB

    ENCORE: Facing the Unfathomable – Grief, Suicide, and Living Fully After Loss

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Ever wondered what it's really like to stare death in the face – not just your own, but the sudden, shattering loss of a child to suicide? In this raw and honest chat, I sit down with Christine Pedley, a grief counsellor, death doula, and author who's turned her deepest pain into a lifeline for others. If you've ever felt lost in the silence around death and dying, this episode will hit home and remind you that talking about it isn't just okay – it's essential. We will return with our new season on Thursday, 26 February 2026. Thanks for listening. The Don’t Be Caught Dead Pub Quiz is back — now in its third year, and it’s a sellout event for a reason. Join us on May 12 at 7pm at Hotel Lona in Frankston, as part of the South Side Festival. Come solo and join a team, or bring your own crew — and compete for great prizes.  Go to criticalinfo.com.au/events  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/

    1hr 12min
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4.8
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Don't Be Caught Dead is a podcast about the conversations most of us avoid — until we’re forced to have them. Each episode brings you honest, accessible conversations with experts across end-of-life, health, legal, financial, and care industries, alongside people with lived experience, to help you better understand your end-of-life choices and how to prepare a practical backup plan if you fall ill, become incapacitated, or die. Hosted by Catherine Ashton, award-winning speaker and founder of Critical Info, the podcast is grounded in lived experience — created so other people don’t have to go through what her family went through. From wills, powers of attorney, funerals, and estate administration, to caring, grief, sudden illness, and navigating systems when life doesn’t go to plan, Don’t Be Caught Dead exists to build confidence, clarity, and preparedness — before a crisis hits.

Information

  • Creator
    Catherine Ashton
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Don't Be Caught Dead
  • Show Website
    Don't Be Caught Dead

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