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In this week’s episode, I am beyond excited to sit down and have an inspiring conversation with psychologist, Peter Gray. He is the author of one of the most recommended books on this podcast, “Free to Learn.” He is a researcher and advocate for self-directed education, our natural need for play and trusting our children.
This episode is so jam-packed with the most incredible insights, wisdom, knowledge, experience and studies on child development and learning. Peter shares his own journey that led him down this path.
We also discuss:
* The harm of standardised testing, and who is actually benefiting from it (note it is definitely not children or teachers)
* How the current education system is destroying our creativity
* The detrimental effect of reducing playtime for children at school
* Why children are biological designed to play, and to learn through play
* The harm of early academic on children and why we need to ditch “school readiness” and preschool “programs”
* Plus so much more

Where to Find Peter:
Website: petergray.org
The Alliance of Self-Directed Education
Facebook: Peter Gray
Freedom to Learn blog on Psychology Today

Resources Mentioned:
Free to Learn by Peter Gray
Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy

ABOUT PETER:
Peter Gray is an American psychology researcher and scholar. He is a research professor of psychology at Boston College, and the author of an introductory psychology textbook. He is known for his work on the interaction between education and play, and for his evolutionary perspective on psychology theory. He’s most well known book “Free to Learn” has made a positive impact on self-directed education, and he has collections of essays available in four separate books. His recent research focuses on the roles of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves, through play and exploration, when they are free to do so. He also authors a regular blog called Freedom to Learn, for Psychology Today magazine. His research findings have led him to become an advocate of Self-Directed Education. He is a founding member and president of the Alliance for Self-Directed Education.

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In this week’s episode, I am excited to introduce you to Alice Giltrow. A Mum of 3, Midwife, Birth Educator and founder of @theawakenedmidwife.
Alice shares her story into midwidfery, her own birth trauma and the disconnections she has noticed in the medical system.
We also discuss:
* Building our own intuition and trusting our ourselves and our body
* Navigating the medical system
* Midwifery and birth through the ages
* Birth trauma
* Supporting our body
* Plus so much more

Where to Find Alice:
Instagram: @theawakenedmidwife
Facebook: The Awakened Midwife
Offerings: https://linktr.ee/alicegiltrow
Get the Ultimate Guide to Birthing in Power here: https://tr.ee/5Zhgadw25b

Resources Mentioned:
* Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage by Rachel Reed
* Gabor Mate books

ABOUT ALICE
Alice Giltrow is a mother of 3, midwife and birth educator. Her unique experiences of the midwifery health care system led her to stepping away from traditional practice in 2019, when she launched her business as The Awakened Midwife. Alice primarily focuses her work on birth and parenting preparation alongside birth trauma counselling. Being able to work online means Alice has had clients from all over the world. Her flagship course, The Ultimate Guide to Birthing in Power has helped hundreds of families realise their potential for birth & parenting.

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In this week’s episode, I am so excited to welcome back Nic Wilson. Nic is an Aware Parenting Instructor, Psychospiritual Parenting Mentor with the Marion Method (founded by Marion Rose), creator of Peaceful Parenting and Mum to a beautiful daughter.Nic and I had so much fun with this conversation.
We both shared all the ways we support our children in before and after school.
We also discuss:- how to advocate for our children at school
- how to support our children during school, when we aren’t there
- how to communicate with your child’s teacher
- processing our own school traumas
- how teachers can incorporate play and fun into their lessons- Plus so much more (we literally could have talked for hours)

Where to Find Nic:
Website: Peaceful Parenting
Facebook: Peaceful Parenting
Instagram: @peacefulparenting

Resources Mentioned:
Inner Loving Presence Process, Willing Practice & Marion Method work
Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen
Episode 27 The Power & Freedom of Expressing Our Authentic Self with Nic Wilson

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In this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Alena Turley, creator of the Soul Mama Hub and the Unboxable podcast.
Alena shares her journey into how she came to supporting mothers to live holistically, and bring awareness to our day-to-day wellbeing.
We also discuss:
* Intergenerational trauma and generational conditioning
* Searching for meaning, purpose and connection
* Our place in our ancestral stories
* Re-aligning with our purpose alongside the mother identity
* Our need for authentic self-expression and creating villages of support
* Plus so much more

Where to Find Alena:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/soulmamahub
Website: www.alenaturley.com
Soul Mama Membership: www.alenaturley.com/join
Blog: www.soulmamahub.com
Podcast: www.alenaturley.com/podcasts/unboxable

Resources Mentioned:
* Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss

ABOUT ALENA
Hey 👋 I'm Alena (like, uh-lane-uh). My membership and mentor services help women finally heal from depletion and make moves towards becoming the changemakers they dream of becoming whilst showing up as the best mum possible. I am an award-winning educator, podcaster and parenting mentor with over 30 years of experience. My pioneering parenting and conscious living blog, the Soul Mama Hub, began in 2009. For the past several years I have been a member of the UK Ethical Influencers Network, and an expert panellist for the Australian Clean & Conscious Awards and in the past year my podcast, Unboxable, has grown to be highly rated on International charts. Having built communities of mothers online in the tens of thousands across Bath, England and the Northern Beaches of Sydney Australia, I now live with my three children, one husband, and one pooch.

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In this solo episode I discuss all what happened at the end of last year for Spirited Hearts™: the new logo, refreshed website and new content.
I also share all the intentions I have for this year, including:
- our continuation of the Natural Learning Haven, where we will be welcoming back my husband, Lukas (we both started our first Family Day Care in 2015 in Canberra together)
- more support and resources for parents, including 1:1 sessions, online courses and workshops - including the upcoming for LIVE round of Month of Self Care - this is a collaboration with Vivian Viester who came on the podcast for Ep 20
- the brand new Spirited Hearts™ Approach to Early Learning Certification Program - this is something I have been working towards for the better part of a decade, and I share more information on it in this episode.
Enjoy, and I look forward to bringing you more beautiful, inspiring and meaningful conversations in 2023.

Resources Mentioned:

• Logo unveiling and journey
• Kimberley George's episodes on Spirited Hearts: Ep 2 and Ep 28
• Vivan Viester's Ep 20
• Month of Self-Care program

Where to Find Steph:
Website https://spiritedhearts.net
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spirited_hearts

ABOUT STEPH
Steph Fleeton is the creator and founder of Spirited Hearts™ which is a multi-service community supporting children and families. She is a Parenting Support Counsellor, Aware Parenting Instructor and Early Learning Educator.
Steph has spent the better part of two decades, dedicated to child development, trauma and providing support to children, their families and early childhood educators.
She created her Natural Learning & Healing Haven to provide the strongest emotionally supportive environment in the industry, which is trauma-informed, and where children have the space and freedom to be their beautiful, unique selves. 
In 2023, Steph will be launching the very first live round for her Certification Program for the Spirited Hearts Approach to Early Learning. This is for teachers, educators and anyone wanting to create their own natural learning haven from home.
Steph has two children; one with Autism and the other who suffered from an extremely rare and life-threatening medical condition for the first 5 years of his life. Steph is extremely passionate about assisting parents with children who have special needs and medical conditions. She provides 1:1 support, providing a space filled with unconditional acceptance, compassion, empathy and deep listening.

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In this week's episode I have the pleasure of welcoming back Danni Willow, a fellow Aware Parenting Instructor, parent educator, mother and women's circle facilitator, creator of The Way of the Woman and a Mum of 2.
Danni and I share with you all about having a healthy connection with food, and how to implement self-regulated eating for the whole family.
We also discuss:
- what self-regulated eating is
- exploring our own stories around food and eating
- trusting our children
- incorporating play into mealtimes
- connecting with the process of where our food comes from, growing gardens with our children and meeting our own body's individual nutrition requirments
- tips to overcome mealtime struggles
- developmentally appropriate eating
- plus so so much more

Where to Find Danni:
Website: https://www.thewayofthewoman.com.au/
Facebook: The Way of the Woman
Instagram: Danni Willow

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Raising Resilient & Compassionate Children by Lael Stone & Marion Rose PhD
• Cooperative and Connected by Aletha Solter PhD
• Episode 10: Creating Villages & Connections on Our Motherhood Journeys with Danni Willow

ABOUT DANNI:
Danni is a Parent educator, Aware Parenting instructor, Early Childhood Educator, Primary school teacher, holder of sacred space for Mother and women circles and mumma to two beautiful souls.
She is the founder of The Way of the Woman supporting mothers to reclaim the empowered mother within themselves.
Danni is a woman of the earth who connects deeply with cycles of the seasons. She is passionate about story sharing in motherhood and supporting mothers to build ritual and connection into their everyday lives.
Before having children, she trained as an Early Childhood Educator and worked in a range of early years settings. Once she was qualified, she worked in a primary school setting teaching foundation and grade 5/6.
During her third year of teaching, she completed a Master of Education in Student Wellbeing.
Although Danni felt she could make a difference by becoming a teacher and supporting children, she realised after having her two girls, that the greatest place for supporting others to make changes is with their own mothering.
Danni offers mothers support through 1-1 sessions, circles, workshops and containers.

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In this week's episode I chat with Simon Rinne, founder of Mindful Men, social worker, father and podcast host.
Simon is passionate about normalising discussions about men's mental health and parenting, and he shares his own journey with mental illness.
We also discuss:
- the courage in seeking support
- Breaking down social constrictions of what it is to be a boy and a man
- The importance of crying and emotionally expressing ourselves
- Gender stereotypes
- Working together to change harmful cultural narratives
- Supporting parents on maternity/paternity leave
- Reflecting on and bringing awareness to our parenting
- plus so so much more

Where to find Simon:
Website: https://www.mindful-men.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-rinne/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mindful.men.aus
YoutTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LhecvPA5UUBAt7fS73Dto?si=440ee2fcb01d498a OR
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-mindful-men-podcast/id1604992311

Resources Mentioned:
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson
Everything is Fucked: A Book About Hope by Mark Manson
The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken

ABOUT SIMON
Simon is a husband and father of two based in Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Simon is also the Founder of Mindful Men, a therapy practice that is dedicated to supporting men with mental illness and disability. Simon’s passion for mental health comes from living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Depression, Anxiety, Burnout throughout the last 30 years. 2022 marks 10 years since Simon finally opened up and got help for mental illness, and he shares his story to inspire other men to share theirs.

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In this week's episode, I have the pleasure of welcoming back Kimberley George, founder of The Creativity Room, Women's Circle Facilitator and Speaker, and Mum of 3.
Kim shares her journey of homeschooling, deschooling, schooling and parental burnout.
We also discuss:
- how learning is so diverse, and learning happens more meaningfully when the child is interested
- parental shame when it comes to homeschooling or sending your child back to school
- deschooling ourselves and our child
- children going into the education system with greater awareness
- intergenerational cycles and a lack of meeting our own needs
- listening to everyone's needs and willingness
- plus so so much more

Where to Find Kim:
Instagram: @kimberley_charlotte__
Instagram: @the_creativity_room__
Facebook: Kimberley George - The Creativity Room

Resources Mentioned:
Kim's previous episode on Spirited Hearts
Turning Down the Noise by Christine Jackman
Steph's book review on Turning Down the Noise (see Februrary)

ABOUT KIMBERLEY:
Kimberley was born in VIC, Australia and spent most of her childhood  in America where she attended classes and groups relating to visual arts, choir and piano but her creativity spread into many areas of her childhood, and she spent many days working with ideas and creating what she envisioned. She now lives in QLD, Australia with her 3 children and husband. Kimberley George is an Artist, Writer, Creativity Coach and Holistic Mentor with a Bachelor of Creative Arts. Kimberley’s qualifications go beyond the confines of her degree as she continues to explore what it means to embody a creative life for herself and in facilitating this for others. Kimberley lives a creative life engaging in song writing, visual arts, journaling, writing, cooking, and in play. Her life is her research, and her creativity isn’t limited. Kimberley’s work and research are based on nurturing the individual to gain confidence in accessing and embodying their unique creativity. She creates space and freedom with the tools she has for the activation of creativity and seeing that come alive in practice individuals as they accept the journey that asks for imagination, innovation, and experimentation to create what is deeply reflective of them. Her mission here is to see others burst open the creative spring inside them so they can move in it every day. Her belief is that we all have access to creativity, and we all are worthy of it.

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I’m so excited to share this conversation Nic Wilson and I had a few weeks ago. Nic is an Aware Parenting Instructor, Psychospiritual Parenting Mentor with the Marion Method (founded by Marion Rose), creator of Peaceful Parenting and Mum to a beautiful daughter.
Nic shares her journey and how she came to find Aware Parenting when her daughter was 3 years old, and how it saved her.
We also discuss:
- How blame and shame can show up one our parenting journey
- Listening to, and expressing feelings
- Sleep
- Re-parenting ourselves
- Unconditional acceptance, even through challenging behaviours
- Tantrums when out in public
- Attachment play games for all situations
- Plus so much more

Where to Find Nic:
Website: Peaceful Parenting
Facebook: Peaceful Parenting
Instagram: @peacefulparenting

Resources Mentioned:
Nic's course: The Parent Alchemy Journey - An Introduction to Aware Parenting
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg Ph.D
Steph's Episode on The Aware Parenting Podcast: Each Child is Unique

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In this week's episode, I have a beautiful, inspiring and powerful conversation with Brooke Tumbers about an important rite of passage for girls. Brooke is a Clinical Psychologist, Holistic Therapist, First Moon Circle Facilitator and Mum of 2 girls.
Brooke shares her journey as a Clinical Psychologist and how she came to incorporate Holistic Therapies in her offerings.
In this episode we also discuss and explore:
- the shame narratives surrounding the menstrual cycle
- the first bleed being a celebratory life cycle rite of passage
- supporting girls, mothers and other families members through each woman's cycle
- the inner seasons of women's cycles and how to self-care and plan
- how artificial fragrances negatively impact our hormones
- how our body communicates
- plus so much more

TOOWOOMBA FIRST MOON CIRCLE SPECIAL PROMOTION: Until 3 December 2022 Brooke is offering Spirited Hearts listeners a special offering. Buy TWO full priced tickets and you will be sent a code to receive another ticket for FREE - saving $280
{One ticket admits child and mother/carer}

Where to Find Brooke:
Holistic therapies website: www.brooketumbers.com
Clinical practice website: www.btclinicalpsychology.com
Facebook: Brooke Tumbers
Instagram: @brooke_tumbers

Resources:
Lab to Table by Cyndi O'Meara
Womancode by Alisa Vitti

ABOUT BROOKE:
Brooke Tumbers is a First Moon Circle Facilitator in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. She is the mother of two amazing girls, a Clinical Psychologist, holistic & body orientated therapist, Hypnotherapist, Trauma Informed clinician, and is a Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Energy, Frequency, Emotion Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Reiki practitioner. Brooke loves all things ‘low tox living’ and nourishing the mind, body and spirit.