Wine with Wita

Hey everyone,

This week, I am joined by Lael Stone, speaker, educator and author, for a beautiful conversation about connection, parenting, play and helping children feel truly seen.
​
I first met Lael at the Seen documentary, and what stood out to me straight away was how deeply aligned our messages are.
​
Connection is the key.

​In this episode, we talk about how parents can foster healthier, happier relationships with their children, why play is such a powerful tool, and how simple moments of presence can make such a lasting impact.

We also discuss how connection can support children with additional needs, and how Lael’s strategies have helped me not only as a parent, but also as a clinician.
​
We talk about:
💫 The importance of connection
💫 How connection supports communication
💫 Building healthier relationships with our children
💫 The role of play in parenting
💫 Supporting children with additional needs
💫 Why small moments of presence matter
​
A beautiful reminder that our children do not need perfection.
​They need connection, safety and someone willing to truly see them.
Learn more about Lael here!​
​
Lots of love,
Rita
​
P.S.: follow me on Instagram for more tips, insights and updates
Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's communication and/development.

Hey everyone,

This week’s episode is inspired by a phrase I use often in thetherapy room… behaviour is communication.
​
We so often focus on stopping the behaviour… but not always on understanding what the behaviour is trying to tell us.

In this episode, I unpack how children, especially those withcommunication difficulties, often use their behaviour to express what they need, feel, want, or cannot yet say with words.
​
Because behaviour usually does not come out of nowhere.
​
I talk about:
💫 Why behaviour is a form of communication
💫 How children may communicate before they have the words
💫 Why behaviours can build when a child does not feel understood
💫 How to notice the early signs of communication before things escalate
💫 The importance of meeting your child at their current capacity
💫 How understanding behaviour can create more connection, safety, and confidence
​
This episode is a gentle reminder to pause and look beneath the behaviour. Because when we understand what a child is trying to communicate, we can support them in a way that helps them feel seen, heard, and understood.
Lots of love,
Rita
​
P.S.: follow me on Instagram for more tips, insights and updates.
​
Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's communication and/development.

Hey everyone,
This week, I am joined by Michael Sawan, host of The Comeback Blueprint Podcast, for a powerful conversation about survival, resilience, and rebuilding your life after everything changes.
​
At just 25, Michael was fit, active, and living what he believed was a healthy lifestyle, until subtle warning signs led to the discovery of a life-threatening heart condition.
​
What followed was urgent open-heart surgery, cardiac arrest, a stroke, months of rehabilitation, memory loss, and relearning everyday tasks many of us take for granted.
​
Michael shares the physical and emotional toll of recovery, the role his family played during crisis, and how this experience reshaped his identity, priorities, and outlook on life.
​
Together, this episode goes far beyond a medical diagnosis.
​
It is about family, faith, perspective, purpose, and the messy, deeply human reality of coming back from life’s hardest moments.
​
We talk about:
💫 The subtle signs Michael almost brushed off
💫 Discovering a life-threatening heart condition at just 25
💫 The reality of open-heart surgery, cardiac arrest, and stroke
💫 Relearning everyday tasks during recovery
💫 The role of family, faith, and support
💫 Why comebacks are slow, messy, and deeply human
​
A beautiful reminder that life can change in an instant, but resilience can be rebuilt one small step at a time.Listen to Michael's podcast ⁠here!⁠Lots of love,
Rita
​
P.S.: follow me on Instagram for more tips, insights and updates.
​
​
Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's communication and/development.

Hey everyone,
This week’s episode is a very special one… because Wine with Wita has officially reached 100 episodes. 🥹🤍
​
And for this milestone, I am doing something a little different.

Instead of being the one asking the questions, my beautiful best friend Voula sits down to interview me.
​
In this episode, we talk about where Wine with Wita began, why I started sharing family stories and how this podcast has become so much more than I ever imagined.
​
We also reflect on the power of community, advocacy, vulnerability and connection, especially for parents who are navigating such big emotions, long waiting lists, therapy appointments, guilt, uncertainty and the feeling of being alone.
​
Because Wine with Wita has always been about giving families a voice.
​
We talk about:
💫 Why family stories have shaped the heart of Wine with Wita
💫 How the very first episode changed the direction of the podcast
💫 Why parents need compassion, not more guilt
💫 The importance of finding your community
💫 How conversations can help families feel less alone
💫 What 100 episodes has taught me as a mother, speech pathologist and human
💫 Where I hope Wine with Wita will go next
​
This episode is a heartfelt reflection on the last 100 conversations, the families who have trusted me with their stories, and the beautiful reminder that connection can change everything.
​
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Lots of love,
Rita
​
P.S.: follow me on Instagram for more tips, insights and updates.
​
​
​Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's communication and/development.

Hey everyone,
This week’s episode is inspired by something I use often in the therapy room… a simple reminder that communication is more than words.
​
We so often focus on what children say… but not always on what they are showing us.
​
In this episode, I unpack how much meaning is carried through tone, gestures, and facial expression, and how these can completely change the way a child understands and communicates.
​
Because for many children, especially those with communication difficulties, words alone are not enough.
​
I talk about:
💫 Why communication is about what we show, not just what we say
💫 How tone of voice can completely change meaning
💫 The power of pointing and gestures in building understanding
💫 How facial expressions help children interpret emotions and messages
💫 Simple, practical ways you can support your child’s communication every day
💫 Why these small shifts can create stronger connection and confidence
​
This episode is a gentle reminder that communication is a shared experience. And sometimes, the smallest changes in how we show up can make the biggest difference.
Lots of love,
Rita
​
P.S.: follow me on Instagram for more tips, insights and updates.
​
​
​Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's communication and/development.