Nurture Narratives

I chatted with Sustainable Home and Wardrobe Consultant Brittany Webster about how to celebrate the holidays with less overwhelm and clutter. We talked about: 🎄 Multi-functional spaces that adults and children can enjoy 🎄How to tune out social media pressure and celebrate in a way that feels authentic to you 🎄 Protecting your energy for the things that matter most 🎄 Choosing connection over co...

I chatted with certified breastfeeding counsellor and birth educator Luka Zigic on the need for breastfeeding/chestfeeding education and support. We discuss: 💚 the current gaps in care when we become parents 💚 why we need to be educated on the ways our bodies change from pregnancy to postpartum, including the stages of lactation 💚 the loss of ancestral knowledge and community support for breast...

I had the pleasure of speaking with Sharana Ali about her experience as a single mother. We discuss: 🌿 how she is bringing so-called taboo topics to the table through her collective BOSS the six edition 🌿 the importance of living life outside of the labels and identities that society gives us 🌿 her journey through divorce and single motherhood 🌿 rejecting stigma and shame in order to live auth...

Bernadeth Betchi is a communicator, activist and mother who does things her own way. I spoke with Bernadeth about how she has navigated motherhood while following her instincts. We discussed: 🌿 Giving birth at home during the pandemic surrounded by family and love 🌿 the effects of colonization on traditional homebirth and breastfeeding practices 🌿 her fourth trimester realities and why she shar...

I spoke with health coach Mikaela Davis about the importance of mindsets and routines. Specifically I wanted to talk about how these are affected when we are experiencing uncertainty in our lives. This is a timely discussion for anyone who wants to nurture their own well-being including parents. Mikaela and I discuss: 🌿 how to find a routine that works for you even if you don't want to wake up at...

CW: miscarriage Aniya Emtage Legnaro is a visual storyteller and mother of four. She shared with me her journey from raising her first two children as a single mother to having a baby and toddler with her husband Matteo. Her story is one of growth, loss and wisdom gained through experience. We chatted about many aspects of motherhood as well as her work as a photographer including: 🌿 her project...

Mr. Chazz is an educational specialist who has worked with thousands of young children. I invited Mr. Chazz to talk about his views on discipline, and the cultural narratives that inform how we view and interact with our kids. We discuss: 🌱 Why children deserve to be seen and treated as equals in our society 🌱 Why we need to learn to regulate our emotions if we want our children to do the same t...

I spoke with world-renowned breastfeeding expert, Dr. Newman about common breastfeeding and chestfeeding myths that can interrupt the breastfeeding relationship including: 🗓 You shouldn’t breastfeed after a certain period whether that is 6 month or a year 🍷🌿 Parents who breastfeed shouldn't eat certain foods, drink alcohol, or take prescription medication. Dr. Newman also offered his advice on w...

I spoke with Megan Kelly of Adventure Report about becoming a mother, and how her love of the outdoors supported this transition. We discuss: 🥾 Her blog and hiking challenge 🏕 How the Adventure Report gear lending library is helping make camping more accessible 🌱 the benefits of spending time outdoors for herself and her family 🤳 The polarizing images of motherhood portrayed online 💕 How her p...

Dr. Jodi Pawluski is a neuroscientist who studies the neuroscience of motherhood, maternal mental illness and antidepressant medications. She is also a therapist and the podcaster behind @mommybrain.revisted a podcast about scientific research in the neuroscience of parenting. I spoke to Jodi about her research and the findings of others in her field. We cover: 🧠 the scientific methods of studyin...

Nikki Satira is passionate about helping people to create meaningful relationships with the natural world. She has more than a decade of experience in outdoor education and is also studying to be a clinical herbalist. She spoke to me about the numerous benefits of children playing with nature. Our discussion includes: 🌱 Her approach of combining both structured and unstructured play-based learnin...

Adonijah Alleyne is a storyteller, accomplished musician, activist for Rastafarian rights and cannabis legalization in Barbados, a father and a grandfather. Because of the passing of his father when Adonijah was just a baby, he charted his own path as a father - a process which he describes as an "awakening". Our conversation includes: 💚 checking your ego as a parent in order to recognize when yo...

I asked my husband Rob to share his experience of becoming a dad and we compare the expectations society puts on mothers and fathers. We cover: 💚 Some of the joys and challenges of fatherhood 💕 What it's like to bond with your new baby when you work outside the home 🧐 The expectations society puts on mothers compared to fathers. When's the last time you heard a mother being praised for being "i...

I spoke with Janelle Headley, the founder and director of a unique performing arts program for kids and teens in Barbados called Operation Triple Threat (OTT) about the creative community and safe space she has created for young people. Janelle shares about how OTT helps kids to thrive with holistic programming which includes everything from nutritious meals to counseling services. Janelle shares...

I asked my friend Kathy Bell, mother to three adult children, to reflect on her journey as a mother. We discuss our roles as parents, questioning the narrative of teaching through telling and we share the qualities that we both try to model for our children. Kathy shares some of the struggles and triumphs of raising her son Kevin who has special needs due to a rare syndrome called Mowat-Wilson. We...

With mother's day having just passed you may have heard the popular: "Thank your mom, you're the reason she pees a bit when she sneezes" joke. Pelvic floor physiotherapists are working hard to flip the script on this popular narrative by giving women the tools they need to heal their pelvic floors after birth. I spoke to pelvic floor physiotherapist Monate Praamsma about why and how pregnancy and...

Lilly Bianchi has 30 years of experience working with new families and babies as a birth doula, midwife, prenatal teacher, postpartum doula, and parenting coach. She started Lilly's livingroom, a free virtual drop-in for new parents, to help meet some of the needs of new parents during the covid-19 pandemic. Lilly shares some of the struggles new parents and their families are facing, and lots of...

Personal trainer Jesse Campbell and yoga instructor Katherine Miceli join me to discuss how we can approach pre and postnatal fitness from a healthy and empowering viewpoint. We discuss how the fitness community can help you reach your long term goals; why weight loss doesn't need to be the primary focus, and more. Jesse and Katherine also give us advice for finding movement during this period of...

Host Jessica Hinds-Cook talks to Krista Hinds about why parents feel so much guilt and what we can do to let go of some of that pressure. Krista shares some of her struggles as a mother and talks about the magic of heart-centred parenting. She also gives advice to parents struggling with the new reality of parenting during a pandemic.