Too Peas In A Podcast Mandy Hose and Kate Mulholland

Kate and Mandy chat with Amanda, Pea mum of two daughters, a carer for her dad, a teacher of one day and a wonderful carer. Amanda introduces us to her family and youngest daughter Bella who has autism and an intellectual disability. Bella is also our own Molly's BFF. Amanda shares with us about the early years with Bella, her mainstream beginning in school and her move to specialist schooling after the school encouraged the move. Bella has thrived in these schools and is in a core friendship group of 4 friends who have done some amazing and fun things together.Amanda is a woman who loves to study, and was doing her thesis during Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 with her family at home. Experiencing overwhelm, Amanda called Carer Gateway which is Australian federal and state government-funded program that provides emotional and practical services and support for carers. Amanda received practical help from Carer Gateway, and so did her eldest daughter who was also studying her VCE. Amanda now works for them as the Victorian Partnerships Lead and her job is to talk to organisations to build partnerships with Carer Gateway. Amanda absolutely loves this work and sees it as a great privilege to use her lived experience as well as her skills to improve the lives of carers.Thank you Amanda for chatting with us.Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Melbourne forecast for Friday May 10  - Showers easing, 18 degrees Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate chat to Alex, Pea mum of 3 sons and a very interesting person. Alex shares with us about the birth of her son Harry who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome on the same day he became very unwell and was transferred to intensive care at another hospital. During this time in hospital, Harry was also diagnosed with Hischsprungs Disease, which is a condition of the large intestine.Once Harry was stable he came home and Alex began learning about his conditions.Harry had early intervention and eventually went to his local mainstream primary school where he thrived and has continued in mainstream schooling for secondary school too. Harry is a community man and has played many sports for his local clubs, like his brothers and is also an athlete with Special Olympics where he has represented Victoria at the National Games in 2022. Harry was also given the honour of being in a TV ad with Kenny Jacobson in collaboration with Special Olympics and IGA. Harry loved this experience and Alex talks about the notorious Goat Curry. Watch it here. Alex studied disability and has spent her career in the disability sector. Her current role is with the Victorian Electoral Commission and is the democracy ambassador in the education inclusion team. Her team delivers electoral education and information to priority communities including people with disabilities. They run voter education sessions and go to adult services, TAFE's and specialists schools and run incursions catered to the group's needs. They cover who can vote, why voting is important etc and run a mock election. Alex also speaks to families and carers. Alex is passionate about voting as a human right and what better person for the job!Thanks for spending time with us Alex, you taught us a lot!Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Melbourne forecast for Thursday May 9  - Cloudy,  19 degrees Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate and Mandy chat to power pea mum and daughter duo Sue and Mia.  Mia has Okur-Chung neurodevelopmental syndrome (OCNDS) and is a Special Olympics athlete and admin assistant. Pea mum Sue is also a peafessional Maternal and Child Health Nurse. Sue and Mia talk about Mia’s early years, including her diagnosis, early intervention and school. Mia also talks about swimming for Special Olympics, doing triathlons with Inclusive Sports Training and the opportunities she’s had to travel overseas. Mia also recently moved out of home and lives independently with a housemate and with extra support - and is loving it! She’s also working 3 days a week as an admin assistant in a disability organisation. Sue also talks about her experience as a midwife and Maternal and Child Health Nurse, and the opportunity she has to support families and have an impact on the little person in their lives. She also talks about the experience of being a Pea and a peafessional and the extra skills it gives her to support new Pea families. Thank you for sharing your story with us Sue and Mia! Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday May 8  - Partly cloudy,  18 degrees Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's International Pea Week, Day 2 and Mandy and Kate chat to Kelly, ( in their nighties gifted from Kelly ) a mum of 4 and the owner and founder of Comfort on the Spectrum. Kelly introduces us to her family and her son Max who has a diagnosis of Norrie Disease which means Max has been blind from birth. He was also diagnosed autistic at 8 years old. Max spent lots of his younger years learning skills including braille and was in mainstream primary school. This meant a lot of advocacy for Kelly. For secondary schooling, Max attends a specialist school where he is thriving. Kelly began Comfort on the Spectrum in covid lockdown Melbourne, due to Max having a limited amount of clothing that he preferred to wear. Kelly's mum made the prototype and Kelly now has the clothing manufactured overseas to access the bamboo and the unique flat seams, that are unable to to made here in Australia. Kelly is so proud of her products and know that they have changed many a persons life. She is excited by her new design which is a hoodie with a chewy tube attached. You can find Kelly at www.comfortonthespectrum.com.au. Please thanks Kelly for chatting with us. Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Tuesday May 7 - Partly cloudy, 17 degrees Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Day 1 of International Pea Week, Mandy and Kate chat with Chloe - the self-described all-rounder and big heavy metal fan!  Chloe is the proud sister of a brother with autism, she’s also a disability support worker and a volunteer with the Melbourne West Special Olympics team.  Chloe’s life mission is to pay it forward and make the world a better place!Mandy met Chloe while she was volunteering as Team Support at the 2022 Special Olympic National Games and became a fan of her big heart, commitment and enthusiasm in supporting the athletes night and day. Chloe chats a bit about her childhood growing up with her brother, how much she enjoys the flexibility of support work and the opportunities she’s had to coach, volunteer and travel to Europe through the Special Olympics. Chloe encourages anyone under age 30 to consider a career in support work, as every day is different, you’re out in the community rather than stuck behind a screen and you come home knowing that you’re the reason for making someone else’s day. Thanks for chatting with us Chloe! Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Monday May 6  - Cloud clearing, 19 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of our last snap peas ... we love to hear your beautiful speak ("speed") pipes. Thank you for sending them peas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate and Mandy chat to Trish, pea mum of three children diagnosed with autism and ADHD, with her oldest child also diagnosed with a pathological demand avoidance (PDA) profile. Trish talks about the journey of diagnosis, which began when her eldest peashoot was in high school and just as COVID was beginning. This then sparked her own journey towards an adult diagnoses of ADHD, and the game-changing experience of taking medication for the first time.Trish also chats about parenting her peashoots along with continuing her rewarding career as a paediatric retrieval nurse. In her role, Trish travels across South Australia to collect sick kids from regional hospitals to transfer them to receive higher levels of care. Trish shares all about the highs and lows and precious moments with her peashoots, and shares some wisdom she’s learned along the way.  Thank you for sharing your story with us Trish! Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday May 2  - Partly cloudy,  17 degrees Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Mandy and Kate talk to Sonja, a self proclaimed Norwegian princess and introduces us to her gorgeous daughter Emmy who lives with Patau Syndrome or Trisomy 13. Emmy was born 7 weeks prematurely, in a dramatic entrance which has paved the way for Emmy's life so far. Sonja shares the story of Emmys birth, her time in SCN and the genetic testing and diagnosis of Patau Syndrome and the mosaic nature of the results. This time was gut wrenching whilst Emmy was in hospital and they couldn't be together.She came home at 6.5 weeks and was healthy and growing beautifully. Sonja began the journey of hip dysplasia and microcephaly initially and had a hip brace and avoided a head brace. Emmy then got her nickname as baby Elton John with her first pair of glasses.Sonja grew up in America, and lives in Melbourne, so her family came to Australia with their family heirloom gown for Emmy to wear at her christening. It was a very special time.Sonja was told to google Patau Syndrome/Trisomy 13 by her Doctor and she found it affects one in 4000 - 20,000 people. Emmy's geneticist told Sonja that her results had not been found in anyone else in the world and now that Emmy is older, they have met another little boy from QLD.Emmy has had some significant respiratory illness in her life and at age 3, she was extremely unwell and had a cardiac arrest in the ambulance on the way to RCH and thankfully was resuscitated and recovered. She had many respiratory admissions to hospital for many years.Emmy began schooling in mainstream, and then moved to a specialist school in grade one which coincided by covid 2020. Emmy enjoys school and is now in grade 6.Emmy is dramatic, friendly, be anyones best friend, she is a storyteller with a terrific memory. She is a Special Olympics athlete and loves being a part of it. She is now heading into the secondary school with a new diagnosis of Autism and Intellectual Disability and the tours for the schools have began.Sonja is a florist and loves using the creative part of her brain. She is pausing her florist business at the moment, but follow her for when she returns.Thank you for sharing your story Sonja.You can find and follow Sonja on Instagram @sonjabarrettgibbons and @sonjagibbonsfloraldesignPlus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday April 25  - Shower or two,  16 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate chat to mother and daughter dynamic pea duo Vicki and Rachel from Newcastle. Vicki is a mum of five kids and wife to her husband Neil, who has an acquired brain injury due to a stroke. One of her children also has neurofibromatosis, ADHD and learning disabilities. Her daughter Rachel was a young carer for her siblings and her stroke-affected stepdad, and recently became a mum to 2-year-old Amelia, who is a gorgeous little SWAN girl. Rachel talks about Amelia’s birth and early few weeks spent in NICU. Amelia had a challenging start and needed approximately 25 emergency department visits in her first year for tube reinsertions and tape allergies. Rachel talks about the search for a diagnosis, which after many genetic tests, has still yet to be determined, and living with the uncertainty that this brings. Vicki also talks about supporting her girl Rachel and the joys and challenges of being a mum and grandma to such a diverse family. Thank you Vicki and Rachel for sharing your story with us!Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday April 18  - Showers increasing, 17 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate and Mandy talk to Bec, a mad Carlton (boo) supporter and Pea partner and mum to a husband and two boys with disabilities. Her husband Luke has a a congenital deformity of his left hand, plus lived with an undiagnosed dislocated elbow for decades. Her eight-year-old boy Henry has autism and ADHD and is also gifted. Her younger son Kieran is profoundly deaf in one ear and has developmental coordination disorder, formerly known as dyspraxia. Bec talks about the diagnosis journey for her boys, their experiences at school, particularly the Auslan program for Kieran, and the challenges of keeping a gifted child engaged in learning. Bec also chats about Luke's experience with the NDIS as an adult, and the success they had in getting their local MP involved to help with getting plans approved. She also talks about the things her boys love to do - Henry’s an accomplished Irish dancer who enjoys the routine and order of learning the dance steps, and Kieran loves singing, dancing, acting and being an extroverted entertainer. Thanks for sharing your family’s story with us Bec!Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of UsLeave us a speakpipe Melbourne forecast for Thursday April 11  - Showers easing,  18 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello lovely Peas, pop us in your ears today and hear our announcement. We have loved sharing our lives with you over the last 5 years, but as they say, all pea things must come to an end. So on Mothers Day this year we are hanging up our headphones and turning the mics off, 5 years after we started. We still love each other very much and are so happy to be even better friends than we were 5 years ago, and now we have so many new friends too. You can stay connected with us belowhttps://www.instagram.com/podbarkate/https://www.instagram.com/mandyhosesheknows/Look out for Kate's new Podcast Honestly I'm Lonely it will be out real soon and Mandy is having a little break before she releases her new podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate chat to Maya, founder and CEO of Rare Wear - adaptive fashion for kids with disabilities - and Pea mum to six-year-old Lloyd, who has a rare genetic condition called Iqsec2 Associated Disorder and lives with developmental, medical and mobility issues. Maya chats all about Lloyd’s birth when she was just eighteen years old, and the long journey towards diagnosis when he was 2 and a half years old. Lloyd is a full-time wheelchair user and is peg-fed, and is a chill and happy little peashoot who adores cars and 80s rock music, and is a good big brother to his little sister Elsie. Maya started Rare Wear as she was finding it hard to buy clothes for Lloyd that were easy and comfortable - pants should not be hard! Rare Wear offers adaptive tops, bottoms, accessories and swimwear that make life easier for kids and carers. In her spare time, Maya has also worked full time at Supercheap Auto sharing her mad car skills taught to her by her dad, is doing her honours year in health sciences at uni with a view to doing a PhD next year, and also undertakes community advisory roles with a range of organisations, including SWAN Australia.Thanks for sharing your story with us Maya!Check out the Rare Wear website and socials, including TikTok, and Lloyd's Instagram. Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday April 4  - Partly cloudy, 19 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate and Mandy chat to Alex, a registered music therapea from Devonport, Tasmania. Alex talks all about her journey through the almost magical profession of music therapy.  Growing up in a musical family, Alex was interested in music and singing, but felt a strong sense that there was more to it than just performing or entertaining people. Spotting a music therapy conference happening in her hometown of Brisbane, she decided to head along to explore it. Little did she know that she was about to experience a sliding doors moment, when on hearing a speech about music therapy practice in the RCH NICU, she realised, “This is what I’m going to do with the rest of my life!”Alex started studying at the University of Queensland, and then following a move to Tasmania, began her music therapy practice, mostly with young children and older people. She shares some beautiful client stories that will make you cry (Mandy sure does!) and delves into the research behind why this particular form of therapy is so powerful - particularly the ‘memory bump’ that occurs between the ages of 10-30, where all the songs you love during this age stay with you and become enduring and resonant memories throughout your life.  Alex also discusses how to access music therapy through NDIS,  why she thinks every Pea should be in a choir, and why you should intentionally use your memory bump music to get you through the hardest parts of your day. Thank you Alex for sharing your absolutely beautiful stories (and your voice!) with us.Check out her business Creative Therapies on Facebook and Instagram and some music therapy resources here. Also, search for ‘Alex Morse -music therapist’ on Spotify Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday March 28  - Cloudy,  20 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate chat with Belinda, meditation teacher, shiatsu practitioner and Pea! Belinda is passionate about helping and supporting people on their health journey. She is the founder of Vitaliqi and loves showing people how they can feel better and turn their physical and mental health around naturally.   Belinda’s natural health career was inspired by her experiences of being a Pea mum to a daughter with type 1 diabetes. She found that meditation and shiatsu have helped her better manage challenges and stress, and hold her through the hardest times. Belinda talks about her now 17-year-old daughter’s diagnosis at the age of 4, the hard times and the good times during primary school and the complexities of managing a chronic illness during the teenage years.  Thank you for sharing your story with us Belinda!Check out Belinda’s business Vitaliqi via their website, Facebook and Instagram. Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday March 21  - Mostly sunny,  21 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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This week, Mandy (Kate is sick!) chats to Louise, Pea mum to 3-year-old Isabelle who lives with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) or the ‘bubble baby condition’  - a life-threatening genetic condition in which affected babies are unable to fight bacterial, viral or fungal infections.Louise shares her story of Isabelle’s diagnosis thanks to the quick and insightful actions of two supportive paediatricians, and her months-long hospital stay in a positive pressure room, all while the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Isabelle underwent a lifesaving stem cell transplant at 7 months of age and was able to return home. Isabelle’s condition also led to hearing loss, and she’s also been subsequently diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay. Louise is proud to have successfully advocated for SCID to be added to Australia’s Newborn Bloodspot Screening Panel and has ensured that SCID is now detected, diagnosed and treated shortly after birth in every state in Australia, before a baby can become critically ill or pass away.  Louise also sits on the Board of the Immune Deficiencies Foundation of Australia, supports other families who have a child born with SCID and is an advocate and peer mentor to families living with any immune deficiencies. Thank you for sharing your story with us Louise! Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday March 14  - Shower or two, 22 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate recap their recent trip to Parliament House to celebrate all things neighbours and belonging and connection with the excellent people from Neighbours Every Day - Relationships Australia’s social connection campaign. Neighbours Every Day aims to help create and share belonging across Australia, and build the inclusive communities you want to live in, one relationship at a time.  Kate and Mandy are Neighbours Every Day Ambassadors and flew up to Canberra to celebrate the launch of their national day of action - Neighbour Day on Sunday March 31.  They also chat all about types of neighbour-related stuff  - good neighbours during COVID lockdowns, calling your neighbours if you need them, what happens when you move and don’t have the energy to meet your new neighbours, what our neighbours might think if out peashoots have difficult behaviours etc etcMandy and Kate also give a big shout out to Sam from Neighbours Every Day who is a huge supporter of the Peas - thanks Sam!  Join the annual day of action on March 31! Neighbour Day provides the perfect opportunity to increase social connection in your local areas. You can celebrate in a variety of ways including hosting or supporting events that assist and engage your communities.Register or find an event herePlus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday March 6 - Partly cloudy, 23 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy and Kate chat to Rachael, pea mum to a beautiful 5-year-old Robbie, and the Tasmanian representative for Angelman Syndrome Association Australia.Rachael shares the story of her pregnancy, moving to Hobart in preparation for Robbie’s birth, time in the NICU, Robbie’s surgery at only 9 days of age, and his diagnosis of the rare genetic disorder Angelman Syndrome. Rachael talks about adjusting to Robbie’s medical complexities, feeling like the whole world had changed around her, experiencing the hard days of isolation, loneliness and comparison, but receiving some wonderful support from some amazing and insightful friends.   Rachael connected online with other Angelman Syndrome parents and developed new and supportive friendships, leading to her role in the association. The Association provides support, information, education, networking, research promotion and advocacy for people and families affected by the syndrome. We also learn that Robbie is a gentle and beautiful boy, he loves holding hands and touching faces, he’s patient and works incredibly hard at his therapies, he’s a good big brother and and loves music! Thanks for sharing your story with us Rachael! For more information about the Angelman Syndrome Association Australia, visit their website or find them on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow Robbie’s story on Instagram too.  Plus:  Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday February 29(!) - Cloudy, 25 degrees  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Snap Pea 91!Mandy and Kate chat about concerts, and listen to your speak pipes xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.