#Hashtag Death

In the final episode of #Hashtag Death I share what people really speak about at funerals, as someone who has been involved in more than 900 funerals. This is the end of the road for the podcast, but not the end of conversations around death and dying.

There is a famous poem which is read at a lot of funerals, which goes:

When I come to the end of the road, and the sun has set for me
I want to rites in a gloom filled room, why cry for a soul set free?
...

Have you ever wondered what sparks someone to work in the field of death?

In this episode, we chat to my mentor and family death care advocate Sally Cant about her unplanned journey to work in a career surrounded by death and dying - and why that’s not as morbid as it sounds! She also shares how baby boomers have helped pave the way for more open conversations about death, and in turn personalised celebrations.

Sally Cant has done everything there is to do in the Deathcare Space. She’s a Family Death Care Advo...

Have you ever wondered how to best approach conversations about mental health?

In this episode, we chat to Georgia and Amanda from the Going Loco podcast. The pair take a light-hearted look at people facing mental health challenges to break down stigmas and barriers, through humour.

In this chat packed full of banter we talk about deaths of loved ones and mental health challenges, and how the two can often go hand-in-hand. The ladies both have lived experiences and share some useful tips to approaching someone who might be struggling.

What has been...

Curious about the secrets of navigating death, grief, and loss with grace and understanding?

I'm sharing the top ten invaluable lessons I've learned from hosting #Hashtag Death and working in the funeral industry.

In this episode you’ll discover the importance of talking openly about death and dying, as well as the long-term effects of unresolved grief. I emphasise the value of seeking professional support and planning ahead to ease the burden on loved ones during difficult times.

Additionally, I highlight the power of humour and authenticity in honouring the lives of the de...

If you’re curious about emotional intelligence and want to know how to apply it to your life, then this episode is for you!

This week we chat to emotional intelligence expert Amy Jacobson about her early experience with death and how it ended up shaping her life and career before she even worked out the connection.

Amy brings a fascinating insight into life, death and how being scared of death is now a thing of the past for her after some deep work to understand the impact of an event she witnessed in her te...

Where do young widows turn to when they find themselves thrown unexpectedly into grieving their partner?

According to the last Australian census, there are more than a million widowed adults in Australia. This is the unfortunate group Michelle Moriarty found herself in after becoming a widow at 38 years old with two young children in tow.

This week I chat to the Grief Connect founder and Agrifutures 2023 Rural Women’s Award Winner about creating support groups and tools to help others on their own grief journey.

This is a chat filled with hope and li...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to leave your whole life behind so you can flee to safety?

In this episode we look at the impact of domestic violence on successful career woman Marion Fulker AM. From a young girl suffering at the hands of her former husband, to someone who can now healthily nurture the vulnerable young woman inside her, Marion shares her story about escaping but leaving behind a city she loved so dearly. This is grief in another form.

Marion came from what looked like a very “successful” life, rela...

Have you ever wondered if your grief needs to be wound up in a certain time frame?

In this episode, we chat to grief educator and author Jo Lincolne about the process of grief and how it doesn’t end when the funeral is over. We look at how grief can stay with us for a long time, even returning to grief bomb us decades later.

You’re going to learn how grief walks alongside us and a bunch of resources to extend your learning about death. Come join us for this insightful chat!

...

If you have been trying to navigate life in a world where your loved one isn’t present anymore, this insightful episode is one not to miss.

In this episode, we chat to marriage celebrant Dilhari Gustavino about her experience following the death of her father. Family dynamics, physical distance and grieving together are all touched on in this chat with a wonderful storyteller.

You’re going to hear about after death experiences, learning about signs from the other side and believing in other realms. I’d love to know if this caught you in the fe...

How do you transition through recovery after the loss of a baby, when being a mother is all you've ever wanted? 

In this episode, pregnancy loss educator Sharna Southan shares with us the moment she was told her baby didn’t have a heartbeat.

We look at coping with loss, the rollercoaster of carrying a rainbow baby and turning a passion into a business to assist mothers navigating trauma.

Please note: this episode talks about pregnancy loss and miscarriage.

Show notes: https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/episode21/

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How do adoptees cope with loss of identity and figuring out who they are? 

In this episode, we chat to adoptee Lloyd about his experiences with adoption, the rollercoaster of emotions and eventually finding his birth family.

Having an understanding of where you come from can change your identity in a split second. We’re chatting with Lloyd about his experiences of rediscovering his full identity as an adult and the juggle to keep two families content when they met. Come and explore the topic further on Instagram at @hashtag_death

Curious about the journey from heartbreak to inspiration? 

In this episode, baby loss mentor Rochelle Olsen unveils the answer to the question: how one person’s story of loss can become a lifeline for others navigating the same path.

We look at the grief and pain surrounding newborn death and how it is something that is often less understood by others. Rochelle explains how her loss sparked a whole journey to assist others in their time of need.

Please note: In this episode we discuss infant death and...

Bugs can play an important role in solving crimes! This week we delve into the topic of bug life and more with forensic scientist Dr Paola Magni.

She is a world-leading researcher, expert witness, media commentator and corporate speaker, with a huge passion for science. We also chat about a special project to highlight the impact of domestic violence which hits home for Paola with the sheer number of cases she has worked on involving women.

Show notes: https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/hashtagdeathepisode18/

Imagine being able to contact loved ones who have passed! Today we chat to Annmarie Lord, a psychic medium and life coach who helps people connect with loved ones, as well as guiding other mediums to expand their businesses.

We discover what mediums do, how they contact the spirit world and listen to some fascinating stories about contact from the other side.

Show notes:  https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/hashtagdeathepisode17

Presentation expert Paula Smith flips things on their head this week as she interviews me!

Paula helps to unravel my ‘why’ and we chat about my first experiences with death as a child, which led me on a path to being a marriage and funeral celebrant. From the family farm to a podcast about dying, tune in to get to know me more.

SHOW NOTES: https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/16-mywhy-welcome-to-2024-and-get-to-know-why-i-do-this/

Today we talk about the unsung heroes of this world – carers. I chat with Adam Birch, a Carer Support Counsellor from Carers WA. He sheds light on the often-overlooked role of carers who put their loved ones first, sacrificing their own lives. 

We touch on the staggering number of unrecognised carers in the community and discuss the importance of self-care for those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

SHOW NOTES: https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/15-handlewithcare-carers-need-to-be-cared-for-too-this-holiday-season-dont-forget-those-who-care-all-year-round/

How do you cope at Christmas when your special person is no longer alive and there’s an empty chair at the table?

As the ‘festive’ season approaches, the hype and advertising can become overwhelming. This episode I fly solo as we look at many of the emotions around Christmas - from sadness and overwhelm to happiness and guilt, and everything in between.

Show notes: https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/hashtagdeathepisode14/

Throughout life we can encounter a number of mini-deaths, such as the ending of a marriage. This week we chat to life success coach Rayne Bryant about navigating Christmas with split families.

From following Rayne on Instagram and Facebook for many years, I was so drawn to her positive take on solo parenting, split families and just owning your own shit!

In this inspirational chat, you’ll learn a lot about not only the ‘death of a marriage’ and the grief and loss of the nuclear family unit, but also how to bounc...

How can you better plan for death, and truly know how your loved ones want to be celebrated?

Lisa Herbert is the author of The Bottom Drawer Book, which is an after-death action plan to help people talk about and plan for death.

We chat with Lisa about the book and its humble beginnings, from cemetery wandering to agriculture and how these contributed to her writing about death.

As a token of gratitude for your unwavering support, I'm shaking things up this holiday season. Brace yourselves for a double treat: not only will I be dropping episodes every week in December and January, but I'm also introducing a special series every second or third week called #Life. 

What is #Life, you ask? It's a dive into those mini-deaths and unexpected grief events we encounter—think the demise of a business, the end of an opportunity, or the unraveling of a marriage and family unit.

This series aims to...

Navigating the legal side of death - wills, probate, conflict, and confusion, is tricky business.

Grief and loss can stay with you for a long period of time, but legal items can often have a time frame to be completed.

We chat with Laura Tatchell, Principal Director of Tatchell Legal about legal items to do with death. Strap yourself in for this information-packed episode about what to do and where to start, even before a death occurs.

Please note: Any advice in this episode is general in nature only.

SHOW NOTES...

Funerals don’t have to be about choosing options from a flip book at a funeral home anymore, there are so many options available to honour the life of a loved one.

Today we chat to Keri Alexander, founder of A Better Way Funerals, who started her business after a pushy funeral director left her reeling.

We explore what a day in the life of a funeral director looks like and give some insight into the process of death behind the scenes.

SHOW NOTES: https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/hash...

Palliative care is often thought of as the care you receive on your deathbed, when nothing else can be done in a person’s final weeks.

Professor Samar Aoun is the 2023 Western Australian of the Year and an advocate for palliative care working to change the perception of how beneficial palliative care is.

Together we look at the impact of palliative care on patients who are living with a life-limiting illness and how implementing palliative care earlier can improve the quality of both life and death.

SHOW NOTES...

When Tommy landed in Australia to backpack for 12 months, he knew instantly he’d never return to Scotland. The downside to living halfway across the world was leaving his close-knit family behind. 

We chat with Tommy about his experiences of two parents dying while he was overseas, complex family dynamics and living with decisions made from afar.

SHOW NOTES: https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/hashtagdeathepisode8/

Can we use a tour guide in death to help us through the process? Erin Griffin, a passionate Death Doula, and advocate, explains the bridge between clinical support and the family, the dying, and the needs of the community.

Join us for this very interesting chat about how practicing yoga led Erin to become a death doula. We delve more into a role which is all about serving during death, and the different ways this can look for families coping with death and dying. 

SHOW NOTES: https://forevernow.com.a...

We’re talking about death technology and future cemeteries with Professor Michael Arnold from the University of Melbourne.

With many cemeteries reaching capacity, and some environmental issues emerging around current ways we deal with our loved ones, we look at different burial options and what the future of death may look like.

This is an interesting chat with a researcher behind alternative forms of body disposal.

SHOW NOTES: https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/hashtagdeathepisode6/

On this episode we chat with death walker and celebrant Zenith Virago about embracing death, because we are all on a path to death.

Zenith has worked in the field of death for more than 30 years, after she organised a service for a friend after their passing. Today we chat about new trends in death and how there is a greater yearning than ever for celebrating the lives of loved ones in a personalised way.

Please note: This episode discusses death and dying.

SHOW...

Today on #Hashtag Death, we chat to clinical psychologist Julia who lost her younger brother to a drug overdose.

We have a very vulnerable and insightful conversation around unresolved childhood trauma, learning disabilities, addictive personalities, and the path of grief from both a personal and professional perspective.

Please note: This episode discusses death and addiction and may be triggering for some listeners.

Also please note:  these experiences are those of the interviewee only and every addict and family are unique. Opinions expressed are those of the interviewer a...

Today we chat to Andrea, a forensic police officer in Western Australia who is here to bust some myths about her role.

Andrea breaks down what her role looks like, how it’s not exactly what the TV shows portray, and the importance of being able to switch off from the job.

SHOW NOTES: https://forevernow.com.au/podcasts/hashtagdeathepisode3/

Today on #Hashtag Death we are talking about suicide with someone who lost a loved one in this way.

Death by suicide can be hard for family and friends to process, particularly if someone hasn’t previously had a diagnosed mental illness.

We chat with Leah, who lost her husband Clinton eight years ago to suicide, who shares her story and drive to educate the community on the subject.

Please note: This episode discusses death and suicide. This will be confronting for some people and listener discretion is advised. If this episode raises an...

Welcome to the first episode of #Hashtag Death, a podcast bringing to the forefront one of the two certainties in life. And we’re not here to talk about taxes!

Each week, your host and celebrant Ingrid Reiger aims to educate about the lesser-known aspects of the death and dying industry from palliative care, forensics, funeral homes, celebrants, mortuaries, cemetery workers, and grief counsellors.

The first episode looks at the work of modern day embalmers as we chat to Janelle Chalmer who has spent 20 years in the profession and is passionate about educating others on so...

Welcome to #Hashtag Death, the captivating podcast that explores the enigmatic world of death and dying industries. Our aim is to educate you about the lesser-known aspects of the industry, covering palliative care, forensics, funeral homes, celebrants, mortuaries, cemetery workers, and grief counsellors.

Beyond the mechanics of death, we delve into the profound human emotions that encompass the entire journey, from before the event, during, and after.

Here's what you can expect from our podcast: