The Village Lantern Podcast

Anna Oxley Rintoul and Co-Hosts

A podcast for families living with hidden challenges, such as autism and other neurodiverse or hidden conditions...and for anyone else wanting to understand, love and support. Hosted by Anna Oxley-Rintoul, mum of three neurodivergent kids and founder of Takes a Village. With co-hosts Jordan Sandler, CEO of CareNow, and fellow mums Annabel Rattigan and Char Adorjan. We talk to individuals, parents, experts and community leaders to bring light and love to families living with hidden challenges associated with neurodiverse conditions. read less

Kids & FamilyKids & Family

ParentingParenting

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S3 Ep 9 - Disordered Eating in ND kids

S3 Ep 9 - Disordered Eating in ND kids

A conversation with one of our treasured Villagers about navigating eating disorders and neurodiversity. A first hand account and one we know many will relate to. Please note that this episode contains discussion of eating disorders that some people may find distressing.

Episodes

S3 Ep 9 - Disordered Eating in ND kids

S3 Ep 9 - Disordered Eating in ND kids

A conversation with one of our treasured Villagers about navigating eating disorders and neurodiversity. A first hand account and one we know many will relate to. Please note that this episode contains discussion of eating disorders that some people may find distressing.

S3 Ep 8 - Sleep - The true night terrors

S3 Ep 8 - Sleep - The true night terrors

In this ep Char shares her horror story of sleep with her ND kids. We know this is a real thing for many of our Villagers and would love to hear your experiences too. Contact us on Insta @thevillagelanternpodcast

S3 Ep 7- ChristMESS incoming!

S3 Ep 7- ChristMESS incoming!

ChristMESS incoming!…as Anna, Bel and Char drag themselves to the 2023 finish line, they chat about the discomfort and joy of navigating the festive season and long summer hols in neurodivergent families. Grab a sherry/Aperol and a fistful of chocolate and come and have a listen… Show notes: Find our script for how to respond to some of the comments we get from family and friends about our ND kids and our parenting. Go to www.takesavillage.com.au, register with your email and go to Village Support.

S3 Ep 6 - Dr Ross Greene download

S3 Ep 6 - Dr Ross Greene download

Bel interviews Anna on her recent workshop with the incredible Dr Ross Greene. Dr Greene has developed a child-lead, exploratory approach to understanding the root of challenging behaviours and how to address the needs, rather than the behaviours. It's gold. Show notes: https://drrossgreene.com/about-cps.htm https://livesinthebalance.org/

S3 Ep 5 - ADHD musings

S3 Ep 5 - ADHD musings

Anna and Bel share their thoughts and discoveries about how ADHD shows up in their families.

S3 Ep 4 - Fit your oxygen mask first

S3 Ep 4 - Fit your oxygen mask first

Mental health for parents and carers of neurodivergent kids is hard to prioritise and maintain. Anna, Bel and Char talk about their own experiences and share some of what they have learned.

S3 Ep 2 - School Again - Part 1

S3 Ep 2 - School Again - Part 1

We talk about the gnarly topic of school and its challenges for ND kids. It’s only ever a small slice of the reality but it’s such a big one for Villagers.

S3 Ep 3 - School Again - Part 2

S3 Ep 3 - School Again - Part 2

Second half of Ep 2. There is never enough time to cover this gnarly topic.

S3 Ep 1 - Lael Stone - Compassion, Connection and Acceptance

S3 Ep 1 - Lael Stone - Compassion, Connection and Acceptance

Kicking off Season 3 with the beautiful Lael Stone. Lael Stone is a speaker, educator and author who defines her passion as “supporting parents to understand their children, helping adults process their own childhood trauma and creating education systems that value emotional awareness." In this conversation we talk about the importance of compassion, connection and acceptance in the context of parenting neurodivergent kids.

S2 Ep 12 - Working and Burnout

S2 Ep 12 - Working and Burnout

In this conversation, Anna, Bel and Char talk about the many challenges of working while raising neurodivergent kids. All families trying to make this delicate balance work will tell you it’s a struggle, but when you add the Additional and complex needs of ND kids it’s a whole new level of challenge. We talk about the daily tribulations, the decisions some families make to step away and the inevitable burnout that effects so many of us.

S2 Ep 11 - Siblings

S2 Ep 11 - Siblings

Anna, Bel and Char talk about the extra, extra challenges of parenting more than one child with neurodivergent conditions. The fighting, the despair, and even the good bits!

S2 Ep 10 - Education

S2 Ep 10 - Education

Anna, Bel and Char scratch the surface of educating kids with hidden challenges. We talk about the complex, ongoing struggle of supporting our kids through the school years.

S2 Ep 9 - Jordan is back and HoopNow

S2 Ep 9 - Jordan is back and HoopNow

We welcome back Jordan and talk to Scott McCarney, COO of HoopNow, a basketball program for kids with additional needs.

S2 Ep 8 - Quick update and introducing Takes A Village

S2 Ep 8 - Quick update and introducing Takes A Village

Quick update on some updates to the podcast and introducing Takes A Village, an organisation supporting families living with kids with hidden challenges.

S2 Ep 7 - Just diagnosed...what does it all mean?

S2 Ep 7 - Just diagnosed...what does it all mean?

In this episode Anna, Char and Bel talk about what it's like going through the process of getting a diagnosis of a neurodiverse condition for your child.

S2 Ep 6 - Introducing Bel and Char

S2 Ep 6 - Introducing Bel and Char

Meet Bel Rattigan and Char Adorjan, our new co-hosts joining the Village Lantern Podcast. In this episode we get to know Bel and Char, talk about how we met, our shared joy and struggles parenting neurodiverse kids, and our hopes to change the world around them.

S2 Ep 5 - Breaking News

S2 Ep 5 - Breaking News

A short episode to share some exciting news about bringing on two additional co-hosts to the Village Lantern family - Annabel Rattigan and Char Adorjan join Jordan and Anna.

S2 Ep 4 - Community leaders - Saint Kilda Football Club - Kate Shierlaw

S2 Ep 4 - Community leaders - Saint Kilda Football Club - Kate Shierlaw

Kate Shierlaw is the Community Engagement Support Officer and an AFLW athlete at the St Kilda Football Club. In this conversation, we talk to Kate about the SaintsPlay program at the Club, which provides the opportunity for kids with intellectual and development disorders to learn footy skills, and be a part of the Saints community. We also talk about Kate's passions for the other inclusion programs offered by the club, for AFLW, and playing her part in making footy accessible for all.

S2 EP3 - Personal Insight - Living in a neurotypical world as a neurodivergent teenager - Lola

S2 EP3 - Personal Insight - Living in a neurotypical world as a neurodivergent teenager - Lola

Meet Lola. A brilliant, funny and articulate teenager living with ASD and ADHD. In this conversation, we talk about the experience of being diagnosed, identity, friendship, gender and living in a neurotypical world.

S2 Ep 2 - Youth community changing lives one camp at a time. Flying Fox Dean Cohen

S2 Ep 2 - Youth community changing lives one camp at a time. Flying Fox Dean Cohen

We talk to the inspiring and brilliant Dean Cohen, CEO of Flying Fox and AOM. Since 2014, Flying Fox has connected kids with special needs with the wider community through exciting youth organised camps. The network is comprised of volunteer buddies and campers to create positive social interactions in a fun and safe environment. Flying Fox is dedicated to building an inclusive community. In this conversation we talk about the campers, camp leaders and parents, who all love this brilliant and vital service.