Advertise on podcast: Deadly Serious Conversations

Motor neurone disease or MND as it is also known, is a devastating illness. It attacks the nerve cells that control our muscles, while the mind and personality can remain completely unaffected. As the disease progresses, muscles gradually waste away, eventually affecting a person’s ability to move, swallow and speak. For someone living with MND, as the disease progresses it usually becomes much more about quality of life and dignity.  In Victoria, voluntary assisted dying or VAD, is available to people who meet a strict set of eligibility requirements. A person must have decision-making capacity and they must also have an incurable, advanced and progressive disease, illness or medical condition that is expected to cause their death. Generally, they must be expected to die within six months. For someone with a neuro-degenerative condition, such as MND, that timeframe extends to 12 months. But meeting those requirements is only part of the story. Today, I’m joined by Nicole, who shares the story of her stepfather, Shane, who lived with MND for more than two years before choosing voluntary assisted dying. Nicole’s experience also highlights something that isn’t as widely understood when we talk about VAD and that is, access to VAD. Because VAD isn’t just about meeting the legislative requirements. Where you live, what services are available and whether there are healthcare professionals who can support you through the process can all make a difference. For Shane, living in regional Victoria meant that location, travel requirements and gaps in healthcare services created significant challenges. Nicole talks openly about navigating the VAD approval process, the practical realities of accessing care in a regional area and the very real impact that inadequate end-of-life care and support can have on someone living with a terminal illness.    Voluntary Assisted Dying  Motor Neurone Disease

The life changing gift of organ donation  This episode is very personal to me and I would like to dedicate it to my beautiful friend Carol. Without Carol, this podcast , Deadly Serious Conversations, would not exist. It was Carol who first suggested that I create it and with her encouragement she set everything up for me.    In fact, she is also the reason I am a celebrant as she told me 17 years ago, that she had found the perfect job for me.   In the week between recording this episode and publishing it, my dear friend Carol died very unexpectedly. Carol was a registered organ donor and through her incredible generosity, 5 people have been given the precious gift of life. Her decision to become an organ donor was an extraordinary final act of kindness. But in many ways, it was also a reflection of the person Carol was throughout her life. Carol was an incredible woman. She was funny, she loved travelling, she was always up for an adventure and she had the most generous spirit. So while losing her has been incredibly difficult, it was not a surprise that Carol had chosen to become an organ donor. It was simply another expression of the kindness and generosity that defined who she was. As I sat with Carol in the ICU, I witnessed the incredible care and dedication of the wonderful ICU staff who looked after her. I would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary donation teams who work behind the scenes to make this gift of life possible. Through their expertise, Carol’s generosity has given hope and a future to 5 people and their families. I will miss her every day but I am so incredibly proud of her.   Introduction For families waiting for an organ transplant, life can feel as though it's on hold. Hope and fear exist side by side and every day is filled with uncertainty as they wait for that phone call or the news that could change everything. My guest today is Kristy Busuttil, mum to four beautiful children, including her son Harlen. Harlen was born with a life-threatening liver condition. When it became clear that a liver transplant was his only chance of survival, Kristy and her family entered a world no parent ever imagines facing. For five long months, they lived in limbo, balancing round-the-clock hospital care with the realities of raising three other young children, all while waiting for the call that could save Harlen's life. Today, Kristy joins me to share her family's journey…… the heartbreak, the uncertainty, the moments of hope and what life looks like after transplant. We will also talk about the extraordinary generosity of donor families and the life-changing impact one selfless decision can have on complete strangers, creating hope in the midst of unimaginable loss. Kristy, thank you so much for joining me and for being willing to share your family's story.  Donate Life Week

Later this month, we will mark DonateLife Week, a time that encourages all of us to have one of the most important conversations we can have with the people we love. Organ donation is something many of us support, yet so few of us have actually spoken about our wishes with our family. And when the time comes, those conversations can make an incredibly difficult decision just a little bit easier. On today's episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, we explore organ donation and what it means, how the process works and the extraordinary impact one person's decision can have on the lives of many others. This particular episode is very personal to me today.  And I would like to dedicate it to my beautiful Uncle Frankie…..  Frankie dedicated his whole life caring for others as a paramedic.  He never smoked or drank alcohol and lived a very healthy life.  Yet he developed a serious liver condition that ultimately meant he needed a liver transplant.   Our family experienced what it was like to receive an extraordinary gift from a stranger and a family who in the midst of unimaginable grief, made the most selfless decision, at a very difficult time in their lives.  The impact of that gift, gave Frankie more time with the people he loved and it gave our family memories we would otherwise never have had.   Such was the gratitude felt by Frankie’s family, that my beautiful Aunty Kay went on to set up a Charity in the UK called the Liver Support group, which provides information, practical assistance and support to people navigating liver disease and transplantation in Northern Ireland.  Today, I’m joined by Georgie from DonateLife Victoria, an organisation dedicated to saving and transforming lives through organ and tissue donation, here in Australia. Behind this work is a team of people who not only facilitate donation, but also support families through some of the hardest moments they will ever face. This is a great conversation on organ donation……the decisions, the realities, the myths and the incredible impact one person can have. Donate Life  RVH Liver Support Group

At some point in our lives, every single one of us will experience grief.  None of us are immune to it.   Grief is the price we pay for love.   If we love, we grieve.  That’s the deal.   And yet, even though death is something every one of us will encounter, we rarely talk about it openly. That silence creates stigma and it can leave people feeling incredibly alone at a time they need the most support. This is especially true in the workplace, a place where many of us spend the majority of our waking hours. The bills don’t stop, so many people return to work while navigating a life-altering loss, expected to function, perform and carry on as if nothing has changed. Grief doesn’t switch off for 40 hours a week just because we are at work.    And yet, so often, we’re expected to push our feelings aside, keep going and carry on as though everything is the same. But for some people returning to work when they are trying to deal with a loss, is incredibly difficult.  Perhaps they are navigating life after the loss of a spouse whilst also becoming a single parent.  We are human first and employees second.  Today we are going to explore with a HR consultant Steph Bell and talk about how we can navigate returning to work after loss.

Disasters happen……. tsunamis, terrorist attacks, bushfires, pandemics.  No amount of wishing they didn’t happen makes them go away. But it’s comforting to know there are people preparing for these situations.  People like Lucy Easthope. Lucy has played a vital role in the response to some of the world’s most significant disasters such as 9/11, the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the 7/7 London bombings, the Manchester Arena attack and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic to name but a few. She is one of the world’s leading authorities on disaster recovery and emergency planning and the author of the book ‘When the Dust Settles'. Lucy’s work is about far more than logistics.  It’s about humanity, care and dignity in the most difficult of circumstances.   And I am absolutely thrilled to have her as a guest on the podcast. Lucy Easthope When the Dust Settles

In this episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, I’m joined by Megan Sheldon, a cultural mythologist,  a humanist celebrant and end-of-life doula based in North Vancouver, Canada.  Megan has a deep understanding of the power of ceremony and ritual, especially in times of grief and loss. In many cultures, rituals once played a central role in marking life’s changes, yet in our modern world, they are often forgotten, even though they come so naturally to us. In this conversation, we talk about why rituals matter, how they give us stability in times of uncertainty and how they can help us embody the emotions we feel during life’s most challenging moments.  Megan also shares the inspiration behind Be Ceremonial , the world’s first guided ritual and ceremony app and how simple rituals can help us connect with ourselves, each other and the world around us. In the words of Dr Alan Wolfelt: “When words are inadequate, have a ritual.” Be Ceremonial  Be Ceremonial instagram Seeking Ceremony

Funeral directors play a pivotal role in guiding families through one of the most difficult times in their lives. But how do you choose the right one? What should you look for and what can you expect from them?   Together with Lillian from The Last Time Funeral Directors in Sydney, we will unpack these questions and more, offering insights to help you make informed decisions and be aware of the choices available to you.  Organising a funeral must be one of life’s toughest tasks and for many people, it’s the last thing they want to be doing. The reality of it all can suddenly hit when you find yourself in the process of organising a funeral.  People panic when someone dies. Even if someone’s death is expected, it’s still a shock.    People can be a little fearful as they may have never experienced a dead body before and therefore, they aren’t sure what to expect, so they think they will get somebody else to take over as quickly as possible.   This episode offers practical advice and thoughtful discussions on the partnership between families and funeral directors.  Last Time Sydney

Today I am joined on the podcast by Simon and Sameiko from Candour Funerals - a Melbourne-based funeral company.  Together, we have a wonderful chat about something very special and deeply meaningful; the first sea burial to take place in Victoria in over a decade.  In this episode, we have a wonderful chat about the practicalities and logistics of making it happen, but more importantly, we hear about the deep respect shown to honour one person's final wish to be laid to rest at sea.  It was a true community effort - a coming together of family, funeral professionals and authorities to ensure everything unfolded with care and dignity.  It's a conversation about respect, dignity and going to great lengths to ensure a farewell that felt right for the family and their loved one.  So, grab a cuppa and settle in for a truly remarkable story.  Candour Funerals Candour funerals full sea burial

Many people assume the Irish wake is just an excuse for a drinking session, but in reality, it’s so much more than that. The traditions surrounding death in Ireland run deep, woven into the fabric of the culture and community.   The dead are honoured with great reverence, and the grieving are embraced, supported, and given the space to mourn in a way that is both personal and communal.  The Irish wake is a time of remembrance and connection—a way of ensuring that no one faces loss alone.  Today, I dive into the rich traditions of the Irish wake  with Ryan from Ireland and we  explore what we can learn from this ancient ritual.  Some of the things we learned from is conversation.   1. It’s okay to stay close to the dead The body is usually present in the home, often in an open coffin. Family and friends are invited to sit with the deceased, talk to them, touch them, and be with them. It helps bridge the reality of death — it’s not hidden or rushed away. 2. Grief belongs to the whole community A wake isn’t just for the immediate family. Neighbours, co-workers, friends-of-friends — everyone drops by to pay respects. It shows that death ripples out and that support doesn't have to be formal or rehearsed. Just showing up matters. 3. Mourning and laughter can coexist At a wake, you might find tears and sadness — but also laughter, stories, music, and occasionally a drink or two. We understand that honouring someone means remembering all of them — not just their death, but their life.    4. Ritual grounds us From opening a window to let the soul out, to covering mirrors and stopping clocks,  — these gestures, passed down through generations, help make sense of something that often feels senseless. They create a rhythm and structure for mourning.  5. Taking time matters Wakes often span two or three days, giving people time to sit with their loss. There’s no rush to “get it over with.”  6. You don’t have to do it alone There’s a shared responsibility — people bring sandwiches, sweep the floor, make tea.   It’s about a community holding the grieving up. Grief is softened when it’s shared. Growing up in the North of Ireland where the ritual of wakes is still very strong,  I feel have been trained on how to live with death all of my life.

Every life is a collection of stories—big and small, joyful and heartbreaking, ordinary and extraordinary. These stories shape who we are and how we’re remembered. Eastern Palliative Care runs an award-winning biography programme where their volunteers work one one-on-one with clients to allow them to record and tell their life story.   Today I am interviewing Annie Martin, one of their wonderful volunteers. Eastern Palliative Care

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you had a loved one die overseas?  Or, perhaps it is their wish for their body to be transported back  to their home country?  Today I am chatting to Ghislaine from a family-run business based in Melbourne called Repatriation Solutions to discuss the implications of moving someone’s body to another country after they die. Repatriation Solutions

In today’s episode, we’ll discuss the deeply sensitive and seldom-discussed topic of baby loss — a subject that makes many uncomfortable yet is so vitally important.  These are sobering statistics.   Miscarriage occurs in one in four pregnancies.      Six babies are stillborn in Australia every day, with one in 120 births being a stillborn baby or a newborn death. These statistics are a reality that often leaves people unsure how to respond, creating an uncomfortable silence. Today, I am honoured to speak with Nicole Hasseldine.  Nicole’s experience is personal: her daughter Isla passed away at just six days old.  In this conversation, Nicole shares what it’s like to endure and navigate this type of profound loss, and how we can all offer more compassionate support for families experiencing such unimaginable grief.   We all have a responsibility to do this type of loss better.  Since Isla died, Nicole has turned her pain into purpose, dedicating herself to creating a space for professionals working with bereaved families.  She is the founder of Isla Grief and Loss, whose mission is to support healthcare professionals supporting families who have lost a child. In this episode, we hope to break through the discomfort and encourage listeners not to shy away.  Nicole will help us explore how to offer meaningful support in the face of such loss so that we can all respond with the compassion and the presence these families truly need. RIng Theory Isla Grief & Loss

Welcome to another episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, where today we are joined by Dr. Susan Palmer from Gather My Crew, an incredible organisation dedicated to helping people rally around loved ones during times of crisis. When someone’s world is turned upside down – whether that’s through illness, the loss of a family member, or any other life-changing event – it can be hard for people to know exactly how to offer help.  That's where Gather My Crew steps in, making it easier for people to support each other in meaningful ways.  Susan will share with us how this wonderful platform connects communities, offering a way to give practical help during those moments when it's needed most. Gather my Crew

When someone dies suddenly there is so much death administration to start taking care of.  It’s hard to know where to start.    Many people are surprised to learn that it can be a very long & sometimes complicated process dealing with wills, estates, and all sorts of death administration.   Today on Deadly Serious conversations I have a wonderful chat with Danielle from Sage Executor Solutions about the role of an executor of a will and some of the things that  are important to know to make the process easier, less stressful and more efficient.

Today, I have a special episode featuring Dan from 'All about me films'- a Melbourne-based company dedicated to preserving life stories on Film for future generations. We delve into the importance of storytelling for family history and how it gives us a sense of belonging that can shape who we are today. This episode reminds us that we continue to exist long after we are no longer physically here, living on through the stories and memories we leave behind. So whether you're looking to preserve your own story or would like to encourage your loved ones to document their story,  this episode will inspire you to see the value in capturing part of your family's history. All about me Films