Dr Golly and the Experts

Best-selling author and podcaster Melissa Ambrosini was not thinking about blended families when she met the love of her life. But that became her reality once she married Nick Broadhurst (a founding member of Sneaky Sound System) who already had a son from a previous marriage. In this candid conversation, Melissa shares her personal journey and reveals invaluable insights gained from her own experience as a step-parent.

LINKS

https://www.instagram.com/melissaambrosini/  

https://www.timemagic.me/ 

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Em Rusciano doesn’t want to be called an advocate, but she does want you to know that the systems in place for neurodivergent girls and women aren’t good enough. Em was diagnosed with ADHD after her son went through the diagnostic process. Since then her eldest daughter Odette has also been diagnosed. Em explains to Dr Golly why she thinks occupational therapy skates too close to conversion therapy, and how she’d change the way we help neurodivergent kids.  

LINKS:  

AUTISM LINKS: 

https://www.amaze.org.au/  

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When Erin Molan and her ex-partner Sean Ogilvy decided to separate, they moved into the same apartment building for the first six months to ensure their daughter Eliza would be okay. And while they both put Eliza first, the challenge of single parenting hit Erin hardest when Eliza became dangerously unwell one night. Erin talks to Dr Golly about how she has handled the hurdles she’s faced as a single parent, including the loss of her beloved dad. 

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Most parents struggle to get through a normal day after a night tending to a crying baby, but imagine if your job relied on elite athletic performance! Former AFL stars Jordan Lewis and Jarryd Roughead open up to Dr Golly about the impact having children had on their sporting careers. 

LINK: https://www.sms4dads.com.au/

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Nutritionist Jacqueline Alwill’s world turned upside down when her daughter Amelie was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, requiring an immediate brace to be applied. While navigating the challenge of managing her in a brace, incredibly - Jacqueline herself was diagnosed with the exact same condition - missed in her own childhood. Currently recovering from a double hip replacement surgery, Jacqueline opens up to Dr Golly about the challenges of getting the same diagnosis as her baby, and how she managed both recoveries.   

LINKS: 

https://www.instagram.com/brownpapernutrition/  

https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/hip-dysplasia-in-babies  

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Entrepreneur and co-host of KICPOD and KICBUMP Steph Claire Smith always knew she would go back to work after she had her first child. It made sense to her and her husband, Josh Miller, that he would become the stay-at-home parent. Steph and Josh talk to Dr Golly about how their non-traditional family dynamic still cops flak, and how they make it work for their little family. 

LINKS: 

https://www.instagram.com/stephclairesmith/?hl=en 

https://www.instagram.com/itsjoshmiller/  

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Social media star and model Rachael Finch knows how cutting online criticism can get. She’s copped her fair share of comments over the years, but she says that when trolls target her children, it cuts even deeper. Rachael talks to Dr Golly about how she and her husband Michael manage trolls, why she continues to post on social media and why she’s super vigilant with her own children when they go online. 

LINKS: 

https://www.instagram.com/rachael_finch/  

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/are-they-old-enough  

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Popular podcasters from Beyond the Bump Sophie Pearce and Jayde Couldwell might look like they have it all together but both had to overcome significant challenges in their pregnancies. Anxiety, depression and the overwhelming impact of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) made pregnancy and juggling childcare extremely difficult. Sophie and Jayde open up to Dr Golly about their experiences and how their friendship helped them survive it all. 

LINKS: 

https://panda.org.au/  

https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/severe-vomiting-during-pregnancy-hyperemesis-gravidarum  

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There aren’t many couples who can say they both know what it’s like to give birth. Former AFLW player, Survivor contestant and author Moana Hope and her wife model Isabella Carlstrom have each been through pregnancy and birth, though they were very different experiences. Moana and Isabella talk to Dr Golly about the impact of childhood trauma on their lives as parents, and how their unique understanding of birth helped them overcome it. 

LINKS:  

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Bronchiolitis/ 

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At just six months old McLachlan’s daughter Milla started having seizures. What McLachlan and his wife referred to as “twitches” turned out to be West Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy. McLachlan was told that Milla had a 10% chance of dying in the hospital, 80% chance of having brain damage for life, and just 10% chance of being unscathed. 

LINKS: 

https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/west-syndrome/

https://drgolly.com/

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