In our first-ever coaches’ couch episode, Jenny and Dayna pick the brains of parenting expert Sheridan Eketone to find out how we can maintain a united front in parenting – even when we disagree with our partner.   From balancing differences in parenting styles and upbringings, managing fallout and disagreements, to finding common ground and consistency between households in co-parenting situations, Sheridan offers hot tips and takes on how to make communication and collaboration a little smoother.  Keen for more episodes on relationships? Check out:  🎧 Jo Robertson: Sex and relationships in tricky seasons  🎧 Navigating tricky stuff at Christmas with Sheridan Eketone  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Find us on: YouTube / Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok /LinkedIn  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jenny and Dayna are joined by the inimitable Jack Tame, a dad, stepdad, journo and familiar voice of New Zealand media, for an honest kōrero about the ups, downs, joys and ‘marrow-deep’ exhaustion that make up modern dad-hood.  Jack shares about the wave of love that struck the moment his newborn entered the world - the kind that gets you in the guts as well as the heart. He shares the challenges of the work/whānau juggle, the secret power to be found in the dependability of routines, and how becoming a parent  has changed the way he sees himself and the world around him.   Jack also offers his reflections on the daunting task of raising kids in a digital age, and what it looks like to stay as grounded and intentional as possible.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Follow us on: YouTube / Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kicking off on Tuesday 4th November, Season 3 of Parents We've Met brings new goodness to your listening ears. This season, we’re shaking things up a little! We have new episode formats 'From the coaches' couch' where our Parent Coaches unpack your real-world parenting challenges and offer hot tips and tools to try at home. Alongside seasoned experts, Jenny and Dayna will take a dive deep into some meaty parenting topics like sleep, adolescent brain development, emotional wellbeing and more. And of course, there'll be plenty more raw, entertaining and honest chats with well-known New Zealanders - opening up about their experiences as parents, often for the first time. Join us as we explore the mess and magic of parenthood! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MoreFM Drive Show host and devoted dad Paul ‘Flynny’ Flynn joins Jenny and Dayna for a heartwarming chat about the highs, lows, and lessons of parenting in a blended family setting.  With his signature wit and warmth, Flynny opens up about navigating separation with kids in tow, the complexities of blended families and the deep joy that comes with rebuilding relationships after rupture. He shares why ‘making an effort’ with co-parents matters, how playfulness and laughter can be a brilliant circuit-breaker, and the power of simple and heartfelt ‘I love yous’.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  You can also find Parenting Place on Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Rowing is my job; my autopilot. Being a mum is the hard part,” says gold-medal-winning Olympic rower, mum and newlywed Lucy Spoors.  Rowing legend Lucy Spoors joins Dayna and Jenny for an inspiring and honest chat about what it takes to be a new parent in high-performance sport.   Not long after giving birth to her son Rupert – and after a nine-month battle with hyperemesis gravidarum – the ever-determined athlete was back on the water with rowing partner and fellow mum Brooke Francis, and an Olympic gold medal in their sights.  Lucy regales Jenny and Dayna with her journey to the Paris Olympics in 2024; the realities of early-morning training sessions after sleepless nights, travelling with toddlers in tow, the power of leaning into the ‘village’ and the moment that stole hearts around the world when the rowing ‘super mums’ were reunited with their kids at the medal ceremony in Paris.  She also shares about the wonderful relationship her son has with his grandparents and the incredible support they’ve given her and husband Brook (also a rower), enabling them to achieve success in both their work and parenthood.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  You can also find Parenting Place on Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the couch we’re joined by Dayna’s friend Clint Randell. He’s one-third of The Edge breakfast show team, a content creator, devoted husband and dad to two—who somehow manages to juggle it all while finding time for fun. (Could be thanks to the great advice he got from Dayna when she was his peer support leader in high school 😉)  In this funny, honest and thoughtful conversation Clint opens up about the mess and magic of his dad-hood journey to date, including:  Navigating a tough season of marriage when the kids were babies but coming out the other side stronger than ever, having learnt the importance of saving ‘enough in the tank’ for their own relationship, and for themselves.  The joy of raising a strong daughter who knows her worth, has her own sense of self and style, and isn’t reliant on peers for validation.  How to handle (and laugh at yourself) when life gives you lemons, which for the Randell’s included a triple-whammy of sickness and lice on their family trip to America.  The privilege of inviting his friend, radio stalwart Dom Harvey to attend the birth of his son —and even cut the umbilical cord – an act of generosity to a friend who’d struggled through a long journey with infertility.  Plus, Clint seeks advice from Jenny on navigating the tricky world of social media and phones as a parent—the tension of being a content creator and public figure while also being a tech role model for the kids. Jenny offers her thoughts on how to have small, constructive conversations around technology use, how to set good boundaries for the whole family and how to get brave about ‘pumping the brakes’ if things have gone too far.  Not sure what you should or shouldn’t be concerned about when it comes to your own kids’ technology use, first phones or social media? Check out Parenting Place’s new online course, Digital Parenting: Raising kids in an online world, which is available to pre-order now.  You can also find Parenting Place on Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're in the thick of parenting and want to protect and strengthen your relationships – and improve intimacy with your partner – this one is for you! Sex and relationship therapist Jo Robertson (recently an expert on Married at First Sight New Zealand) is back on the Parents We’ve Met couch to answer some questions from our podcast community (and a few from us) around sex, communication, blended families and making relationships the best they can be.  Join us as we dig into topics including:  How to navigate differences in libido in a committed relationship, especially after kids.  Love languages – are they useful when it comes to improving intimacy?  The Marriage WOF—some helpful questions to help you check in with your partner and yourself.  What to consider when blending families or introducing new partners after a separation.  Protecting relationships from betrayal and recognising areas of vulnerability.  The impact of betrayals – big and small - on relationships and how to approach big conversations in a constructive way. Since we last spoke to Jo in 2023, (you can listen to her other episode here), as well as her TV season on MAFS she’s travelled to Sri Lanka and French Polynesia with her husband and three young boys, campaigned for better online filtering via Makes Sense and launched three new online courses: Better sex for couples, Postpartum sex and Painful sex. We love this wāhine toa!  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Jenny and Dayna for a heartwarming conversation with New Zealand entertainer, funny guy, dad, entrepreneur and the man behind the perfect Wakachangi beer and chip combo, Leigh Hart.  In this episode, we dive into Leigh’s journey as a dad to two kids, the lessons he’s carried through from his intrepid childhood and how he’s created his own unique, inimitable role of ‘dad’ in his youngsters’ lives.  From keeping humour at the centre of family life, to building up those all-important muscles of patience, Leigh lets us into his fatherhood journey which like most has had its fair share of ups and downs.  With Jenny’s guidance, we also touch on the challenges of co-parenting and navigating separation with kids in tow. Leigh reflects on building empathy and resilience in children, all while maintaining a strong, loving relationship with them.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Follow along on Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're into a new year and to start things off on a high, we're chatting with Dr. Jin Russell - a consultant developmental paediatrician at Auckland's Starship Children’s Health, a Growing Up in New Zealand researcher and tireless champion of better health and developmental outcomes for New Zealand kids.  In this episode Jin touches on some of the findings of her PhD thesis into the effects of health inequities on kids’ development, which at times is confronting, but at other times is incredibly hopeful. On the hopeful end of the spectrum, Jin shares some of her positive findings on the power of reading to kids, which is not just great for development but moves them “forwards towards flourishing.” How good is that!! Jin also gets personal about her motherhood journey to date (she has two gorgeous young boys with her husband Matheson), her village, the tricky juggle of work and PhD studies and the powerful stories that have shaped her mindset growing up in a high-achieving migrant family.  She also touches on the challenge of childhood anxiety and recommends Parenting Place's Untangling Anxiety parenting course as a wonderful resource for parents and caregivers. Anxiety isn't a simple fix, but there are ways that you can support your child to navigate those big feelings that tangle up everyday life. Visit Parenting Place to FIND OUT MORE. You can also find more parenting resources over on our Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok accounts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode features a deeply personal conversation with Dayna’s long-time friend Kylie DellaBarca-Steel, a writer, film producer and mum to three young boys.  Diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) at 40 years of age, Kylie began writing a blog called Courage, Love and Legacy, where she shares openly about her cancer journey and the winding road ‘through both dark valleys and along sun-lit streams’ that she’s currently navigating.  What follows is a heart-wrenching yet hope-filled chat on the couch with Jenny and Dayna that delves into the depths of love, loss, and what truly matters in life. This moving conversation will leave you holding close all that is important.   Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Tis the season to be jolly but also ‘tis the season to be tired and bumping into big feelings and behaviours! This week we’ve doubled down on parenting experts and invited parent coach Sheridan Eketone to join Jenny and Dayna on the couch to answer all your crunchy Christmas and holiday-related questions.  Tune in for stacks of handy tips, thoughts, stories and a whole lotta light relief as we delve into topics including:  How to deal with the Christmas grinches in the family. Making Christmas magical without adding too much extra pressure (to your already stretched self). Dealing with present requests from your kids that aren’t within your budget. Teaching gratitude and generosity at Christmas time. Navigating complex family situations and conflicting expectations. Parenting under the watchful eye of grandparents or in-laws. How to politely ask your overstaying guests to leave. Taking care of yourself as a parent juggling all the things. Co-parenting in the Christmas season. School holidays as a working parent. Setting family intentions for the New Year.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the couch, Jenny and Dayna enjoy a conversation full of laughs and good feels with Jackie Clarke, a legendary New Zealand entertainer, singer and ‘diva’ (in all the best ways!)  In this delightful chat, Jenny and Dayna are treated to the odd spontaneous musical cameo from Jackie herself as she recalls her formative childhood memories and some of the soundtracks that inspired a life-long love of music and theatre.  A ‘boy mum’ to two now-adult sons, Jackie also talks her motherhood journey and the juggle of a big career, which saw her travelling around the country regularly (and side note: collecting an enormous snow-globe collection, which you’ll hear more about in this episode), while also doing the hardest, most important job there is – parenting.  From dressing up in fabulous frocks, to zipping her mouth when necessary and riding the high of a glorious choral harmony, Jackie shares openly about all the things that make her who she is – a loud and proud wāhine toa!  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve reeled in a fantastic guest for this episode - Scott Parry from the New Zealand TV show Fishing and Adventure (now in its 12th season) is here for a chat through his other favourite gig – being a dad!  First off though, we challenge Scott to a quick-fire round of fishing questions to get to know him a little better before digging into some of the highlights of his fatherhood journey to date (him and his wife have just added twins to the brood!).  We also talk about the challenge of finding patience in parenting, the power of play and the joy that comes with modelling a love and respect for the ocean and great outdoors.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jenny and Dayna shed some light on childhood anxiety with the guidance of Dr Melanie Woodfield, a mum to two teenage boys and a highly regarded clinical psychologist of over 20 years.   As key contributors to Parenting Place’s latest self-guided online course, Untangling Anxiety: Supporting kids through worry and fear Dr Melanie and Jenny chat about the increase in anxiety in primary and intermediate-aged New Zealand kids, and what we can do as parents to help build resilience and boost independence in our young people.  Dr Melanie also openly shares about some of her own parenting stories, the importance of ‘the village’ (and how the needs of the village change from season to season) and reassures us that while having knowledge of parenting is one thing, using that knowledge in a pressured moment is another thing altogether – and something that takes practice and patience.  Note to parents and caregivers: Anxiety is more normal than we realise, and we don’t need to be afraid of it. We can work with it. Untangling Anxiety is a self-guided online course designed to give you tools and strategies to help manage your child’s anxiety or worries.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the couch we have actor, content producer and mum, Rebecca Randell, though to most of New Zealand she would be better known as Dawn Robinson from the country's longest running drama, Shortland Street.  Rebekah is refreshingly open as she shares with Dayna and Jenny the emotional journey that her and her hubby Bevan went on to become parents, hunkering down in those exhausting first months with a colicky newborn and the delight that she’s now finding in slowing down and embracing simple moments with her daughter.   With Jenny’s help they address the familiar tension of being a busy parent while also wanting to feel ‘productive’ and the magic that can come from re-orientating ourselves to a slower pace with lower expectations in order to lay those all-important ‘lifelong rocks’ for our kids.  Trigger warning: This podcast episode mentions topics related to miscarriage and loss. If you or someone you know is affected by pregnancy loss or infertility, we encourage you to seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional. Your well-being matters.  You can find more about our Space ante-natal programme here:  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having uncomfortable conversations, recognising blind spots and saying sorry well –  this meaty episode is equal parts earnest and fun. A small disclaimer  - this episode contains mention of sensitive topics around mental health and includes a sprinkle of mild swearing so just be aware if the kids’ are around.  Richie Hardcore is a dad to two boys, a social activist with a Masters in Sociology, a Muay Thai trainer, speaker, advocate and educator working in the space of family and sexual violence protection.   Sitting on the couch with Jenny and Dayna he takes a deep dive into some of the topics and ideas that are close to his heart, including some that don’t get a lot of public airtime. We also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his fatherhood journey and the opportunity it has offered him to peel back layers of past hurt to grow and heal.   With intelligence and candour, Richie reflects on his own upbringing, his journey as a Muay Thai champion, and the importance of giving our boys and young men social permission to be authentic to themselves.   Trigger warning: This podcast episode contains mentions of sensitive topics, including suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a mental health professional or connect with Lifeline Aotearoa by texting 4357. Your well-being is important.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of New Zealand’s most-loved TV presenters (former host of The Project), Kanoa Lloyd joins Jenny and Dayna for a thoughtful kōrero on motherhood, her career and the joys of raising a child with all their glorious quirks and qualities.   With Jenny’s expert guidance, we address those big old ‘red-brain’ feelings (namely anger!) that can surface when you become a parent, and the challenge of having a flexible mindset to roll through the waves and changes that inevitably come with this parenting gig.  Kanoa inspires us with tales from her own childhood, and how intentionally she seeks to grow confidence and a great work ethic in her daughter by involving her in everyday tasks (even grating cheese!) that affirm her as capable.   Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jenny and Dayna are excited to share the couch with New Zealand musician and songwriter Nathan King who has reunited with his former band Zed (after two decades – where did that time go?!) to create a fresh new album, Future Memory.  A doting dad to three young people, Nathan chats candidly about family life and his music career, but also about the complexities of raising a neurodiverse child, from the emotional toll it has taken on the King family unit to the love and resilience that has grown out of their struggles. He and his wife Rachel have navigated many highs and many lows, as you’ll hear in this episode, learning about their son’s unique neurology and advocating for him in a system that they feel isn’t well set up to support his needs. They also delve into some juicy topics like emotions and love languages, quoting psychologist Dr Gordon Neufeld who offers parents some handy tools to help children grow into adults who can ‘turn mad to sad’ and express themselves in healthy ways.   Strap in for a chat filled with hope, wisdom and solidarity for parents facing similar struggles with raising neurodivergent kids.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Instagram / Facebook / Tik Tok @parentingplacenz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buckle in for an uplifting conversation filled with laughter and wisdom! Petra Bagust is the host of popular Rova podcasts Grey Areas and Sunday Sanctuary, a radio personality and TV presenter, a media chaplain, mum to three young people and all-round wonderful wāhine.  In this episode, Petra shares candidly how she has approached the highs and lows of motherhood with grace for herself, and the many things she’s learned along the way. With energy, wit and wisdom, she delves into the richness that can be found in relationships, the magic of her personal te reo journey, and the freedom that comes with tuning into what we place our value in, particularly as we age.  A small disclaimer, this episode contains a sprinkle of mild swearing—nothing that would make your grandma faint, but maybe cover the kids’ ears if they’re around.  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Follow us on Instagram / Facebook / YouTube  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back with a 2nd season of Parents We've Met. The first episode of Season 2 will be dropping on Tuesday 15th October - and while you wait, here's a little preview of what's to come. This season, co-hosts Jenny Hale (author and parent coach) and Dayna Galloway (former TV presenter and mum-to-two) will be sharing some laughs, tears and tales with well-known New Zealand parents, including: Petra Bagust – Media personality, podcaster and media chaplain Nathan King – Musician and songwriter Kanoa Lloyd (Ngāti Porou) - Media personality Richie Hardcore - Muay Thai trainer, social activist, advocate and educator Rebekah Randell – Actress and creative Dr Melanie Woodfield – Clinical psychologist Scott Parry – founder and co-presenter of Fishing & Adventure Kylie DellaBarca Steel - Facilitator, film producer and writer Leigh Hart – Media personality and entrepreneur Jackie Clarke – Entertainer and singer Clint Randell – TV and radio personality Dr Jin Russell – Developmental paediatrician and researcher  While most of these chats are light-hearted, at times we also delve into some big topics of conversation that are aimed at a parent audience – and not suitable for little ears!  Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE.  Follow us on: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices