In this heart-opening conversation, youth mentor and wellbeing practitioner Marilou Coombe joins host Leonie Du Toit to explore how awareness and emotional intelligence can transform the lives of our children — and us as parents.
They dive into the realities of raising emotionally intelligent, highly sensitive, and tech-saturated children in a disconnected world — and how awareness, modeling, and communication can bridge the gap.
💫 About the Guest
Marilou Coombe is a Youth Mentor, Coach, and Wellbeing Practitioner with a background in social science and more than 15 years in the travel industry. Having lived in five countries and traveled the world, she brings a rich, global perspective to her work.
Marilou blends NLP, hypnotherapy, energy work, and mindfulness to help young people — and the adults who support them — build confidence, emotional resilience, and authentic self-expression.
She is the founder of the Empowered Youth Coaching Academy, where she mentors youth and trains other coaches to continue this vital work.
🧭 What You'll Hear
• Marilou's journey from war-torn Lebanon to Australia — and how that shaped her passion for youth empowerment
• Why cultural awareness matters when supporting young people
• The effects of technology and dopamine overload on emotional regulation and focus
• Awareness as the first step in emotional healing for children and adults
• The power of modeling: why our kids do what we do, not what we say
• Practical tools for parents to build awareness, balance technology, and restore connection
• Supporting sensitive and empathic children — how to help them see their sensitivity as a superpower
• How to hold space for teens without fixing or rescuing
• Inner adolescence work — why your teenager might be mirroring your own unhealed teenage years
• Awareness and intuition as everyday parenting tools
🕰 Time-Stamped Highlights
00:00 Welcome & introduction
01:00 Marilou's global journey and cultural influences
04:00 The power of mentoring and why she works with youth
08:00 War, resilience, and life lessons from Lebanon
10:00 How technology impacts focus, mood, and wellbeing
14:30 Awareness: 50% of the problem is solved when you see it
17:00 Modeling behavior — kids learn through energy, not words
20:00 Real parenting moments: meltdowns, awareness, and repair
24:00 When your teen shuts down — holding space vs. fixing
31:00 Reparenting through adolescence: healing your inner teen
35:00 Empathic and highly sensitive children — how to support them
40:00 From self-criticism to empowerment: modelling emotional truth
43:00 Words of wisdom for young people — "You are the most powerful person in your life."
🪞 Key Quotes
"50% of your problem is solved just by being aware." — Marilou Coombe
"Children don't need perfect parents — they need present ones." — Leonie Du Toit
"Our kids do what they see us doing, not what we tell them to do." — Marilou
"Awareness and intuition are the spirit senses that guide our next generation." — Leonie
"If you think you're dumb, and you believe it, then it becomes true. Your words create your world." — Marilou
💡 Practical Takeaways for Parents
Model awareness: show your child how you calm yourself, apologise, and take responsibility.
Hold space: listen without rushing to fix or advise.
Invite reflection: ask questions like "What do you need from me right now?" or "How does your heart feel about this?"
Balance technology: involve kids in decisions and explain what happens in their brain and body when they use screens.
Normalize emotions: let your children see you feel and express — calmly, consciously, and responsibly.
See sensitivity as strength: teach children how to clear their energy and see empathy as a gift, not a flaw.
🌱 For Young Listeners
"Stop listening to what the world tells you about who you are.
Go inwards — you are powerful, capable, and wise.
Whatever you believe about yourself becomes your truth." — Marilou Coombe
🔗 Connect with Marilou Coombe
Instagram / Facebook: Empowered Youth Coaching Academy
Programs: 1:1 Youth Coaching, Family Coaching, and Youth Mentor Training
Website: Coming soon — follow her socials for updates
📘 Connect with Leonie Du Toit
Book: Spiritual A.I. — The Authentic Intelligence: Awareness & Intuition, Your Inner Technology Available on Amazon - https://tinyurl.com/3jprfw9b
Podcast: The Spiritual A.I. Podcast — Awareness & Intuition Revolution
Website: www.leoniedutoit.com
Socials: @coachhealerleonie
