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

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 at violet.org.au

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