Glimmer Hunters

It’s the Season 2 wrap of Glimmer Hunters - and we’re closing out 2025 the only way we know how: laughing through the chaos, obsessing over tiny joys, and celebrating the glimmers that actually land. We swap Christmas glimmers (Lady Gaga! Year 6 graduation! Matching family pyjamas! gingerbread carnage!), unpack the strange beauty of nostalgia, and take a moment to reflect on what it’s meant to sho...

In this episode, Emily and Renee are joined by Dr. Katie Cooper - a recovering academic with a PhD in Earth Sciences turned play facilitator, and the creator of The White Flamingo, a community supporting women through the transition into motherhood. Katie unpacks matrescence (think: adolescence, but with sleep deprivation and a tiny human to keep alive), why so many mums feel adrift without the la...

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Glimmer Hunters, Emily and Renee dive into the often-overlooked joyful side of ADHD - the glimmers, the magic, the chaos, and the unexpected superpowers of a neurodivergent brain. From sneaky barista kindness and nostalgic power outages to hyperfocus, time blindness, masking, and spontaneous kitchen dance parties, this episode is a beautiful celebration o...

In this episode of Glimmer Hunters, Renee and Emily sit down with Nikki Everett - author of Uncomfortably Comfortable , Lifeline ambassador, and passionate advocate for people living with PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). Nikki shares her powerful story of working in palliative care, mental health and the prison system, experiencing multiple violent events, and eventually being diagnosed with Complex...

Normally moving house, unpacking and sorting out what goes where is a pain and something we'd rather avoid doing altogether. Emily has recently moved into her new home and is knee-deep in unpacking boxes and getting everything sorted. When it came to getting the kitchen sorted, the trials of unpacking took a sparkly turn when her husband, Brendan, unlocked the joy of nailing domestic organisat...

Hosts Renée and Emily chat with Anna Ferguson, a qualified counsellor, coach, integrative nervous system therapist and author of the The Vagus Nerve Reset . Anna opens up about the rollercoaster journey that became the catalyst for her specialisation in psychology, counselling, somatics, breathwork and Polyvagal Theory. Sharing personal experiences and practical exercises, Anna explains how and wh...

Can you ever turn a trigger into a glimmer? In this episode, Renée quizzes Emily about her complicated relationship with time and how she's turned her trigger of running late into a smugelicious time-to-spare glimmer. Exploring the stress of rushing, the ADHD struggle to stop, learning from those around you and loads more, this is a relatable episode for both the time benders amongst us and those...

Sarah Shellard is a slasher in all the best ways. She’s bilingual, a Speech Pathologist, the founder of the Just Joyful Boutique and the author of Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal. With a rich and diverse pool of experience to draw from, we ask Sarah about the catalyst that inspired her to write the Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal. We also explore her take on the difference between gratitude and...

Renée and Emily unpack why exactly Fabergé eggs are such a glimmer for Renée. Exploring everything from the history of Fabergé eggs to their intricate designs and more, this episode is all about understanding the unique nature of glimmers and why certain things light us up like they do.    Continue the Glimmer Hunt Instagram:  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/glimmerhunters/⁠ Facebook:  ⁠https://www.fac...

Hosts Emily and Renée talk to Bridget McNulty, a writer, diabetes advocate and co-founder of Sweet Life, South Africa's largest online diabetes community. Bridget shares the highs and lows that inspired her glimmer hunting journey, and details about the exciting launch of her new book, Daily Glimmers .   Find out more at  www.bridgetmcnulty.com

In the first episode of Season 2, find out what hosts Renée Ballard and Emily McGrorey have been up to since Season 1 wrapped. From fighting with tradies to finishing renovations, car accidents and coconuts, Renée and Emily explore how they’re feeling about glimmers right now and what you can expect in Season 2.

In this final episode of Season 1, Emily and Renee slip into sequins and celebrate wrapping up a project that started with zero agenda—just a shared hunch that tiny moments really matter. Together, they reflect on their favourite highlights, lessons learned, accidental life hacks, and the hilarious behind-the-scenes chaos that made Glimmer Hunters what it is: warm, real, and a little bit sparkly....

In this episode, Emily and Renee dive into the art of letting glimmers land . From octopus documentaries to unexpected museum moments in LA, they unpack how glimmers can shift from fleeting sparks to lingering sensations—if we let them. Together, they reflect on how recognising and holding onto glimmers (even for a few seconds longer) can help recalibrate the nervous system, offer hope during stre...

In this episode, Emily and Renee explore how glimmers aren’t just feel-good moments—they’re also signposts for living a life that feels more aligned. Together, they unpack how small moments of calm, joy, or resonance can act as inner nudges pointing us toward what feels true. Whether it’s walking into a room and feeling energised, noticing where you feel most connected, or simply recognising the ‘...

In Part 2 of our fascinating chat with Professor Selena Bartlett—neuroscientist, brain and child mental health advocate, and author of Being Seen —we explore the practical science behind stress, resilience, and how small daily shifts can literally rewire your brain. We cover everything from brain scans and dopamine to the powerful role of community, movement, and being truly seen . You’ll hear ref...

In this episode, Emily and Renee are joined by Professor Selena Bartlett—neuroscientist, child mental health advocate, and host of the Thriving Minds and Being Seen podcast—for a fascinating deep dive into how we can literally rewire our brains for joy. Drawing on her research in neuroplasticity, Professor Bartlett shares the science behind how our emotional responses are shaped, how triggers take...

In this warm and curious episode, Emily and Renee dive into the idea of secondary glimmers —those tiny sparks of joy we feel through someone else’s experience. Drawing on the science of emotional contagion and mirror neurons, they explore how positive energy, like laughter, love, and even the smell of fresh sourdough, can ripple from one nervous system to another. You’ll also hear real glimmers se...

In this episode, Emily and Renee are joined by the wildly wise and wickedly funny Jacqui Lewis—meditation teacher, leadership coach, and founder of The Broadplace—to unravel the murky world of toxic positivity in wellness. From her days juggling high-pressure roles in design, hospitality and PR, to running retreats that don’t promise to “fix your trauma in three days,” Jacqui brings a refreshingly...

This week, Emily and Renee sit down with clinical psychologist Tamara Cavenett to explore how negativity bias shapes our thoughts, emotions, and nervous system. Together, they unpack why our brains are wired to prioritise threat, how this impacts our daily wellbeing, and the small but powerful ways glimmers can help restore balance. This episode blends psychological insight with lived experience—a...

In this episode, Emily and Renee give a heartwarming peek into their personal glimmer collections! Emily bravely shares a bittersweet yet beautiful glimmer connected to her late father, finding comfort in memories sparked by a meaningful song and a surprising moment with his old bike frame. Renee brings the laughs with her quirky appreciation for toddler tantrums. We also explore the smallest glim...

Welcome back to the Glimmer Hunters podcast! In part two with the incredible Deb Dana, the "godmother of Glimmers," we got a sneak peek into her book, Glimmers Journal, designed to help us intentionally find and savour those tiny moments of okayness. Deb shared her personal story of creating the journal and emphasised the power of "see, stop, appreciate" to register Glimmers. We learned about craf...

Join the Glimmer Hunters as they welcome Deb Dana, the clinician who coined the term "glimmers." This insightful episode takes a deep dive into the science behind these tiny moments of joy and safety, explaining how they act as sparks of ventral energy rooted in polyvagal theory. Discover how glimmers are detected by our neuroception as subtle cues of safety, offering the nervous system repeated o...

In this episode, Renee and Emily explore why glimmers feel more important than ever. From a laughing baby at Christmas to a well-earned three-shot coffee, they share recent glimmers and dive into how these moments can help us cope in a world that often feels too much. They chat about evolutionary mismatch, nervous system regulation, and the rise of glimmers in a fast-paced, modern world. Plus, the...

It's here! In this first episode, hosts Renée Ballard and Emily McGrorey introduce themselves, share the story of their 14-year friendship, and explain what led them to create this podcast. From surviving corporate chaos to discovering the science and magic of "glimmers," they discuss how small moments of joy and connection can transform everyday life. Tune in as they set the stage for an exciting...