Well, hello anxiety with Dr Jodi Richardson

Learning can be tough for any child—but for kids with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia, school can feel especially overwhelming. Add anxiety to the mix, and both children and parents can feel lost about where to turn.
In this heartwarming and practical conversation, Dr Jodi Richardson sits down with Emily Fogg, founder of Wise Owl Education and a passionate teacher with over 15 years’ experience supporting neurodiverse students. Emily shares how she’s helping families navigate the education system, advocate for their children, and rebuild confidence and joy in learning.
Together, Jodi and Emily explore:💡 What common learning differences really mean (and what they don’t)💡 How anxiety often shows up alongside learning challenges💡 Practical steps for parents who suspect their child may need extra support💡 Why mental health must come before grades—and how confidence can transform learning
If you’re a parent, teacher, or carer of a child who learns differently—or you simply want to understand more about how we can make education more inclusive—this episode is a must-listen.
Connect with Dr Jodi Richardson:
https://linktr.ee/drjodirichardson?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabqDVAw_zhoG3IXGRhgjn-J14BFJy50ztJbCHywMfZobVH12nX1USMbisI_aem_QViUbKkXHlwbD3y4kGcvGQ
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the barrier to better mental health isn't knowledge - it's actually doing something about it? Most of us know meditation and gratitude are good for us, but how many of us actually practice them daily?
In this honest conversation, Dr. Jodi Richardson speaks with Cooper Chapman about the gap between knowing what helps and actually taking action. Cooper shares his personal journey from professional surfer to mental health advocate, shaped by early losses to suicide and his father's struggles with depression in an era of "toughen up" masculinity.
The conversation explores a deceptively simple question: Can we give just 1% of our day - 14 minute - to mental health? And more importantly, what would that actually look like in practice?
Key insights from this episode:
Why meditation isn't about being "good" at it - it's about showing up
The water bottle metaphor: understanding why your mind feels so busy when you first sit down
How to watch thoughts float by instead of getting swept away by them
The difference between responding and reacting in challenging moments
Five core values that support mental health: responsibility, gratitude, empathy, mindfulness, and kindness
Why connecting with nature and our senses matters more than we realize
Dr. Jodi shares a powerful personal story about empathy in a Woolworths checkout line that reminds us how regulation and mindfulness show up in everyday moments. The conversation also touches on eco-anxiety in young people, the importance of male mental health, and why making mental health "cool" matters.
This episode is for you if:
You've tried meditation and felt like you were "doing it wrong"
You know what helps but struggle with consistency
You're looking for practical, science-backed approaches that don't require hours of your day
You want to understand how to be more present in daily life
A refreshingly honest discussion about mental health that moves beyond awareness into actionable practices anyone can start today.
Resources mentioned:
Shiva Rasa (YouTube/Spotify) for breathwork and meditation
The 1% framework: 10 minutes meditation + 4 minutes gratitude
Join Cooper's community: DM @thegoodhumanfactory on Instagram
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two of this essential conversation, host Dr. Jodi Richardson continues her discussion with Dr. Lexi Frydenberg about supporting children and teens struggling with anxiety.
Dr. Frydenberg shares practical, real-world examples of how parents can shift from focusing on challenging behaviours to catching their kids doing things right - from messy kitchens to difficult playdates. She explains the power of specific, timely feedback and why connection matters more than correction.
This episode tackles the questions parents are really asking: What do you do when your teenager won't talk to you? When should you seek professional help? What's the difference between seeing a GP, pediatrician, psychologist, or psychiatrist? And the big one - when is medication appropriate for childhood anxiety?
Dr. Frydenberg offers reassuring, evidence-based guidance on navigating the mental health system in Australia, including Medicare-rebated options, online therapy alternatives like the BRAVE program, and innovative approaches including music and art therapy. She also addresses the stigma around medication, explaining when it might be needed to "break the circuit" and help children engage with therapy.
Throughout the conversation, both parents share their own vulnerable moments—from caravan confrontations to modelling repair - reminding us that "good enough" parenting is exactly that: good enough.

Resources mentioned:
The Strength Switch by Dr. Lea Waters, Headspace, ReachOut, BRAVE program, Raising Children's Network, Royal Children's Hospital, Beyond Blue
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr Jodi Richardson welcomes Dr Lexi Frydenberg, a pediatrician with over 20 years of clinical experience working with children and families at a large pediatric hospital in Melbourne and the Victorian Children's Clinic.
Dr Frydenberg shares what she's seeing in the clinic and how anxiety in children has changed, particularly post-COVID. She explains how anxiety often shows up in ways parents might not expect - through behavioral challenges, tummy aches, headaches, and school refusal - rather than children simply saying "I'm anxious."
In this conversation, they discuss:

How young children are now presenting with anxiety (younger than the traditional tween years)
The three main ways anxiety presents in children: somatic symptoms, articulated worries, and behavioral challenges
Why it's important not to rush to label children with diagnoses
The concept of anticipatory anxiety and how labels can become self-fulfilling prophecies
Practical first steps for parents: recognition, education, and having conversations at the right time
The power of "catching them being good" and focusing on strengths over challenging behaviors
Co-regulation: how parents need to regulate themselves first before helping their child
The fine line between helicopter/lawnmower parenting and teaching resilience
Graded exposure with practical examples (like food-related anxiety)
Why celebrating small wins matters more than achieving the end goal

Dr Frydenberg emphasizes that anxiety is a normal, protective response we all experience, but offers clear guidance on when it's gone too far and practical strategies families can use while waiting for professional support.
This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Join us next week for Part 2, where Dr Frydenberg discusses the roles of different practitioners, when medication might be helpful, and what to do when teens refuse to talk.
Resources mentioned:
https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/anxiety/ https://mentalhealth.melbournechildrens.com/media/kiuftzzo/mhs_childhood-anxiety_guide_e-single.pdf
Raising Children’s Network: https://raisingchildren.net.au/
Anxiety and fears in children (0-8 years) Generalised anxiety in children (3-8 years) Anxiety: the stepladder approach (3-18 years) Raising Healthy Minds App

Beyond Blue
Reach Out
The BRAVE ProgramShow less 54Sheet1
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Australia, 1 in 10 families are navigating life with food allergies - and the anxiety that comes with keeping children safe can be overwhelming. In this essential conversation, Dr. Jodi Richardson welcomes Tamara Hubbard, founder of the Food Allergy Counselor and author of May Contain Anxiety: Managing the Overwhelm of Parenting Children with Food Allergies.
Tamara is pioneering mental health support in food allergy care, helping families find what she calls the "just right balance" between anxiety and quality of life. As both a therapist specialising in food allergies and a parent who walks this path herself, she brings unique insight into the daily challenges families face - from label reading and school lunches to managing the fear of anaphylaxis.
In this episode, you'll discover:

Why anxiety is a natural part of food allergy management (and when it becomes overwhelming)
The powerful "what if to if-then" strategy for managing worried thoughts
How to determine what's safe, safe enough, and not safe for your child
Why avoidance can extend beyond what's medically necessary
The importance of having your healthcare team answer key safety questions
How families can live full, rich lives despite food allergy diagnoses

Whether you're newly navigating a food allergy diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or simply want to understand what these families experience daily, this conversation offers hope, practical strategies, and validation for the very real challenges of keeping children safe while helping them thrive.
Book Release: May Contain Anxiety is available now in North America in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audiobook formats. Australian print editions are expected in early 2025, with digital versions available now.
Connect with Tamara: Visit foodalergycounselor.com for resources, articles, and therapeutic worksheets, or follow @foodallergycounselor on social media.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.