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What Facing Death Taught Me About Living (Death Doula)
A fear of death can quietly shape an entire life. For Danni Petkovic, that fear was physical and relentless — years of death anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and a nervous system locked into survival mode at the mere idea of mortality. Everything changed when her brother was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. What followed was an intimate education in dying: navigating prognosis, care, logistics, legacy, and love in real time. That experience didn’t just ease Danni’s fear — it led her to her calling as a death doula and death literacy educator, supporting individuals and families through end-of-life care with clarity, calm, and humanity.
In this episode of No Ordinary Monday, we go behind the euphemisms that surround death and dying. Danni explains how clear language can reduce fear, why death was once handled at home within communities, and what’s been lost by medicalising and outsourcing our end-of-life rituals. We talk openly about voluntary assisted dying in Australia, the practical realities most people avoid — advance care directives, wills, passwords, pets, photos, and personal belongings — and how thoughtful planning can make grief gentler.
Danni also shares what it means to sit with someone as they die, to care for the body afterwards, and to help families create rituals that reflect culture, belief, and truth rather than shame. It’s a confronting conversation, but also a hopeful one: planning while well is an act of love, children often cope better with honesty than adults, and talking about death won’t kill you — avoiding it won’t make you immortal.
If this resonated, follow and share the show, leave a quick review, and tell someone you love one wish you’ve decided today.
Links:
https://liminalbeing.com.au/
http://dyingtoknow.au/
Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/dannipetkovic/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/liminalbeing
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannipetkovic/?originalSubdomain=au
Send us a text
SUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support.
SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show.
WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at [email protected].
View all episodes
By Chris BaronA fear of death can quietly shape an entire life. For Danni Petkovic, that fear was physical and relentless — years of death anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and a nervous system locked into survival mode at the mere idea of mortality. Everything changed when her brother was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. What followed was an intimate education in dying: navigating prognosis, care, logistics, legacy, and love in real time. That experience didn’t just ease Danni’s fear — it led her to her calling as a death doula and death literacy educator, supporting individuals and families through end-of-life care with clarity, calm, and humanity.
In this episode of No Ordinary Monday, we go behind the euphemisms that surround death and dying. Danni explains how clear language can reduce fear, why death was once handled at home within communities, and what’s been lost by medicalising and outsourcing our end-of-life rituals. We talk openly about voluntary assisted dying in Australia, the practical realities most people avoid — advance care directives, wills, passwords, pets, photos, and personal belongings — and how thoughtful planning can make grief gentler.
Danni also shares what it means to sit with someone as they die, to care for the body afterwards, and to help families create rituals that reflect culture, belief, and truth rather than shame. It’s a confronting conversation, but also a hopeful one: planning while well is an act of love, children often cope better with honesty than adults, and talking about death won’t kill you — avoiding it won’t make you immortal.
If this resonated, follow and share the show, leave a quick review, and tell someone you love one wish you’ve decided today.
Links:
https://liminalbeing.com.au/
http://dyingtoknow.au/
Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/dannipetkovic/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/liminalbeing
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannipetkovic/?originalSubdomain=au
Send us a text
SUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support.
SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show.
WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at [email protected].