Let’s Talk Health is Torrens University Australia's flagship podcast, shining a light on the health and wellbeing topics that matter most to Australians. Hosted by Natalie Cook, Director of Innovation, Industry and Employability in Health and Education, each episode brings engaging conversations with experts from our Health faculty and staff.
We’ll cover mental health, chronic pain, nutrition, naturopathy, ageing and more, delivering evidence-based insights, expert perspectives and practical advice to support informed health choices.
The intergenerational fix for the loneliness epidemic | with Assoc. Prof. Clare Littleton
Loneliness is increasingly described as a modern epidemic - one that affects people of all ages and impacts both physical and mental health. In this episode of Let’s Talk Health, host Natalie Cook speaks with Associate Professor Clare Littleton, a public health researcher and Director of the Centre for Healthy Sustainable Development, to explore how where and how we live shapes our wellbeing. In this episode, we cover: What loneliness really means and why it’s considered a modern epidemicHow ...
9 Dec 2025
How naturopathy helps when nothing else makes sense | with Jasmine King
Naturopathy is growing in popularity, but many still don't know what it's really all about. If you've heard the name but want to know more, this episode of Let’s Talk Health is the perfect introduction to the intriguing world of herbal medicine. Natalie is joined by Jasmine King, Clinic Lead and Learning Facilitator in Naturopathy and Western Herbal Medicine at Torrens University Australia, to explore the science, traditions and everyday applications of this holistic approach to wellbeing. In...
30 Nov 2025
Is sitting worse than smoking? The hidden health impacts of sedentary life explained | with Assoc. Prof. Fahad Hanna
In this episode of Let's Talk Health, host Natalie Cook speaks with Associate Professor Fahad Hanna, a public health expert from the Centre for Healthy Futures at Torrens University Australia, to explore the health risks associated with our increasingly sedentary lifestyles. From the convenience of remote work to hours spent in front of screens, the modern world encourages us to sit for prolonged periods, but at what cost? In this episode, we cover: The health risks of prolonged sitting and i...
27 Nov 2025
Why crowds feel harder to handle after COVID | with Jenny Day
In this bonus episode of Let’s Talk Health, host Natalie Cook speaks with psychology learning facilitator Jenny Day about how COVID-19 has reshaped our sense of personal space. While crowded trains and busy offices once felt normal, the pandemic triggered a global shift in how close we’re comfortable getting to others. Jenny explains why personal space boundaries expanded, how pathogen awareness influences our reactions, and why many people still instinctively step back in public settings. To...
24 Nov 2025
Your brain, personal space & the science of everyday boundaries | with Jenny Day
Personal space shapes our daily lives more than we realise - from crowded commutes to open-plan offices and the subtle ways we signal when things feel “too close.” In this episode of Let’s Talk Health, host Natalie Cook speaks with Psychological Science Learning Facilitator Jenny Day to explore the science behind personal space, stress and why our brains react so strongly to proximity. Jenny breaks down how the brain interprets closeness, why our ancient threat systems activate in moder...
19 Nov 2025
Why the cosmetics industry needs to rethink “anti-ageing” | with Assoc. Prof. Rachel Ambagtsheer
In this bonus episode of Let’s Talk Health, host Natalie Cook speaks with Associate Professor Rachel Ambagtsheer about how social media shapes the way we think about ageing. Together, they explore how beauty standards, image-based culture and “anti-ageing” messaging influence our expectations of what getting older should look like. Rachel explains why the cosmetics industry often reinforces ageist ideas, how constant exposure to curated images affects self-perception, and why younger generati...
16 Nov 2025
How to spot ageism in healthcare (and why it’s still so common) | with Assoc. Prof. Rachel Ambagtsheer
Ageing is something every one of us will experience, but ageism – the stereotypes, assumptions and biases tied to age – still shapes how people are treated in everyday life. In this episode of Let’s Talk Health, host Natalie Cook is joined by Senior Research Fellow and public health academic Associate Professor Rachel Ambagtsheer to explore why ageism often goes unnoticed, how it can show up in healthcare settings, and what we can all do to challenge it. To learn more about the Challenging Ag...
29 Oct 2025
Can you feel pain without being hurt? | with Tim Trevail
In this bonus episode of Let’s Talk Health, host Natalie Cook speaks with Tim Trevail to explore why pain is more about protection than damage. Together, they unpack how the brain interprets pain, why context matters, and what it really means when something hurts - from stubbing your toe to recovering from injury. Using relatable examples, Tim explains how factors like childhood learning, fear, and even social settings influence how we feel pain. He shares how athletes train their brains to t...
27 Oct 2025
Is pain all in your head? (& why movement helps) | with Tim Trevail
Pain is something everyone feels, but few truly understand. In this episode, physiotherapist and educator Tim Trevail helps us unpack why pain is such a complex experience. We’ll explore why two people with the same injury might feel pain differently, how the brain shapes what we sense, and why education can sometimes be the best medicine. Tim also discusses how elite athletes reframe pain, and the myths that keep patients - and practitioners - from fully understanding it. In this episode, we...
22 Oct 2025
The truth about organic farming | with Dr Liza Oates
In this bonus episode of Let’s Talk Health, host Natalie Cook speaks with Dr Liza Oates about the foundations of organic farming and what makes it different from conventional methods. Dr Oates shares her journey into researching organic food, explains why soil health is at the heart of organic farming, and explores how this impacts both the nutritional value of food and the environment. It’s a fascinating insight into the “why” behind organic practices and what consumers are really investing ...
20 Oct 2025
How to eat organic without breaking the bank | with Dr. Liza Oates
Organic food is often seen as healthier, more sustainable, and better for the planet - but it also has a reputation for being expensive and hard to access. In this episode of Let’s Talk Health, host Natalie Cook is joined by Dr Liza Oates, Clinical Supervisor and Learning Facilitator, to unpack what “organic” really means and share practical ways to make it work for your lifestyle and budget. From understanding certification labels to knowing which foods matter most to buy organic, Dr Oates o...
16 Oct 2025
How your brain makes up memories | with Prof. Matthew Mundy
In this episode of Let’s Talk Health, host Natalie Cook speaks to Prof. Matthew Mundy about the intriguing phenomenon of false memories. Can our brains make up memories? Are our recollections truly accurate? Matthew explains how our minds can trick us and why we sometimes remember things that didn’t happen. They discuss how false memories form, the role of source confusion, and the mechanisms that make memory both powerful and unreliable. This snackable episode offers a thought-provoking glim...
13 Oct 2025
How to improve your memory (and why you forget in the first place) | with Prof. Matthew Mundy
Tune in to our brand-new health podcast, where leading Health faculty members and researchers dive into the everyday factors that influence how we live, feel, and thrive. Kicking off the series is Professor Matthew Mundy: cognitive neuroscientist, memory specialist, and Executive Dean of Health and Education at Torrens University Australia. We’ll unravel the mysteries of memory, explore what happens in the brain when information slips away, and ask whether it’s possible to sharpen our abilit...
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