Dr. Jodie is joined by Sarah McDonald, founder and director of Canine Comprehension, a pioneering organisation that uses therapy dogs to support emotional literacy and mental health in school communities across Victoria, Australia.

Sarah shares her own mental health journey and opens up about how her personal experiences have shaped her passion for helping young people — especially those struggling to regulate emotions, engage at school, or feel seen in the classroom. With warmth and honesty, Sarah talks about the powerful impact of Canine Comprehension's programs, the trust they build with students and teachers, and the long-term relationships they’ve developed in schools over the years.

Topics covered include:

• How therapy dogs help kids feel safe, seen, and supported

• The emotional toll of anxiety and the importance of showing up anyway

• How parents and teachers can advocate for school wellbeing programs

• Practical ways to access funding through Victoria’s Schools Mental Health Menu

• The joy of long-term school partnerships (and the many dog mascots left behind!)

Want to get in touch or learn more?
Visit: www.caninecomprehension.com.au
You’ll find videos, program information, and contact details to start a conversation about bringing Canine Comprehension to your school.
They're also on Facebook and LinkedIn, and happy to chat directly.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, or simply passionate about kids’ mental health, this episode will leave you inspired by the powerful combination of empathy & education.

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In this powerful follow-up conversation with Dr. Jodi Richardson - Jane O'Brien shares how she’s navigated life after her transplant with deep presence, gratitude, and inner strength. We explore the fleeting nature of illumination, and how she’s turned daily practices like meditation and gratitude into anchors for resilience.

Jane opens up about her experience with panic attacks, PTSD, and how modalities like EMDR helped her process trauma. She also shares an extraordinary story from her time in ICU—when, despite being unable to speak, she still found a way to help another patient rediscover her will to live.

This episode is a gentle yet profound reminder of the healing power of perspective, the choice we have in how we meet life’s challenges, and the quiet strength found in giving to others—even when we ourselves are in need.

If you’re facing a tough time, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone—and that hope can be found in the most unexpected places.

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In this powerful and deeply emotional episode, host Jodi speaks with Jane O'Brien, a mother of three and former media professional, who shares her remarkable journey through chronic illness, resilience, and life-saving transformation. After being diagnosed at 38 with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis, Jane spent 15 years battling progressive lung disease and vocal cord paralysis. Her life changed forever when, at the edge of lung failure, she received the gift of a double lung transplant.

Jane opens up about the physical and emotional toll of living with chronic illness while raising young children, her struggle with the idea of receiving donor organs, and the strength she drew from her family, her medical team, and the belief that better health was possible. She also shares how her daughter Holly’s drawing of her with healthy lungs became a daily symbol of hope—an image she kept by her side during hospital stays.

This conversation is a moving exploration of uncertainty, gratitude, mental health, and the profound impact of organ donation—not only on recipients but on their families, too.

PART 2 of this conversation will be released, in the next episode

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https://linktr.ee/drjodirichardson?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabqDVAw_zhoG3IXGRhgjn-J14BFJy50ztJbCHywMfZobVH12nX1USMbisI_aem_QViUbKkXHlwbD3y4kGcvGQ

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.