Most of us know we should talk about the end of life - but almost none of us know where to start.

In this episode, Melissa Reader is joined by Dr Ira Byock, one of the world’s leading voices in palliative care, to explore how we can live and love more fully by facing what we often avoid. A physician, author, and global advocate, Ira has spent decades reminding us that illness and dying are not just medical experiences, they’re deeply personal ones.

Together, they unpack the four simple phrases that can transform our relationships - “Please forgive me. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you.” - and discuss why planning for life’s later chapters should come from trust and love, not fear.

This conversation also marks the launch of Violet’s Care Compass, a simple values-based tool designed to help families start these conversations early - around the kitchen table, not in the hospital corridor.  Because it’s never too early to talk about the end.

 

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air - you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Dr Ira Byock

Executive & Audio Producer: Madeline Joannou - Mylk Media

Find out more about Violet at violet.org.au

For more information about Dr Byock's books, visit his website here.

 

Most of us know we should talk about the end of life - but almost none of us know where to start.
In this episode, Melissa Reader is joined by Dr Ira Byock, one of the world&rsquo;s leading voices in palliative care, to explore how we can live and love more fully by facing what we often avoid. A physician, author, and global advocate, Ira has spent decades reminding us that illness and dying are not just medical experiences, they&rsquo;re deeply personal ones.
Together, they unpack the four simple phrases that can transform our relationships - &ldquo;Please forgive me. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you.&rdquo; - and discuss why planning for life&rsquo;s later chapters should come from trust and love, not fear.
This conversation also marks the launch of Violet&rsquo;s Care Compass, a simple values-based tool designed to help families start these conversations early - around the kitchen table, not in the hospital corridor.&nbsp; Because it&rsquo;s never too early to talk about the end.
&nbsp;
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air - you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: <a href="https://irabyock.org/">Dr Ira Byock</a>
Executive &amp; Audio Producer: Madeline Joannou - <a href="https://www.mylkmedia.com.au/">Mylk Media</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="http://violet.org.au"> violet.org.au</a>
For more information about Dr Byock's books, visit his website <a href="https://irabyock.org/books-overview/">here</a>.
&nbsp;

Dr Ira Byock: On The Four Things That Matter Most

What does it take to face fear, to lead with love, and to truly care for others at their most vulnerable?

In this episode of Agehood, Melissa speaks with Professor Steve Robson - former President of the AMA, doctor, and son - about the lessons he’s carried from rural Queensland to the frontlines of Australian medicine. Steve shares what jumping out of planes taught him about fear, the Christmas conversation with his mum he’ll never forget, and why love should sit at the heart of every medical decision.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air - you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Steve Robson

Executive & Audio Producer: Madeline Joannou - Mylk Media

Find out more about Violet at violet.org.au

 

What does it take to face fear, to lead with love, and to truly care for others at their most vulnerable?
In this episode of Agehood, Melissa speaks with Professor Steve Robson - former President of the AMA, doctor, and son - about the lessons he&rsquo;s carried from rural Queensland to the frontlines of Australian medicine. Steve shares what jumping out of planes taught him about fear, the Christmas conversation with his mum he&rsquo;ll never forget, and why love should sit at the heart of every medical decision.
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air - you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: <a href="https://www.steverobson.org/">Steve Robson</a>
Executive &amp; Audio Producer: Madeline Joannou - <a href="https://www.mylkmedia.com.au/">Mylk Media</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="http://violet.org.au"> violet.org.au</a>
&nbsp;

Fear and Love: What Medicine Can’t Teach with Steve Robson

When former NSW Minister Victor Dominello helped build Service NSW, he made government simpler for millions. But when his mum was diagnosed with dementia, he discovered just how broken the system still is.

In this powerful conversation, Victor shares the reality of being a son and brother in the thick of caring, the toll it’s taken on his family, and his vision for a future where bureaucracy doesn’t break us—but actually carries us. It’s personal, it’s political, and it’s a glimpse at what “Government 3.0” could mean for every family.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air—you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Victor Dominello

Executive & Audio Producer: Madeline Joannou - Mylk Media

Find out more about Violet at violet.org.au

 

When former NSW Minister Victor Dominello helped build Service NSW, he made government simpler for millions. But when his mum was diagnosed with dementia, he discovered just how broken the system still is.
In this powerful conversation, Victor shares the reality of being a son and brother in the thick of caring, the toll it&rsquo;s taken on his family, and his vision for a future where bureaucracy doesn&rsquo;t break us&mdash;but actually carries us. It&rsquo;s personal, it&rsquo;s political, and it&rsquo;s a glimpse at what &ldquo;Government 3.0&rdquo; could mean for every family.
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air&mdash;you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/victordominello/?hl=en">Victor Dominello</a>
Executive &amp; Audio Producer: Madeline Joannou - <a href="https://www.mylkmedia.com.au/">Mylk Media</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="http://violet.org.au"> violet.org.au</a>
&nbsp;

From Minister to Carer: Victor Dominello’s Most Personal Challenge

What happens when you get the call - the one that changes everything?
Author and journalist Casey Beros found out when her dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Overnight she became organiser, advocate, and round-the-clock carer, all while parenting two young kids.

In conversation with Melissa Reader, Casey talks about the heartbreak and humour of those years, the gaps in our health system, and the unexpected strength she discovered. Her book Next of Kin captures it all and offers hard-won guidance for anyone who will one day walk a similar path.
Her book Next of Kin is part love story, part survival manual. Whether you’re already caring for someone you love or see that chapter ahead, this episode is a guide and a companion.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air—you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Casey Beros

Executive & Audio Producer: Madeline Joannou - Mylk Media

Find out more about Violet at violet.org.au and violetcares.com for the Care Compass.

For more information about Next Of Kin visit https://www.caseyberos.com/nok-book

 

 

 

What happens when you get the call - the one that changes everything? Author and journalist Casey Beros found out when her dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Overnight she became organiser, advocate, and round-the-clock carer, all while parenting two young kids.
In conversation with Melissa Reader, Casey talks about the heartbreak and humour of those years, the gaps in our health system, and the unexpected strength she discovered. Her book&nbsp;Next of Kin captures it all and offers hard-won guidance for anyone who will one day walk a similar path. Her book Next of Kin is part love story, part survival manual. Whether you&rsquo;re already caring for someone you love or see that chapter ahead, this episode is a guide and a companion.
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air&mdash;you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/caseyberos/">Casey Beros</a>
Executive &amp; Audio Producer: Madeline Joannou - <a href="https://www.mylkmedia.com.au/">Mylk Media</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="http://violet.org.au"> violet.org.au</a> and <a href="violetcares.com">violetcares.com</a> for the Care Compass.
For more information about Next Of Kin visit <a href="https://www.caseyberos.com/nok-book">https://www.caseyberos.com/nok-book</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Next of Kin: Casey Beros on Caring for Her Dad While Raising a Young Family

Kate Carnell has seen ageing and end-of-life care from every angle – as a pharmacist, as Chief Minister of the ACT, as a founding voice of Beyond Blue, and now as chair of Violet, the organisation behind Agehood. But this conversation isn’t just about policy or health systems – it’s about families, choices, and the very human side of planning for the end of life.

In this episode, Kate shares why even the most capable families can find themselves unprepared, what she learned when her own parents reached their final chapter, and why the sandwich generation is under more pressure than ever. It’s a candid, practical, and compassionate look at what happens when love, logistics, and reality collide – and how we can do it better.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air—you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Kate Carnell

Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff

Find out more about Violet at violet.org.au

 

Kate Carnell has seen ageing and end-of-life care from every angle &ndash; as a pharmacist, as Chief Minister of the ACT, as a founding voice of Beyond Blue, and now as chair of Violet, the organisation behind Agehood. But this conversation isn&rsquo;t just about policy or health systems &ndash; it&rsquo;s about families, choices, and the very human side of planning for the end of life.
In this episode, Kate shares why even the most capable families can find themselves unprepared, what she learned when her own parents reached their final chapter, and why the sandwich generation is under more pressure than ever. It&rsquo;s a candid, practical, and compassionate look at what happens when love, logistics, and reality collide &ndash; and how we can do it better.
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air&mdash;you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: Kate Carnell
Executive Producer:<a href="https://www.lizeratliff.com.au/"> Lize Ratliff</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="http://violet.org.au"> violet.org.au</a>
&nbsp;

Kate Carnell: On what families need to know before it’s too late

When someone we love dies, our world shifts in ways we can’t always name. Too often we’re left to navigate grief without a guide, unsure of what to say, how to feel, or even what’s expected of us. Dr Emily Musgrave is a clinical psychologist who specialises in grief, loss and trauma — and while her expertise is invaluable, what makes her work so powerful is her deep understanding of our need to connect, to make meaning, and to be witnessed in our hardest moments. You may know Emily from The Imperfects podcast or her book Unstuck: A Guide to Finding Your Way Forward to the Life You Want to Live, where she brings warmth, clarity and compassion to a subject so many of us struggle to face.

In this conversation, Emily explains why grief isn’t something to be “fixed,” how ritual can help us honour what we’ve lost, and why there is no such thing as a hierarchy of grief. She shares insights on parenting through loss, holding space for others, and the quiet power of simply showing up. Whether you are grieving, supporting someone who is, or trying to understand this part of life a little better, this episode offers comfort and perspective — and above all, a reminder that none of us are truly alone in our grief.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air—you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Dr. Emily Musgrave

Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff

Find out more about Violet at violet.org.au

 

When someone we love dies, our world shifts in ways we can&rsquo;t always name. Too often we&rsquo;re left to navigate grief without a guide, unsure of what to say, how to feel, or even what&rsquo;s expected of us. Dr Emily Musgrave is a clinical psychologist who specialises in grief, loss and trauma &mdash; and while her expertise is invaluable, what makes her work so powerful is her deep understanding of our need to connect, to make meaning, and to be witnessed in our hardest moments. You may know Emily from The Imperfects podcast or her book Unstuck: A Guide to Finding Your Way Forward to the Life You Want to Live, where she brings warmth, clarity and compassion to a subject so many of us struggle to face.
In this conversation, Emily explains why grief isn&rsquo;t something to be &ldquo;fixed,&rdquo; how ritual can help us honour what we&rsquo;ve lost, and why there is no such thing as a hierarchy of grief. She shares insights on parenting through loss, holding space for others, and the quiet power of simply showing up. Whether you are grieving, supporting someone who is, or trying to understand this part of life a little better, this episode offers comfort and perspective &mdash; and above all, a reminder that none of us are truly alone in our grief.
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air&mdash;you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: Dr. Emily Musgrave
Executive Producer:<a href="https://www.lizeratliff.com.au/"> Lize Ratliff</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="http://violet.org.au"> violet.org.au</a>
&nbsp;

Dr Emily Musgrave believes we don’t need to fix grief

Holly Ransom is best known as a globally recognised speaker, strategist, and CEO of Emergent — the woman who’s interviewed the Obamas, led a G20 Taskforce, and worked with some of the world’s biggest companies. But in this deeply personal conversation, she opens up about the loss of her beloved grandmother Dorothy — and how grief, for the first time in her life, brought her to her knees.

Holly shares the powerful lessons Dorothy taught her — about empathy, leadership, and doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching — and how those lessons are helping her navigate the complexities of midlife, caregiving, and the systemic gaps we face as our population ages. From grief and memory to workplace disruption and policy reform, this episode is a reminder that the most important leadership often starts at home.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air—you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Holly Ransom

Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff

Find out more about Violet at violet.org.au

 

Holly Ransom is best known as a globally recognised speaker, strategist, and CEO of Emergent &mdash; the woman who&rsquo;s interviewed the Obamas, led a G20 Taskforce, and worked with some of the world&rsquo;s biggest companies. But in this deeply personal conversation, she opens up about the loss of her beloved grandmother Dorothy &mdash; and how grief, for the first time in her life, brought her to her knees.
Holly shares the powerful lessons Dorothy taught her &mdash; about empathy, leadership, and doing the right thing, even when no one&rsquo;s watching &mdash; and how those lessons are helping her navigate the complexities of midlife, caregiving, and the systemic gaps we face as our population ages. From grief and memory to workplace disruption and policy reform, this episode is a reminder that the most important leadership often starts at home.
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air&mdash;you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: Holly Ransom
Executive Producer:<a href="https://www.lizeratliff.com.au/"> Lize Ratliff</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="http://violet.org.au"> violet.org.au</a>
&nbsp;

Holly Ransom: On love, loss & leadership 

Zenith Virago is a death walker — someone who walks alongside people as they approach the end of life. For more than three decades, she’s supported individuals and families through death, grief, and everything in between — from the bedside to the burial, from the paperwork to the heartbreak. In this powerful and moving conversation, Zenith invites us to see death not as a medical event, but as a human one — something to be approached with presence, love, and participation.

Together, we explore the practical and emotional realities of end-of-life care, what it means to reclaim dying as a natural part of life, and how the “sandwich generation” can begin preparing — for our parents, for our children, and for ourselves. If you’ve ever felt unsure about what to do or say when someone is dying, or how to honour them when they’re gone, this episode is full of clarity, comfort, and unexpected strength.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air—you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Zenith Virago 

Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff

Find out more about Violet at violet.org.au

Zenith Virago is a death walker &mdash; someone who walks alongside people as they approach the end of life. For more than three decades, she&rsquo;s supported individuals and families through death, grief, and everything in between &mdash; from the bedside to the burial, from the paperwork to the heartbreak. In this powerful and moving conversation, Zenith invites us to see death not as a medical event, but as a human one &mdash; something to be approached with presence, love, and participation.
Together, we explore the practical and emotional realities of end-of-life care, what it means to reclaim dying as a natural part of life, and how the &ldquo;sandwich generation&rdquo; can begin preparing &mdash; for our parents, for our children, and for ourselves. If you&rsquo;ve ever felt unsure about what to do or say when someone is dying, or how to honour them when they&rsquo;re gone, this episode is full of clarity, comfort, and unexpected strength.
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air&mdash;you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: Zenith Virago&nbsp;
Executive Producer:<a href="https://www.lizeratliff.com.au/"> Lize Ratliff</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="http://violet.org.au"> violet.org.au</a>

Inside the life of a death walker - with Zenith Virago

Geraldine Doogue is one of Australia’s most respected journalists and broadcasters. And in this episode, Geraldine reflects on losing her husband, Ian Carroll, in 2011 — and the reality of walking beside someone you love through their final chapter. She talks openly about the moments of courage, the guilt that lingers, the memories that endure, and the relief of honouring Ian’s wish to die in hospital, not at home.

This is a conversation about love, loss, and the gift of presence. It’s also a reminder that the best death isn’t about where it happens — it’s about giving someone the dignity to choose.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air—you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Geraldine Doogue

Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff

Find out more about Violet atviolet.org.au

Geraldine Doogue is one of Australia&rsquo;s most respected journalists and broadcasters. And in this episode, Geraldine reflects on losing her husband, Ian Carroll, in 2011 &mdash; and the reality of walking beside someone you love through their final chapter. She talks openly about the moments of courage, the guilt that lingers, the memories that endure, and the relief of honouring Ian&rsquo;s wish to die in hospital, not at home.
This is a conversation about love, loss, and the gift of presence. It&rsquo;s also a reminder that the best death isn&rsquo;t about where it happens &mdash; it&rsquo;s about giving someone the dignity to choose.
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air&mdash;you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: Geraldine Doogue
Executive Producer:<a href="https://www.lizeratliff.com.au/"> Lize Ratliff</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> </a><a href="http://violet.org.au">violet.org.au</a>

Geraldine Doogue: On the lessons her husband's death left behind

This week on Agehood, we’re diving into one of the biggest, hardest, and most universal experiences we’ll ever face: death. But not in the way you might expect.

Dr Hannah Gould is a cultural anthropologist and researcher at the University of Melbourne’s DeathTech Research Network who is reimagining how we mourn, memorialise, and find meaning in the end of life. Drawing on both her academic work and personal experience of losing her father at 23, Hannah brings a compassionate, curious, and refreshingly honest lens to the conversation.

If you’ve ever wondered what a “good death” looks like, or felt that our grief rituals aren’t quite enough, this conversation is a starting point.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air—you’re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit violet.org.au to start the conversation.

CREDITS 

Host: Melissa Reader

Guest: Dr Hannah Gould 

Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff

Find out more about Violet atviolet.org.au

This week on&nbsp;Agehood, we&rsquo;re diving into one of the biggest, hardest, and most universal experiences we&rsquo;ll ever face: death. But not in the way you might expect.
Dr Hannah Gould is a cultural anthropologist and researcher at the University of Melbourne&rsquo;s DeathTech Research Network who is reimagining how we mourn, memorialise, and find meaning in the end of life. Drawing on both her academic work and personal experience of losing her father at 23, Hannah brings a compassionate, curious, and refreshingly honest lens to the conversation.
If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered what a &ldquo;good death&rdquo; looks like, or felt that our grief rituals aren&rsquo;t quite enough, this conversation is a starting point.
FIND OUT MORE
If you&rsquo;re caring for aging parents, navigating your own next chapter, or just trying to keep all the balls in the air&mdash;you&rsquo;re not alone. At Violet, we offer free tools and support to help families navigate the last stage of life with care and confidence. Visit<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> violet.org.au</a> to start the conversation.
CREDITS&nbsp;
Host:<a href="https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/violets-ceo-shares-her-personal-story"> Melissa Reader</a>
Guest: Dr Hannah Gould&nbsp;
Executive Producer:<a href="https://www.lizeratliff.com.au/"> Lize Ratliff</a>
Find out more about Violet at<a href="https://violet.org.au/"> </a><a href="http://violet.org.au">violet.org.au</a>

Funerals, PowerPoints & Party Pies: Dr Hannah Gould on doing death better

Agehood is the podcast that finally says what we're all thinking but rarely saying out loud. Hosted by Melissa Reader, CEO of Violet, we have the conversations that matter most: watching our parents age, being everyone's go-to person, the mess of love and duty, what it really takes to care for those we love, and yes, death, dying, and loss.

You'll hear Australia's most trusted voices, from beloved broadcasters to respected experts, vulnerably sharing their own stories alongside practical guidance that actually helps. This isn't about having all the answers—it's about asking the right questions and knowing you're not alone.

Agehood is the podcast that finally says what we're all thinking but rarely saying out loud. Hosted by Melissa Reader, CEO of Violet, we have the conversations that matter most: watching our parents age, being everyone's go-to person, the mess of love and duty, what it really takes to care for those we love, and yes, death, dying, and loss.
You'll hear Australia's most trusted voices, from beloved broadcasters to respected experts, vulnerably sharing their own stories alongside practical guidance that actually helps. This isn't about having all the answers&mdash;it's about asking the right questions and knowing you're not alone.

This is the show for all the people who are caught between caring for ageing parents, raising a family, and managing work—all while trying to live a good life. Listen in as some of Australia’s most trusted voices share their stories of Agehood: the tears, the frustration, the goodbyes, but also the laughs and moments of true joy along the way.

Agehood

Social links:

Follow the podcast:

18 clip(s)