Don't Be Caught Dead: Grief, Loss, Death Literacy and Getting Prepared
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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Don't Be Caught Dead: Grief, Loss, Death Literacy and Getting Prepared Fan Mail
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(Do not remove)I recently had the pleasure of listening to this, and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Excellent work, Thank you for your incredible effort; it was truly impressive. Zuricka
I’ve really been enjoying listening to your podcast. I studied to be a death doula as research for a show that I still haven’t created but it lead me into wanting to do advocacy work to get people to have those conversations. I’d love to move onto the “Deathosphere” but $$ is holding me back. I already work in a gig economy as a performance artist. I guess I’ll get there one day. I’ve been travelling a lot for work and been listening to you on the road. Thanks
Hi Catherine! I’m really enjoying your podcast, just started listening and am learning so much from what you share. Fantastic episode with Kelly from AFDA, so many take aways and your interview style really kept things interesting. I'm a funeral celebrant based on the Mornington Peninsula and look forward to telling people both about the podcast and your business. Warm regards, Anne-Marie Raymond (Mornington Funeral Celebrant) 🌸
Hi Catherine, Vanessa here 😁 Thankyou so much! I loved the last Hurrah interview, they are such amazing people and I resonate with EVERYTHING they are doing and aspiring to do. Such a beautiful discussion, well done! 😁