Two Doting Dads with Matty J & Ash - #EP191 A message from Bondi

Episode Date: December 16, 2025

Like so many others, we’re still trying to come to terms with the scale and impact of the recent attack in Bondi. As a result, we’ve made the decision to pause our usual episode schedule - it didn’t feel right to continue as normal, and we appreciate your understanding. We also want to acknowledge the civilians and first responders who stepped forward in moments of unthinkable danger. Your courage and compassion made a difference when it mattered most. Our thoughts are with the Jewish community and everyone directly affected. If this event has triggered past or present trauma or has left you feeling overwhelmed professional support is available at: Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 PANDA 1300 726 306 Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 Transcultural Mental Health Line 1800 648 911 How to talk to your kids about what happened - advice here If you would like to donate blood head to www.lifeblood.com.au If you would like to donate to the victim's families head to: Matilda's familyRabbi Eli Schlanger's family  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to two doting dads. A little bit of a change of gears in this episode due to the incident that happened over the weekend at Bondi Beach. We do record this podcast out of North Bondi, which happens to be Matt's house. Matt and I both agreed that it doesn't feel quite right to release a regular episode as we would on a Wednesday, but we will withhold that and release it next week. Yeah, we've been trying to make sense of what's on folded and it's just impossible to put into words how horrific it was. We do want to say to the Jewish community and to anyone who's been impacted by this our hearts are with you.

You know, on Sunday when it happened, I was in the backyard and started hearing like these popping noises like fireworks. And I thought to myself, well, that's really strange to have fireworks when it's not dark. And that's what you would think. I mean, it was sort of what, 630, closer to 7 o'clock in the evening. evening and maybe you would have thought that fireworks might have been an option i thought you know some of the high schools are off so i was like maybe kids have just let off fireworks or crackers

and then the longer i heard i grabbed laura and i was like that's that's gunshots and laura was like sure they not and then we kept hearing them and i was like that is absolutely gunshots and i was then messaging a few friends as well being like can you hear this can you know are you hearing what i'm hearing and then I was just like hoping that it was just it wasn't what the reality was and then messages started coming through that there was an active shooter and at the same time at the front there's a few people who would kind of come off the beach or you know there's this massive stampede of people who are escaping yeah because you're like 500 meters from the location which is wild and I did receive a message from you as it was happening and I was same as you

could not believe what you were witnessing and what you were hearing yeah and then even i looked out the front because the rumor was that the gunman was still in the loose and so we were like okay we'll just lock the doors at the same time when i locked the doors law and i saw a couple out the front and they looked completely shell-shocked and they were kind of just stood still but also looking around and we said you're okay and they're like we're trying to get out of here but our ubers cancelled four times and we were like just come into our house. So they came in and the kids were like, who are these people? You know, we said, oh, it's okay. Like they're just, they're just friends. They're going to pop in. And it was really obvious that they were in shock. They'd just come down

from the beach. They were just down there themselves. But they were in our house then for a couple of hours until we knew it was safe for them to leave. And then the stories started coming through of what just unfolded. And it was, yeah, it was. unlike anything I've experienced and never want to experience again. How long do you think that it went on for that you could hear? Well, we, it was at least 10 minutes

we could hear it. And then I drove them that couple home maybe like two hours afterwards when we knew it was safe. But yeah, since then, it's just like, it's hard because we've all got such an appetite to find out what has happened

and the details around it. But then at the same time, when you start looking at the news and you start looking at what's being put out there on social media very quickly becomes too much. So then it's just like you're fluctuating between you're at capacity and there's too much to handle and digest. And at the same time, you also want to know the stories and the severity of the situation. So those 15 innocent people who sadly passed away, I just, I can't imagine what you

and the family is going through. And, you know, we'll put details in the show notes of where you can support those. families there's a little girl called matilda who was 10 fuck you know she the photos of her enjoying that day and then to pass away in front of her sister and her family like it's just fucking horrific and it makes me so angry yeah sadly yeah people have lost their lives and you know the the biggest mass shooting we've had in since port arthur and you know you know it's amazing the community banding together and everyone getting around each other. And then also we've got parents that coming out that were protecting their children down there,

but then also trying to explain it to, you know, your young girls and then going on with normal life. I turned up today for the first time since it's happened and there's an eerie feeling in the air just days later. Yeah, it was Monday morning school is shut for Mali. So we had them at home. We kept Lola home from daycareers. as well and then you know I went for a walk down to a local cafe and it was busy and there's a lot of people everyone was supporting each other and I saw this Jewish man who we have a quick chat you know we're kind of on the same schedules in the morning where we get our coffees at the same

time after I got the girls off and I asked if he was okay and he just he just broke down and it's hard for families in Bondi and then you know knowing those especially the Jewish community, how much they're impacted right now and how they're feeling. And the fear that they have is so unfair, especially because that dad, who I spoke to, you know, he's grown up here in Bondi, that area is where he's had kids' birthdays. It's where he's taught his son to kick a football. And he's like, that space, which was so special, it was such a place of happy memories for him, is always now forever going to be tarnished.

And then even this morning, you know, That feeling is still around Bondi. There was another dad who I spoke to just briefly and asked him how he was going and we were having just a, you know, a quick chat and then just out of nowhere, he broke down and he started crying and just everyone is really struggling right now to try and comprehend what's just happened. Yeah, and I want to give a special mention to everyone that sort of jumped in to help out. There was so much footage from the paramedics to the police who,

act so swiftly to the public who were willing to jump in and help. I think when you have something as horrific as that, you're witnessing the worst of mankind and then at the same time you're witnessing some of the best. You know, those, the innocent bystanders who reached out to help, especially the man, the footage of the guy who was wrestling with the shooter. Ahmed El Ahmed. Yeah. I mean, what an absolute hero. That's the bravest thing. I've ever witnessed in my life. Yeah, like as dads, we often think about what if someone, you know, entered my space and I had to protect my family, how brave would I be?

And you always have it in that mind, in your mind that you're like, I would be that person. But to put your life on the line to save countless lives out in public with a guy wielding essentially a rifle is absolutely unbelievable. It was absolutely amazing to see everyone band together and continue to as well, along with, you know, donating blood. At the time of recording, they still need O-negative. So if you do want to donate blood, you can go to lifeblood.com.

com.com for details on that. We will put those details in the show notes as well. Also, just want to say a huge thank you to all the doders who reached out and checked in on me and the family. It's hugely appreciated. Yeah, it goes to show what sort of community that we are a part of.

And we appreciate every single one of you. And look after your friends. Look after those closest to you. And we'll leave some really important resources in the show notes that you can access. Now, this is our last record for the year, so we will be hanging up the headphones. After this, we have an episode coming out next week with April, which is a pre-recorded episode, and then we will have best ofs up until 26th of January.

That's correct. And we will have brand new episodes from that point onwards. From Matt and I, thank you so much for an amazing year and look after yourselves and enjoy the break and... Lots of love. Thanks very much. Thanks, guys. Goodbye.