Conversations with Kristi

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi sits down with neurodevelopment specialist and educator Dr. Christine Payard to explore something many parents and teachers have never been taught - how early physical development shapes the way children learn.

Dr. Christine explains how the body and brain work together during the earliest years of life, and how movements such as rolling, crawling, balancing, and reflex responses play a foundational role in learning, attention, reading, and behaviour later on.

Together, Kristi and Dr. Christine unpack the concept of primitive reflexes - automatic movement responses present from birth - and how these reflexes help build the neurological pathways that support learning. When these reflexes don’t fully mature, children may struggle with things like sitting still, focusing, reading, or coordinating their movements.

This conversation challenges the idea that children who struggle in school simply “aren’t trying hard enough.” Instead, it encourages parents and educators to consider what a child’s body might be communicating about their learning needs.

Kristi and Dr. Christine also discuss why many children are quickly labelled with behavioural or attention challenges, when in reality their nervous system may still be developing foundational skills that support learning.

This episode is not about blame - for parents, teachers, or children.
It’s about understanding development, recognising what children’s bodies are telling us, and supporting them to thrive.

Content Covered in This Episode

What primitive reflexes are and why they matter in early development

How early movement patterns influence learning later in life

Why some children physically struggle to sit still or concentrate

The connection between balance, vision, and reading ability

How retained reflexes can impact attention, behaviour, and coordination

Why children often develop creative workarounds when learning is difficult

The importance of crawling, movement, and sensory development

How educators can better understand what behaviour may be communicating

Why supporting the body-brain connection can improve learning outcomes

Why This Conversation Matters

Many children who struggle in classrooms are quickly labelled as disruptive, inattentive, or difficult.

But as Dr. Christine explains, behaviour is often the body communicating something important.

When children haven’t fully integrated early movement patterns or reflexes, their nervous systems may still be working hard just to regulate movement, balance, or focus. This means far less energy is available for academic learning.

Understanding the body-brain connection can help educators and parents shift from asking:

“What’s wrong with this child?”

to asking:

“What might this child’s body be telling us?”

When we understand how development works, we can support children in ways that build confidence, resilience, and learning capacity.

About Dr. Christine Payard

Dr. Christine Payard is an educator, researcher, and neurodevelopment specialist who works with schools and educators to help them better understand how early development impacts learning.

Her work focuses on the connection between movement, reflex development, sensory systems, and academic learning, helping teachers identify underlying developmental factors that may influence behaviour and learning in the classroom.

Dr. Christine is the creator of the Body to Brain Learning at School program, which provides educators with practical tools and strategies to support children’s neurological readiness for learning.

Learn More About Dr. Christine’s Work

🌐 Website
https://bodytobrainlearning.com

📱 Social Media
Instagram/Facebook: @bodytobrainlearning

💼 LinkedIn
Dr. Christine Payard

Practical Support & Resources

If this episode has raised questions about parenting, boundaries, or guiding children through adolescence, Kristi offers trauma-informed education and practical tools for parents and carers.

🔗 Explore education and resources:
👉 www.kristimcvee.com

Resources include:

Guidance on connection-based parenting

Tools for teaching children advocacy and self-expression

Conversation guides for families

Trauma-informed strategies for resilience and safety

Support Services (Australia)

If you or someone you love needs support:

Lifeline – 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au

MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78 | mensline.org.au

1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732 | 1800respect.org.au

Kids Helpline (ages 5–25) – 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au

If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services.

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi is joined by Damian Porter, also known as The How Not To Die Guy, for a powerful, practical conversation about situational awareness, self-protection, bravery, and what it really means to prepare for unsafe situations.

With a background in the New Zealand Army, including Special Forces, policing in Western Australia, and over 15 years as a firefighter, Damian brings lived experience from high-risk environments - but what stands out most is his grounded, teachable approach to helping everyday people stay safer.

This is not a fear-based conversation.
It’s a preparation-based one.

Kristi and Damian unpack why most people freeze in dangerous situations, how practice changes reaction time, and why “hypervigilance” isn’t the goal - awareness is. They explore how violence often arrives as a surprise, why ego can escalate risk, and how simple behavioural shifts - like using your voice, creating distance, or taking early action - can interrupt harm.

The episode also bridges their shared work in child safety and prevention. They discuss:

Teaching children to recognise unsafe behaviour

Practicing “emergency no” and using your voice

The power of situational awareness in everyday settings

How offenders rely on silence, compliance, and disbelief

Why most perpetrators avoid resistance and exposure

How bravery is a choice - not a personality trait

Damian shares practical frameworks for handling threats, from verbal deterrence to physical self-defence, while Kristi connects those principles to child protection, early warning signs, and empowering families.

Together, they reinforce a simple truth:

Preparation reduces panic.
Practice reduces freezing.
Bravery is chosen in seconds.

This episode is about building files in your brain - so if something ever feels “off,” you already know your next step.

Key Themes Covered

Situational awareness without hypervigilance

Why violence is often unexpected

The biology of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn

Practicing responses before you need them

Using your voice as a deterrent

Creating distance and changing positioning

When force is legally justified - and when it isn’t

Staying alive, staying out of jail, and managing aftermath

Teaching children about safe and unsafe people

Domestic violence safety planning

Why ego escalates risk

Choosing bravery in critical moments

Why This Conversation Matters

Many people walk through life believing, “It won’t happen to me.”

But safety is not about paranoia - it’s about preparation.

Children benefit when adults model awareness and confident boundary-setting. Families are safer when they’ve had conversations about what to do if something feels wrong. Adults are more capable when they’ve mentally rehearsed scenarios before they occur.

This episode reminds us that:

You don’t have to live in fear.
But you do need a plan.

And bravery isn’t about being fearless - it’s about choosing action when it counts.

About Damian Porter – The How Not To Die Guy

Damian Porter is a former New Zealand Special Forces soldier, police officer, firefighter, and long-time instructor in practical self-protection.

Through his platform, How Not To Die Guy, Damian teaches everyday people - including women, elderly individuals, parents, and children - how to:

Avoid dangerous situations

Recognise early warning signs

Use verbal deterrence effectively

Protect themselves when necessary

Understand legal considerations around force

His mission is simple: teach good people how to handle bad situations.

🔗 Website:
👉 https://www.hownottodieguy.com

📱 Instagram:
👉 @hownottodieguy

Damian responds personally to messages and inquiries.

Practical Support & Resources

If this episode has raised questions about child safety, boundary setting, prevention, or building safer family environments, Kristi offers trauma-informed education and practical tools for parents and carers.

🔗 Explore education and resources:
👉 www.kristimcvee.com

Resources include:

Body safety education tools

Conversation guides for families

Support for teaching children to use their voice

Trauma-informed strategies for prevention

Guidance on safe and unsafe behaviours

Support Services (Australia)

If you or someone you love needs support:

Lifeline – 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au
MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78 | mensline.org.au
1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732 | 1800respect.org.au
Kids Helpline (ages 5–25) – 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au

If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services.

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi is joined by Michelle Mitchell, parenting expert, author, and educator, for a practical, encouraging conversation about connection, boundaries, and raising resilient teenagers.

With decades of experience equipping families to stay connected through the messy emotional years, Michelle brings grounded insights that help parents move beyond fear and frustration and into thoughtful, values-based parenting.

This is not a perfection-based conversation.
It’s a connection-based one.

Kristi and Michelle explore why control isn’t the goal, why “parenting is just hard” is a myth, and how building trust with teenagers requires intentional, age-appropriate guidance. They discuss:

Why connection matters more than control

Teaching principles instead of just rules

Using friendships as the practice ground for adult relationships

How to stay consistent and present, even when your child pushes away

Why saying “no” is sometimes the most loving thing you can do

Navigating independence while maintaining safety

The roundabout metaphor for the normal ups and downs of growing up

Michelle shares practical frameworks for guiding teens through decision-making, resilience-building, and critical thinking, while Kristi connects these principles to child safety, advocacy, and helping children grow into capable adults.

Together, they reinforce a simple truth:

Kids don’t need perfect parents-they need present ones.

This episode is about showing up, even when it’s messy, and giving your children the space to grow safely while knowing they are supported.

Key Themes Covered

Connection vs. control in parenting

Teaching principles rather than just rules

Age-appropriate trust and boundaries

How to handle teenage pushback without conflict

Encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving

Preparing children for independence and real-world decisions

Staying present and consistent as a parent

Using everyday moments to build resilience and advocacy skills

Why This Conversation Matters

Parenting teenagers can feel overwhelming. Social media, technology, and cultural shifts add pressure, and parents often doubt whether they’re doing it “right.”

This episode reminds us that:

Children thrive when adults show up consistently, not perfectly

Trust is earned and age-appropriate, not unconditional

Boundaries teach respect, safety, and critical thinking

Resilience comes from practice, not perfection

Michelle and Kristi model that parenting isn’t about controlling every outcome-it’s about guiding children to become thoughtful, capable adults who know they are supported and loved.

About Michelle Mitchell

Michelle Mitchell is a parenting expert, author, and educator with decades of experience supporting families through the emotional ups and downs of childhood and adolescence. She teaches parents to:

Build connection over control

Set meaningful boundaries

Guide teenagers with age-appropriate trust

Encourage critical thinking, advocacy, and resilience

Michelle’s mission is simple: equip parents with tools and confidence so children can grow into capable, confident adults.

Website:
www.michellemitchell.org

Instagram:
@michelle.mitchell

Practical Support & Resources

If this episode has raised questions about parenting, boundaries, or guiding children through adolescence, Kristi offers trauma-informed education and practical tools for parents and carers.

🔗 Explore education and resources:
👉 www.kristimcvee.com

Resources include:

Guidance on connection-based parenting

Tools for teaching children advocacy and self-expression

Conversation guides for families

Trauma-informed strategies for resilience and safety

Support Services (Australia)

If you or someone you love needs support:

Lifeline – 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au

MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78 | mensline.org.au

1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732 | 1800respect.org.au

Kids Helpline (ages 5–25) – 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au

If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services.

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi is joined by Jocelyn Brewer - psychologist, former high school teacher, and founder of Digital Nutrition - for a wide-ranging, deeply thoughtful conversation about technology, parenting, wellbeing, and what it truly means to stay human in a digital world.

With over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of psychology, education, and technology, Jocelyn brings clarity, compassion, and a refreshingly non-shaming perspective to one of the most complex challenges facing families today: how to live well with technology rather than be consumed by it.

Kristi and Jocelyn explore why online safety, digital wellbeing, mental health, and prevention cannot be treated as separate issues - and why bans, rules, and fear-based approaches alone will never be enough. They unpack how children’s behaviour online is often driven by a fundamental need to belong, how brains respond under stress and overwhelm, and why adults must build their own regulation skills if they want to support their children effectively.

This episode challenges the idea of “digital natives” and reframes young people as digital orphans - growing up in systems designed to capture attention, without enough adult guidance or modelling. Together, Kristi and Jocelyn discuss why behaviour is not identity, how shame shuts down learning, and why curiosity, connection, and co-regulation are far more powerful than control.

The conversation also touches on broader systemic pressures - cost-of-living stress, loss of community spaces, comparison culture, and constant information overload - and how these factors shape both parenting and children’s online experiences.

This is not a conversation about perfection, restriction, or policing behaviour.
It’s about intentional use, emotional literacy, and building skills for life - online and offline.

Key Themes Covered

Why digital wellbeing and online safety cannot be separated

The concept of digital nutrition and intentional tech use

Why behaviour is not identity - for children or adults

How belonging drives online choices and risk-taking

Why shame and fear undermine learning and connection

Understanding regulation, big feelings, and brain development

The limits of bans and legislation without education and modelling

How persuasive tech design exploits attention and emotion

Teaching children to be critical consumers of technology

Co-regulation, boundaries, and consistency over control

Why adults must do their own work first

Staying human in a digital - and AI - world

Why This Conversation Matters

Many parents feel overwhelmed, confused, or behind when it comes to technology - often carrying guilt, fear, or shame about “getting it wrong.”

This episode reframes the conversation entirely.

Rather than asking “How do we control this?” Kristi and Jocelyn invite us to ask:
“How do we build skills, connection, and awareness - in ourselves and our children?”

Children don’t need perfect parents or total restriction.
They need regulated adults, honest conversations, clear boundaries, and guidance that grows with them.

Prevention doesn’t start with platforms or policies.
It starts with relationships, modelling, and helping children understand why they feel drawn to certain behaviours — online and offline.

About Jocelyn Brewer – Digital Nutrition

Jocelyn Brewer is a psychologist, educator, and the founder of Digital Nutrition, a framework that helps individuals, families, schools, and organisations develop healthier, more intentional relationships with technology.

With a background in teaching and counselling, Jocelyn brings a practical, compassionate, and evidence-based approach to digital wellbeing - focusing on skills, self-awareness, and agency rather than fear or restriction.

Her work centres on helping people stay human in a digital world by understanding attention, behaviour, emotion, and choice.

Learn more about Jocelyn and Digital Nutrition:
https://www.digitalnutrition.com.au
Follow Jocelyn on Instagram Jocelyn Brewer

Follow Jocelyn on Facebook Jocelyn Brewer

Practical Support & Resources

If this episode has raised questions about technology use, boundaries, regulation, or parenting in a digital world, Kristi offers trauma-informed education and practical tools to support families.

🔗 Explore education and resources:
👉 www.kristimcvee.com

Resources include:

child safety and prevention education

guidance for calm, connection-based conversations

tools to support emotional regulation and resilience

practical strategies for modern parenting challenges

Support Services (Australia)

If you or someone in your family is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or struggling with mental health, support is available:

Lifeline – 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au

Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 | beyondblue.org.au

Kids Helpline (ages 5–25) – 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au

If you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services.

In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi is joined by Brooke McIntosh - speaker, endurance runner, and founder of the Just One More movement - for a raw, powerful conversation about mental health, courage, healing, and the ripple effect of choosing to speak when silence feels safer.

Brooke shares the deeply personal story behind her decision to run 14,000 kilometres around Australia - a journey born from suicidal ideation, unspoken trauma, and a life-changing car accident that forced her to confront the reality that she was not okay, despite appearing strong on the outside.

Together, Kristi and Brooke explore how “just one more” - one step, one breath, one conversation - became a lifeline, not only for Brooke, but for countless people she encountered along the road. What began as a mission to spark conversation within FIFO, mining, and construction communities quickly revealed a much wider truth: mental health struggles do not discriminate. They exist everywhere - across families, generations, genders, and professions.

This episode dives into the cost of emotional shutdown, the normalisation of masking pain, and how generational silence around trauma, addiction, and abuse shapes the way adults cope - or don’t cope - later in life. Brooke speaks candidly about childhood sexual abuse, substance use, shame, and the long-term impact of carrying stories alone for decades.

Kristi and Brooke also reflect on the power of vulnerability to break cycles - from the unexpected moment Brooke’s father felt safe enough to say “I’m not okay”, to the way children who saw Brooke running began asking questions that opened conversations within their families.

This is not a conversation about toughness or pushing through at all costs.
It’s about courage, honesty, mental fitness, and choosing connection - even when it’s uncomfortable.

Key Themes Covered

Suicidal ideation and the turning point that saved Brooke’s life

The meaning of Just One More as a daily practice

Mental fitness vs mental health

Why masking pain is so common - and so dangerous

The ripple effect of courageous, vulnerable conversations

Generational trauma, silence, and healing

Childhood sexual abuse and delayed disclosure

Addiction as a coping strategy for unprocessed pain

Running as therapy, regulation, and trauma processing

Listening to the body instead of pushing through it

Breaking cycles for the next generation

Why healing yourself can give others permission to speak

Why This Conversation Matters

So many people are surviving - not living.

They show up, work hard, care for others, and appear “fine”, while silently carrying trauma, grief, shame, and exhaustion. This episode reminds us that strength is not found in silence or self-abandonment - it’s found in honesty, courage, and asking for support.

Brooke’s story shows how quickly things can change when someone chooses to speak - and how one brave conversation can unlock many more.

You don’t need to run around Australia to make a difference.
Sometimes, just one more conversation is enough to save a life.

About Brooke McIntosh - Just One More

Brooke McIntosh is an endurance runner, speaker, and founder of the Just One More movement, using lived experience to spark honest conversations about mental health, suicide prevention, and emotional wellbeing.

Through her run around Australia and her ongoing work in communities, schools, and workplaces, Brooke encourages people to build mental fitness, challenge silence, and remember that pain never gets the last say.

Follow Brooke McIntosh on her socials: 👉 Instagram - Facebook

Brooke McIntosh website: 👉 https://brookemcintosh.com.au/

Practical Support & Resources

If this episode has brought up big feelings or difficult memories, Kristi offers trauma-informed education and resources to support healing, prevention, and connection.

🔗 Explore education and resources:
👉 www.kristimcvee.com

Resources include:

trauma-informed education

child safety and prevention resources

guidance for courageous, supportive conversations

tools to help adults respond calmly and safely to disclosure

Content Warning

This episode includes discussion of:

suicidal ideation

childhood sexual abuse

addiction and substance use

trauma and mental health challenges

Some listeners may find this content confronting. Please listen with care and pause or step away if needed.

Support Services (Australia)

If you or someone you love needs support, help is available:

Lifeline – 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au

Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 | beyondblue.org.au

Kids Helpline (ages 5–25) – 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au

1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732 | 1800respect.org.au

If you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services.