Deadly Serious Conversations
Episodes
Episode 48 - Learnings and Insights from Disasters with Lucy Easthope
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Disasters happen……. tsunamis, terrorist attacks, bushfires, pandemics. No amount of wishing they didn’t happen makes them go away. But it’s c...
Episode 47 - The importance of ceremony and ritual in grief and loss
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, I’m joined by Megan Sheldon, a cultural mythologist, a humanist celebrant and end-of-life doula b...
Episode 46 - Conversations with a Funeral Director
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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?...
Episode 45 - Honouring a Final Wish: A Sea Burial Story
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 44 - What we can learn from the Irish wake
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 43 - The power of autobiography in Palliative Care
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 42 - Taking Them Home: Navigating Repatriation After Death
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Episode 41 - Understanding baby loss and grief
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 40 - Practical ways to provide help and support
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to another episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, where today we are joined by Dr. Susan Palmer from Gather My Crew, an incredible organisat...
Episode 39 - Death Administration: where to begin
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 su...
Episode 38 - Your story Matters
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I have a special episode featuring Dan from 'All about me films'- a Melbourne-based company dedicated to preserving life stories on F...
Episode 37 - Supporting children in grief & loss
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I am often asked how to support children who are grieving I am no expert but I am delighted to share this episode of the podcast, where I have a cha...
Episode 36 - How ashes can help grow a tree
31 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most people are familiar with the traditional burial and cremation practices, such as using a cemetery, or storing the ashes in an urn. Some people...
Episode 35 - Body Donation
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the podcast, I have a wonderful conversation with Lesley who works as the co-ordinator of the Body Donation program at Melbourne Un...
Episode 34 - Living wake/funeral
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of the podcast is one that challenges the conventional narratives surrounding end-of-life ceremonies and funerals. In it, I have a wond...
Episode 33 - Surviving the unimaginable and learning to move forward following a devastating loss.
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We hear it all the time that life changes in a second, and nothing can prepare us for it when that does happen. We all think and hope it will never ...
Episode 32 - What to do with cremated ashes
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the cost for a traditional burial rises each year and as people have become more environmentally conscious about our land shortage, Cremation has...
Episode 31: Is this normal?
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jo Lincoln is no stranger to the podcast. In fact, she was my first ever guest and I am absolutely delighted to have her back, talking about her new...
Episode 30: Understanding early pregnancy loss
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
20 percent of women or 1 in 5 may experience a pregnancy loss in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. That is 1 early pregnancy loss every 5 mins in Aus...
Episode 29: Supporting those who are grieving
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I believe we have a collective responsibility to continue to do death better. Grief is a very lonely and isolating experience for those going throu...
Episode 28 - How funerals have changed over time
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Funerals have changed dramatically in the last decade. Not that long ago, they followed a very standard procedure. Often mourners wore black, Most ...
Episode 27 - Home Based death care
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the podcast, I have a wonderful chat with Rebecca Lyon Rebecca is an Independent Funeral director based in Tasmania who works in...
Episode 26 - Advanced Care Planning
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the podcast I talk to the Lovely Dr Annetta Mallon from Gentle Death Education and Planning about Advance Care Plans. During our co...
Episode 25: End of Life conversations: Anne & Greg's story
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
End of Life conversations are tough conversations to start. We tend to avoid them because we don't want to cause upset, often we don&a...
Episode 24 - Sibling grief
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the podcast, I have a chat to Katie Anne from a charity called Jacinta’s Smile is passionate about helping those suffering the lo...
Episode 23 - Voluntary Assisted Dying
18 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Deadly Serious Conversations is on the topic of Voluntary Assisted Dying. " Voluntary Assisted Dying" is the term given in ...
Episode 22 - Where there is a will there is a wake
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the podcast, I chat to the lovely Karin from Heavenly Catering. Karin has over 20 years experience as a caterer for wakes and cele...
Episode 21 - Understanding stillbirth
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It has always been my goal for Deadly Serious Conversations, to normalise tough conversations. October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month. ...
Episode 20 - All things Audio, visual and live streaming
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the podcast, I have a chat to Belinda from Belinda Jane video. Belinda and her wonderful team, work behind the scenes in creating...
Episode 19 - Funeral photography
17 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the podcast, I have a chat with John Slaytor, funeral photographer. Funeral Photographer is a genre of photographer that we don...
Episode 18 - Organising a funeral for someone who was not traditional in any way.
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Shots of Fireball, singing Karaoke live music, tears and laugher. The was Sarah's swan song. Sarah was only 34 when she died suddenly leaving ...
Episode 17 - When death becomes a project of love
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I have an absolutely wonderful chat with Annie Bolitho.Annie is the author a beautiful book called "Death a love project&quo...
Episode 16 - Living and dying well - a chat with Zenith Virago
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Zenith Virago is renowned for leading the way in helping demystifying death, dying and funerals in our society for over 25 years. She brings a wealt...
Episode 15 - Motherless Daughters
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I chat to the lovely Danielle from an organisation called "Motherless Daughters" about the impact of the death of your mother at ...
Episode 14 - Living with a Terminal Diagnosis
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Deadly Serious Conversations, I chat to the lovely Meg Marshall. Meg was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at 28 and since then she ha...
Eposide 13 - Executing a Will after someone dies.
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I am chatting with Lucy from Head and Heart Estate Planning. in this episode we chat about the next steps in handling someones estat...
Episode 12 - Learning to live with Grief
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 12 of Deadly Serious Conversations, I have a chat with the lovely Jo Betz. Jo courageously talks to us about learning to live with gr...
Episode 11 - Sorting out your loved one's possessions when they die
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the podcast I chat to Lisa Oshlack from Moving on. One of the many services that moving on provides is helping families take care ...
Episode 10 - Surviving after Suicide Loss
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The word “suicide” is a sensitive word and it really conjures up different ideas in everyone’s mind. This is a tough subject but one that is v...
Episode 9 - In lieu of funeral flowers
01 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the podcast I chat with the lovely Victoria from Telopea flowers .Victoria shares her expertise on how we can use flowers in meanin...
Episode 8 - The Loss of a much loved pet
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I have a chat with Lance Stringer. For those who own a much loved family pet, you will understand that losing an animal is like los...
Episode 7 - Grief in the early days
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I chat with Katrina Schalager. Katrina is a psychologist in a private practice and in this episode we talk about some of the nor...
Episode 6 - Writing a will
09 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today on the Podcast, I am speaking to Jacqui Brauman. Jacqui is the principal solicitor and director at TBA Law. And she specialises in the area ...
Episode 5 - Choosing music for a funeral
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today on the podcast, I am chatting to Phoebe Deklerk. Phoebe is a funeral singer, who loves to use music to celebrate and honour the life of someon...
Episode 4 - Writing and delivering a Eulogy
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I speak to Kaylene Ledger who shares some valuable advice for writing and delivering a Eulogy for a loved one. Link to Kaylene's...
Episode 3 - Choosing a celebrant
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I chat about what is a funeral celebrant and some important considerations when choosing a celebrant for your loved ones funeral htt...
Episode 2 - What to expect if someone is receiving Palliative Care
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Margo Collins shares her experience of supporting and guiding those who are receiving palliative care, their families and loved ones...
Episode 1 - What happens when someone dies an expected death at home
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Fiona chats to Jo Lincoln. Jo is a death doula and in this episode she offers a wealth of knowledge and experience to those facin...
Introduction to Deadly Serious Conversations
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
An introduction to Deadly Serious Conversions, a little bit about the host and what you can expect https://www.fionathefuneralcelebrant.com.au/