What We Teach Our Children

From humble beginnings in western Queensland to building an orphanage in Kenya, Cathy Booth has lived a story defined by hope and compassion. As a young girl, Cathy often told her mother that one day she wanted to work in an orphanage. That dream took root and grew stronger with every life experience from living … Read more "S2 EP 3 Cathy Booth – Hope & Compassion" The post S2 EP 3 Cathy...

From glossy 80s diet culture to the wellness trends of today, Fiona Tuck has seen and lived it all. The British-Australian nutritionist, author of The Forensic Nutritionist, and media myth-buster, Fiona shares her journey from eating disorders as a teen to becoming one of Australia’s most trusted voices on nutrition and skincare. We discuss the … Read more "S2 EP 2 Fiona Tuck – Nutrition &#3...

As the Australian Government prepares to introduce an under-16 social-media ban on December 10, many parents are wondering what it really means for our digital natives. Will it stop bullying or inappropriate content? Or do we need something deeper a culture of kindness that begins long before children go online? Robyn Simpson believes kindness is … Read more "S2 EP 1 Robyn Simpson – Attitude...

“This conversation is so important – we are at an inflection point, and what we do matters.” Tim Men’s mental health is in crisis and it’s time we started talking about it differently. Tim Hewson, Founder of Mongrels Men and Manbassador for Men’s Mental Health shares his very personal story of how a corporate career and traditional … Read more "EP 52 Tim Hewson – Health &...

“The world’s fractured, it’s tense and I feel the anxiety.” TP When we think about what drives human behaviour, Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs reminds us that everything begins with the basics, food, water, and safety. Only when those are met can we move toward love, belonging, self-esteem, and ultimately, self-actualisation. Yet across the world today, … Read more "EP 51 Terry Paule –...

Play is not just fun it’s a fundamental human right. I often hear adults and parents alike, lamenting the loss of the carefree childhood, when children had the freedom to explore, play in the street with their neighbours, and even walk to the corner store to buy an ice block in summer. What’s changed? Childhood … Read more "EP 50 Hyahno Moser – Adventure & Play" The post EP 50 Hyah...

How do we prepare children to thrive in a world dominated by digital media? Returning to the podcast this week is Kari Sutton, Author of Raising a Mentally Fit Generation, speaker, and internationally recognised Early Childhood Consultant. With over 30 years of experience in education, much of it focused on early childhood and diverse needs, … Read more "EP 49 Kari Sutton – Digital Resilienc...

Gaming prevalence among young children in Australia, is growing with high usage rates, particularly for video games where 93% of 5-14-year-olds play regularly and nearly half of 8–17-year-olds play online multiplayer games.  Concerns around addiction, in-game bullying, predators, and excessive screen time exist, however there are benefits for our digital generations if we ensure pro...

As a society, there is great weight in benchmarked developmental milestones, which are necessary to measure a child’s physical and cognitive abilities. Whilst we focus on raising disciplined humans with social graces and manners, spiritual guidance is often led by religious belief, which can stifle individual transformation (spiritual alchemy).    Sofia Geraghty grew up surrounded &#8230...

Rites of passage are universal — every culture on earth has a way of marking the transition from child to adult. The question is: how do we guide today’s teens with purpose?” In this episode of What We Teach Our Children, I speak with Angela White, Chief Operating Officer of The Rite Journey. With deep … Read more "EP 46 – Angela White – Rites of Passage" The post EP 46 – Angela...

What does it take to live a life of strength and independence? This week on What We Teach Our Children, meet Marja Jarvis — born in the Netherlands, adventurous from the start, she credits her mother for imprinting a wanderlust for life and travel. Leaving the motherland as a young graduate of physiotherapy, Marja lived … Read more "EP 45 Marja Jarvis – Strength & Independence" The post...

With bullying statistics reaching significant highs, our youth mental health has never been more important. A 2023 study revealed that victims of bullying are at an increased risk for developing eating disorders like binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia. These psychiatric conditions take a physical and mental toll on sufferers and their families. Approximately one third … Read more "EP 44 Meg...

Bullying, it’s a scourge on our societies across the globe! Described as the repeated and intentional use of words or actions against others to cause distress and isolation. Teasing, abuse, intimidation, threats, violence, and exclusion all constitute bullying. In the 70’s and 80’s most bullying was experienced in person, however technology and devices now mean … Read more "EP 43 Maggie Ciob...

“We’re not in a mental health crisis at the moment – it’s an emotional health crisis…” This statement stopped me in my tracks. As I thought about what I was hearing it started to make sense – emotional dysregulation is a symptom of many mental health conditions, and whilst emotional and mental health are closely … Read more "EP 42 Bryn Edwards – Nature vs Nurture" The post EP 42 Bryn E...

We live in communities within a society, so why do we expect all our social issues should be addressed by governing bodies? Historically, humans have looked out for each other – the village mentality, but something has changed, and it seems we’re living in silos. Even families are disconnected, separated by distance and busyness. Generational … Read more "EP 41 Namarca Corowa – Respect...

Childhood trauma is more common than you think… Children who experience a distressing or harmful event can live with lasting negative effects on their emotional, mental, and physical health.  These events can include abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, experiencing accidents or natural disasters. It’s crucial to recognise that a child’s response to trauma can vary, and even &#8230...

Have you ever thought about why we have an emotional reaction in certain situations? You might feel like you’re on autopilot when the stress builds and you explode over something that probably didn’t warrant an angry outburst. Emotional patterns are formed early in childhood and become deeply ingrained over our lifetime. They become habitual, shaped … Read more "EP 39 Geraldine Zadkiel &#821...

What qualities do you look for in a great leader? Historically, great leaders have demonstrated the ability to inspire, motivate, and guide others towards a shared vision or goal. This often involves strong communication skills, strategic thinking, and the capacity to foster collaboration. Additionally, effective leaders frequently exhibit resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to et...

Over the previous episodes there’s been a clear and repeated message about identity and how, what we do tends to define us at different points in our lives. The emotional and psychological toll varies, as do the treatment methods available. What works for you may not work for someone else and it’s modelling vulnerability for … Read more "EP 37 Andy Phanthapangna, Trent Merrin, & Jett Fer...

Trigger warning…. This episode contains conversations about mental health challenges in a child, including depression and self-harm, which may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening. In the 21st century I often find it difficult to understand why we continue to perpetuate traditional roles and expectations of men and women. For decades … Read more "EP 36 Alex Ege...

Modern life has created generations of digitally connected but socially isolated and often lonely people, putting pressure on health and education systems. It’s now more important than ever for us to reconnect and be present – especially for children. For humans feeling connected to others is crucial for well-being, impacting mental and physical health, social skills, … Read more...

From the ‘LOST BOYS’ report in the UK to the Anxious Generation in the US – this week we’re analysing a global breakdown in community with two siblings who’ve decided to act, helping families create their own unique culture. Family culture encompasses core values, traditions, beliefs and behaviours that define and shape interactions with community … Read more "EP 34 Steven Shapiro &#38...

Young men and boys are struggling in the areas of education, employment and health – just three categories recently evaluated by researchers at the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in the UK. With mental health in decline and a rise in suicide statistics, the CSJ is calling on the government to urgently address these issues. … Read more "EP 33 Luke Taylor – Confidence Crisis" The post EP 33 L...

“Our parenting was largely unconscious and maybe that’s a large part of the problem, for families these days – we’re not conscious until we need to be” Deborah Fay If parenting was easy and natural, our children would have their needs met. My guest today speaks about being intentional in parenting, and how having respect … Read more "EP 32 Deborah Fay – Respectful Communication" The po...

“I’m not talking about wrapping kids in bubble wrap, I’m saying age-appropriate risk is important – allowing them to get online is important, but we have to teach them the skills in early childhood…” Kari Sutton A recent ‘Lost Boys’ report from The Centre for Social Justice in the UK has found that early online … Read more "EP 31 Kari Sutton – Setting Boundaries" The post EP 31 K...