Parent Teacher Interview

In this episode of the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast, I’m joined by sisters Jacinta and Alicia, the founders of Little Potion Co, a business creating mindful magic potion kits designed to encourage children to play, imagine, build confidence and connect with the people around them.
What began with Jacinta creating a potion kit for her young son has grown into a business with a much bigger purpose. We talk about the importance of sensory and open-ended play, the role of positive affirmations in developing children's self-belief, and how creating opportunities for imaginative play can help families slow down and reconnect.
Jacinta and Alicia also share the care that goes into developing their products, including their approach to sustainability and product safety, why they spend so much time crafting the words and stories that accompany their potions, and what they have learned from building a business together as sisters and mums.
We also hear about some of the teachers who have had a lasting impact on their lives and their children, and the exciting story behind Little Potion Co's collaboration with Fleur Harris and the Enid Blyton team to create a Magic Faraway Tree Potion Kit.

In this episode, we discuss:
Why imagination and a sense of magic can be so important during childhood
The benefits of sensory and open-ended play
How potion play can encourage confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing
The role of positive affirmations in helping children develop self-belief
Why the words and stories behind their potions are so carefully considered
The importance of creating opportunities for parents and children to play and connect together
Sustainability, biodegradable glitter and the choices behind their ingredients and packaging
Why product safety testing has been such an important investment for Little Potion Co
Building a business as sisters, mums and business partners
The teachers who have influenced Jacinta and Alicia and their children
The story behind the Little Potion Co collaboration with Fleur Harris and the Magic Faraway Tree

About Little Potion Co
Little Potion Co creates Mindful Magic Potion Kits designed to support children's confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing through imaginative play, potion making and positive affirmations.
Find out more about Little Potion Co:
The Little Potion Co website
The Little Potion Co on Instagram

Music
Ember – The Lakes
Green Leaf – The Lakes

In this episode, Joshua is joined by Isabelle from PDA Perspective to explore what PDA (Persistent Drive for Autonomy) is and how it shapes everyday family life. Through her lived experience raising a daughter with a PDA profile of autism, Isabelle shares the diagnosis journey, the realities of low-demand parenting, navigating education, and the importance of trusting parental instincts. This is an honest conversation for parents, educators and anyone wanting to better understand PDA.

What We Discussed
- What PDA is and why many people now use the term Persistent Drive for Autonomy.
- Early signs that led Isabelle to seek an autism assessment.
- The diagnosis journey and the emotions that followed.
- How PDA has influenced family life and sibling relationships.
- Common misconceptions about PDA.
- Why low-demand parenting can be more effective than traditional approaches.
- Finding a school that understands and supports PDA.
- Considering homeschooling and flexible education pathways.
- The impact of PDA on work, routines and daily family life.
- Why Isabelle created PDA Perspective to support other families.

Resources & Links
PDA Society
https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/

PDA Perspective (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/pdaperspective/

Parent Teacher Interview Podcast (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/parent_teacher_interview_pod/

Music Credits
'Ember' by The Lakes via Uppbeat
'Green Leaf' by The Lakes via Uppbeat

Thanks for listening to the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following the show, leaving a rating or review, and sharing it with someone who may find it helpful.

Every child communicates differently. In this episode, we explore how creativity can become another pathway for children to express themselves, process emotions and build connection.

In this episode of the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast, Joshua sits down with registered Creative Arts Therapist Rebecca Iona to unpack what art therapy really is—and perhaps more importantly, what it isn't.

Together they explore how creativity can become a powerful tool for communication, emotional regulation and healing, particularly for children who struggle to express themselves verbally. Rebecca also shares practical insights into neuroaffirming practice, trauma-informed care and how parents and educators can create environments where children feel safe to be themselves.

Whether you're a parent, teacher or someone who works with children, this conversation offers practical ideas and a fresh perspective on supporting young people.

In this episode we discuss:
What art therapy actually is (and what it isn't)
Why creativity can help children communicate when words are difficult
The difference between therapeutic art and art therapy
How art therapy supports emotional regulation
Neuroaffirming practice and supporting neurodivergent children
Trauma-informed approaches in therapeutic settings
Sensory needs and creating safe environments
The importance of qualified Creative Arts Therapists
Practical regulation tools for home, school and therapy
The Māori concept of Takiwātanga ("in their own space and time")
Connect with Rebecca
🌿 Website
https://www.thearttherapist.co.nz/
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thearttherapistnz/

Resources mentioned
ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association)
https://www.anzacata.org/
Whitecliffe College (Creative Arts Therapy programme)
https://www.whitecliffe.ac.nz/

Connect with Parent Teacher Interview
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/parent_teacher_interview_pod/

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

🎵 Music Credits
Intro Music
Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)
Outro Music
Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

What makes a teacher unforgettable?

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, Josh sits down with Deputy Principal Ethan Ford from Melbourne to explore the moments that truly shape a child's experience at school.
Drawing on years of classroom teaching and school leadership, Ethan shares why genuine relationships are at the heart of great education. From greeting students at the classroom door to understanding the story behind challenging behaviour, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the little things teachers do every day often leave the biggest impression.
Together, Josh and Ethan discuss the importance of consistency, creating a sense of belonging, supporting student wellbeing, and why being fully present for the children in front of us is one of the greatest gifts an educator can give.
Whether you're a teacher, school leader, pre-service teacher or parent, this episode offers practical insights and heartfelt reminders about the lasting impact we can have on the lives of young people.

In this episode, we discuss:
Ethan's journey into primary school teaching and school leadership.
Why relationships are the foundation of effective teaching.
The importance of being present and creating positive daily interactions with students.
Understanding behaviour through curiosity rather than judgement.
Supporting children from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Why consistency helps children feel safe and ready to learn.
The role of male teachers in primary education.
Balancing student wellbeing with academic learning.
Lessons from parenthood that have shaped Ethan's leadership and teaching.
Advice for graduate teachers entering the profession.
Why the smallest moments can have the biggest impact on a child's life.

If this episode resonated with you, please consider following Parent Teacher Interview, leaving a rating or review, and sharing the episode with a colleague, friend or fellow parent.

Follow the podcast on Instagram:
📱 @parent_teacher_interview_pod

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

In this deeply personal episode, Josh and Hannah sit down late at night in their tiny apartment in Japan to talk honestly about the real reason their family moved overseas for a year.

What started as an opportunity to teach abroad slowly became something much bigger — a response to burnout, mental exhaustion, and the growing realisation that something needed to change.

Together they unpack:
what burnout actually looked like behind closed doors,
the emotional weight of making a huge decision for a young family,
parenting children through uncertainty and homesickness,
the realities of starting again in another country,
and why they still believe the experience has been worth it.
This episode is not about teaching being uniquely difficult, nor is it an attempt to romanticise moving overseas as the answer to burnout. It’s simply an honest conversation about mental health, family, vulnerability, and what can happen when people choose to support each other through a hard season of life.

There are moments in this episode that feel heavy, reflective, funny, hopeful and raw — which probably makes it one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast so far.

If this episode resonates with you, we’d love for you to share it with someone else who might need it.

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

Follow PTIP on Instagram: @parent_teacher_interview_pod