Parenting Collective

What if being a good parent doesn’t mean being a perfect parent?
In this episode of the Parenting Collective Podcast, Donna Moala is joined by Monique Cohen, a Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist and Play Therapist, and author of Planet Parent, for a warm and honest conversation about playful parenting, parent-child connection, emotional regulation and the pressure to get parenting “right.”
Together, Donna and Monique unpack the myth of perfect parenting and explore how play can help children feel connected, safe and understood. They talk about child-led play, emotional regulation, anxiety, school refusal, neurodiversity, strong-willed children, parenting guilt and why children need more downtime and unstructured play.
They also explore the importance of recognising when a child may need additional support, why asking for help doesn’t mean you’re failing as a parent, and how parents can break cycles of guilt and perfectionism.
Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that your child doesn’t need a perfect parent. They need a connected, loving and present one.
If you are a parent who wants less guilt, less pressure and more connection, this episode is for you. 💛
Follow Monique Cohen:
Website: https://www.journeypsychology.com.au/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/planet_parent_mc/

Buy the book, Planet Parent - https://www.harryhartog.com.au/products/planet-parent-monique-cohen-9781398461192?_pos=1&_sid=f88099366&_ss=r

I would appreciate it greatly if you could please LIKE and FOLLOW this podcast and if you are not following me over on instagram, head over there for all of my top tips and advice around sleep and parenting @parentingcollective.au.  I also offer a free 15 minute phone chat to run through all your questions CLICK here to book your FREE 15 minute chat
Much Love 💞
Donna Moala 
Parenting Collective              
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What does it really feel like to become a dad for the first time?
On this episode of The Parenting Collective Podcast, Donna Moala sits down with Zachary Perez, first-time father, screenwriter and author of Becoming Dad, for an honest and deeply relatable conversation about the side of parenthood men don’t always talk about.
Zachary became a dad at 41 and began documenting his journey through pregnancy, birth and the first 50 days of fatherhood, capturing the emotions, uncertainty, anxiety, joy and complete overwhelm of becoming a new dad in real time.
From the moment he discovered he was going to be a father, to supporting his partner through birth, bringing his newborn son home and navigating those first sleepless days, Zachary shares what fatherhood actually looked and felt like from a dad’s perspective.
In this conversation, Donna and Zachary explore:
• The emotional reality of becoming a first-time dad
• The anxiety and uncertainty that can come with pregnancy and impending fatherhood
• What it feels like for dads watching their partner go through labour and birth
• The surreal moment of bringing your newborn baby home
• Why new dads can feel completely unprepared, even when they think they have done their research
• The importance of support, community and connection for fathers
• Why dads need spaces where they can talk honestly about fatherhood
• How Zachary’s experience inspired his book, Becoming Dad
• The raw reality of the first 50 days of life as a new dad
Zachary also shares the story behind his dads’ walking group, an initiative that began with just a few dads and grew into a community of more than 50 fathers and their children.
Because becoming a parent isn’t just a huge transition for mothers. Becoming a dad changes your world too.
This is a conversation about fatherhood without the filter, the beautiful moments, the unexpected emotions, the anxiety, the humour and the things no one quite prepares you for.
If you're a new dad, expecting dad, partner of a new father, or simply interested in the realities of modern fatherhood, this conversation is for you.
Follow Zachary Perez:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonpractisinggenius/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nonpractisinggenius
Buy the book, Becoming Dad. An honest companion for new and expecting dads - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/becoming-dad-9781761625107
I would appreciate it greatly if you could please LIKE and FOLLOW this podcast and if you are not following me over on instagram, head over there for all of my top tips and advice around sleep and parenting @parentingcollective.au.  I also offer a free 15 minute phone chat to run through all your questions CLICK here to book your FREE 15 minute chat
Much Love 💞
Donna Moala 
Parenting Collective              
                                 SLEEP & PARENTING ESSENTIALS
🩷  For your daily walks, coffee's & travel
     CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE COZIGO  
🩷  Favourite room darkening product
     CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SLEEPY SUNDAYS
🩷 Favourite Goat's Milk Formula
    CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LITTLE OAK FORMULA.
🩷 Favourite Rice Milk Formula
    CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ...

What if your child’s path to success has very little to do with getting straight A’s?
In this episode of the Parenting Collective Podcast, Donna Moala sits down with @Margot Machol Bisnow, author of Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams, 99 Stories from Families Who Did, to explore what it really takes to raise confident, resilient and fulfilled children.
Margot spent years interviewing successful entrepreneurs and their families to uncover the common threads in how thriving entrepreneurs were raised. What she discovered may challenge the way many parents think about academic success, achievement and the future.
From encouraging curiosity and nurturing passions to allowing children to experience failure, Margot shares the parenting lessons she discovered across hundreds of stories.
In this conversation, Donna and Margot explore:
✨ Why grades aren’t the only measure of a child’s potential
✨ How to recognise and nurture your child’s natural passions
✨ Why children need space to discover what brings them joy
✨ How sports, music, creativity and other passions can build grit, resilience and confidence
✨ Why parents need to rethink their fear around failure
✨ The importance of believing in your child,  even when their path looks different from yours
✨ How to support children who don’t fit the traditional school system
✨ Why curiosity may be one of the most valuable qualities we can nurture
✨ How to give children greater independence while still being there to guide them
Margot’s message is simple but powerful: pay attention to your child. Instead of forcing them into a predetermined version of success, notice what they love, what they’re naturally drawn to and where they come alive.
💛 If you’ve ever worried that your child isn’t following the “right” path, this conversation is for you.
🎙️ Catch the full episode and discover how we can move beyond chasing grades and start helping our children discover their own passions, purpose and path.

Follow Margot Bisnow:
Website: https://raisinganentrepreneur.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margotbisnow/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-machol-bisnow-a29550b5/

Buy the book - Raising an Entrepreneur - How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams: https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Entrepreneur-Children-Achieve-Families/dp/1098377745/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1649777585&sr=8-5

I would appreciate it greatly if you could please LIKE and FOLLOW this podcast and if you are not following me over on instagram, head over there for all of my top tips and advice around sleep and parenting @parentingcollective.au.  I also offer a free 15 minute phone chat to run through all your questions CLICK here to book your FREE 15 minute chat
Much Love 💞
Donna Moala 
Parenting Collective              
                                 SLEEP & PARENTING ESSENTIALS
🩷  For your daily walks, coffee's & travel
     CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE COZIGO  
🩷  Favourite room darkening product
     CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SLEEPY SUNDAYS
🩷 Favourite Goat's Milk Formula
    CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LITTLE OAK FORMULA.
🩷 Favourite Rice Milk Formula
    CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ...

Choosing the right education path for your child can feel like one of the biggest parenting decisions you'll ever make. Should you choose mainstream school, homeschooling, or another alternative education option? And how do you know which path truly suits your child and your family?
In this episode of the Parenting Collective Podcast, I sit down with Emma Gentle, an Emotional Intelligence & Nervous System Coach and former school leader, to explore the growing conversation around homeschooling vs mainstream school.
Drawing on her experience as a teacher, school leader, coach and mum, Emma shares why more parents are questioning traditional education and what she believes families should consider before making such an important decision.
Together, we discuss:
✅ Homeschooling vs mainstream school and how to weigh up the options
✅ How emotional intelligence shapes the way we parent and make family decisions
✅ Why understanding your child's nervous system and emotional needs matters
✅ The difference between making parenting decisions from fear versus self-trust
✅ What children really need to thrive, both academically and emotionally
✅ Why conscious parenting is about connection, boundaries and understanding behaviour, not permissive parenting
✅ How parents can tune into their family values instead of simply following what society expects
This is not an episode telling parents which education path to choose. Instead, it's an honest and compassionate conversation about slowing down, getting curious, and making choices that align with your child's needs and your family's values.
Whether you're considering homeschooling, navigating school refusal, questioning the mainstream education system, or simply wanting to better understand your child's emotions and behaviour, this episode offers plenty of food for thought.
If this conversation resonates with you, I'd love you to share it with another parent who may be quietly asking the same questions. Sometimes knowing you're not alone is exactly where clarity begins.
Subscribe to the Parenting Collective Podcast for honest conversations about conscious parenting, children's sleep, emotional wellbeing, nervous system regulation and raising resilient, connected children.
Follow Emma Gentle:
Website: https://emmagentle.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/em_gentle/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-gentle-469099263
Learn more about The Grad Guide Mentorship: https://emmagentle.com.au/tggmgrow
I would appreciate it greatly if you could please LIKE and FOLLOW this podcast and if you are not following me over on instagram, head over there for all of my top tips and advice around sleep and parenting @parentingcollective.au.  I also offer a free 15 minute phone chat to run through all your questions CLICK here to book your FREE 15 minute chat
Much Love 💞
Donna Moala 
Parenting Collective              
                                 SLEEP & PARENTING ESSENTIALS
🩷  For your daily walks, coffee's & travel
     CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE COZIGO  
🩷  Favourite room darkening product
     CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SLEEPY SUNDAYS
🩷 Favourite Goat's Milk Formula
    CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LITTLE OAK FORMULA.
🩷 Favourite Rice Milk Formula
    CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ...

Are rising grocery bills putting pressure on your family budget? 
In this episode of the Parenting Collective Podcast, Donna Moala sits down with Carol Ann Kates, award-winning author and grocery shopping expert, to uncover the grocery shopping secrets that can help families save money, reduce food waste, and make every dollar go further.
Drawing on decades of experience as a former grocery store owner, Carol Ann shares practical tips on how to shop smarter, choose the freshest produce, store food correctly, and plan meals that stretch your grocery budget, without sacrificing healthy family meals.
Whether you're a busy mum, looking to cut your grocery bill, or simply want to make smarter shopping decisions during the cost of living crisis, this episode is packed with simple, actionable advice you can start using today.
✨ In this episode, you'll learn:
• How to save money on your weekly grocery shop
• Why seasonal produce is better for your budget
• Grocery shopping habits that waste money
• Simple ways to reduce food waste at home
• How meal planning can help busy families save time and money
If this episode helped you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with another parent who could use these grocery shopping tips.
Follow Carol Ann Kates:
Website: https://www.carolannkates.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Carol-Ann-Kates-Kitchen-100069557423361/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolannkates/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolannkates
X/Twitter: https://x.com/carolannkates
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-ann-kates-0aa5123
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carolannkates/

Buy Carol Ann’s Books here: https://www.carolannkates.com/books

I would appreciate it greatly if you could please LIKE and FOLLOW this podcast and if you are not following me over on instagram, head over there for all of my top tips and advice around sleep and parenting @parentingcollective.au.  I also offer a free 15 minute phone chat to run through all your questions CLICK here to book your FREE 15 minute chat
Much Love 💞
Donna Moala 
Parenting Collective              
                                 SLEEP & PARENTING ESSENTIALS
🩷  For your daily walks, coffee's & travel
     CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE COZIGO  
🩷  Favourite room darkening product
     CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SLEEPY SUNDAYS
🩷 Favourite Goat's Milk Formula
    CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LITTLE OAK FORMULA.
🩷 Favourite Rice Milk Formula
    CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ...