Rediscover Joy

Living Fully, Dying Well, A Conversation with Emily Chadbourne

Cait Wotherspoon

In this episode, I sit down with Emily Chadbourne, a coach, speaker, author, and now, a death doula to explore what it really means to live a life that’s true, and to die with presence.

Emily (Em) brings a vibrant energy to a space that’s often muted and clinical. Her journey is anything but linear: from empowerment coaching and style storytelling to sobriety, burnout, and ultimately, soul-aligned death work.

We talk about:

  • Why she nearly shut down her business overnight, and what she found instead
  • Her raw experience losing her mum and the lessons it taught her about how (and when) to say what matters
  • The power of living funerals and celebrating life while it’s still being lived
  • The pink fluffy jumper moment that marked her entry into death doula work
  • Reframing the narrative: not normalising death, but socialising it
  • Why the next 10 years will bring a tipping point in how we care for our ageing population, and why we need more doulas, grief counsellors, estate planners and community support now

Em shares with candour, clarity and heart. She’s not afraid of the tough stuff and in doing so, she gives you permission to reflect, reframe, and reconnect.

This isn’t just a conversation about death.
 It’s about how we live  and how we make meaning all the way through.

🔗 Explore Em's work:
https://www.lifebeforedeath.com.au
Including Living Funerals, speaking, death doula services, and her story.

📱 Follow Em on Instagram:
@emchadbourne — raw, real, funny, and full of heart.

Let’s Stay Connected:

Check Out My Website: CaitWotherspoon.com.au