Raising Kind Minds

THE CONVERSATION Are you scrolling reels until the early hours while wondering how to manage your children's screen time? In this episode of Raising Kind Minds, Kathryn & Liz discuss the recent interview with parenting expert, Sue Atkins to explore what it means to be pro-tech and protect. Moving away from total bans, we discuss practical ways to build real family connections in a digital age. Fro...

THE INTERVIEW Screens seem to take over family life so easily, leaving many of us wondering how to keep our children safe without constant battles over devices. In this episode, parenting expert and author Sue Atkins joins us to share warm, practical strategies for raising confident, resilient children in a tech-driven world. Rather than banning devices, Sue champions a mindful approach centered o...

THE MEDITATION  In this episode, Kathryn introduces a soothing guided meditation led by Liz, inspired by insights from parenting expert Wendy O'Leary. Grounded in the realization that much of daily parenting anxiety the worry, striving, and fear of getting things wrong stems from a deep place of care, this practice offers a gentle reset.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Uncovering Love Beneath Fear: Paren...

THE CONVERSATION  Do you find yourself losing your temper, only to feel immediate guilt and wonder what kind of parent you are? You're far from alone. In this debrief following our chat with Wendy O’Leary, we explore what self-compassion actually looks like when real-life parenting gets messy, emotional, and overwhelming. From dealing with the loud inner critic to navigating those moments whe...

THE INTERVIEW Do you feel like fear or perfectionism is driving your parenting? In part two of this conversation with author and self-compassion teacher Wendy O'Leary, we dive deep into the shift from parenting out of fear to leading with love. From simple daily grounding tools like "feet and seat" to playful craft activities like emotion monsters and heart containers, this episode offers compassi...

THE MEDITATION  In this episode, Lovely Liz and meditation guide Kathryn lead a tender, heart-centered practice focused on self-compassion and gentleness. Inspired by guest Wendy O'Leary, the episode breaks down a three-part framework for compassionate self-talk combining common humanity, mindful naming of pain, and affection.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Physical Touch Soothes the Nervous System: Pla...

THE CONVERSATION  Ever feel like your inner critic takes over the moment parenting gets tough? We sit down in the lounge to debrief our insightful conversation with educator and author Wendy O’Leary. Together, we unpack how self-compassion isn't just a nice idea—it's an essential, daily practice for both adults and young minds. From practical grounding techniques like "seat and feet" to sooth...

THE INTERVIEW Ever wondered what happens when we stop trying to fix every meltdown and simply help our children ride the wave instead? In part one of this warm conversation, educator and author Wendy O’Leary joins Kathryn Lovewell and Liz Walker to consider why self-compassion might be the most vital protective factor we can offer young minds. Moving beyond traditional self-esteem, Wendy shares ho...

THE MEDITATION  In this soothing practice episode, Liz introduces a gentle guided meditation led by Kathryn, inspired by Mindful Self-Compassion co-founder Dr. Christopher Germer. Centered around the fundamental act of the in-breath, the very first action we take upon entering this world, this practice invites listeners to reframe receiving nourishment as an essential act of self-care rather...

THE CONVERSATION  Ever wonder if the way you speak to yourself is becoming the inner voice your children adopt? In this warm and reflective conversation, Kathryn Lovewell and Liz Walker unpack key insights from their discussion with Dr. Chris Germer, co-developer of Mindful Self-Compassion. Exploring the contrast between tender and fierce self-compassion, they share personal stories about ref...

THE INTERVIEW  Ever wondered how your self-talk quietly shapes the inner voice of the children around you? In this heartwarming conversation, clinical psychologist Dr Chris Germer joins us to unpack the origins of shame and why self-compassion is the ultimate antidote. From developmental phases in early childhood to his own decades-long battle with public speaking anxiety, Chris shares how lo...

THE MEDITATION In this episode, Kathryn introduces a soothing guided meditation practice led by Lovely Liz, inspired by a conversation with Joy Huang. Designed for parents, caregivers, and anyone navigating life's daily pressures, this practice invites you to step into the role of a "gentle detective" of your inner world.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Become a Gentle Detective: Approach your inner thoughts,...

THE CONVERSATION Ever caught yourself losing your cool over screen time or stressing about getting every single parenting decision right? You are certainly not alone! In this warm reflection, we unpack our recent conversation with therapist Joy Huang, exploring the universal pressures families face regardless of culture or background. From heated "hot wars" and distant "cold wars" over devices to...

THE INTERVIEW What if the greatest gift you could give your child isn't academic success, but the way you talk to yourself when things go wrong? In this episode, we sit down with Joy Huang, founding lead trainer at Hailan Family Wellbeing in China, to explore how self-compassion can completely redefine family dynamics. From heated screen-time arguments to the heavy burden of trying to be a "perfec...

THE MEDITATION In this gentle episode, Kathryn introduces a soothing meditation practice inspired by veteran teacher James Baraz and an ancient teaching from 12th-century Tibetan master Noguma. Noguma reminds us that the goodness we search for is often overlooked simply because it is too close, too deep, too simple, or too good to accept.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Goodness Is Already Present: True joy d...

THE CONVERSATION  Ever feel like you’re constantly giving your parenting a pass or fail test? Grab a cuppa and join us in the lounge as we unpack our recent conversation with mindfulness teacher James Baraz. We’re ditching the impossible pressure of perfectionism, exploring the quiet radicalism of simple kindness, and discovering why our mistakes might actually be our greatest teaching moment...

THE INTERVIEW  Ever noticed how children naturally sparkle when someone simply notices what’s good in them? In a world that endlessly pressures parents and children to do more, be more, and achieve more, finding genuine ease can feel completely out of reach. James Baraz - author of Awakening Joy and co-founder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center - joins this comforting, insightful conversation o...

THE MEDITATION In this meditation pod, Kathryn Lovewell introduces a gentle, grounding exercise led by Liz, inspired by a recent conversation with behavioral specialist Andy Baker. This episode focuses on recognising the familiar, sometimes critical inner voices like the "I should have" or "I'm not good enough" scripts and meeting them with warmth and curiosity rather than judgment. KEY TAKEAWAYS...

THE CONVERSATION Your inner critic isn't telling you the truth - it's just running an old script. In this reflective solo episode, Kathryn and Liz unpack the biggest ideas from their recent conversation with behaviour specialist Andy Baker, exploring how negativity bias, inherited beliefs and old family "scripts" quietly shape the way we see ourselves as parents. They dig into Andy's idea that we'...

THE INTERVIEW Why do so many parents end the day feeling like they're getting it wrong, even when they're trying their very best? In this conversation, Kathryn Lovewell and Liz Walker sit down with Andy Baker - bestselling author, behaviour specialist, and host of the Able to Care podcast - to unpack the invisible "scripts" that shape how we judge ourselves and our children. Andy shares how being...

THE MEDITATION  In this meditation episode, Liz introduces a gentle guided meditation led by Kathryn. Drawing inspiration from teen self-compassion researcher Dr. Karen Bluth, this episode shifts the focus away from the youth in your life and places it entirely on you. As parents, teachers, and caregivers, the most powerful tool we have is not a facade of perfection, but how we navigate our o...

THE CONVERSATION Your teenager doesn't need to get it right. They need to know how to be kind to themselves when they don't. In this debrief episode, Kathryn Lovewell and Liz Walker sit down to unpack the ideas that stayed with them after their conversation with Dr Karen Bluth, creator of Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens. They explore why self-compassion is so often misunderstood, why teenage pus...

THE INTERVIEW What if the biggest challenge facing today's teens isn't exams or peer pressure, but the voice inside their own head? In this conversation, Kathryn Lovewell and Liz Walker sit down with Dr Karen Bluth, researcher, author, and creator of Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens, to explore why adolescence can feel so overwhelming and what actually helps. Drawing on nearly two decades in the...

Raising Kind Minds asks: What sort of voice will your child grow up with? Because every word they say to themselves begins with what they hear from you. Hosted by Kathryn Lovewell and Liz Walker of Kind Mind Academy, this podcast helps parents, carers, and educators shape the inner voices of the next generation and strengthen their own along the way. When we nurture a child’s inner voice to be kin...