Parent Teacher Interview

In Part 2, we zoom out from personal experience to the broader ecosystem around neurodivergent children. Laetitia shares insights from her work with Understanding Zoe and what over 1,000 families have revealed about the realities of raising and supporting neurodivergent kids.
We take a deeper look at the Understanding Zoe platform itself—a tool designed to help families better understand their child’s unique profile, bridge the gap between home and school, and provide practical, personalised strategies grounded in real data from families. It’s about moving beyond labels and toward meaningful, day-to-day support.
This episode is all about community—what it looks like, why it matters, and how we build it.
We also unpack some of the key ideas and resources Laetitia references throughout the episode—helping to reframe how we think about behaviour, connection, and support for neurodivergent children in a way that feels both practical and achievable for families.
We explore the idea that challenges often don’t come from the child themselves, but from a mismatch between the child and their environment. This aligns with the social model of disability, which suggests that greater understanding, flexibility, and acceptance in society can significantly improve outcomes for neurodivergent individuals.

In this episode, we cover:
Key findings from Understanding Zoe’s research with families
How the Understanding Zoe platform supports families and schools
Why support systems—not just strategies—are critical
The role of schools, parents, and community in shaping outcomes
Influential ideas and resources for supporting neurodivergent children
The “double empathy problem” and mutual understanding
Practical ways to better support neurodivergent children

Resources & Links:
Understanding Zoe White Paper:
https://understandingzoe.com/white-paper
The Rainbow Brain by Sandhya Menon
The Brain Forest by Sandhya Menon
Research reference: Autism Acceptance and Mental Health
Understanding Zoe - https://understandingzoe.com/
Understanding Zoe Instagram (@understanding.zoe)

Music Credits:
Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)
Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

In this powerful first episode, we sit down with Understanding Zoe co-founder Laetitia Andrac to explore her late diagnosis of ADHD and autism—and the moment everything finally clicked.
Laetitia shares her personal journey of growing up feeling different, navigating life without answers, and the profound clarity that came with diagnosis later in life. This conversation unpacks identity, self-understanding, and what it really means to view neurodivergence through a strengths-based lens.
We also dive into the concept of autism acceptance—and why it matters so deeply for mental health. Research highlights that a lack of acceptance is strongly linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and stress for autistic individuals, while self-acceptance and community connection can act as protective factors.

🔑 In this episode, we cover:
The experience of a late ADHD and autism diagnosis
Why so many people—especially women—are missed early
The emotional impact of finally understanding yourself
The shift from deficit thinking to neurodiversity
The importance of identity, language, and self-acceptance
📚 Resources & Links:
Understanding Zoe White Paper (1,091 Australian families):
https://understandingzoe.com/white-paper
Research reference: Autism Acceptance and Mental Health
🎵 Music Credits:
Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)
Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, I sit down with Emma from Preparing Minds to explore what really sits underneath student learning.
Emma is a former science teacher who now works with students and families to build stronger study habits, confidence, and independence. Her work focuses on helping young people understand why they think and act the way they do—and how small shifts in mindset can make a big difference.
We cover learners from later primary through to high school and university, with a strong focus on values, self-belief, and becoming more self-directed.

🔑 Key Topics We Discuss
Emma’s journey from science teacher to working with students and families through Preparing Minds
Why values are such a powerful tool in shaping decision-making
How low self-belief shows up in students (and what to do about it)
The real reasons students avoid homework and challenging tasks
Helping students become more independent, self-directed learners
The impact of distractions and how to build better focus
Supporting students through transitions (primary → high school → beyond)
The importance of relationships, both in classrooms and at home

💡 Key Takeaways
Asking “why?” is often the most powerful starting point for understanding behaviour
Avoidance is often linked to discomfort, not ability
Building self-belief takes time, reflection, and the right support
Students benefit from having clear values to guide their decisions
Independence isn’t automatic—it needs to be modelled and developed over time

📚 Resources & Mentions
Indistractable by Nir Eyal (book on focus and managing distraction)

🔗 Connect with Emma & Preparing Minds
Website: Preparing Minds: https://preparingminds.com.au/
Instagram: preparing_minds

In this episode, we sit down with Chloe Watts, founder of Blueberry Co, to explore her journey from landscape architect to creative entrepreneur. It’s a conversation about family, creativity, and why embracing imperfection can be one of the most powerful things we model for our kids.

✏️ What we cover:- Chloe’s transition from landscape architecture to starting Blueberry Co, inspired by her experience as a new mum- How the business evolved organically from baby memory books into mindfulness journals, creative resources, and the screen-free drawing game Droar!- The role of creativity in building confidence and why removing the fear of “doing it wrong” matters for both kids and adults- How creative practices can support mental health and emotional regulation- The development of Droar! — from a family idea to a fully realised product- Navigating screen time, social media, and AI while still prioritising creativity and critical thinking
- Blueberry Co’s core values — family first, celebrate the mess, and create with purpose — and how they shape everything Chloe creates
- Practical insights for parents looking to encourage creativity without adding pressure or perfectionism- What’s next for Blueberry Co, including new products, collaborations, and expansion ideas
🔗 Resources & Links:Blueberry Co Website: https://www.blueberryco.com.auBlueberry Co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueberrycobaby
Droar! Drawing Game: Available via Blueberry CoTen Hundred (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@TenHundredJazza (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@Jazza

📲 Connect with Chloe:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueberrycobaby

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, Josh speaks with Ryan from theINmag — a magazine created by kids, for kids.

Ryan and his partner Tam, both primary school teachers, created theINmag to provide a genuine platform for children’s creativity and voice. Each issue brings together stories, artwork, ideas and projects submitted by kids from across Australia.

Josh and Ryan discuss how the magazine came to life, what it takes to curate hundreds of submissions into a printed publication, and why having a real audience for their work can be such a powerful experience for children.

Episode Links
theINmagWebsite: https://www.theinmag.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinmag/

Resources Mentioned
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics – Peter Liljedahl
https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/books/building-thinking-classrooms-in-mathematics-grades-k-12-peter-liljedahl/p/9781544374833

Nerdy Birdy – Aaron Reynolds
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781626725706/nerdybirdy

Little Picasso’s Art Studio
https://littlepicassos.com.au/

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