Episodes
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Welcome to another episode of Mini Maestros Thrive 0-5 Today, we are excited to welcome Kristy Forbes, an Australian-based autism and neurodiversity support specialist with extensive national and international experience.
Kristy combines professional expertise with personal lived experience. Her background includes roles as an educator across all levels, an integration aide, and a childhood behavioural and family support specialist. Academically, she holds degrees in Political and Social Sciences, Education, and Literature, Film, and Art.
Diagnosed as autistic, ADHD, and with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Kristy is also a parent to four neurodivergent children with diverse profiles, including non-speaking autism, apraxia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s syndrome, and PDA. Her unique perspective as an individual, parent, and professional enables her to deeply understand and support neurodivergent families.
Kristy’s work is marked by empathy and compassion, shaped by her personal experiences with adversity, including leaving school at fifteen, facing addiction, family violence, homelessness, and becoming a parent at eighteen. These experiences inform her approach to parenting and support, emphasising the importance of valuing each individual’s unique experience.
In this episode, Kristy will share insights on the misunderstood experiences of neurodivergent individuals, her work in the PDA space, and her strategies for addressing PDA-related trauma and burnout. Her commitment to fostering understanding and support for neurodivergent communities offers invaluable insights for parents, educators, and professionals.
So, sit back, relax, and join us for an enriching conversation with Kristy Forbes on Mini Maestros Thrive 0-5.
To learn more, see Kristy’s website:
kristyforbes.com.au
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Welcome, dear listeners, to another enchanting episode of Mini Maestros Thrive 0-5 podcast! Today, we're in for a treat as we explore the whimsical world of a dynamic duo turning children's music into a playful wonderland. Meet Esther and Maddy, the creative minds behind the kid's band, Whistle and Trick, based in the vibrant city of Melbourne.
Childhood friends with a knack for mischief, Esther and Maddy's musical journey started in their goody-goody high school choir days. Now, reunited as the creators of Whistle and Trick, they're bringing their love for children's music to life.
Hailing from families of singer-songwriters, music teachers, and orchestral musicians, Esther and Maddy's musical roots run deep. Their diverse backgrounds led them to perform in bands worldwide, but their hearts always had a soft spot for working with children.
With careers in music education, the duo naturally gravitated towards crafting fun songs for kids and Whistle and Trick was born. As big kids themselves, they explore the wacky wonders of life through various musical styles and instruments, inspired by the Teeny Tiny Stevies and Dan Sultan's "Nali and Friends."
So, buckle up for a journey into the wild musical brains of Whistle and Trick – where sparkle and cheekiness abound.
To learn more or join their mailing list check out their website:
https://www.whistleandtrick.com/
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Episodes manquant?
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Discover a game-changing episode of Mini Maestros Podcast Thrive0-5 as we sit down with Sandi Phoenix, the visionary mind behind Phoenix Support.
Uncover the transformative power of her framework, The Phoenix Cups, which has not only revolutionised how staff approach children's behaviour but has also reshaped team dynamics. Sandi's approach provides a fresh perspective on understanding and responding positively to differences and conflicts, fostering harmony within teams.
Widely recognised as a speaker, coach, mentor, and Professional Development Facilitator in the education and care sector, Sandi brings a wealth of knowledge.
Join us in this episode to delve into her insights, shaped by her Bachelor of Psychological Science and post grad studies in psych and neuroscience, as we explore the mind of the founder of the Phoenix cups. Don't miss this engaging conversation that promises to elevate your understanding and approach to early childhood education.
More Info:
https://www.phoenix-support.com.au/sandiphoenix
Do the Quiz Here:
https://www.phoenix-support.com.au/phoenix-cups
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Welcome to another episode of Mini Maestros Thrive 0 to 5. I'm thrilled to introduce you to an extraordinary guest who has redefined the boundaries of music, Nat Bartsch.
Nat Bartsch, a two-time ARIA-nominated Australian pianist and composer, is renowned for her enchanting and contemplative musical creations. Her compositions seamlessly traverse a spectrum from neoclassical to jazz, weaving influences from the likes of Arvo Pärt, Debussy, Nils Frahm, and Sigur Ros, among others. Her artistic journey explores not just genres, but emotions and experiences, resulting in a diverse array of albums that touch hearts across the world.
With eight albums under her belt, Nat's music resonates in deeply personal moments, from the birthing suite to the final hours of life. Her transformative compositions have provided solace and connection to people from all walks of life, thanks to her lullabies that soothe babies, accompany labouring mothers, and offer comfort to those navigating mental illness and grief.
Nat's innovation doesn't stop at her music. She established her own record label, Amica Records, a haven for genre-blurring, compassionate music. Her dedication to pushing artistic boundaries is evident in her collaborations with a range of acclaimed artists, from Grigoryan Brothers to Teeny Tiny Stevies.
Through her remarkable journey, Nat challenges conventions, effortlessly straddling classical and jazz realms. She's a true pioneer, breaking new ground and inspiring us to embrace creativity without limits.
In this episode, we delve into Nat's artistic evolution, her unique compositions, and the power of music to heal and connect.
Stay tuned for a wonderful conversation with the extraordinary Nat Bartsch, right here on Mini Maestros Thrive 0 to 5.
If you want to catch one of Nat's live shows she has a couple of upcoming gigs on September 20th at Montsalvat.
She’s playing Hope in the evening, and a lullaby show for families in the afternoon.
Here are the links:
Family show:
https://www.montsalvat.com.au/whats-on-1/2023/9/20/lullabies-nat-bartsch
Hope:
https://www.montsalvat.com.au/whats-on-1/2023/9/20/hope-nat-bartsch
And to learn more about Nat or to buy her music, you can head over to her website is: https://www.natbartsch.com/
https://www.instagram.com/natbartsch/
https://www.facebook.com/natbartschpiano
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In this episode, you'll meet Susie Davies-Splitter, a music educator, composer, and co-founder of Welcome to Music, a wonderful collection of resources for children, teachers, and parents. Susie has created and performed countless songs, musicals, and choral works that are loved and used worldwide, including many of the songs in the Mini Maestros program. You'll hear about her musical journey, her enthusiasm for music education, and her advice for making music fun and engaging for everyone. Don't miss this inspiring conversation with Susie Davies-Splitter, who champions the importance of singing for both adults and children alike.
LINKS
Susie & Phil's Website
Susie & Phil's YouTube Channel
Susie and Phil offer a membership program for educators that includes various professional development courses in the fields of Early Childhood and primary education. They also teach how to play the ukulele.
Learn more here.
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Welcome to today's podcast, where we interview Heather Nardi, founder of Empath Mama. Heather is dedicated to helping highly sensitive and empathic mums live healthy, fulfilling lives. Through her unique combination of life coaching, spiritual practices and her own parenting experiences, Heather has created powerful tools and programs specifically designed to help mums understand their sensitive empath trait and experience the same life-changing shift she did when she discovered holistic and spiritual methods.
Based in Minnesota, Heather is a mama of two (21-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son) and has been married to her husband Mario for over 20 years. She is also the author of “The Sensitive Ones”.
By joining the Empath Mama community, parents gain access to education, support, and a safe space to share experiences as an empathic mum. Tune in to learn more from Heather about Empath Mama and how she's helping mums like you to find balance and joy.
Links:
Heathers Website:
https://empathmama.com
Empath Mamma Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/EmpathMama
Book – “The Highly Sensitive Parent” By Elaine N. Aron
https://www.amazon.com.au/Highly-Sensitive-Parent-care-your-ebook/dp/B07XBPGQYN
Book – “The Sensitive Ones” By Heather Nardi
https://www.amazon.com/Sensitive-Ones-Healing-Understanding-Childs/dp/1634894847
Heather’s LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathernardi/
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In this episode of Mini Maestros Thrive 0-5 we interview Louis Hamlyn-Harris who is “Be You” Executive Manager for Early Childhood Australia. Louis has worked as an early childhood teacher and leader in a variety of settings across Australia, Vietnam and the U.S. Prior to joining Be You, he was founding Senior Director of Early Childhood at Manny Cantor Center, a progressive socio-economically integrated early childhood program in New York City. Louis believes that children thrive in the context of rich relationships and in environments that support their powerful drive to make sense of the world around them. It was wonderful to have Louis on the show and hear his refreshing perspectives.
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Our guest today is Donna Wright, a passionate and extremely experienced leader in education. Donna has been the recipient or finalist for multiple awards including
Australian Principal of the Year (2020). Australian Primary Principal of the Year (2020), Australian Primary School of the Year – Finalist (2021), Australian Best Covid Programming – Finalist (2021), just to name a few.
This is testament to her commitment and passion for education and it is an honour to have her on our show today.
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In this episode Mini Maestros interviews Gavin McCormack. Gavin is a rockstar in the education world. Tune in to hear his thoughts, feelings and approaches to educating the next generation, both in Australia and abroad.
A bit more about Gavin; He the co-founder of Upschool.co - an online platform to bring free schooling to children around the globe, Kindbox.com - a fundraising experience for those who care about changing the world, and educationInfluence.com -a global network of influencers driving education standards worldwide.
Gavin was nominated for Australian Principal of the Year 2020, is a TEDx speaker, was nominated for Australian Author of the Year in 2017, is an Australian of the Year Nominee and was named as the 10th Most Influential Educator in the World by LinkedIn.
On a quest for educational equality, Gavin has worked tirelessly to raise money to personally build many schools, libraries and teacher training centres in the Himalayan region of Nepal across the last 5 years, all this whilst successfully running one of Australia’s best Montessori primary schools. Gavin is also a Montessori Australia Ambassador, School Principal of the Year finalists 2020 - TEDX Speaker - 6-12 Montessori Teacher- Australian LinkedIn Top Voice 2019/2020 – and Best-Selling Author.
Tune in to episode 6 to hear what this ambitious and inspiring man has to say on various topics about education and children in today’s world.
Learn More About Gavin Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavinmccormack
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In this episode, Mini Maestros interviews Filipa Bellette, Co-Founder of Chris & Filly Functional Medicine. Filly is an accredited Clinical Nutritionist & Functional Medicine Practitioner, a PhD thought-leader, and award-winning writer. Together with her husband Chris Bellette, Filipa has worked with over 2,000+ busy, burnout clients in the last combined 20+ years, and specialises in producing healthy, productive and happy Mums & Dads...or as she calls it, a Power Parent! Filipa’s own passion for producing high-performance Power Parents came from her own personal experience of Mummy Burnout, after having babies, and juggling the demands of business, family, and her failing health. Chris & Filly are on a mission to change the trajectory of the future of our planet, by forging a tribe of POWER PARENTS around Australia…and the world! They believe that no amount of success can compensate failure in the family. It is every child’s human right to grow up healthy, happy and loved. And they believe it starts with YOU the parents. Their vision is to see a world free of abuse, where all children grow up in a home with a loving, connected and healthy family - children led by POWER PARENTS!
Do “The Burnout” test on their website: https://www.chrisandfilly.fm/
Filly Recommends: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abw43kcLrbg
“The Four Tendencies” - By Gretchen Rubin
https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/
Tests You Can Do:
- Stress Hormones: AdrenoCortex Stress Profile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psvlHdm0eP0
- Gut Health: Complete Microbiome Mapping stool test - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1jspvb2_uQ&t=13s
- Energy, Mental Health, Gut & Detox Health: Organix Acids Profile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FogB9BHuUo
- Gut Health: SIBO breath test - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNCNurILB6M
- Sex Hormone Health: 28 Day Female Hormone Profile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6CPzdDp0QQ
- Food Allergies/Sensitivities - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anQIBprHcqU
- Vaginal Microbiome - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b29uzDkS09w
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"Will I ever use this when I grow up?" This single question from one of his students changed the direction of Ramesh's life. He boarded a plane to Australia to grow and learn as a teacher. He wanted to provide education that had a real-life application for his children.
Today, Ramesh works as an Early Childhood Teacher and Environment Rating Scale Observer at Goodstart Early Learning Jerrabomberra. He also volunteers a lot of his time to promote educational equity, conduct community welfare projects and empower at-risk and disadvantaged communities.
To date, Ramesh has conducted over 250 projects, events, workshops and fundraisers while pursuing his goal to build a more fair, caring and kind society. He was also awarded the Best VET/TAFE Student of the Year 2020 Award for his works by the Council of International Students Australia.
In 2020 Ramesh was a finalist for NSW international student, the highest recognition for international students. Ramesh is founder of the 'Shakti Scholarships', a scholarship program to empower at-risk and disadvantaged young girls of Nepal through education. He also manages two FB groups 'Thriving as Male Educators' and 'Educators Wellbeing Hub'.
Ramesh's dream is to open his own school in Nepal that promotes the holistic development of children and provides an education that has real-life application. In this podcast interview you’ll hear what Ramesh has to say about early childhood education here and abroad.
FURTHER INFO BELOW
Shakti Scholarships: https://www.facebook.com/shaktischolarships
Thriving as Male Educators Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/906163170005567
The Ron Clark Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCwR9dCqjSY
Ramesh Shrestha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramesh-shrestha-64398a139/
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In episode 3, Mini Maestros interviews Shae Cox an Infant & Child Sleep Consultant and Parenting Coach.
Shae is the founder of Connection Village, where she supports families from conception and beyond to raise connected children. The Village helps parents to nurture meaningful bonds with their children across every age and stage of parenting. Her approach is holistic, collaborative, non-judgemental and through educating and coaching she supports people to be the best parent they can be.
Shae offers free 15 minute consultations – head over to her website here. https://www.connectionvillage.co/
Shae finds sleep deprived parents respond well to podcasts as opposed to books, so she has created a list of both books and podcasts she recommendations below.
BOOKS
Listen By Patty Wipfler & Tosha Schore.
Anxious Mums & Anxious Kids by Dr Jodi Richardson
The Father Hood by Luke Benedictus, Andrew McUtchen & Jeremy Macvean
PODCASTS:
The Aware Parenting Podcast by Lael Stone & Marion Rose.
Hand In Hand Parenting by Elle Kwan and Abigail Wald
Well, Hello Anxiety with Dr Jodi Richardson
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In this 2nd podcast episode, Mini Maestros interviews Katie Fleet, Partner and Education Director at Eds. Eds. supports schools, education institutions and organisations to demonstrate their impact through clearer evidence of learning and wellbeing outcomes. Katie has a very impressive resume in the field of education and shares the Mini Maestros mission of supporting the next generation to thrive. Katie is doing all she can, in her company and working with the government, to help shape the education system in Australia. It was wonderful to pick her brains about what’s happening on a State and National level in education in Australia and how it compares to other places of the world.
Learn More: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-fleet-a02003a4
https://edschange.com/
Movie: Inside Out: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/ Extreme Love - Louis Theroux: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05qzv4j
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Mini Maestros interviews Leisa Papa for the debut episode of Mini Maestros Thrive 0-5 Podcast. Leisa is Founder of Little Kids Business, she's an Inside Retail Top 50 Small Business Leader, Public Speaker, Blogger and Children’s Author. Leisa provides great insights of what it is like to be a mother in business and how to get your child to ditch their dummy with less stress. Her latest book "Daniel and the Dummy Fairy", is a story that may help you transition your child to not needing or wanting a dummy.
