Baby On The Brain

Balancing fitness with the relentless demands of parenting often feels like an impossible task. Between juggling childcare logistics, full-time work and constant sleep deprivation, carving out time for personal wellness is usually the first thing to fall off the to-do list.

In this episode of Baby On The Brain, hosts Felicity Thistlethwaite and Miranda Larbi are joined by Shakira Akabusi – founder of Strong Like Mum, fitness expert, and mother of four – for an unfiltered, relatable dive into post-baby fitness. Together, they unpack why movement so often feels like a chore, dismantle the pressure of wellness tracking and high-intensity burnout and share how to rebuild a sustainable relationship with exercise.

From navigating different stages of motherhood to the power of micro-habits like ten-minute walking breaks and simple morning routines, this conversation offers a refreshing roadmap for taking the guilt out of movement. Tune in for practical advice, honest laughs, and a compassionate reminder that exercise should leave you feeling energised, not exhausted.

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Content note: discussion of severe depression and suicidal thoughts

In this episode of Baby On The Brain, host Stylist's Felicity Thistlethwaite and guest Alice Holland-Lu dive deep into the raw reality of early motherhood, maternal mental health and identity shifts.

Alice shares her personal journey through severe postnatal depression after giving birth during the 2021 lockdown – a period marked by isolation, a complex birth and a baby suffering from undiagnosed allergies. She speaks candidly about trying to "power through" before getting life-changing support from the NHS perinatal mental health team.

The conversation explores how women can feel blindsided by parenthood, the emotional toll of carrying an invisible workload and how Alice channeled her recovery into creating The Female Archetypes – an ethical London fashion brand designed to honour women’s changing bodies. Packed with honesty, comfort and practical wisdom, this episode is a reassuring reminder to take the pressure off and be kind to yourself.

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In this episode of Baby On The Brain, former fashion editor and celebrity stylist Kylie joins Stylist's Felicity Thistlethwaite to discuss her journey from high-pressure shoots and a hectic schedule to a grounded life running her stress-management platform, Stress Sucks, from a seaside cottage in Cornwall.

After years of traveling with bands and ignoring red flags from her body – including recurring infections, constant colds and sudden panic attacks – Kylie shares the turning point that forced her to redefine her relationship with work and wellness. Through encounters with an acupuncturist, a natural skincare expert and the reality of raising two young children while starting a new business, she realised how deeply chronic stress impacts the mind and body.

Kylie breaks down the physiological realities of fight-or-flight, demystifies burnout and offers practical, guilt-free strategies for overwhelmed mothers. Emphasising that rest is productive and "done is better than none," she shares four actionable micro-wellness habits – from low-pressure gratitude lists to spotting morning digital triggers—to help listeners navigate parenting and careers without burning out.

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Stylist's Felicity Thistlethwaite is joined by careers strategist and women's careers advocate Isobelle Panton for an honest conversation about the realities of working motherhood.

Together, they explore one of the biggest life transitions women experience: balancing parenthood with ambition, career progression and personal identity. Drawing on her work helping women navigate leadership, confidence and workplace dynamics, Isobelle unpacks the realities that often come as a surprise after becoming a parent.

The conversation delves into why women are rarely encouraged to prepare for the career impact of motherhood in the same way they're encouraged to prepare for pregnancy and parenting. Isobelle reflects on the assumptions she held before having children, the lessons she learned after becoming a mother, and the advice she now gives women who want both a fulfilling career and a family.

Felicity and Isobelle also discuss ambition after children, examining whether motherhood changes women's aspirations or simply forces them to redefine success on their own terms. They explore the importance of flexible working, equal partnerships at home, financial preparation and the practical conversations many couples should be having long before children arrive.

Packed with career insights, personal reflections and actionable advice, this episode offers a thoughtful guide for anyone navigating work and parenthood, while challenging the idea that women must choose between professional success and family life.

A practical, empowering conversation about ambition, identity, motherhood and building a career that works for the life you want.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Felicity Thistlethwaite and Miranda Larbi are joined by campaigner, author and Flex Appeal founder Anna Whitehouse for a frank and timely conversation about modern parenting, workplace flexibility and the fight for equality.

Anna discusses the launch of the world's first Parent Strike, taking place on 27 August, which aims to bring mums and dads together to campaign for extended paternity leave and flexible working by default. The discussion explores why the burden of achieving equality continues to fall disproportionately on mothers, despite the growing demands of work, childcare and family life.

Drawing on their own experiences, Felicity, Miranda and Anna reflect on the mental load, invisible labour and capacity crisis facing many parents. From end-of-term chaos and childcare struggles to the pressure of balancing careers with family responsibilities, the conversation highlights how quickly parents can find themselves stretched to breaking point.

The trio also examines the push to return employees to the office full-time, questioning whether it benefits productivity or simply reinforces outdated workplace cultures. Anna argues that employers and policymakers have failed to keep pace with the realities of modern family life, particularly when it comes to supporting fathers to take on a more equal parenting role.

Comparing the UK's parental support system with countries including the Netherlands and Norway, Anna shares examples of how greater post-natal support, better parental leave and genuine flexibility can improve family wellbeing and create more equal partnerships at home.

Blending personal stories with practical insights and plenty of humour, this episode is a powerful discussion about what needs to change to make work and family life fairer for parents everywhere.

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Stylist's Baby On The Brain returns for its third series with an honest and insightful conversation about motherhood, identity and ADHD. In this episode, Wellness Editor Miranda Larbi and Head of Digital Fliss Thistlethwaite are joined by Five X More co-founder, writer and soon-to-be mum-of-three Atinuke Awe.

Tinuke reflects on her experience of becoming a mother before receiving an ADHD diagnosis, sharing how understanding her neurodivergence has helped her make sense of the overwhelming early years of parenthood. She opens up about the challenges of navigating motherhood without that knowledge, fighting for an adult ADHD diagnosis, and how it has changed her perspective on parenting.

The trio also discuss how attitudes towards motherhood have evolved over the past five years, the pressures women face when balancing identity and parenthood, and why greater awareness and understanding can make all the difference. As Tinuke prepares to welcome her third child, she shares what she hopes will be different this time around and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Calling all Baby on the Brain fans, Stylist's new parenting podcast, Mother Lovers Club is launching soon. Be the first to find out all about it.

Life as a working mum is not without its highs, lows and all-round ridiculous moments. Join Stylist’s Lisa Smosarski and Alix Walker as they swap stories – and share your candid voice notes - about the reality of the juggle, in a bid to ease the load for working mums everywhere. They’ll also be joined by a host of celebrity friends as they share their own parenting pearls of wisdom. 

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This week, Stylist's Fliss Thistlethwaite is joined by former BOTB special episode guest - and this time she's back at co-host - Shakira Akabusi. 

Together they will be chatting to founder of Little Omo Desriee Asomuyide about juggling life as a working mother, the highs, the lows and the challenges they experienced along the way. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Stylist's Fliss Thistlethwaite is joined by founder of My Bump Pay Tobi Asare.

Together they will be chatting to author of 'The Blend: How To Successfully Manage A Career And A Family' Davinia Tomlinson about the the financial impact mothers face when they are making decisions about whether or not to return to work. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.