Episode 6 – Dad Talking Dads

Rob Hale host of podcast Dad-Ability joins Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos to explore experiences of dads of children with all types of disabilities. Rob shares about his personal emotional journey with raising his son Leo, and how this brought him to a breaking point. Rob has used this to connect and support other fathers. This is a special conversation not to be missed.

Episode 5 – Talking ADHD

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Professor Mark Bellgrove about ADHD – what it is, how the condition is diagnosed, gender differences and heritability. Mark is Director of Research at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, and a Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience at Monash University.

Episode 4 – Golf Glue

Darrell Dalton, ex nurse for acquired brain injury and senior PGA member, turned running the largest golf program for people with intellectual disabilities.
Not-for-profit Golf Programs Australia Inc is also an affiliate of the Special Olympics program. Darrell is joined by partner Michelle to chat about how the program works, the health and social benefits of playing golf.

Episode 3 – Special

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos welcome Melanie Dimmitt -broadcaster, journalist and editor Melanie is a mum of two and author of her book ‘Special ‘ in which shares the raw experience of coming to terms with her son Arlo’s cerebral palsy diagnosis. Melanie also works for HireUp as an advocate and produces a magazine The Blend Lifestyle for the tube feeding community.

Episode 2 – Sev’s Amazing Journey

Sevastine Katsakis joins co-hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos to chat about her amazing journey from being a patient at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital to joining forces with her childhood therapists to improve mental health and wellbeing of children and young adults with cerebral palsy at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s CP-Achieve.

Episode 1 – Being Intimate

Chantelle Otten is an experienced and certified Psycho-Sexologist, Scientist, and Sex and Relationship Expert. She is an expert in educating and supporting people with disabilities with sexual health. Host Kristine Christopoulos chats Chantelle about topics from a parent’s perspective such as safety and consent, education and the right to experience.

About

Raising a child with a developmental delay or a disability, you can feel overwhelmed or lost about how and where to get help. Podcast hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos share their personal journeys and the power of their parent network in raising their sons with additional needs. With special guests, they explore a range of topics relevant from birth to young adults to answer questions and share tips to create a podcast community of support for other parents and carers.
Dr lisa interligi

Dr. Lisa Interligi

Founder of Loop Me In, Lisa is mother of two adult sons, one of whom- Louis, has autism.

Lisa has been able to balance her career as an executive and psychologist with the support of her family, and community of mothers and carers.

She says that at periods in Louis’ life when she was at her wits end, someone stepped forward with advice, information or support that helped her and her family through the challenging times.

Lisa believes that raising children takes a village and wants Loop Me In to become that understanding and supportive village for fellow parents and carers of young people with disabilities.

Kris Christopoulos

Kristine Christopoulos

Kristine is a mother of three children. When son Mathew was 2 years old it was discovered that he had a disability but the exact diagnosis was unknown. At this time Kristine and her husband were advised by doctors to raise Mathew with lots of love, happiness and resilience, advice which they have lived by.

Mathew, now 21, is a happy and social young man who loves his friends and works part time at his family’s seafood business.

Recently, Mathew received a diagnosis of Malan Syndrome. Whilst this diagnosis has helped Mathew’s family to understand the implications of his rare condition, it was really the support of family and friends to give Kristine the strength and knowledge to get him to where he is today.

Today, Kristine provides support to other parents of children with Malan Syndrome and aims to share her knowledge and experience through Loop Me In to support the broader parent and carer community.

Most Recent Episodes

Season 4

Season 4

Episode 6 – Dad Talking Dads

Rob Hale host of podcast Dad-Ability joins Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos to explore experiences of dads of children with all types of disabilities. Rob shares about his personal emotional journey with raising his son Leo, and how this brought him to a breaking point. Rob has used this to connect and support other fathers. This is a special conversation not to be missed.

Season 4

Episode 5 – Talking ADHD

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Professor Mark Bellgrove about ADHD – what it is, how the condition is diagnosed, gender differences and heritability. Mark is Director of Research at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, and a Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience at Monash University.

Season 4

Episode 4 – Golf Glue

Darrell Dalton, ex nurse for acquired brain injury and senior PGA member, turned running the largest golf program for people with intellectual disabilities.
Not-for-profit Golf Programs Australia Inc is also an affiliate of the Special Olympics program. Darrell is joined by partner Michelle to chat about how the program works, the health and social benefits of playing golf.

Season 4

Episode 3 – Special

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos welcome Melanie Dimmitt -broadcaster, journalist and editor Melanie is a mum of two and author of her book ‘Special ‘ in which shares the raw experience of coming to terms with her son Arlo’s cerebral palsy diagnosis. Melanie also works for HireUp as an advocate and produces a magazine The Blend Lifestyle for the tube feeding community.

Season 3

Season 3

Episode 10- What the Universe Throws at You

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos talk with Patricia McKenzie about her journey as a mother of three – an oldest daughter with Down’s Syndrome, daughter, and a son who survived childhood leukaemia. All while navigating her career. Today, Patricia and her family are in a happy place. Her oldest daughter has found independence sharing a home with friends, and is enjoying a full life. And Patricia has a successful career as a company director.

Season 3

Episode 9- Healthy Distance

Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos welcome Dr Annie Banbury from Coviu an Australian telehealth platform for doctors, therapists and hospitals. Annie talks about the benefits of telehealth for children and adults in regional, remote and city settings, particularly in accessing medical and allied health services.

Season 3

Episode 8- Under the Mask

This episode hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with child psychologist and author Danuta Bulhak-Paterson about the girls and women with autism and how they present and experience autism differently compared with males.

Season 3

Episode 7- Listen and Learn

The Victorian College for the Deaf is Australia’s leading education school for children who are deaf. Principle Marg Tope chats with hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos about being the experts in teaching young deaf people in Auslan and English, and innovative hubs to provide work readiness skills. Marg also has some important advice for parents in creating life options for their children.

Season 2

Season 2

Episode 9- What Ability!

We welcome another entrepreneur and warrior for disability in Steve Dresler, founder and CEO of What Ability. Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to Steve about his inspiration to bring happiness to people with a disability and challenge them to be the best they can be.

Season 2

Episode 8- Starfish Life Savers

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Hampton Surf Lifesaving members Kerry and Zoe about the all abilities surf lifesaving program – Starfish – the importance of celebrating small steps, building confidence and having fun.

Season 1

Season 1

Episode 10- Siblings

Lisa’s son Remy and Kristine’s daughter Marilena talk with guest host, Heidi Dickson, sister to Ryan, about their personal experiences of growing up as a sibling of a child with a disability.

Season 1

Episode 9- Do Not Go Gentle

Dual Paralympian Braedan Jason talks to hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos the significance of his tattoo “Do not go gentle into that good night” and growing up with cone dystrophy.