Series 1 talks with end-of-life sector experts to help Australians plan for the inevitable with honesty and practical advice.
Rest Easy Knowing, a new Australian podcast dedicated to death, dying and all manner of things end-of-life, launches Series 1 today.
Created and hosted by Fiona Healy, Rest Easy Knowing is built on a simple premise: death is something we all have in common — and we should be better at talking about it. Each episode focuses on a conversation with a subject matter expert, covering topics including: what actually happens after someone dies, considerations when selecting a funeral director, the process of accessing voluntary assisted dying, why Will preparation is important, how clinical support is provided through palliative care and what to be aware of if you are administering an estate. Episodes aim to share practical takeaways that are useful for those personally facing end of life or supporting a family member through their last days.
Fiona says, “None of us can avoid death, yet most of us avoid talking about it until we’re in the middle of a crisis. I’m at the stage of life where my own parents have died, and many of my friends are now losing theirs. It can be incredibly overwhelming when families are forced to make important decisions without ever having had the conversation to truly understand what their loved one wanted.”
She adds, “I’m not speaking with the experts because I have all the answers. I’m speaking with them because I have the same questions many other people have.”
Fiona comes from the perspective of being a curious voice in the room, asking the questions others might be too afraid or embarrassed to ask.
“My hope is that Rest Easy Knowing helps Australians replace fear of having the important conversations with knowledge and understanding, so they can approach the end-of-life with greater confidence, compassion and peace of mind.”
Rest Easy Knowing launches to coincide with International Dying to Know Day (8 August), Australia’s national day of action for open conversations about death, dying and end-of-life planning. The theme for this year is ‘Nobody Knows’, which focuses on sharing end-of-life wishes to prevent confusion and family stress.
The timing of the podcast launch reflects a genuine need: ABS figures show more than 188,000 Australians died last year (more than 500 people every day). As Australia’s population continues to age, that number is expected to exceed 320,000 deaths a year by 2050, making conversations about death, dying and end-of-life planning more important than ever.
Rest Easy Knowing Season 1 connects listeners directly with the experts: a funeral director, voluntary assisted dying worker, solicitor and death doula, along with leading voices in palliative care and grief. Podcast guests are people who deal with death every day of their working lives. The conversations are curious, respectful and honest.
About Fiona Healy
Fiona Healy is an entrepreneurial communicator with two decades of experience in the not-for-profit sector, including roles in youth drug and alcohol services, homelessness support and animal welfare. She also founded the well-known annual health awareness fundraising event, Febfast. With a strong communications background, she has built a career acting as the bridge between specialists and the public
Now in what she describes as the last third of her life, and having farewelled her own parents, Fiona has embraced Rest Easy Knowing as a passion project to share useful information about the end-of-life with others. She is firmly of the belief that normalising conversations about death and dying makes those conversations easier when they matter most.
What listeners will hear
Series 1 episodes are structured around an expert interview followed by a clear, practical takeaway. Confirmed guests and topics include:
- Stass Jones, Funeral Director — The Last Hurrah: what happens after someone dies, what it costs, and what to ask when choosing a provider, plus a behind-the-scenes look at working in the funeral sector
- Julia Tutt, Senior Associate — De Groots Wills and Estates Lawyers: what makes a will legally valid, what happens without one, how probate works, and the essentials of Power of Attorney
- Adj Assoc Prof Violet Platt, CEO — Palliative Care Victoria: how to access palliative care and Voluntary Assisted Dying, and the signs that someone is nearing death
- Candace Ohanessian, Death Doula — Journese: what a death doula does and doesn’t do, and how they support the dying and their families
- Nicky Stitt, Nurse Consultant, Voluntary Assisted Dying Navigator Service Victoria:
Other season one episodes will also feature topics including advanced care planning and the experience of grief, with the aim to create a central hub uniting experts and services that are currently dispersed across death, dying and end-of-life services.
Where to listen
Rest Easy Knowing is available on all major podcast platforms and at resteasyknowing.com.au, where listeners can also find episode show notes, topics, and links to related services.
About Rest Easy Knowing
Rest Easy Knowing is opening up Australia’s conversation about death and dying, honestly, creatively and compassionately, by sharing stories, exploring traditions, and connecting people with the services, resources and ideas that support life’s final journey.
Podcast episodes are recorded in the Emerald Hill Oral History Studio, through the support of the Port Phillip Heritage Centre.