Picky eating can be frustrating (and exhausting) for parents – but there's often so much more beneath the surface than simply a child being "fussy." 

In this episode, I explore some of the psychological factors that can contribute to and maintain selective eating in children. 

I chat about: 

If you’ve ever wondered why your child is so selective or how to shift the dynamic at mealtimes without pressure or power struggles, this episode is for you.

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What if we treated mental health the same way we treat physical fitness?

In this episode, we explore the concept of mental fitness and why proactively building emotional strength, regulation, and resilience is one of the most important gifts we can give our children. My guest, Natalie von Teichman, children’s mental fitness coach and founder of Mindfully, shares how mental fitness helps children develop the skills they need before stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm show up.

Together, we discuss why simply telling kids to “calm down” doesn’t work, how breathing and co-regulation support nervous system regulation, and why allowing children to experience manageable discomfort actually builds resilience.

Natalie and I chat about:

Natalie von Teichman is a children’s mental fitness coach, mindfulness educator, mom of four, and the founder of Miindfully, the brand behind the world’s first meditation stuffie for kids (a multisensory, screen-free tool designed to support emotional regulation, sleep, and resilience through play). With a background in health science, mindfulness education, and pediatric mental wellness, Natalie’s work focuses on helping children build mental agility, emotional regulation, and self-compassion using evidence-informed, developmentally appropriate strategies. Her approach integrates breath regulation, cognitive processes, role-play, and neuroscience-based mindfulness practices.

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In this episode, I am joined by clinical psychologist, yoga instructor, and meditation teacher Dr Kaitlin Harkess to explore how somatic practices, nervous system regulation, and body awareness can support mental health, especially anxiety and overwhelm.

Dr Kaitlin and I chat about: 

Dr Kaitlin Harkess, host of the Wisdom for Wellbeing podcast and founder of the holistically oriented therapy practice of the same name, is an award-winning Clinical Psychologist and Senior Yoga Instructor who helps burnt-out individuals develop the psychological skills they need to change their lives for the better. 

Kaitlin’s research on the psychoneuroimmunological impact of a yoga practice for chronic stress has been featured in Time, while her expertise on the therapeutic use of mindfulness and meditation has seen her featured in The Holistic Approach television series. As a result of her scientific research and clinical practice, Kaitlin understands how to maximize the healing and performance enhancing benefits of integrating mindful wisdom practices with modern psychological interventions.

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Unburdening Motherhood: How Mothers Can Heal Trauma and Become Self-Led
Why Motherhood Triggers Us - and How to Heal Using Parts Work From Perfectionism to Self-Compassion: Healing Motherhood with Dr Angele Close Healing Trauma and Reparenting Yourself Through Motherhood

Breaking Generational Cycles in Motherhood with Clinical Psychologist Dr Angele Close.

In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist, motherhood coach, and author Dr Angele Close to explore motherhood, self-compassion, and what it really takes to move out of exhaustion and overwhelm in motherhood.

Dr. Angele shares how her own journey through motherhood - and the profound challenges of matrescence, led her to shift her work toward supporting mothers’ mental and emotional wellbeing. Together, we explore how unhealed childhood patterns, cultural expectations of “good motherhood,” and internalized perfectionism can leave mothers feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and disconnected from themselves.

We discuss Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work, which provide a compassionate approach that supports mothers in understanding their inner world, easing self-criticism, and responding more calmly and authentically in parenting.

Dr Angele and I chat about: 

This episode is an invitation to move out of survival mode, reconnect with your inner wisdom, and become more self-led in motherhood.

Dr Angele Close is a psychologist, motherhood coach, and author with nearly 20 years of clinical experience. Her work centers on supporting mothers in moving out of exhaustion, depletion, and overwhelm, and reclaiming a healthy, thriving identity in motherhood. Her approach is shaped not only by professional training, but by her own lived experience navigating the challenges of early motherhood. Dr Angele specializes in maternal mental health, Internal Family Systems, and cycle-breaking work for mothers.

Her book, Unburdening Motherhood: A Guide to Breaking Cycles, Healing Trauma, and Becoming a Self-Led Mom, offers practical tools, reflections, and guided practices to support mothers in deep inner healing.

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Have you ever found yourself holding your breath at the dinner table? Watching what your child will (or won’t) eat.

Counting bites. Wondering if you’re doing something wrong.

Mealtimes can quietly become one of the most stressful parts of parenting, especially when selective or “picky” eating enters the picture.

But what if it’s not just about the food?

When we zoom out, we see that eating is connected to emotional safety, nervous system regulation, sensory processing, modelling, and the overall parent–child relationship. Pressure, praise, rewards, and even our own food hang-ups can unintentionally make things harder.

The good news? There are practical, compassionate ways to shift the dynamic.

This is what we discuss in this episode. This episode is a little different as dietitian Atheana Brown is the one asking the questions and I am answering. 

Atheana and I chat about: 

If you’re feeling stuck, stressed, or overwhelmed by your child’s eating, this episode might just get you looking at it from a fresh perspective. 

You don’t have to stay stuck and neither does your child.

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In this episode, I chat with Erin Bury, Co-Founder and CEO of Willful, to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and financial wellbeing.

Erin shares her unconventional path into entrepreneurship, from journalism to tech startups, and what she’s learned about taking risks, validating ideas, and building a business without being a “born entrepreneur.” 

She opens up about the realities of running a company while raising two young children, including time constraints, invisible labour, and the importance of supportive partnerships, all while rejecting the myth of perfection.

Erin and I chat about: 

This episode is a conversation for parents who are building careers, raising children, and trying to navigate it all with intention, without burning out.

Named one of The Globe & Mail’s Changemakers in 2025, Erin Bury is an entrepreneur, startup advisor. and a former marketer and technology journalist. Erin is the co-founder and CEO at online estate planning platform Willful, where she drives the company’s mission to ensure every Canadian has a will. Erin secured a deal for the company on TV’s Dragons’ Den in December 2021 Erin is also a columnist at The Globe and Mail, where she writes about parenting and personal finance. She is also a board member for Save the Children Canada. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario with her husband and two young daughters.

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As parents, we are all desperate for our babies to sleep. 

Yet we’re often unsure how to support our infants to sleep in a way that feels right. Harsh sleep training methods don’t sit well, but neither does chronic exhaustion.

The good news is that there is an alternative: one that is attachment-focused, keeps us connected to our babies even during the night, and importantly, supports the whole family.

In this episode, I am joined by Gabrielle Ferrara, a nurture neuroscience practitioner, infant sleep coach, and licensed clinical social worker with training in perinatal mental health.

Gabrielle shares a neuroscience-informed look at infant and toddler sleep, challenging common myths around independence, self-soothing, and sleep training. Together, we explore what’s developmentally normal for babies, why frequent night waking is protective, and how connection and responsiveness support healthy brain development.

Gabrielle and I chat about: 

Gabrielle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey and Florida, Certified in Perinatal Mental Health and a Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner trained through The Nurture Revolution by Dr Greer Kirshenbaum. She supports parents using a nurturing, neuroscience-informed approach to infant sleep, emotional regulation, and maternal mental health.

Gabrielle’s own transition into motherhood deeply shapes her work. After relocating from New Jersey to Tampa, Florida during her third trimester, she became the primary caregiver to a high-needs baby, navigating reflux, feeding challenges, and significant sleep struggles. This lived experience informs her compassionate, non–sleep-training approach to supporting families.

She offers 1:1 sleep support for parents of babies ages 0–3, pregnancy and parent circles, and nurturing sleep and parenting workshops. She is passionate about helping parents feel supported, regulated, and less alone in early motherhood.

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How can yoga and psychology support our nervous system and our mental health in everyday life?

In this episode of Wild & Well, I’m joined by Dr Lauren Tober, a clinical psychologist, yoga teacher, and founder of the Yoga Psychology Institute, to explore how yoga and psychology can work together to support mental health, nervous system regulation, and emotional wellbeing.

We discuss accessible, practical tools for navigating stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, especially during motherhood and busy seasons of life.

Dr Lauren and I talk about:

Dr Lauren Tober is a clinical psychologist, yoga teacher, and author of Mental Health Aware Yoga, who bridges psychology and yoga to support mental health and nervous system regulation. Her work is evidence-based yet soulful, grounded in the belief that happiness is our true nature and can be cultivated through practices like breath, compassion, creativity, and community.

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It is our responsibility as parents to care for our children’s mental health just as we do their physical health. We nourish them with food, support healthy sleep, and make space for time outdoors in fresh air. Tending to our kids’ mental health matters just as much. This can be as simple as opening up conversation with them. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Jason Reid, an entrepreneur, father, and founder of Tell My Story, an organization dedicated to transforming how families, schools, and communities talk about mental health.

Jason shares the heartbreaking story that changed his life forever – the loss of his 14-year-old son – and how that experience led him to dedicate his life to helping parents better understand, recognize, and support their children’s mental health.

Jason reminds us that mental health is not something to react to once there’s a crisis. It’s something we must actively take responsibility for, just like our kids’ physical health.

Jason and I chat about: 

Jason Reid is the founder of TellMyStory.org and a leading advocate for youth mental health. After losing his 14-year-old son to suicide in 2018, Jason made it his mission to help parents have the conversations that can save lives. Through documentaries, school programs, talks, and resources, Tell My Story equips parents to take ownership of their children’s mental health with compassion and awareness.

A serial entrepreneur and executive coach, Jason brings a practical, grounded approach to prevention rooted in lived experience. Above all, he is a husband and father of four, committed to turning personal loss into meaningful change.

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Food sensitivities are more common than ever. But they’re rarely just about the food. 

In this episode, I’m joined by dietitian and functional health nutritionist Christa Biegler to unpack what food sensitivities really are, why restriction often backfires, and what your symptoms may actually be trying to tell you. We explore the roles of stress, digestion, the nervous system, and environmental factors like mold, and where to start if you’re feeling reactive to everything.

Christa and I talk about:

Christa Biegler, RD is an award-winning dietitian and root-cause nutritionist, and the owner of Less Stressed Life Nutrition. She helps people resolve food sensitivities, inflammation, and eczema without unnecessary restriction, endless supplementation, or costly testing. She lives with her unicycling husband & kids in the Midwest.

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