WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.680 --> 00:00:05.700 Hey, everybody. Welcome to another episode of the Naturopathic 2 00:00:06.319 --> 00:00:10.179 Futures podcast. I'm super excited today because I 3 00:00:10.559 --> 00:00:12.340 am in the presence of greatness 4 00:00:12.719 --> 00:00:16.364 just off the back of one of the best conferences of the year 5 00:00:16.744 --> 00:00:18.765 and so needed in our profession, 6 00:00:19.145 --> 00:00:21.404 the pediatrics in practice conference. 7 00:00:21.785 --> 00:00:27.564 And I'm super honored that you have taken some time out from your day today, Sonia, to chat to us. 8 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:33.100 Such a pleasure. I'm actually hiding in a bedroom because it's school holidays. 9 00:00:34.120 --> 00:00:34.860 Real life. 10 00:00:35.879 --> 00:00:40.460 I just real life. Yeah. I'm hiding from teenagers right now. 11 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:43.100 Kids. Is that how you got into practice? 12 00:00:44.715 --> 00:00:45.535 No, actually. 13 00:00:46.475 --> 00:00:49.375 I went and saw a naturopath 14 00:00:50.475 --> 00:00:51.695 when I 15 00:00:51.995 --> 00:00:52.495 had 16 00:00:54.235 --> 00:00:59.850 suddenly had a bit of a body change after starting hormonal therapy in my twenties. 17 00:01:00.310 --> 00:01:05.690 Yeah. Right. And I was quite the party girl working in advertising, 18 00:01:06.950 --> 00:01:10.810 having a really good time. And I went and 19 00:01:11.625 --> 00:01:13.564 met this amazing naturopath, 20 00:01:14.344 --> 00:01:16.284 a male naturopath as well, 21 00:01:18.664 --> 00:01:20.765 and John. And he was phenomenal. 22 00:01:21.545 --> 00:01:27.920 And I looked at him and I was like, ah, I think I wanna be a healer. It was literally this, 23 00:01:28.540 --> 00:01:30.880 I just wanna be a healer, which I 24 00:01:31.260 --> 00:01:34.080 think is quite ironic now. Right? I don't 25 00:01:34.380 --> 00:01:38.880 I think yeah. I have different thoughts on that, but at the time, that's what I was 26 00:01:39.335 --> 00:01:40.954 felt called. I felt called to. 27 00:01:41.494 --> 00:01:42.314 And so 28 00:01:42.695 --> 00:01:43.195 I 29 00:01:43.655 --> 00:01:44.795 quit my job, 30 00:01:45.494 --> 00:01:46.555 started working 31 00:01:47.255 --> 00:01:51.515 at another job at a health food store and studied at night. 32 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:52.500 Wow. 33 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:53.700 Yeah. 34 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:56.979 I was a work work and study at the same time 35 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.700 gal as well, but I was working in hospitals. 36 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.700 Where how did your transition from working where you were into what you do now? 37 00:02:05.759 --> 00:02:07.380 How did that work out for you? 38 00:02:07.735 --> 00:02:10.315 Yeah. I was really lucky. So 39 00:02:10.775 --> 00:02:14.635 I actually just thought I'll work in a shop. I'll just work in a shop. 40 00:02:15.095 --> 00:02:15.595 And 41 00:02:15.974 --> 00:02:18.775 because I wanted flexibility, I didn't want anything too taxing. 42 00:02:18.775 --> 00:02:24.440 I knew I was gonna be working at night. And then because of that shop, I actually hired some 43 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:25.560 acupuncturists, 44 00:02:26.100 --> 00:02:28.040 some different health professions. 45 00:02:28.820 --> 00:02:35.880 And then I made friends with the health food store down below, and then they said they're opening a store. 46 00:02:36.155 --> 00:02:42.175 So I ended up working and managing this amazing health food store. And I met my bioseuticals 47 00:02:42.555 --> 00:02:44.495 rep who I just thought was 48 00:02:45.194 --> 00:02:45.935 the bomb. 49 00:02:46.875 --> 00:02:49.170 And I heard they were recruiting. 50 00:02:49.170 --> 00:02:53.670 And I, of course, as soon as I finished studying, I wanted to work for them. 51 00:02:54.130 --> 00:02:54.630 Wow. 52 00:02:55.010 --> 00:02:57.030 So you're a networker from way back. 53 00:02:59.010 --> 00:03:00.850 Yeah. It's all I was like, take me. 54 00:03:00.850 --> 00:03:05.645 And at the time, Tommy, I really think there was, it was metagenics and pharmaceuticals. 55 00:03:05.865 --> 00:03:12.025 There was that sort of, they were the big two when we all started, when the majority of us started that twenty years ago. 56 00:03:12.025 --> 00:03:12.525 Yeah. 57 00:03:12.985 --> 00:03:13.485 Yeah. 58 00:03:13.785 --> 00:03:17.565 And so I'm like, I wanna be part of that. So I worked 59 00:03:18.140 --> 00:03:20.480 there on and off between babies, 60 00:03:21.020 --> 00:03:25.360 and I actually was invited to join the technical team because 61 00:03:26.220 --> 00:03:33.215 even though I'd been in the sales team, they were looking for someone that could do technical, but also be nice to the customers. 62 00:03:36.474 --> 00:03:38.334 Instead of the the high 63 00:03:38.795 --> 00:03:58.269 IQ people can sometimes be a little blunt with their technical knowledge, but the people who have a nice mixture of EQ EQ like you do are a little bit of more emotionally intelligent to be able to deal with the beautiful practitioners that we have and and the beautiful business owners in those larger places that, of course, used to help. 64 00:03:58.269 --> 00:03:58.590 Yeah. 65 00:03:58.590 --> 00:04:04.345 I can imagine that that they would have been very excited to have somebody who is more customer centric. 66 00:04:05.365 --> 00:04:05.865 Yes. 67 00:04:06.245 --> 00:04:08.425 So that was like doing 68 00:04:08.725 --> 00:04:11.065 another degree. That was the hardest 69 00:04:11.445 --> 00:04:13.465 thing at the time I'd done. 70 00:04:13.980 --> 00:04:18.880 Now that I've done pediatrics in practice, I'm like, oh, I've done another hard thing. Yay for me. 71 00:04:19.420 --> 00:04:26.160 And I learned, I was, yeah, that was a huge learning for me and it was really wonderful and I loved it. 72 00:04:26.365 --> 00:04:31.824 And within that time, I connected with a lot of the reps because, 73 00:04:32.444 --> 00:04:35.585 which is why I have this big network, Tammy, because 74 00:04:36.125 --> 00:04:39.104 I was the person that trained the reps when they joined. 75 00:04:39.805 --> 00:04:41.824 And then I would, of course, 76 00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:46.740 wanna make friends with them all. And so now I have because I love them, and I love our profession. 77 00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:48.600 I love naturopaths. I love nutritionists. 78 00:04:48.979 --> 00:04:50.199 I think they're really cool. 79 00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:53.240 So I ended up becoming friends with everyone. 80 00:04:54.020 --> 00:04:54.680 And then 81 00:04:55.645 --> 00:04:59.745 in amongst that, I could keep seeing this bed. It's gonna send me nuts. 82 00:05:00.844 --> 00:05:03.585 No. It's all good. It's all good. You're doing great. 83 00:05:03.805 --> 00:05:07.500 And so within that, the reason I was doing part time work is 84 00:05:08.380 --> 00:05:11.360 that my eldest daughter who's nearly 18 now, 85 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:13.920 she had a sudden onset epilepsy. 86 00:05:14.940 --> 00:05:19.120 I wish I knew now. I knew you know what I'm trying to say? I wish 87 00:05:20.175 --> 00:05:21.395 I knew even 88 00:05:21.935 --> 00:05:24.675 One iota of what you know now. Yeah. Yeah. 89 00:05:26.095 --> 00:05:31.455 But even with all that lack of knowledge, we were still able to of things like pants. 90 00:05:31.455 --> 00:05:33.955 I'm just thinking about things like pants, for example. 91 00:05:34.389 --> 00:05:37.050 I really feel like that was part of her 92 00:05:37.430 --> 00:05:39.449 pit picture and why she ended 93 00:05:39.910 --> 00:05:46.169 up having epilepsy or having seizures, specifically. But what it did was it made me a warrior. 94 00:05:46.389 --> 00:05:47.445 It made me 95 00:05:47.925 --> 00:05:53.865 a advocate. It made me really good at looking for answers that weren't easy to find. 96 00:05:54.325 --> 00:05:58.905 And so I started to work in the epilepsy space, 97 00:05:59.285 --> 00:06:04.389 and literally people started hearing what I was doing and would refer to me, Tammy. 98 00:06:04.389 --> 00:06:06.010 I didn't call myself 99 00:06:07.190 --> 00:06:09.210 the epilepsy nutritionist until 100 00:06:09.669 --> 00:06:12.330 this year. That's how long it's taken me. 101 00:06:12.870 --> 00:06:13.370 But 102 00:06:13.865 --> 00:06:15.805 I built that business word-of-mouth, 103 00:06:16.585 --> 00:06:17.085 and 104 00:06:18.265 --> 00:06:22.125 I absolutely love working with a really complex 105 00:06:23.145 --> 00:06:26.520 population, actually. I I love the moms and the dads 106 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:33.020 and the families and supporting them. And we really relate to each other because obviously we've got 107 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:41.325 shared lived experience that a lot of people don't necessarily have, especially even a child with a disability or an intellectual 108 00:06:42.605 --> 00:06:47.185 disability, Jeremy. You don't you don't necessarily meet that when you go to the school gate. Right? 109 00:06:47.485 --> 00:06:53.585 No. And you certainly don't in the consult room with the most of the health care providers. 110 00:06:53.725 --> 00:06:57.265 They're a health care provider expert who keeps their distance and 111 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:02.440 doesn't share that kind of level of experience, like you said, lived experience. 112 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:06.039 But you being a health care provider who has the lived experience, 113 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:10.919 you have a level of empathy and understanding that other people just could possibly couldn't. 114 00:07:10.979 --> 00:07:13.125 Having known what that must have felt like 115 00:07:13.605 --> 00:07:18.425 to get that diagnosis of epilepsy at such a young age for your daughter and then 116 00:07:18.805 --> 00:07:20.585 the ongoing effects of, 117 00:07:20.885 --> 00:07:23.705 like you mentioned, PANS and other complications 118 00:07:24.005 --> 00:07:26.265 that happen and that long term 119 00:07:26.900 --> 00:07:39.560 impact on a family, you have that lived experience, and it's an incredible gift to be able to bring, I think, for any practitioner who has lived experience in something and then ends up helping and assisting families in that in that role. 120 00:07:41.265 --> 00:07:41.765 And 121 00:07:42.225 --> 00:07:42.725 the 122 00:07:43.185 --> 00:07:46.325 care, like, the feeling that I have for these 123 00:07:46.945 --> 00:07:48.085 people, and 124 00:07:49.185 --> 00:07:53.685 that's so true, Tammy. Like, being able to support them from that emotional 125 00:07:54.100 --> 00:07:57.960 compo that, that sort of lived experience. Yeah. Is fantastic. 126 00:07:58.340 --> 00:07:58.840 And 127 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:01.400 I'm really proud of that work. 128 00:08:01.700 --> 00:08:06.040 Yeah. And I accidentally birthed pediatrics in practice. 129 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:08.920 Whoops, slipped over and boom, 130 00:08:09.235 --> 00:08:10.055 there was, 131 00:08:11.475 --> 00:08:14.215 there was a new conference for kids in natural therapies. 132 00:08:17.075 --> 00:08:17.575 So 133 00:08:18.275 --> 00:08:18.775 I 134 00:08:19.635 --> 00:08:23.800 had started to, I'm really lucky to also work in sales and education 135 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:25.240 for IMEutrients. 136 00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:30.520 And I started attending events from the perspective of the exhibitor. 137 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:37.320 So I've always been that person who absolutely loves going to events, and we met that way. I just 138 00:08:37.784 --> 00:08:42.605 I saw I heard this Tammy on FX medicine. I thought she was super cool. 139 00:08:42.664 --> 00:08:46.264 She was talking about an event. I was like, I'm going to that. 140 00:08:46.264 --> 00:08:49.245 I wanna meet I love that you were doing that. I was 141 00:08:49.704 --> 00:08:51.644 taking our profession seriously, 142 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:55.220 being business people as opposed to hobbyists. 143 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.100 So I immediately loved your message. 144 00:08:58.400 --> 00:09:06.720 I really like going to events because I get to see people and have a chat and make It feeds that networking and EQ that you have. 145 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:07.220 Yep. 146 00:09:07.995 --> 00:09:10.175 And, I always pick up a friend, 147 00:09:10.635 --> 00:09:12.495 and I really like that. 148 00:09:12.955 --> 00:09:16.555 And so I had experience of going to events. 149 00:09:16.555 --> 00:09:21.455 I had experience of being the behind the scenes as an exhibitor, 150 00:09:21.915 --> 00:09:25.210 but not behind the scenes as in creating an event. 151 00:09:25.590 --> 00:09:28.970 And so I could see that there was a real 152 00:09:29.750 --> 00:09:31.770 place for practitioners 153 00:09:32.470 --> 00:09:33.770 to access 154 00:09:34.870 --> 00:09:35.690 non biased 155 00:09:36.795 --> 00:09:37.295 education 156 00:09:37.915 --> 00:09:38.415 that 157 00:09:39.115 --> 00:09:49.615 I also wanted to have that business, which was I only had a smidgen of business, but I love hearing about other practitioners' businesses and how they run them and what are their insight. 158 00:09:50.315 --> 00:09:51.775 I created this event 159 00:09:53.160 --> 00:09:56.300 for students, for practitioners. So we could ask 160 00:09:56.600 --> 00:10:01.400 the people in my little black book and the connections that I've made in the industry. 161 00:10:01.400 --> 00:10:02.700 We could ask them 162 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:08.635 the questions, but also listen to them about their sort of favorite topic or topic of choice. 163 00:10:08.635 --> 00:10:09.135 Because, 164 00:10:09.595 --> 00:10:12.095 again, we all get a little bit excited 165 00:10:12.875 --> 00:10:13.375 about 166 00:10:13.755 --> 00:10:17.135 what we're truly passionate in, and then that's really contagious. 167 00:10:17.980 --> 00:10:20.560 Absolutely. And kids is such an 168 00:10:21.580 --> 00:10:22.080 unserviced 169 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:25.260 area in natural health. Yeah. Sure. 170 00:10:25.260 --> 00:10:28.960 We've had the occasional webinar and things like that, but they're forever 171 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:34.295 the newest population that keeps coming through and coming through. And there is 172 00:10:34.675 --> 00:10:37.894 so much more that we're learning about the layers and complexity 173 00:10:38.675 --> 00:10:40.694 of their lived experience, 174 00:10:40.995 --> 00:10:41.814 their diversity, 175 00:10:42.274 --> 00:10:43.014 their neurodiversity, 176 00:10:43.954 --> 00:10:44.194 the 177 00:10:44.769 --> 00:10:48.630 we have so many other layers, and they're not just small humans. 178 00:10:48.690 --> 00:10:54.390 There is so much more in the developmental biology and things like that's coming out. 179 00:10:54.610 --> 00:10:59.750 So I would had the honor of coming to the conference as well, and it was brilliant. 180 00:10:59.890 --> 00:11:03.965 It was such a great day. And even hearing things like 181 00:11:04.585 --> 00:11:05.085 pediatric 182 00:11:05.785 --> 00:11:08.765 pathology reference ranges, pediatric microbiome 183 00:11:09.145 --> 00:11:09.645 changes, 184 00:11:10.185 --> 00:11:13.885 they are a really different cohort. And to have an entire day 185 00:11:14.430 --> 00:11:19.870 committed to the health and well-being of pediatrics was just such a gift. 186 00:11:19.870 --> 00:11:22.850 I'm so excited about the continuation of the conference. 187 00:11:23.470 --> 00:11:26.610 But I wanted to touch back next. Yeah. Exactly. 188 00:11:27.095 --> 00:11:31.115 I wanted to touch back on the the fact that you went straight out into 189 00:11:31.495 --> 00:11:35.115 being a rep. Now, lots of practitioners who are listening 190 00:11:35.495 --> 00:11:41.835 and what we're the old school way we're taught is sit across the desk from a client, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 191 00:11:42.380 --> 00:11:48.540 I have only been banging on about this for fifteen years that it is an old model, but okay, let's get back to it. 192 00:11:48.540 --> 00:11:49.040 So 193 00:11:49.900 --> 00:11:55.279 how would you say going straight in as practitioner support role 194 00:11:56.335 --> 00:12:02.175 is was rewarding for you? Was that an like, what's your version of that? 195 00:12:02.175 --> 00:12:04.515 How did you feel about that? Because I know that 196 00:12:04.895 --> 00:12:12.680 having read a lot of things in an entrepreneur hub and other things where people are like, I did my degree and I'm not being a clinician because 197 00:12:13.540 --> 00:12:14.500 x, y, or zed. 198 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:21.779 Life life happens, or I found out this part of my personality doesn't suit it, or my entire nervous system can't possibly handle doing that. 199 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:28.514 So I'm gonna go into a different role in the profession, but I feel like I'm either a failure or I feel like I'm different to everybody. 200 00:12:28.654 --> 00:12:31.555 How did that show up for you? What was that like for you? 201 00:12:32.175 --> 00:12:34.274 That was such a great question. 202 00:12:35.774 --> 00:12:36.274 Firstly, 203 00:12:36.975 --> 00:12:40.595 nothing like a mortgage to get you to really think outside. 204 00:12:41.110 --> 00:12:41.610 Excellent. 205 00:12:41.910 --> 00:12:43.530 Let's get real. Yes. 206 00:12:45.030 --> 00:12:48.090 I worked full time that whole time I was studying. 207 00:12:48.550 --> 00:12:52.090 There was a level of what can I do next? And, also, 208 00:12:53.110 --> 00:12:53.610 I 209 00:12:55.295 --> 00:13:00.915 looked at these supplement companies, and I was like, I wanna see what's behind there. 210 00:13:01.375 --> 00:13:10.115 And because I've been in a business model as well, like, I come from being in a very corporate environment being I wasn't scared of corporate. 211 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:13.580 So that was how that eventually 212 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:19.120 but I was actually not technical straight away. I was a CRM. So I was in the office 213 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:21.600 supporting the reps in Queensland 214 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:26.514 and then doing out bound phone calls. Like, how scary is that? 215 00:13:26.894 --> 00:13:31.875 Doing really but you know what I do now? I'm doing outbound phone calls and 216 00:13:32.334 --> 00:13:34.514 Absolutely. These skills are transferable 217 00:13:34.894 --> 00:13:37.394 in so many different seasons of our career. 218 00:13:37.774 --> 00:13:42.230 Yeah. To call up an exhibitor or call up a company or reach out on LinkedIn 219 00:13:42.930 --> 00:13:47.910 to your ideal company you wanna have as part of your event. That's all 220 00:13:48.449 --> 00:13:48.949 BDM 221 00:13:49.569 --> 00:13:50.069 sales, 222 00:13:50.850 --> 00:13:56.605 like, putting yourself out there. Super scary, but rip the Band Aid, keep going. Yeah. 223 00:13:56.605 --> 00:13:58.305 So that really 224 00:13:59.084 --> 00:14:02.945 yeah. So learning those skills were was amazing. 225 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:05.000 I absolutely 226 00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:08.920 felt like a failure that I wasn't in clinical practice. Uh-huh. 227 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:10.600 So you did get that? 228 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:13.400 Yeah. Yeah. So I started practicing 229 00:14:14.020 --> 00:14:17.000 one day a week or and because I'm a nutritionist, 230 00:14:17.625 --> 00:14:23.645 I went out and I contacted gyms and I'm creative relationships. So again, it's about reaching out, 231 00:14:24.265 --> 00:14:29.405 looking in your network. Who do you have connections with? And so I had my business there. 232 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:36.220 So again, was doing nothing about epilepsy because I was in total survival mode at that moment as well. 233 00:14:36.680 --> 00:14:37.180 And 234 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:42.060 yeah, so it just very organically grew, but I did leave technical 235 00:14:42.725 --> 00:14:45.465 And I was like, peace out everyone. I'm going to practice. 236 00:14:45.845 --> 00:14:47.625 This is my dream. I'm ready. 237 00:14:47.765 --> 00:14:53.225 Like, I I wanted to do it more than what I was doing at one day a week or whatever I was doing. 238 00:14:54.085 --> 00:15:00.100 And that was extremely rewarding, and that's how I met Em Sutherland and became part of her 239 00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:01.060 family. 240 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:05.460 I was gonna say family, but Clinic family. Love it. Yes. Family. Yeah. 241 00:15:05.760 --> 00:15:11.140 And so that was incredible working with a mentor. I think it's a really great idea. It's 242 00:15:12.115 --> 00:15:17.895 a clinical mentor for me was, like, what I really wanted. And also, Em is an incredible 243 00:15:18.355 --> 00:15:21.175 businesswoman as well. She built Studio U. 244 00:15:21.715 --> 00:15:26.375 So I was really lucky. I had a business mentor and a clinical mentor in one. 245 00:15:26.835 --> 00:15:30.510 I love that, but after COVID, we all went online. 246 00:15:31.610 --> 00:15:32.270 And then 247 00:15:32.730 --> 00:15:33.550 for me, 248 00:15:34.010 --> 00:15:38.190 I was rattling around in this house with my 249 00:15:38.770 --> 00:15:40.190 I'm gonna say with my personality. 250 00:15:44.415 --> 00:15:49.714 Which is one that is, is very much in need of other humans' input 251 00:15:50.175 --> 00:15:55.315 by the sounds of things, your networking, your empathy, your your emotional intelligence, 252 00:15:55.695 --> 00:15:59.310 all needs other people to feed off. So I can hear that. Yeah. 253 00:15:59.370 --> 00:16:02.590 And there are a lot of people listening who feel exactly the same. 254 00:16:03.210 --> 00:16:06.910 Yeah. It's like, I actually really miss humans. Not that 255 00:16:07.770 --> 00:16:10.810 you don't have them in clinical practice. You absolutely do. 256 00:16:10.810 --> 00:16:13.904 But, again, working with this really complex population, 257 00:16:14.925 --> 00:16:20.305 post COVID, like, I was pretty exhausted, Tammy. I had done postgraduate 258 00:16:20.765 --> 00:16:21.265 nutrition, 259 00:16:22.285 --> 00:16:23.985 core graduate certificate nutrition. 260 00:16:24.845 --> 00:16:29.610 I was supporting a child with a disability through COVID. We just started to renovate. 261 00:16:29.750 --> 00:16:31.290 I was, like, like, 262 00:16:31.990 --> 00:16:33.850 completely burnt out, and 263 00:16:34.630 --> 00:16:40.410 I just didn't wanna do I just didn't have the energy for, like, clinic because as you're constantly 264 00:16:40.790 --> 00:16:42.010 feeding in and 265 00:16:42.665 --> 00:16:47.144 strategy and planning and burnt out, that was pretty much where I was at. 266 00:16:47.144 --> 00:16:52.204 So I was lonely and burnt out and I decided I really wanted to work in a team again. 267 00:16:52.505 --> 00:16:53.005 Beautiful. 268 00:16:53.865 --> 00:16:56.764 And then you created your own team to bring into, 269 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:57.900 to the conference setting. 270 00:16:58.520 --> 00:16:59.020 Incredible. 271 00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:04.619 What's the gorgeous funny team, by the way, that was like me and 272 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:10.300 two people working on it on the side. So it was, yeah, I understand that really well. 273 00:17:12.445 --> 00:17:15.265 And a husband that is really supportive in the background. 274 00:17:16.125 --> 00:17:22.365 And my husband and you know what, Tammy? That was so great that you shared that insight with me. 275 00:17:22.365 --> 00:17:24.705 It's funny what you shared that people 276 00:17:25.589 --> 00:17:29.690 remember or gravitate to or is what they need at the time. Because 277 00:17:30.070 --> 00:17:35.210 I was trying to exclude my husband a bit and go, this is my event and no. 278 00:17:35.429 --> 00:17:40.215 And not in the and I'm like, you don't understand. It's not your industry, like, that sort of stuff. 279 00:17:40.534 --> 00:17:44.475 As soon as I included him and he became my 280 00:17:44.934 --> 00:17:45.434 coauthor 281 00:17:46.455 --> 00:17:46.955 and 282 00:17:47.335 --> 00:17:47.835 supporter, 283 00:17:48.855 --> 00:17:50.955 I had so many great 284 00:17:51.255 --> 00:17:51.755 results 285 00:17:52.215 --> 00:17:55.540 and things that I probably should have had him help me from the beginning. 286 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.720 That's okay. 287 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:01.540 We're not gonna tell them all, but they do have a zone of genius in the knob themselves. Don't they? 288 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.380 Yeah. Yes. 289 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:08.475 And he was there on the day and he would I said to him, these are your two days. 290 00:18:08.475 --> 00:18:09.534 You you are literally 291 00:18:09.835 --> 00:18:13.534 working for me. And he was so good. He's such a good worker, 292 00:18:13.835 --> 00:18:16.475 and he loved the event just as much as me. 293 00:18:16.475 --> 00:18:24.040 And he went up to Margot and was like, you've really opened my eyes to how I've been talking about food with my daughters 294 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:24.920 and 295 00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:27.080 even things around anxiety 296 00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:29.640 and what we're saying to our kids. 297 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:34.120 So he sat there and really drew all this 298 00:18:34.445 --> 00:18:34.945 juicy 299 00:18:35.325 --> 00:18:39.025 information from the presenters as well. Having this small team 300 00:18:39.485 --> 00:18:40.305 made me 301 00:18:41.085 --> 00:18:43.985 have to get inventive and recruit my husband 302 00:18:44.525 --> 00:18:45.265 as well. 303 00:18:45.645 --> 00:18:45.965 Though. 304 00:18:45.965 --> 00:18:55.679 I think there's when we do a review and renew or a reflection on how our events go, we often ask about what was the collateral beauty. 305 00:18:56.220 --> 00:19:02.255 There's collateral damage and everyone freaks out about collateral damage, But collateral beauty, what was the collateral beauty? 306 00:19:02.255 --> 00:19:03.395 What was like the 307 00:19:04.175 --> 00:19:07.955 by the off chance that and and exactly what you just described 308 00:19:08.575 --> 00:19:09.075 about 309 00:19:09.455 --> 00:19:12.275 the ripple effect of having those conversations 310 00:19:12.575 --> 00:19:14.115 and having him in the room 311 00:19:14.450 --> 00:19:16.230 is so much broader and deeper 312 00:19:16.530 --> 00:19:17.670 for your family 313 00:19:18.450 --> 00:19:20.790 that he was there for that. That's an incredible 314 00:19:21.730 --> 00:19:25.030 little nugget that fell out from the sides there. Yeah. 315 00:19:25.890 --> 00:19:31.045 Yeah. I loved that too. And yeah. So him sitting through everything. But, also, 316 00:19:31.825 --> 00:19:35.205 what I didn't expect, Tammy, and it's made me 317 00:19:35.585 --> 00:19:38.785 really overwhelmed is the only word. And I can 318 00:19:39.185 --> 00:19:42.290 I'm like, this is must be what Tammy feels. 319 00:19:45.150 --> 00:19:50.050 The love from everyone, everyone clapping. I'm like, stop it. This is embarrassing. 320 00:19:50.190 --> 00:19:52.050 I'm an extrovert, but that was 321 00:19:52.830 --> 00:19:53.330 hard 322 00:19:55.034 --> 00:19:59.674 to accept, which says a lot, but it was a good learning on a personal level. 323 00:19:59.674 --> 00:20:01.215 I'm like, oh, I need to receive 324 00:20:01.595 --> 00:20:03.294 this love. This is amazing. 325 00:20:03.755 --> 00:20:05.375 The tidal wave of 326 00:20:05.850 --> 00:20:10.590 love and support and people wanting to support me and my dream was 327 00:20:11.210 --> 00:20:11.710 phenomenal. 328 00:20:12.650 --> 00:20:17.470 I never expected that. And that's been collateral beauty. This 329 00:20:17.945 --> 00:20:21.885 and, yeah, I was so scared that no one would like it. 330 00:20:22.345 --> 00:20:22.845 That 331 00:20:23.865 --> 00:20:26.525 yeah. But isn't that the case with everything? Right? 332 00:20:26.745 --> 00:20:29.005 I'm gonna go and work in a gym as a nutritionist. 333 00:20:29.305 --> 00:20:30.870 I'm so scared. No, one's gonna like it. 334 00:20:30.870 --> 00:20:33.930 They're gonna think I'm a woo woo freak and I'm not lifting weights. 335 00:20:34.230 --> 00:20:38.010 Oh, I I'm so scared that no one's gonna like me inside 336 00:20:38.390 --> 00:20:38.890 pharmaceuticals, 337 00:20:39.190 --> 00:20:43.595 and then all of a sudden you go from CRM to rep to 338 00:20:44.054 --> 00:20:44.554 technical. 339 00:20:45.815 --> 00:20:47.434 And then, I'm so scared, 340 00:20:47.815 --> 00:20:51.355 that I'm gonna just label myself the epilepsy nut nutritionist, 341 00:20:52.135 --> 00:20:55.655 and nobody's gonna like it. And then what do you know? This follow through. 342 00:20:55.655 --> 00:21:02.340 I find this is a standard thing across the board with with most practitioners, and I certainly have had exactly the same fears. 343 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:04.340 And every time it happens, 344 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:06.179 that lean into 345 00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:18.375 to growth zone rather than just in our comfort zone is such a it's so scary and it's but on the flip side of it, on the other side, when you do take that inspired action, it is so rewarding. 346 00:21:18.675 --> 00:21:19.495 So rewarding. 347 00:21:20.435 --> 00:21:25.095 Yeah. And I think there's that real classic field of fear and do it anyway. Like 348 00:21:25.690 --> 00:21:29.070 Yep. You're gonna there's always gonna be stretchy moments. 349 00:21:29.130 --> 00:21:33.230 And I was lucky that I decided, okay, if I'm gonna do this, 350 00:21:33.530 --> 00:21:36.190 who's gonna help me through that stretch? And I immediately 351 00:21:36.650 --> 00:21:39.150 reached out to you, didn't I? I was like, Tammy 352 00:21:39.515 --> 00:21:42.095 knows how to throw an event in our industry, 353 00:21:42.635 --> 00:21:44.015 and she's done it alone. 354 00:21:44.715 --> 00:21:46.315 You created these events. 355 00:21:46.315 --> 00:21:51.915 So I'm like, if there's anyone I'm gonna go to and say, tell me if this is a bad idea or a good idea. 356 00:21:51.915 --> 00:21:57.010 I'm like, because I think it's a good idea, and you were like, go for it. Yeah. It's such a need. 357 00:21:57.169 --> 00:21:59.909 Point to people who've done what you've done, 358 00:22:00.450 --> 00:22:00.950 or 359 00:22:01.490 --> 00:22:03.730 they don't have to do what you do exactly. Right? 360 00:22:03.730 --> 00:22:11.595 It it's just but also just having someone or a space to go to to be able to ask questions or 361 00:22:12.215 --> 00:22:16.695 yeah. That It can't help you through the stretch is the only way I could say it. 362 00:22:16.695 --> 00:22:22.554 It loops back to what you're saying before about the lived experience, how wonderful it is for 363 00:22:23.130 --> 00:22:23.630 complex 364 00:22:23.930 --> 00:22:29.390 pediatrics cases, particularly in the epilepsy space. For them to come in and see you 365 00:22:29.850 --> 00:22:37.950 is because is so much deeper because you're they're coming and getting advice from somebody who's been in their shoes, who has walked that walk. 366 00:22:38.355 --> 00:22:38.855 And 367 00:22:39.475 --> 00:22:41.315 similarly, you're doing exactly the same thing. 368 00:22:41.315 --> 00:22:46.835 You're finding the right person to help you who has the lived experience that you're looking for support in. 369 00:22:46.835 --> 00:22:49.015 I love that. Now tell us, 370 00:22:49.795 --> 00:22:54.669 have you got any ideas about the future of pediatrics and practice? What's happening? 371 00:22:54.890 --> 00:22:57.710 I don't even know. I'm really quite excited to hear. 372 00:22:58.970 --> 00:22:59.470 So 373 00:22:59.929 --> 00:23:04.909 I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to know what's next. And, 374 00:23:05.450 --> 00:23:08.270 again, my husband came to me and he said, 375 00:23:08.890 --> 00:23:09.390 just 376 00:23:10.065 --> 00:23:10.565 experience 377 00:23:11.184 --> 00:23:11.924 this event, 378 00:23:13.024 --> 00:23:17.044 see what comes from it, and then make a plan. 379 00:23:17.585 --> 00:23:22.404 And as of a Goa woman, that is the worst advice. I'm like, what do you mean? 380 00:23:22.705 --> 00:23:25.205 I want the next steps in a spreadsheet now. 381 00:23:25.580 --> 00:23:29.040 So what I plan to do is I will have 382 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:31.840 another event next year. 383 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.680 Next year. Wow. 384 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:34.640 Excellent. 385 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:40.160 I haven't chosen a day. I don't know when I will choose the date. Something is 386 00:23:41.764 --> 00:23:42.264 percolating. 387 00:23:42.644 --> 00:23:43.144 Something's 388 00:23:43.445 --> 00:23:43.945 percolating. 389 00:23:45.205 --> 00:23:45.705 But 390 00:23:46.005 --> 00:23:46.825 in October, 391 00:23:47.205 --> 00:23:48.664 I plan to launch 392 00:23:49.365 --> 00:23:49.865 some 393 00:23:50.325 --> 00:23:53.065 online training from other practitioners 394 00:23:53.445 --> 00:23:54.505 that I 395 00:23:55.125 --> 00:23:56.024 really admire. 396 00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:58.679 So, again, it's going out to people 397 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:01.000 who I believe could 398 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:04.279 really help our fellow practitioners. 399 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:06.039 But I also 400 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:08.279 I really wanna expand 401 00:24:09.045 --> 00:24:14.425 who's delivering the training to us as well, Tammy. Yeah. So I was very 402 00:24:15.285 --> 00:24:18.665 clear in my message for pediatrics in practice 403 00:24:18.965 --> 00:24:20.985 that I wanted it to be clinicians 404 00:24:21.809 --> 00:24:25.509 or Rebecca Edwards' phenomenal educator. But practitioners 405 00:24:25.809 --> 00:24:26.630 that really 406 00:24:27.330 --> 00:24:29.110 have lived and breathed 407 00:24:30.210 --> 00:24:30.710 pediatric 408 00:24:31.649 --> 00:24:32.149 work, 409 00:24:32.450 --> 00:24:40.855 so that I really settled on the naturopaths and nutritionist, but I really feel that there's other allied health that can really help 410 00:24:41.555 --> 00:24:42.055 support 411 00:24:42.435 --> 00:24:47.335 our clinical outcomes for kids. So things like speech therapists, teas, 412 00:24:48.275 --> 00:24:52.240 chiros, osteos, like oh, I love that clinicians for clinicians, 413 00:24:52.540 --> 00:24:53.440 but that 414 00:24:54.220 --> 00:25:00.780 that, oh, that that is a doozy of a ripple effect to network with those types of people in the room. 415 00:25:00.780 --> 00:25:01.840 Fantastic, Sonia. 416 00:25:02.505 --> 00:25:07.165 Yeah. I've really and that was something that I over time as well, Tammy. Like, 417 00:25:07.545 --> 00:25:10.765 I decided I want this event for naturopaths and nutritionists. 418 00:25:11.145 --> 00:25:13.005 And then as I went along, I'm like, 419 00:25:13.305 --> 00:25:18.700 I still want that for us, but I really wanna open it up and expand 420 00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:23.100 because I know I'm constantly learning from other allied health professionals. 421 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:26.700 So being able to expand that offering, 422 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:30.539 maybe do two days. I don't know if I could cope. But 423 00:25:32.255 --> 00:25:34.755 Let's go one step at a time, but I love your vision. 424 00:25:35.855 --> 00:25:39.394 Yeah. Right. No. Don't say two days, and I've gotta do two days. No. 425 00:25:39.855 --> 00:25:44.460 Everyone wanted more. Everyone was, like, loved it. Wanted more. So I'm, like, so 426 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:48.140 cool. So, yeah, that's where I see it. But as you can hear, it's all 427 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.660 percolating. Percolating. 428 00:25:50.040 --> 00:25:51.720 But this is the beautiful thing. 429 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:56.780 This is only two weeks out at the time of the recording that you are listening to at the moment. 430 00:25:56.965 --> 00:26:02.585 And this is what happens after you run an in person workshop, a retreat, or a conference. 431 00:26:03.045 --> 00:26:10.425 There is such a beautiful momentum and such a ripple effect that you're still feeling and you're still settling into and you're still integrating. 432 00:26:11.260 --> 00:26:17.020 And it's such a privilege to be talking to you in this beautiful liminal space that you have. 433 00:26:17.020 --> 00:26:18.559 It's as it's all settling. 434 00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:22.700 I really appreciate your insights today, Sonia, and thank you so much for sharing. 435 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:25.505 I'm really looking forward to seeing where pediatrics 436 00:26:25.805 --> 00:26:29.325 in practice continues to grow, that ripple effect. 437 00:26:29.325 --> 00:26:36.947 And I was really grateful for you showing up the way that you have to create this spark in the community so that we can really support 438 00:26:37.247 --> 00:26:42.147 the kids that and the families that we do, the work that we do. Thank you so much, Sonia.