Embracing Mortality: Hayley West on Art, Death, and Community

What happens when you mix art, death, and a whole lot of creativity? You get Hayley West – a multi-talented artist, librarian, death literacy advocate, and aspiring doom metal vocalist. In this episode, Hayley takes us on a journey through her fascinating life, where death isn’t just a topic—it’s a muse. From interactive art installations to hosting a radio show called Dead Air, Hayley’s work challenges us to think differently about mortality and how we engage with it. Whether you’re curious about natural burials, death cafes, or just want to hear a wild story about a stolen hearse, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.Hayley West is a true multi-potentialite. She’s an artist, a librarian, a death literacy advocate, a radio presenter, and even an aspiring doom metal vocalist. But what ties all these roles together is her deep connection to death—not as something morbid, but as a natural part of life that deserves attention, creativity, and conversation. In this episode, Hayley shares how her personal experiences with loss shaped her art practice, leading her to create thought-provoking installations like her cooling bed performances and her grotto made from artificial flowers collected from cemeteries.We also dive into her advocacy work, including her involvement with the Natural Death Advocacy Network (NDAN) and her role in promoting death literacy. Hayley’s passion for breaking down taboos around death is infectious, and her stories—like the time a hearse was stolen with a coffin inside—are as entertaining as they are enlightening. Plus, she gives us a peek into her radio show, Dead Air, where she explores all things death-related, from natural burials to necrophilia (yes, really!).Key points from our discussion:Art and Death: Hayley’s art practice is deeply intertwined with themes of death, grief, and memory. From creating interactive installations to performance pieces like lying on a cooling bed, her work invites people to confront their own mortality in unexpected ways.Death Cafes: Hayley shares how death cafes—a global movement where people gather to talk openly about death—changed her perspective and helped her feel less alone in her experiences with loss.Natural Death Advocacy: As a member of the Natural Death Advocacy Network, Hayley is passionate about environmentally friendly death practices, like natural burials and human composting.Dead Air Radio: Tune into Hayley’s radio show on Main FM, where she explores death-related topics, reads articles, and interviews experts in the field. It’s death education with a creative twist!The Stolen Hearse Story: One of the most unforgettable moments in Hayley’s life involved a hearse being stolen—with a coffin inside. Spoiler: it ends well, but it’s a wild ride!Mentioned Links and Resources:Natural Death Advocacy Network (NDAN): https://ndan.com.auDeath Cafes: https://deathcafe.com/Hayley’s Radio Show, Dead Air: Tune in live on Main FM or catch up via their website https://www.mainfm.net/shows/dead-air/Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared.Take care,CatherineWe'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)Death is hard, make death admin easy with the Critical Info Platform. It’s a simple, secure system that helps you prepare and share your legacy, wishes and personal paperwork.It’s packed with prompts, guides and even a To Do List to help you easily gather critical information for a complete end-of-life plan.Leave behind a legacy, not a mess.Sign up now to your free trial at critical info.com.auNo credit card needed. Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays — free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen.No pressure. No expectation.Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” — it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way.Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW?Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here.SUPPORT SERVICESIf you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here.Support the showSupport the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now.Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials:https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=c1879300-84db-4c70-9270-18d17d3ec22aMusic composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/