Full Transcript Introduction and Amandau2019s background 0:00 maybe they'll be the only moms that want to come along. 0:01 I only need two moms to certify." And I had eight moms in the end. 0:06 And can't tell you the impact it's had. 0:08 That first block have all continued to meet up every week. 0:13 Recently, they organized like a mini first aid. 0:15 person come to do like a weaning talk with them all together because they were all going on that journey, they go on pram walks and buggy walks all the time. 0:23 They're a really, really tight-knit group that that's just been like the cherry on top for me that they've really found each other. 0:29 The reviews as well, I've got loads of reviews from the class on my website which speak for themselves but there was one mum who said, 0:34 you know, this was my space each week for ME to be nurtured. 0:39 She had a lot of birth trauma and she even found a Hello, welcome to Spoil Your Baby podcast. 0:56 I'm here today with my co-host Rocio Zunini, and we are so excited to welcome Amanda here. 1:04 She is the world's first nurtured neuroscience practitioner, the first person to certify in our certification. 1:14 So welcome, Amanda. 1:15 We're so happy you're here! 1:16 Thank you so much. 1:22 It's just a lot more comfortable. 1:23 I love it. 1:25 And I need to do the same. 1:26 It used to have one at my desk in university and now I think that is a great call. 1:32 Yeah, I just did consult today and I did it for the first time and there's no going back. 1:36 This is great. 1:37 So if I'm bouncing, sorry. 1:39 Amazing. 1:41 You are our first practitioner. 1:43 Why don't you let us know, let's start with how did you come to our program and tell us a little bit more about you so we can get to know you. 1:51 Yes. 1:52 So I'm Amanda. 1:53 My business is North Star Nurture, which was inspired from a line in your book. 1:57 And I was a veterinary nurse beforehand, so complete career change. 2:02 I sort of knew while I pregnant, I am working in veternity nursing that I looking for something else, maybe possibly after maternity leave.
Discovering the program and certification journey 2:13 self-discovery and, you know, really manifest and like let the universe kind of show me which way to go. 2:19 And I've never really done anything like that before. 2:23 I came across your book when my girl was about eight months, nine months. 2:29 It was at the breastfeeding group that I used to to every week. 2:32 One of the mums had said, have you read this book? 2:34 And I hadn't, and I'd sort of been going to the group every week to sing, I'm feeling so conflicted. 2:39 If everything I am doing feels so right, but I've been under so much pressure from family, friends, health visitor. 2:45 And everyone's telling me I was doing this so wrong and it feels right. 2:48 She said, you have to read this book, The Natural Revolution, by Dr. 2:52 Ketchipa. 2:52 I can't help it. 2:53 Oh, so happy that you keep in contact with them because that's the whole goal, right? 2:58 We need to help moms in that place, yeah. 3:01 Exactly. 3:02 And it was such a supportive group, but that book changed everything for me, which I've told you as well. 3:07 I didn't know at the time of reading it and listening to it how much it would change my life that I'd be here now. 3:13 Then when I got the email that you were bringing out a certification program because I was signed up to you. 3:17 newsletters, I was like, that is it. 3:20 I 100% have to have, to get on that. 3:21 And I remember like dancing around my garden with my daughter, like manifesting like I'm gonna get in, and I've never done any like manifestation before. 3:29 But I have never had more of a doubt in my mind that this is the path for me. 3:38 And yeah, that's how I am here today. 3:43 I'm so happy that you did. 3:45 And, yeah. 3:45 You were looking for something to fill your heart, and now you've also really made it happen in real life, too. 3:55 Certifying super quickly, but also, really, you already reached so many mothers, right? 4:03 Yeah, it's been quite a quick journey, but yeah, absolutely. 4:08 It's sort of taken off a little bit more than I thought it would initially, which has been great, yeah. 4:12 Overwhelming at times. 4:13 Oh, my goodness. 4:14 Will you tell us a bit about that, about starting up your circle? 4:18 And then I want to know, the thing I wanna know the most is the impact it is having on you and also the people in your groups. 4:27 But let's start at the beginning. 4:28 How did you get it all going? 4:29 So I started a group in March this year, 2025, and two of my best friends, who I met at that same breastfeeding group that recommended the book,
Launching the first motheru2019s circle 4:37 had just had babies. 4:38 So, I was like, okay, cool. 4:39 I'll have at least two mums. 4:40 Like, maybe they'll be the only mumps that want to come along. 4:42 And I only need two moms to certify. 4:45 and I had eight mumbs in the end and can't tell you the impact it's had. 4:49 That first block have all continued to meet up every week. 4:54 Recently, they organized like a mini first aid. 4:56 person come to do like a weaning talk with them all together because they were all going on that journey. 5:01 They go on pram walks and buggy walks all the time. 5:03 Um, they're a really, really tight-knit group that that's just been like the cherry on top for me that they've really found each other. 5:10 And the reviews as well, I've got loads of reviews from the class on my website, which speak for themselves, but there was one mum who said, 5:15 you know, this was my space each week for to be nurtured. 5:20 She had a lot of birth trauma, and she even found a little healing in that. 5:23 And I would never pretend that I'm a therapist. 5:26 It's not a therapists' space, it's about holding space for people. 5:29 But it just brought her so much healing, even with birth-trauma, which just is so profound. 5:35 Absolutely so profoundly. 5:37 One mom in particular had really hard time bonding with her baby. 5:40 and she found the connection with baby exercises in particular really, really boosted her bond with her baby. 5:46 And she was actually reading your book at the same time. 5:49 She came across the book as she saw my circle. 5:52 So we're sort of listening to your books at each chapter as well. 5:55 Sort of really following along for like the whole holistic experience. 6:00 Wow. 6:01 Yeah, a lot of healing for these mums. 6:03 Finding connection in the local community and friendships. 6:07 And it honestly every month that it was the highlight of their week. 6:11 It was actually my birthday this week on Wednesdays when I teach my class. 6:17 Thank you. 6:17 But the whole time I was just thinking I'm so I wish it like every birthday I could teach this class like this is where I want to be. 6:24 it's just the most magical thing in person. 6:27 And I do want to explore maybe an online class as well, but nothing really beats that. 6:31 Coming together every week in-person, I just can't really explain the magic of every class. 6:37 I really, really can. 6:38 Yeah, yeah. 6:38 Like, when women gather, magic happens. 6:39 It's inevitable it is going to happen, no matter what. 6:51 And that was a huge inspiration. 6:52 Yeah, absolutely. 6:54 Absolutely. 6:55 Wow, how incredible. 6:58 And I love to hear how quickly people kind of caught on to what you were doing. 7:04 Your first group had eight mothers, and I was getting like full body goosebumps there when you were saying that they've continued these friendships.
Impact on mothers and community connection 7:12 Because that's so much of the point, right? 7:14 We want to hold mothers. 7:17 Boost their confidence, boost their self-love, just oxytocin in that room, which is probably why they were staying. 7:24 That's the best part of their week. 7:26 And then give them that lifelong support, those like friendships and that connection with themselves, their baby and then their greater community. 7:35 So, wow. 7:36 Congratulations, such a success. 7:39 Thank you. 7:40 And I just have to highlight one of the things I was reflecting on in preparation for this podcast is it's incredible to see how much of a shared experience 7:50 it is. 7:51 When we do like a welcome in or release ceremony, it's really common for most of the moms to say, I want to let go of guilt and I wanna bring in patients, 7:58 for example. 7:59 But then you go to different weeks where we're talking about intuition and interoception and you can go around a room of eight moms and the way that they 8:05 feel a yes in their body is different for all eight mums or the they they a no is completely different. 8:11 So it just this lovely like parallel of such a share experience and people saying, yes, feel that way. 8:17 But then, so much of it is so unique and vulnerable, and it's just the most lovely mix of both of those worlds kind of colliding. 8:27 SHANNON It's incredible. 8:29 Incredible. 8:30 So, probably a hard question to answer. 8:34 Which practices, maybe the top one or two, do you think had the biggest impact? 8:39 Which were your favorite? 8:41 I think the nurtured presence, the four questions. 8:45 And when you ask, mums to sort of say the answers to them. 8:48 So they say to their babies, you know, I see you. 8:51 You know, you are enough. 8:52 That one is always, I'm on the third block now. 8:55 I had nurtured presence last week. 8:57 And that one's always really emotive, but in a really lovely way. 9:00 Um, and I would say the intuition, actually, which really, really took me by surprise. 9:06 Because myself, it's probably been the biggest area for me that I've had to work on as well. 9:10 When we learned it in lecture, we realized very quickly I was not very in touch with my interoception. 9:18 And so I was a bit nervous that first week thinking, you know, what if everyone says like, I'm not really understanding this. 9:23 And it's been so powerful, the two times I've run that class, and people have been really in touch with their yes and their no in very, 9:32 very different ways. 9:33 That one's has been a really, really profound one. 9:35 Vivalence as well is holding the 2 rocks. 9:38 We do that in class where we really feel those two emotions at the same time. 9:43 I've had one mum say, she texts me saying, I'm out near the reservoir and I found two rocks and was practicing ambivalence, 9:49 you know, and thinking about class. 9:51 So, yeah, all the classes. 9:55 And I had a consult very recently. 9:57 Um, And i think the whole theme of it was those questions, who is essentially a family saying We have a baby who needs a lot of help for sleep, 10:13 a lotta help, for everything, and we just wish it, we want, like, give us tips to make it not so. 10:20 Like, how can we make this baby easy and everything easygoing, right? 10:25 And almost all of the learning there was tuning in to, baby, We need our baby for everybody's well-being and peace and health.
Favorite practices and shared experiences 10:35 To get a yes answer, to get it yes that they are enough with those needs, with that help they need. 10:43 We needed to just shift that for people, right? 10:46 So, it's such a big lesson to learn. 10:49 I'm so happy to hear that's really going well. 10:53 in the groups. 10:54 And I've had actually a surprising amount of second time moms who are there with their babies and that feeling of sort of splitting yourself in half when 11:02 you have an older child, maybe a toddler at home and a baby. 11:06 I had quite a lot of moms say when we're going over those four nurtured presence questions is they almost feel like they want their toddler to be better 11:14 in some way. 11:15 Yeah. 11:17 that it's just that like splitting yourself in half and really balancing the four nurture questions across two, two little ones who might be under the 11:24 age of three. 11:24 And that brings up so many feelings of guilt and overwhelm. 11:29 But then other moms will say, I feel exactly the same. 11:31 I've got a three year old at home as well. 11:33 and that I love when that happens and every, you know, the conversation goes that way and people chime in and saying, i feel the exactly same and I'm so 11:39 glad someone said it. 11:40 Yeah, that really helps that. 11:44 camaraderie, like, me too, right? 11:47 It feels so good to be in that presence. 11:49 That's what you want, yeah. 11:50 Yeah. 11:51 And also, we always like talk about the lack, We don't ever need to perfect in any of that, even with the questions, Right? 11:59 We're gonna think sometimes, oh, I wish my child was easier this way or, you know, that way, whatever it is, and then just be able to return to them. 12:09 is kind of the skill, right? 12:11 It's just so important for us. 12:14 Absolutely. 12:15 And just the inner child work, I think, that comes with that class as well. 12:18 It obviously comes up a lot in most weeks. 12:21 There's the part of class where we ask them to hold their baby, but imagine it's baby them and answer the questions for your inner-child. 12:29 It chokes me up every time I do it, and it's so beautiful. 12:32 It's one of my favorite parts of the whole course. 12:36 I love it. 12:37 So that was your first circle, the circle of eight. 12:42 And tell us how it has evolved, how have you continued? 12:47 So over the summer, it's sort of been, I thought it would be a lot more of an intake of first time mums. 12:53 But it has kind of, been sort drips and drabs. 12:55 I had three people for the first five weeks, and then six people, for second five week, with illness and things, you know, 13:02 what happens with teething and illness, bad nights, etc. 13:05 And then this third block, seven mumps. 13:08 just now. 13:09 So, yeah, and it's a lovely internet group. 13:11 And we've got a new cafe in my venue as well. 13:13 It's lovely after each session when I come out after tidying up with all the moms are there having a coffee and cake and continuing that. 13:19 Um, so yeah. 13:21 it is just going from strength to strength. 13:22 Incredible, incredible. 13:25 Tell us a little bit about what it has been like for you. 13:27 How has this experience been for becoming a facilitator and being able to influence so many people? 13:34 I don't know if you guys remember, but like I before the first class, I was terrified, like petrified. 13:41 I can't explain how scared I. 13:43 And honestly, within five minutes of the class it was. 13:46 I felt so, so calm. 13:47 Obviously, we do grounding exercises, which is perfect for someone who's a bit nervous. 13:51 And it's honestly been probably one of the biggest privileges of my life doing this class.
Growing confidence as a facilitator 13:57 It's one my favorite things. 13:59 Part of me is like, I want to do this for free for everybody. 14:01 But obviously, it is a business because it just so it so enjoyable for me as well. 14:06 I'm just holding space each week for moms and being that safe space where people can come every week. 14:11 and I do every single Wednesday as I've not been taking breaks because I just want care, you know, it could be a holiday or half term or, 14:20 Halloween, Easter, whatever it is, but people still have challenges and newborns and want that support. 14:27 So I try and keep it consistent every single Wednesday as well. 14:30 But it's honestly it has been the biggest privilege of my whole life. 14:35 with no exaggeration, it's definitely the highlight of my week. 14:38 I love it. 14:40 The amount of personal growth that's come for you is incredible. 14:44 You really stepped into it! 14:47 Yeah, I'm proud of myself. 14:49 It's hard to say that. 14:50 And I actually ran my first infant sleep workshop in August, and I was getting ready, all the people were coming in, there was 14 mums, 14:57 And I wasn't nervous and I was like, I wonder if the circles have sort of just given me that confidence and, you know, every single week talking in front 15:05 of an audience and yeah, the personal growth has been amazing. 15:08 I Wasn't expecting that at all. 15:09 incredible, incredible. 15:11 So happy to hear that you're doing speaking as well. 15:13 Um, and also sleep consulting. 15:16 Yes, yes. 15:18 Amazing. 15:18 That's really been picking up recently in particular. 15:21 Yeah. 15:22 Incredible, Incredible. 15:23 Rocio, any, anything else you want to know about Amanda? 15:27 Oh, my goodness. 15:29 I just, there's so many things. 15:32 But it's just amazing, the transformation, because I know, Amanda, you was at me, so I'm so anxious. 15:41 And to hear that now you're this, your transformed too, just by doing the circles. 15:48 like it's just, it just amazing to give out worship. 15:53 The feedback and all the testimonials and conversations having with mums is just the biggest confidence boost in the world because it kind of like, 16:00 you know, the proof is in a pudding like there it is, this is the impact it having. 16:04 That's the big motivation. 16:07 in your calling, you're doing your call and you know, it's just working wonderful. 16:13 I'm almost speechless today because I just like so moved, so excited and just have goosebumps the whole time that you are talking. 16:23 There's such an inspiration. 16:24 It's so incredible. 16:25 Well, I owe it all to you guys as well. 16:28 Obviously, everybody in the practitioner program, we still have the Go collab and we all talk. 16:32 We've got a UK Nurture Neuroscience Practitioners group as we're constantly giving each other support and asking questions. 16:40 Yeah, it's just the most supportive group that's come out of this practitioner programme. 16:44 I love it. 16:45 There is another thing too that we should highlight here is that the practitioners, They are in a sisterhood sort of. 16:53 We want to continue this. 16:55 As it grows, the movement, we want it to keep you all together and there's no competition.
Community support, future plans, and closing 17:01 It's about you know, the ripple effects, having your circles and supporting each other and like being in that community forever. 17:10 Shout out to Sophie because we WhatsApp message all the time. 17:14 We're always voicing about like clients and cases and giving each others ideas and boosts. 17:19 So yeah, big shout out Sophie. 17:21 She helps a lot. 17:23 I love it. 17:24 For all of our listeners, if they want to find you for one of your Circles or some of you're consultations, where can they find? 17:32 So my circles, I host them currently in person. 17:35 I am thinking about doing an online class soon. 17:37 But for in-person, it's in middle of the Scotland, a lot of community center called the Glencore Center. 17:43 And it is every Wednesday at 9.30 in the morning. 17:46 For my sleep consultancy, you can find me at my website, northstarnurture.com and I'm on Instagram as well, just north.star.nurcher. 17:55 Yeah, and also looking at teaming up with Gabrielle as for some parental regulation support as well. 18:01 I won't share too many details, but there's gonna be a whole different way to support parents through their parental regulations journey and hopefully 18:08 coming soon with another. 18:09 Neuroscience Practitioner Gabrielle. 18:10 So exciting, so exciting. 18:13 Well, thank you again for being here with us. 18:16 And we can't wait to see all of these new ways you're going to share with the world. 18:21 Thanks, Amanda. 18:22 Thank you so much. 18:24 I will say if anybody is thinking of becoming a Neuro Science Practioner, honestly, we all were messaging the night before the last lecture of that first cohort. 18:33 like actually crying, being like, I'm so sad that this is over. 18:37 And that's like for lectures and learning and, you know, having to do case studies. 18:41 We're all like devastated, like I just want to keep doing this. 18:45 I want join again and again, if you could just let me into it. 18:48 Because we will think of some ways to get going because we are hearing this from many, many people. 18:57 So I love that idea. 19:01 All right. 19:02 I'll talk to you soon. 19:03 Thank you so much. 19:04 Bye.
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