Unlearn Me

In our twenty-third episode, we meet with Penny Blunden from Sick Happens. 

As a parent, when it comes to your sick little ones have you ever asked yourself:

• Is this normal?
• What if…?
• What do I do now?

Spoiler alert, you aren’t alone! Join us as we chat with Penny, a paediatric nurse and creator of ‘Sick Happens’ to explore navigating through the ‘everyday relentless inevitable sickness!’ that comes along with raising children. 

Penny guides us through troubleshooting, decision making and the all important ‘staying calm’ when it comes to sick kids. We hope this conversations brings about feelings of empowerment and guides you through unlearning unhelpful narratives you may have picked up along the way. 

To find Penny’s work please follow the links:

• @sick.happens
• https://www.sickhappens.com.au/

The tool ‘CRABS for credibility’ Penny refers to by Jessica Stokes-Parish:

• https://www.jessicastokesparish.com/
• https://www.jessicastokesparish.com/blog/crabs-the-credibility-framework

Music Credit

• https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/ception
• License code: SEBJDVP5ASAG7PH3

In our twenty-second episode of the podcast we meet with Laura Higgins, Business Coach, speaker, marketing expert and fellow podcaster. She is a breath of fresh air in a potentially intimidating and cutthroat industry. 

Whether it's her infectious smile, epic content or down to earth, approachable and genuine nature (can you tell we adore her), Laura is someone you want to connect with. 

For almost seven years, Laura has been working as a Business Coach and what started as a side hustle is now her main game. Join us as she shares with us how she built her business and its evolution over that time. 

Laura generously shares some key unlearnings that will help your creative business thrive:

• How we as women fill the need to keep all of our  spinning plates in the air - trust the process and honour the season you’re in 
• Showing up as authentically you - the importance of values and how these evolve overtime as your business grows 
• The power of community over competition - fostering generosity of resources and connection 

Prior to recording, Laura asked us a question we have not been asked by a guest before - “who is your audience?”. This is something we have struggled to define in the past, not wanting to exclude anyone from our conversations, however, as we know products thrive when they are tailored to an audience and, in our conversation with Laura we learn that this is how you can properly align with your values and authenticity. So, this episode has been curated with working and creative women and mothers in mind. We hope you are energised by this conversation, we sure are.  

To find Laura’s work please follow the links:

• @laurahiggins
• https://laurahiggins.com/

Music Credit

• https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/ception
• License code: SEBJDVP5ASAG7PH3

In our twenty-first episode, we revisit our solo series, Unpack That. 

Join us as we unpack the current season of Channel 9’s ‘Parental Guidance’ episodes three and four. We are grateful to the show for opening up conversations about parenting styles and helping people find what styles resonate with them within their families. 

We discuss what we wish we had known about parenting before getting into it. 

These episodes introduce us to the Influencer, Stage, Team and Spiritual parents as the focus families. Over the two nights we see how the parents and their children address challenging topics like understanding anatomy, managing disappointment and emergency situations. How would your family act in these situations?  The discussion from the families and helpful insight from Dr Justin Colsom will help you to contemplate this question. 

Find the show on:

• https://www.9now.com.au/

The book Jade refers to:

• "Welcome to..." Series by Yumi Stynes and Dr Melissa Kang

Music Credit

• https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/ception
• License code: SEBJDVP5ASAG7PH3

In our twentieth episode, we revisit our solo series, Unpack That. 

Despite the challenges in getting this episode into your ears we persisted after a few attempts and many distractions. So yet again, we do not have a perfect episode for you, but hey isn’t perfectionism something we can all unlearn? 

Join us as we unpack the current season of Channel 9’s ‘Parental Guidance’. We are grateful to the show for opening up conversations about parenting styles and helping people find what styles resonate with them within their families. 

We discuss what parenting means to us and the ways that we aim to parent our little ones, though we do acknowledge that this is not something that is finite, it is ever changing and so should we be. 

We unpack the first two episodes of this season including the different tasks they set for the focus families. We have found the tasks helpful in providing examples for families to consider ways that they would tackle difficult topics with their children, for example the really big one that is relevant to us all, how to manage cyber safety. 

Find the show on:

• https://www.9now.com.au/

Music Credit

• https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/ception
• License code: SEBJDVP5ASAG7PH3

In our nineteenth episode, we revisit our solo series, Unpack That. 
Join us as we unpack the balancing act  of modern motherhood, being a professional and a parent.  We candidly discuss the myths and realities surrounding this journey, offering insights and the unlearning of conventional expectations along the way.

From the notion of "having it all" to the realities of returning to work and prioritising self-care. How we foster supportive networks at home and flexibility in the workplace and the new need to embrace imperfection , as we redefine success. Come and explore the multifaceted aspects of being a modern mum with us! 

For more research and support in this area please check out the following:

• Motherhood Studies Sociologist Dr Sophie Brock: 
  • https://drsophiebrock.com 
  • @drsophiebrock
• Eliza's book recommendation:
  • @thedanishway
  • https://thedanishway.com

Music Credit

• https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/ception
• License code: SEBJDVP5ASAG7PH3

In our eighteenth episode we meet with self professed bad ass activist and fat liberationist, Demi Lynch. 

As the brains behind the intersectional news outlet Kaleidoscope News and the Faternise Podcast, Demi helps us to realise the fatphobia that is, unfortunately embedded in our western culture and how some of our most enjoyed movies and TV shows have and continue to exacerbate this.  Further, we discuss the internal fat phobia that is likely within all of us. It’s time to check in with yourself around this. 

Demi is known to go on a rant or two as she openly states at the start of the episode and we are thankful for her courage to do this. She uses her background in communications to take on people in the media who are sharing harmful messages to not only us, but our younger generations, which as we know can be very difficult and isolating work. 

Demi’s message is clear - be open and listen, oh and people in wheelchairs wear underwear too, didn’t you know?!

We would like to acknowledge that in this episode we do talk about the ‘Exercise’ episode in the children’s TV show, Bluey. This episode has now been amended to remove the start of the episode discussed in this podcast. 

Please find Demi’s work here:

• @kalidescopenews
• @fraternise

Music Credit
- https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/ception
- License code: SEBJDVP5ASAG7PH3

In our seventeenth episode we meet with Abby Herrick, owner and creator of Pleasure and Peach, an evidenced based sexual wellness online store. 

Abby completed a degree in psychological science with a focus on sexology in 2016 but it was not until 2018 when she was admiring her new, first bub enjoying some tummy time that Pleasure and Peach was born. Abby describes this work as how her passion, skill set, studies and lived experience come to life. So, thank you Juniper!   

This rich conversation helps to explore some of the societal conditioning we experience around female sexual expression. Abby’s work aims to connect women and non-binary vulva owners, with ourselves at the juiciest level. As well as the online store, she facilitates creative workshops for women and non-binary vulva owners, holding a safe space for exploration of sexual self care including solo sex, enhancing sex with your partner and promotion of ‘body safe’ sex toys. 

Personally, Abby is a mother of two girls and a wife. We are so grateful for Abby sharing some of her personal life and experience with mental ill health. There's no question, Abby is a shining light; our conversation was genuine, expansive and energetic. It left us wanting more.

Please find Abby’s work here:

• @pleasure_and_peach
• https://www.pleasureandpeach.com.au/ 

The book Abby refers to:

https://www.pleasureandpeach.com.au/product-page/better-sex-through-mindfulness-by-lori-a-brotto

The article Abby refers to:

https://www.pleasureandpeach.com.au/post/good-vibes-only-vibrator-myths-and-misunderstandings-with-dr-laurie-mintz

Trigger warning - in this episode we discuss eating disorders. If this episode raises any concerns for you please seek your own support, you can access free support via:

• https://insideoutinstitute.org.au/
• https://nedc.com.au/support-and-services/get-help/
• https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/

Music Credit

• https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/ception
• Licence code: SEBJDVP5ASAG7PH3

In our sixteenth episode we meet with Chantelle Towers, also known online as the @theassertivesocialworker. This year Chantelle has opened up her own private practice, Reach Wellbeing where she hosts a range of therapeutic offerings. 

Chantelle is the epitome of when passion meets profession, and as she puts it, she “cares a lot about a lot”. This is a BIG episode, we talk about the emotional labour of working in the helping profession and break down what a Social Worker is. We also talk about the vulnerability and load we experience in holding difficult and controversial conversations. 

Chantelle is leading conversations about what it really means to be “professional” and is challenging the stigma around this. Chantelle also discusses the benefit of a ‘micro influence’ that you can have from social media. 

Chantelle is an experienced clinician and works with people who have experienced family and domestic violence. We unpack this area including intergenerational trauma and how this can affect more of us than we may realise. 

Chantelle generously shares helpful information online, please find her work here:

• @theassertivesocialworker 
• Reach Wellbeing 

Trigger warning - in this episode we discuss family and domestic violence, sexual assault and suicide. If this episode raises any concerns for you please seek your own support, you can access free support via:

• 1800RESPECT / 1800 737 732 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line 
• National Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Trauma Counselling and Recovery Service: 1800 385 578
• National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service: 1800 211 028

As we acknowledged at the start of the episode, unfortunately we had some serious interruptions to our recording, we apologise for this. Despite this it is still an informative and impactful conversation, please enjoy. 

Music Credit

• https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/ception
• Licence code: SEBJDVP5ASAG7PH3

For our fifteenth episode we joined forces with Nic Clarke Mitchell, Co-Founder of pilates studio HOUSE OF SCULPT and classical ballet teacher, to shift the narrative of the fitness industry. 

We were inspired by Nic’s Tedx Talk in October 2022 where she called out the industry for fostering guilt and shame within society based on the way we look. Nic is passionate about unlearning this and reframing movement as an enhancement on life. 

Really, what we felt after our conversation with Nic is that she is a beautiful soul who is on this planet for a life of service and she is doing an amazing job.

We are truly sorry for the audio issues in this one, we are undergoing the process of fixing this so please bear with us. 

Please find Nic and the amazing work she is doing via:

• @nicclarkemitchell
• @thehouseofsculpt
• @tedxyouthreddamhouse
• A new era of movement | Nicole Clarke Mitchell | TEDxYouth@ReddamHouse

Trigger warning - in this episode we discuss body image issues.

We hope you got as much out of this as we did. Please remember to leave a review and subscribe to keep this independent poddy thriving and not just surviving.

If you want to see a little behind the scenes, make sure to check us out on instagram @unlearnme.thepodcast. If you have any questions or feedback you can also get in contact via our email on [email protected].

Music Credit

• https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/ception
• License code: SEBJDVP5ASAG7PH3k

We’re back baby! And we’re back with babies! 

We left you high and dry, we get it. We are so very sorry, life got real, busy and big for us for a while. 

After 12 months almost to the date we are back here serving you, our community with some juicy goodness holding authentic conversations with passionate thought leaders. 

This episode explains where the hell we have been and what our plan is for SEASON 2. 

Let’s make some magic!