Don't Be Caught Dead

Catherine Ashton
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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. 1D AGO

    What Happens When You Take Back Your Story with Barry Du Bois

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) I’ve had many conversations about death, grief, and what it means to be prepared… but this one felt different. Barry Du Bois is someone many Australians know from television. A builder, presenter, and now a powerful mental health advocate. But beyond the public image, Barry carries a deeply personal story shaped by cancer, loss, resilience, and a defining belief: “I won’t have anybody else narrate my story,” even when faced with a terminal diagnosis. What struck me most in this conversation wasn’t just what Barry has been through… it was how he chooses to live because of it. This episode explores what it means to face mortality head-on, draw strength from connection, and learn to live fully, one small, intentional step at a time, even in life’s hardest moments. A little extra support for our listeners If this conversation resonated with you, Barry has generously shared a range of free resources to help you feel more prepared, less overwhelmed, and supported through life’s more complex moments. His work through The Art of Untangling Lives focuses on preparation, legacy, and easing the burden on loved ones. Barry also offers a short, practical online program, 5 Days to a Calmer, Stronger You, designed as a gentle starting point for people who may appear to be coping on the outside, but don’t always feel that way underneath. You can explore his resources at: barrydub 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/

    53 min

  2. APR 29

    A Mother’s Story of Loss and Love with Emily Mir

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) There are moments in life that divide everything into before and after… this conversation with Emily Mir holds one of those stories. Emily is a mother, storyteller, and advocate whose life was forever shaped by the stillbirth of her son, Gilbert, at full term. What she shares is not just the heartbreak of that day, but the reality of what comes after… the quiet, evolving, and deeply human experience of grief. In this episode, we talk about what it means to carry love for a child who is no longer physically here, how grief softens but never disappears, and the complexity of holding joy and loss at the same time. Emily also shares the inspiration behind her children’s book Gilbert’s Cake — a gentle but honest way to help families speak about grief with children, without hiding the truth. This is a conversation about love, loss, and the ways we continue to live, connect, and remember. 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/

    1h 5m

  3. APR 22

    If I Could Do It Again, I’d Bring Her Home with Annie Caulfield

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) If I had my time again, I wouldn’t leave her there… I would have brought her home. In this episode, I sit down with Annie Caulfield, a Brisbane-based death care practitioner and founder of Grassroots Death Care. Annie’s work is centred around helping families reconnect with death in a way that feels more personal, supported, and deeply human. This conversation is shaped by Annie’s own lived experience of losing her mum suddenly. What she shares isn’t just reflection… it’s clarity that came after the moment had already passed. The realisation that there were choices she didn’t know she had. We talk about how death has quietly been handed over to systems over time, and what that has taken away from families and communities. Annie walks us through what it can actually look like to bring someone home, to care for them in their final days, and to be more involved in the process rather than stepping back from it. This episode isn’t about getting it “right.” It’s about understanding that there are options… and that even in the hardest moments, there can still be space for connection, presence, and meaning. 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/

    1h 1m

  4. APR 15

    The Questions I Lived With After Suicide Loss with Todd Maguire

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Trigger Warning: This episode includes conversations around suicide, trauma, and grief. Please listen with care. — I’ve sat in many conversations around death… but this one stayed with me in a different way. Today, I’m speaking with Todd Maguire, a former undercover police officer who spent decades on the frontline of humanity’s darkest moments. From violent crime to suicide, from delivering devastating news to living with the aftermath of trauma, Todd has seen more than most of us ever will. But what struck me most wasn’t just what he witnessed… it was what he carried. Todd shares the story of losing his partner to suicide, the years of pain, recklessness, and self-destruction that followed, and how he slowly found his way back. Not perfectly. Not cleanly. But honestly. And in that honesty, there is something incredibly powerful. This conversation isn’t just about death. It’s about what happens after. It’s about grief, identity, healing… and the quiet, often messy work of choosing to live again. 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

  5. APR 8

    Death Isn’t Wrong, It’s Part of Life with Annie Raser-Rowland

    We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) Have you ever thought about what it really means to live well… and how often we’re told that “more” is the answer? More things. More experiences. More consumption. But what if that’s not it at all? In this episode, I’m joined by Annie Raser-Rowland, writer, horticulturalist, and co-author of The Art of Frugal Hedonism. Together, we explore a different way of living… one that isn’t built around constant consumption, but around presence, connection, and truly experiencing life as it is. What struck me most is how this way of living naturally shifts how we see death. When you understand yourself as part of a wider system… where everything cycles, returns, and continues… death starts to feel less like something “wrong” and more like something that simply belongs. This is a conversation about life, death, grief, and the quiet ways we can feel more alive… without needing more. 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

  6. APR 1

    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/

    1h 9m

  7. MAR 30

    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

  8. MAR 18

    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
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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
    117
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Don't Be Caught Dead
  • Show Website
    Don't Be Caught Dead

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