It's the only sure thing in life: that we will all die some day. But many of us are scared to think about death — our own, or our loved ones'. 

How can embracing death change the way we live our lives and remind us of what's important?

This conversation explores topics of grief, philosophies of life and death, and the practical consideration of planning for the inevitable.

This conversation was recorded at the Clunes Booktown Festival on 22 March 2026.

Speakers

Hannah GouldSenior lecturer and fellow with the Death Tech Research Team at the University of MelbourneAuthor of How to Die in the 21st Century: A whole new way to talk about death and more

Antonia PontYogiAssociate Professor Writing, Literature & Culture, Deakin UniversityAuthor, Plain Life: on thinking feeling and deciding and more

Marieke Hardy (host)Co-founder of the spoken-word art salon, Better Off Said: Eulogies for the Living and Dead, Host of the podcast Marieke Hardy Is Going To DieScreenwriter and playwright, forthcoming Melbourne Theatre Company play, Losing Face (June 2026)