Our Village Needs

This week we are welcoming Emma back to the podcast! You will remember Emma from our Nurture Homeschool Community. This time, Emma shares her journey to welcoming her son into the world. Emma also talks about her passion for women feeling empowered to give birth, and how she first became curious as to why women have such a hard and traumatic time birthing their children.

This week is part 2 of our chat with Sarah! This time, we focus on Sarah’s journey going back to work- the emotional struggle and learning how to juggle work and motherhood. Sarah also takes us through all the work she did to find the best childcare centre for her daughter, an experience that Sarah found a bit trickier because of her anxieties. Sarah also describes the first day of her daughter’s day care journey- and Sarah’s first time leaving her daughter in the care of someone else. We also touch on the dreaded daycare illnesses- are they really as bad as everyone says?

From her career as a Speechie to her experience with postnatal anxiety - This week we sit down with Sarah! Sarah takes us into her work and what made her choose this career (spoiler, it's a beautiful story!). We also touch on what to look out for if you suspect there may be a language delay with your child, and what goes into Sarah's work as a paediatric speechie. Sarah also shares her experience with postnatal anxiety after the birth of her first child, including when she first started to think something was going on, as well as overthinking, self-doubt and outside opinions. I also asked Sarah a couple of tougher questions; to describe what a typical day looked like at the height of her postnatal anxiety experience and could she pinpoint a time/moment when the anxiety was at its worst.

*trigger warning- in this episode there are mentions and discussions around suicidal ideation and mental health struggles. * *this episode contains some colourful language* This week we are welcoming Sarah-Beth back to the podcast! We keep it real and honest in this episode! This time around, Sarah-Beth details how her mental health took a nose dive after the birth of her daughter, the intrusive thoughts she battled with, her difficult breastfeeding journey, and her experience reaching out for help. We also bonded over our dry sense of humour when it comes to motherhood- saying the things we are all thinking! This is such a real and raw episode- every Mother needs to hear this!

This week we are sitting down with Sarah-Beth, a mental health Occupational Therapist (OT)! Before meeting Sarah-Beth, I had only heard of an OT in relation to paediatrics- I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a mental health OT! Sarah-Beth talks to us about what a mental health OT does and how she supports clients and caters to their individual needs. She also touches on sensory modulation, sensory profiles and their 4 quadrants, neurological thresholds, and how she can support clients through times where our sensory buckets have overflowed. This was such an interesting episode, and how great to have discovered a new avenue of support for Mum’s mental health!

This week we are speaking to Kaley- the creator of The Wild Feminine. Kaley shares what The Wild Feminine is all about, where her passion comes from, and the different ways she holds space for women. We also dive into the Doula work Kaley does- from postpartum doula to end-of-life doula. Kaley also tells us about the most common thing women come to her for and how she helps them break down these dilemmas and heal themselves. We also touch on the importance of somatic exercises for healing and the important role our fascia plays. This is a really empowering episode, and will leave you feeling seen, heard and acknowledged.

This week we are welcoming Caylen back to the podcast (you will remember Caylen from The HerKind Project and Her Escape). This time, Caylen takes us through her experience trying to conceive her first daughter- which was a completely different journey to what she thought it would be (based on what she had learnt in sex ed during school!). Caylen also touches on the miscarriage that her and her husband went through, and how people around her reacted to this news. Caylen talks about her experience going into labour for the first time, from choosing not to make a birth plan, to advice she received about epidurals, but also having the desire for a water birth if she was able (plus so much more!) Caylen is a great storyteller, and this was such a great episode to record!

This week we are talking to Emma, the founder of Nurture Homeschool Community. Nurture is a beautiful place right here in our local area. Emma takes us through where the idea originally came from, and how she built this community, as well as what she loves the most about what she’s created, and her approach to education and learning. We talk about how the children benefit from having this additional safe space to come together each week, and how some children are thriving now that they aren’t attending a mainstream school.

This week we are welcoming Martha back to the podcast! You will remember Martha from our “Martha Grace Birth Photography” episode. This time, Martha is taking us through her experience home birthing her children- what it was really like, how she prepared (including a last minute midwife scramble) and how she prepared her other children for the experience. We also talk about the golden hour at home- what it feels like, what the immediate aftermath at home was like, and I’ve gotta say- Martha describes her experience so beautifully!

Trigger warning - this week we briefly discuss babies and young children in a life threatening circumstance. This week we are continuing on with our chat with Geoff- the director of Southern Cross First Response. In part 2, we are discussing first aid for choking babies and children- including some important tips to remember. We also touch on falls and head knocks - and when to take them to the hospital (because kids fall over all the time and we can’t be running to the hospital every time it happens) Geoff also details his experience having to give CPR to babies and children (this is where our trigger warning applies). We talk about what drowning ACTUALLY looks like, particularly in young children. Geoff gives his professional opinion on non-negotiable first aid items that EVERY household needs. Geoff also gave us an amazing tip for treating burns when living in a rural area- especially if you use tank water! A really important episode this week, with some life saving information!

This week we are sitting down with the founder of Southern Cross First Response, Geoff. Geoff facilitates first aid courses in our local area, including mental health first aid! In Part 1, Geoff shares with us his previous career, and why he decided to walk away from that and move into first aid work. Geoff is a treasure trove of knowledge, and he gives us some absolutely wonderful tips to help us remember some of the most important parts of first aid- particularly for babies, toddlers and young children. As a Mum, I really appreciated Geoff passing on these tips and his knowledge, because as we all know, it’s lifesaving!

This week, it’s part two of our chat with Kaley. Kaley continues her story, from behaviours she once tolerated but never would now, pressures to perform a certain way, and the backlash that comes with not “playing the part”. She also touches on a significant thing that happened the night of her 31st birthday (which was absolutely unreal!), coming to grips with an emergency C-section, living with PTSD from her husband’s horrific injuries, and the heartbreak of not having any photo of her baby’s birth- even though photos WERE taken at the time - and this is only the start of it all! By the end of our sit down I could see very clearly why Kaley does the work that she does now!

This week we have Kaley joining us on the podcast. Kaley shares her experience of motherhood with us- the trials, tribulations, traumas and the lessons she had to learn to help her be the mother that she is today. Kaley takes us through what led up to her divorce and the start of her journey as a single Mum- something she never in her wildest dreams thought she would be doing. Honestly, I couldn’t believe some of the things Kaley has been through, and I can now see exactly why she does the fantastic work she does with other women and Mothers. Kaley is such a strong and inspiring woman, and her story is amazing! I’m so grateful she shared it with us.

It’s part 2 of our chat with Holistic Nutritionist Kelly! This week we are focusing on children’s nutrition! Kelly talks vitamin supplements for children (are they necessary?), as well as giving us some tips on how to cope with fussy eaters! Kelly also takes us through why language is important when it comes to meal times, her professional opinion on separate meals for kids and adults, the topic of hiding vegetables in our little one’s meals and so much more!!

Foundations for Health with Kelly Robinson synopsis This week is part 1 of our interview with Kelly. Kelly is a Nutritionist, and the owner of Foundations for Health with Kelly Robinson. In this episode, Kelly takes us through what happened in her life that made her walk away from her previous career and become a Nutritionist. We talk through Kelly’s professional approach, how she supports her clients to better their health, and why she wants to help her clients get to a place where they don’t need to visit her every month. Kelly also helps us with some ideas for small subtle changes anyone can make without feeling overwhelmed. We also touch on an issue most women (if not everyone!) can relate to- why, why, WHY do we get sugar cravings and what do they ACTUALLY mean?

This week we are sitting down with local Mum Mandy. Mandy tells us her journey to Motherhood, her VERY quick births, and the lesson her miracle baby taught her. We also get into homeschooling- why Mandy and her husband decided to homeschool their 3 daughters, her approach to education and screen time, and the way homeschooling has benefitted her daughters. And of course I had to ask if she ever gets sick of having her kids around all the time ( I couldn’t help myself!) We also touch on how Mandy makes time for self care- when she rarely gets alone time- and how she sets those boundaries for herself. Mandy also shares with us how fluffy little chicken butts are one of her daily glimmers! (Towards the end of this episode, you’ll hear our family pet, Sadie, giving her input haha)

This week we are sitting down with Jackie - a solicitor and the owner of Cullen Legal. Jackie specialises in Family Law, and she shared some general information around family law, the court system and why it’s important to have a Will done. Jackie also took us through why she does this kind of work, and the different options that are available if someone finds themselves in a domestic situation they need to leave or are thinking about leaving. This was a really interesting episode to record, and it’s got really important information in it that every woman should know, regardless of her situation. If you need to get in touch with Jackie, you can call her on 0438 840 233 or email her at [email protected]

** TRIGGER WARNING ** This week’s episode features discussions around birth trauma, life threatening illnesses and pregnancy loss. This week we are welcoming Steph back to the podcast. We dive into her experiences being pregnant with and birthing her 3 children- the good, the bad and the downright traumatic. Steph has said herself that she really believes she was meant to have these experiences. She’s accepted them as part of her journey, and in a way she’s glad they happened to her because she wouldn’t be the person she is today without these things happening to her, nor would be she able to help other women who have experienced womb trauma in some way. From being bedridden due to severe illness during her pregnancy, to a life threatening condition, to how different midwives have made and broken her experiences, Steph shares it all with us!

I think a really common dream of mothers everywhere is to have some kid free time, a sleep in, and the ability to go out and do literally any activity without wrangling kids, cleaning up various messes and working through tantrums. Well, today’s episode is going to help you achieve that dream!! This is part 2 of our chat with Caylen, and this time she introduces us to her own passion project- HerEscape! HerEscape organises countryside getaways for women in some stunning and relaxing locations. And because Caylen really wants to look after Mothers everywhere, she goes the extra mile and organises some beautiful experiences for the ladies to do while they’re away. Caylen has you covered, all you need to do is show up and indulge in some well deserved self care.

This week we are sitting down with The HerKind Project founder, Caylen! The HerKind Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women's wellness and empowerment in rural and regional areas, particularly focusing on the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. Through advocacy, education and community engagement, the project aims to address the unique challenges faced by women in these areas and promote inclusivity, health and resilience. The organise events, provide resources and foster connections. The HerKind Project strives to create a supportive and empowering environment where women can thrive and achieve their full potential. Caylen shares with us the conception of the HerKind Project and the experience she had that started all this, as well as the past and upcoming events they are hosting. We also talk about what The HerKind Project is working on bringing to the community.

This week we are welcoming Kerri back to the podcast! You may remember Kerri as the woman behind the local business, Buddy Bags. This time, we are switching gears and talking about Kerri's experience of being a Mum to identical twin boys- do Kerri and her husband Adrian ever get the boys mixed up? Do the boys have similar personalities or are they complete opposites? Kerri takes us through her pregnancy, giving birth to premature twins and recovering, and having to leave hospital without her babies on her first Mother's Day. We also talked about the dreaded Mum guilt, mental health after babies, and swapped stories of how we each coped with the huge changes that take place with having a baby.

On this week’s episode we are talking to Martha from Martha Grace Birth Photography. Martha is so passionate and absolutely loves what she does, and her birth photography work is just breathtaking! We talk about how she got started in the business, why she chose birth photography as her primary focus, why she’s never photographed a C-section birth, as well as another one of her passions she’s re-visiting now that her own children are in school (and it’s such a good one!). We also answered a few questions that were sent in for Martha on social media- including one regarding medical coercion.

“Only bad mothers get postnatal depression, if you were a good mum why would you be sad?” Yep, this. This was my mindset before I had any kids. How naive was I?! This week is part 2 of our honest discussion around mental health after having a baby. It’s no secret that I’ve struggled with my mental health after having children. A number of things play a part in it- hormone imbalances, circumstances around pregnancy and birth, sleep deprivation, childhood trauma, genetics. It’s so bloody common and there’s still so many of us that suffer in silence because we don’t feel safe enough to say “hey, this fucking sucks right now” or “yea, I screamed at my baby today” But- there is light at the end of the tunnel. I promise. You are not broken. You are not your illness. Things will get better. Things will feel a bit easier. You will sleep again. The babies will sleep again. You will find joy in the small moments. Yes, there will still be plenty of days where it’s unbearable. But remember, you’ve made it through 100% of your worst days so far. Please just hold on.

On this week’s episode, myself and Simone, one of our local Mums will share our separate experiences with postnatal depression. This episode may be difficult to listen to, for some. It’s very raw and honest, not the polished or airbrushed version we see on social media so often these days. We discuss and make admissions about things that we know every mother has experienced, but so many of us hesitate to share. If you are triggered by discussion around topics such as severe postnatal depression, suicide ideation and mum rage it might be better to sit these episodes out. But, if you are able to, I really recommend listening to both episodes around this topic because they are so bloody important. It is a huge deal to share our stories- especially these ones...

We are starting off the year with a very motivating episode with the lovely Kirra! Fitness With Kirra is a local business providing group fitness classes, and today Kirra takes us through what a typical class looks like, why she encourages Mums to bring their babies & children along, how she caters to the different abilities of her clients, and her approach to exercise and fitness. We go a bit deep on this episode too, with Kirra touching on her own experiences postpartum and the very important lessons those experiences have taught her.

This week we are welcoming Dani back to the podcast. You’ll remember Dani as the Wonder Woman from our Quad Care episode. This time, Dani shares her experience of giving birth to her youngest child, Milo. Dani takes us through her very quick birth, advocating for herself and her husband Zac in hospital (right smack in the middle of all those Covid restrictions!), those early days in the newborn fog, the beautiful relationship her sons have with each other, how cheeky Milo is and some of his hilarious shenanigans!

This week's holiday revisit is one of our most popular episodes where we sat down with Harriet to chat about her experience as a first time Mum to Billy! Harriet takes us through what she thought motherhood would be like vs what it’s actually like and the unexpected turn her birth took, among other things! Harriet has this contagious positivity and is a ripper of a storyteller. There’s some parts of this episode that will have you cracking up just like I was!

This week's holiday revisit is one of our most popular episodes - Buddy Bags! Kerri does such important work in our community, and it wouldn’t be possible for the team at Buddy Bags to do what they do without the generous support they get from our local community. In this episode, Kerri takes us through how Buddy Bags came to be, why she finds this kind of work so fulfilling, and how our wonderful community supports Buddy Bags. We also talk about the massive goal Buddy Bags has recently achieved!

Ok, I know I said last week was our last episode but SURPRISE! These bonus episodes come out monthly and they are a 10 minute dose of lighthearted musings fresh from the brain of my 4 year old 😍 It’s our last bonus episode for the year, and this time we cover sea creatures, mermaids, what the cheeky elves have been up to in our house, the sadness of finishing kindy forever (including her compliments for her teachers 😂), how she’s feeling about starting big school and more! She also had some great advice for me about her brother!

Over the Christmas break we are going to revisit some of our most popular episodes. Today's revisit is Jessie's experience finding out during pregnancy that her baby had a large hole in her heart.

It’s our last episode of the year! We are taking a few weeks off over Christmas, and then we will be back and ready for a whole heap of new and amazing interviews! For our last episode of the year, we sit down with Steph from Witching Hour Activation. This was one of those interviews where I had my mind blown over and over, and I found Steph and the work she does absolutely fascinating. Steph takes us through the work she does with her clients, how it all started as well as her personal experiences.

Part 2 of our chat with Alyssa about her 4 year old daughter Miley.

This week we talk to Alyssa. Alyssa tells us about an absolute WARRIOR named Miley. 4 brain surgeries, a stroke, VP shunt, NG feeding tube, a medical team of 15 dedicated to her care, long stays in multiple hospitals, long wait lists for specialists, talks of amputation, an unexpected surgery to save her life, being told she had only 2 weeks left to live, 7 cysts on her spine, among other things. Oh, and did we mention? She’s only 4 years old.

This week we are sitting down with Charlotte, the owner of Pocket Pals! Charlotte is one of our local business women, and probably our youngest! Pocket Pals is a business that makes perfumes and beautiful polymer clay earrings. In this episode, Charlotte takes us through where her inspiration comes from, what her business goals are, who she looks up to in business, and plenty more!

This week we are sitting down with Harriet to chat about her experience as a first time Mum to Billy! Harriet takes us through what she thought motherhood would be like vs what it’s actually like and the unexpected turn her birth took, among other things! Harriet has this contagious positivity and is a ripper of a storyteller. There’s some parts of this episode that will have you cracking up just like I was!

This week we are sitting down with Buddy Bags founder, Kerri! Kerri does such important work in our community, and it wouldn’t be possible for the team at Buddy Bags to do what they do without the generous support they get from our local community. In this episode, Kerri takes us through how Buddy Bags came to be, why she finds this kind of work so fulfilling, and how our wonderful community supports Buddy Bags. We also talk about the massive goal Buddy Bags has recently achieved!

Welcome to Conversations with my 4 year old! These monthly bonus episodes will be 5-10 minutes each, and they are intended to be a small dose of feel-good positivity and laughter- a brief escape from the day-to-day grind! In each monthly episode my 4 year old and I will have a short chat about various topics- this week it’s birth & babies! Where they come from, what happens after, and she even has a great tip for getting babies to stop crying!

Imagine being told your 6 week old baby is in controlled heart failure… That was the reality for our guest this week. Jessie is a mum of 2 (almost 3!) and she takes us through what it was like finding out her unborn baby had a hole in her heart- a bloody big one. Jessie and her husband were initially told not to worry, however this quickly changed and Jessie found herself navigating the rest of her pregnancy knowing her baby was going to be so unwell. Jessie shows incredible strength, and it was admirable to hear how she coped with everything that got thrown at her during this time.

This week we are welcoming local Mum Taylor back to the podcast to talk about her passion project- Love Yourself with Taylor. The love Taylor has for her clients and the work she does with them just oozes out of her pores in this episode! Taylor also talks us through one very specific part of her business- birth work. Taylor works with soon -to-be Mummas to build a strong foundation that allows them to confidently birth their babies, as well as cope with whatever changes may arise during labour.

As October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, this week’s episode will be a heavier one. We are welcoming one of our local mums back and together Simone and I will share our experiences with pregnancy loss. Because this episode contains some graphic descriptions, Our Village Needs asks that if you are triggered by discussions around miscarriage, you give this week’s episode a miss and rejoin us next week 💜

This week we are sitting down with Dani- an absolute Wonder Woman! Dani is the founder of Quad Care, and she talked us through all of the wonderful, in-depth services she and the incredible team of professionals at Quad Care bring to our community. We discussed how Quad Care came to be, and Dani openly talked about how her own personal, lived experience played a part in her decision to to start this business.

This week local Mumma Taylor is sharing her story of her birth with her beautiful daughter Dixie. I was blown away by the research Taylor put into her birth prep- especially for a first time Mum! Taylor and her husband Brandon were really able to advocate for Taylor during her labour and birth, and the end result was a wonderful birthing experience.

Surprise- it’s a bonus episode! I have a very special co-host for this (short) episode! We talk about something that has become an important part of my toolkit and get some interesting insights ;)

This week we sat down with Simone and beautiful baby Brontë (my co-host for the day!) . Simone has 3 young children and runs a personalised gift business called Simone’s Creative Co. We talk about running your own small business while juggling children, mental health after having babies, squeezing self care in, the important role the village plays in helping to keep things afloat and surprisingly…vasectomies!

This week on Our Village Needs I am sharing a birth story - my own birth story. The birth of my daughter can be summed up in one word - traumatic. Join me as I take you through my first labour & birthing experience, reflecting on what happened, the effect it had on me and how it contributed to the rough start to my motherhood journey.

In our first episode we speak to local Mum Taylor, the owner of Sunnydaze Wellness in Woodford! Taylor takes us through what Sunnydaze has to offer our community, including all the amazing therapists that work out of the Sunnydaze Hub! Taylor radiates a warm and welcoming vibe and the passion she has for Sunnydaze and people really shines through in our chat.

Our Village Needs... is a podcast dedicated to helping mothers build their village! Join us as we explore our local and surrounding area to find what every woman needs for her village, no matter where she is in her motherhood journey. From women's health & wellness, to self-care, birth stories & so much more! Let's dive in and discover what Our Village Needs...! x