SEEN is a groundbreaking feature-length documentary—and now a powerful podcast companion—that explores the untold story of how healing our own childhood wounds can transform the way we parent. At the heart of this series lies a bold and hopeful message: when parents confront and rewire their own coping mechanisms, it doesn't just change their lives—it reshapes their children's developing brains.

Through raw, unfiltered conversations with real parents, experts, and neuroscientists, SEEN uncovers the science behind trauma, attachment, and emotional regulation. This isn’t just another parenting podcast. It’s a deeply personal, scientifically grounded journey into how healing ourselves can create ripple effects for generations to come.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or simply curious about how our pasts shape our futures, SEEN offers a roadmap to emotional liberation, stronger family connections, and a new vision of what’s possible.

Join us as we illuminate the path forward—one story, one breakthrough, one brain at a time.

Hailey Bartholomew is an award-winning director, writer, and cinematographer known for her emotionally resonant storytelling and distinctive visual style. With a passion for capturing the extraordinary in the everyday, her work blends vulnerability, beauty, and authenticity in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

As Director of Seen the Film (2025), a groundbreaking documentary exploring the neuroscience of parenting and personal healing, as well as Ageless (2023), and My Happy Heart (2019). As the founder of creative studio You Can’t Be Serious, Hailey is committed to making work with heart—projects that move people, spark conversations, and create change.

Hailey’s films reflect her deep belief in the power of real stories, told with honesty and care. Whether behind the camera or leading a creative team, her work continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Connect with Hailey here:

https://youcantbeserious.com.au/about/

#SEENtheFilm

#DocumentaryWithHeart

#StorytellingThatMatters

#BehindTheScenes

#IndependentFilm

#FilmWithPurpose

#WomenInFilm

#DirectorSpotlight

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Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com

📌 Key Insight:
Modern parenting often prioritises convenience and safety over challenge and growth. But kids need opportunities to struggle, try, fail, and try again to build the emotional muscles they’ll need for life.

Let’s flip the script—and raise a generation built on connection, competence, and confidence.

In this gripping conversation, we’re joined by Nicole Runyon, LMSW—psychotherapist, parent coach, and author of Free to Fly: The Secret to Fostering Independence in the Next Generation—to unpack the Netflix series Adolescence and the uncomfortable truths it holds up to modern parenting.

Nicole brings over two decades of experience in child and adolescent mental health and a rare ability to help adults step inside the minds of today’s kids. Together, we dive into the deeper layers of Jamie’s story and what it reveals about a world where kids grow up online, alone, and often unseen.

We explore:

• Why this isn’t just a mental health crisis—it’s a crisis of adult power
• How convenience culture is sabotaging childhood
• The dark role of algorithms, and where adult responsibility still lies
• The myth of safety behind closed doors
• Why therapy alone can’t fix what community and connection must
• Practical steps for adults to reclaim authority in a digital world
• And what kids actually need—beyond screens, labels, or diagnoses

Nicole’s insight is both provocative and empowering. If you’re ready for a conversation that moves beyond blame and into bold, practical change—this episode is for you.

Top 5 Foundations for Healthy Brain and Child Development (0–18 years)

1. Attachment and Safety (0–18 months)
   • Prioritise bonding, physical affection, eye contact, and consistent caregiving.
   • Love, hugs, and a safe environment are essential to wire the brain for trust and connection.
2. Will and Authority (18 months–3 years)
   • Respect toddlers’ emerging independence while setting firm boundaries.
   • Let them try things on their own, even if frustrating, and allow space for tantrums. This builds frustration tolerance and emotional regulation.
3. Autonomy and Independence (3–5 years)
   • Encourage self-help skills like dressing, zipping coats, and managing tasks.
   • Let children take risks and experience challenge—don’t over-index on safety.
   • Social-emotional learning and confidence emerge from doing, not avoiding struggle.
4. Confidence and Competence (5–12 years)
   • Confidence grows by overcoming hard things—not from trophies or rewards.
   • Avoid constant praise and incentives; instead, promote perseverance and self-worth through effort and resilience.
5. Identity Development (12–18 years)
   • A secure sense of self is built on the foundation of earlier stages.
   • Without real-world confidence, teens look to social media influencers to tell them who they are.
   • This can lead to distorted identity formation and vulnerability to mental health trends online.

📌 Key Insight:
Modern parenting often prioritises convenience and safety over challenge and growth. But kids need opportunities to struggle, try, fail, and try again to build the emotional muscles they’ll need for life.

Support the show

Subscribe and support the podcast at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new
Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com

Anthony England, Director of Innovation at Pymble Ladies’ College, discusses a bold grassroots initiative to reclaim childhood from the grip of digital addiction. With screen time skyrocketing and mental health declining, Anthony and his team took action—rolling out over 800 custom-managed smartphones designed to grow with students, limit harmful content, and foster real-world connection.

Pymble has chosen a new and courageous path—one that protects wellbeing while preparing students to thrive in a complex digital world.

At the centre of this conversation is the Pymble Wise Phone Initiative, launching in 2025. This school-wide program will provide a wiser mobile phone choice to students in Years 4 to 8, replacing traditional smartphones with custom-managed devices that grow with the child. Designed to be boring by design—but brilliant in impact—these phones limit harmful content while enabling connection, safety, and gradual digital independence.

We dive into:

• Why they created affordable, safe phones that don’t steal attention
• How a $5 alarm clock and a Wi-Fi timer can transform home tech habits
• The ripple effects: more sleep, stronger friendships, time for hobbies and outdoor play
• The digital licence approach: like P-plates for phones, helping students earn responsibility
• How joy is being restored—through go-karts, bikes, and parent-child pledges to live life well

This initiative is not about restriction—it’s about protection and empowerment. By uniting the school and home in a shared mission, Pymble is creating a spring-free trampoline for digital life—a safe ecosystem where children can grow stronger, not more stressed.

✨ “We are choosing a new and courageous path to make the world a better place for our girls.” – Pymble Ladies’ College

💡 If you’re a parent, teacher, policymaker, or school leader searching for practical answers, this episode will inspire, inform, and empower you to take the next step toward a wiser digital future.

This is a hopeful and practical blueprint for schools, parents, and policymakers navigating the digital age. It’s not about banning tech but making it safer, smarter, and developmentally appropriate.

💡If you’re a parent, teacher, or school leader wondering how to make meaningful change, this episode will inspire and empower you with real-world solutions.

Support the show

Subscribe and support the podcast at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new
Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com