The Not Mini Adults Podcast - “Pioneers for Children’s Healthcare and Wellbeing”

Hosted by David Cole & Hannah Cole

Business Health Fitness Kids FamilyInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jan 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

"Stories have the power to change the world! Listen in with the co-founders of children's charity Thinking of Oscar as they discuss stories with some of the world's modern day pioneers doing what they can to change the way in which children are cared for and looked after. The aim of the podcast is to educate, inspire and beat the drum for the individuals who are looking to make a big difference to the lives of children. Hear conversations with clinicians, teachers, innovators, parents, nurses and many others who share how they are working to change the world for the better for children everywhere. We hope you will be inspired by their stories."

Listen to episodes

47 recent

January 23, 2026Episode 348 min

Episode 45: 'Rethinking Respiratory Care for Newborns' with John Konsin

How Prapela Is Using Breakthrough Science to Improve Breathing and OxygenationIn this episode, David and Hannah are joined by John Konsin, Founder and CEO of Prapela, to explore how breakthrough science is being used to improve breathing and oxygenation in newborns.John introduces Prapela’s noninvasive stimulation therapy, which is based on the science of stochastic resonance. By applying precise and gentle stimulation, Prapela aims to improve breathing rhythm and lung function in newborns, offering a fundamentally different approach to respiratory support.The conversation explores why current respiratory treatments often fall short for babies, particularly those born prematurely or exposed to opioids, and how Prapela’s therapy could change outcomes for some of the most vulnerable infants. John also shares the realities of building a paediatric focused medtech company, the importance of rigorous clinical evaluation, and what it takes to move novel science from lab to bedside.Since 2017, Prapela has received more than 8 million dollars in awards and grant funding to support clinical studies focused on improving treatment for opioid exposed newborns and preterm infants with apnea of prematurity. This episode is a powerful reminder that innovation designed specifically for newborns can reshape neonatal care and why children are Not Mini Adults.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane Griffiths Podcast editing - Chris Robson AudioPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text

November 7, 2025Episode 247 min

Episode 44: 'i4KIDS' with Sofía Ferreira and Arnau Valls

In this episode we are joined by Arnau Valls and Sofía Ferreira from Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children’s Hospital, where they lead the hospital’s innovation department and also run an open innovation initiative called i4Kids.We explore how they work to identify and address unmet needs within the hospital by connecting them with opportunities and partnerships from outside, including universities, start-ups, industry, patient groups, and other international hospitals. All with the aim of accelerating solutions that support children and families.Arnau and Sofía explain how i4Kids operates, why collaboration is so critical, and how their approach is shaping the future of paediatric innovation in Spain and beyond. We also discuss their upcoming conference in Barcelona this November - The Paediatric Innovation Day 2025, an event that’s certainly not to be missed.i4KIDS-EUROPE published the following report "Challenges and Opportunities for Effective Paediatric Innovation in Europe"The report, published by the i4KIDS-EUROPE consortium, examines the state of pediatric innovation and includes recommendations to boost the pediatric and maternal health innovation sector in Europe. Increasing public and private investment, easing regulations, facilitating the adoption of innovation, and supporting the creation of pediatric innovation infrastructures in hospitals are among the proposals.Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane Griffiths Podcast editing - Chris Robson AudioPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text

October 3, 2025Episode 134 min

Episode 43: 'Blood Brain Barrier' with Meritxell Teixidó

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Meritxell Teixidó, CEO and co-founder of Gate2Brain, a Barcelona-based biotech company that is pioneering novel ways of delivering therapies across the blood-brain barrier. Meritxell shares the fascinating journey of how her team are using peptide-based technology to open up entirely new possibilities for treating brain disorders, including those that affect children.It’s an inspiring conversation about science, perseverance, and the impact that bold ideas can have on the future of paediatric medicine. Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane Griffiths Podcast editing - Chris Robson AudioPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text

March 15, 2024Episode 941 min

Episode 42: 'Children's Health Impact Accelerator' LIVE

This is a very special episode of the Podcast as it is the first video podcast, recorded live during the Final Pitch Event of the 2023 Children's Health Impact Accelerator, in London at the Science Gallery. If you wish to watch this episode, you can find it over on our Thinking of Oscar You Tube page.In October 2023, David had the fortune of chairing an accelerator dedicated to Children’s Health in collaboration with London based Accelerator and Venture Builder Founders Factory, on behalf of UKRI / Innovate UK. During the event we were fortunate enough to have a wonderful quartet of innovators who agreed to come on stage and talk about the opportunities, and some of the things to look out for, when financing a start-up focused on children’s health. We are therefore delighted to share with you all a live recording of the panel conversation which included insights and guidance from Paediatric Venture leaders, John Parker and Marc Ramis, Children’s Health Innovation leader from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Emma Hughes and wonderfully chaired by Founders Factory’s own healthtech investor Claire Mongeau.Full details of each of the 10 wonderful start-ups who formed part of the accelerator can be found below:🌟Happy Marlo 🌟ConsoneAI Ltd🌟Goal Manager®🌟Tutti Toot🌟Hibi Health🌟Grow with Iris🌟Envisionit Deep AI® 🌟Moti Me🌟Lorestry🌟Tender TouchI hope you all enjoy the conversation and please share and continue to shout from the rooftops the importance of investment in children’s health, not in the future, but now! -------------------------------------------- Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane GriffithsPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text

February 6, 2024Episode 839 min

Episode 41: 'Game Changing Incubators' with James Roberts

Our guest today on the Not Mini Adult’s Podcast is Entrepreneur, CEO and start-up founder of mOm Incubators, James Roberts. James is the inventor of a new neonatal incubator, that has helped premature babies thrive in NHS hospitals and in war-torn Ukraine. During our conversation he shares some invaluable advice for anyone looking to create an impact start-up, especially in the world of children’s health. The World Health Organization estimates that there are nearly one million preventable neonatal deaths each year. Keeping the infant warm could save thousands of new-borns each day. However, most incubators are too large, complicated, and expensive for universal use. The mOm Essential Incubator is a compact, cost-effective machine that has been designed to work in multiple environments. It is being used in a series of pilots in the NHS to ease the need for short-term admission to special care, and to help maintain the core temperature of babies being moved around hospitals.The Incubator has also been deployed in emerging economies and war zones. Over 75 incubators have been sent to Ukraine, where they are being used to keep babies warm in hospitals and bomb shelters transformed into make-shift neonatal wards. James and his team have won numerous awards. The mom prototype caught the attention of the James Dyson Foundation, which in 2014 awarded him the global James Dyson Award for innovation. In 2018 James was named in MIT’s 35 under 35 and in 2023 he was presented with one of the most prestigious individual awards by the Royal Academy of Engineering – The Princess Royal Silver Medal. I had the pleasure of inviting James to be a mentor on the recent Child Health Impact Accelerator that I chaired on behalf of Innovate UK and in partnership with Founders Factory. And having got to know James, this was a story that we just had to share.-------------------------------------------- Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane Griffiths Podcast editing - Ora PodcastsPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text

December 8, 2023Episode 750 min

Episode 40: 'Luckie Tech' with Joel de Oliveira

On the 40th episode of the Not Mini Adult's Podcast we are thrilled to welcome Founder and CEO of Brazilian based start-up Joel de Oliveira Jr. Joel is also our first interviewee from South America. Joel is a mechanical engineer and business executive by background and has many years of experience working in multinational companies such as Ericsson, Embraer and Kaelus, in a number of different countries. After Joel lost his son, Lucas, to cancer he decided to move away from his corporate career to launch Luckie Tech. Luckie Tech has an important mission, which is to reduce the mortality rate of children undergoing cancer treatment using innovative sensor technology. Joel is a true inspiration, and we once again have a wonderful conversation which we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. --------------------------------------------Visit our shop here to purchase a copy of the Thinking of Oscar Cookbook - Made with Love. THANK YOU! Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane Griffiths Podcast editing - Ora PodcastsPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text

December 8, 2023Episode 655 min

Episode 39: 'International Children's Advisory Network' with Leanne West

On this episode of the Podcast we talk to Leanne West who is the Chief Engineer of Pediatric Technologies at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Also known as Georgia Tech) and President of the International Children’s Advisory Network (iCAN).Leanne is also the Pediatric Innovation Catalyst at the Global Center for Medical Innovation where she leads innovation in pediatric medical devices. In her 25+ years working at Georgia Tech, she has led multimillion dollar programs and teams of researchers to develop products for government and industry partners. Leanne serves as the technical liaison between Georgia Tech and pediatric hospitals around the world, with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Shriners Hospitals being the main partners. She works closely with clinicians to understand and identify problems that need a solution to allow them to take better care of their patients. Regular listeners to the Not Mini Adults Podcast will know that we are passionate about the empowerment of children and their families when it comes to new technologies and solutions to care for sick children and young people. And at iCAN this is enabled through the fostering of greater global understanding about the importance of the pediatric patient and caregiver’s voice in healthcare, clinical trials, and research. Leanne is without peer when it comes to making sure that the patient voice is listened to and understood and is also a role model for women and young girls looking to make their way in STEM. This is once again a wonderful conversation with one of our great friends in the paediatric field and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. --------------------------------------------Visit our shop here to purchase a copy of the Thinking of Oscar Cookbook - Made with Love. THANK YOU! Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane Griffiths Podcast editing - Ora PodcastsPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text

September 8, 2023Episode 546 min

Episode 38: 'ADVOCATING FOR OUR CHILDREN' with Emily Gruenwoldt

On this episode of the Not Mini Adults Podcast we are delighted to welcome President & CEO of Children's Healthcare Canada and Executive Director of the Pediatric Chairs of Canada, Emily Gruenwoldt.Children's Healthcare Canada is a national organization representing health delivery centres and systems serving children and young people across the country. They are the only association that brings together perspectives from across the entire continuum of care to improve children's health in Canada.We talk to Emily about the how she, and her team are using advocacy to inform and shape child health policy in Canada, improving children’s and young people’s health and healthcare. There are many lessons to be learned from this conversation that other countries across the world could take note of. Most of all this conversation exemplifies the importance of organisations making a stand and advocating at the highest levels of government and being the voice of our children.........just until they can advocate for themselves! You can find Emily on Twitter (X) here or Children's Healthcare Canada here.Visit our shop here to purchase a copy of the Thinking of Oscar Cookbook - Made with Love. THANK YOU! Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane Griffiths Podcast editing - Ora PodcastsPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text

August 4, 2023Episode 451 min

Episode 37: 'HEALTH INEQUALATIES' with Dr Ian Sinha

In this episode of the NMA Podcast we discuss the incredibly important topic of inequalities within children healthcare. Addressing this issue is a priority for all children’s hospital across the UK and in many, many more around the world.One in three children in the UK lives in relative poverty and research shows a clear and consistent link between child poverty and paediatric morbidity and mortality.There is no better person to discuss this with than Dr Ian Sinha who is a Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital as well as a Professor within the Division of Child Health at the University of Liverpool. Ian’s research focuses on paediatric asthma and neonatal lung disease. And he is particularly interested in the impact of social and health inequalities on children.This is a fantastic onversation with Ian where he explains more about this issue and what measures he and his team are taking to try and make change.You can find Ian on Twitter (X) here.Visit our shop here to purchase a copy of the Thinking of Oscar Cookbook - Made with Love. THANK YOU! Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane Griffiths Podcast editing - Ora PodcastsPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text

July 12, 2023Episode 31 hr 10 min

Episode 36: 'DOUGHNUTS AND BANANAS' with Jon Manning

On this episode of the Not Mini Adults Podcast we talk to Jon Manning who is the the CEO and Founder of Arthur Ellis: Mental Health Support an organisation focused on Mental Health through Well-being Skills Development Programmes and Support for Businesses who Drive Positive Change in the Workplace. They also operate a 1:1 Mentoring Service to provide support to children (from 8 years old), young people and adults. Working with individuals to help them develop strategies for their exact needs to help them recover and move forward from any mental health related issues.Jon has experienced living with mental health conditions for over 20 years and with a background in the commercial world, he set up Arthur Ellis: Mental Health Support to positively impact the way wellbeing and mental health is proactively managed throughout society. Jon believed that awareness needs to be more actionable if we really want to gain control over it rather than being purely focused on recognising symptoms, meaning people are already sick. Jon leads the march on helping individuals look further than signposting to encourage people across the country to learn to manage mental health before the need for professional intervention. Through his work with organisations Jon and his team are then able to offer subsidised support for children in need of mental health support.This is a very important conversation in light of the awareness and increasing problems that society has helping people of all ages with mental health conditions, no more so that with many children up and down the country and across the world. We were lucky enough to be treated to a little therapy during this episode and we hope you enjoy it and take something away with you. Visit our shop here to purchase a copy of the Thinking of Oscar Cookbook - Made with Love. THANK YOU! Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here. Follow us on Twitter here or Instagram here. Theme Music - ‘Mountain’ –Copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000 Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon, Violin Jane Griffiths Podcast editing - Ora PodcastsPodcast artwork thanks to - The Podcast Design ExpertsSend a text