Spirited Hearts® the podcast Stephanie Heartfield

The final episode of 2023 is here, and what a wonderful, insightful and fun conversation this is with author, speaker and teacher, Dr Sarah Pye.
In this episode, Sarah shares her fascinating childhood of being boat-schooled across the waters of Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean, and how these experiences shaped who she is and what she does.
We also discuss:
- Experiential learning
- The importance of nature in childhood learning and development
- Connecting children to nature
- How Sarah got her Doctorate, even though she did not go to school
- How the Wildlife Wong book series came about
- Why Universities love homeschoolers
- The importance of libraries and librarian teachers
- Plus so much more

Where to Find Sarah:
Website: Dr Sarah Pye - Author & Speaker
Facebook: Sarah Pye Author Speaker Environmentalist
Instagram: @author_sarahrpye

Resources Mentioned:
Fourteen Wolves by Catherine Barr
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
Wombat Warriors by Samantha Wheel

ABOUT SARAH:
Sarah may be a writer, speaker and teacher, but that hasn’t always been the case. Sarah was born on a tiny British outpost jutting into the Mediterranean called Gibraltar and spent the summers of her first decade plying the waters of the Norfolk broads aboard a classic clinker-built wooden boat. When she was 13, Sarah’s teacher parents moved their family onto a 30ft ketch. Sarah was boat-schooled by the world around her — holding night watches, grocery shopping in foreign ports, and hunkering down in ranging storms.
At 17, Sarah left her floating home for college in the United States. Then, with a hospitality management degree under her arm, continued her westward migration to Hawaii, and on to Australia’s Whitsunday Islands. Sarah’s business, Ocean Rafting was awarded the Queensland Tourism Award for Best Adventure Product in 2001.As a single parent, Sarah completed her Master of Communication degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast and published a guidebook called Kids Welcome to Queensland in 2009. The resulting travel business led to Sarah being named Sunshine Coast Small Business Woman of the Year in 2010.
A trip to Borneo with her daughter changed the trajectory of Sarah’s life when she met Wong Siew Te. She commenced her Doctor of Creative Arts Degree in 2016, exploring how narratives can be used to engage non-scientists in conservation. In 2018, She took a break from the books to walk 800km across Spain, and in 2020, Wong’s biography, Saving Sun Bears was published.
Sarah hopes there are many more adventures to come. Next, she plans to kayak down the Murray River, following in the wake of her inspirational parents who completed something similar a quarter of a century ago.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of welcoming back fellow Aware Parenting Instructor, Danni Willow. We are both passionate about supporting people through grief and loss, and we share so much in just one episode, that there will probably be a part 2 coming out next year. If you listen to only one episode, let this be the because it is so vital to our own wellbeing and our child/ren's development.
 We discuss:
* The smaller everyday losses, as well as the big losses
* Outdated traditional models of grief vs modern models which are more realistic and supportive
* Rituals to support the grieving process
* How our culture has medicalised death
* How to support ourselves and our loved ones through the grieving process
* Subtle and disenfranchised grief
* The downfall of having "backup toys" if your child loses a loved toy, and the consequential message that sends about loss and grief
* Allowing children to see our grief, as an importance part of their development
* Intergenerational grief
* Plus so much more

Where to Find Danni:
Website: https://www.thewayofthewoman.com.au/
Facebook: The Way of the Woman
Instagram: Danni Willow

Resources Mentioned:
Ep 30. Exploring Food & Self-Regulated Eating with Danni Willow
Ep 10. Creating Villages and Connections on Our Motherhood Journeys with Danni Willow
Ep 39. Reflecting on 10 Years as a Parent (how Expectations are a Loss that lead to Grief)
ABOUT DANNI:
Danni is a Parent educator, Aware Parenting instructor, Early Childhood Educator, Primary school teacher, holder of sacred space for Mother and women circles and mumma to two beautiful souls.
She is the founder of The Way of the Woman supporting mothers to reclaim the empowered mother within themselves.
Danni is a woman of the earth who connects deeply with cycles of the seasons. She is passionate about story sharing in motherhood and supporting mothers to build ritual and connection into their everyday lives.
Before having children, she trained as an Early Childhood Educator and worked in a range of early years settings. Once she was qualified, she worked in a primary school setting teaching foundation and grade 5/6.
During her third year of teaching, she completed a Master of Education in Student Wellbeing.
Although Danni felt she could make a difference by becoming a teacher and supporting children, she realised after having her two girls, that the greatest place for supporting others to make changes is with their own mothering.
Danni offers mothers support through 1-1 sessions, circles, workshops and containers.

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In this episode I invite fellow Aware Parenting Instructor, Kirsty Fernandes on the podcast to share her passion for postpartum support during motherhood. Over the course of the episode we share our own postpartum experiences. Kirsty shares her own journey into what led her to working with mothers, and that the postpartum period extends for our entire lives once we have children.
We also discuss:
the differences in Western Culture and Traditional Cultures in supporting the MotherHow to go into the postpartum period feelings empoweredThe positive impact of intergenerational communities and supportHow the medicalisation of birth is detrimental to the Mother and BabyHow it's never too late to recover from the immediate postpartum periodSetting boundaries with healthcare providers and loved onesPlus so much moreWhere to Find Kirsty:
Website: Honouring Mama
Instagram: @kirstyfernandeshonouringmama
Facebook: Kirsty Fernandes - Honouring Mama

Resources Mentioned:
Nurtured Postpartum Workshops with KirstyAware Parenting books by Dr Aletha SolterThe Willingness Practice by Marion Rose PhDThe Spirited Hearts Play FilesKinship Connection with Steph & NicEpisode 52: Introducing Kinship ConnectionParenting Journey Support PackagesEducator/Teacher Mentoring Packages
ABOUT KIRSTY:
Kirsty is wife to Duane and Mama to a beautiful 6 year old daughter and gorgeous 4 year old son, Aware Parenting Coach, postpartum care provider, and passionate advocate for Mama and families getting the support they need and deserve throughout their fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenting journey.

In Part 3 of our Homeschooling Series, we bust open one of the biggest myths surrounding homeschooling: how will my child be socialised?
We both share our personal experiences on this, as well as share the evidence and research surrounding how children socialise, and how Western culture has created an artificial 'socialisation' that was not evident in hunter-gatherer societies.
We are discuss:
- how schools and preschools can be detrimental to a child's social development
- the freedom and choice that comes from homeschooling
- the harm of segregated education for children - as seen in the schooling system
- how mixed-aged education promotes better social development, higher literacy and numeracy skills, and more compassionate and kind children
- plus so much more

Resources Mentioned:
Episode 35 with Peter GrayEpisode 52 with Steph & Nic on Kinship ConnectionArticle - The Special Value of Age-Mixed Play I: How Age Mixing Promotes Learning by Dr Peter GrayArticle - Age-Mixed Play II: Its Benefits for Social Development by Dr Peter GrayArticle - Age-Mixed Play III: Play is More Playful When it is Age-Mixed by Dr Peter GrayABOUT STEPH:
Steph is a Level 2 Aware Parenting Instructor, Early Childhood Educator, Play Therapist and Parenting Support Counsellor. She has worked with parents and children for over a decade. With degrees and qualifications in psychology, counselling and early childhood education, Steph is extremely passionate about child development, trauma, attachment and neuroscience. She works with parents and educators from around the world, supporting them through 1:1 mentoring sessions and online courses. As well as co-operating a Family Day Care alongside her husband.

ABOUT NIC:
Nic is a Level 1 Aware Parenting Instructor and Marion Method Mentor. Nic is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with parents from around the world. She loves supporting children and parents navigate challenges at school.

KINSHIP CONNECTION with Steph & Nic:
Steph and Nic are incredibly excited to introduce you to something that we are so passionate about; Kinship Connection. This is a safe, supportive and accepting space for children aged 6-12 years old and their families. To find out more click here.
If you would like us to respond to any of your reflections, queries or questions during an episode in this homeschooling series, please feel free to contact Steph or Nic on Instagram @spirited_hearts or @peacefulparenting and Steph's website or Nic's website.

In this week's episode, I'm excited to introduce you to Patricia Lohan. She is a Feng Shui Expert, Coach, Healer and Passionate Entrepreneur who helps thousands of women all across the world design the lives they want to live.
Patricia shares her own journey, before we discuss:
- What is Feng Shui and where did it originate
- How Feng Shui can support our relationships
- Creating supportive and restful bedrooms for our children and ourselves
- The detrimental effect of certain colours on our health, in particular areas of our homes
- Curating books, toys and clothes to create more harmony
- Plus so much more

Where to Find Patricia:
Website: Patricia Lohan
Instagram: @powerhousefengshui

Resources Mentioned:
The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer
Patricia's Free Resources

ABOUT PATRICIA:
Born and bred in Western Ireland, Patricia has always felt the deep dichotomy of life. On the one hand, she set out on the spiritual path quite young, at 15. But at the same time, she had a burning passion for business, progress, and the financial rewards that come with it. But because she didn’t know how to reconcile those two aspects of herself, her energy was unbalanced, and she was stuck in a life she felt wasn’t hers. Then, suddenly, she decided to finally step into her destiny and start creating the life she wanted for herself. She moved to India to study as a yoga teacher. But what REALLY moved the needle was deciding to delve deep into the ancient practice of Feng Shui. Applying these timeless tips, techniques, and tools was a total game-changer. Patricia wants to bring her knowledge, expertise and positive power to women just like you. Yes, you can achieve anything you want with the right mental attitude and these 5,000-year-old tried and tested techniques. Patricia has worked with women from all walks of life: successful and aspiring entrepreneurs, homemakers, women in corporate, artists, writers, athletes, heart-centred coaches, healers, designers…One thing they all have in common? They decided to level up. Invest in themselves. Stop asking for approval. She has appeared in various media outlets, and she has been sharing her insights and knowledge with over 40,000 people in her online community. 

This episode is dedicated to all the educators and teachers around the world who are burnout and drowning in a system that is unsupportive and harmful to both them, and the children in their schools and daycares.
As an Educator myself, I have had enough of the lack of accountability and responsibility the education system/department of education has assumed in its failings for teachers and children, so I'm call them out. I'm bringing to light all the things that aren't seen by society. All the paperwork, documenting, high turnover rates and low emotional health that teachers are subjected to day in, and day out.
I share numerous scientific research studies that reveal eye-opening and heartbreaking experiences that many educators deal with.
This topic is so big, yet I have managed to condense it down to a regular length episode.
I also share some extremely exciting news, so you'll need to listen to find out what's coming up soon for myself and Spirited Hearts.
 
Resources Mentioned:
Dr Peter Gray on the Spirited Hearts Podcast
Free to Learn by Dr Peter Gray
Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
NASA Study from the 1960s
Raising Wildlings episode with Woodline Primary Principal

ABOUT STEPH:
Stephanie Heartfield is the creator and founder of Spirited Hearts® which is a multi-service community supporting children, families and educators. She is a Parenting Support Counsellor, Aware Parenting Instructor and Early Childhood Educator.
Steph has spent almost 20 years dedicated to child development, trauma and providing support to children, their families and early childhood educators.
She created her Natural Learning Haven (registered Family Day Care) alongside her husband, Lukas to provide the strongest emotionally supportive environment in the industry, which is trauma-informed, and where children have the space and freedom to be their beautiful, unique selves.
Steph will be soon be launching the very first live round for her Mentor Program for the Spirited Hearts Approach to Early Learning & Childhood. This is for teachers, educators, parents and anyone wanting to create their own trauma-informed natural learning haven from home and in their community.
Steph provides 1:1 support for parents all over the world, providing a space filled with unconditional acceptance, compassion, empathy and deep listening. Assisting parents with their own childhood traumas, as well as offering healing solutions for many parenting challenges from tantrums and crying to sleep and separation anxiety.
Steph has two children (aged 10 and almost 7), who she has raised with Aware Parenting since the moment they were born. They are both homeschooled following a life (natural) learning approach.
To find out more about Steph please visit her website https://spiritedhearts.net or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spirited_hearts