The Parent Pod

Oxytocin is the kingpin of brain chemistry and hormones.

It helps dial down stress, reduces feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, and creates the internal conditions for calm, safety, and regulation. When oxytocin is flowing, it becomes the gateway to deeper connection, love, and a sense of belonging.

In this episode, Rachel explores what oxytocin actually is, why it matters so much for emotional regulation and connection, how parents can intentionally cultivate it at home, and how we can empower children to activate their own oxytocin — even when connection with others isn’t immediately available.

If you’d like to go deeper into the neuroscience of regulation, autonomy, and daring, Raising R.A.D. Kids is available here:

https://amzn.asia/d/52r3PxJ

Stay rad.

Today, my book is officially out in the world, and this episode is about how it came to be.

After nearly fifteen years of working with children and families, and many more months of writing, revising, and editing, this book grew out of what I kept seeing in classrooms over time. More big feelings, more anxiety, more children struggling to cope, and a growing focus on behaviour without enough attention on what was happening underneath.

In this episode, I share why regulation became the heart of the book, why behaviour is never the whole story, and how understanding the nervous system changes the way we support children. We explore co-regulation, emotional literacy, parental triggers, and what children really need to feel safe enough to learn and grow.

If you’ve ever felt confused or discouraged by behaviour that doesn’t seem to improve, this conversation offers a calmer, more connected way forward.

For a copy of my book, please head over to:

www.quitefrankly.com.au

Stay rad

If your kids seem to be falling apart after Christmas, with more meltdowns, more tears, and bigger reactions, you are not imagining it, and you are not doing anything wrong.

In this episode, I talk about why kids often struggle once the Christmas build-up is over. Using a nervous system lens, I explain what is really going on underneath post-Christmas meltdowns, why behaviour can worsen when things slow down, and why emotional release is a sign of safety, not failure.

This episode is for parents who expected things to feel easier after Christmas and are instead feeling confused, tired, or questioning themselves. We look at what kids’ nervous systems have been holding, why it all comes out now, and how connection and co-regulation help children settle again.

If the days after Christmas feel harder than you expected, this one is for you.

Stay rad

In this heartfelt episode, I chat with Leila Kubesch, an award-winning educator, researcher, and founder of Parents 2 Partners, about what it truly takes to blend families with care, compassion, and connection.

Leila shares stories from her decades of experience supporting parents across cultures, and offers powerful insights into how we can raise emotionally secure kids—no matter what our family structure looks like.

We talk about:
💛 How to blend families while honoring each child’s emotional reality
🏡 Why a sense of belonging must come before behavior correction
🧠 Replacing shame-based habits with connection-based strategies
🛠️ Practical tools from classrooms and real homes that truly work

Whether you're navigating a new family dynamic or simply seeking to parent with more intention, this episode is filled with wisdom, warmth, and aha moments.

https://www.parents2partners.org/

In this inspiring episode of The Parent Pod, Rachel is joined by best-selling author, speaker, and content photographer Coral Emerson. Coral shares her journey of being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, living with a neurological condition, and rising above life’s challenges to create a life of purpose, creativity, and joy.

Drawing from her book Open the Door to a New You, Coral offers heartfelt insights into resilience, self-acceptance, and finding strength in adversity. Her story is a powerful reminder for parents—and anyone navigating hard times—that hope and transformation are always possible.

AmazonAUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0B4HTXP5D

Paperback

AmazonAUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0645504505

Facebook: Coral Emerson @coralemersonauthorhttps://www.facebook.com/coralemersonauthorInstagram: Coral Emerson @coral.emersonhttps://www.instagram.com/coral.emerson/
Website: https://www.coralemerson.com.au

In this episode of The Parent Pod, I’m joined by Leisa Robertson, whose journey is as honest as it is powerful. Together, we explore what it really means to let goof expectations—of ourselves, our children, and the parenting playbook we thought we were supposed to follow.

This conversation dives deep into the messy, meaningful moments that shape us—not just as parents, but as people. From questioning “the usual way” to navigatingneurodivergence and identity, this is a story about courage, connection, and rewriting the rules in a way that actually works.

Leisa speaks from the heart and her wisdom will not only inspire but help.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Kerry Morrison—an Aboriginal social worker, coach, parent, and founder of Empowerment2Be, based on Noongar Boodja in WA’s South West. With over 15 years’ experience across disability, education and trauma recovery, Kerry brings a deeply grounded, culturally safe, and strengths-based approach to her work with families of neurodivergent and disabled children.

Through NDIS-funded services, therapy-informed coaching, and practical, real-world strategies, Kerry helps families feel seen, supported, and equipped. She also hosts free Walk and Talk sessions in the community—because when parents and carers feel connected, kids are better able to thrive.

In this episode, we explore:

• Kerry’s story and what led her to create Empowerment2Be

• How to recognise and celebrate your child’s unique gifts—even if they don’t fit the mainstream mould

• What to hold onto when your child doesn’t fit into traditional systems

• The kinds of supports and alternative pathways that are available to families

• Practical strategies to build identity, confidence and emotional safety at home

• Why parents don’t need to have all the answers—and how to guide instead of “fix”

• Ways to explore future possibilities with your child without overwhelm

Whether your child is neurodivergent, disabled, or just forging their own path, this conversation is full of insight, honesty, and hope.

Empowerment2Be

Follow Kerry’s work and find out more about her Walk and Talk sessions at empowerment2be.com

Stay rad

In this episode of The Parent Pod, Rachel is joined by public speaker, educator, clinical hypnotherapist, and life coach Dani Hewton. With over 25 years of experience, Dani specialises in stress and pain reduction using a unique blend of science, psychology, energy healing, and holistic tools.

Dani shares her powerful personal journey of transformation—from chronic pain and financial hardship to a life of wellbeing and abundance—and how this inspired the creation of Next Gen Wellness. Together, they explore the rising rates of anxiety in tweens and teens, what it actually looks like, and how biological wiring during these years affects the way young people experience stress.

This conversation dives into what parents can do when nothing seems to help, why autonomy is such a powerful protective factor, and how to nurture it in ways that still feel safe and connected. Dani’s insights are grounded, practical, and full of hope for families navigating the complex emotional world of adolescence.

Parent Podders can download Dani’s Great Sleep Guide and access to sleep better hypnotherapy recording for free here https://forms.gle/nitHEV65Pxn9g8iDA
www.nextgen-wellness.com.au <http://www.nextgen-wellness.com.au>
https://www.facebook.com/nextgenwellnessau
https://www.instagram.com/danihewton/

In this episode of The Parent Pod, Rachel is joined by energy healer, coach, and Reiki Master Janene Shanahan for a powerful conversation about the unseen forces that shape our parenting and family life. With training in NLP, Timeline Techniques, and Hypnosis, Janene brings a deep, holistic perspective to the way we relate, regulate, and connect with our children.

Together, they explore Janene’s unique journey into energy work and what drew her to this healing path. For those unfamiliar with concepts like energy, frequency, and vibration in family life, Janene offers clear, grounded explanations that make these ideas both accessible and practical. She shares insights into how energy healing can support both parents and children—especially when they're feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or out of sync.

The conversation delves into the power of unconscious patterns, and how understanding and shifting our own internal responses can transform the way we show up as parents. Janene also offers practical ways to clear energy after challenging moments, and reframes self-regulation as an energetic act of love—something we gift our children every time we tend to our own wellbeing.

This episode is a beautiful blend of science, intuition, and deep care for the emotional world of families. Whether you're curious about energy work or simply seeking new ways to connect and regulate, you’ll find plenty of insight and inspiration here.

Contact for Janene:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064937445382

In this episode of The Parent Pod, we sit down with Reiki Master and NLP Master Practitioner Janene Shanahan, who shares her powerful journey into the world of energy work. We explore what “energy” means in the context of parenting, how it shapes family dynamics, and why understanding our unconscious patterns can help us show up with more awareness and love. Janene offers practical tools for clearing your energy, connecting with your child on a deeper level, and regulating yourself as an energetic act of love. If you’ve ever felt stuck, dysregulated, or just a little out of sync with your child, this episode is full of gentle insights and grounded strategies to help you reconnect—with yourself and with them.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Janene-Shanahan/100064937445382/