Authentically Human with Hannah Skipsey

[EP.12] Parenting, neuroscience and nervous system regulation with Dr Hala El-Khoury– why selfcare matters and how to access it during moments of overwhelm

In this empowering and heartfelt conversation, I sit down with my dear friend, Dr. Hala El-Khoury, to explore the deep connection between our nervous system and parenting. We get real about the challenges of juggling all the things—parenting, work, life—and why self-care isn’t just a luxury, but a necessity. We dive into the power of co-regulation, the beauty of repair when we act from a place of dysregulation (because hey, we are all human!), and practical tools to help you navigate parenting with more ease, compassion and self-awareness.  If you’ve ever ended the day feeling like you got it all wrong, carried the weight of guilt for losing your patience, or wished parenting didn’t feel so overwhelming—this episode will remind you that you’re not alone, you’re not failing, and there’s a way to feel more at peace in the beautiful chaos that is parenthood.   CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to Nervous System and Motherhood 03:48 Navigating the Mental Load of Parenting 10:26 Understanding the Nervous System 20:26 Co-Regulation in Parenting 25:47 Repairing Relationships with Children 35:30 The Importance of Self-Care for Mothers 37:54 Breaking the Cycle of Guilt in Parenting 40:18 The Historical Context of Women's Roles 43:24 Navigating the Cognitive Load of Parenting 45:50 The Need for Community Support 48:21 Embracing Authenticity in Parenting 49:13 Practical Strategies for Nervous System Regulation 54:02 Integrating Self-Care into Daily Life 59:20 The Role of Chiropractic Care in Wellbeing 01:02:22 Habit Stacking for Effective Self-Care 01:05:28 Finding What Works for You 01:08:06 Podcast outro .mp3   Connect with Us! We'd love to continue the conversation with you! You can find Hannah on Instagram at @humanlydesigned_ where she shares more about her journey and insights on living in alignment with our true selves.  To connect with Dr Hala El Khoury and learn more about her incredible work, you can find her on Instagram at @drhalaelkhoury and @soulaurachiropractic, email her at align@soulaurachiropractic.com.au [align@soulaurachiropractic.com.au] or visit her and her husband Dr Justin Chau’s website: www.soulaurachiropractic.com.au Love this episode? Help us share this important conversation with more parents! Please rate and review the Authentically Human podcast on your favourite podcast platform. Sharing this episode with a friend who might need it would also mean the world to us. Thank you for being part of the Authentically Human community!

[Ep.11] Navigating infant sleep: An Aware Parenting perspective with Kimberley Cousins

Sleep deprived? Utterly exhausted but don't feel that sleep training personally aligns with your parenting values? You are SO not alone. Aware Parenting offers a beautiful new perspective that may be the alternative you've been searching for.  In episode two of Authentically Human with Hannah (Season 2), I had the honour and pure joy of chatting with one of my now dear friends, Kim Cousins. This conversation is incredibly close to my heart, and it's one I know so many parents need to hear. I feel this conversation was a real full circle moment in my life having stumbled across Kim and the Aware Parenting Philosophy when I was desperately searching for answers myself around infant sleep and how we could get more of it without stepping outside of what aligned with our personal parenting values. I pressed play on podcast episode that popped into my feed and heard the beautiful Kim sharing absolutely everything I needed to hear in that moment. Kim became an absolute lifeline for myself and my family from that moment on and over a month of intensive guidance and support,  helped us to completely shift how we understand sleep (and crying!) with our 9-month-old, Hazel. Kim is not only a mum of two, but she's also a registered nurse specializing in perinatal mental health, an Aware Parenting Instructor, a Circle of Security facilitator, and she's working towards her Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy. She's an wealth of knowledge, yes, but more importantly, she's a deeply compassionate and understanding human being who has an absolute passion for supporting parents and families navigate the emotional rollercoaster that is parenthood.  This episode is raw, real, and so incredibly helpful. We talk openly about our own struggles with sleep deprivation, our own parenting journeys, and how Kim has empowered us to truly listen to Hazel and trust our own intuition around sleep. We dive into the beauty and challenges of Aware Parenting, the importance of emotional release (for both babies and parents!), the impact of birth experiences, and why having compassionate support is essential. We also explore the difference between a baby's needs feelings and healing feelings, and how to truly be emotionally present, even when things are tough. And of course, we touch on the importance of self-care, the uniqueness of every family, and the power of community. This conversation is a gift, and I truly believe it will resonate with so many of you. It's less about "fixing" sleep and more about understanding our babies (and ourselves) on a deeper level. Thank you Kim. For all that you are and do in this vulnerable space.  ***NOTE: I apologise for the sound quality in this episode - I'm still ironing out a few teething issues with the new podcast software and audio equipment I have.*** CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to Authentically Human Podcast 05:52 The Journey of Sleep Deprivation 12:08 Transitioning to Aware Parenting 17:57 Understanding Aware Parenting 29:52 The Impact of Birth on Emotions 43:26 Understanding Baby's Emotions 50:19 The Healing Power of Crying 58:29 The Importance of Parental Support 01:06:58 Navigating Parental Emotions 01:15:22 Finding Support in Parenting   Connect with Us! We'd love to continue the conversation with you! You can find Hannah on Instagram at @humanlydesigned_ where she shares more about her journey and insights on living in alignment with our true selves.  To connect with Kim Cousins and learn more about her incredible work supporting families, you can find her on Instagram at @kimberley.cousins, email her at kimberleyacousins@gmail.com [kimberleyacousins@gmail.com] or visit her website: https://www.halaxy.com/profile/kimberley-cousins/nurse/1541651?clinic=1191761  [https://www.halaxy.com/profile/kimberley-cousins/nurse/1541651?clinic=1191761] Love this episode? Help us share this important conversation with more parents! Please rate and review the Authentically Human podcast on your favourite podcast platform. Sharing this episode with a friend who might need it would also mean the world to us. Thank you for being part of the Authentically Human community!

[Ep.10] Season 2 kickoff: Parenting Unpacked + Life Update!

After a year-long hiatus, I’m thrilled to be stepping back behind the mic to release Season 2 of my podcast, Authentically Human. 2024 was a whirlwind—welcoming Hazel into our family and making the big move to a new state to start over again brought so much joy and change, but it also meant pressing pause on my creative outlets. I’ve deeply missed the space my podcast gives me to share, connect, and dive into the topics that aren’t always spoken about but desperately need to be. Authentically Human is about embracing life in all its messy, beautiful glory. It’s a space to share the triumphs and struggles that so often feel hidden in a world of curated perfection. Only when we open up and share our stories authentically—without shame or filters—can we create the kind of connection and community that we all need so much right now. This season, I’m diving into parenthood—the beauty, the challenges, and all the unspoken parts in between. I want to bring light to the parts of parenting that often linger in the shadows, hidden behind the perfectly curated images we see online. It’s time to talk about the real stuff, the stuff that makes us feel seen, heard, and understood as parents. I also want to share a little update: I’m no longer offering Human Design readings. While that chapter has closed, Human Design remains deeply interwoven into everything I do. This season, I’ll be exploring how Human Design can help us as parents support our children in living energetically aligned lives, embracing their unique gifts, and thriving as their most authentic selves. I’m passionate about helping others understand that we are all wired differently and that by learning to honor these differences, we can create a more sustainable way of living, working, and parenting. I’ve got some incredible guests lined up to share their expertise on conscious parenting, boundary setting, postpartum care, baby and infant sleep, self-care, and helping our little ones heal from stress and trauma. I can’t wait for you to hear these conversations—they’re going to be raw, real, and filled with so much wisdom. Thank you for being here with me on this journey. I’m so excited to be bringing you Season 2. Let’s embrace the beauty and messiness of parenthood together! 💛 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback and support allows me to reach more people with these important conversations.  Connect with me here: @humanlydesigned _

[Ep.9] Hyperemisis Gravidarum - raising awareness & ending stigma with Catherine Hyett

Hyperemsis Gravidarum (HG) is a highly misunderstood and stigmatized illness that unfortunately approximately 1 in 100 women will experience in pregnancy in Australia. I was honored to sit down with my very dear friend, Cat Hyett, who agreed to share her very real, very raw and very personal journey with HG in her third pregnancy. An illness I too developed in both pregnancies and one that left me feeling utterly depleted, incredibly alone, and highly misunderstood. Cat is a mum to three beautifully healthy children, a Registered Nurse, and business owner and digital marketing guru who is both inspiring and incredibly down the earth. In this episode we unpack what HG actually is (as opposed to what people often think it is), what it's like experiencing HG from two different perspectives and levels of severity, and the impact this illness has on both the pregnant mother and her family. We share stories of the various types of stigma and judgement we encountered from some medical professionals as well as the understanding and support we received from others. HG is no joke and can cause serious and long-lasting physical, mental and emotional harm during what should be a beautiful time of matrescence and the nourishment of new life. Yet sadly for those experiencing HG as myself and Cat have, pregnancy is a time of survival mode with the priority of simply getting through one hour to the next. If you would like to connect with Cat, feel free to follow her @catahyett or via her business page @monetiseyourscroll. If you would like to learn more about HG or require any support on your own HG journey, check out @hyperemisisaustralia for their fabulous resources, information and services. Cat and I know all too well the mental health impact of HG. If you are struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts and/or trauma - please reach out to Panda Australia on 1300 726 306 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you feel you are experiencing a mental health crisis. We hope you enjoy this open and frank discussion on a topic that I feel needs a hell of a lot more air time. Once again Cat - thank you for sharing your very personal story with us.

[Ep.8] Where have I been? Beautiful endings and exciting beginnings.

Well, what can I say. It's been a huge few months for myself and my family and producing podcasts episodes ended up falling down the priority list - as much as I absolutely love producing this podcast and bringing you topics and interviews that are on my heart and showcase what it means to be authentically human.  So as a way to finish off the year that was 2023, here is a short rundown/ramble on where I've been these past four months and a little overview of whats to come.  I can't wait for the year ahead and the fresh energy I know it will bring - especially for those who felt the pull of 2023 to retreat, hermit, heal and go within. Here's to emerging from the cocoon we've built around ourselves as we prepare to launch ourselves into the abundant energy of a number 8 year - 2024.  I am absolutely here for it.