Ceara is a 37-year-old psychologist living with terminal illness. On this episode, Ceara speaks about facing her death, how she finds hope in uncertainty, and why she supports voluntary assisted dying. *Ceara is our first returning guest, and spoke to us back in July 2020 . Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos Twitter: @msoc_pod Contact Ceara: Twitter: @CearaRickard Instagram: @ceararickard https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-cearas-cancer-journey...
Sep 23, 2022•58 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Dr Lars Madsen is a forensic psychologist with 20+ years experience in the treatment of sexual and violent offending. On this episode, Lars shares anecdotes and insights from experiences across his career. He also discusses a case where he provided psychological assessment & treatment to a child sex murderer, using Forensic Schema Therapy. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos Twitter: msoc_pod TRIGGER WARNING: This episode describes heavy content. Supports: Lifeline - 13 11 14 1800 Respect - 1800 737 ...
May 23, 2022•1 hr
James Harding had his own experiences in the criminal justice system. Now he’s a counsellor, and uses his experience to help criminals change their story. [Episode hosted by Maddie]. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos Twitter: @msoc_pod SUPPORTS Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Mensline - 1300 78 99 78 _____ Hard Cuddles: An innovative mental health service that specialises in counselling, forensic counselling, mentoring and peer support facilitated in an outdoor environment....
Apr 19, 2022•53 min
In this episode we talk to Dr Ray Middleton on the consequences of medicalising psychological suffering into “mental disorders”. Ray is an independent trainer, speaker and writer, and a long-standing critic of the western diagnostic model of psychiatry. He is a lead trainer in the Power Threat Meaning Framework - a radically different approach to psychological suffering, which abandons diagnoses altogether, and offers an alternative to seeing oneself as "disordered" or "mentally ill". In this ep...
Mar 28, 2022•55 min
*Apologies for the audio quality in this episode - we appreciate your understanding as we work to improve for future episodes :) Jess has a background in psychology and criminology, and works in the reintegration space with long term & serious offenders. Jess chats with Jason about the different perspectives of grief, and why we are who we are. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos...
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr 7 min
8 years on from his footy career, Brock McLean opens up about his battles off the field - bulimia, depression, anxiety and attempts at ending his life. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode describes heavy content. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos SUPPORTS Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Griefline - 1300 845 745 Mensline - 1300 78 99 78...
Mar 06, 2022•51 min
Emmy van Deurzen is one of the world’s most respected existential psychologists. This is a raw and intimate episode, where Emmy talks about death, love and how she makes meaning of life. Also discussed is society’s obsession with ‘being happy’, the medicalisation of human misery and the need to get to know our darker sides. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos...
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 4 min
William Wainwright is a forensic psychologist with over 20 years experience in various settings, with a particular focus on sexual and violent offending. In this episode, we discuss the psychology behind sexually abusing a child, how offenders justify breaking moral standards, and the cycle of shame involved in repeat offending. We also discuss the trauma carried by emergency service workers, and how this is identified and treated within Vic Police. Jason shares some of his personal experiences ...
Feb 13, 2022•56 min
Part 2: We discuss with Noah Rasheta the notion of impermanence; that uncertainty is the only constant in life. We also discuss suicide, interdependence, doubt and the nature of introspection. Noah Rasheta is a Buddhist teacher, lay minister, and author, as well as the host of the podcast Secular Buddhism. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos TRIGGER WARNING: This episode describes heavy content. SUPPORTS Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Griefline - 1300 845 745...
Feb 01, 2022•23 min
Noah Rasheta is a Buddhist teacher, lay minister, and author, as well as the host of the Secular Buddhism podcast . In this episode, Noah talks about how Buddhism changed his relationship with suffering, including the way he processed his dad’s death. We also discussed the darker side of our need to be liked, to belong and to stay busy. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos...
Jan 31, 2022•37 min
Paros (29) shares his story of living through his dad's terminal illness, from ages 17-20. Paros is director of Lost Motos, a NFP and community that focuses on facilitating a safe forum for men needing honest dialogue around mental health. SUPPORTS Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Griefline - 1300 845 745 Mensline - 1300 78 99 78 Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos...
Oct 16, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Dylan (26) and Jordan (24) lost their dad, Bentley, to bowel cancer 6 months ago. They’re also the founders of a brilliantly named YouTube series, “ The C* Word ”, where they speak about the challenges of living with a family member with cancer. Dylan and Jordan are Maddie’s friends from high school, and in this episode, they sit down with her to talk about life since losing their dad. Donate to Bowel Cancer Support, Awareness & Research. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos...
Jun 28, 2021•42 min
Kate’s story is not grief due to a death, but due to the long-term incarceration of her brother overseas on a drug conviction. She describes the uncomfortable feelings of shame, guilt and compassion fatigue, and provides insight into the roles we undertake when others are suffering - including the complexities of holding anger, loss and hope simultaneously. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos *To protect privacy, we have used the pseudonyms of Kate and Matt....
Jun 19, 2021•45 min
Host Jason on how he is trying to accept that everything comes to an end… how this brings him an overwhelming sense of isolation, despair and loss of control, but also a deeper level of freedom; knowing that every moment is a unique, temporary moment in time that will never occur again. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos
Apr 03, 2021•6 min
Host Jason on his own feelings of purposelessness… Let us know your thoughts by inboxing us at @makingsenseofchaos or makingsenseofchaospod@gmail.com (we may share with your permission). Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos...
Mar 24, 2021•1 min
Ittay, a Jewish educator & journalist, speaks to Maddie about finding meaning and purpose, and why he doesn’t want his kids "to just be happy". He also speaks about his journey following his father’s death from cancer when he was 21, and how reading the book “ Thirty Days ” prompted a change in the way he related to death. Instagram @ittay78 A Reflection on "Thirty Days" by Mark Raphael Baker. Follow Ittay's journalism and peacework here & here Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos...
Mar 21, 2021•43 min
Michael, aged 23, is currently in palliative care for treatment of brain cancer. He is also training to become a nurse, and also volunteers as a first aider with Ambulance Victoria, St John Ambulance & State Emergency Service. In this episode, Michael tells us his story. Michael's TikTok: @michaelarkalis Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos
Feb 13, 2021•41 min
Chloe, a 23-year-old aspiring school counsellor, speaks about the sudden loss of her dad 3 years ago - and the flood of different emotions that have followed. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos
Dec 16, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Sandra Pankhurst is the woman behind the biography, ‘ The Trauma Cleaner ’. Sandra’s job as a trauma cleaner has led her into dark homes where death, sickness and madness have suddenly abbreviated the lives inside. She is called on to deal with diverse trauma clean-ups, from unattended deaths and suicides, to cases of long-term property neglect where homes have, in her words, “fallen into disrepute”. Most people are surprised to learn that the police, firefighters or ambulances do not do trauma ...
Dec 04, 2020•36 min
“I've worked in advertising for 35-years. All while suffering from Bipolar 1. So I know what it’s like to perform brilliantly in a boardroom one moment, only to find myself crying quietly in a toilet cubicle the next.” On this episode, we speak to David Westgate about living with Bipolar 1, as well as some small talk topics such as the ultimate meaning and purpose of life. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos SUPPORTS: Lifeline - 13 11 14 Mensline - 1300 78 99 78 DAVID’S WORK: David is a keynote speak...
Nov 26, 2020•45 min
Tarang lost his sister Nikita when she was murdered at the age of 23. Tarang Chawla unpacks how he goes about healing from this life-changing event and the way it’s changed who he is today and who he hopes to become. A respected voice in the campaign to end violence against women, Tarang tells stories from his childhood and shares the pain of loss that underpins his advocacy work, including what he’s learnt along the way. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos SUPPORTS: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men’s...
Nov 08, 2020•1 hr 6 min
At the age of 24, Natarsha suddenly lost her husband Steve to unknown circumstances. Natarsha is Jason’s friend from primary school, and in this very raw episode, she bravely shares her story from the 22nd March 2016. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos SUPPORTS: Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Griefline - 1300 845 745...
Nov 04, 2020•1 hr 6 min
After nearly losing his life to ice & cocaine addiction, Ben now supports others struggling with drug & alcohol dependency. In this very moving episode, Ben walks us through his 17 years of active addiction. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos Connect with Ben: Ben is the founder of Drug-Ed , an organisation which aims to empower, motivate and educate individuals, families and communities, to gain a stronger awareness of the effects of drug and alcohol use. Ben also produces the Road to Recovery , a ...
Oct 23, 2020•33 min
Dr Russ Pratt has over 25 years experience working with sexual offenders and murderers. One of Australia's most respected forensic psychologists, Russ talks to us about the psychology of sexual assault and murder, and the impact of pornography on sexually abusive youth. Website: https://www. primeforensicpsychology.com/ Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos...
Oct 12, 2020•52 min
After years of mental anguish and suicidal intent, Sam Fewings gradually came to realise he wanted to live. In this very moving episode, Sam tells us his story. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode describes heavy content. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos SUPPORTS Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Griefline - 1300 845 745 Mensline - 1300 78 99 78 SAM’S WORK: Sam is the NSW State Manager for Roses in the Ocean - Australia's leading lived experience of suicide organisation....
Aug 26, 2020•1 hr 5 min
As soon as she attempted to take her own life in 2005, Peta Dampney knew she wanted to live. In this very raw episode, Peta tells us her story. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode describes heavy content. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos Supports Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Connect with Peta: From Me To You Consulting Peta’s Instructor Profile - Mental First Aid Australia Gidget Foundation...
Aug 23, 2020•33 min
Jemma Katz, a 24-year-old uni student, received a shock cancer diagnosis in November last year. Jemma writes: “Before I could finish my psychology undergrad last year I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. Since then, my emotions and cognitive boundaries have been challenged, and being invited onto this podcast was such an incredible way to explore that.” Instagram: @jemmakatz @makingsenseofchaos Resources: Cancerchicks - @cancerchicksau A support group for yo...
Jul 30, 2020•1 hr 5 min
A more philosophical episode, as we sit down with writer and artist Ike Curtis, discussing topics such as what goes on in the mind of a serial killer, whether religion eases fear of death and what it means to look at death after a “fulfilling life”. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos
Jul 23, 2020•49 min
34-year-old psychologist Ceara Rickard on recently receiving a terminal diagnosis. Ceara is a psychologist with strong interests in adult and youth mental health, recovery and social justice. Her most recent role involved working with young people experiencing mental distress with high and complex needs. “I’ve decided that my approach to living with a terminal illness is going to be radical openness. We all die eventually, and I don't think I'm someone who wants to hide from that reality.” Insta...
Jul 05, 2020•37 min
Kim speaks about the day 18 years ago that changed her life forever, when she accidentally killed a teenage boy whilst driving. Kim is joined by hosts Maddie and Jason, as well as her daughter, Renee (Jason’s partner). Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos Supports: Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Griefline - 1300 845 745 Road Trauma Support Services Victoria - 1300 367 797 Personal Stories: Accidental Impacts Information and support for people trying to cope with causing a serious accid...
Jun 19, 2020•50 min
