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The Last Breath — A Podcast About Death And Dying

Andrew Johnstone
Hospice Waikato
Palliative Care
Death and Dying
Assisted Dying
Rainbow Place
Death
Katherine O'regan
Pediatric Palliative Care
Aged Care
Cancer
Waipa
Funding (OARS and Related Provisions)
Prostate Cancer
Family
End Of Life Choice Act
Cameron Williams
Aging
Cambridge, New Zealand
Irish Wake
Maori Tang I

A Podcast About Death And Dying. Exploring the work of Hospice Waikato through the voices of volunteers, palliative care professionals, the bereaved and the dying.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes27Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Last Breath

Latest Episodes

Kevin Toolis - A Handshake for the Dead. For the last episode of the second series of Hospice Waikato’s Last Breath, we are finishing as we began, with a special international guest. In this interview, BAFTA-winning filmmaker and journalist Kevin Too... more

Linda Thompson found out she had stage 4 cancer in November 2025 and was given six to twelve months to live. Intelligent, vivacious, and filled with curiosity and wonder, Linda decided straight away that she was not going to be a cancer warrior, what... more

In this interview Aroha Croft talks about the experience of losing a parent to suicide. Hospice Waikato, in association with Free FM, presents The Last Breath – A Podcast About Death And Dying.

Gil is a Funeral Director and in this episode she takes us behind the scenes and explains what a Funeral Director does, everything from paperwork through to embalming. But as she explains, above all else, her vocation is about care. Hospice Waikato, ... more

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Recent Guests

Kevin Toolis
Bafta-winning filmmaker and journalist
Independent filmmaker and journalist
Episode: The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 17 – Kevin Toolis - A Handshake for the Dead
Linda Thompson
A former journalist diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2025
Independent guest / Cancer patient and storyteller
Episode: The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 16 – Linda Thompson - Bugger This, I'm Not Done Yet
Aroha Croft
Daughter of Ken Walters, interviewee
Family of Ken Walters
Episode: The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 15 – When a Parent Takes Their Own Life
Gary Verberne
Guitarist and IT specialist, musician
Independent musician
Episode: The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 13 – Perspectives with Gary Verberne, Matt Hicks and Dr Somas
Louise Williams
Caregiver for Cameron; mother of an 18-year-old with cerebral palsy and complex medical needs
Family of Cameron Williams
Episode: The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 12 – Louise Williams - Caring for a Child with Complex Medical Needs
Josh Bangs
Registered nurse in the community for Hospice Waikato
Hospice Waikato
Episode: The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 11 – Josh Bangs - A Sacred Calling
Sophie Leckey
Granddaughter of Verna, personal account of assisted dying
None specified
Episode: The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 10 – Sophie Leckey - A Personal Account of Assisted Dying
Mel Brooks
Prostate cancer patient sharing life story and reflections on death and dying
Individual guest
Episode: The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 9 - Mel Brooks - Everything Belongs Here
Paul Turney
Interview guest sharing personal experiences of grief and loss
Musician/Archivist (as discussed in episode)
Episode: The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 8 – Paul Turney - The Long Echo of Loss

Host

Andrew Johnstone
Host of The Last Breath

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 11 ratings
  • The Last Breath

    I learned so much. Thank you. Most definitely I see Hospice differently now. My sister and I cared for our Mother at home as she did not wish to die in a hospital. It was hard and beautiful too. I won’t ask that of my daughters when my time comes. I’ll be heading to Hospice ♥️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wish rubbish buyer no longer
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Beautiful and important

    This podcast beautifully captures the extraordinary service offered by NZ Hospice. Sam also shares moving and positive insights into life during and after losing a loved one to cancer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Boombizer
    New Zealand2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners note the mix of personal stories and professional expertise as a standout feature.
Guests consistently praise the compassionate, candid conversations that illuminate end-of-life care.
The show is described as a meaningful, respectful exploration of death, dying, and grief.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#170
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#45
Russia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#114
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#183
Belgium/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 3 – Lauren Fenn – Children’s Palliative Care
Q: What does respite care involve for families?
Respite includes in-hospital, overnight, day respite, and home-based options, offering one-on-one care so families can take breaks, run errands, or focus on other children.
The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 3 – Lauren Fenn – Children’s Palliative Care
Q: How did you fall into the sphere of children's palliative care?
Lauren describes a personal connection to disability and years of nursing in pediatrics, which led her to Rainbow Place where she could combine clinical care with ongoing family support.
The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 7 - Jeanette Macdonald - Rural Palliative Care
Q: Do you have anything you'd like to say as we finish?
Her reflection centers on being present with people, supporting them to be with themselves, recognizing that dying is a process with little deaths along the way, and the importance of cycles and staying connected to oneself to stay effective with patients.
The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 7 - Jeanette Macdonald - Rural Palliative Care
Q: The medicalization of palliative care. What does that mean?
She notes that while increased medical capabilities help support patients, there's a risk of over-medicalizing and losing sight of holistic care, including psychosocial support and meaningful death.
The Last Breath Series 2 Ep 7 - Jeanette Macdonald - Rural Palliative Care
Q: So what drew you to nursing?
She initially didn't plan to be a nurse, but became drawn to the field through a fascination with anatomy and the human body, eventually finding joy in hands-on, community-based care rather than hospital settings.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Last Breath

What is The Last Breath about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on end-of-life experiences, care, and culture, featuring conversations with hospice professionals, caregivers, and those touched by death. Across episodes, listeners hear practical insights into palliative care, rural and pediatric hospice, grief and bereavement, and the social and cultural rituals that surround dying. The discussions frequently address assisted dying, caregiving challenges, and the emotional realities of navigating illness, death, and memory with empathy, humor, and authenticity. A few episodes stand out for blending professional expertise with deeply personal storytelling, offering a grounded, human view of end-of-life care and community support.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Last Breath?

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1. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
2. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
3. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
4. The Bulwark Podcast

How many episodes of The Last Breath are there?

The Last Breath launched 2 years ago and published 27 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Last Breath?

Recent guests on The Last Breath include:

1. Kevin Toolis
2. Linda Thompson
3. Aroha Croft
4. Gary Verberne
5. Louise Williams
6. Josh Bangs
7. Sophie Leckey
8. Mel Brooks

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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