Have you ever hesitated to ask, “Are you okay?” because you weren’t sure how to handle the answer?

Kate Mason sits down with mediator and conflict resolution expert Kate Russell to explore emotional intelligence, the complexities of meaningful check-ins, and how to support someone who might be struggling.

They discuss whether emotional intelligence is innate or learned, the challenges of Australia’s Are You Okay? Day, and practical strategies for navigating tough conversations with empathy and confidence.

Kate Russell shares powerful insights on how even a simple act of kindness can interrupt negative thought patterns and potentially change lives.

Listen For:

06:47 – Emotional Intelligence: Are We Born With It or Can We Build It?

14:19 – How Personality Impacts the Way We Offer and Receive Support

19:01 – The Power of Interruption: How a Simple Question Can Save a Life

29:17 – Three Simple Ways to Check in Without Overcomplicating It

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Guest: Kate Russell

Website | LinkedIn

Contact Kate:

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Do you truly understand how the people in your life feel loved and supported?

In this special Valentine's Day episode of Parenting and Personalities, Kate looks at the history of the holiday, its commercial rise, and most importantly, the everyday relationships that shape our lives.

Beyond chocolates and roses, how do we communicate with our loved ones? What role does personality play in how we listen? And how do your innate preferences for different love languages shape our connections?

Listen For

03:27 The Other 364 Days: How Do We Show Love Year-Round?

10:24 Introverts vs. Extroverts: How Personality Shapes Conversations

14:47 The Love Language Game-Changer

26:14 Letting Go of Control: The Secret to Healthier Connections

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Contact Kate:

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Is Laughter the Secret to a Happier, Healthier Life?

Kate Mason welcomes motivational speaker, mindfulness coach, and laughter yoga practitioner Annie Harvey to explore the surprising power of laughter.

They dive into the science behind why laughter—real or fake—can reduce stress, boost emotional resilience, and even help process grief.

Annie shares her personal journey of using mindfulness and laughter to navigate the challenges of caring for parents with dementia and how these tools have transformed her work with children, corporate teams, and even trauma survivors in Rwanda.

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Listen For:
04:51 – Laughter & Dementia Care – How mindfulness helped Annie support her parents
11:13 – Laughter for Kids vs. Adults
13:42 – The Neuroscience of Laughter – Fake Laughter Works
19:03 – How laughter yoga is uniting Rwandan communities

Guest: Annie Harvey
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Contact Kate:
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Conflict isn't just chaos; it's a catalyst for growth.

Kate explores the art of conflict resolution with expert Kate Russell, peeling back the layers of why conflict scares us and how it can actually forge stronger connections. They explore the roots of conflict in personal experiences, the critical role of empathy, and the transformative power of reframing confrontations as opportunities.

Russell, with years of expertise in mediation, unveils practical strategies for addressing workplace disputes and the larger implications for family dynamics. They underscore the importance of curiosity, questioning assumptions, and the profound impact of active listening.

By the episode's end, listeners you’ll be equipped not only to manage conflict, but to embrace it as a pathway to deeper understanding and harmony.

Listen For:

3:07 - Early Encounters with Conflict
8:28 - The Crucial Role of Mediators
10:44 - The Power of Pre-Mediation
16:46 - The Assumption Pitfall

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Guest: Kate Russell
Website | LinkedIn

Contact Kate:
Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

What’s the secret to making the back-to-school transition smooth and stress-free for your child and yourself?

Kate Mason is joined by Dr. Victoria Waller, an educator and expert in learning differences with over 40 years of experience.

Together, they share creative strategies for keeping kids engaged during school holidays (without screens!), easing back-to-school anxiety, and creating positive routines weeks in advance.

From bedtime adjustments to fostering open communication with your child, this episode is packed with practical advice, fun activities, and even a few laughs to help families navigate one of the most stressful times of the year.

Listen For:
03:45 - Can you survive school holidays without screens?
10:54 - How to get kids excited about school
22:01 - Five fun, screen-free summer activities

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Guest: Victoria Waller, PhD
Website | Instagram
Dr Waller’s book Yes! Your Child Can – on Amazon

Contact Kate:
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Food additives have an enormous impact on us. Preservatives, and colourings affect our health and behaviour.

In this episode Kate shares her personal experience of eliminating these from her family's diet and seeing immediate improvements in their health. Guests Tracey Fry and Joanne Ling, creators of Additive Free Lifestyle, also share their experiences and discuss the importance of understanding what is in our food. They highlight the significant profits made by the food additive industry and the lack of regulation around labelling, particularly with 'natural' flavours and colours.

Listen For:
4:16 Joanne Ling’s Personal Experiences With Food Additives
8:40 The Importance of Awareness and Informed Choices
13:48 Market Size and Influence of Food Additives
26:33 Navigating Misleading Labels and “Natural” Claims

Guests Joanne Ling and Tracey Fry, Additive-Free Lifestyle
Shop | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Listen to their podcast Thrive

Contact Kate:
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Hey that's mine.
I saw it first.
Too bad. Finders’ keepers. Losers’ weepers.

No need to even ask if this sounds familiar. It does. But there are ways to manage sibling rivalries. Actually understanding your children’s personality types and preferences can go a long way to keeping the peace.

Guest: Sandra Etherington
Instagram | Website
Read Sandra’s article "Navigating Sibling Conflict"

Contact Kate:
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Kate’s book on Amazon
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When traveling do you prefer to be highly organized and structured? Loose and available for what catches your whim? Or somewhere in between.

It’s all good when it’s just you traveling. It gets complicated when you have traveling companions, particularly if they don’t share your preferences.

Guest: Stephanie Noon

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Contact Kate:

Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.