Breathe, Laugh, Parent — The Shine Om Podcast

Shine Om
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Parenting

Breathe, Laugh, Parent is a podcast for parents navigating the beautiful, messy reality of family life — especially the new sibling transition. Hosted by Rachel Whytcross — yoga teacher, mindfulness coach, and mum of two — each episode gives you practical, nervous system-informed tools to help your family reconnect, regulate, and find more joy in the everyday. Short, honest, and grounded in real life. No perfection required.

  1. Quarter One Reflection: Returning to the Most Loved & Nourished Version of Me

    May 10

    Quarter One Reflection: Returning to the Most Loved & Nourished Version of Me

    What happens when you realise you’ve been productive… but disconnected from your true intention? In this deeply honest and reflective episode of Breathe, Laugh, Parent — The Shine Om Podcast, Rach shares her raw quarter one reflection after setting the intention at the beginning of 2026 to become “the most loved and nourished version” of herself. After months of completing podcasts, blogs, social content, book promotion, and business tasks, she realised something important: productivity had quietly replaced alignment. This episode explores: The difference between productivity and nourishmentReturning to your core intention after drifting away from itRedefining what it means to feel truly loved and supportedMoving from depletion into self-trust, vitality, and presenceWhy mothers need environments that regulate, not overwhelmThe emotional and nervous system impact of clutter and overstimulationLow-tox and plastic-conscious living as a form of self-careCreating from fullness instead of pressureThe identity shifts required to become the person you’re envisioningRach also shares a deeply personal reflection on: postpartum healingburnout and overstimulationreconnecting to feminine essence and creativityprotecting restredefining success through energy, alignment, and joy instead of outputThis is an invitation to pause, reassess, and gently ask yourself: “What would make my body feel safer, more loved, and more nourished today?” If you’ve drifted away from your intention this year, this episode is your reminder that it’s okay to redirect. You are not behind.You are becoming. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube. Connect with Rach at @shineomauLearn more at www.shineom.com.au/podcast

    14 min
  2. How to Turn Chaos Into Calm: Mindful Routines & Nervous System Regulation for Young Kids

    Mar 2

    How to Turn Chaos Into Calm: Mindful Routines & Nervous System Regulation for Young Kids

    In this practical and deeply grounding episode of Breathe, Laugh, Parent — The Shine Om Podcast, Rach shares how to turn chaos into calm using simple, mindful routines that support young children’s nervous systems. This is not about controlling behaviour. It’s not about rigid schedules or Pinterest-perfect routines. It’s about creating gentle, predictable rituals that help children feel safe enough to soften. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: Why chaos is often nervous system overload — not parenting failure How mindful colouring can become a co-regulation tool Why predictability (not perfection) helps toddlers settle How creative rituals build emotional regulation over time What regulation modelling actually looks like in real life How to shift from fight-or-flight into steadiness Why five consistent minutes matter more than intensity Rach shares exactly how she uses the Shine Om Mindful Colouring Book with her three- and one-year-old daughters — especially after big emotions, before transitions, and during overstimulating parts of the day. You’ll hear why colouring isn’t “just an activity” — it’s rhythmic, sensory-based regulation. A small, repeatable anchor that signals safety to little nervous systems. This episode also explores: How creative rituals engage the senses and reduce stimulation Why modelling calm works better than correcting behaviour How to build one steady anchor in the storm The difference between eliminating chaos and meeting it with presence Because calm isn’t created through force. It’s built through repetition, proximity, and co-regulation. If you’re parenting toddlers, babies, or siblings in the season of “beautiful chaos,” this conversation offers reassurance and practical tools you can actually use. 🌿 The Shine Om Mindful Colouring Book is available at:www.shineom.com.au/shop Also on Amazon and at Pop Canberra (ACT, Australia). Start small. Repeat gently. Let calm grow. Until next time — breathe, laugh, and be present. Connect with Rach Social Media @shineomau ⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/shineomau ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/shineomau ⁠⁠⁠ Amazon Music and Audible YouTube Podcast Playlist Spotify Apple Podcasts ⁠Read more about this episode here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shineom.com.au/articles⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about the podcast here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shineom.com.au/podcast⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

    14 min
  3. Family Gratitude Journal: Why 10 Minutes a Day Builds Calm, Connection, and Emotional Resilience

    Feb 23

    Family Gratitude Journal: Why 10 Minutes a Day Builds Calm, Connection, and Emotional Resilience

    In this episode of Breathe, Laugh, Parent — The Shine Om Podcast, Rach shares the origin story behind the Family Gratitude Journal and why it’s intentionally built around just 10 minutes a day. Not an hour. Not a perfect routine. Not a colour-coded family meeting. Just five minutes in the morning and five minutes before bed — because what most families need isn’t more structure, it’s a rhythm that actually fits real life. This episode reframes gratitude as more than forced positivity. Rach explains why gratitude in this journal is attention—the practice of noticing—and how emotional awareness is essential so gratitude doesn’t become bypassing. You’ll learn: What gratitude really is (and what it isn’t) Why “Today was hard” can be a valid gratitude entry How mood awareness and noticing work together for regulation Why consistency matters more than intensity for families How small rituals shape the emotional climate of a home over time Why “returning” to the practice matters more than perfection Rach also walks through why the journal includes weekly challenges, playful family activities, monthly reflections, and affirmations — all designed to help families build connection in layers, not leaps. If you’ve ever thought, “We should do gratitude,” but it felt unsustainable, this episode is your permission to start small and stay steady. Free shipping, thank you: Use code PODCAST for free shipping on the Family Gratitude Journal via the Shine Om shop: www.shineom.com.au/shop If this episode made you think of someone, share it with them. Until next time — notice the good, name what mattered, and keep building your home with small, steady moments. Connect with Rach: 🧘‍♀️ Yoga, Mindfulness and nervous system support for Families: ⁠⁠⁠www.shineom.com.au⁠⁠⁠ 🌿 Natural Skincare & Essential Oils: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.shineomnatural.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us across Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube: @shineomnatural | @shineomau ⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/shineomau ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/shineomnatural ⁠⁠⁠

    10 min
  4. Navigating the Fire Horse Energies of 2026 with Intention, Presence & Coherence

    Feb 16

    Navigating the Fire Horse Energies of 2026 with Intention, Presence & Coherence

    In this episode of Breathe, Laugh, Parent — The Shine Om Podcast, Rach is joined by Liv Lightly, a soul session facilitator and symbolic translator between worlds who helps people navigate life through tarot, astrology, intuitive reflection, and energetic awareness—without fear or overwhelm. Together, they explore the energies of 2026, including what people are calling the Year of the Fire Horse, and why so many of us are feeling a collective sense of urgency, anticipation, and “new beginning” energy right now. This conversation is a grounding antidote to hustle culture and pressure. Liv and Rach unpack how to move away from urgency and into coherence—prioritising nervous system stability, discernment, and alignment before action. You’ll hear: ​Why “fire energy” can amplify urgency, overwhelm, and pressure to move fast​How to work with 2026 energy through intention, pacing, and capacity​The difference between urgency culture and coherence culture​Fire Horse symbolism as collaboration, not domination (wild horse energy vs control)​How numerology, tarot archetypes, and collective cycles can support reflection​A live tarot reading (Liv’s method uses numbers rather than shuffling)​Why you don’t need to have everything figured out—just a clear direction and nervous-system supportThis episode is for parents (and humans) who want to live with more steadiness and meaning, even when the world feels fast. It’s a reminder that the most powerful action is aligned action—and that timing, embodiment, and discernment are a form of leadership. Connect with Liv:Instagram: @becoming_liv_lightlySessions available via Zoom and in person (Orange, NSW). Email: liv.mccutcheon23@gmail.com Connect with Rach / Shine Om:Instagram: @shineomauWebsite: shineom.com.auPodcast home: shineom.com.au/podcast If this episode resonated, share it with someone who needs permission to slow down, trust their timing, and move with intention. Until next time—breathe, laugh, and be present.

    1h 16m
  5. E18: How Do I Get My Baby to Sleep When My Toddler Is Home?

    Jan 26

    E18: How Do I Get My Baby to Sleep When My Toddler Is Home?

    If you’re trying to settle a baby while your toddler climbs on you, asks a thousand questions, or melts down the moment you leave the room — this episode is for you. In this honest and practical episode of Breathe, Laugh, Parent — The Shine Om Podcast, Rach answers one of the most common questions she receives from parents of two young children: how do I get my baby to sleep when my toddler is still home with me? This is real-life guidance for the season of beautiful chaos — based on lived experience, nervous system awareness, and deep compassion for parents who are exhausted, overstimulated, and doing their absolute best. Inside this episode, Rach shares: Why this stage feels so hard (and why you’re not doing anything wrong) How to create a loose, predictable rhythm that supports both children What “quiet time” actually looks like for bouncy, high-energy toddlers How and why structured, low-stimulation screen time can be a supportive tool Why consistency and modelling matter more than the activity itself Practical ideas that don’t require extra energy, preparation, or perfection How to communicate clearly with your toddler so they feel safe when you step away Nervous-system-friendly strategies for parents running on empty A powerful reframe that shifts bedtime from conflict to connection This episode is not about perfect routines or rigid systems.It’s about presence, predictability, and enoughness — and learning how to support two little nervous systems while caring for your own. If you’re in the thick of two under two (or close to it), or bedtime has felt heavier since welcoming a new baby, this conversation offers grounding, reassurance, and practical tools you can adapt to your family. You are not failing.You are learning.And this season will not always feel like this. 🎧 Recommended Episodes to Listen Alongside This One:Episode 15 – Not the Same Woman I Was: An End-of-Year Reflection on Motherhood, Healing & Growth Episode 11 – The Nervous System and Parenting: What Every Parent Needs to Know Episode 8 – Permission to Feel: Why Emotional Expression Is a Parenting Superpower Episode 2 – Micro Moments of Joy as Self-Care for Mums These episodes support nervous system regulation, emotional safety, and connection — especially during big transitions like welcoming a new sibling. If this episode resonated, feel free to share it with another parent who might need to hear:You’re doing beautifully — and your presence is enough. Follow along or connect with Rach on Instagram @shineomau. Until next time —breathe, laugh, and be present. Resources shared in this episode: Low stimulation relaxing music and images https://youtu.be/CzBZyEuhCJI?si=5kkQi0x7vGIU6E0H 🧘‍♀️ Yoga, Mindfulness and nervous system support for Families: ⁠⁠⁠www.shineom.com.au⁠⁠⁠ 🌿 Natural Skincare & Ess⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/shineomau ⁠⁠⁠ential Oils: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.shineomnatural.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @shineomnatural | @shineomau ⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/shineomau ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/shineomnatural ⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen now and return to this episode whenever bedtime feels heavy. Amazon Music and Audible YouTube Podcast Playlist Spotify Apple Podcasts ⁠ Read more about this episode here: ⁠⁠https://shineom.com.au/articles⁠⁠ Learn more about the podcast here: ⁠⁠https://shineom.com.au/podcast⁠ ⁠

    23 min
  6. Birthing the Most Loved and Nourished Version of Me – Setting Intentions for the Year Ahead

    Jan 19

    Birthing the Most Loved and Nourished Version of Me – Setting Intentions for the Year Ahead

    As the new year begins, this episode is a gentle invitation to pause, breathe, and set intentions that truly support the season of life you’re in. In this heartfelt solo episode of Breathe, Laugh, Parent — The Shine Om Podcast, Rach shares her personal process for setting intentions — not from pressure or productivity, but from how she wants to feel at the end of the year. This conversation moves away from traditional New Year’s resolutions and into nervous-system-led, values-based goal setting that honours motherhood, healing, and becoming. Rach reflects on: Why she no longer sets rigid resolutions The difference between goals that inspire us and goals that overwhelm us Visualising the end of the year through feeling, not achievement Her overarching intention: birthing the most loved and nourished version of herself Setting focused, realistic priorities that support physical health, creativity, and growth Nervous-system-friendly goal setting using quarterly and monthly targets Releasing inherited beliefs around worth, productivity, and self-care Why sustainable growth comes from alignment, not pressure This episode is especially supportive for mothers navigating postpartum recovery, sleep deprivation, hormonal healing, or major life transitions — and for anyone who wants to begin the year with clarity, compassion, and intention. You don’t need to become someone new this year.You’re already becoming. ✨ Share your intentions or reflections with Rach on Instagram @shineomau — she’d love to hear from you. Connect with Rach: 🧘‍♀️ Yoga, Mindfulness and nervous system support for Families: ⁠⁠www.shineom.com.au⁠⁠ 🌿 Natural Skincare & Essential Oils: ⁠⁠⁠www.shineomnatural.com.au⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @shineomnatural | @shineomau ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/shineomau ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/shineomnatural ⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen now and return to this episode whenever bedtime feels heavy. Amazon Music and Audible YouTube Podcast Playlist Spotify ⁠ Apple Podcasts ⁠Read more about this episode here: ⁠⁠https://shineom.com.au/articles⁠⁠ Learn more about the podcast here: ⁠⁠https://shineom.com.au/podcast⁠ ⁠

    12 min
  7. Calming Toddlers at Bedtime After a New Sibling Arrives: A Nervous System–Led Approach

    Jan 11

    Calming Toddlers at Bedtime After a New Sibling Arrives: A Nervous System–Led Approach

    When a new baby arrives, bedtime can quickly become the most emotionally charged part of the day — especially for toddlers. In this episode of Breathe, Laugh, Parent, Rach gently unpacks why bedtime often becomes the flashpoint after a sibling arrives and how to support your toddler through this transition without force, threats, or unrealistic expectations. This conversation is grounded in lived experience, nervous system science, and deep compassion for both parent and child. It’s not about “fixing” bedtime — it’s about understanding what’s actually happening beneath the behaviour and responding in ways that create safety, connection, and regulation. Why bedtime amplifies big feelings after a new sibling arrives How loss of predictability and shared attention impacts a toddler’s nervous system Why toddlers act out at night — and why it makes perfect sense The difference between “calm” and regulated (and why regulation matters more) How to slow bedtime down to signal safety, not separation Connection-based boundaries that support sleep without power struggles Simple, repeatable rituals that help toddlers land before sleep What to do when you feel triggered, overwhelmed, or at capacity Practical tools like firm pressure play, massage, storytelling, and movement Why consistency and modelling matter — and how change takes time Gentle reminders for parents navigating sleep deprivation and emotional overload Rach also shares real-life strategies that have supported her own family — including play-based regulation, nervous system repair, and tools that grow with your child over time (not overnight). This episode is especially supportive for: Parents with toddlers and babies under 12 months Families navigating sibling transitions Mothers experiencing bedtime resistance, meltdowns, or regressions Parents who want guidance without sleep training or behaviour charts If bedtime feels harder than it “should,” this episode is your reminder: Your child isn’t giving you a hard time — they’re having a hard time. And your presence, not perfection, is what helps them settle. Resources referenced in this episode: You can purchase your own Nighty Nighty Massage Oil as mentioned in this episode here. Here’s a limited-time guest pass to try Calm, free for 30 days. Calm is great for helping me manage stress and improve sleep for me and my kids:  https://www.calm.com/gp/R3FKPLT38WJJ7MLYJWHere is a playlist of Audiobooks that my toddlers enjoy listening to: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/56tKbdPVri1zt2MSPhZRab?si=PKgtVlDvR6mcIRCgrv5C8Q 🎧 Listen now and return to this episode whenever bedtime feels heavy. Amazon Music and Audible https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c3bc24f1-db61-467d-a503-b9b1636bc9b6. YouTube Podcast Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_MVW4mNMjkjJEY9Wf8dv_reqFhj30O77 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/24krcDQdhWbLnNdRpAjqA4?si=BpzcWjNmQJ2zCA4tqj69Qg Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breathe-laugh-parent-—-the-shine-om-podcast/id1855064498Read more about this episode here: ⁠https://shineom.com.au/articles⁠ Learn more about the podcast here: ⁠https://shineom.com.au/podcast⁠ Connect with Rach: 🧘‍♀️ Yoga, Mindfulness and nervous system support for Families: ⁠www.shineom.com.au⁠ 🌿 Natural Skincare & Essential Oils: ⁠⁠www.shineomnatural.com.au⁠⁠ Instagram: @shineomnatural | @shineomau ⁠www.instagram.com/shineomau ⁠ ⁠www.instagram.com/shineomnatural ⁠

    25 min
  8. Not the Same Woman I Was: An End-of-Year Reflection on Motherhood, Healing & Growth

    12/29/2025

    Not the Same Woman I Was: An End-of-Year Reflection on Motherhood, Healing & Growth

    As the year comes to a close, this episode is a gentle invitation to pause, breathe, and reflect. In this end-of-year reflection, Rach shares honestly about a year that changed her completely — navigating postpartum recovery after a significant haemorrhage, ongoing breastfeeding, PMDD, chronic sleep deprivation, and raising two young children with limited support. This episode isn’t about resolutions or hustling into the next year.It’s about honouring who you’ve become. Rach reflects on: The invisible weight many mothers carry — especially in postpartum and sleep-deprived seasons Choosing to live from a place of abundance rather than fear Making bold, values-led decisions that brought more ease and connection to family life Redefining success beyond productivity and milestones Finding pride in presence, resilience, and intentional living The power of reflection through photos, memory, and shared storytelling Growth that whispers quietly through boundaries, courage, and softness This episode is for any parent finishing the year feeling changed, stretched, or quietly proud of how far they’ve come — even if it doesn’t look like much from the outside. You don’t need to become someone new next year.You just need to keep honouring who you’re becoming. Take a breath, settle in, and close the year with compassion. Listen Now: Spotify YouTube Read more about this episode here: https://shineom.com.au/articles Learn more about the podcast here: https://shineom.com.au/podcast Connect with Rach: 🧘‍♀️ Yoga, Mindfulness and nervous system support for Families: www.shineom.com.au 🌿 Natural Skincare & Essential Oils: ⁠www.shineomnatural.com.au⁠ Instagram: @shineomnatural | @shineomau www.instagram.com/shineomau www.instagram.com/shineomnatural Facebook: www.facebook.com/shineomau www.facebook.com/shineomnatural

    23 min
See All (27)

Trailer

About

Breathe, Laugh, Parent is a podcast for parents navigating the beautiful, messy reality of family life — especially the new sibling transition. Hosted by Rachel Whytcross — yoga teacher, mindfulness coach, and mum of two — each episode gives you practical, nervous system-informed tools to help your family reconnect, regulate, and find more joy in the everyday. Short, honest, and grounded in real life. No perfection required.

Information