Dr Kathryn Mannix has witnessed thousands of goodbyes. Here's what she’s learned
This week on Agehood, we’re having the conversation that matters most—but often happens least. Dr Kathryn Mannix is one of the world’s leading voices on dying well. As a former palliative care doctor, she's sat beside thousands of people at the end of their lives—and what she's learned might just change how you live yours. In this gentle and powerful episode, Kathryn shares the real story of what dying actually looks and feels like—and why our fear is often worse than the reality. We talk about how to begin those difficult conversations, what people really want at the end, and how to support a loved one without losing yourself in the process. She shares the five phrases every family should know, why silence is sometimes the most compassionate response, and how we can turn grief into connection, even before death arrives. Whether you're supporting ageing parents, caring for a sick partner, or simply curious about how to prepare for what lies ahead, this episode offers comfort, clarity and courage. Because talking about death isn’t morbid—it’s an act of love. And as Kathryn says, the end of life deserves just as much care as every other milestone. 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 With thanks to Dr. Kathryn Mannix Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff Find out more about Violet at violet.org.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why Nikki Gemmell is having the hard conversations now
Author and columnist Nikki Gemmell has never shied away from the hard conversations — and in this powerful episode of Agehood, she turns her lens inward. Nikki opens up about the painful, unresolved grief of losing her mother by suicide, and the emotional aftermath of not being part of her end-of-life experience. She shares the guilt she still carries, how that moment reshaped her thinking around death, and why she’s determined to approach her own aging differently. She also reflects on her experience supporting her father through the slow, confronting process of aging — and how witnessing his decline brought clarity about the kind of care, dignity, and control she wants for herself and her loved ones. This is a conversation about control, courage, and care — and why planning for the end is one of the most radical acts of love. Just a heads up, this episode deals with the topic of suicide. If you or someone you love needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14 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 With thanks to Nikki Gemmell Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff Find out more about Violet at violet.org.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The care cliff is coming: Bernard Salt on the future of family, aging & letting go
Australia is on the edge of a demographic cliff — and according to leading demographer Bernard Salt, we’re nowhere near ready. In this episode of Agehood, Bernard joins host Melissa Reader to unpack the numbers behind our aging population, the rising pressure on families, and the looming care crisis that will land hardest on women in their 50s and 60s. With his trademark clarity and insight, Bernard explains why the sandwich generation is growing, what the economic and emotional load of caring will look like over the next decade, and how we can start to prepare now — as individuals, families, and a nation. It’s a wake-up call wrapped in data, empathy and urgency — and a must-listen for anyone navigating aging, caregiving, or planning for what’s next. 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 With thanks to Bernard Salt Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff Find out more about Violet at violet.org.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Stuck between kids and aging parents: Sarah MacDonald on life in the middle
Journalist, author and broadcaster Sarah MacDonald has spent a lifetime telling other people’s stories — but in this episode of Agehood, she shares her own. Sarah opens up about losing her beloved father, a gentle obstetrician who championed women through birth but didn’t get the gentle death he deserved. She reflects on what it meant to become his advocate in a hospital system that wasn’t prepared to let go, and the lasting impact of that experience. Now in the thick of the sandwich generation — caring for both her mother and mother-in-law in their 90s with her young adult children living at home — Sarah speaks honestly about what life in the middle looks like. FIND OUT MORE If Sarah’s story resonated with you—and 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 Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff Find out more about Violet at violet.org.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Agehood is here. Let’s talk about what comes next.
Welcome to Agehood. The podcast where we have the conversations that matter most but happen least often. Over the next 12 weeks, host Melissa Reader will sit down with some of Australia’s most trusted voices — from beloved broadcasters to leading experts — to talk about caregiving, aging, grief, and the invisible load carried by the sandwich generation. But before we get to their stories, we wanted to begin with Melissa’s. In this opening episode, Melissa shares why she started Agehood, the personal story that led her to found Violet, and why it’s time we stop avoiding the last chapter of life — and start preparing for it. FIND OUT MORE If Melissa’s story struck a chord—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 Executive Producer: Lize Ratliff Find out more about Violet at violet.org.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.
Australia