In this week’s episode, Victoria chats about the time of year that always seems to arrive faster than any of us expect - Term Four, Christmas, New Year, and the beautiful chaos that comes with it. Instead of getting swept up in the rush, she shares practical, simple ways to finish 2025 feeling grounded, organised, and present.

Whether you’re managing school events, end-of-year work deadlines, family celebrations, or the mental load of gift-giving, this episode offers gentle reminders and realistic strategies to make this season lighter.

What We Explore

✨ Why the end of the year can feel like a blur, and how to slow it down
✨ The power of taking just minutes a day to reset your nervous system
✨ A reality check on whether everything really needs to happen before Christmas
✨ Planning ahead without pressure -  small steps that make a big difference
✨ Easy ways to reduce the mental load (like Secret Santa, delegating food, or shared gift pools)
✨ Letting go of the tiny details that don’t actually matter
✨ Staying present so you can actually enjoy the celebrations, not just survive them
✨ Flipping “I have to…” into “I get to…” to shift the energy of the season

Practical Tips From the Episode

✔ Take a few minutes for yourself each morning - no phone, just breathe and reset
✔ Write a gift list in your phone as ideas come up
✔ Start your carts early and revisit when you’re ready
✔ Plan teacher or staff gifts now to avoid last-minute stress
✔ Delegate Christmas food - everyone brings a dish
✔ Ask for help rather than carrying everything alone
✔ Release perfectionism over tiny details that don’t matter in the long run
✔ Remind yourself of the joy, connection, and privilege of this season

Why This Episode Matters

This time of year is meant to be joyful - but often becomes rushed, pressured, and exhausting. With a few intentional decisions and mindset shifts, we can reclaim it as a season of connection, presence, and calm.

Share Your Ideas

Have a tip that makes the season easier in your household?
Victoria would love to hear it!
Comment on the episode post on socials or send an email so we can share ideas with the community.

 * Website: www.victoria-r.com.au
 * Instagram: @the.victoria.r
 * Email: hello@victoria-r.com.au

25. The One About Surviving the Silly Season

Somatic sexologist and coach Ruby Josif joins me for a grounded, empowering chat on coming back to your body, redefining “good sex,” and raising tweens/teens with consent, language, and self-trust. We dig into nervous-system safety, shame, intimacy after kids, and how to actually start the conversation with your partner-vulnerably, not defensively.

What we cover

 * Ruby’s mission: confidence, pleasure, and authentic expression—inside the bedroom and out
 * Why needs, desires, and boundaries underpin satisfying intimacy
 * Getting back into your body: tiny, safe somatic practices (outside the bedroom first)
 * Nervous-system basics: moving from “fight/flight” to “rest/digest”
 * Active presence for busy mums: walking, touch, self-massage, dance
 * Talking to kids: correct anatomical language, everyday consent, being a safe parent
 * Spotting shame: hiding, shutdown, judgment of others, the “gripping” in your body
 * Redefining “good sex”: less goal/organism-chasing, more connection & nourishment
 * From “obligatory sex” to desire: expanding what intimacy can look like
 * Couples communication: lead with vulnerability & curiosity, not resentment
 * Taking responsibility for your pleasure (and why partners aren’t mind-readers)
 * How to work with Ruby: mentorship, focus sessions, therapeutic yoni massage (WA)

Key takeaways

 * Start outside the bedroom: build safety and presence in small moments.
 * If sex feels like a chore, widen the definition of intimacy and follow what nourishes you.
 * Teach kids correct words and everyday consent early—make yourself the safe person.
 * Desire grows when experiences feel good for you; obligatory sex erodes it.
 * Lead tough talks with “I feel/I need/I’m desiring…” and genuine curiosity.

Try this (listener micro-practice)

When you park the car (or make tea), place both hands on your body, take three slow breaths, and ask: “What sensation is here? What do I need right now?”  Thirty seconds. Daily.

Connect

Guest: Ruby Josif - somatic sexologist & coach (based in WA; mentorships, focus sessions, therapeutic yoni massage). 

 * https://www.ruby-josif.com/
 * https://www.instagram.com/ruby.josif.sex.coach/

Host: Victoria R — The Mindful Educator: mindset, mindfulness, education & mum life.

 * https://www.victoria-r.com.au
 * hello@victoria-r.com.au
 * @the.victoria.r

24. The One About Reclaiming Your Body, Boundaries & Better Sex (with Ruby Josif)

In this episode, Victoria gets honest, reflective, and a little bit fiery as she opens up about something close to her heart - the state of today’s education system.

After nearly two decades in education, across multiple roles and settings (classroom teacher, School of the Air, support roles, relief teaching, admin), Victoria shares how dramatically things have changed…and not always for the better.

This episode explores:

✅ What’s Really Going On in Schools

 * Why so many teachers are leaving the profession
 * Increasing admin, programs, assessments, and expectations
 * Classrooms feeling more like businesses than supportive learning environments
 * Stress and wellbeing impacts for both teachers and students

✅ The Cost of “More, More, More”

 * Less creativity, more ticking of boxes
 * Over-assessing instead of trusting trained educators
 * Behavioural challenges increasing - with minimal consequences
 * Teachers feeling unsupported, overwhelmed, and unprotected

✅ Where Parents Come In

 * Schools can’t (and shouldn’t) carry 100% of responsibility
 * The importance of emotional intelligence in the early years
 * Setting kids up with problem solving, empathy, resilience, and respect
 * Working with schools, not against them

✅ So…What Now?

 * The system needs change - but waiting for government may not help
 * Why alternative schooling is becoming more popular
 * Small, grassroots changes we can make to protect children and teachers
 * The importance of parents showing appreciation and partnership with educators

Victoria shares openly from her experience - including what led her to move away from traditional classrooms toward mindfulness, emotional wellbeing, and real human skill-building for kids.

✨ If you’re a teacher

You are not alone.
Your wellbeing matters just as much as the kids you support.
Boundaries aren’t selfish - they’re essential.

✨ If you’re a parent

You are your child’s first (and most important) teacher.
Your behaviour sets the tone long before school does.

✅ Join the Conversation

This episode may stir strong opinions - and that’s okay.
Victoria genuinely wants to hear from parents, teachers, and anyone impacted by the system:

 * What’s working?
 * What isn’t?
 * What would you change?
 * What support do teachers and students really need?

Send a message, share your experience, or continue the discussion with respect and open minds.

Thanks for listening — and if you loved this episode, please share it with a teacher, parent or school community leader who needs to hear it. 💛

Get in touch - 

hello@victoria-r.com.au

www.victoria-r.com.au

@the.victoria.r

23. The One Where We Talk About The Education System No One Wants to Fix

In this nourishing chat, Victoria sits down with doula and motherhood mentor Ash Tomlinson to unpack birth without fear, what “continuity of care” really looks like, and how to turn a rigid “birth plan” into a flexible birth map anchored to your values. Ash shares her own story -planning a home birth, navigating IUGR and a breech baby, ultimately choosing a gentle, intentional caesarean - and how listening to her intuition shaped a joyful experience. You’ll hear practical ways to advocate for yourself, include partners meaningfully, and protect your nervous system in pregnancy, birth, and the long, long season called motherhood.

Big reminder: You always have the answer within you - you just need the space to hear it.

What we cover

 * From plan to map: why a birth map honours your values, preferences, and “if this/then that” pathways—even when things change
 * Intuition over noise: how Ash knew a caesarean was the right call and made it beautiful and intentional
 * Continuity of care: private midwives, postpartum support at home, and why familiar faces matter
 * Language & power: spotting phrases that quietly remove your choices—and reclaiming your “yes/no”
 * Partners as anchors: preparing partners for hands-on (or hands-off) support, and debriefing their experience too
 * Postpartum is forever: nervous-system regulation, emotional embodiment, and simplifying daily rituals
 * Little moments, big impact: sunlight, a hot coffee, slow mornings—why tiny practices count (and kids mirror what we model)

Meet Ash

Ash Tomlinson is a mum to Billy and a doula supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in and around Geraldton, WA. She blends mindset work, nervous-system education, and soulful, practical support for mothers at every stage. Ash offers 1:1 doula care, birth mapping sessions, and a motherhood group program (re-launching early in the new year).

 * Connect: Instagram @ashtomlinson_ or Facebook: Ash Tomlinson Holistic Doula &b Mentor
 * Enquiries: DM Ash to book a connection call

Connect with Victoria

 * Instagram: @the.victoria.r
 * Website: www.victoria-r.com.au
 * Questions or collabs: DM on Instagram

Gentle disclaimer

This episode shares lived experience and general information. It’s not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for your specific circumstances.



22. The One About Empowered Birth and Beyond (with Ash Tomlinson)

In this heartfelt and reflective episode, Victoria dives deep into the theme of personal responsibility - what it really means, why it’s so uncomfortable, and how it has the power to completely shift our relationships, our mindset, and even the wider world around us.

Fresh from the school holidays (and missing the slow mornings!), Victoria shares open and honest reflections on how self-development isn’t a destination but an ongoing journey. She explores the frustration of revisiting old patterns, the importance of owning our reactions and mistakes, and how practicing accountability can lead to stronger integrity, deeper kindness, and genuine growth.

You’ll hear insights on: ✨ The difference between blame and responsibility ✨ How to repair and communicate when you’ve hurt someone ✨ The ripple effect of modelling responsibility to children ✨ Why defensiveness is normal - but not helpful ✨ How curiosity and kindness can transform confrontation into connection

Victoria also leaves listeners with a weekly challenge: 💭 What’s one area of your life where you can take more responsibility? 💗 What’s one act of kindness you can practice this week?

This episode is your gentle reminder that change begins with us - one choice, one conversation, one moment of self-awareness at a time.

Get in contact -

Email - hello@victoria-r.com.au

IG - @the.victoria.r

Website - www.victoria-r.com.au

21. The One About Taking Responsibility and Leading with Kindness

In this heartfelt episode, Victoria shares her family’s experience of saying goodbye to their 15½-year-old golden retriever, Bella, and the important lessons it brought about navigating tough conversations with children. From loss and grief to puberty, consent, and body safety - she explores how to approach sensitive topics with honesty, calm, and compassion.

Victoria also shares some of her favourite parenting and mindfulness resources to help guide children through big emotions, curiosity, and growing up with confidence.

In This Episode:

 * Supporting children through grief and loss
 * Talking honestly (and gently) about death and big emotions
 * Age-appropriate ways to discuss puberty, consent, and body awareness
 * Encouraging empathy, kindness, and respect between boys and girls
 * Why using correct body terminology matters
 * Helpful resources to guide tricky conversations
 * How mindfulness books can support mental health and emotional resilience

Resources Mentioned:

Grief & Loss: The Invisible Leash and The Invisible String by Patrice Karst; Because My Dog Is in Heaven
Puberty & Growing Up: A Girl’s Guide to Puberty, A Boy’s Guide to Puberty, and Where Do Babies Come From? by Michelle Mitchell
Body Safety & Consent: No Means No! and Body Safety series by Jayneen Sanders; Safe4Kids
Mindfulness & Emotions: Hey Warrior, Hey Awesome, and Dear You, Love From Your Brain by Karen Young                                                                                                                                        Instagram educator and ex-police officer Kristi McVee 

Connect With Victoria

💌 Email: hello@victoria-r.com.au
📸 Instagram: @the.victoria.r [https://www.instagram.com/the.victoria.r]
🌐 Website: www.victoria-r.com.au

✨ Victoria is also offering a limited number of discounted 1:1 coaching sessions before Christmas - reach out to learn more!

20. The One About Difficult Conversations With Our Kids

In this honest and empowering episode, Victoria dives deep into the world of mindset — what it means to shift from fixed to growth thinking, and how that shift can change your life. From business setbacks to parenting challenges (and noisy puppies in the background), she shares real-life examples and mindset tools that help build resilience, model learning for our kids, and create space for self-compassion.
You’ll learn the power of the word “yet”, how to reframe setbacks as growth, and why praising effort over outcomes matters more than we realise. A must-listen if you’ve ever caught yourself saying, “I just can’t do this” — because maybe you just can’t do it yet.

Access your free copy of 'Growth Mindset Poster for Children + Adults' here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1onmIJWpSnLfyg0sCwo3ctfmrPglPFGDk/view?usp=drive_link

19.  The One About Growth Mindset

This week on The Mindful Educator Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Carly Evans, better known as Coach Carly. With nearly two decades of experience as a trauma-informed coach, Reiki practitioner, and former parole officer, Carly brings a powerful blend of psychology, energy work, and lived experience to her work with women navigating change and healing.

What we cover in this conversation:

 * Carly’s unique journey from the UK to Australia and from parole officer to coach and Reiki teacher
 * Understanding trauma: big “T” and little “t” trauma, and why everyone experiences it in some form
 * How change and identity loss can impact our wellbeing
 * Why simple human connection and presence can be more powerful than “fixing” someone
 * Parenting, resilience, and the reality that our kids will all have some form of trauma — and how mindfulness tools can help
 * Practical strategies like EFT tapping and nervous system regulation for moving through difficult emotions
 * Demystifying Reiki: what it is, how it works, and why even skeptics often walk away convinced
 * The overlap between psychology, energy healing, and creating a life that truly feels like your own
 * Challenging the overuse of labels and medication in the mental health system, and the importance of listening to your body
 * Carly’s recommended read: Sexy But Psycho by Dr. Jessica Taylor - a must for any woman

Carly’s final piece of advice:

Ask yourself: If I 100% loved, honoured, trusted, and respected myself, how would my life be different?
It’s a question that can shift everything - from the decisions you make to the people you allow into your life.

Connect with Carly:

 * 🌐 Website: coachcarly.com [https://coachcarly.com/]
 * 📱 Instagram: @coachcarlyevans [https://instagram.com/coachcarlyevans]
 * 💻 Facebook: Coach Carly [https://facebook.com/coachcarly]

She also offers plenty of free resources, including playlists on abundance, self-worth, and relationships, plus tapping videos to help you shift your energy and mindset.

Connect with me, Victoria R:

 * 🌐 Website: victoria-r.com.au
 * 🎙 Instagram: @the.victoria.r
 * 💌 Email: hello@victoria-r.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a review — it helps more people find these conversations.

18. The One With Coach Carly – Trauma, Change & Healing Through Energy

This week on The Mindful Educator Podcast, I’m sharing something a little different—more of a heart-to-heart reflection. Over the past few weeks, I’ve stepped into new territory: running my very first online group program for adults.

Here’s the thing—old me would’ve sat on this idea for months, maybe even years. I would’ve overthought every detail, tried to make it perfect, and worried endlessly about what people might think if it didn’t succeed. But this time? I did the complete opposite. I trusted my gut, moved quickly, and within just three weeks had women signing up.

In this episode, I talk about:
✨ Why I stopped waiting for “perfect” and embraced messy action
✨ The difference between forcing something vs. following intuition
✨ What my body taught me about alignment and when to say yes or no
✨ How I handled the pressure differently compared to 4–5 years ago
✨ The resilience that comes with self-development and mindfulness tools
✨ The importance of listening to our inner knowing—even when outside voices say otherwise

I’ll also share the story of a friend who gave me the little nudge I needed to leap, and how that single conversation helped me stop ignoring what had been calling me for months.

This is an episode for anyone who has an idea, a dream, or a little “niggle” they keep pushing aside. Consider this your reminder to pay attention to those signals—because when something is aligned, it will feel lighter, clearer, and more right in your body.

So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s chat about the power of action, intuition, and trusting yourself to take the next step.

Get in touch - 

Email - hello@victoria-r.com.au

Website - www.victoria-r.com.au

IG - @the.victoria.r

17. The One Where Messy Action Beats Perfection

This week on The Mindful Educator Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Melissa Hohaia—a naturopath, health coach, and all-round powerhouse when it comes to women’s health.

Melissa’s passion for helping women understand and embrace their bodies began as a teenager, and since then she’s worked across the fitness industry, personal training, and natural therapies before specialising in women’s hormonal health.

Together, we dive into:
✨ What perimenopause actually is (and why it’s often misunderstood)
✨ Early signs and symptoms you might notice—beyond hot flushes and night sweats
✨ Why stress is the biggest piece of the puzzle for navigating your 40s with more ease
✨ The role of progesterone and oestrogen, and Melissa’s brilliant “foundation bottle” analogy
✨ Why traditional advice like intermittent fasting and HIIT might not serve women in this stage of life
✨ The truth about Ozempic and weight loss drugs—and what natural alternatives can offer
✨ Simple, everyday ways to support your body through hormonal changes

Melissa brings both professional knowledge and personal lived experience (she’s navigating perimenopause herself) to this conversation, making it honest, practical, and deeply empowering.

This is an episode for every woman—whether you’re preparing for this next chapter, in the thick of it, or just curious about understanding your body better. And if you’re in your 20s or 30s, trust me, you’ll want this info in your back pocket for later!

Connect with Melissa

 * 🌐 Website: https://www.melissahohaia.com/
 * 📸 Instagram: @melissa.hohaia.naturopath [https://www.instagram.com/melissa.hohaia.naturopath?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * 📘 Facebook: Melissa Hohaia - Naturopath [https://www.facebook.com/melissahohaia.naturopath?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

🎁 Free Resources from Melissa

Melissa is kindly offering some free downloads for listeners, including:

 * Hormone-supportive recipes
 * A protein & fibre cheat sheet
 * Details on her upcoming 4-week Perimenopause Reset Program (starting October)

Connect with Victoria

 * 🌐 Website: www.victoria-r.com.au
 * 📸 Instagram: @the.victoria.r
 * 📘 Facebook: Victoria R

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s chat!

16. The One Where We Talk About Perimenopause (Without Freaking Out)

Welcome to The Mindful Educator Podcast with Victoria R your go-to space for exploring mindset, education, mum life, mindfulness, health, and more. Whether you’re seeking calm amidst the chaos or bold strategies for transformative shifts, this podcast offers personal wisdom, practical advice, and inspiring conversations to help you build a more balanced, fulfilling life.

As a mum, teacher, mindfulness coach, multi-business owner, and city-turned-country girl, Victoria shares lessons she wishes she’d known sooner while guiding you on a journey of personal growth and meaningful change. Join her and other remarkable women as they share stories, insights, and actionable practices to empower your most intentional way of living.

Victoria R

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