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.

Together, they explore the psychological impact of lockdowns, the role of threat perception, and how factors like climate, culture and disease history shape comfort zones around the world. It’s a fascinating look at how our ancient survival instincts collided with a modern pandemic - and why closeness still feels different today.

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