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 learning.

🌱 How child-led outdoor play without toys expands imagination and creativity.

🌱 Why risky play helps kids to learn their own limits and develop confidence.

🌱 Steps Earth Path is taking to make nature experiences more accessible for children of different abilities, economic backgrounds, and races.

🌱 How you can incorporate more experiences with nature in your life even if you live in an urban or suburban area.

And much more! I came away from our conversation with an even deeper appreciation for the magic that happens when children (and adults) play outdoors!

You can find Earth Path online at www.earthpath.ca.

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 you're wrong

💚 why the outdated "children should be seen and not heard" mentality is harmful to children AND parents

💚 what he's learned from his grandson who has Down syndrome

💚 the evolving narrative of the West Indian parent

💚 his fight against racist school rules for himself and his children

💚 his work as an activist for Rastafarian rights and legalizing cannabis

💚 why he has no tolerance for the deadbeat dad narrative.

This episode is an example of the importance of storytelling as a tool for intergenerational learning. Let me know what your favourite takeaway from this episode was.

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 "involved" or changing a diaper?

🧱 the concept of maternal gatekeeping

📺 How what we see portrayed in the media and online can become our default if we aren't intentional in our parenting choices.

I hope this episode can play a role in expanding and elevating the narratives of fatherhood and look forward to chatting to more dads on the show!

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 the importance of holding space for kids to express their feelings and creating a safe space for them to 'fail forward'. We talk about Janelle's role as a 'mama to many' and how Operation Triple Threat is meeting the needs of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can learn more about OTT by visiting www.operationtriplethreat.com and contribute to their important work at paypal.me/ottbarbados; you can also follow on Instagram at @operationtriplethreat; and facebook.com/operationtriplethreat

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 talk about some of the challenges families with kids with special needs are facing during covid-19. We also share some of the positive ways the pandemic has changed our perspective on parenting.

Throughout our conversation, Kathy reflects on moments when she saw her children shine as authentic individuals.

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 childbirth affect our pelvic floors. Monate explains why we don't have to accept conditions such as incontinence, pelvic pain and pelvic organ prolapse, as par for the course of motherhood. We talk kegels and scar massage, and Monate explains how she works with women to help them to safely return to the exercise they love.

Resources: Monate Praamsma (monatepraamsmapt.com); Core Connections Physiotherapy (core-connections.ca). Disclaimer: the information presented in this podcast is for general information purposes only and should not replace medical advice and/or treatment from your health care provider(s).

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 practical advice and resources to support these members of our community. We chat about the postpartum period and how her advice has changed to reflect the current situation. Lilly shares some of the possible mental health implications and offers community resources for parents who are struggling with anxiety or depression. Lilly's livingroom is held every Tuesday and Thursday from 1 - 2.30 p.m. (more information available on Ottawa Childbirth Education Association’s Facebook page). Some of the other resources Lilly mentions are:

Lilly Bianchi's personal website: lillybianchi.ca;

Ottawa Childbirth Education Association

: www.ottawacea.com; Parenting in Ottawa

: www.parentinginottawa.ca; Parent Resource Centre: www.parentresource.ca; Parent Support Line: 613-565-2467x2

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 self isolation.

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.