Conversations with Kristi

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi sits down with Dr.  Jenny Brown, a family therapist and researcher with over 35 years of experience in children’s mental health .  Dr. Jenny is the founder of the Parent HOPE Project and the author of the upcoming book,  The Parenting Paradox. Together, they explore the "worry cycle" that many modern parents find themselves trappe...

In this powerful return to Conversations with Kristi , Kristi sits down with parenting author and speaker Michelle Mitchell to explore one of the most important parts of growing up: friendship. Together, Kristi and Michelle unpack the questions parents often find themselves asking when their children begin navigating sleepovers, friendships, different family rules, technology, boundaries and socia...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi sits down with psychotherapist and family constellations facilitator Melanie Enders to tackle one of the most common yet undersupported family structures: the blended family.   Drawing from both her professional expertise and her own lived experience navigating a large, complex blended system, Mel sheds light on the emotional weight childr...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi sits down with Deb McPhedran , a mother, grandmother, and survivor turned advocate . Deb shares the deeply personal and moving story of how her family’s life was upended five years ago when her adult children disclosed that they had been sexually abused throughout their childhoods. Deb also reveals her own realization that she was groomed and a...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi sits down with Andrew Carpenter , a South Australian solicitor who has spent over a decade fighting for victim-survivors of child sexual abuse . Andrew didn’t enter this field through personal experience, but rather by picking up the files at his law firm that no one else wanted to touch. Together, they explore the staggering legal loopholes th...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi sits down with author, educator, and speaker Lael Stone to explore a powerful and often overlooked truth: the way we parent our children has everything to do with how we were parented ourselves .   Lael shares her incredible journey-from starting a children’s entertainment company at age 20 to becoming a doula, a sex educator, and eventual...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Louise Mansell to explore a powerful question: Why are we waiting so long to teach children how to understand and manage their emotions? Dr. Louise shares how her early experiences supporting her own mother through anxiety shaped her career, and how years of working with children-particularly those exper...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi sits down with child safety consultant, author, and educator Nicole Talarico to explore what it really takes to create cultures of safety for children - not just policies, but everyday practice, mindset, and leadership. Kristi and Nicole discuss why child safety cannot be treated as a compliance checklist, and instead must be embedded into cult...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi sits down with Adam from the Family Advocacy and Child Abuse Alliance to explore one of the most difficult but important topics we face as a society - child abuse prevention, awareness, and advocacy. Kristi and Adam discuss the realities of child abuse, the warning signs that are often missed, and the critical role that education and awareness p...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi sits down with neurodevelopment specialist and educator Dr. Christine Payard   to explore something many parents and teachers have never been taught -  how early physical development shapes the way children learn. Dr. Christine explains how the body and brain work together during the earliest years of life, and how movements such as r...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi is joined by Damian Porter , also known as The How Not To Die Guy , for a powerful, practical conversation about situational awareness, self-protection, bravery, and what it really means to prepare for unsafe situations. With a background in the New Zealand Army, including Special Forces, policing in Western Australia, and over 15 years as a fir...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi is joined by Michelle Mitchell , parenting expert, author, and educator, for a practical, encouraging conversation about connection, boundaries, and raising resilient teenagers. With decades of experience equipping families to stay connected through the messy emotional years, Michelle brings grounded insights that help parents move beyond fear...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi is joined by Jocelyn Brewer  - psychologist, former high school teacher, and founder of Digital Nutrition  - for a wide-ranging, deeply thoughtful conversation about technology, parenting, wellbeing, and what it truly means to stay human in a digital world. With over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of psychology, ed...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi is joined by Brooke McIntosh  - speaker, endurance runner, and founder of the Just One More movement - for a raw, powerful conversation about mental health, courage, healing, and the ripple effect of choosing to speak when silence feels safer. Brooke shares the deeply personal story behind her decision to run 14,000 kilometres around Austr...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi sits down with Dr. Justin Coulson to explore a topic that feels increasingly urgent for parents today: raising boys.   Together, they dive into why so many young men are struggling to find their footing and what it actually takes to raise a generation that is resilient, purposeful, and grounded . Dr. Coulson shares his own "failure to laun...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi is joined by Kimberly King - author, educator, and founder of Tough Topics Mom  - for a candid and deeply informative discussion on child safety, prevention, and fostering open communication with children. Kimberly shares her personal journey that led her to advocate for body safety, including a formative experience with her son that resur...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi is joined by Monique Christidis  - registered nurse, child health nurse of 30+ years, and founder of BaaBaa Baby  - for a grounded, compassionate conversation about infant development, sleep, regulation, and the foundational role of connection from birth. Monique brings a wealth of clinical expertise alongside deep empathy for parents...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi is joined by Neil Milton  - founder of The Table Talk Project , advocate, and survivor - for a powerful and deeply human conversation about connection, prevention, and the role safe relationships play in protecting children and strengthening families. Neil shares his lived experience of growing up without a voice at home, the long-term imp...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi is joined by Sharon Collon  - ADHD educator, coach, speaker, and founder of The Functional Family  - for an honest and practical conversation about neurodiversity, online safety, learning differences, and what actually helps families thrive. Sharon is also host of the ADHD Families Podcast , where she supports parents navigating life...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi is joined by Rosalia Rivera - founder of Consent Parenting , consent educator, and survivor advocate - for a deeply important conversation about prevention, healing, and the responsibility adults hold in protecting children. Rosalia shares her lived experience of childhood sexual abuse and how becoming a parent resurfaced memories she didn’t ye...

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi , Kristi speaks with Andrew Goss about the lifelong impact of childhood abuse - and the role silence, minimisation, and adult neutrality play in allowing harm to continue. Andrew shares his lived experience of family violence, sexual abuse (including female offending), and the repeated moments where warning signs were visible - but not acted upon. Toget...

Episode Summary: The conversation delves into the alarming risks that young people face regarding sexual violence, emphasizing the lack of awareness among parents about these issues. It highlights the prevalence of unwanted sexual encounters and the disturbing trend of children perpetrating sexual violence against their peers. Key Takeaways: Parents often underestimate the risks of sexual violence...

Episode Summary: The conversation explores the challenges faced by the digital generation as they navigate technology independently. It emphasises the importance of introducing technology in a safe manner, akin to teaching children to swim, where they gradually gain skills and independence. Key Takeaways: The digital generation faces unique challenges in technology. Children are often left to navi...

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of "Conversations with Kristi," Kristi discusses the alarming rise in online child exploitation with Ben Gillenwater, an IT and cybersecurity expert. They explore the challenges parents face in protecting their children from digital dangers, emphasising the importance of education and proactive parenting. Ben shares his personal journey of becoming the "family IT g...

Summary: In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, we delve into the profound impact of trauma on identity, particularly for women as  Jessica Ella shares her profound journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse. Jess discusses her unique approach to trauma recovery, emphasising the importance of understanding complex trauma and its impact on identity. She recounts her personal ex...