Shows
Becoming You - The Podcast with John FlemingS2E1: Uncovering Me: A Lifelong Journey of Uncovering with John Fleming & Sarah SprouleTo open Season 2 of Becoming You – The Podcast, John takes the guest seat to explore the personal and ongoing journey of uncovering who he really is - starting from a powerful moment at eight years old, when he looked in the mirror and saw himself for the first time.In conversation with Sarah Spoule, John speaks openly about his experience with internalised ableism, what it took to move from being “a head with legs” to listening to his body and learning to recognise his physis or life force.What You’ll Discover in This Episode...2025-07-2643 min
Becoming You - The Podcast with John FlemingS1E10: Sexuality, Neurodivergence & the Journey to Self with Sarah SprouleWhat if your sexuality wasn’t something to figure out — but something your body already knows?In this season finale of Becoming You – The Podcast, John sits down with Sarah Sproule — a late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer, occupational therapist, sexuality educator, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner — to explore the unspoken links between neurodivergence, sexuality, shame, and coming home to the body.Growing up undiagnosed and unsure, she says she “absolutely grew up feeling too embarrassed to talk about anything to do with sex at all.”Diagnosed later in life, Sarah sh...2025-05-1745 min
The Irish Occupational Therapy PodcastEmpowering Conversations About Sex and Identity with Sarah Sproule
In this episode of the Irish Occupational Therapy podcast, Aideen Ruttledge and Jen Trzeciak welcome Sarah Sproule, an occupational therapist and sex educator. They discuss the importance of open conversations about sexuality, particularly with teens, and how occupational therapy can play a role in facilitating these discussions. Sarah shares her journey into sex education, the challenges of discussing sexuality in a cultural context filled with misconceptions, and the need for accurate, shame-free information. The conversation emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment for young people to explore their sexual orientation and the necessity for therapists to engage in...2025-02-0940 min
Catch Up with Louise McSharryCatch Up with Sarah Sproule: How to talk to kids about sexSend your thoughts, feelings, opinions and suggestions to 0892096423!Over on Patreon recently, we were discussing chatting to children about difficult topics and Sarah Sproule's name came up. Sarah is an incredible educator when it comes to sex and relationships, and how and when to approach them with children. I often check in with her instagram page and website when I'm confused on these matters, and was delighted that she agreed to chat with me for the podcast so we could all benefit from her expertise!To support the podcast and access bonus episodes...2024-06-0743 min
The BrandUp Podcast011: When words unite, with Sarah SprouleWhat if you could save time and energy while making marketing easier and more powerful? In this episode you’ll learn how one business owner in Ireland learned to do just that. Sarah Sproule helps caring adults talk to the kid(s) in their care about sensitive subjects like puberty, bodies, consent and more. It can be touchy stuff, and it’s critical for Sarah to get her words right.In this episode Sarah shares how her brand’s voice helped her jump off the content creation treadmill and reach almost zen-like levels of marke...2023-11-0343 min
Can I Have Another Snack?25: “John, The Kids Are Playing With Condoms” with Sex Educator Sarah SprouleToday I’m speaking to Sarah Sproule (she/them), a sex educator, an occupational therapist, as well as a mother of three teens. Sarah uses their skills to ensure that every parent and caring adult knows how to build a deeper connection with their growing kids, and believes that no child should ever feel alone and unable to reach out for help with their body, their boundaries, or their needs. Or their knowledge about sexuality.In this episode, we are talking about ‘sensitive things’ with our kids, plus reclaiming the ‘C word’. We dive into the following topics;2023-09-291h 07
A Little Birdie Told Me#22 Teaching kids about their own bodies with Sarah SprouleIn this episode, we sit down with occupational therapist and sex educator Sarah Sproule to find out more about removing the taboo surrounding certain body parts and embracing the awkward when it comes to discussing sex and sexuality with our kids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2022-12-2256 min
The Sexual Wellness SessionsTalking To Your Kids About Sex And Relationships with Sarah SprouleThe idea of 'the talk' is something that fills many parents and caregivers with anxiety. The worry about what to say, how to answer questions and getting it right can feel pretty daunting. Paired with the fact that many of us didn't have a perfect version of 'the birds and the bees' chat ourselves means that we don't feel set up to know how to talk to our kids about sex and relationships.
This is why my guest today is the brilliant sex educator Sarah Sproule, who makes it her mission to ensure every parent and...2022-06-031h 03
Know Them, Be Them, Raise ThemSex Talk(s): How to Have Them and Overcome the Awkward // with Sarah SprouleOk, who of us hasn’t cringed a little bit, thinking about "having the talk" with your kids? Why does this awkwardness exist, and can we make it less awkward for our kids, so there’s a healthier dialogue about sex and bodies and relationships? In Episode 39, Sarah Sproule unpacks all of this with host Carmelita Tiu, sharing what parents can do to create an open atmosphere, build healthy attitudes towards sex and their bodies, and empower their daughters with tools to craft healthy relationships.Some highlights:Where the awkwardness around sex-related topics...2022-05-3126 min
The Warrior School PodcastEpisode 101: Talking about periods and other sensitive things with Sarah SprouleEpisode Notes
Sarah Sproule is an occupational therapist with a master's in sexuality studies and host of the fabulous podcast, “Sitting in a Car” where she helps parents stay connected with their kids while having conversations about puberty, bodies, and sex.
In today's episode we talk about:
Why do most parents feel unbearably awkward initiating conversations about sexuality with their kid(s)
How important it is for your kids to have age-appropriate guidance about their body and about physical intimacy
How to be their go-to resource when they have questio...2022-03-111h 03
Sitting in a CarWhere to go, Who to turn to, What advice to take about my 6yo? Help!There can be a lot of conflicting advice around raising kids. So who do we listen to when our kid, along with his friends, has been asking other kids to pull down their pants to see their genitals? Immediately we might think: Omg, my kid is pressuring other kids to do things they don’t want to do! Will he not ask for consent when he’s older? What kind of kid have I raised? I’ve failed! What will other parents say? [insert your own immediate reaction] And anything that comes up is valid.2021-12-0715 minSitting in a CarWas I wrong to listen to the experts? My 10yo hated this convo!No you weren’t wrong. We do need to have sensitive convos with our kids that provide them with information that they will need as they grow. But what a lot of experts miss is that to have these kinds of convos we need to establish and have nurtured a connection with our kid. The same connection we had with them as babies isn’t the exact same one they need now. So in learning new skills & strategies, we can grow with them and maintain our conn...2021-11-3015 minSitting in a CarBisexual...a femme boy...and he’s 12. Advice please.Firstly, what a win that your kid could come to you and share this discovery with you! How many of us hid our identities because we didn’t feel safe enough to express what they might be or were? I’m bisexual and I came to this identity late. When I read this question I was delighted for this kid. He’s 12 and has realised this about himself and it made me realise, in retrospect, how much I would have loved to have had this conversation about my bisexuality sooner. The thin...2021-11-2311 minSitting in a CarHelp! My teen is disgusted and angered by any sex talk.Behaviour is logical. It doesn’t come out of nowhere. Our kid’s words, actions, body language, and tone of voice are communicating something to us. What is she thinking and feeling yet not unable to say? We need to find a way to allow her to SAY it. To connect with our kid we need to meet her where she’s at. This isn’t the time to justify or explain why logically what we’ve been doing is ‘right’. So how do we connect with our kid so that whe...2021-11-1614 min
Changemakers with Clare McKennaSarah Sproule Removing Sex Ed StigmaSarah Sproule is not only looking to work with parents to help remove embarrassment around sex education with her schools workshops but she is looking to help a generation to lean in to uncomfortable topics, bring about more self acceptance and ultimately more compassion for ourselves and others.Today we talk about the current school curriculum and how it still only focuses on reproduction and heterosexual couples and starts in 5th and 6th class. There is still no discussion of same sex, non binary or even sex for pleasure and contraception. Shame and stigma has created so...2021-11-1650 minSitting in a Car'What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘porn’?'My 13-yr-old has started watching porn but doesn’t want to talk about it. He feels awkward when I try to discuss it with him as he says it’s weird. What can I do? This is the question that I’m answering this week and I love this question because it give us a chance to really build a deeper connection with our kid(s). The answer comes from the Courage pillar inside the Evolved Family Method which helps us build evolved, communicating families. Now, I’m sure you probabl...2021-11-0917 minSitting in a CarHas your 12-yr-old gone radio silent?Have you been wracking your brain for all the reasons why they’re not talking? Especially when you know they need someone they can trust to confide in? Maybe you’re feeling regret about past parenting decisions? Blaming yourself for how you handled a past situation? If this is you, please remember that parenting is a lifelong journey, and we’re constantly learning. Kids go through many developmental stages. One of our jobs is to have the skills to help them navigate each one. High level connect...2021-11-0213 minSitting in a CarI don’t want my kid to be THAT kid! What can I do?I don’t want my kid to be that kid that knows about how we make new humans before the other kids do. But I also know they need the info. What should I do? You can take a poll of what the other parents are doing. Find out when they plan to have the convos and wait until then... Or you can decide to do what’s best for you and your kid and prepare for whatever may come. Learn some best practices on how to manage o...2021-10-1915 minSitting in a CarShe hates her body...she’s only 10!Given the society and culture we live in today, this is enough to freak any parent out! We remember what our teenage years were like. We all had something about our ever-changing bodies that we didn’t like or even hated! Did we have a trusted, safe source to confide in? Were we able to express how we felt? Did we feel seen by our carers? Of course, they did their best but maybe we didn’t have any of the above. And so now we want to make...2021-10-1213 minSitting in a Car6yo: Mummy, I’ve been a boy since I was 2 ½.Does this feel like a bit of a curveball? It’s ok if it does. As humans we want to protect our kid(s) from anything that may cause them pain, suffering, discrimination, etc. We want them to feel loved, supported, and free to be who they are! But how do we create this environment for them if we’re in a state of panic, fear, and uncertainty? Can we create this environment for them? The simple answer is yes. The solution however, is not as easy. Our...2021-10-0518 minSitting in a Car“How did the baby get in there?” Is this a question you dread?When it came to awkward conversations, our parents did their best with what they knew. Whether you were dismissed, made to feel uncomfortable or awkward about sensitive subjects, you want to do things differently, and build an Evolved Communicating Family. However, you may experience a level of panic or dread when it comes to having these same conversations with your kid, especially if they are young. If you feel you could use some support and actionable pointers for this part of your parenting, join me on this week’s episode of Sitting in a Car. 2021-09-2814 minSitting in a Car‘My kid is 12 and I feel like I’ve really messed up’No, you haven’t! But let’s not wait any longer. We can be so hard on ourselves as parents. Understandable, I get it. The pressure to be perfect is all around us. However I’m sure you’ll also agree, that as there is no manual this is just unnecessary pressure. Whatever your reason(s) for, not yet, having the talk with your kid, it’s not too late. Whether: You felt unsure about what to say. Were waiting for them to come to you. ...2021-09-2119 minSitting in a Car‘My 6-year-old is constantly trying to touch other kids’ genitals. Help!’What would you do if this were your kid? Can you imagine how you might feel? Have you been this parent? Are you this parent? First things first, seek professional help to make sure there’s not something more to this. Once you have confirmation your kid is safe, then what? In this week’s episode I talk you through my suggestions to this question. This question came from a very concerned parent who wants to support their kid the best way they can. This is a sensi...2021-09-1418 minSitting in a Car'How do you answer a 10-year-old who asks, What is rape?'“What is rape?” coming from a 10-year-old is a pretty loaded question! Where do we even begin? What do we say? How much do we say? Unfortunately, we cannot shelter our kids from the harsh realities of the world. In fact, it’s not helpful. And we come across to our kid(s) as clueless. As adults, responsibly talking about sensitive things, allows & models for our child to do the same. This is a great way to develop an evolved & communicating family. When we do the wo...2021-09-0717 min
The Stork and IS4: E1 Talking to our children about their conception with Sarah SprouleWelcome to episode 1 of the 4th series of The Stork and I Podcast
In this episode I chat to Occupational Therapist and Sex Educator, Sarah Sproule.
When Sarah was 11 she was afraid she was only growing one breast and didn’t know who to turn to for help.
Now as mother of three teens, with two decades experience as a therapist and a masters in sexuality studies, Sarah uses her skills as an occupational therapist and sex educator to ensure every parent and caring adult knows how to build deeper connection with their growing kid(s).
Becaus...2021-09-0140 minSitting in a CarWhat do I do if he puts his fingers in his ears when I talk about puberty?Here’s a quick heads up … our goal isn’t ONLY to get info about sex, bodies, babies and all the things in front of our kids … It’s to create connection with them too! So many of us parents have heard ALL the stories about kids who pull away from their parents in the pre-teen and teenage years. So a lot of us just stop trying to say anything. Because we’re afraid of our kids pulling away. But we know our kids need the info. So what can we...2021-08-3113 min
Wandering Into WellnessSarah Sproule - Should the Bishops Teach our Kids Sex Ed***warning this episode contains mild sexual references as part of an educational resource***
We are living in a secular state. Or are we...? Sarah Sproule is an occupational therapist with a difference. Her online presence focuses on how to have conversation with our kids about sex as they start to become curious. Without feeling uncomfortable. Without running away.
Her work has been profoundly helpful in giving parents practical tools to help their kids grow up with a safe working knowledge of their biology, of how to manage consent (which starts much earlier than y...2021-08-301h 03Sitting in a CarWhen is it the right time to chat with my kids about sensitive stuff?Lots of us are dedicated to giving our kids all the info we know they need, but aren’t sure how to do that, or when. And we might have memories ourselves of our parents trying to have chats with us, and it feeling weird and icky and wrong. Or maybe we were given a book, and told If you have any questions, just ask, And THAT felt wrong too! So we want to do things differently for our own kids. Let’s hop into...2021-08-2414 minSitting in a CarI’m ready to answer my son's question about sex, but he hasn’t asked again!This week, let’s talk about what to do when your 8-year-old asked you (quite a while ago) What is sex? and you said you’d get back to them with a good answer, and now you’re all ready with an answer – but they’ve never asked again! My answer this week comes from some of the core principles that underpin the Evolved Family method. A lot of you probably already know about the Evolved Family method's three pillars, Courage, Growth, and Kindness. But underpinning tho...2021-08-1715 minSitting in a CarWhat can I do when chats with your kid aren't happening naturally?This week, a parent asks what to do when chats with your kids about sensitive stuff, aren't happening naturally. We might be ready to be open with our kids, and have open, ongoing convos about sex, bodies, babies and all the things, so that our kids get the info they need. But our kids aren’t asking. And now they’re growing older – and still not asking! So what do we do? My answer this week comes from the Courage pillar of the Evolve...2021-08-1013 minSitting in a Car‘How can I turn uncomfortable conversations with my kid about sensitive stuff into more comfortable ones?’This week, a parent asks, ‘How can I turn uncomfortable conversations with my kid about sensitive stuff into more comfortable ones?’ What a great question this is. What can we do about our own feelings and fears around having sensitive chats that hold us back from having them, or make it super hard and uncomfortable when we do talk? My answer this week comes from the Kindness pillar of the Evolved Family method. The Kindness pillar helps us do many awesome things. But one of its most important j...2021-08-0312 minSitting in a Car'How can I get on the same page as my ex/co-parent, when it comes to having sensitive conversations with our kids?’‘How can I get on the same page as my ex/co-parent, when it comes to having sensitive conversations with our kids about sex, bodies, babies and all the things, so that we’re both saying the same thing?’ What a great question! My answer this week comes from the Courage pillar of the Evolved Family method, which gives us the skills to chat about complex stuff, helps us create connection with our kids as we do it, and supports us to take action when we need to. Now, what a lot of us...2021-07-2718 minSitting in a Car‘My 6-year-old likes to hump the couch. What should I do?’Good morning! Let’s chat about what you can do when you’ve got a 6-year-old who likes to hump the couch. :D My answer for you this week comes from some of the values that underpin the whole Evolved Family method. Behaviour is communication. Our kids don’t do things for no reason or to wind us up. Behaviour is logical and there’s always a reason. You see, our kid’s genitals, and sexual self, are just the same as their face, eyes, hands, respiratory system, and so o...2021-07-2011 minSitting in a Car'My 7-year-old son wants to tell all the girls about periods. Is that ok?'This week, let’s chat about what to do if your 7-year-old boy has just learned about periods – and you’re worried he’s going to share this exciting new info with all of his friends!! Including his friends who are going to get periods someday, and who might not know about them yet. My answer to this question is from the Courage pillar of the Evolved Family method, which gives you the skills to speak up about complex stuff, and build more connection with...2021-07-1318 minSitting in a Car‘How can I teach my 15-year-old daughter to say no when she’s in highly pressurised situations?’I’ve a fantastic question for you this week. A parent writes, ‘How can I teach my 15-year-old daughter to say no when she’s in highly pressurised situations?’ My answer to this week’s question comes from the Courage pillar inside the Evolved Family Method – which helps us speak up about complicated things, using everyday situations, in a way that builds deeper connection with our child(ren) as we do it. This is a super question because so many parents really don’t feel great about t...2021-07-0613 minSitting in a Car‘I’ve told my 5yo what sex is - and I’m afraid he’ll act it out in school.’‘How do you balance giving your kid info, with trying to shape or limit what they do with that info? 'Once you’ve told your kid what happens in sex, how do you build in that it’s not something for kids to do? My fear is that my super-curious 5-year-old will try & act it out with his friends in school. I really don’t want that phone call from school!’ This question is relevant for any of us who have started having convos with our kids that we hope wil...2021-06-2911 minSitting in a CarMy 3yo is EXTREMELY interested in her little brother’s willy. What do I do?This week, let’s chat about what to do when your 3-year-old is super interested in her little brother’s willy! And keeps commenting on it in the bath. My answer comes from the two main concepts in my work: genitals are simply another part of our body, and sexuality is an everyday part of being a human being. This understanding is at the very heart of the Evolved Family method. It’s actually quite powerful, cos when we know this to be true, it gi...2021-06-2210 minSitting in a CarHow can I have sensitive conversations with my kid(s) on the spectrum?This week, let’s chat about how to have sensitive, connected conversations when you have kids who are on the spectrum. What many families do, when they have kids living with Autism, is default to saying less, not more about sensitive stuff. But the key to having connected chats with kids who are ND isn’t saying less. It’s focusing in on what makes your kids unique and awesome, and having chats in ways that make the most of those qualities. So, if you feel like...2021-06-1510 minSitting in a CarThree hidden questions that create connection with your kid(s)Let’s chat about the hidden questions you mightn’t even know to ask, that will give you more connected conversations with your kids. These questions come from the Courage pillar of the Evolved Family method, which is all about connection – and empathy. You may be surprised to learn (or not!) that the key to a lot of the questions we parents find the hardest to answer, is empathy. So let’s talk about the emotions and thoughts that go unsaid when we’re having sensiti...2021-06-0811 minSitting in a Car‘How can I be there for my 8yo, who’s the first one to grow breasts in her friend group?’‘My 8-year-old found a lump under her nipple, and I had a suspicion it could be breast buds. I don’t remember myself if they hurt or not coming in, and I wasn’t able to talk to my own mother about anything to do with puberty. I want to be there for my daughter, but it’s so hard when I had no advice or support passed down to me. So I feel quite lost.’ This is such a beautiful question. Because it’s about so much more than breasts growing. Isn’...2021-06-0115 minSitting in a Car‘How can I talk to my 7-year-old girl about body image?’‘How can I talk to my 7-year-old about body image?’ This parent’s young girl has started saying not very nice things about her own body, and has started expressing an interest in extremely skinny body types. (You can hear the whole question & story in this week’s podcast.) This courageous but tongue-tied parent is confused, like many of us would be in her situation, because she’s done everything right. She’s taught her kid about healthy eating, exercise and all the things. She’s never cri...2021-05-2516 minSitting in a Car'How can I talk to my kids about porn, in a non-alarming way?''How can I talk to my kids about porn, in a non-alarming way?' Let’s dig deep into three simple ways to make this easier. The answer to this question comes from the Courage pillar of the Evolved Family method. As you might know, if you watch Sitting in a Car quite a lot, the Courage pillar has to do with how we as adults can take responsibility for speaking up, and the tools we can use to do it. We learn how to start c...2021-05-1814 minSitting in a Car‘How can I chat with my squeamish 8-year-old about periods?’‘How can I chat with my squeamish 8-year-old about periods? I started a conversation with her once about periods, and she was totally squicked out. I’d love some help.’ What a great question. I’m sure this parent isn’t alone in this. So what do we do when we have info we need to give our kid so that they stay safe and healthy growing up, but which they’re too squicked out to hear? My answer this week comes from the Courage pillar of the E...2021-05-0414 minSitting in a Car‘How can I avoid passing shame on to my kids?’This week, let’s talk about how to avoid passing on shame to our kid(s). And I’m going to show you how the Evolved Family method does exactly that with it’s three pillars, Growth, Courage, and Kindness. Because the whole Evolved Family method is about reducing shame. The best way I know to reduce shame, is by building deeper connections with our kids. And the way we do that, is by having conversations with our kids about sensitive things. Connection...2021-04-2015 min
Living a Life Well FedEpisode 1:8 ~ Sarah Sproule, Sexuality Educator and Creator of The Evolve SchoolJoin us for this week’s episode of Living a Life Well Fed with Sarah Sproule, sexuality educator and creator of The Evolve School.
In this episode, Sarah speaks about having age appropriate conversations with our children around topics such as sex, consent, and puberty.
Viewers will also learn how to eliminate shame when it comes to speaking to children about their bodies, as well as how our sexual selves make us human.
Interested in teaching your nervous system that it is safe to use certain words and to have these important and so...2021-04-0846 minSitting in a Car‘Why won’t my 11-year-old let me talk to her about sex, bodies and puberty?’‘I would like to understand why my 11-year-old stops all my attempts to talk about sex, bodies and puberty.’ I love this question because this parent is curious about what might be going on for her child. And indeed it is a curious thing, and it’s very, very common! Tweens not wanting to talk about sensitive stuff, happens all the time. There are three reasons why this very common thing might be happening. My answers today came from the Kindness pillar of the Evolved Family met...2021-04-0609 minSitting in a Car‘Any ideas for a parent of a 9-year-old who might be questioning their gender?’‘Any ideas for a parent of a 9-year-old who might be questioning their gender? I’m terrified and I need to educate myself for the road ahead.’ What a lovely question. My answer comes from the Courage pillar of the Evolved Family method, which is the bit of The Evolve School (of which more later) where we learn how to speak up around things that are complicated, and confront our own fear. Questions about gender can really throw us parents into a panic sometimes! But one...2021-03-2912 minSitting in a Car‘Should I get my kid a book about puberty?’Let’s chat about puberty books. And why giving one to your child isn’t as great an idea as you might think. I get questions about books A LOT. ‘What books can I buy, Sarah? To explain to my kid about puberty? …about how babies are made? …about other sensitive stuff?’ I want to get one thing really clear first - Books can be brilliant! They can help a lot. But they’re not enough. Inside The Evolve School, I hear parents’ stories abo...2021-03-1508 minSitting in a CarI’m going to cry, but I need to have a heart-to-heart with youWhat do you want for your child(ren)? That’s my question for you this week. Do you want your kid(s) to come to you with anything at all … so they don’t feel worried or isolated? Do you want your kids to avoid the pitfalls that tripped you up when you were a young person? You want to talk to them about sensitive things in a way that’s different to what you experienced growing up? This week I’ll describe how fundamentally important it is to have conve...2021-02-2212 minSitting in a Car‘How do I teach my kid about consent, when I’m not sure they’re old enough?’Let’s talk about how to teach your kid about consent – even if you’re not sure they’re old enough. For a lot of us, consent can feel like a super tricky area. ‘Cause consent is about sex, right? So in order to chat with your kid about consent – to help them know their own boundaries and needs, while respecting the boundaries and needs of others – they need to know about sex. Right? Actually, not at all! We can start...2021-02-1507 minSitting in a Car‘How do I chat with my kid about puberty, so they’ll come to me with questions?’Let’s talk about how to chat with your kid about puberty, in a way that makes them feel supported and able to come to you with any questions or worries they have as they grow up. Here’s what A LOT of courageous but tongue-tied parents do, when it comes to chatting about puberty. They wait to chat with their kids about puberty, until they begin to see the signs that their kid might be starting to go through it. And THEN, they...2021-02-0907 minSitting in a Car‘How can I prepare for the ‘what is sex’ questions, before my kids ask them?’How can we prepare for the ‘What is sex?’ questions from our kids, before they even think to ask them? (and what about “How do the sperm ACTUALLY get out of your body, Dad?”) This is such a good topic to chat about. Because there are LOADS of courageous but tongue-tied parents out there, who are nervously waiting for their kids to ask questions about sex, bodies, babies and all the things. They worry, Am I doing the right thing by waiting? They worry, I...2021-01-2606 minSitting in a Car‘How do I respond to things I hear my kid say that I don’t agree with?’This week, a parent asks, ‘How do I respond to things I hear my kid say that I don’t agree with?’ This is a great question, because on the one hand, we want to raise kids whose values are in line with ours. But on the other hand, we don’t want our kid to feel we’re constantly telling them that what they believe is wrong! So what can we do? This is a super-juicy topic and this week’s episode gives you lo...2021-01-1205 minSitting in a Car‘How can I answer my 7-year-old’s questions about the vulva and the clitoris?’How can I answer my 7-year-old’s questions about the vulva and the clitoris? What a great question. Quite honestly, lots of us grew up without much information about the vulva and the clitoris. (I have a story for you about that, in our episode this week.) So hear all about it in this weeks episode. And for more about the course I run, that helps parents and caring adults just like you stay connected with their kids while chatting about ‘glitterises’ and so much more,2021-01-0507 minSitting in a CarThe Secret Way Christmas Helps You Talk about Sensitive Stuff to Your KidsPreparing for Christmas can sometimes give you the same squicky, sinking feeling you get when your 4 year old asks you right in the middle of the supermarket why daddy has a penis and you don’t. Quite honestly, it can be a challenge. So, while you might not have ever thought that taking about how babies are made and prepping for Christmas is in anyway related, listen to the three simply strategies this week that will help you get clear on how to build more connection with your kid(s) while prepping the Santa stockings....2020-12-2209 min
Colour outside the linesColour outside the lines, Episode 1 Sarah SprouleIn this episode Lisa and Joseph talk to Sarah Sproule. Sarah helps parents talk to their kids about sex and sexuality in a healthy way.2020-12-201h 01Sitting in a CarHow do you model consent when you’re carrying your 2-year-old to the potty?Consent is a funny one, isn’t it. We might think it’s as simple as making a cup of tea, and then working out if the person wants to drink it or not. Or as simple as working out what we want, and then just saying that thing. But sometimes, it’s really, really not. The thing is, often we have to balance consent with responsibilities to other people. We have to think about other people’s safety. And what other people want and need.2020-12-0106 minSitting in a Car‘How to be open with a small child about sensitive stuff even if you don’t know what to say’‘Is it possible to be open with a small child about bodies, puberty, and sex?’ In the next few minutes, you’ll find out the answer is YES! But how? The absolute BEST time to start laying the foundations of those chats with our kids, is when they’re very small. I have a story for you this week about what happened when my own mum didn’t start having chats with me about puberty until after my body started changing - and then suddenly tried to t...2020-11-1705 minSitting in a CarNeed to stop your daughter touching your son’s penis, but don’t know how?‘How can I get my 5-year-old daughter to stop touching her little brother’s penis, without shaming her? I’ve said that his penis is private, like her vulva is for her. But she keeps doing it.’ What a great question. As parents, it’s good to talk about this. Because when stuff like this happens with our kids, we immediately think about horrible news stories of abuse and non-consent, and our minds go to some very scary places. So we really wan...2020-11-1004 minSitting in a Car‘How can I have conversations about consent with young children?’I love this week’s question. Because yes, it’s about consent, my favourite subject – and consent isn’t always about sex so that makes it an easy topic to talk about with smaller kids. You see, consent is actually about respecting yourself and others. And we all want to raise kids who respect themselves and the people around them :) So, YES! We certainly can talk about consent with very young kids. And the great thing about wanting to talk about consent is childhoo...2020-11-0308 min
The Body Never LiesThe Foundations of Talking About Our Bodies, with Sarah SprouleSarah Sproule is an occupational therapist with a masters in sexuality studies and host of the fabulous podcast, “Sitting in a Car” where she helps parents stay connected with their kids while having conversations about puberty, bodies and sex.
I don’t really think that we can truly get in tune with our body, to understand how it never lies, until we can get comfortable with talking about it. All the parts of our body, relay messages to us about the state of our physiology. Our nervous system, our digestive system, our musculoskeletal system AND so does our repr...2020-11-011h 05Sitting in a CarHow do I tell my kid without shame, not to touch their genitals in public?‘How do you teach your kid not to touch their vulva or bum in public without body shaming them?’ What a great question! It’s so useful for all of us who want to raise a child who is not ashamed of their body. Lots of us know from personal experience that when we feel shame about our body, it disempowers us. It makes it harder to speak up for what we need. It makes it harder to ask for help if something doesn't feel right...2020-10-2008 minSitting in a Car‘How can I correct my child on gender stereotypes like “green is a boy colour”?’I have an answer to a great question this week. ‘Any advice on a good way to correct a child on their gender stereotypes like ‘green is a boy colour’?’ D’you know what’s interesting about this question? ‘Green is a boy’s colour’ is sort of true… Yes, true. But only SORT of true. We’re all constantly surrounded by secret messages and rules about gender. We see and hear them … All. The. Time. And it can be really hard NO...2020-09-0107 minSitting in a Car‘Any advice if my partner doesn’t want to get involved in talking to our kids about sex?’This week’s question is a great one if you’re a single parent who has to do the puberty, bodies and sex bit of parenting on your own… Or if you DO have a partner, but they’re even less of a comfortable parent than you are! This week’s question is, ‘Any advice if my partner doesn’t want to get involved in talking to our kids about sex?’ In a way, this question is about consent. Not all of us are comfortable or able to do all the bits of p...2020-08-1108 minSitting in a CarI’m growing hair on my vulva, but my mum doesn’t have any. What’s going on?Let’s talk about the secret messages the world sends us… about PUBIC HAIR! These messages tell us what is ‘ok’ for our body looks like… and what is ‘wrong’ for our body to look like. This is a subject close to my own heart. Like some of you, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with my own hair my whole life. I love some bits of it! And other bits of it drive me mad. Join me on week’s episode of Sitting in A Car and let’s talk sec...2020-08-0404 min
Mamatoto RadioAmazing parents Sarah SprouleThis week Sarah Sproule joins me to talk parenting. Sarah is a sex educator, if you want support talking to your kids about sex, Sarah is your go to. You find her on IG as @IamSarahSproule Sarah shares some really personal and profound stories of motherhood, I am so excited that we get to share her wisdom and experience. 2020-07-0249 min
Bits of MeEp. 1: Sarah Sproule on incontinence, UTIs, shame and intimacyIn this episode of Bits of Me, I’m talking to sex educator and mother of three, Sarah Sproule. Sarah experienced urinary incontinence and recurring UTIs after her second birth, a VBAC (vaginal birth after Caesarean section) with epidural and subsequent catheter. We talk about what it’s like to feel alone in your experience, the shame many of us feel around the choices we make during labour, and the effects of living with urinary incontinence on intimacy, sex, and body image.If you want to read about Sarah’s work of helping parents to have difficult conver...2020-07-0127 minSitting in a Car‘Should I tell my 10-year-old not to tell his sister about sex?’This week’s parent question is: ‘Should I tell my 10-year-old not to tell his sister about sex? She’s 8. I haven’t discussed it with either of them yet.’ This week, Sarah chats about how we create a feeling in our family, where our kids know we're allowed to talk about sex? For ideas about how to create a culture of openness and ‘it’s ok’-ness in your family (with some ideas and scripts for you) listen to this weeks episode. x Sarah Ps. Sometimes, listening to podcasts is not enough to get comfortable talking with our kids about puberty, bodies and...2020-06-0205 minSitting in a Car‘My 9-year-old son is very self-conscious every morning with an erection. How can I talk to him?’‘My 9-year-old son is very self-conscious every morning with an erection. How can I talk to him?’ This week’s episode has something for everyone, not just people with a pen-is. Because it’s not REALLY about pen-ises and erections. It’s about: how do we help our kids grow up without body shame? Since we are all hanging around with our kids in the house so much more right now, this question might be more relevant...2020-05-1206 minSitting in a Car‘When your child is a bit immature, how do you know how much to tell them?’This week’s question might make you think about your own experience as a kid. A parent asks: ‘When your child is immature in nature, how do you know how much to tell them?’ So often, I hear parents tell me about their own experience first learning about sex, bodies, babies and all the things. It goes something like: “Sex was never talked about, and then one day, out of the blue, I got The Talk” 😮 Parents will often say to me, “I don’t want my kids to have that...2020-04-1404 minSitting in a CarAnd Then I Realised I Couldn’t Do It AnymoreAnd here we are, All in our homes. With our kids. Trying to work out this new weird normal. This week I’m talking about the moment I realised I couldn’t do it all anymore now that the kids were home … All. The. Time. And by ‘it’ I mean, the work that I’d committed to do for others. Accepting our limits can be one of the kindest, most compassionate things we can do for ourselves. That includes the limits you feel having sensitive conversations...2020-03-2406 minSitting in a CarMy 7-year-old asked, How did you make me?It’s been a hard week. If you are like me, you are home with children, doing your best to help them pass the days. It’s gonna be a long old trek before we see the end of this. And here’s the thing. I don’t know anything about Corona virus. Except we all need to wash our hands and avoid other people. But I can help you to talk to your kids about sensitive stuff. So here’s the third in a row of questions...2020-03-1705 minSitting in a Carhow can I help my child develop self-respect and the ability to resist pressure from the kids around them?Are you a parent who wants their child and young person to respect themselves and resist pressure from others? If your answer is yes then this week’s episode of sitting in a car is for you. We are talking all about building self-respect in our children and helping them resist pressure. In my world, an ability to have self-respect is part of learning how to ‘do’ consent. So your children’s ability to respect themselves is an excellent priority to have as a parent. It is at the foundation of their ab...2020-02-2504 minSitting in a CarWhat are the secret scary thoughts, that are holding you back? Good news: no matter what they are, we’ve a course that can help :)Let’s chat today about your secret fears. I’m talking about fears that are so secret, you don’t even know you have them. Sometimes, you might skip having sensitive conversations with your kid, for loads of good reasons. ‘The timing wasn’t right!’ ’I wasn’t sure what to say.’ Things like that. But the real reason might be something else. We all have thoughts in our head that we mightn’t even know are there. And these thoughts hold us back. And if...2020-02-1803 minSitting in a CarMy 7-year-old asked, ‘What is rape?’This week’s question is a big one. ‘We were in the car. A news report came on the radio about rape. ‘My 7-year-old asked, “What is rape?”’ When a sensitive subject like this comes up, you might feel your throat close up, and your stomach clench. And you might really not want to go there. Believe me, I get it. But. This is where the groundwork you’ve been doing, the chats you’ve already been having, the tiny, tiny steps you’ve already been taking, are all going to h...2020-02-1105 minSitting in a Car‘A girl told my 13-year-old she loves him - and he said it back’This week’s question: ‘My 13-year-old boy got a snapchat message from a girl who says she loves him. He’s replied and said he loves her too. We’d agreed he’d concentrate on pals and sport for now so I’m a bit annoyed about his declaration of love. What do I do?’ So, there are two categories of life experience in the world :) There’s the illegal stuff, the consent-breaking stuff. And then there’s EVERYTHING else. A young teenage boy expressing and exp...2020-02-0405 minSitting in a CarHow do you balance open conversation at home about sexuality, with other families or friends not talking about it?This week, let’s talk about what happens when you have open chats at home about relationships, sexuality and consent - but other friends, family and loved ones maybe don’t. To show you how I really messed this up, I’m going to share with you one of the great stories from our family. I call it The Great Condom Story :) But first, let’s chat about how different families have different values. It’s so interesting. WE know how important it is to give our kids the information they need, to m...2020-01-2804 minSitting in a CarYour parenting superpower: being kind to yourselfThis week I’m talking about being kind. . . But first, let’s talk about how much pressure there is on us parents, to chat with our kids about sex. You might find these convos easy. Or this might be a place of huge stress and pain for you. I get it. We know that when kids have parents who understand that sex is a normal part of life, those kids have an easier time of growing up and making good decisions. Because they’re not ruled by shame or fear....2020-01-2104 minSitting in a CarWill Your Kid have Sex in This New Decade? Quite Possibly …Hey there! Happy New Year!! We are starting a new decade. How shocking is that?? Time is speeding by. Will your kid grow into an adult in the next 10 years? If your kid is 8 or older, the answer to that question is a very big YES! And it is quite possible that your kid will have sex in this new decade. Let’s get real … few of us like to think about that but it’s the reality. And many loving parents want to make sure they provide their kid wi...2019-12-3108 minSitting in a CarHow can Christmas help us have sensitive conversations about sex?Hi There, A lot of the times, Christmas brings a huge change of schedule your family. Often times this means you are spending a lot more time with your kid(s) than usual. More time = more chances to talk about sensitive stuff. This week’s episode of sitting in a car gives you an example of how to link conversations about s=e=x=uality with the Christmas theme! Random! It’s a short and sweet episode with a very weird but also exciting Christmas tree that I got given as a pr...2019-12-2402 minSitting in a CarMy 8-year-old googled ‘sex’ on the laptop - and found itI have such a great question for you this week. ‘My 8-year-old son searched for sex on my brother’s laptop. What do I do? I’m so shocked’ O_O The first thing to know is how normal this is. And that, as a parent, it’s a source of information for you. If your kid is doing a search about sex, it’s because they need more info than they’re getting. So far, so simple … BUT… …you are probably still panicking just a little bit, right...2019-12-1706 minSitting in a CarIs it possible to be too open and honest with our kids when they ask us questions?Well hello there Have you ever been fearful that you might give your kid too much information about relationships, puberty or consent? You are not alone. This week I’m answering this exact question: is it possible to be too open and honest with our kids when they ask us questions about s=e=x? Here’s the thing. The answer isn’t straight forward. YES, it’s possible to say too much … BUT it is NOT for the reason you might think. And mostly we won’t give our kids ENO...2019-12-1004 minSitting in a CarHow can you talk about consent when your kid waves his penis at you?Here’s a great question about what you can do when a kid does something developmentally normal, but which is not socially acceptable - or which might even upset you a little bit. ‘My son likes to wave his penis at me every time he’s naked - including at the pool. What do I do?’ The great thing to know about quandaries like this, is that you can deal with them using the parenting toolbox you already have. Did you know that? The everyday parenting strategies we already use...2019-12-0308 minSitting in a CarIs it your fault that you can’t talk about sexuality, relationships, or consent with your kid?Is it your fault that you can’t talk about sexuality, relationships, or consent with your kid? This week, we’re gonna go there and talk about guilt. To be specific - parenting guilt. Guilt that we aren’t ‘doing better’ for our kids. We all feel it. This kind of guilt can come up for us not only around sensitive topics like sexuality, but at any parenting moment at all! It can come up at the shops, when your kid throws a wobbler in the queue. Or it...2019-11-2605 minSitting in a Carhow do I empower my kid to say and do what THEY want not what others wantLet’s dive in this week with a great one. ‘How do I help my child know how to say or do what THEY want, not what others want?’ This is a great question and goes straight to the heart of consent. It’s about empowering our kids to even know what they want, in what might be quite a high pressure moment, and to be able to communicate it, which might be quite hard to do. So, it’s a lot! But never fear. Here’s the key. Really, the onl...2019-11-1904 minSitting in a CarHow Can I Help My Kid Say ‘No’Hi There, The question from a parent this week is “How can I make sure my child knows it’s ok to say ‘No’? So many of us want to make sure that our kid doesn’t have the experience we had. Remember that time at school you felt pressured to do something you didn’t want to do? I’m not talking about abuse. That’s a whole other thing. What we are talking about today are those usual, everyday things that we sometimes do that we don’t want to. Share our lunch...2019-11-1206 minSitting in a CarI don’t want to be embarrassed talk with my kid about sex – Help!Hey there, So many of the problems we parents have about sensitive conversations with our kids is about embarrassment. We are embarrassed because we don’t know how to start. We are embarrassed ‘cause we don’t know what to talk about. We are embarrassed when we don’t know when is the right time to talk to our kids. Embarrassment, fear and awkwardness are at the root of why many of us stop ourselves or feel stuck when we try to start talking to our kid about relationships, sexualit...2019-11-0506 minSitting in a CarThe one most important thingWhat is the one most important thing to get our head around as parents of school age children when it comes to conversations about stuff like puberty, sex, relationships and consent? It’s not any of the usual things I often get asked like age appropriate info, or the best words to use. The one thing we are talking about this week IS about consent (I’ll tell you that much) but it’s not the sort of consent you might think … In other news, I’ve realised the most common difficulty parents encounter...2019-10-2907 minSitting in a CarHow do I have conversations about sex with my 6th-class kid, when he really doesn’t want to have them?This week’s question asks, ‘How do I have conversations about sex with my 6th-class kid, when he really doesn’t want to have them?’ I love this question! So many parents have a version of this question. How can we give our kids the information they need, but also respect their feelings? In this episode I’m gonna talk boundaries, car seats, negotiation and trade-offs. We are going to use my favourite ‘I learned something new today’ starter strategy AND describe how siblings can be your secret weapon in having talks...2019-10-2210 minSitting in a CarWhose job is it to talk to our 12-year-old boy about sex? My job or my husband’s?‘Whose job is it to talk to our 12-year-old boy about sex?’ What a great question. Is it a mum’s job to talk to a young teen boy about sex, puberty and relationships? Or is that the job of a male parent? Here’s the thing. Parents are just people! And we all have different things we’re good at. So who should do the talking depends on what our personal skills are. What if you BOTH find it terrifying and awkward?! Well, then...2019-10-1506 minSitting in a CarWhat are the values that guide your parenting?Let’s switch things up a bit this week. Here’s a question from me to you. What kind of kid do you want to raise? Every week on Sitting In A Car, I say that I’m here to help you raise ‘confident, caring young people who respect themselves and the people around them’. But that’s just my mission statement! What’s yours? Why not make a list of your core values as a parent? The main things you are trying to nurture in your kids? Knowi...2019-10-0806 minSitting in a CarI don't want to get things wrong - Help!This week on Sitting In A Car, a mum writes: ‘I don’t even start sensitive conversations with my child, because I don’t want to get it wrong. Help!’ It’s SO good to talk about getting things wrong. There are many areas of life where you mightn’t even start something because you’re afraid of mucking it up. How bad is it – REALLY - to get something ‘wrong’? Could you give your child a gift when you allow them to see you mess up? You might show them it’s a norm...2019-10-0108 minSitting in a CarHow can I talk to my son about how women are shown in the media?Today’s brilliant parent question is: ‘How can I talk with my 14-year-old son about pornography and inappropriate representations of women?’ This week I focus on the things your teen son(s) may have noticed about their OWN body first. How are boys/male bodies is expected to look and behave? Perhaps you can ask your kid questions about what they have noticed. Because we don’t often think about male bodies in the media, do we? Sarah x 2019-09-2407 minSitting in a CarThe Two V wordsThis week’s question is about the V word - or actually the two V words. A parent asks: ‘I use the word vulva to describe the outside bits of the female genitalia. But a lot of parent friends of ours - and even books - seem to use the word vagina. What are your thoughts?’ This such a great question because it cuts to the very heart of how we can help our kids feel empowered about their own bodies. Firstly, it’s correct that ‘vulva’ is the word for the external female genita...2019-09-1705 minSitting in a CarRevealing clothes + teenage girls … what do you say?What an important question we’re answering this week. How do we talk to our teenagers about wearing revealing clothes, and all the thoughts and worries we parents might have around that? In the world we live in we’re told the teen years are ‘the worst’, ’difficult’ and even dangerous - it’s easy to feel anxious about everything a teen says and does. Meanwhile, they’re just trying to healthily separate from us and fit in with their peer group (both safe and developmentally normal things to do). Here’s the thing. I bet...2019-09-1014 minSitting in a CarConnection or Protection?Wow. School is almost back. How was your summer? We stayed around home mostly and attempted to get our kids to do their jobs around the house. This is one of the less glamorous aspects of parenting IMHO and definitely my least favourite part of being an adult! This week I’m taking a break from answering questions and instead talking about something lots of you have told me is the most important part of your parenting - to feel connected to your kid. Like me, you want to know that yo...2019-08-2003 minSitting in a CarHow to talk about contraceptionHi there From an early age, our kids often question things we say. The 'But how?' and 'Why?' phase of their development are probably pretty familiar to you. It’s pretty fresh in my memory, that’s for sure! Because of these inevitable questions, we often have to add context to our answer to their questions. For example, there is no point talking to children about contraception if they don't know about the sperm and the egg. Until they know ‘How’ and ‘Why’, it just won’t make sense. To avoid confusion...2019-07-1605 minSitting in a CarHow can we talk about masturbation without causing shame?Hi there Isn't it great when one of your kids comes home from school and tells you all about the expeditions of Charles Darwin or Marco Polo? When they try to reenact a volcanic eruption in your kitchen using ALL your baking soda? Or propel a rocket across the garden into the neighbour's chimney, all in the name of science!? Kids love learning and experiencing new things. Their curiosity propels them through their formative years, as they soak up information at every turn. Year after year, we see their development blossoming before our eyes...2019-07-0905 min