The Village Podcast

Formerly The Village Lantern Podcast

A podcast for families living with hidden challenges, such as autism, ADHD and other neurodiverse conditions…

…and for anyone else wanting to understand, love and support.

The Village Podcast

Takes A Village founder, Anna Oxley Rintoul, is a 40-something mum of three, juggling the joys and challenges of unique kids.

After one of her kids was diagnosed as autistic, Anna embarked on a mission to understand what it all meant, and soon realised there was comfort in sharing and learning from others living a similar life. Takes A Village was born, and soon after came The Village Podcast (previously The Village Lantern Podcast).

Anna invites co-hosts to join her in conversation, interviews and story-telling, to build awareness, understanding and love to this growing community of families.

Our guests include individuals living with hidden challenges, parents, medical and therapy experts and community leaders.

In this first season, Anna and co-host Jordan Sandler learn how to make a podcast. Anna and Jordan are a full generation apart (they think…) and they are passionate, for quite different reasons, about building awareness and understanding about living with hidden disabilities.

Guests :

Justin Reeves, CEO and Kerrie Brewer, General Manager of Foundation and Community, Hawthorn Football Club
Chris Varney, founder and CEO of the first-of-its-kind I CAN Network
Dr Annie Moulden, AOM, paediatrician and expert in childhood development and neurodiverse conditions such as ASD, ADD/ADHD anxiety
Tal Spinrad, Jewish educator and advocate for change
Deirdre Brandner, registered child psychologist and with deep expertise and interest in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Rodney Marks, comedian and story teller
Sarah Wright, clinical and educational psychologist with extensive experience working with disabled children

Listen

Anna and Jordan continue to meet some extraordinary people. We welcome additional co-hosts, Bel and Char who share their personal experiences of parenting.

Guests :

Dean Cohen, CEO of Flying Fox camps
Lola. A brilliant, funny and articulate teenager living with ASD and ADHD.
Kate Shierlaw, AFLW professional athlete and community leader of SaintsPlay program at St Kilda Football Club
Scott McCarney, COO of HoopNow, a basketball program for disabled kids
Bel and Char - sharing experiences of their own lives including topics:
Just diagnosed - what does it all mean?
Education
Siblings
Working and Burnout

Jordan moves to Canberra and Anna, Bel and Char return for conversations about their challenging, funny and sometimes shocking daily lives. It’s like sitting around with a group of friends, sharing their joys, fears and honest truths about this unexpected but rewarding (and sometimes gruesome) life.

Guests and Topics: