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Welcome to Soulful Stories with Steph, a space for the seekers, the healers, and the curious hearts. Join me, Steph — energy therapist, and soul-led human—as I share real, raw, and resonant stories that crack us open, wake us up, and remind us of who we truly are. Each week, we dive into honest conversations about healing, purpose, parenting, the messy middle of growth, and the magic of soul work. Expect unfiltered insights, soulful interviews, and wisdom from the energetic realms—including ...
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Steph and the Sleepytime Crew is a podcast of calming bedtime stories designed to help kids wind down, feel safe, and fall asleep faster. Created by therapist and mum Steph McCarter, each 15-30 minute story supports emotional regulation, builds self-worth, and helps kids process anxiety, friendship struggles, big feelings and more. Perfect for ages 5 through to 12 (and adults too!) especially big feelers, sensitive, neurodivergent or anxious kids who need a little extra support at night. Thi ...
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In this extra-special episode, the Sleepytime Crew discovers something is… off. The calm at Jungle School has gone missing, and everyone’s feeling a little wobbly inside. Ollie the Otter is anxious. Koda the Koala can’t slow his thoughts. Una the Unicorn’s belly won’t stop rumbling with farts. And Oscar the Owl? He’s struggling after a tough game o…
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In this episode of Steph and the Sleepytime Crew, meet Ollie the Otter—a sensitive, big-hearted little guy who finds school a bit overwhelming. Saying goodbye to Mum is hard. The classroom is loud. The playground is wild. And Ollie feels everything—his classmates’ moods, his teacher’s stress, even the squeaky chairs and the bright lights. But with …
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Isla the Tiger and the Brains That Shine Differently
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16:10
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In tonight’s story, we meet Isla the Tiger—a clever, focused jungle cub who sees the world a little differently. Isla’s preparing for the Jungle Genius Games with her brilliant crew of friends, each with their own unique brain and way of doing things. There’s Lizzy the Ladybug, who bounces from thought to thought with hyperactive, sparkly energy… Z…
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In this heartfelt episode of Steph and the Sleepytime Crew, we join Oscar the Owl — funny, loyal, and full of feels — as he navigates a tricky friendship that’s starting to feel… not-so-friendly. When his mate Foxy the Flying Fox starts making mean jokes, controlling the game, and putting others down, Oscar feels anxious and unsure. But with help f…
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Raising Sensitive Sons: Strength in their Softness
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26:21
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What if the things the world tells our boys to suppress — their emotions, intuition, tenderness - are actually their greatest gifts? In this episode, I’m sharing the raw, real, and soulful truths about raising sensitive boys in a world that still doesn’t quite know what to do with their depth. I talk about the invisible load they carry, what emotio…
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In tonight’s story, we meet Noah the Nimbus Dragon—a super clever, deep-feeling cloud-dweller who notices everything. But sometimes, Noah hears a not-so-nice voice in his head that tells him he’s not good enough. This voice, known as Noel the Nasty Narrator, has a lot to say… and none of it is kind. With help from a wise old friend (yes, Una the Un…
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Pip the Panda Who's Learning the Truth About Perfection
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12:42
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In this heartfelt Steph & the Sleepytime Crew adventure, we meet Pip - a determined little Panda with big dreams and even bigger feelings. When her first attempt at roller skating doesn’t go as planned (okay… it’s a complete disaster), Pip spirals into self-doubt, frustration, and one very dramatic panda meltdown. But with a little help from her wi…
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Feminine Archetypes, Embodiment & the Power of Being Seen with Janelle Bridge
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47:53
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This week, I’m joined by my lovely friend Janelle Bridge — psychic visionary, energetics coach, and one half of Stay Married, where she works with her husband supporting couples to reconnect. In this episode, Janelle opens up about the past two years — a chapter that brought her to her knees and cracked her wide open. She shares what it’s taken to …
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Tonight’s Sleepytime Crew adventure stars Gus the Gorilla, who’s usually a pretty chilled kinda guy... until Pancake Day goes completely wrong. When someone pushes in front of him in the line and nobody notices how upset he is, Gus tries so hard to hold all those BIG feelings in. But big feelings don’t like being pushed down or ignored, and before …
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Anxiety and Me: How I Made Peace With My Panic
26:56
26:56
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In this deeply personal episode of Soulful Stories with Steph, I’m opening up about my lifelong journey with anxiety. What it looked like, how it shaped me, and what finally helped me begin to heal and get it under control. From the quiet panic of childhood to full-blown panic attacks and insomnia, wine dependency, and medical gaslighting of my twe…
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Lenny the Llama and the Day Everything Went Wrong
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12:36
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In tonight’s story, Lenny the Llama from the Sleepytime Crew, is having one of those days. The smoothie’s wrong, the socks are wrong, and the whole world feels… just ughhhhh. But when Lenny meets Doris the Donkey under the gum tree, he learns a simple trick to help shift his mood and reframe a bad day - even just a little bit. This episode is all a…
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Subtle Magic: Learning to Hear Your Intuition
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27:03
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In this heart-led episode of Soulful Stories with Steph, we gently unravel the myth that intuition is only for the "lucky ones" or the “gifted”, and we explore what it really means to tune into your inner knowing when it whispers, not shouts. Steph shares her own raw, funny, and powerful journey from doubting everything to becoming a deep listener …
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Una the Unicorn and the Sparkle Fart Symphony
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12:45
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Una the Unicorn is full of sparkle, sweetness… and candy-scented farts. She’s silly, magical, and one-of-a-kind - but when the other unicorns at Sparkle School start making fun of her, Una begins to wonder if she’s just too much. In this funny and heartwarming bedtime story, kids join Una as she tries to hide her sparkle, fit in, and be “normal.” B…
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Koda the Koala is tired — like, eyelids-drooping, brain-melting, koala-on-the-verge-of-collapse tired. But there’s just one problem… His brain will. not. stop. It's so noisy in there. In this gently silly and soothing sleep story, Koda tries everything to get his bedtime brain to chill out. With a little help, some slow breathing, and the reminder …
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Welcome to Ziggy Zzz’s Sleepytime Disco — the only bedtime party where you shake, shimmy, and sloooow dance your way to sleep. Join Ziggy the Zebra and her sparkly pyjamas for a silly-soothing bedtime adventure under the stars. There’s wiggly toes, spaghetti legs, invisible hugs, and the magical Zebra Breath — all wrapped in gentle beats and dreamy…
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Coops the Capybara Who Can’t See His Cool
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11:02
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Coops, the Capybara is a scooter legend at the local pump track. He shreds the local pump track like a total pro — flipping, carving, spinning and tailwhipping like nobody’s business. Kids cheer. Parents watch on in awe. Birds literally stop to watch. But… Coops doesn’t feel cool. In fact, he doesn’t feel much of anything except mehhhh. Because no …
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Healing While Parenting: Breaking Cycles, Not Kids
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25:43
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Parenting while healing is brave work — and let's be real, bloody hard some days. In this episode, Steph opens up about what it really looks like to raise a child while reparenting yourself. She talks about breaking intergenerational patterns, the guilt that shows up when we get it wrong, and the emotional whiplash of trying to stay regulated when …
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BONUS - Return to Safety: A Grounding Guided Meditation
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10:01
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Return to Safety: A Grounding Meditation is the perfect companion to Episode - Safe, Seen, and In Your Skin. This gentle guided meditation invites you to slow down, reconnect with your breath, and begin rebuilding a sense of internal safety, one moment at a time. Whether you're feeling anxious, disconnected, or just need a nervous system reset, thi…
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What does it really mean to feel safe in your body — and why does it matter more than we realise? In this solo episode, Steph shares her personal story of living in a body that didn’t feel safe for years — and what shifted when she finally started listening to her nervous system instead of overriding it. This episode explores: The quiet ways we dis…
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In this deeply personal first episode, I share the story behind Soulful Stories with Steph—the truth I used to keep hidden, the healing that changed everything, and why I believe your story matters, no matter how messy or unfinished it feels. I talk about my experience with childhood trauma, complex PTSD, anxiety, and the years I spent in survival …
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