Beanstalk Single Mums

A low conflict separation might seem like a contradiction in terms but it really is possible for many ex-couples. Maybe not right now, but certainly in time. The truth is, it only takes one person to counteract conflict with a more effective and peaceful resolution process. If you want to be this person, this podcast will help you move your separation out of the combat zone and into a collaborative, working space. I chat to Lisanne Iriks, who is an award-winning mediator and coach and the owner of Life Mediation. Having been a mediator for over 12 years, specialising in family mediation, Lisanne is perfectly placed to share her knowledge around this tricky topic. Even if you think there is no hope for you and your ex, it is likely you will find some of Lisanne suggestions helpful, so listen and learn ladies ... Lisanne and I discuss a lot of stuff, including: Why it is so incredibly important to aim for a low-conflict separation Understanding the stages of grief in separation and how to keep the peace w

Do you, like me, feel that you have lost touch of what your personal style is? Or do you know what you want your style to be but don't have the time to rock it? Then stay tuned. I chat to Danielle Johansen from Threadicated, an online and shipped to your door personal fashion styling service. This is a lady who has spent years in the fashion industry understanding trends, body types and style. Remember, style is not just about the latest trends for the rich and famous. It's about expression, self-care and feeling good about yourself when you strut out your front door every day. Listen to Danielle and I talk about: Why it's so damn important to find your style (do not put it at the end of your "to do" list) Some really simple starter tips that you can do right now ... without even leaving the house How to make clothes shopping (at the actual shops) enjoyable and successful The services of an online personal fashion stylist and how it all works How to get (and stay) stylish without shelling out too

Lockdowns are becoming part and parcel of daily life here in Australia, but they certainly don't get easier, especially if you are losing work each time. On this podcast, I chat to Hank Jongen, General Manager of Services Australia, who are doing a heroic job of getting covid disaster payments out to those in need, when they need it.   This factual chat will put you on the right path to get support whether you're in lockdown or isolation, and losing money (or your mind) as a result of it. Hank explains: What support is available to people in lockdown across Australia How eligibility works (hint: it's done by hours not dollars) How to make a claim for a disaster payment The estimated wait time for financial assistance Moving forward, as lockdowns continue, how and when to re-claim What to do if you are self-employed or a sole trader How these payment work in terms of tax and income support purposes More support services available, over and above the disaster payment

Terrified of dating after being off the scene for so long? We get it!  I chat to Elly Johnson who, alongside Leena Sisco, owns TruthLove Academy, designed to help women date smart and date safe. Elly explains how to get perfectly poised to make your debut into the dating world. Then, once you're off and running, how to protect yourself, enjoy yourself and ultimately attract an amazing partner. Our conversation includes but is not limited to: The biggest challenges for single mums getting back into the dating world, and how to overcome them Some of the risks to women on the dating scene and how to protect yourself The texting trap - what it is, how and why to avoid it ... and why some single mums do it The importance of the kind of stuff Elly and Leena can teach you, like learning about human behaviour, information elicitation and understanding limiting beliefs Why (and how) to stay positive on the dating scene Where to found Elly and Leena if you need to more support with dating

I talk to Tim Loh who is the Assistant Commissioner at the ATO and tax time spokesperson for 2021 to help single mums across Australia with their tax returns.   In this podcast we cover-off on these points: Whether you need to lodge a tax return and how to do it What can (and can't) be claimed as a work related expense What to do if you get a tax bill after lodging your tax return The tax implications if you have received JobKeeper, JobSeeker or accessed super under the COVID measures What you need to know if you have been working from home How the Services Australia end-of-year balancing works Specifics for lodging a tax return as a single parent Tips for mums with kids who are entering the workforce Where to get help if you need more support  

Get the absolute latest information available about the all-new Family Home Guarantee in this chat with Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing, the Hon Michael Sukkar MP. We cover: What the Family Home Guarantee is; the motivation behind the scheme; the impact owning a home can have on single parent families; the eligibility criteria for the Family Home Guarantee; property price threshold amounts (stay posted, they are increasing!); and how to apply and get further information, here's the link Michael talks about: NHFIC.

Desperate for your forever home? We can help! I chat with Louis Christopher from QSM Research about the facts that matter when looking to purchase a property, whether that be right now, or at some point in the future. We discuss: An overview of the Australian property market with speculation to the future; the impact of Covid, JobKeeper and HomeBuilder; the implications of long-term renting; why purchasing a property is a sensible option if you struggle to save; choosing the right area to buy in (which may not necessarily be where you want to live); and clever options to propel you onto the first rung of the ladder.

Stressed out kids = stressed out parents, and vice versa. For this reason, I chat to Dr Louise Metcalfe about how to help our children manage stress and anxiety on a daily basis. We discuss: Why it's so important for the gorgeous little people in our worlds to understand their emotions and take care of their mental health; the benefits of the much undervalued and underrated activity of breathing, the advantages of getting kids to talk and who they can talk to; different kinds of stress relieving resources that can work for kids; how to help kids manage overwhelm as part of a normal day; and how the Gheorg app can play a positive part in helping your child develop resilience and manage stress.

YES, it can work and I have seen the proof! So this podcast is all about making online dating work for you. I chat to the perfect person, Sharon Draper who is a psychologist and the relationship expert at eharmony.  We discuss: Why online dating is a good way for single mums to meet potential partners; the importance of "self" when you online date; resources to get started; timelines around online dating and what not to expect; the new "video date" phenomenon and how it seriously helps the online dating process; and the "adventure" aspect of dating online and how to make it a positive experience.

Beyond Blue were kind enough to let me borrow their lead clinical advisor, Grant Blashki, to discuss this all-important topic of understanding and managing anxiety as a single mother.   Listen to us chat about: What anxiety actually is and the different types (yes, there is more than one type!); the red flags that suggest anxiety is reaching a level where you should take action; simple things you can do during a busy single mum day to help manage anxiety; why it's so important for our children that we manage our anxiety successfully; and where to go for more free support to assess, understand and manage your anxiety.

Yes! You can have a satisfying sex life with yourself! I talk to Chantelle Otten, Ambassador and resident Sexologist at Lovehoney, Australia's No.1 sexual happiness people.   We cover: The benefits of regular and satisfying self-pleasure (this may surprise you); Chantelle's top tips to get started with your sensual self-pleasure journey; sex toys for the novice and something new and exciting to extend your collection; how (as a busy single mum) you can find time for self-pleasure in the bedroom (or bathroom?); and the confidence factor i.e. how to build it and give yourself the confidence to explore.

I chat to mother and daughter sexperts, Dr Janet Hall and Ella Hall from Women's Pleasure Power about how to have mind-blowing orgasms and a wonderfully fulfilled sex life. We discuss: Why it's so important to have lots of wonderful orgasms; what a "full body orgasmic state" is and how to achieve it; some sneaky snippets and tips from Dr Jan and Ella's "Claim Your Pleasure Power eCourse"; how to handle low esteem in the bedroom; and points to fine tune solo sex or self pleasure.

Love your wine a little too much? You are not alone. More and more mums are turning to alcohol to help ease the stresses of daily life. I chat to Victoria Vanstone from Drunk Mummy Sober Mummy about her story that led her to sobriety and to become a more present and patient mother. We chat about: Why you don't have be in rehab to admit to a drinking problem; signs that your drinking has reached an unhealthy level; different drinking styles you may resonate with; how kids are affected by a mum who drinks heavily and how they can benefit if you limit or stop; next steps to find support if you are concerned about your alcohol intake; and why it's never too late to address and change your drinking habits

I speak to Alison Howard from 1800RESPECT to help single mums who are struggling to move forward and live healthy, happy lives following the trauma of a DV relationship. We discuss: The issues you might experience following a DV relationship; the cycle of domestic violence - what it is and how to break it; advice on parenting with your abuser; how to help your children heal from the impact of the relationship whilst healing yourself; dating again - what to consider, red flags and where to find help; and where to find the support you need to heal from the trauma caused by an abusive relationship.

The National Debt Helpline are simply the BEST service. And I am lucky to chat to Deborah Naylor, the NDH Supervisor, who not only has 20 years experience in the financial counselling sector BUT is also a single mum! We discuss: The stigma around debt and why people find it so hard to reach out; how debt can negatively impact so many areas of your life; how to break-free from a difficult mindset around debt; examples of options available to you when it comes to debt solutions; complex financial situations and how the National Debt Helpline can assist; financial counselling which is non-bias and completely free btw; and how to cope with debt created by another person before a break-up, grrrr ... there are ways.

Maggie Dent and I have a really fascinating chat about raising teenage boys and touch on lots of tips from her new book: From Boys to Men: Guiding teen boys to grow into healthy, happy men. Amongst other things we discuss: The inner workings of the mind and body of teenage boys and how knowing this can seriously help; tips for chatting to your teenage boy that will keep the peace and defuse conflict; how to "unstick" your unmotivated son; the importance of healthy role models and what to do if Dad is not present or setting a good example; and Maggie's thoughts on how technology can affect your teen boy with key points to deal with it.

Get completely non-bias advice (without the sale) about private health insurance for your single parent family in this chat with Paul Pfitzner from the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman and the brilliant PrivateHealth.gov.au website. We discuss: How private health insurance works and what is covered; what happens when you separate and whether your current policy will still be valid; what to consider when choosing the right health insurance; a bit about PrivateHealth.gov.au and how it is the only place to compare without the sale; what government incentives and surcharges apply to private health insurance; what is Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) and how it works; and where to go for help if you have a problem with your private health insurance.

MoneySmart.gov.au is the BEST personal finance resource and I am excited to chat to the lady who manages it ... Laura Higgins. Our topic: Budgeting. Now, stay with us as it's easier than you think.   Listen to us discuss: What a personal budget actually is; the importance of budgeting and tracking your spending; how to simplify the process and make it less overwhelming; the brilliant tools available to help you to budget; top tips to save money if your expenses are too high; how to ensure your money is working for you; dealing with debt through the National Debt Helpline; further support and advice if you are going through financial hardship

Desperately trying to find the perfect child care centre for your little one? Let us help you as I chat to Gabby Hegerty from the new game-changing search and compare child care website, Toddle.   We discuss: The advantages of enrolling your child in a child care centre; what actually makes a good care centre; the incredible range of different child care centres available; the red flags to be aware of when choosing a child care centre; what to do if there is no availability at the centre you fall in love with; and how Toddle can streamline the process and help you find the perfect place for your child.

Worried about completing your tax return this year with the added complications of the Coronavirus supplements and work from home? We have you covered as Lucy chats to Karen Foat from the ATO to help demystify your tax return and help you with what you need to know to complete it. Listen to us discuss: How to know if you need to lodge a tax return; the options this year for people needing to lodge a tax return; whether or not to use a tax agent; the tax implications for people who have received JobSeeker or JobKeeper payments; what you need to know if you have been working from home; how Services Australia balancing works with your tax return and what you need to do; and specific advice for single parents if you separated in the last financial year.