Glimmer Hunters

Glimmer Hunters
  • 0.0 (0)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Discover the power of glimmers—those tiny, everyday moments that spark joy, calm, and connection. Join hosts Emily McGrorey and Reneé Ballard as they explore the science of nervous system regulation, emotional well-being, and mindfulness through stories, expert interviews, and lived experience. If you're curious about how small moments can make a big impact, this podcast is your weekly reminder to slow down and find the good in life.

  1. 12/23/2025

    The Season 2 Finale: Disco Trees & Rich Inner Lives

    It’s the Season 2 wrap of Glimmer Hunters - and we’re closing out 2025 the only way we know how: laughing through the chaos, obsessing over tiny joys, and celebrating the glimmers that actually land. We swap Christmas glimmers (Lady Gaga! Year 6 graduation! Matching family pyjamas! gingerbread carnage!), unpack the strange beauty of nostalgia, and take a moment to reflect on what it’s meant to show up week after week - even when the tech tries to take us out (looking at you… “can you hear me now?”). Plus: Renee unveils her peak Christmas final form - a spinning disco-ball Christmas tree on a mirrored turntable with spotlights - and honestly, it’s hard to return to regular life after that. We also revisit some of Season 2’s standout moments, including: Anna Ferguson’s refreshing take on meditation (and why it doesn’t have to be the answer to everything) Bridget McNulty’s love of homeliness (and the deep exhale of getting your home back) Katie Cooper (The White Flamingo) gifting us the phrase we’ll never recover from: “rich inner life” And as we head into the holidays, we’re leaning into a new intention for the year ahead: do less… and make more room for glimmers to land. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of the ride. See you in Season 3 💛 If you enjoyed the show: follow/subscribe, and (if you’re feeling generous) leave a rating or review - it genuinely helps other people find the pod.

    56 min

  2. 12/17/2025

    Matrescence, Micro-Joy & the White Flamingo with Dr. Katie Cooper

    In this episode, Emily and Renee are joined by Dr. Katie Cooper - a recovering academic with a PhD in Earth Sciences turned play facilitator, and the creator of The White Flamingo, a community supporting women through the transition into motherhood. Katie unpacks matrescence (think: adolescence, but with sleep deprivation and a tiny human to keep alive), why so many mums feel adrift without the language to explain it, and how radical honesty + play can help parents reconnect with themselves. Along the way, we talk about micro moments of joy (glimmers), perfectionism, building community in a nuclear-family world, and why we need to stop minimising our own experience with a single word: “but.” In this episode, we cover: What matrescence is and why it explains so muchThe origin story of The White Flamingo (and the surprisingly perfect flamingo metaphor)Why modern parenting spaces often focus on the baby… and leave the parent behindTwo powerful rules: No poo chat & No “buts” (only ands)How play changes as we age - and how to expand your “play diet” againMicro moments of joy you can orchestrate when life feels monotonousDance parties, daydreaming, and the “dose of joy” framework (D.O.S.E.)Why comparison steals joy, and why “everything is a phase” matters more than ever Links Follow Katie on Instagram: @thewhiteflamingo_Website: thewhiteflamingo.co.uk If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, and if you’ve got 10 seconds, leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps more glimmer hunters find the show (and gives us a glimmer too 💛).

    55 min

  3. 12/10/2025

    ADHD Glimmers: The Hidden Superpowers of a Neurodivergent Brain

    In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Glimmer Hunters, Emily and Renee dive into the often-overlooked joyful side of ADHD - the glimmers, the magic, the chaos, and the unexpected superpowers of a neurodivergent brain.From sneaky barista kindness and nostalgic power outages to hyperfocus, time blindness, masking, and spontaneous kitchen dance parties, this episode is a beautiful celebration of the moments that make ADHD not just manageable - but meaningful.Emily and Renee unpack what it’s really like to live with ADHD, including the challenges of masking, the emotional weight of growing up misunderstood, and the deep creativity, empathy, humour, and connection that often come with a neurodivergent mind. They also share listener-submitted ADHD glimmers, touching on everything from hyperfocus wins to the pure relief of someone else taking over a boring task.This episode is raw, validating, funny, and deeply comforting - whether you have ADHD yourself, love someone who does, or simply want to better understand how differently (and beautifully) some brains work.In this episode, we explore: What “ADHD glimmers” really areActs of kindness that hit differentlyHyperfocus, time blindness & dopamine chasingMasking, unmasking & social exhaustionChildhood triggers and self-trustThe creative chaos of neurodivergent thinkingWhy ADHD conversations go everywhere (and we love it)Listener-submitted ADHD glimmersThe joy of obsession, spontaneity & sideways problem-solvingIf you’ve ever felt “too much,” “too scattered,” or like your brain works in a completely different rhythm - this episode is for you.Share your own ADHD glimmers with us on socials - we LOVE hearing them.

    41 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    Complex PTSD, Kintsugi & Glimmers: Nikki Everett on Turning Trauma Into Gold

    In this episode of Glimmer Hunters, Renee and Emily sit down with Nikki Everett - author of Uncomfortably Comfortable, Lifeline ambassador, and passionate advocate for people living with PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). Nikki shares her powerful story of working in palliative care, mental health and the prison system, experiencing multiple violent events, and eventually being diagnosed with Complex PTSD - a diagnosis she initially resisted. From flashbacks and dissociation to rebuilding her identity, Nikki talks honestly about what it’s like to walk “through madness to find me”. Along the way, she explains how glimmers (those tiny moments of safety, joy or connection) became a vital part of her healing - from early morning magpies and ocean swims to journaling, plants, and Japanese philosophies like Kintsugi. If you live with PTSD/CPTSD, love someone who does, or work in mental health, this one is a gentle but deeply validating listen. In this episode we explore: What Complex PTSD (CPTSD) is and how it differs from PTSD Nikki’s experience of multiple violent incidents while working in the prison system Dissociation, flashbacks and what’s actually happening in the brain during trauma Naming brain parts as “characters” (Amy Amygdala, Colin Cortisol) to make trauma science less scary How journaling unexpectedly became one of her most powerful healing tools Discovering Kokedama and Kintsugi, and how they reshaped how she saw her “cracks” Turning “brokenness” into a new identity - and learning to feel again after numbness The role of glimmers in balancing triggers, negativity bias and survival mode Reframing your story using the Hero’s Journey to move from victim to hero Why owning your mental illness can remove shame and create deeper connection with others Key takeaways Knowledge is power: understanding what the brain does during triggers, flashbacks and dissociation can replace “I’m going crazy” with “my brain is protecting me”. Tiny moments matter: glimmers in nature, animals, water and everyday life can be meaningful signposts that healing is happening. You are not your diagnosis: Complex PTSD is not a personal failing; it’s your brain’s survival response to ongoing trauma. Own your story: speaking openly about mental illness can remove shame - and give others permission to own their stories too. Healing is a journey, not one magic fix: different therapies offer different “gold nuggets”; it’s okay to change approaches and advocate for what works for you. Connect with Nikki: Buy Nikki’s book Uncomfortably Comfortable: https://www.amazon.com.au/Uncomfortably-Comfortable-walking-through-madness-ebook/dp/B0DSLSFF4M  Learn more about Nikki & her resources: sheismental.com Connect with Glimmer Hunters: Listen to more episodes of Glimmer Hunters: https://bio.site/GlimmerHunters  Follow us on Instagram: @glimmerhunterspodcast Gentle content note: This episode includes discussion of violence, prisons, trauma, PTSD/CPTSD, nightmares and mental health struggles. Please listen at your own pace and take breaks if needed. If anything in this conversation brings stuff up for you, consider reaching out to a trusted person or mental health support in your area. #complexPTSD #CPTSD #PTSD #trauma #healing #recovery #glimmers #triggers #glimmerhunterspodcast #NikkiEverett #UncomfortablyComfortable #Kintsugi #mentalhealth #dissociation #flashbacks #resilience #journaling

    34 min

  5. 11/26/2025

    S2 E7. Kitchen storage organisation is giving glimmers

    Normally moving house, unpacking and sorting out what goes where is a pain and something we'd rather avoid doing altogether. Emily has recently moved into her new home and is knee-deep in unpacking boxes and getting everything sorted. When it came to getting the kitchen sorted, the trials of unpacking took a sparkly turn when her husband, Brendan, unlocked the joy of nailing domestic organisation for everything from the spices to the sauces. Brendan is our guest this week, and he shares with us the precise moment the kitchen went from storage-pandemonium, to becoming a little treasure trove of (neatly organised) glimmers. Follow Glimmer HuntersInstagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/glimmerhunters/ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...YouTube: ⁠⁠   / @glimmerhunters  TikTok: ⁠⁠  / glimmer.hunters⁠⁠  Newsletter: ⁠https://glimmerhunters.substack.com/ #glimmers⁠ ⁠#glimmerhunters⁠ ⁠#australianpodcast⁠ ⁠#fridgeorganization #kitchenorganisation⁠#glimmerpodcast #storageglimmers #kitchenglimmers

    50 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    S2, EP6. Anna the Anxiety Coach, author of The Vagus Nerve Reset, on healing stress, trauma and anxiety through a nervous system led approach

    Hosts Renée and Emily chat with Anna Ferguson, a qualified counsellor, coach, integrative nervous system therapist and author of the The Vagus Nerve Reset. Anna opens up about the rollercoaster journey that became the catalyst for her specialisation in psychology, counselling, somatics, breathwork and Polyvagal Theory. Sharing personal experiences and practical exercises, Anna explains how and why she uses glimmers as part of her integrative approach to managing stress, trauma and anxiety. Follow Anna: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annatheanxietycoach/ Buy Anna’s book: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-vagus-nerve-reset-9781761343117 Visit Anna’s website: https://annatheanxietycoach.com/ Follow Glimmer Hunters Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/glimmerhunters/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573921765188⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GlimmerHunters⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@glimmer.hunters⁠ Newsletter: https://glimmerhunters.substack.com/

    1h 1m

  7. 11/13/2025

    S2, EP 5. Emily switches out long-term trigger for a new found glimmer - getting ahead of running late

    Can you ever turn a trigger into a glimmer? In this episode, Renée quizzes Emily about her complicated relationship with time and how she's turned her trigger of running late into a smugelicious time-to-spare glimmer. Exploring the stress of rushing, the ADHD struggle to stop, learning from those around you and loads more, this is a relatable episode for both the time benders amongst us and those that worship on the altar of punctuality. Continue the Glimmer Hunt Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/glimmerhunters/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573921765188⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GlimmerHunters⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@glimmer.hunters⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://mailchi.mp/dd13d83c86f4/glimmer-hunters Books mentioned in this episode: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman Atomic Habits by James Clear

    40 min

  8. 11/05/2025

    S2, Ep 4. What is a Glimmer Mission? Sarah Shellard, author of Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal, shares her quest

    Sarah Shellard is a slasher in all the best ways. She’s bilingual, a Speech Pathologist, the founder of the Just Joyful Boutique and the author of Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal. With a rich and diverse pool of experience to draw from, we ask Sarah about the catalyst that inspired her to write the Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal. We also explore her take on the difference between gratitude and glimmers, she shares her most unusual glimmer, plus more! Sarah Shellard is author of the Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal and founder of Just Joyful Boutique. Sarah is a bilingual speech-language pathologist with a passion for journaling. Just before COVID, Sarah started gratitude journaling, and in 2023, after reading Deb Dana’s book ‘Anchored’, Sarah incorporated the concept of glimmers into her journaling practice. Sarah is a big believer that writing down your thoughts can be the purest form of self-expression and she’s since gone on to publish her own Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal.  Follow Sarah:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justjoyfulboutique/ Buy Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal: www.justjoyfulboutique.com  Follow Glimmer Hunters: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glimmerhunters/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573921765188  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GlimmerHunters  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glimmer.hunters  Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/dd13d83c86f4/glimmer-hunters

    48 min
See All (24)

About

Discover the power of glimmers—those tiny, everyday moments that spark joy, calm, and connection. Join hosts Emily McGrorey and Reneé Ballard as they explore the science of nervous system regulation, emotional well-being, and mindfulness through stories, expert interviews, and lived experience. If you're curious about how small moments can make a big impact, this podcast is your weekly reminder to slow down and find the good in life.

Information

  • Creator
    Glimmer Hunters
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Glimmer Hunters
  • Show Website
    Glimmer Hunters