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

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 737 732

Work by Lars: 

Article - Forensic Schema Therapy: The Joker 

Upcoming Talk: Therapy in Confined Spaces: Schema Therapy 

Lars’ Forensic Schema Therapy Course (6-week interactive self-paced online course that introduces therapists to Forensic Schema Therapy (ST-F))

Website

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

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

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.  

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

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

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

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

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

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 clean-up - that is why Sandra’s work is varied and so often includes crime scenes, floods and fires.

Sandra is also a transgender woman who was adopted into an abusive family and forced to live a malnourished life in a backyard shed.

On this episode, Sandra gives us a glimpse of her story.

Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

“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 speaker for the Black Dog Institute. He’s also served on their Lived Experience Advisory Panel and on a mental health advisory board for Australia's biggest insurer, TAL, and as a qualified Mental Health First Aid facilitator.

Additionally, David has worked with groups as diverse as the Sudanese community, the Friends and Families of Missing People Unit, Department of Communications and Culture, Metlife, the Treasury, and even a club who had lost a member to suicide.

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.

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 Referral Service: 1300 766 491

Lifeline: 13 11 14

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

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 radio show on J-AIR 87.8FM every Tuesday night at six, where he speaks about his incredible journey of hope, inspiration and self-discovery, from drug addiction to saving lives to helping families reconnect. 

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

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.

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

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 young women aged 20-30 with cancer. (Of which our previous guest, Rikki, is the founder!)

Lymphoma Australia 

Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

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

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.”

Instagram: @ceararickard

Support Ceara's Cancer Journey

Instagram:@makingsenseofchaos

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 accident. Maryan (website founder) is a social psychologist who accidentally killed a young boy whilst driving. 

Insight - Accidental Killers

An episode with guests who have unintentionally ended someone’s life. 

The Georgina Josephine Foundation 

A charity which provides a support network for families affected by low-speed vehicle runover accidents. The charity was started by the parents of the late Georgina Cockburn, who was accidentally run over and killed as a result of the injuries she sustained in her own garage. 

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 episode, Ray shares how his own experiences as a psychiatric patient in the 1990s led to his current work. 

Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

Twitter: @msoc_pod

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode describes heavy content. 

SUPPORTS

Lifeline - 13 11 14

Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636

_____________________________

About Dr Ray Middleton: 

Dr Ray Middleton is an independent trainer in strengths based non-diagnostic approaches to distress, including Trauma Informed Practice and the Power Threat Meaning Framework approach. Ray has a PhD on dialogical/narrative approaches to complex trauma and recently authored a book chapter on innovative trauma informed approaches to people who are homeless. 

Previously, Ray has set up and managed personality disorder services, been a senior care co-coordinator in an early intervention in psychosis service and systemic practitioner within systemic family therapy. 

For training enquiries: 

- Contact Ray at Ray.middleton@ladder4life.com or via his website; www.ladder4life.com

Rikki Stern is founder of Cancer Chicks Australia, a support group for young women aged 20-30 with cancer.

With rawness, honesty and humour, 22-year-old Rikki shares her story living with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  

Instagram: @cancerchicksau

Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

Stephy, a currently serving Australian police officer, goes into depth about her experiences on the job, and her perceptions around death, life and suffering. 

Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

Gideon Cohen (25) shares his views on life and suffering after the loss of his dad at age 18. 

Gideon is Maddie's childhood friend and currently works as a screenwriter and actor. 

Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

*apologies for audio quality on this ep!*

Join Jason Weel and Maddie Brygel as they discuss death and dying, and the underlying motives for starting this podcast. 

Jason and Maddie met whilst studying psychology, and currently work as counsellors in the mental health, addiction and family violence sectors.  

Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

"Making Sense of Chaos" is a podcast about anything and everything but 'dinner table talk'. It's a conversation about death and dying, love, grief and hope, and the beauty and terror of realising that everyone you know will die. 

Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

*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

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

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

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 of trauma working as a police officer, and later as a correctional officer in Parkville Youth Justice Centre. 

Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos 

_____________

About William: 

William has acted as a court expert on numerous occasions and consulted and trained many audiences, including the police, judges, lawyers, DHHS workers, child protection workers, correction officers and prison officers. 

In recent years, William has worked as the Senior Psychologist for the Police Psychology Unit and Family Violence Command, and was the key investigator of the 2016 Mental Health Reviews for the wellbeing of Victoria Police officers. William also trained officers in investigating and interviewing people accused of sexual offences. 

William was also the president of ANZATSA, a not-for-profit organization designed to support practitioners working with sexually harmful behaviours both in the mainstream populations and disability. He has organized multiple local and international conferences as well as presenting regularly.

Currently, William is the Manager of Evidence Based Programs for OzChild, a not for profit organisation that works with best practice programs to strengthen and reunify families. These programs are designed to maintain family networks to offer children safety and
security.

William is a registered supervisor and has supervised forensic and non-forensic psychologists. He currently runs a peer supervision program for provisional and registered psychologist to
develop their practices and skills.

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

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