We love to shine a light on what other people are doing to support positive childhoods. Our series, Marlo Meets… introduces a diverse mix of experts, practitioners, and advocates, as they share more about their purposeful work which empowers children and young people.
For this first Marlo Meets of 2022, I was delighted to spend some time chatting with Luke Swann, founder of New Purpose, where he is on a mission to help children and young people “flourish with purpose”. We talked about Luke’s childhood experiences and how they led him to the important work with young people he is doing today; the importance of science and academic rigour when developing wellbeing practices and experiences; and Luke’s vision for the future where we are all able to flourish and embrace meaning in our lives. Thank you so much for joining me @lukeafteryourself, I’m hugely inspired by your work and excited to see you impact more and more lives.
In this conversation I chat with actress and producer @kayleigh_px about the negative role media can play towards youth mental health issues; some of the challenges she has faced working in the film industry; and how she is determined to make and be the change through her work and activism. Kayleigh is hugely inspiring and our film and entertainment industry needs more people like her so that those working within it are psychologically safe, while audiences are given the opportunity to see stories that are authentic, meaningful, and representative.
Such a joy to spend time with my old friend @simonconfino this week. Simon has spent much of his career and life supporting young children through his creativity and passion. In this episode we talk about how to communicate difficult and heavy topics in a way children can positively engage; Simon’s own experiences as a father and living as a conscious parent to his boys; and the creation of Cuddles the Colourful Cutterfish, a character of Simon’s design who is helping pre-schoolers to understand their feelings. @cuddlesthecolourfulcuttlefish
Great to chat with @chloevthorn, founder of @ohanahq. Chloe is on a mission to encourage positive mental and physical wellbeing for families, and to bring them closer together in the process. We talk about the importance of creating space for children and their parents to exercise together; making physical fitness fun; and encouraging wellbeing, improving self-awareness, and creating healthy habits in the process. Chloe has a brilliant vision and exciting plans for the future. Really looking forward to seeing how Ohana grows and changes lives.
An absolute treat to have this conversation with children’s confidence coach and @powerthoughtsnc founder Natalie Costa. We talk about Natalie’s background in education and psychology which led her to this purposeful work; how schools are supporting children’s emotional wellbeing; reframing failure and mistakes into positive learning experiences; and some practical tools to support big feelings. Much more too! It’s jam-packed with goodies. Enjoy
On this special 11.11 day, I had a gorgeous chat with Reiki Master @nievetierney. We talk about energy centres, how we all have healing hands, and the benefits of Reiki for children (and all of us!). Nieve also shares some easy and powerful hacks that we can all try at home or in our local parks, woods, or forests. Seek out the trees! Thank you, Nieve. You always bring such warmth and nourishing energy!
In this episode of Marlo Meets, I speak with @magpiesmindfulmagic founder Julia Jebbett. Julia is a mindfulness practitioner who works with children and families helping them to tap into their innate magic, to walk a more compassionate path through life. We talk about Julia’s childhood in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and the devastating personal impact that period had on her family. Julia goes on to share how her own healing journey as an adult led her to the incredibly important work she is doing with children today. Julia also works with @dj1conscious (Move4Love), a global movement centred in music, dance, and wellness.
I sat down with celebrated artist Patrick to talk about our experiences of fostering and adoption in honour of #nationaladoptionweek. Long-term fostered from the age of three, Patrick generously shares how some of the events of his early years and childhood have shaped the adult he has become; how this informs his art; and his ongoing exploration into the ‘human condition’. This conversation was an absolute pleasure. Thank you Patrick for your warmth and candour!
Delighted to speak with Victoria the founder of @stretchbodymind and #stretchandplay. A pioneer of yoga in her native Northern Ireland, Victoria was the first to develop yoga programmes for children there over 15 years ago. We talk about the importance of movement and mindfulness to childhood trauma recovery; how yoga and pilates provide safe, non-competitive modalities of movement for children; and holistic solutions to the ongoing childhood obesity crisis. Victoria’s programmes are as suitable for yoga instructors looking for accredited methods to work with children, as they are for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking for new approaches and resources for their wellbeing toolkits.
In this latest episode, I speak with @maria.bataller founder of sustainable toy brand @capikooa. We touch on the importance of movement, creativity, and imaginative play in child development; the sustainable practices at the heart of Capikooa’s values; and tips on how to create more space for play, fun, and thinking outside the box with young ones.
On this #empathyday it is more than fitting that I am joined by bestselling author and empathy advocate @miminicklin. We talk about what empathy is and how we can all work towards closing the current empathy deficit; the power of a simple smile, and taking the time to walk in someone else’s shoes; and how empathy is contagious, and the importance of role-modelling it to the children in our lives. We’ll be doing more with Mimi in the months ahead, developing some fantastic resources and content to empower children and their innate empathy skills.
In this conversation, Lisa (aka @misslollymoney) and I talk about money mindset and children. Money is such an emotional topic and what we hear, learn and experience around money when we are young is impactful on both our childhoods and the adults we become. Lisa shares the fact the children’s money mindset is formed by age 7; that studies show there is a gender gap in children’s pocket money (what??); and that by being curious with our children and empowering them with responsibility for their (pocket/gifted) money early on, it can make all the difference.
During this episode, I speak with trauma specialist Julia Pennington about the work she does with children and adults to support their recovery journeys.We talk about what self-care really means and how we can all access it regardless of circumstances; how we define trauma and Julia’s belief we have all experienced it; and how we can use children’s natural curiosity to help them better understand their feelings and emotions.To find out more about Julia’s work or to contact her directly: DIGNIFI
Delighted to have this opportunity to chat with psychologist and author @suzyreading. We delved into some of the different ways to create emotional toolkits to support the children in our lives, and indeed ourselves. We touched on the importance of nature to our wellbeing, and different ways we can access this if getting out to nature is difficult. Suzy believes that compassion is at the heart of our wellbeing journeys, both when building safe emotional spaces for children and our own inner child.
In celebration of #mentalhealthawarenessweek I was thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Esther Marshall, author of @sophiesaysofficial and a mental health campaigner. Check out Esther’s account and website for more information on her books, the new education hub of emotional wellbeing resources she has just launched for children this week.
This week we had a wonderful chat with the brilliant Chris and Rose from @expectthebest.uk. We talk about how and why they came to work together; the different ways that they support the families they work with; why it’s more than ok to prioritise a cup of tea or serve toast for supper; and the place for holistic modalities which empower both children and adults.
This week’s guest is Happy Marlo’s resident EFT practitioner, the magical Donna Grant. We chat about Donna’s background as an energy psychologist and how she works with children and families to support emotional wellbeing. Donna shares the ‘what’ ‘how’ and ‘why’ of EFT/tapping, and her dream for this powerful tool to become the norm for children and our wider communities. We’re both super excited by what kind of world we might all live in if children were able to enter adulthood with the emotional tools and resources which have set them up to thrive! This is our mission at Happy Marlo.
We talk about childhood bereavement, conscious parenting, supporting children’s emotional development, and Children of the Deep - Tracey’s new conscious swimwear brand for teens and young women. @thebritishmother
Catching up with the super talented Nicki Wells to discuss her childhood growing up in India, meditating from being a little girl, her journey to a successful musical career, and her work with Happy Marlo.
