Mandy and Kate chat with Belinda, meditation teacher, shiatsu practitioner and Pea! Belinda is passionate about helping and supporting people on their health journey. She is the founder of Vitaliqi and loves showing people how they can feel better and turn their physical and mental health around naturally.    Belinda’s natural health career was inspired by her experiences of being a Pea mum to a daughter with type 1 diabetes. She found that meditation and shiatsu have helped her better manage challenges and stress, and hold her through the hardest times.  Belinda talks about her now 17-year-old daughter’s diagnosis at the age of 4, the hard times and the good times during primary school and the complexities of managing a chronic illness during the teenage years.   Thank you for sharing your story with us Belinda! Check out Belinda’s business Vitaliqi via their website, Facebook and Instagram.  Plus:   Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas Love Join our Facebook Hangout Find us on YouTube Buy our book The Invisible Life Of Us! Leave us a speakpipe  Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us! Melbourne forecast for Thursday March 21  - Mostly sunny,  21 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mandy (Kate is sick!) chats to Louise, Pea mum to 3-year-old Isabelle who lives with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) or the ‘bubble baby condition’  - a life-threatening genetic condition in which affected babies are unable to fight bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Louise shares her story of Isabelle’s diagnosis thanks to the quick and insightful actions of two supportive paediatricians, and her months-long hospital stay in a positive pressure room, all while the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Isabelle underwent a lifesaving stem cell transplant at 7 months of age and was able to return home. Isabelle’s condition also led to hearing loss, and she’s also been subsequently diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay.  Louise is proud to have successfully advocated for SCID to be added to Australia’s Newborn Bloodspot Screening Panel and has ensured that SCID is now detected, diagnosed and treated shortly after birth in every state in Australia, before a baby can become critically ill or pass away.   Louise also sits on the Board of the Immune Deficiencies Foundation of Australia, supports other families who have a child born with SCID and is an advocate and peer mentor to families living with any immune deficiencies.  Thank you for sharing your story with us Louise!  Plus:   Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas Love Join our Facebook Hangout Find us on YouTube Buy our book The Invisible Life Of Us! Leave us a speakpipe  Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us! Melbourne forecast for Thursday March 14  - Shower or two, 22 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate recap their recent trip to Parliament House to celebrate all things neighbours and belonging and connection with the excellent people from Neighbours Every Day - Relationships Australia’s social connection campaign.  Neighbours Every Day aims to help create and share belonging across Australia, and build the inclusive communities you want to live in, one relationship at a time.  Kate and Mandy are Neighbours Every Day Ambassadors and flew up to Canberra to celebrate the launch of their national day of action - Neighbour Day on Sunday March 31.   They also chat all about types of neighbour-related stuff  - good neighbours during COVID lockdowns, calling your neighbours if you need them, what happens when you move and don’t have the energy to meet your new neighbours, what our neighbours might think if out peashoots have difficult behaviours etc etc Mandy and Kate also give a big shout out to Sam from Neighbours Every Day who is a huge supporter of the Peas - thanks Sam!   Join the annual day of action on March 31! Neighbour Day provides the perfect opportunity to increase social connection in your local areas. You can celebrate in a variety of ways including hosting or supporting events that assist and engage your communities. Register or find an event here Plus:   Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas Love Join our Facebook Hangout Find us on YouTube Buy our book The Invisible Life Of Us! Leave us a speakpipe  Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us! Melbourne forecast for Thursday March 6 - Partly cloudy, 23 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate chat to Rachael, pea mum to a beautiful 5-year-old Robbie, and the Tasmanian representative for Angelman Syndrome Association Australia. Rachael shares the story of her pregnancy, moving to Hobart in preparation for Robbie’s birth, time in the NICU, Robbie’s surgery at only 9 days of age, and his diagnosis of the rare genetic disorder Angelman Syndrome. Rachael talks about adjusting to Robbie’s medical complexities, feeling like the whole world had changed around her, experiencing the hard days of isolation, loneliness and comparison, but receiving some wonderful support from some amazing and insightful friends.    Rachael connected online with other Angelman Syndrome parents and developed new and supportive friendships, leading to her role in the association. The Association provides support, information, education, networking, research promotion and advocacy for people and families affected by the syndrome.  We also learn that Robbie is a gentle and beautiful boy, he loves holding hands and touching faces, he’s patient and works incredibly hard at his therapies, he’s a good big brother and and loves music!  Thanks for sharing your story with us Rachael!  For more information about the Angelman Syndrome Association Australia, visit their website or find them on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow Robbie’s story on Instagram too.   Plus:   Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas Love Join our Facebook Hangout Find us on YouTube Buy our book The Invisible Life Of Us! Leave us a speakpipe  Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us! Melbourne forecast for Thursday February 29(!) - Cloudy, 25 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Snap Pea 91! Mandy and Kate chat about concerts, and listen to your speak pipes xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate and Mandy chat to Lewis from northwest Tasmania, a lovely young guy who studies media and communications and runs YouTube channel Lewlyfe.  Lewis is part of the pea community as he was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Lewis talks about growing up managing all the challenges of multiple surgeries, speech therapy and regular check ups with a whole range of doctors and specialists. Primary school was not much fun as he went to a sporty school when he wasn’t into sports, but he found his feet and a loving and supportive community at high school, where his friends loved drama and music as much as he did. Lewis also talks about the impact on his mum and dad, their work in supporting other cleft families, and  the support and kindness the whole family received from their church community. Kate and Mandy were also extra impressed to hear the news that Lewis’ dad owns an IGA supermarket, given they’re both very frequent shoppers at their local.  Lewis also talks about making the decision to no longer undergo further surgeries, as he’s happy and confident as he is. Lewis is focused on studying, running his YouTube channel and staying involved in his local community. Thanks for sharing your story with us Lewis!  Subscribe to Lewis’s YouTube channel Lewlyfe and help him bump up his followers, visit the Lewlyfe website and follow Lewis on Instagram.  Visit CleftPals Victoria and Cleft Connect Australia for more information about cleft and palate conditions.   Plus:   Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas Love Join our Facebook Hangout Find us on YouTube Buy our book The Invisible Life Of Us! Leave us a speakpipe  Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us! Melbourne forecast for Thursday February 22  - HOT, late cool change, windy, 38 degrees Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part two of "The Peas are back for 2024" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Peas are back for 2024 and listen happily to your speak pipes. Mandy spoke about Tim from Thailand's book https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/10017028 "With Gratitude" Kate is loving Megan Williams book (she accidentally used the wrong sir name in the episode, sorry Megan) https://www.booktopia.com.au/let-s-never-speak-of-this-again-megan-williams/book/9781922790392.html you can get it here. And Kate's amazing cousin Amy has written this beautiful book GATHER, and you can get it here or follow her on Instagram at underground_coffs https://chocdaisy.square.site/product/gather-by-amy-barrett/410?cs=true&cst=custo Melbourne's forecast for tomorrow is a lovely 26 with sunshine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate listen to your speak pipes, share a cry, difference and laugh and ask you to listen to the summer series! Thanks for listening all year, you are the best podcast listeners ever! We love you all! "see you" on the 25th December, K and M x Melbourne's forecast today is for a humid, slightly rainy 25 degrees. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the next two weeks, Mandy and Kate listen to your amazing speak pipes and wrap up the year that was! How they love listening to your voice and hearing your opinions. Oh and you even get to hear Kate's dog in the background of the pod laundry! Forecast for Melbourne on the 7th December 2023 is a sunny 26 degrees! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate chat to Sue, Chair of Carers Victoria,  the peak body representing all unpaid carers in Victoria. Sue is an experienced communications consultant who has worked in executive roles and run her own business for many years, while also caring for her four children. Sue’s two oldest children both had a very rare genetic condition called Niemann Pick Disesase Type C. Her daughter Jas died from the condition at the age of 14, and her son George also died of the condition three and half years later at the age of 19. Sue joined the Carers Victoria board in about 2014, shortly after losing George.  Sue talks about managing the children’s diagnosis and care in a time prior to the NDIS, coming to terms with the news in her own time and finding her own strength before sharing the news with others, and finding her tribe of supporters and friends through the specialist school system. She shares some frank and funny conversations about the times she took her children travelling overseas and camping locally with all of their medical equipment and needs, the kindness of strangers at some times and the terribly rectum behaviour from some at other times.  Sue has seen plenty of change in the almost ten years on the board at Carers Victoria, and although there’s a keen emphasis on building an inclusive community and making social services work a lot better, there’s still a long way to go in supporting carers better, as Peas well know. Sue encourages everyone to connect with Carers Victoria, or the local carers advocacy network in your local area, to add your voice in advocating for change. Thanks for sharing the remarkable story of your family with us Sue.   Visit the Carers Victoria website and Facebook page Plus:   Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas Love Join our Facebook Hangout Find us on YouTube Buy our book The Invisible Life Of Us! Leave us a speakpipe  Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us! Melbourne forecast for Thursday November 30 - Shower or two, 19 degrees Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate and Mandy chat with super duo mother-in-law Sue and daughter-in-law Mel, founders of Snuggly Bags by Ellie, a company that makes sleeping bags in sizes 4-16 for kids who have trouble staying under the covers at night! Snuggly Bags by Ellie is inspired by Mel’s fifteen-year-old daughter Ellie, who is diagnosed with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. Once she’d grown out of her size 4 sleeping bag, Ellie had trouble sleeping under the covers, yet Mel couldn’t find bigger sleeping bag sizes to suit Ellie’s growing body.  So, with Sue’s background in the clothing industry and dress design, she set about designing and making a sleeping bag to fit. Using a business called Manufacture My Product, Sue was able to source organic,  pure cotton and have samples made up in China, and develop two different weighted full bags, a lighter summer bag and a suit with legs. The bags use soft woven cotton that feels like sheets and allows plenty of room for movement.  Sue and Mel took the Snuggly Bags to the Source Kids expo in Sydney, where a tired dad bought a snuggly bag for his young son. He contacted them the next day, to say he’d had his first full night’s sleep in years! Sue and Mel then knew they were onto a product that could help Peas everywhere get a better night’s sleep. Snuggly Bags can be modified to fit feeding tubes and can be claimed as a consumable through NDIS. Order your Snuggly Bag via their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Sue and Mel will be doing a giveaway on Instagram this week, so please follow them to be in the running!  Plus:   Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas Love Join our Facebook Hangout Find us on YouTube Buy our book The Invisible Life Of Us! Leave us a speakpipe  Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us! Melbourne forecast for Thursday November 23 -  Cloud clearing, 26 degrees Thank you for supporting Too Peas In A Podcast! We love to hear from you, please contact us here:  Website: www.toopeasinapodcast.com.au Email: toopeaspodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.