SHE Speaks Podcast

Narelle Lemon
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

We are talking with Western Australian women about self-care, myth busting what is possible while embracing self-compassion, mindful awareness, time, habits and empowerment. 

  1. JAN 13

    Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting — Ask Like You Mean It

    Episode Overview "Can you help?" is vague. "Can you watch the kids for two hours on Thursday so I can shower?" is specific. One of these actually gets results. In this snippet, Delyse Clayden breaks down the three types of support every parent needs—practical, emotional, and informational—and offers twelve concrete strategies for actually asking for it. Because here's what we forget: most people want to help. They feel valued when asked. They just don't know what you need until you tell them. This episode is about getting specific, letting go of the "do it all" mindset, and remembering that there are no medals for exhaustion. This Episode Delyse shares the three types of support parents need and twelve practical strategies for asking. We explore three types of support: practical (laundry, meals, childcare), emotional (someone to listen without judgment), and informational (professional advice) Quotable Moments "There are no medals for doing it all on your own. You just end up exhausted and burned out." — Delyse Clayden "Asking for help's not a weakness, it's a wisdom." — Delyse Clayden "Self-caring and asking for help when needed makes you a better caregiver to others. It doesn't make you less of a caregiver." — Delyse Clayden "You deserve support. Life is too difficult to do it on your own." — Delyse Clayden About Your Hosts Professor Narelle Lemon is a researcher, educator, and passionate advocate for women's wellbeing based at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Creator of She Speaks and the Citizen Wellbeing Scientist project, Narelle has dedicated over 25 years to one powerful belief: self-care is not selfish—it's essential. Delyse Clayden is an experienced educator, disability advocate, and mother of three. Specialising in Anxiety, Autism, and working with siblings, Delyse brings both personal and professional experience to her advocacy work. Her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent living alongside additional needs allows her to connect authentically with families. Connect With Us •       Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategies •       Visit our website: www.shespeakswellbeing.com A Note on Wellbeing She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing. While we share personal experiences and practical strategies, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you're struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health practitioner. She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women's Grants for a Stronger Future Grants Program. She Speaks Podcast was recorded on the lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. We respectfully acknowledge our elders past, present, and emerging.

    16 min

  2. JAN 13

    Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting — Why 'I'm Fine' is a Lie We Tell

    Episode Overview You're dragging your kids through the school gate with your hair a mess. The parent next to you looks perfectly polished and calm. You tell yourself they've got it together and you don't. But here's what you're not seeing: they probably feel exactly the same way about someone else. In this snippet, Delyse Clayden unpacks why asking for help feels so impossibly hard—and why so many of us say "I'm fine" when we're anything but. From the trained educator who couldn't admit she needed help with her own children's disabilities, to the fear that needing support means failing as a parent, this episode names the barriers so we can start dismantling them. This Episode Delyse identifies six reasons why asking for help feels so difficult—and what happens when we don't. We explore: Unrealistic self-expectationsViewing help as failureGender role expectationsFear of admitting problemsUncertainty about where to startFear of being a burdenThe cost of going without helpBuilding your villageQuotable Moments "I'm a trained educator and admitting that I couldn't do it all for them, it wasn't easy to ask for help. You don't want to admit that you are not enough." — Delyse Clayden "Let's assume that people are going to congratulate us for recognizing when support was needed." — Delyse Clayden "Parents can't always be honest with your parents. But if you've got other people that have helped develop you, then you've got more people to support you, support the children." — Delyse Clayden "Ask for help. Don't be shy." — Delyse Clayden About Your Hosts Professor Narelle Lemon is a researcher, educator, and passionate advocate for women's wellbeing based at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Creator of She Speaks and the Citizen Wellbeing Scientist project, Narelle has dedicated over 25 years to one powerful belief: self-care is not selfish—it's essential. Delyse Clayden is an experienced educator, disability advocate, and mother of three. Specialising in Anxiety, Autism, and working with siblings, Delyse brings both personal and professional experience to her advocacy work. Her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent living alongside additional needs allows her to connect authentically with families. Connect With Us •       Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategies •       Visit our website: www.shespeakswellbeing.com A Note on Wellbeing She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing. While we share personal experiences and practical strategies, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you're struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health practitioner. She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women's Grants for a Stronger Future Grants Program. She Speaks Podcast was recorded on the lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. We respectfully acknowledge our elders past, present, and emerging.

    7 min

  3. JAN 13

    Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting Escape the Compare-athon

    Episode Overview You're at playgroup watching someone else's child do something yours hasn't done yet. You're at school drop-off comparing yourself to the polished parent who seems to have it all together. You're at home wondering why one of your children can do something their sibling can't. In this snippet, Delyse Clayden names the comparison trap for what it is—a natural human tendency that can quietly devastate our mental health and our children's self-esteem. But here's the shift: comparison can be unlearned. From practical scripts to shut down unhelpful playground conversations, to helping your child measure progress against their own baseline (not someone else's), this episode offers a way out of the compare-athon. This Episode Delyse shares strategies for escaping the comparison trap—for ourselves and our children. We explore: The many faces of comparisonTalk about it openlySocial media reality checkModel what you want to seeHealthy self-comparisonCelebrate uniquenessChange the questionsShift the internal dialogue:Scripts for shutting down unhelpful conversationsFor children with disabilityGive graceQuotable Moments "Their only fair comparison is with who they were yesterday." — Delyse Clayden "I'm happy with my child's progress at the moment. We are taking each beautiful step as it comes." — Delyse Clayden "Children flourish when they feel unconditionally valued for who they are, not judged against others." — Delyse Clayden "When you stop comparing and start celebrating their unique journey, you build trust, you build confidence, and authentic growth." — Delyse Clayden About Your Hosts Professor Narelle Lemon is a researcher, educator, and passionate advocate for women's wellbeing based at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Creator of She Speaks and the Citizen Wellbeing Scientist project, Narelle has dedicated over 25 years to one powerful belief: self-care is not selfish—it's essential. Delyse Clayden is an experienced educator, disability advocate, and mother of three. Specialising in Anxiety, Autism, and working with siblings, Delyse brings both personal and professional experience to her advocacy work. Her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent living alongside additional needs allows her to connect authentically with families. Connect With Us •       Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategies •       Visit our website: www.shespeakswellbeing.com A Note on Wellbeing She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing. While we share personal experiences and practical strategies, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you're struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health practitioner. She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women's Grants for a Stronger Future Grants Program. She Speaks Podcast was recorded on the lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. We respectfully acknowledge our elders past, present, and emerging.

    17 min

  4. JAN 13

    Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting — Finding Your People

    She Snippets for She Speaks Podcast Series 3 — Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting Episode Overview Some days you'll navigate the hard moments beautifully. Other days you'll lose your patience, say the wrong thing, or handle it in a way you'll regret. That's not failure—that's being human. What matters is the pattern over time. In this snippet, Delyse Clayden reframes what it means to support a child through meltdowns—and then turns the lens back on us. If we're teaching our children to reach out for help when they need it, why do we expect ourselves to do this alone? This episode is about finding your people: the professionals, the support groups, the online communities where someone will simply understand. This Episode Delyse explores who to reach out to and why asking for help is wisdom, not weakness. We explore: Reframing meltdownsWhat meltdowns teach usThe scaffolding balanceFrom adversary to allyCo-regulation before self-regulationProfessional supportParent support groupsSocial media for goodModel help-seekingQuotable Moments "Your child learns the most important lesson of all: when things fall apart, someone will be there to help them through it." — Delyse Clayden "We wouldn't expect children to be able to self-regulate immediately on their own. Why do we expect adults and parents to have to do it?" — Delyse Clayden "Asking for help is not failure. It's wisdom." — Delyse Clayden "We're trying to teach them to reach out for help when they need it. We actually need to model that ourselves." — Delyse Clayden About Your Hosts Professor Narelle Lemon is a researcher, educator, and passionate advocate for women's wellbeing based at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Creator of She Speaks and the Citizen Wellbeing Scientist project, Narelle has dedicated over 25 years to one powerful belief: self-care is not selfish—it's essential. Delyse Clayden is an experienced educator, disability advocate, and mother of three. Specialising in Anxiety, Autism, and working with siblings, Delyse brings both personal and professional experience to her advocacy work. Her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent living alongside additional needs allows her to connect authentically with families. Resources Mentioned •       Autism Association of Western Australia: www.autism.org.au Connect With Us •       Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategies •       Visit our website: www.shespeakswellbeing.com A Note on Wellbeing She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing. While we share personal experiences and practical strategies, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you're struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health practitioner. She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women's Grants for a Stronger Future Grants Program. She Speaks Podcast was recorded on the lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. We respectfully acknowledge our elders past, present, and emerging.

    6 min

  5. JAN 12

    Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting — You're Allowed to Struggle Too

    She Snippets for She Speaks Podcast Series 3 — Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting Episode Overview We say "take care of yourself first" like it's simple. But when you're in the middle of a child's meltdown—doubting your abilities, worrying about other people's judgments, genuinely frightened by the intensity of all these emotions—self-care can feel impossible. In this snippet, Delyse Clayden acknowledges what so many parents feel but rarely say: managing a child's intense emotions is exhausting, and it triggers our own strong reactions. Small children can be surprisingly destructive, and that can be devastating. This episode gives you permission to struggle—and practical strategies for both caring for yourself and helping your child learn from what happened. This Episode Delyse shares strategies for managing your own responses during meltdowns, plus how to reflect and rehearse with your child afterwards. We explore:  Acknowledge it's hardSelf-care in the stormMeltdowns aren't defianceReflect and rehearse Ask curious questionsPractice alternativesAcknowledge their effortsABC journalingPrevention for tantrums For inflexible children Co-design calm-down kitsCelebrate small winsWhen to reach outQuotable Moments "Managing a child's intense emotions is exhausting, and they can really trigger your own strong reactions." — Delyse Clayden "A meltdown isn't a deliberate act of defiance towards you." — Delyse Clayden "You're not expected to handle everything alone." — Delyse Clayden "If you feel afraid, exhausted, or overwhelmed... there are times when you really must reach out to get some support." — Delyse Clayden About Your Hosts Professor Narelle Lemon is a researcher, educator, and passionate advocate for women's wellbeing based at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Creator of She Speaks and the Citizen Wellbeing Scientist project, Narelle has dedicated over 25 years to one powerful belief: self-care is not selfish—it's essential. Delyse Clayden is an experienced educator, disability advocate, and mother of three. Specialising in Anxiety, Autism, and working with siblings, Delyse brings both personal and professional experience to her advocacy work. Her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent living alongside additional needs allows her to connect authentically with families. Connect With Us •       Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategies •       Visit our website: www.shespeakswellbeing.com A Note on Wellbeing She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing. While we share personal experiences and practical strategies, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you're struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health practitioner. She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women's Grants for a Stronger Future Grants Program. She Speaks Podcast was recorded on the lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. We respectfully acknowledge our elders past, present, and emerging.

    8 min

  6. JAN 12

    Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting — This Is Not a Tantrum

    She Snippets for She Speaks Podcast Series 3 — Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting Episode Overview Working in the disability industry, Delyse hears a lot of parents say their child had a meltdown when actually it was a tantrum. That distinction matters—because what works for one won't work for the other. In this snippet, Delyse explains what's really happening in each, why sensory overload is such a significant trigger, and what to do when you and your child are both overwhelmed at the same time. Because sometimes, you won't be the calm one—and accepting that is completely okay. This Episode Delyse explores the critical difference between tantrums and meltdowns, and what happens when sensory overload hits you both. We explore: TantrumsMeltdownsSensory overloadWhen you're both overwhelmedFor parents who don't experience sensory overwhelmQuotable Moments "A meltdown feels like you're not yourself anymore—like shaking a soda bottle all day long. And then finally it opens and everything erupts." — Adult with autism, quoted by Delyse "There are times when you won't keep calm. And accepting that is completely okay." — Delyse Clayden "They're not doing this to you. They're not trying to be difficult. They're experiencing something difficult." — Delyse Clayden "You are in a perfect place to understand your child because you've been there yourself." — Delyse Clayden About Your Hosts Professor Narelle Lemon is a researcher, educator, and passionate advocate for women's wellbeing based at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Creator of She Speaks and the Citizen Wellbeing Scientist project, Narelle has dedicated over 25 years to one powerful belief: self-care is not selfish—it's essential. Delyse Clayden is an experienced educator, disability advocate, and mother of three. Specialising in Anxiety, Autism, and working with siblings, Delyse brings both personal and professional experience to her advocacy work. Her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent living alongside additional needs allows her to connect authentically with families. Connect With Us Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategiesVisit our website: www.shespeakswellbeing.comDelyse Clayden — Disability AdvocateA Note on Wellbeing She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing. While we share personal experiences and practical strategies, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you're struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health practitioner. She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women's Grants for a Stronger Future Grants Program. She Speaks Podcast was recorded on the lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. We respectfully acknowledge our elders past, present, and emerging.

    10 min

  7. JAN 12

    Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting — Bend, Don't Break

    She Snippets for She Speaks Podcast Series 3 — Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting Episode Overview We've all been there—the carefully planned day that suddenly dissolves into chaos. The unexpected meltdown that derails what should have been a simple transition. We reach for structure, believing routines are the answer. And often they are. But what happens when the systems we create actually hold our children back? In this snippet, Delyse explores the difference between helpful routine and harmful rigidity, why some children can't be flexible (not won't), and how to build enough predictability for security while creating space for growth. The goal isn't perfect adherence to a schedule—it's raising children who can navigate both the predictable and the unexpected. This Episode Delyse explores the balance between structure and flexibility—being prepared for not being prepared. We explore: The power of predictabilityThe paradoxThe middle pathPractical strategiesRethinking "no"Quotable Moments "You are working with skill, not will. The child who can't transition smoothly isn't being difficult on purpose. They're showing us the edges of their current capabilities." — Delyse Clayden "The routine that comforts can also reinforce rigidity." — Delyse Clayden "Boredom—the state we rush to eliminate—is actually what motivates children to seek new experiences and engage in creative thinking." — Delyse Clayden "The most important routine we can establish might just be the habit of pausing, breathing, and asking: What does my child need right now to grow?" — Delyse Clayden About Your Hosts Professor Narelle Lemon is a researcher, educator, and passionate advocate for women's wellbeing based at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Creator of She Speaks and the Citizen Wellbeing Scientist project, Narelle has dedicated over 25 years to one powerful belief: self-care is not selfish—it's essential. Delyse Clayden is an experienced educator, disability advocate, and mother of three. Specialising in Anxiety, Autism, and working with siblings, Delyse brings both personal and professional experience to her advocacy work. Her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent living alongside additional needs allows her to connect authentically with families. Connect With Us •       Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategies •       Visit our website: www.shespeakswellbeing.com •       Delyse Clayden — Disability Advocate A Note on Wellbeing She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing. While we share personal experiences and practical strategies, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you're struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health practitioner. She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women's Grants for a Stronger Future Grants Program. She Speaks Podcast was recorded on the lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. We respectfully acknowledge our elders past, present, and emerging.

    13 min

  8. JAN 12

    Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting — Telling Them What You Need

    She Snippets for  She Speaks Podcast Series 3 — Making Sense of the Hard Bits of Parenting Episode Overview When you're going through something difficult—health battles, mental health challenges, overwhelming circumstances—how do you talk to your children about it? How much is too much? How little leaves them filling in the gaps with their imagination? In this snippet, Delyse shares practical guidance on having age-appropriate conversations with your children about your own needs. Because children often know when something's wrong. They hear fragments of conversations. And silence doesn't protect them—it leaves them alone with their worry. This Episode Delyse shares 25 tips on being honest with your children about your own struggles—without overwhelming them. We explore: How to shareAge-appropriate languageAsking for helpCreating spaceWhen they respondModellingQuotable Moments "It is okay to not be okay. We're telling them that." — Delyse Clayden "They often know when a parent isn't being truthful. They'll worry more if you keep things a secret." — Delyse Clayden "No one expects you to be perfect—and it's in those imperfect moments that the learning occurs." — Delyse Clayden "Crying is not a sign of weakness. It's one of the best gifts you can give yourself in order to process and to feel those emotions." — Delyse Clayden About Your Hosts Professor Narelle Lemon is a researcher, educator, and passionate advocate for women's wellbeing based at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Creator of She Speaks and the Citizen Wellbeing Scientist project, Narelle has dedicated over 25 years to one powerful belief: self-care is not selfish—it's essential. Delyse Clayden is an experienced educator, disability advocate, and mother of three. Specialising in Anxiety, Autism, and working with siblings, Delyse brings both personal and professional experience to her advocacy work. Her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent living alongside additional needs allows her to connect authentically with families. Connect With Us •       Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategies •       Visit our website: www.shespeakswellbeing.com A Note on Wellbeing She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing. While we share personal experiences and practical strategies, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you're struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health practitioner. She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women's Grants for a Stronger Future Grants Program. She Speaks Podcast was recorded on the lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. We respectfully acknowledge our elders past, present, and emerging.

    14 min
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About

We are talking with Western Australian women about self-care, myth busting what is possible while embracing self-compassion, mindful awareness, time, habits and empowerment. 

Information

  • Creator
    Narelle Lemon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 SHE Speaks Podcast
  • Show Website
    SHE Speaks Podcast