DEAD AIR #154

‘Andrew Garfield and Elmo are going viral with their moving chat. Celebrities can help us talk about grief’ – The Conversation

‘Judge accepts guilty pleas from Colorado funeral home owners for abuse of 191 corpses’ – ABC News

‘The Secret to A Fresh Smelling Mausoleum’ with Lauren the Mortician - YouTube

 Remembrance Rituals inspired by conversations on Don’t Be Caught Dead podcast, Critical Info

The online CDAS conference 2026: Death and Power - is now open for contributions. Abstracts of 250 words to be submitted by 2 Feb, more details HERE

Showing Up For Each Other: Community Death Care Workshop - funded by the Wicking Trust. Supported by the Australian Home Funeral Alliance, in conjunction with Social Health Australia and the Death Literacy Institute. Led by myself, Jenny Blake & Nici Wright. Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 April, Castlemaine. EOIs open now, submit HERE

TRACKS: Mad Rooter Ghost Rider – Party Dozen / Danger – Hetslayer / Closer - Vague Rituals / Ur Dad’s Fav Band – Sandy Dish

DEAD AIR #150

‘It was the last time Mum smiled at me’: the choirs singing to the dying in three-part harmony – The Guardian

Threshold Choir – Their Vision is a world where all at life’s thresholds may be honoured with compassion shared through song. A Castlemaine Threshold Choir is in the process of setting up, so WTS!

Edge of Life review – can understanding death help us understand how to live? – The Guardian

Australian artist Lynette Wallworth travels to the Amazon to explore psychedelics and death – ABC NEWS

Lifting The Lid International Festival of Death & Dying recap.

Ask Robin – an AI grief support companion, founded by Dr. Rhea Perkins

‘What do you want to be buried with?’ Dr. Jennifer Riley, TEDxAberdeen

‘Piece of Mind’ by Emma Wood, directed by Stephen Mitchell, 14-30 November 2025, Fri/Sat 7.30pm, Sun 2pm. Castlemaine Theatre Company, Tickets HERE.

Death Café Maldon End of Year Gathering at Oshi’s Tree - Join us at the sacred sanctuary of Oshi’s Tree in Newstead, created in memory of Rueben’s son, Oshi - a place of love, remembrance, and gentle healing. Bring a chair, picnic rug, food & drinks. Plate of food to share. Sunday 23 Nov, 11am, Newstead. Event details HERE

Sydney Festival of Death and Dying – details HERE 22-23 November, Rushcutters Bay. 

DEAD AIR #143

Chatting with Mikaela Grant, Psychotherapist and Director of Care For Your Mind & Creative Arts Therapist, Marita Jacobsson in the studio about 'Making Spaces For Grief' a five-week group therapy program. Mondays October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3 (1-3pm), Castlemaine Office, $280 per person, concession $200 per person (all materials included).

The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief By Francis Weller.

'Bone lady' who helped find Daniel Morcombe still unearthing stories of the dead – ABC News

Sensing the Supernatural Dead: Relic Veneration and Corpse Inspection, with Historian Jamie L. Brummitt. Six-week online class via Zoom, all classes recorded. Friday mornings starting 26 Sept, through to 31 Oct. 9-11am AEST, AUD$227. [NY Thursdays, 25 Sept-30 Oct, 7-9pm EST/NYC Time, US$150] Register HERE

Haunted Halloween at The Old Castlemaine Gaol - Fri 31 Oct, 7:30-11pm! Castlemaine Fringe presents Haunted Halloween - a spine-tingling night of freaky fun and after dark DJ's. Haunted Halloween will feature a live bluegrass band followed by a selection of Castlemaine's finest DJ's and a dance act or two! Join us in the gaol atrium because it's SPOOKY in there, and we love a dance floor kick-on, with Creepy cocktails, Spooky Sounds and definitely a ghost or two. Dress ups encouraged but not mandatory! Book HERE

The 5th annual Lifting the Lid International Festival of Death and Dying, 14-16 November 2025 is looking for volunteer moderators to help with online sessions at the. Lifting The Lid is an annual, online festival that lifts the lid on everything death & dying, through conversations, interactive events, workshops, art and craft sessions, live music, poetry and performance from around the world. If you are interested in volunteering a few hours of your time to facilitate for our presenters and audience from over 40 countries worldwide, please do drop us an email at liftingthelid2021@gmail.com

TRACKS: Shut Up – ALX;GoSlow / Nimrod Workman performs 'Oh Death' / Jon’s International Marketspace – Party Dozen / Time – Good Moon