Today we are joined by an incredible guest, Odette Mould MBE. Odette is the founder of Harrys Rainbow, a charity set up to support bereaved children in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.

Odettes passion stems from her own tragic story of loss. Her son Harry lost his life when he was only five years old, following a short illness with asthma. What started as shortness of breath soon became more serious in hospital and little Harry left behind two devastated parents and his twin, Jessica.

It was when Odette felt underwhelmed, unsupported and disappointed by the lack the locally organised support for families and especially for Jess, that she took matters into her own hands, and within 18 months had created Harrys Rainbow.

The charity has since supported over 700 grieving children, and all of their immediate families, which means they have touched the lives of thousands of people in our community.

Odette and her charity are multiple award winners, despite only being a very small team, and they continue to do incredible work in our city and local areas.

With events, organised runs and tireless fundraising activities they are extremely active in a worrying financial climate and need more support than ever to continue to help the growing number of children needing their support.

This episode comes with a trigger warning. The story of Odettes loss, and her beautiful boy will move you to tears. But her strength, resilience and motivation to build something incredible that helps others will inspire you and reinforce that against all odds, we can do hard things.

https://www.harrysrainbow.co.uk/view/Podcast

Chria Crafts

Today special guest Natalie Costa, founder of Power Thoughts coaching, joined me in the studio to support you and I, and our children through the emotional transition of starting, returning to, or moving schools.

Natalie explains the anxiety our kids might experience, the reasons why, and what we can do and say to support them.

We get tips on how to deal with bed time crying and anxious school runs. What to look out for in the next few weeks and how we might use some of these tips and tools to help us as grown adults navigating our own emotions.

This episide is worth its weight in gold.

https://www.powerthoughts.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/powerthoughtsnc/

In this episode I am basically holding space for us parents to feel all the emotions we need to feel when our kids go back to school, start school, move schools and all that goes in between.

This year my littlest goes to school for the first time, so its the beginning of a new chapter, and the end of one too. And in truth I'm mourning the loss of having a little one, a preschooler, a baby! So here is the space you might need to get a cuppa and sit with your feelings for a moment.

I also then play Meghan Trainor who always sorts me out, shifts my mood and so I pick up a bit and start reflecting on the mistakes I see us parents mking during the holidays and what I've learnt from them to hopefully have a more stress free summer/ days out schedule next time.

Enjoy, and thanks for listening as always xxx

Zoe was always a confident and energetic teen, hugely into acting and Am Dram, then a series of set backs in her uni years knocked her confidence to the ground.

This is a brilliant episode which encourages all of us to hold on tight to our passions and to trust that what is meant to be will be, at the right time, as Zoe shares how one chance connection with a friend changed her whole life's path.

Zoe goes from lacking confidence and broken to rediscovering her passion, the love of her life and now the career of her dreams.

All while parenting three wonderful children!

Work with Zoe as a Public Speaking Coach or Voice Over Artist - www.instagram.com/zbvoice

Such a great conversation with the lovely Kirstie Watson, Milton Keynes based, Children's Book Author and entrepreneur.

Kirstie shares her story from childhood when she first recognised her love and talent of story telling and explains how the pursuit of a "proper" degree and corporate job distracted her for a short while from her true passion for writing. However, we learn that all of these experiences, as well as the twists and turns of motherhood, contribute fabulously to her enormous success as an author, as Kirstie uses her skills in Business and IT to optimise and leverage Amazon to become an extremely successful self publisher on the worlds largest platform.

Kirstie is now an Amazon No 1 Best Selling Author and maintained that title across many categories for months and months. Now having published over 11 titles, she also helps other budding authors find their own feet in writing and in the self publishing world (KDP).

We not only learn from Kirstie the ups and downs of becoming an author, but we also discuss the ever growing usage of AI platforms such as Chat GPT in all areas of writing and whether this is a good thing or not for the future of story telling as we know it.

Kirstie's latest book 'The Fairies Pettle and Nettle and The Best Story Ever' takes us on an adventure with two best friend fairies. We follow Pettle as his friends encourage him to dive into his imagination to create his own wonderful story book, instead of using his magical powers to do the work for him. It's a lovely tale encouraging perseverance in children, while also cleverly helping the reader learn the steps to take to create their own stories.

Kirstie's books are all available on Amazon and on her own website https://www.kirstiewatsonauthor.co.uk/

Wonderful powerhouse Shalom Lloyd joins me to share the origins of her business Naturally Tribal. Her incredible raw shea butter formula is helping communities across the world, giving job opportunities to women in Esan and relieving cancer patients and those with severe skin conditions.

Her incredible products are now available in Harrods Beauty, and her brand new Paw Patrol collaboration with Paramount is exclusively available in Frosts Garden Centre Woburn Sands, and of course the entire range is available online at www.naturallytribal.com.

This story and the difference the products is making is a pure inspiration.

Corinne's super interesting story from being grief stricken and inactive, to taking one small step at a time, to being able to lift weights and run 16 times around the Mill field. She shares how her journey into exercise helps her battle deep rooted anxiety from childbirth trauma, and the oncoming of health anxiety during covid.

Corinne explains to us that getting fit and healthy is possible for anyone.

This eye opening episode with Heena, founder of thriving Etsy business Mummys Bubble, busts the myths around the Hijab, the role of women in Muslim society and highlights how our organisations and constructs marginalise Muslim communities, to the detriment of mental health.

Heena supports the charity Mind with the sales of her amazing felt ball home decor products, is a writer and poet and uses all her platforms to encourage and support women and children in her community to embrace their culture, unique powers and talents.

https://www.mummysbubble.com/

Books referenced: https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745345413/tangled-in-terror/

www.instagram.com/mummysbubble

Fancy a date night? Need child care for guests children at an event or wedding. Going away for the weekend, or need regular weekly childcare??

Wonderful Simone joins us to share her 20 year history of foster caring and nannying in London, and how this led her to create a wonderful business that supports families, helping them find the perfect nanny to support their bespoke needs.

We cover the obvious questions that most of us have around child care costs and if having a nanny is viable for families that are not necessarily high earners. We myth bust and explain how actually having a nanny as part of your child care mix adds flexibility and actually can offer a better value option in come cases, especially if you have multiple children.

Find Simone at Guardian Angels Childcare

Helen shares her battles with severe anxiety, panic attacks and health anxiety, and bravely recounts the root causes of her diagnosis, from childhood trauma, losing a parent, and growing up in an era when talk therapy and opening up about our feelings was not the done thing.

Helen takes us on the journey from physical and mental burn out to building the Slow Down Collective - a business that helps women achieve small moments to slow down, stop and collect themselves. Moments of calm stolen away from the crazy pace of day to day life, through walking and meditative practices.

Follow Helens social strolls and Slow moments here: https://www.instagram.com/slowdowncollective/

Other shows mentioned: How to take control of your perimenopause symptoms before jumping into HRT, with Functional Medicine Practioner, Liz Sergeant