Parenting can be one of life’s greatest joys, but, what happens when sleepless nights, toddlers with big feelings, and the pressures of work all collide at once?

For over a decade, Lachy Gillespie has worn the Purple Skivvy, entertaining children across the globe as part of The Wiggles. Offstage, he’s navigating life as a husband, Dad to twin girls, and stepdad, balancing the beautiful chaos of family life with the relentless demands of touring and performing.

In this episode, we explore:

• The three parenting principles that guide Lachy and Dana at home
• What it takes to juggle global performance with being a present Dad
• Navigating uncertainty - from neonatal care to toddlerhood
• Why music and bedtime rituals matter in building resilience
• How parenting podcasts (and honest conversations) help him learn and grow
• The challenges that have tested him most and what he’s discovering about himself along the way

This isn’t just about life as a Wiggle, it’s about the universal messiness of parenting, being in the present and how resilience is built one small, imperfect moment at a time.

Stay connected with the Let’s Check In Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok for conversations that help you navigate the messy middle of modern life.

S2, Ep 14 Healing Minds: How Our Past Shapes Us and How Therapy Can Help

Our brains are built for connection — but what happens when trauma, uncertainty, and unrealistic expectations get in the way?

In S2, Ep 14, I speak with Helen Nistico, a seasoned clinical psychologist with 25 years of experience in both public psychiatry and private practice. Helen specializes in complex mental health issues and personality disorders and was instrumental in establishing the HYPE clinic at Orygen Youth Health, as well as bringing Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) to Australia. She has particular expertise in treating adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder and a deep interest in complex trauma.

In this episode, we explore:

• The neuroscience of social and emotional engagement
• Insights on Borderline Personality Disorder + Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
• How uncertainty, family stories, and generational trauma can shape us
• Why relationships are central to making sense of the world
• The lifelong journey of building healthier ways of being

This isn’t just theory — it’s about real tools, real stories, and finding answers together.

Stay connected with the Let’s Check In Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok for conversations that help you navigate the messy middle of modern life.

In this episode, we unpack what modern stress really means for our health and why awareness is the first step to repair.

Joining me for S2, Ep 13 is Nat Kringoudis; The Hormone Revolutionist. Bestselling author, award-winning podcast host, qualified healthcare practitioner, sought-after speaker, and founder of Melbourne’s #1 natural health clinic, The Pagoda Tree.

With decades of experience helping women decode their symptoms and restore balance, Nat offers a refreshing, practical lens on how to navigate stress in today’s modern world.

We dive into:

• Why you can’t “flare and repair” at the same time
• How to create neutral space so your body can heal
• The role of curiosity in understanding your symptoms
• Practical ways to stress less and thrive in modern life

With a down-to-earth, empowering approach to health that blends science, experience, and intuition, Nat's insights remind us that resilience isn’t about avoiding stress; it’s about getting conscious about it.

Want more?

If you’re inspired by my conversation with Nat Kringoudis, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, for more hormone health and stress insights.

 If you're looking to explore stress women's health and hormones further, check out Nat’s Masterclass.

Stay connected with the Let’s Check In Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok for conversations that help you navigate the messy middle of modern life.

Professor Liam Smith

In this episode, we explore how understanding human behaviour can unlock more effective environmental action.

Joining us is Professor Liam Smith, Director and Co-founder of BehaviourWorks Australia, one of the nation’s leading voices on behaviour change research. With more than 600 projects across government, industry, and the non-profit sector, Liam offers a grounded, research-driven lens on why change is so difficult - and how to do it better.

We dive into:

• Why uncertainty holds us back - and how to move forward
• Behavioural shifts needed for environmental and societal resilience
• How behavioural frameworks can help communities take meaningful climate action

Liam delivers science-backed strategies to build a more sustainable, connected future. His insights bridge the gap between research and real-world application empowering decision-makers to create lasting, measurable change.

Want more?

If you’re inspired by our discussion with Professor Liam Smith, be sure to follow him on LinkedIn for more insights.

For a deeper dive into behaviour change and sustainability, don’t forget to check out his edited book, Inspiring Change: How to Influence Behaviour for a Better World.

Stay connected with the Let’s Check In Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok for conversations that help you navigate the messy middle of modern life.

At the height of her career, Trudy Macdonald looked like she had it all. But beneath the surface, something was quietly unraveling; a relentless pace, a mounting pressure to "do it all," and a creeping sense of exhaustion that couldn’t be fixed with a weekend off.

In this episode, Trudy (Managing Director of TalentCode HR) and Australian “Speaker of the Year” joins Suzie to name what so many of us silently experience: burnout.

With expertise in organisational psychology and a fiercely human approach to leadership, Trudy shares her own story of burnout and the powerful strategies that helped her bounce back, not just to baseline, but to a more sustainable, fulfilling rhythm of life and work.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to recognise the early warning signs of burnout in yourself and others
• Why “doing it all” often leads us to a breaking point, and, how to rewrite that story
• What true resilience looks like (hint: it’s not about pushing through)
• The mindset shifts that protect our motivation, wellness and energy
• How organisations can foster healthy, high performance
• Practical, life-tested tips for creating boundaries, recovery rituals, and support systems

This conversation is an invitation to check in; on yourself, your loved ones, your team, and the culture you're creating around you. Because burnout isn’t a badge of honour. It’s a signal that something needs to change.

Want more?

Explore Trudy’s work at talentcodehr.com.au, or follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram for practical insights on high-performance leadership and wellbeing.

Stay connected with the Let’s Check In Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok for conversations that help you navigate the messy middle of modern life.

Ten years ago, sisters Fatuma and Laurinda Ndenzako were sitting in a café in Nairobi, watching local women walk past in bold, vibrant Maasai Shuka textiles. That moment sparked something more than a fashion idea; it sparked a movement. A movement that would become Collective Closets, a Melbourne-based slow fashion label built on purpose, heritage, and heart.

In this episode, Fatuma shares the journey behind the brand and how she and her sister are reshaping the Australian fashion landscape, one intentional piece at a time.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How slow fashion offers an antidote to trend-driven consumption
• What it means to design with cultural integrity
• The creative (and often chaotic) dance between business, family and values
• Why clothing can be a powerful form of self-expression and storytelling

Collective Closets is not just a brand; it’s a source of empowerment, emotional resonance, and cultural pride, creating a legacy that reaches far beyond the runway.

Want more?

Explore the newest Be Your Own Muse Collection and follow Collective Closets on Instagram or Facebook for updates that celebrate culture, craftsmanship, and bold design.

Dive deeper into Fatuma and Laurinda’s journey at Collective Closets.

Stay connected with the Let’s Check In Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more soulful stories and slow fashion conversations.

Life doesn’t always go to plan; so let’s talk about it.

Season 2 of the Let’s Check In Podcast is almost here, and the trailer just dropped! 🎧

Think: Cultural icons, frontline experts, raw conversations, and the lessons that school skipped.

Guests this season include:

🟣 Purple Wiggle, Lachy Gillespie

🌀 The Hormone Revolutionist, Nat Kringoudis

💬 Behavioural scientists, therapists, founders & more

We’re diving into burnout, bodies, parenting pressure, identity shakeups - and what it takes to stay steady through life’s wobbly seasons.

🎙 Episodes drop every Monday for 6 weeks, starting 28 July, 2025

📍Follow now so you’re ready when the first one lands.

Marc Gascoigne runs a successful 150-hectare, 450-cow dairy farm in central Waikato, South of Cambridge in the upper North Island of New Zealand.

Seven years ago, Marc had a panic attack that jolted him into realising he needed help. After overcoming his own mental health struggles, he has gone on to become a facilitator with the Rural Support Trust and is a key ambassador for the organisation Farmstrong - advocating for better mental health and self care for farmers.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How finding the courage to speak truthfully builds authentic connection
• How embracing vulnerability can improve overall happiness
• Key preventative measures to manage personal wellbeing
• How to manage uncertainty

Want to find out more?

You can also check in with Suzie and the Let’s Check In Podcast Team on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.

Learn more about work with Farmstrong and Rural Support Trust.