In this episode Anna prepares to visit a newborn to report on Dutch kraamzorg for the BBC, reflects on Zena's dramatic birth and reveals how a tragic air disaster still touches their lives — a reminder that imperfect routines and showing up are more than enough.

In this episode Anna prepares to visit a newborn to report on Dutch kraamzorg for the BBC, reflects on Zena's dramatic birth and reveals how a tragic air disaster still touches their lives — a reminder that imperfect routines and showing up are more than enough.

Birth Story on the School Run | Juggling Work, Parenting & Tiny Miracles

Hearts and Handlebars is a parenting podcast about real‑life school runs, motherhood and big feelings on a Dutch cargo bike. It’s made for parents and kids whose mornings look more like spilt coffee than green‑juice perfection. Hosted by BBC foreign correspondent and mum Anna Holligan and her 9‑year‑old daughter Zena, every short episode is recorded on the bike, in real time, on the way to school – made to be played on your own school run, during the bedtime wind‑down or with a much‑earned post drop‑off coffee.
You’re riding along for big feelings, shifting identities, TikTok talk, friendship fallouts and the daily tightrope walk between paid work and care work. The same skills praised as “strategy, leadership and resilience” in workplaces show up here as the invisible graft of getting kids dressed, fed, emotionally held and delivered on time – Hearts and Handlebars is a gentle protest against that parenting labour, and you, staying unseen.
This is not a vibe‑checked guide to perfect parenting. It’s messy, unfiltered, funny and disarmingly honest company for the mornings when you need proof you’re not the only mum, dad, carer or guardian spinning plates – and that you’re doing far better than it feels.
You’ll also hear listeners’ stories and school‑run dramas, with Zena on hand to rate the chaos and offer kid‑level hot takes, plus all the sounds you never get in a studio: bike bells, traffic, Dutch weather and the kind of chatter that makes it feel like you’re actually in the bike lane with them.
If you’re over glossy “having it all” content and want a kids &amp; family show that sounds like your real life, not your algorithm, Hearts and Handlebars is your ride. Share your morning chaos (or enviably nailed routines) on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars – and, as Zena says, “STAY LOVIN!”.

Kids & Family

Hearts and Handlebars is a parenting podcast about real‑life school runs, motherhood and big feelings on a Dutch cargo bike. It’s made for parents and kids whose mornings look more like spilt coffee than green‑juice perfection. Hosted by BBC foreign correspondent and mum Anna Holligan and her 9‑year‑old daughter Zena, every short episode is recorded on the bike, in real time, on the way to school – made to be played on your own school run, during the bedtime wind‑down or with a much‑earned post drop‑off coffee. You’re riding along for big feelings, shifting identities, TikTok talk, friendship fallouts and the daily tightrope walk between paid work and care work. The same skills praised as “strategy, leadership and resilience” in workplaces show up here as the invisible graft of getting kids dressed, fed, emotionally held and delivered on time – Hearts and Handlebars is a gentle protest against that parenting labour, and you, staying unseen. This is not a vibe‑checked guide to perfect parenting. It’s messy, unfiltered, funny and disarmingly honest company for the mornings when you need proof you’re not the only mum, dad, carer or guardian spinning plates – and that you’re doing far better than it feels. You’ll also hear listeners’ stories and school‑run dramas, with Zena on hand to rate the chaos and offer kid‑level hot takes, plus all the sounds you never get in a studio: bike bells, traffic, Dutch weather and the kind of chatter that makes it feel like you’re actually in the bike lane with them. If you’re over glossy “having it all” content and want a kids & family show that sounds like your real life, not your algorithm, Hearts and Handlebars is your ride. Share your morning chaos (or enviably nailed routines) on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars – and, as Zena says, “STAY LOVIN!”.

Hearts and Handlebars is a parenting podcast about real‑life school runs, motherhood and big feelings on a Dutch cargo bike. It’s made for parents and kids whose mornings look more like spilt coffee than green‑juice perfection. Hosted by BBC foreign correspondent and mum Anna Holligan and her 9‑year‑old daughter Zena, every short episode is recorded on the bike, in real time, on the way to school – made to be played on your own school run, during the bedtime wind‑down or with a much‑earned post drop‑off coffee.
You’re riding along for big feelings, shifting identities, TikTok talk, friendship fallouts and the daily tightrope walk between paid work and care work. The same skills praised as “strategy, leadership and resilience” in workplaces show up here as the invisible graft of getting kids dressed, fed, emotionally held and delivered on time – Hearts and Handlebars is a gentle protest against that parenting labour, and you, staying unseen.
This is not a vibe‑checked guide to perfect parenting. It’s messy, unfiltered, funny and disarmingly honest company for the mornings when you need proof you’re not the only mum, dad, carer or guardian spinning plates – and that you’re doing far better than it feels.
You’ll also hear listeners’ stories and school‑run dramas, with Zena on hand to rate the chaos and offer kid‑level hot takes, plus all the sounds you never get in a studio: bike bells, traffic, Dutch weather and the kind of chatter that makes it feel like you’re actually in the bike lane with them.
If you’re over glossy “having it all” content and want a kids &amp; family show that sounds like your real life, not your algorithm, Hearts and Handlebars is your ride. Share your morning chaos (or enviably nailed routines) on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars – and, as Zena says, “STAY LOVIN!”.

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Birth Story on the School Run | Juggling Work, Parenting & Tiny Miracles

Birth Story on the School Run | Juggling Work, Parenting & Tiny Miracles