For our final episode of 2024, we had envisioned something festive and cheerful to set the tone for a fun Christmas season. However, life had other plans. On November 18, 2024, our host, Rachel Chappell, was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer, and those plans have taken a backseat—for now. In this deeply personal episode, Rachel sits down with co-host Sarah to share her journey so far, the shock of her diagnosis, and what lies ahead. This conversation was recorded just one day before Rachel un...
Dec 04, 2024•36 min
This week, we’re diving into speech and language development with the incredible Jules Tushuizen, an experienced Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist. Jules shares her wealth of experience to help parents navigate their child's exciting and sometimes nerve-wracking journey through communication milestones. From first words to forming sentences, we cover it all—plus what to do if your little one seems a bit behind. In this episode, Jules shares: Key speech milestones to watch for at diff...
Nov 26, 2024•39 min
So many mums are stressed with juggling kids, work and the bulk of the domestic load. The creep can be gradual and suddenly it seems like we’re ‘doing everything’. This can lead to feelings of bitterness and resentment – and now we’re bickering or testing each other, to see if the other one notices or really cares. The resentment also impacts our desire to be intimate. So how can we negotiate the mental load and take shared responsibility for family jobs? What do realistic expectations look like...
Nov 12, 2024•50 min
In this powerful episode, we dive into one of the hardest challenges facing kids and parents today: bullying. Joined by leading parenting expert Justin Coulson, we uncover what’s really at the heart of bullying behaviours, how they impact young minds, and, most importantly, the steps we can take to create safer, kinder spaces for our children. What bullying actually is (and what it isn’t) How parent should support their child if they suspect or know they are being bullied. Steps that parents can...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 2 min
In today’s episode, we sit down with Gen Muir, a renowned parenting expert, to discuss one of the biggest milestones in a child’s life — the transition to 'big' school. If you're preparing to send your little one off to kindergarten, this episode is packed with insights, tips, and advice on making the process smoother for parents and children. We chat about... When to send? Gen provides her guidance on when to ‘send early’ and when to ‘hold back’ Understanding the Emotional Journey: We dive into...
Oct 15, 2024•44 min
If you could be a part-time foster carer and make a real difference in a young person’s life, would you do it? With flexible care options like fostering for just a week or the occasional weekend, and an urgent need for carers in Sydney, this episode busts all the common misconceptions that you might have about taking on this role. Tim and Kylie from Uniting’s Permanency Support Program join Rachel and Sarah to bust some of the most common myths. From who can foster, to the realities of what it t...
Oct 01, 2024•40 min
Welcome to today’s episode, where we’ll dive deep into the world of child mental health— a more pressing issue than ever. Did you know that 1 in 7 children aged 4 to 17 meet the clinical criteria for a mental illness over 12 months? Yet, despite these staggering numbers, only half of these children will see a clinician. Access to professional help is limited, and waiting lists can be painfully long. To help guide us through this complex and often overwhelming issue, we are joined by Dr Billy Gar...
Sep 17, 2024•43 min
Today, we’re tackling the tricky topic of returning to work after having kids. It’s one that most mums need to consider, and it’s never an easy decision. Whilst some mums are happy to return to work or have to return for financial reasons, others simply want to spend as much time as they can with their children while they’re little. There’s no right or wrong, and everyone makes the best decision for their family. But… what if there was another option? Today, we’re talking to Lauren Perrett… a Sy...
Sep 03, 2024•33 min
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Nick Fuller, a leading expert in the field of childhood nutrition and author of the new book "Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids". We dive deep into the essentials of creating a healthy, happy home environment, starting with meal planning and how to involve your kids in choosing what’s on the menu. Dr Fuller shares his insights on why eating together at the kitchen table can have a profound impact on family dynamics and why breakfast truly earns its title as the m...
Aug 20, 2024•38 min
In a world where screens are everywhere, it can be challenging to find the right balance for our children. In today’s episode of The Parenting Couch, we chat with Parenting Educator Gen Muir to help us navigate this digital landscape, offering strategies to create healthy habits and foster a positive relationship with technology. Whether you're struggling with screen time rules or looking for ways to enhance your child's digital well-being, this episode is packed with actionable advice to make s...
Aug 06, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 14
As parents, we all know the daily struggle of preparing a nutritious lunchbox... that our kids will actually eat. If you're in need of a little mid-year inspiration, we've called in the expert! In this episode, we dive into the art of crafting the perfect healthy lunchbox with renowned health and wellbeing specialist, Suzanne Burke. As a busy mum herself, Suzanne understands the challenges - and shares her wealth of knowledge, offering practical tips and creative ideas to make lunchtime enjoyabl...
Jul 23, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Are you running on empty? Juggling a hundred things at once? And it seems there is no end in sight? Parental Burnout is real! Psychologist Dr Carryn Masluk breaks down what is happening to women, and how you can get help. In this episode, we're diving into a topic that hits close to home for so many of us: parental burnout. Are you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you’re running on empty? You're not alone! Dr Carryn Masluk is a renowned psychologist and expert in parental well-being, who’...
Jul 09, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 12
In this episode of The Parenting Couch, we delve into the important topic of nutrition during perimenopause. We’re joined by Susie Burrell, one of Australia’s leading dietitians, with extensive experience in women's health and nutrition. Susie shares valuable insights into how dietary choices can profoundly impact the symptoms and overall experience of perimenopause. You’ll learn… What is perimenopause, and what are the common symptoms? How does it differ from menopause? Why you are putting on w...
Jun 25, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Does your child suffer from 'School Can't'? School Can’t… also known as school refusal, school phobia, school avoidance or school anxiety, is a condition where a child or teenager refuses to attend school or experiences extreme distress when faced with the prospect of going to school. It's more than just about not wanting to go to school. It involves significant emotional distress or anxiety that interferes with the child's ability to attend classes regularly. To unpack this issue, Rachel and Sa...
Jun 11, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Got a teenager at high school? Want to support them to reach their personal goals? Ki Yan Baldwin is an education strategist and Founder of Kalibrate Education. In this episode, we shares many practical tips about how to help your child achieve great results whilst nurturing their overall wellbeing, ensuring teenagers are poised for the best university and career prospects. Ki Yan addresses many common parental concerns, offering actionable advice on what to do if: Your child's marks don't match...
May 28, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Is it possible to ‘thrive’ in motherhood? Tara Darlington from Empowering Motherhood believes that it is… and shares her wisdom about how to make that a reality! In this episode, Tara shares: How to integrate self-care into your daily life as a busy mother so that it nourishes you and your family. The importance of creating a lifestyle and family rhythm that includes your own needs, dreams and desires. Steps to shifting your perspective and your life from survive to thrive! The importance of slo...
May 14, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 8
We all want to be the best parents we can for our kids... but nobody is perfect, and we can always learn new tips to help our kids thrive! From setting high expectations and comparing our kids to others, to being a little bit "too" gentle in our parenting, Dr Justin Coulson outlines the biggest mistakes parents make... and shares his expert guidance to help us get out of these traps. About Dr Justin Coulson Dr Justin Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel Nine’s “Parental Guidanc...
Apr 30, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Online predators hide in all corners of the internet… and it’s more important than ever to understand the risks, how to reduce harm and what to do if you suspect something isn’t right. We chat with Jen Hoey, Parent Cyber Safety Consultant who shares her important insights into the importance of digital protection for children. From social media platforms to online gaming, our children navigate a virtual landscape fraught with potential threats. As parents and carers, it falls upon us to equip ou...
Apr 16, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Victoria Vanstone is the creator and host of the hugely popular Sober Awkward podcast. Her new memoir A Thousand Wasted Sundays is an unashamedly warts and all look at modern day drinking culture, its impact on mental health and one mothers journey into freeing herself from the grip of socially normalised binge drinking. Victoria grew up in 1980s England in a happy home full of laughter, booze and a disturbing amount of fancy-dress parties. From her youthful days downing cheap wine at the local ...
Apr 02, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Vapes, e-cigarettes, stigs, pods… they go by many names and they pose a health risk to our young people. Would your Year 5 or 6 child know what to do if a vape was offered to them? Would they understand the dangers? Would they know how to say "no"? It's frighteningly easy for kids to come across vapes. They might find one on the side of the road (yuck!) or have one offered one to them by a friend with older siblings. Vaping is on the rise with younger kids. Healthy Harold has launched a brand ne...
Mar 19, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Want to create lasting positive habits so that you can live the lifestyle you've always wanted? We sit down with the inspiring Dr. Gina Cleo to understand the power of habits - and how we can use them to propel our lives forward. Dr. Gina Cleo is a trained dietician, author, speaker and habit researcher. Gina specialises in guiding people to transform their habits, whether it's for their health, technology usage, sleep routines, work and money-related behaviours, or relationship dynamics. She’s ...
Mar 05, 2024•33 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Are you struggling with getting your baby or toddler to sleep? Or simply want to learn some tips about how to make the process easier? We chat to Baby Sleep Consultant for her expert tips about how to get more sleep for baby... and for YOU! Plus: What age should a baby be able to ‘sleep through’ the night? Should you use an app to track baby sleep? What is a holistic approach to sleep for each individual child? At what point should you get professional support if your child isn’t sleeping? Impor...
Feb 20, 2024•29 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Want to learn how to raise your kids without bribes, threats and punishment? Emotional Intelligence Coach Stephanie Pinto, shares how you can replace this style of parenting with something much more respectful, productive and compassionate. In this episode of the Parenting Couch, you'll learn... What is emotional intelligence? How to get your kids to brush their teeth… share the ipad… or do their homework… without using bribes or threats. How to deal with tantrums in public (and at home!) Why ‘t...
Feb 06, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Are you feeling a little frazzled after a busy festive season? If 'self-care' has been at the bottom of your 'to do' list recently, it's time to change that. We chat with local spa owner, Jillian Coughlan, to find out some super simple ways that we can incorporate self-care into our daily lives, to improve our health, happiness and overall wellbeing. It's the busiest time of year for parents! With end-of-year concerts, presentation days, gift shopping, work deadlines, graduations (the list goes ...
Dec 19, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Is your child starting high school soon? Make the transition from primary to high school a smooth one. This podcast interview with Youth Mindset Coach, Claire Eaton, is packed with invaluable tips for both parents and students to help them get off to the best start! Starting high school is one of the biggest changes that your child will go through. But it is also a time of huge excitement, maturity, responsibility and an opportunity to make lots of new friends. In this interview on The Parenting...
Dec 05, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Do you know what to say when your child asks you how babies are made? From what age should you talk to kids about sex? How do you teach children about consent? These are just some of the many issues that are covered in this latest podcast episode with Vanessa Hamilton, Author of 'Talking Sex". Whether you're a parent, carer, health professional or a teacher, talking about sex doesn't have to be awkward. In this interview on The Parenting Couch podcast, Vanessa Hamilton shares many simple tips an...
Nov 21, 2023•48 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Are you in an unhappy or unhealthy marriage, and have been thinking about separation? If you're unsure of the first steps to take, or what might be ahead of you, be sure to listen to this enlightening interview with Family Lawyer, Anna Roberts from Delaney Roberts Specialist Family Lawyers. One of the 'most asked' Anonymous questions in the North Shore Mums Facebook group are around relationship and marriage issues. These can vary from women who want to leave a loveless marriage, right through t...
Nov 07, 2023•34 min•Season 2Ep. 22
A happy life starts with a happy home... and Feng Shui is a four-thousand-year-old practice that can be used to supercharge your home to create a balanced and harmonious space. Feng Shui Expert Patrica Lohan shared her top tips for updating your home to balance your house's energy, find greater flow and design a living space that can help you realise your dreams. Rachel and Sarah are joined by Patricia Lohan on The Parenting Couch, to learn how Feng Shui can enhance the harmony and well-being of...
Oct 24, 2023•42 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Is your child plagued by negative self-talk? Do they have low self-esteem? In this empowering episode of The Parenting Couch podcast, Rachel and Sarah talk to Lauren Thompson, Author of 'There's a Bully in my Brain' who shares her tips about how kids can develop a more positive self-talk and healthy self-esteem. One of the most significant mental well-being issues facing Australian children is declining self-esteem.With one in 5 students saying they already feel negative about their self-esteem ...
Oct 10, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Got a spring in your step? Keen to tackle the cutlery drawer, linen cupboard or wardrobe? The Decluttering Diva joins Rachel & Sarah on The Parenting Couch to share her top tips for Spring Cleaning. This interview will give you the motivation you need to get started... and once you've sorted one area of your life, you'll be keen to move onto the next! In the latest episode of The Parenting Couch podcast, Rachel and Sarah sit down with Kristina Duke, Decluttering Diva, to get her top tips for...
Sep 26, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 19
