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Caring for ageing parents, raising a family, and balancing work can leave many of us left with little space for ourselves. These pressures, challenges, and moments of unexpected joy are at the heart of Agehood, an Australian-first podcast series that say out loud what so many of us think but rarely voice.

With insights from some of the country’s most trusted and respected voices including Sarah Macdonald, Bernard Salt AM, Geraldine Doogue AO, Nikki Gemmell, and Dr Emily Musgrove, Agehood opens up honest conversations about ageing, caregiving, and the final chapters of life. With raw honesty and surprising warmth, host Melissa Reader from Violet shares stories that are at once deeply personal and universally relatable.

For volunteers in palliative care, two episodes in particular may be of special interest:

• Inside the Life of a Deathwalker with Zenith Virago
  Known as a “deathwalker,” Zenith Virago has spent more than three decades supporting people at the end of life and those who love them. Her conversation explores the role of rituals, community, and compassionate presence in helping people face death openly and with dignity. Her insights provide a fresh perspective on how we can all support others through profound transitions. 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. Listen here →
• Dr Kathryn Mannix Has Witnessed Thousands of Goodbyes
  A former palliative care doctor, Dr Kathryn Mannix has been present at countless deaths and has devoted her career to helping people better understand dying. In this episode, she speaks with clarity and compassion about the importance of conversation, preparation, and connection at the end of life. 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.
  Listen here →

The podcast offers stories that range from the deeply moving to the unexpectedly uplifting in which volunteers will find reflections both affirming and inspiring in their own roles.

The full series of Agehood podcasts is available at www.agehoodpodcast.com,