Episode 82: RAISING READERS! with remedial therapist and Raising Readers founder, Marian Bailey

How do you get kids to put down the screens and pick up a book WITHOUT turning reading into another parental battle? In celebration of World Literacy Month, Team TGE was joined by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove, the power husband/wife team and author/illustrator duo behind the hugely popular Worst Week Ever series. These books are packed with chaos, embarrassment, friendship, family drama and the gloriously messy realities of childhood. And, perhaps crucially so, they're also REALLY FUNNY. So what makes a book genuinely engaging for children, particularly those children who think they’re “not readers”? Sam and Charlene chat to Eva and Matt about the origins of Worst Week Ever, the creative relationship between an author and illustrator, working with your spouse, why humour can be such a powerful gateway into reading, and what young readers have taught the pair about storytelling. We also tackle a question familiar to many parents: How do you encourage children to read for pleasure in a world competing for their attention with YouTube, gaming and screens — without making books feel like homework?📚 In this episode: • The story behind Worst Week Ever • Why humour gets kids reading • Writing and illustrating for children • The author-illustrator creative process • Reluctant readers and reading for pleasure • How parents can encourage a love of books • Screens vs books (and why it doesn't have to be an either/or scenario) • What young readers can teach grown-ups about storytellingIf you’re parenting a reluctant reader, an enthusiastic bookworm, or a child who would rather be gaming than reading, this conversation is for you. -- #TheGreatEqualizer #WorstWeekEver #EvaAmores #MattCosgrove #ChildrensBooks --

What do we still not know about menopause?In the final episode of TGE Talks: Menopause, we sit down with South Africa's foremost sexologist, Dr Elna Rudolph, to explore the biggest unanswered questions surrounding perimenopause and menopause.Despite affecting half the global population, menopause remains under-researched, with significant gaps in our understanding of everything from exercise and brain health to sexual wellbeing, treatment outcomes, and why women experience menopause so differently.

It’s no secret that strength training is crucial for women in or approaching perimenopause. But what exactly are we talking about here? Is yoga and pilates going to cut it? Do you really have to lift heavy weights? And what about your pelvic floor? Protein intake? A time-turner to ensure you do all ‘the right things’ to secure a graceful aging process. It’s all a bit overwhelming, in all honesty. Which is why we’re tackling all our questions (and yours!) in Episode 5 of TGE Talks: Menopause. Life coach, physiotherapist and motivational speaker Sue Fuller-Good joins us in studio to chat about what really helps women thrive through midlife. If you've been bombarded by conflicting advice on social media about menopause fitness, weight loss, Pilates versus weight training, or the "perfect" workout, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed guidance for busy women navigating their 40s, 50s and beyond.

Can you really blame menopause, or is it anxiety?

Menopause DOES NOT mean the end of your sex life!In Episode 3 of TGE Talks Season 1, we tackle one of the most misunderstood aspects of menopause: sex, intimacy, libido, desire and sexual wellbeing after 40.Too many women live with the misconception that menopause means you're "dried up," undesirable or no longer interested in sex. But the reality is far more nuanced. Desire can change during midlife, but it doesn't disappear. Understanding those changes can help you reconnect with your body and rediscover pleasure, confidence, and unexplored intimacy.South African medical doctor and sexual health specialist Dr Heather Blaylock joins us to discuss sexual medicine, menopause care, hormonal health, pain management and regenerative wellness.In this episode, we cover:✔️ What a healthy libido can look like after 40.✔️ The difference between libido and desire.✔️ Dryness and atrophy: what is happening to our vaginas!?✔️ The physical, emotional and psychological factors that affect sexual wellbeing✔️ Common and treatable causes of low libido during perimenopause and menopause✔️ Pain during sex, including chronic pain and its impact on intimacy✔️ PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy and other non-surgical treatment options for vaginal rejuvenation✔️ Practical first steps for women who feel disconnected from their sexualityWhether you're navigating perimenopause, menopause, hormonal changes, low libido, painful sex, relationship challenges, or simply wondering what's normal in midlife, this conversation offers evidence-based information, practical tools and the reassurance that you're not alone in the chaos.Brought to you by The Great Equalizer, TGE Talks: Menopause is a six-part podcast series that explores every aspect of menopause with insight from leading medical experts, specialists and sexual health advocates.🎧 Tune in on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 💬 We'd love to hear from you. Do you have a question, story or experience to share? Email us at [email protected] or drop us a voice note on Instagram. 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.#Menopause #Perimenopause #SexAfter40 #LowLibido #WomensHealth #MidlifeWomen #MenopauseSupport #SexualHealth #VaginalDryness #MenopausePodcast #Libido #Intimacy #Hormones #HealthyAging #thegreatequalizer