Glimmer Hunters

In this episode, Emily and Renee are joined by Dr. Katie Cooper - a recovering academic with a PhD in Earth Sciences turned play facilitator, and the creator of The White Flamingo, a community supporting women through the transition into motherhood.Katie unpacks matrescence (think: adolescence, but with sleep deprivation and a tiny human to keep alive), why so many mums feel adrift without the language to explain it, and how radical honesty + play can help parents reconnect with themselves. Along the way, we talk about micro moments of joy (glimmers), perfectionism, building community in a nuclear-family world, and why we need to stop minimising our own experience with a single word: “but.”In this episode, we cover:What matrescence is and why it explains so muchThe origin story of The White Flamingo (and the surprisingly perfect flamingo metaphor)Why modern parenting spaces often focus on the baby… and leave the parent behindTwo powerful rules: No poo chat & No “buts” (only ands)How play changes as we age - and how to expand your “play diet” againMicro moments of joy you can orchestrate when life feels monotonousDance parties, daydreaming, and the “dose of joy” framework (D.O.S.E.)Why comparison steals joy, and why “everything is a phase” matters more than everLinksFollow Katie on Instagram: @thewhiteflamingo_Website: thewhiteflamingo.co.ukIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, and if you’ve got 10 seconds, leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps more glimmer hunters find the show (and gives us a glimmer too 💛).

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Glimmer Hunters, Emily and Renee dive into the often-overlooked joyful side of ADHD - the glimmers, the magic, the chaos, and the unexpected superpowers of a neurodivergent brain.From sneaky barista kindness and nostalgic power outages to hyperfocus, time blindness, masking, and spontaneous kitchen dance parties, this episode is a beautiful celebration of the moments that make ADHD not just manageable - but meaningful.Emily and Renee unpack what it’s really like to live with ADHD, including the challenges of masking, the emotional weight of growing up misunderstood, and the deep creativity, empathy, humour, and connection that often come with a neurodivergent mind. They also share listener-submitted ADHD glimmers, touching on everything from hyperfocus wins to the pure relief of someone else taking over a boring task.This episode is raw, validating, funny, and deeply comforting - whether you have ADHD yourself, love someone who does, or simply want to better understand how differently (and beautifully) some brains work.In this episode, we explore:What “ADHD glimmers” really areActs of kindness that hit differentlyHyperfocus, time blindness & dopamine chasingMasking, unmasking & social exhaustionChildhood triggers and self-trustThe creative chaos of neurodivergent thinkingWhy ADHD conversations go everywhere (and we love it)Listener-submitted ADHD glimmersThe joy of obsession, spontaneity & sideways problem-solvingIf you’ve ever felt “too much,” “too scattered,” or like your brain works in a completely different rhythm - this episode is for you.Share your own ADHD glimmers with us on socials - we LOVE hearing them.

In this episode of Glimmer Hunters, Renee and Emily sit down with Nikki Everett - author of Uncomfortably Comfortable, Lifeline ambassador, and passionate advocate for people living with PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD).Nikki shares her powerful story of working in palliative care, mental health and the prison system, experiencing multiple violent events, and eventually being diagnosed with Complex PTSD - a diagnosis she initially resisted. From flashbacks and dissociation to rebuilding her identity, Nikki talks honestly about what it’s like to walk “through madness to find me”.Along the way, she explains how glimmers (those tiny moments of safety, joy or connection) became a vital part of her healing - from early morning magpies and ocean swims to journaling, plants, and Japanese philosophies like Kintsugi.If you live with PTSD/CPTSD, love someone who does, or work in mental health, this one is a gentle but deeply validating listen.In this episode we explore:What Complex PTSD (CPTSD) is and how it differs from PTSDNikki’s experience of multiple violent incidents while working in the prison systemDissociation, flashbacks and what’s actually happening in the brain during traumaNaming brain parts as “characters” (Amy Amygdala, Colin Cortisol) to make trauma science less scaryHow journaling unexpectedly became one of her most powerful healing toolsDiscovering Kokedama and Kintsugi, and how they reshaped how she saw her “cracks”Turning “brokenness” into a new identity - and learning to feel again after numbnessThe role of glimmers in balancing triggers, negativity bias and survival modeReframing your story using the Hero’s Journey to move from victim to heroWhy owning your mental illness can remove shame and create deeper connection with othersKey takeawaysKnowledge is power: understanding what the brain does during triggers, flashbacks and dissociation can replace “I’m going crazy” with “my brain is protecting me”.Tiny moments matter: glimmers in nature, animals, water and everyday life can be meaningful signposts that healing is happening.You are not your diagnosis: Complex PTSD is not a personal failing; it’s your brain’s survival response to ongoing trauma.Own your story: speaking openly about mental illness can remove shame - and give others permission to own their stories too.Healing is a journey, not one magic fix: different therapies offer different “gold nuggets”; it’s okay to change approaches and advocate for what works for you.Connect with Nikki:Buy Nikki’s book Uncomfortably Comfortable: https://www.amazon.com.au/Uncomfortably-Comfortable-walking-through-madness-ebook/dp/B0DSLSFF4M Learn more about Nikki & her resources: sheismental.comConnect with Glimmer Hunters:Listen to more episodes of Glimmer Hunters: https://bio.site/GlimmerHunters Follow us on Instagram: @glimmerhunterspodcastGentle content note:This episode includes discussion of violence, prisons, trauma, PTSD/CPTSD, nightmares and mental health struggles. Please listen at your own pace and take breaks if needed. If anything in this conversation brings stuff up for you, consider reaching out to a trusted person or mental health support in your area.#complexPTSD #CPTSD #PTSD #trauma #healing #recovery #glimmers #triggers #glimmerhunterspodcast #NikkiEverett #UncomfortablyComfortable #Kintsugi #mentalhealth #dissociation #flashbacks #resilience #journaling

Normally moving house, unpacking and sorting out what goes where is a pain and something we'd rather avoid doing altogether. Emily has recently moved into her new home and is knee-deep in unpacking boxes and getting everything sorted. When it came to getting the kitchen sorted, the trials of unpacking took a sparkly turn when her husband, Brendan, unlocked the joy of nailing domestic organisation for everything from the spices to the sauces. Brendan is our guest this week, and he shares with us the precise moment the kitchen went from storage-pandemonium, to becoming a little treasure trove of (neatly organised) glimmers.Follow Glimmer HuntersInstagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/glimmerhunters/ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...YouTube: ⁠⁠   / @glimmerhunters  TikTok: ⁠⁠  / glimmer.hunters⁠⁠  Newsletter: ⁠https://glimmerhunters.substack.com/#glimmers⁠ ⁠#glimmerhunters⁠ ⁠#australianpodcast⁠ ⁠#fridgeorganization #kitchenorganisation⁠#glimmerpodcast #storageglimmers #kitchenglimmers

Hosts Renée and Emily chat with Anna Ferguson, a qualified counsellor, coach, integrative nervous system therapist and author of the The Vagus Nerve Reset. Anna opens up about the rollercoaster journey that became the catalyst for her specialisation in psychology, counselling, somatics, breathwork and Polyvagal Theory. Sharing personal experiences and practical exercises, Anna explains how and why she uses glimmers as part of her integrative approach to managing stress, trauma and anxiety. Follow Anna:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annatheanxietycoach/Buy Anna’s book: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-vagus-nerve-reset-9781761343117Visit Anna’s website: https://annatheanxietycoach.com/Follow Glimmer HuntersInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/glimmerhunters/⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573921765188⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GlimmerHunters⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@glimmer.hunters⁠Newsletter: https://glimmerhunters.substack.com/