We sit down with Dr Sharonne Zaks AM, a Melbourne-based dentist internationally recognised for pioneering trauma-informed dental care.

Sharon explains how the dental chair—one of the most vulnerable places a person can be—can re-trigger memories for survivors of trauma. Her work has transformed how dentists think about trust, consent, and patient empowerment, leading to the Australian Dental Council adopting trauma-informed care into all dental training.

Want to learn more about Sharonne's work? Go to https://zaksdental.com.au

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Who are we now, five years after COVID first shut the world down?

From lockdown memories to hybrid work, empty campuses and vanishing “weak ties,” the conversation explores what we’ve gained, and what we’ve lost, since 2020.

Amanda recalls driving to work with a permission slip as an “essential” broadcaster, while Anita reflects on the chaos of moving her clinical teaching and therapy sessions online. They discuss:

• How lockdowns reshaped teaching, work, and home life

• Why we may never return to full campus or office culture

• The collapse in vaccination rates and rising distrust in science

• The new culture of “boundaries” and why saying yes still matters

• Whether convenience has replaced connection—and what that means for friendship and community

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We're welcoming back two very special guests, Melanie and her daughter Jess, who first joined the show earlier this year to share their story in the lead-up to Melanie donating a kidney to Jess.

Now, they’re back to tell us what happened next.

When we last heard from them, Jess had just been diagnosed with stage-five renal failure at age 27, with her kidneys functioning at only 4%. Since then, she’s undergone a successful transplant, with her mum’s kidney, and both women have come through the experience with new perspectives on life, health, and gratitude.

Want to donate to Jess's fundraiser? https://fundraise.kidney.org.au/fundraisers/JessKeepinitRenal

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The Double A Chattery podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed and this podcast is no substitute for professional psychological or other medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at the listener’s own risk. Listeners should seek the help of their health care professionals for any medical conditions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're celebrating100 episodes of Double A Chattery — a milestone that feels both like yesterday and a lifetime in the making. In this special “Ask Us Anything” edition, we answer your questions that range from the heartfelt to the hilarious: how our friendship began (hint: it involves a kilt and ballroom dancing), what we've learned about privacy and vulnerability, and why feedback hits us each very differently.

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The Double A Chattery podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed and this podcast is no substitute for professional psychological or other medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at the listener’s own risk. Listeners should seek the help of their health care professionals for any medical conditions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode asks the age-old question: do opposites attract? From clown dating sites to engineering students meeting nurses, we unpack why we’re drawn to difference, and why it doesn’t always last.

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The Double A Chattery podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed and this podcast is no substitute for professional psychological or other medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at the listener’s own risk. Listeners should seek the help of their health care professionals for any medical conditions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the fascinating and fraught world of “bad” words that have been reclaimed over time. Starting with audience feedback on our interview with former neo-Nazi Jeff Schoep, we move from a tale of a doomed cross-stitch kit into a discussion of words, and look at how insults can be re-owned with power while others still sting.

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The Double A Chattery podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed and this podcast is no substitute for professional psychological or other medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at the listener’s own risk. Listeners should seek the help of their health care professionals for any medical conditions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grudges can feel great to hold – they're juicy, self-righteous and satisfying, but are they bad for us? From petty annoyances (a lost car mat at the car wash) to family rifts that span decades, in this episode we consider forgiveness, radical acceptance, and whether every conflict can, or should, be resolved.

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The Double A Chattery podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed and this podcast is no substitute for professional psychological or other medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at the listener’s own risk. Listeners should seek the help of their health care professionals for any medical conditions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is more divided than ever, and to help us make sense of it all, we asked former neo-Nazi leader Jeff Schoep to join us on air this week.

Jeff explains the cult-like echo chambers, the pull of identity and belonging, and why “meeting in the middle” with patience and curiosity works better than shaming.

He now works through his nonprofit to help others exit, stressing the need to replace lost purpose and community with healthier pursuits.

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The Double A Chattery podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed and this podcast is no substitute for professional psychological or other medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at the listener’s own risk. Listeners should seek the help of their health care professionals for any medical conditions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.