Loop Me In: Recent Episodes
Dr Lisa Interligi
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos explore issues relating raising children with disabilities. Drawing on their own experience as parents and the power of their parent network, Lisa and Kris and their guests discuss topics to help other parents and carers support their children.
Rob Hale host of podcast Dad-Ability joins Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos to explore experiences of dads of children with all types of disabilities. Rob shares about his personal emotional journey with raising his son Leo, and how this brought him to a breaking point. Rob has used this to connect and support other fathers. This is a special conversation not to be missed.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Professor Mark Bellgrove about ADHD - what it is, how the condition is diagnosed, gender differences and heritability. Mark is Director of Research at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, and a Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience at Monash University.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos talk with Patricia McKenzie about her journey as a mother of three - an oldest daughter with Down's Syndrome, daughter, and a son who survived childhood leukaemia. All while navigating her career. Today, Patricia and her family are in a happy place. Her oldest daughter has found independence sharing a home with friends, and is enjoying a full life. And Patricia has a successful career as a company director.
Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos welcome Dr Annie Banbury from Coviu an Australian telehealth platform for doctors, therapists and hospitals. Annie talks about the benefits of telehealth for children and adults in regional, remote and city settings, particularly in accessing medical and allied health services.
This episode hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with child psychologist and author Danuta Bulhak-Paterson about the girls and women with autism and how they present and experience autism differently compared with males.
The Victorian College for the Deaf is Australia's leading education school for children who are deaf. Principle Marg Tope chats with hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos about being the experts in teaching young deaf people in Auslan and English, and innovative hubs to provide work readiness skills. Marg also has some important advice for parents in creating life options for their children.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to Sue and Tonia from the Inclusion Foundation, a dual purpose organisation providing opportunities for young people with Down's Syndrome to dance and to work. Inclusion Foundation was established by mom Cate Sayers after her 6 year old daughter was excluded from joining a dance class.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to Ryan Goodwin about the Focus on Ability film festival. In its 14th year, and with films from all parts on the world, entries are 5 minutes long and feature a disability theme. Ryan, Creative Director, talks about the festival's role in building inclusion, reducing bullying and providing a resource for parents.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to James Loveday from Empowered Liveability about Special Disability Accomodation (SDAs), transition planning that parents can do to prepare for their children's future living arrangements, and the value in engaging people with similar disabilities in planning.
Tommy Trout is rare gem promoting true inclusivity. Another entrepreneur who has taken, love and his family circumstance to positively impact the lives of people with a disability. Lisa and Kristine talk to Tommy about how his fitness company - We Flex - is making difference to people to disabilities aged 7 years and up. Boxing, yoga, Zumba, PT, gym - whatever it takes to be active, healthy and much more.
The recently elected Australian Government campaigned on a collaboration with people with a disability to review effectiveness of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This forum discusses the views on NDIS from the special position of parents and their role as first line carers.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos kick off Season 3 with another pair of entrepreneurs. Occupational Therapists Emma and Molly founded accessible fashion label Jam The Label which designs for the needs of young people with disabilities and the fashion conscious, recently showing at Australian Fashion Week.
We welcome another entrepreneur and warrior for disability in Steve Dresler, founder and CEO of What Ability. Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to Steve about his inspiration to bring happiness to people with a disability and challenge them to be the best they can be.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Hampton Surf Lifesaving members Kerry and Zoe about the all abilities surf lifesaving program - Starfish - the importance of celebrating small steps, building confidence and having fun.
Andy chats to Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos about the community philosophy of Giant Steps school and college. Based on a successful model from Montreal Canada, Giant Steps in Australia educates and develops children and young adults with high needs autism.
Paralympian swimmer Braedan Jason returns with brother Nathan, also legally blind and an elite athlete to chat with each other about the importance of failing, having a go and playing Fortnite with no sight.
Our guest from Season 2 episode 4 'Fierce Fleur' was Fleur Armstrong. She expressed an interest in podcasting, so we wanted to give her some experience. This episode she takes over as host and interviews Tim Marchinton from Adventure Therapy company - Purple Soup.
Fierce Fleur Armstrong talks to hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos about how after a car accident at 19 she overcame a prognosis of being in a persistent vegetative state to setting her sights on being a podcaster.
Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Edwina and Lynzi from Riding for the Disabled (RDA) about the benefits of riding horses both as therapy and recreation for children with a range disabilities.
As a parent, you need to think about financial and estate planning, but when a child has a disability this can be more complex and confusing. Co-hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos talk with legal expert Rohani Bixler about wills, trusts and all that stuff.
Author of 'Dancing with the Maternal Bond' and mother of 33 year old Julian, Thea Calzoni shares her story of learning to accept her son's disability to advocating for him to enjoy a full life.
Lisa's son Remy and Kristine's daughter Marilena talk with guest host, Heidi Dickson, sister to Ryan, about their personal experiences of growing up as a sibling of a child with a disability.
Dual Paralympian Braedan Jason talks to hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos the significance of his tattoo "Do not go gentle into that good night" and growing up with cone dystrophy.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with educational and developmental psychologist Pam Langford about intensive early intervention and behavioural therapies.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Bianca and Kelsey from the Youth Disability Advocacy Service on the rights of young people with a disability, the importance of speaking up and advocating to protect their human rights.
Ally joins hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos to share her experience of growing up with a disability, making friends, going to school and getting a job.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos welcome guest Nicola Millar, Occupational Therapist, to talk about helping young people with disabilities develop skills for life.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos welcome social entrepreneur Laura O'Reilly who, together with brother Jordan and inspired by their brother, has created a network of enterprises supporting people with a disability including getting jobs.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to Sara Beeching speech therapist specialising in disability services about how to choose schools for children with additional needs.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos welcome two friends to chat about their shared experiences as mothers of children with disabilities and the value of a support network.
Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos talk with Dean Cohen, CEO Flying Fox, about the importance of developing independence skills and having fun! Flying Fox provides camp experiences for young people with disabilities.