Molly Benjamin is on a mission to make financial literacy accessible, practical, and empowering—especially for women and now, kids. After transforming her own “hot financial mess” into a thriving movement that’s educated 70,000+ Australian women, Molly is bringing the conversation to the next generation. As a spokesperson for Spriggy, she has deep insights into how kids earn, save, spend, and give—and how parents can raise resilient, financially confident children who are ready to thrive.

Molly explains how kids form their attitudes toward money by age seven—and how adult behaviours code that mindset. She shares why normalising conversations around spending, saving, and giving early matters, especially in a cashless society.

“It’s not just what we say, it’s what we do around money. Kids are watching.”

Molly outlines her favourite financial framework for children—Spend, Save, Share—and explains how to use tools like Spriggy or Monopoly money to reinforce tangible learning about financial priorities and delayed gratification.

The FY25 Spriggy Kids Economy Report reveals that girls are earning $1.03 for every $1.00 boys earn—flipping the adult gender pay gap. What can this tell us about confidence, motivation, and resilience in young people?

From over-rewarding chores to avoiding money conversations, Molly highlights the unconscious habits that may undermine a child’s financial resilience.

“Money shouldn't be a taboo or secret. If they don’t learn it from us, they’re learning it somewhere else.”

With house prices now 8–14 times the average wage, Molly discusses how we can prepare our kids for lifelong affordability pressures—through saving, investing, and open dialogue.

“Even if you’ve never invested before, go on the journey with your child. Learn together.”

From setting savings goals to explaining superannuation and tax to teens, Molly shares strategies to raise informed, confident kids who won’t panic the first time they fail—or the first time they look at a budget.

• Financial resilience isn’t just about money—it’s about mindset.
• Teach saving before spending. Help kids delay gratification.
• Make chores part of life, not always tied to payment.
• Involve kids in financial conversations early and often.
• Model what you want to teach—especially around budgeting, insurance, super, and investing.
• Support teens to understand taxes, super, and compound interest when they get their first job.

• Ladies Finance Club
• Spriggy Kids Economy Report
• Spriggy App
• Money Smart Tools (ASIC)
• Book:Raising Money Confident Kids (Molly Benjamin, 2025)
• Tool: “Super Detective” retirement checker
• See also research: Harvard, La Trobe, Spriggy, Stoicism, and Bobo Doll Experiments

Episode Subtitle: “Emotions, TED Talks & Teddies: Louise Mansell’s Mission to Build Brave Kids”

In this episode of Building Resilient Kids, host Tim Curtis is joined by Dr Louise Mansell, a clinical psychologist and founder of Tedology. Originally from the UK and now based in Perth, Louise brings a wealth of experience working with vulnerable children in care systems and mainstream settings.

Louise shares insights into her personal upbringing, how her mother’s anxiety shaped her sense of responsibility and empathy, and what inspired her journey into psychology. She discusses the need for a whole-system approach to child development, the importance of working with schools and families, and how trauma-informed, compassionate care can change the course of a young life.

The heart of the episode is Louise’s innovative creation: TED (Teddy for Emotional Development) – a science-based, sensory teddy bear that helps children regulate emotions, build resilience, and develop emotional literacy through play. From weighted limbs and textured paws to guided voice prompts based on proven psychological tools like CBT and DDP, TED is a cuddly co-regulator for kids.

Louise reflects on parenting, teaching, and the daily challenge of applying psychology at home, candidly admitting her own occasional “screen bans” as a mother. Her honesty and evidence-based practice make this a must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone committed to raising emotionally resilient kids.

Highlights

• Louise’s early family life and how helping her mum manage anxiety set the foundations for her career
• Her work in the UK’s social enterprise sector, supporting children in the care system
• The biopsychosocial ecological model simplified for everyday parenting and teaching
• The development of TED: a sensory, talking teddy designed to build emotional skills and resilience
• Why kids need to feel seen, heard, and held in mind—and how a teddy bear can help
• Practical strategies for teachers to emotionally coach children without needing all the answers
• The power of emotional literacy and expression as central to long-term resilience
• The science behind TED’s features (fidget-friendly paws, crinkle ears, soothing voice prompts)
• Louise’s commitment to play-based learning and co-design with children
• Honest parenting moments: “If I shout about screen bans, it doesn’t count.”

Learn More

• Dr Louise Mansell's work: https://www.minimindshealth.com.au/louise-mansell
• Tedology (TED - Teddy for Emotional Development): https://tedology.com.au
• The ACEs Study (Adverse Childhood Experiences) – CDC Resource
• Tina Payne Bryson’s "Whole Brain Child" approach (Refer to books by Siegel & Bryson)
• Theraplay & DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy) – therapeutic models that Louise references as cornerstones in her clinical approach. https://ddpnetwork.org

Quote of the Episode

“Resilience isn’t about just coping. It’s about being brave enough to express yourself—and knowing someone will listen.” – Dr Louise Mansell

Joy, Diagnosis and the Village: Annie Hicks on Building Resilience in Kids with Disabilities

In this deeply personal episode of Building Resilient Kids, host Tim Curtis speaks with his amazing cousin, Annie Hicks—a dedicated mother of three and a fundraising professional in the education sector—about what it means to raise resilient children, including two living with disabilities: Calvin (Sotos Syndrome and ADHD) and Lily (Down Syndrome).

Annie opens up about the surprises and challenges of receiving a diagnosis, the evolving needs of her children, and how she and her husband Michael have navigated parenthood with intentionality, balance, and love. With candour and warmth, Annie discusses the power of community, the importance of self-care, and the need to be selectively selfish to model resilience for her kids.

From managing emotional regulation through sensory tools, companion animals, and trampoline resets, to redesigning family expectations and slowing down to meet her children where they’re at, Annie offers practical wisdom for parents, carers, and educators alike.

Also in this episode:

• The concept of wellbeing hubs and navigators in schools
• Parenting withopen communication and emotional availability
• The transformative role ofcanine and equine therapy
• Her superhero alter ego,‘Modulux’, imagined with the help of ChatGPT
• Insights from the blended family experience with Layla, her stepdaughter
• The critical role ofpositive self-talk and modelling resilience

Annie’s heartfelt stories and honest reflections will resonate with anyone striving to raise strong, self-aware, and joyful kids; regardless of ability.

• Annie Hicks on LinkedIn:com/in/anne-marie-hicks-8b55a284
• Sotos Syndrome(Medline Plus): https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/sotos-syndrome/
• Down Syndrome Overview(Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_syndrome
• Carly Findlay – Author and Disability Advocate:https://carlyfindlay.com.au/
  • The Book:Growing Up Disabled in Australia, edited by Carly Findlay
• Hannah Diviney – Writer, Speaker & Advocate:https://hannahdiviney.com/
• Guide Dogs WA – Companion Dog Program:https://www.guidedogswa.com.au/
• Amaroo Equine Therapy (Belinda Muiser):https://www.amarooequine.com.au

Episode Sub-title: Breathe, Climb, Adapt: Marty Doolan on Nature’s Role in Raising Strong Kids

In this episode of the Building Resilient Kids podcast, host Tim Curtis speaks with Marty Doolan — a NSW Fire and Rescue firefighter, outdoor educator, father of two, and lifelong adventurer.

Marty shares reflections from years spent guiding young people in the wild and responding to emergencies on the front line. His insights draw from two high-stakes domains — firefighting and outdoor education — and reveal what these worlds can teach us about how kids build emotional strength, courage, and problem-solving skills.

This is a wide-ranging conversation on nature, parenting, discomfort, and self-regulation — with practical wisdom for parents, teachers, and coaches helping kids find their inner footing.

• Growing up in the bush and how early immersion in nature shaped Marty’s identity and career
• Why outdoor education is less about physical strength and more about mindset, courage, and emotion
• The link between perceived risk, real growth, and meaningful challenge in controlled environments
• What firefighting taught Marty about pressure, calmness, and presence under stress
• Regulating emotions through breath, routine, and team support
• How parents can let kids struggle safely without rescuing them too quickly
• The importance of modelling vulnerability, reflection, and honest emotion
• Peer influence in outdoor programs: how leadership, encouragement, and language shape group dynamics
• Making space for curiosity, play, and growth without expectation or pressure

Marty Doolan is a full-time firefighter with NSW Fire and Rescue, and a part-time outdoor educator. He spent years guiding in the Blue Mountains and taught outdoor leadership to young adults before transitioning into emergency services. Now a father of two young children, Marty continues to apply his knowledge of risk, resilience, and human performance to both professional and family life. He brings an open, self-aware, and experience-driven perspective to the conversation around how kids grow stronger through challenge.

NSW Fire and Rescue https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au

Outward Bound Australia (example of programs similar to those discussed) https://www.outwardbound.org.au

The Resilience Shield – Model referenced throughout the episode https://resilienceshield.com

Nature Play Australia – Encouraging unstructured outdoor play https://www.natureplay.org.au

Project Rockit – Building peer support and leadership in youth https://www.projectrockit.com.au

Breathwork Australia – Understanding breath as a regulation tool https://www.breathworkaustralia.com.au

Episode Sub-title: “Effort Over Results: Rick Pedley-Smith on Mentoring Boys and Building Self-Respect”

In this energising and deeply personal episode of the Building Resilient Kids podcast, host Tim Curtis speaks with Rick Pedley-Smith, physical education teacher, father of two boys, and co-creator of the pioneering Rite of Passage Program at a Western Sydney School.

Rick shares his journey from martial arts and running to almost three decades of teaching, and why he and his wife model “effort over results” as a family philosophy. He explains how the Rite of Passage Program came about, the lessons learned from mentoring disengaged boys, and why self-respect is a far better goal than self-esteem.

Rick also reflects on the importance of role models outside the family, the dangers of social media, and why controlled adversity — from running and poetry performance to abseiling and 24-hour hikes — is crucial for building resilience in young men.

In a special moment at the end of the episode, Rick’s own sons join the conversation to share what resilience means to them in their own words, bringing the episode’s message full circle.

• Why “effort over results” is a guiding principle for Rick’s family and his students
• How the Rite of Passage Program creates controlled adversity to help boys develop self-respect and confidence
• The role of mentors outside the family and their impact on reducing risk factors
• How physical, emotional, and cognitive stressors work together to develop resilience
• Why self-respect buffers boys from comparison and social-media pressures better than self-esteem
• Real-world examples of boys transforming through the program — from poetry performances to canyoning
• Rick’s own vulnerability and role modelling: “If I’m not willing to do it, why should they?”
• A heartfelt reflection from Rick’s sons on what resilience means to them

Rick Pedley-Smith is a long-time physical education teacher based in northwest Sydney, an avid runner and jiu-jitsu enthusiast, and father of two boys. Together with Wade Fairclough and other educators, he co-founded the Rite of Passage Program, an initiative that supports disengaged male students by blending physical challenges, mentoring, and emotional learning to help them discover their values, virtues, and self-respect.

• Rick Pedley-Smith on LinkedIn– Learn more about Rick’s background and work
• Teacher Magazine: Mentoring Disengaged Male Students– Article featuring Rick’s program
• Education HQ: Rite of Passage Program– Coverage of the program Rick co-created
• Parkrun Australia– Free community-based 5km runs mentioned in the episode
• Resilience Shield– The resilience model underpinning Tim’s conversations with Rick
• “If” by Rudyard Kipling– The poem used in the program to teach values and virtues
• “The Laughing Heart” by Charles Bukowski– Another poem embraced by boys in the program
• Big Brother Big Sister Australia– Mentoring programs for youth, complementing the ideas Rick discusses
• Steve Willis (“Commando Steve”)– The role model referenced by Rick in the program

Episode Sub-title: Weathering the Seasons: Charlie Cay on Grit, Gratitude, and Growing Strong Kids

In this episode, host Tim Curtis talks with Charlie Cay, farmer, father, and proud steward of both land and legacy.

Charlie shares the highs and heartbreaks of family life on the land — from the harsh realities of drought and flood to the quiet wins of raising resilient, well-rounded kids in a remote rural part of Australia. With humour and honesty, Charlie reflects on the lessons learned from nature, work, and family, and how they’ve shaped his approach to parenting, leadership, and inner strength.

This episode is a reminder that resilience is forged in rhythm — through seasons of hardship, community connection, and the day-to-day work of showing up for those we love.

Key Themes & Takeaways:

• Growing up on a remote station and choosing to return to the land with a young family
• Teaching kids resilience through work, responsibility, and being part of something bigger than themselves
• Lessons from hardship: droughts, floods, and what they teach about emotional endurance and adaptability
• The importance of letting kids struggle — and why challenge builds character
• Charlie’s reflections on gratitude, storytelling, and holding on to perspective when things get hard
• Why creating space for connection — around the fire, in the ute, or over breakfast — builds strong family foundations
• The link between nature, patience, and identity, and how it influences the way his family grows together

Learn more at: resilienceshield.com/kids

Resources:

• RFDS Outback Mental Health – Mental health and resilience support for remote Australians
• Rural Aid – Support services for farmers and their families: www.countrykids.ruralaid.org.au
• Bush Kids – Free early intervention health services for children in rural Queensland: www.bushkids.org.au
• The Resilience Shield – The resilience model referenced in the episode
• ABC’s “Back Roads” Series – Stories of Australian rural communities (for context and inspiration)
• Boys to the Bush: https://boystothebush.org.au

Episode Sub-title: “How our kids can perform better from the Beam to the Boardroom"

In this episode of the Building Resilient Kids podcast, Tim Curtis speaks with Rachel Vickery, former international gymnast turned high-performance consultant to elite athletes, special forces units, and corporate leaders across the globe.

Rachel brings her deep experience from gymnastics and years working behind the scenes with Olympic teams, the NBA, Premier League, World Rugby, and even Australia’s special operations, to share insights into how we can raise emotionally and physiologically resilient kids.

This is a deep dive into the mechanics of pressure, breath, mindset, and how adults, whether parents, educators, or coaches, can build safe, supportive environments for kids to thrive in.

Key Themes & Takeaways:

• The critical role of breath mechanics in identifying and managing stress in children
• How stress manifests differently in boys vs girls, and how to spot the signs of overload
• Why nasal breathing, posture, and even mouth shape matter for long-term health and performance
• The downside of early sports specialisation—and the upside of “white space” and unstructured time
• Coaching under pressure: how language, cues, and framing can build (or break) resilience
• The physiology of fear and how to reframe high-stakes moments with kids
• What elite athletes and elite kids have in common: identity, allostatic load, and emotional regulation
• The magic of teaching children curiosity over outcome—and how that shift boosts both confidence and performance

Learn more at: resilienceshield.com/kids

Resources & Further Reading

• Rachel Vickery Official Website: https://rachelvickery.com Rachel’s work in breathing, pressure performance, and resilience consulting.
• The Unforgiving60 Podcast: Rachel Vickery” Where Rachel first joined Ben and Tim to explore high-performance and personal evolution.
• “Growing Up in Lycra” – Seminar Series. An exploration of the physiological and emotional challenges of early elite sport environments (referenced in the podcast).
• Breath Mechanics Resources:
  • Buteyko Institute – Education on functional breathing techniques
  • James Nestor – “Breath” – Bestselling book on the science of breathing
• Understanding Allostatic Load
  • Harvard Health: The toll of chronic stress
  • ScienceDirect: Allostatic load and stress physiology
• Youth Sport & Long-Term Development Models
  • Australian Sports Commission – Physical Literacy Framework
  • NSCA Long-Term Athletic Development Position Statement

Episode Sub Title: “Persistence, Parenting & Purpose: Rob Redenbach on Raising Resilient Kids”

In this reflective and moving conversation, host Tim Curtis sits down with keynote speaker, author, and resilience educator Rob Redenbach. Rob shares stories from his rich and diverse background—from martial arts and military security to fatherhood and now grandfatherhood—and how those experiences shaped the way he raised his three children, all now thriving young adults.

With humour, humility and insight, Rob explores what it really means to earn a child’s respect, why persistence is the most powerful parenting tool he knows, and the value of slowing down to savour the “magic” in everyday moments. He also reflects on generational change, lessons from failure, and how even our weaknesses can become gifts to our kids.

• The power of persistence as a foundational tool for building resilience
• Parenting three very different children—tailoring your response to each
• How failure and setback build deeper strength
• Emotional moments and reflections from his daughter’s recent wedding
• The role of reading, exercise and structure in offsetting screen time and distraction
• Grandparenting: showing up slower, softer, and full of love
• The value of attention to detail and why basics matter in resilience
• “If it matters to them, it should matter to you”—Rob’s golden rule for parents
• Encouragement for caregivers to persist, even in uncertainty or doubt

👉 Learn more at: resilienceshield.com/kids

Rob Redenbach has delivered resilience and communication training in more than 20 countries and worked with everyone from corporate leaders to Nelson Mandela’s protection team. With a background that spans martial arts, private security, and law, Rob now mentors others in public speaking and adaptability—and has earned the title “professional student of life.” Find out more about Rob’s work at redenbach.com.

• Rob Redenbach’s Website– Keynotes, workshops, and books
• About Time (Film)– The film Rob references on time, gratitude, and living deliberately
• Resilience Shield Model– The six-layer framework underpinning Rob and Tim’s conversation
• Angela Duckworth’s Grit– Insights on perseverance and passion
• Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset– Research into how beliefs about ability shape motivation
• Marcus Aurelius Quotes– Stoic wisdom Rob draws on, including “Death stands at your elbow”
• Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex– Neuroscience behind persistence and willpower
• Building Resilient Kids Book– Authored by host Tim Curtis