Zenith Virago

LISTEN NOW

Living and Dying Well: Lessons in Purpose and Freedom with Deathwalker Zenith Virago

🎙️ with Zenith Virago

This is one of the most powerful and heart-opening conversations we’ve had on Her Brave Story.

In this transformative episode, we sit down with Zenith Virago — a respected and internationally acclaimed Deathwalker, educator, author, TEDx speaker, and recipient of Byron Shire’s Citizen of the Year award. As the founder and executive officer of the Natural Death Care Centre Charity, Zenith has been at the forefront of reshaping how we relate to death, grief, and ceremony for over three decades.

She brings not only her own story, but also an abundance of hard-won wisdom and practical tools for how to live — and die — well.

Zenith has supported countless individuals and families (including those personally known to our host) through life’s most tender and transformational moments, particularly in times of sudden or traumatic loss. Always with compassion, clarity, and deep care.

A proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a lifelong advocate for inclusion, feminism, and social justice, Zenith is a maverick and truth-teller — a heart-led leader who reminds us that to live well is to die well.

This is a conversation that challenges how we think about love, loss, parenting, partnership, and the courage it takes to truly let go. It’s about finding freedom in our mortality, embracing the full arc of our human experience, and remembering that even the smallest acts of care — helping one person each day — can be sacred and life-changing.

We don’t often get to have conversations like this.
We’re so grateful you’re here for it.

If something in this conversation moves you, please share it — and help amplify the voices of women rising and Her Brave Story Podcast so more brave souls like you can find us.

🎥 Note for video watchers: There’s a brief moment when Zenith’s video drops out. She remains clearly audible, and a still image appears until she returns — so it won’t impact your experience.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why death is not the opposite of life — and how it can be our greatest teacher
What it truly means to die well — and how that shapes the way we live
How to hold space for grief and loss with love, presence, and honesty
Why conversations about death bring us closer to life, connection, and purpose
The power of ceremony and reclaiming body care in death
How to support someone facing death or navigating bereavement
What trauma, tragedy, and grief really teach us
Why living with uncertainty requires vulnerability and courage
How parenting, partnership, and love are shaped by the fear of loss
Why community-led dying can transform how we relate to each other and ourselves

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + introducing Zenith Virago, Deathwalker
05:19 – What a Deathwalker is — and how Zenith began her work
09:40 – Why reclaiming death and ceremony matters
13:02 – Facing the fear of losing your child
14:28 – Love transformed: grief, emotion, and parenting
18:17 – Understanding the difference between trauma and tragedy
21:45 – Supporting others through death and sudden loss
25:12 – Preparing for death as part of living well
30:33 – Letting go of control and embracing vulnerability
41:21 – The sacredness of death and the power of community