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. 3d ago

    The Fight to Be Buried on Country: Prue Vines on Wills, Death and Family

    Did you know that around sixty percent of burial disputes that end up in Australian courts involve an Aboriginal person, and that appointing an executor can be the one thing that prevents it? In this episode, I'm speaking with Professor Prue Vines, a leading Australian legal academic at the Faculty of Law, UNSW Sydney, where she has taught since 1990. Prue is co-author, with Rosalind Croucher, of the country's leading succession law textbook, Succession: Families, Property and Death, and sole author of Law and Justice in Australia. She is also the author of the Aboriginal Wills Handbook, and her research sits right at the intersection of law and death, with a particular and long standing focus on developing culturally appropriate wills for Indigenous Australians and on the burial rights disputes that so often follow when that planning hasn't happened. Prue and I talk about why succession law can feel so harsh when emotion meets property, and why a will should really be thought of as part of planning for the people you leave behind, not just a piece of paper about money. She walks me through what a will actually does, including the part most people never think about: appointing an executor who has the legal right to decide what happens to your body. We get into the risks of DIY wills, how to choose an executor you can truly trust, and what the probate and intestacy process actually looks like when someone dies with or without a will. A large part of our conversation is dedicated to Prue's decades of work with Aboriginal communities across Australia, developing wills that actually reflect how kinship, family and obligation work in those communities rather than imposing a Western template. She explains how appointing an executor became the single most important reason many Aboriginal elders chose to make a will in the first place, because it settles who has the right to decide what happens to a person's body. We go deep on burial rights: why disputes over where someone is laid to rest disproportionately involve Aboriginal Australians, what dispossession has done to people's ability to be buried on country, the different ways communities have adapted, from smoking ceremonies to carrying home a handful of earth, and the real court cases Prue has seen where a missing will meant a family was torn apart over a burial decision that should never have needed a judge. Prue closes by making the case for enduring power of attorney and guardianship alongside a will, and pushes back on the idea that will disputes are becoming more common than they really are. Remember; you may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) 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 In episode 110, we talk to Tim Booth, a paramedic and the best-selling author of You Called an Ambulance for What? and You Went to Emergency for What?  We're giving you a chance to win a copy of his new book, Post-Mortem. To enter, send us a message via Spotify or Apple fan mail on this episode, or leave a comment on our social media. Tell us what stories you'd love to hear, or send us a question you'd like us to put to a future guest. Entries close September 13. 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. Sep 2

    Beyond the Grave: Ben Kelly on Cemeteries, Cremation and the Fight for Burial Space

    In this episode, I'm joined by Ben Kelly, CEO of the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (ACCA), the peak body representing the cemetery and crematoria sector across Australia and New Zealand. Ben takes us behind the gates of an industry most of us never think about until we have to. We talk about why cremation now accounts for 75 to 85 per cent of dispositions in Australia, why your postcode can determine how far your loved one has to travel to be cremated, and why there's no single national law governing what a cemetery can and can't do. We get into the thornier questions too: who actually owns a grave (hint: you don't), what happens when a family plot sits unused for decades, and the surprisingly heated debate over pets being buried alongside their owners. Ben also walks us through “limited tenure” – the practice of reusing graves after a set period – and why it might be one of the only real answers to Australia's shrinking burial space. Beyond the practicalities, Ben shares how cemeteries are quietly becoming community hubs: death cafes, baby loss memorial services, AI-powered digital storytelling projects, and even wildlife pantries for injured possums and koalas. And we don't shy away from the harder side of his industry – the funding cemeteries rarely get, and the toll the work takes on the people who show up for grieving families every day.' Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) 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 In episode 110, we talk to Tim Booth, a paramedic and the best-selling author of You Called an Ambulance for What? and You Went to Emergency for What?  We're giving you a chance to win a copy of his new book, Post-Mortem. To enter, send us a message via Spotify or Apple fan mail on this episode, or leave a comment on our social media. Tell us what stories you'd love to hear, or send us a question you'd like us to put to a future guest. Entries close September 13. 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. Aug 26

    Preparing Children for Funerals, Millie and Tom, and Gail Eaton-Briggs on Remembering Nanny

    What if there is no such thing as a child being too young for a funeral? In this episode, I sit down with Gail Eaton-Briggs, a Tasmanian author, celebrant, leadership coach and founder of EveryWhen Solutions. With more than 40 years of experience in early childhood education, child safety and leadership, and as an authorised celebrant since 2006, Gail has supported hundreds of families through funerals and celebrations of life. Gail's new picture book, Remembering Nanny: Milly and Tom's First Funeral, follows two young children through the days after their grandmother's death, from the morning they find Mum crying on the back steps, through choosing what to take with them, to the funeral itself and the small, tender rituals that help a family grieve together. We talk about why she believes there is no such thing as “too young” for a funeral, the box of teddy bears she keeps in the boot of her car for children who need a hug, and why a beautiful picture book alone wasn't enough, so she wrote a companion guide too. Gail shares some of the most memorable services she has led, including an unexpectedly joyful celebration at a group home and the loved ones who asked to reopen the curtains so they could keep the coffin company over morning tea. We also talk about her earlier book, Conscious Grit: From Stuck to Unstoppable, the personal tipping point that led her to leave a senior public service career, and the head, heart and gut model she now uses in her coaching and leadership work. Remember; you may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care,  Catherine. We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) 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 In episode 110, we talk to Tim Booth, a paramedic and the best-selling author of You Called an Ambulance for What? and You Went to Emergency for What?  We're giving you a chance to win a copy of his new book, Post-Mortem. To enter, send us a message via Spotify or Apple fan mail on this episode, or leave a comment on our social media. Tell us what stories you'd love to hear, or send us a question you'd like us to put to a future guest. Entries close September 13. 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. Aug 19

    HRT Until You Die: Thy O'Donell on Trans and Gender Diverse End-of-Life Care

    “What’s your pain scale?” “A nine.” “Okay, miss.” “No. Mister.” In this episode, I’m speaking with Thy O’Donell, a PhD researcher at the Australian National University in Canberra. Thy’s research explores end-of-life and palliative care for trans and gender diverse people, looking at how gender affirming care can extend into hospitals and hospices. The study has ethics approval through ACT Health’s Human Research Ethics Committee, ANU’s Human Research Ethics Committee, and ACON. Thy’s interest in this space is personal as well as academic. As a trans man who has navigated Canberra’s medical institutions, he brings firsthand experience of how institutional culture can shape whether someone feels safe and respected in the settings where end-of-life care is delivered. We talk about what it really means to stay on hormone replacement therapy until the day you die, why advance care directives and wills matter just as much for younger people and trans people as for anyone else, and the courage it takes to self-advocate in a healthcare system that isn’t always built with you in mind. Thy also shares the story of a difficult experience in a Catholic hospital emergency department, the role of chosen family in end-of-life decisions, and why he believes, at its heart, gender-affirming care is simply care. Remember; you may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) 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 In episode 110, we talk to Tim Booth, a paramedic and the best-selling author of You Called an Ambulance for What? and You Went to Emergency for What?  We're giving you a chance to win a copy of his new book, Post-Mortem. To enter, send us a message via Spotify or Apple fan mail on this episode, or leave a comment on our social media. Tell us what stories you'd love to hear, or send us a question you'd like us to put to a future guest. Entries close September 13. 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. Aug 12

    Post-Mortem: Tim Booth on the Unsung Professionals Who Work With Death

    What do crime scene cleaners, morgue transporters and gravediggers know about death that the rest of us don't? In this episode, I'm joined by Tim Booth, a paramedic of more than nine years and the bestselling author of You Called an Ambulance for What? and You Went to Emergency for What?. His latest book, Post-Mortem, steps outside his own frontline experience to profile around thirty professionals who work with death every day, from crime scene cleaners and organ procurement coordinators to gravediggers, funeral directors and combat medics. Tim tells me how the idea for Post-Mortem came to him almost by accident, how he tracked down people whose jobs barely exist in the public imagination, and the common thread he found running through all of them: it isn't the bodies that are hard to deal with, it's the living. We also talk about the myths around CPR and defibrillators, the gray areas paramedics face when DNR paperwork goes missing, and why dark humour has become the coping mechanism of choice across the death care professions. Tim is honest about burnout, about what writing this book taught him about his own mortality, and about how becoming a father has started to change his thinking on planning ahead. Remember; you may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) 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 In episode 110, we talk to Tim Booth, a paramedic and the best-selling author of You Called an Ambulance for What? and You Went to Emergency for What?  We're giving you a chance to win a copy of his new book, Post-Mortem. To enter, send us a message via Spotify or Apple fan mail on this episode, or leave a comment on our social media. Tell us what stories you'd love to hear, or send us a question you'd like us to put to a future guest. Entries close September 13. 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. Aug 5

    The Law at the Bedside: Ben White on Advance Care Directives and Voluntary Assisted Dying

    What happens when the document meant to protect your wishes is filed away where nobody can find it, or worse, ignored altogether when it matters most? In this episode, I'm joined by Distinguished Professor Ben White, Professor of End-of-Life Law and Regulation in the Australian Centre for Health Law Research at Queensland University of Technology. A Rhodes Scholar with a DPhil from Oxford, Ben has spent his career researching the gap between what end-of-life law says on paper and what actually happens at the bedside. He's authored over 250 publications, co-authors the End-of-Life Law in Australia website, and is currently leading an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship on regulating voluntary assisted dying. We talk through the three legal tools everyone should know about (advance care directives, enduring powers of attorney, and default substitute decision-makers), why advance care directives so often fail to be followed even when they exist, and the very human reasons families and clinicians clash at the bedside. Ben also walks us through voluntary assisted dying now that the Northern Territory is on the verge of becoming the final Australian jurisdiction to legalise it, what conscientious objection looks like when it works well and when it doesn't, and why a Commonwealth law about phones and faxes is still forcing dying patients to travel for care that could otherwise happen by telehealth. Remember; you may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) 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 In episode 110, we talk to Tim Booth, a paramedic and the best-selling author of You Called an Ambulance for What? and You Went to Emergency for What?  We're giving you a chance to win a copy of his new book, Post-Mortem. To enter, send us a message via Spotify or Apple fan mail on this episode, or leave a comment on our social media. Tell us what stories you'd love to hear, or send us a question you'd like us to put to a future guest. Entries close September 13. 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. Jul 29

    Choosing Life After Choosing Death: Jess Amsden on Organ Donation Following Voluntary Assisted Dying

    What if the choice to die could also be the choice to save someone else's life? In this episode, I'm joined by Jess Amsden, a senior nurse who holds a new and unique role at DonateLife Victoria as their Family Communication Nursing Coordinator. Piloted nationally over the past two years, the role is a first for Australia, sitting at the intersection of organ donation and voluntary assisted dying (VAD). Jess brings an abundance of experience in critical care nursing and education to a space that barely existed a few years ago. Australia's first case of organ donation following VAD happened in Victoria in 2023, and interest in the pathway has been growing across the country ever since. Jess talks us through how it works, the safeguards that keep the two decisions separate, and the story of Marlene, the woman whose choice paved the way and whose legacy continues to save lives. We also cover the myths that stop people registering, what families and patients most want to know, and why simply telling your loved ones what you want can make all the difference when it matters most. Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared. Take care, Catherine We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) 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 In episode 110, we talk to Tim Booth, a paramedic and the best-selling author of You Called an Ambulance for What? and You Went to Emergency for What?  We're giving you a chance to win a copy of his new book, Post-Mortem. To enter, send us a message via Spotify or Apple fan mail on this episode, or leave a comment on our social media. Tell us what stories you'd love to hear, or send us a question you'd like us to put to a future guest. Entries close September 13. 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. Jul 22

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

    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 We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-) 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 In episode 110, we talk to Tim Booth, a paramedic and the best-selling author of You Called an Ambulance for What? and You Went to Emergency for What?  We're giving you a chance to win a copy of his new book, Post-Mortem. To enter, send us a message via Spotify or Apple fan mail on this episode, or leave a comment on our social media. Tell us what stories you'd love to hear, or send us a question you'd like us to put to a future guest. Entries close September 13. 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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