On this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie for a tough but necessary conversation about something many families silently struggle with the different ways love can show up for biological and stepchildren.

This honest discussion is sparked after Kate asks her stepdaughter Tia to send a voice note sharing how she feels compared to her younger siblings and opens the door to one of the biggest debates yet.

They explore a powerful question: What is love? Is it a feeling, an action or both? And if you don’t feel the same for all your children, what can you do to make sure none of them feel left out?

They discuss how factors like living arrangements, age, time, and even permission to parent can all affect how love is shown and felt. When 1 in 3 families in the UK are blended, this is not a niche issue it’s a growing reality for so many.

The trio explore what happens when you don’t feel the same bond with your stepchildren and how you can still show up for them with care and consistency. They unpack the pressure stepmums often face to “love like a mum,” while also being told not to overstep.

Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story.

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

In this week’s episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie for one of the trickiest dilemmas they’ve tackled yet. A listener shares her story of planning to separate from her husband after years of being together but they’ve decided to carry on living under the same roof until their children turn 18.

Why? Because she’s terrified her son might choose to stay with his stepdad instead of her. It’s a heartbreaking situation that raises a huge question: can you separate without shattering your family?

The ladies explore the emotional weight of “staying for the kids,” and debate whether that decision protects children or simply delays the damage.

They reflect on research that shows children thrive in two-parent households and dig into how breakups affect kids no matter which parent leaves, highlighting that mothers can also be the ones who disrupt the home, not just the dads.

The trio share how they’d feel about having a stepparent now, as grown women, and the impact childhood trauma can have on how we move through relationships as adults and reflect on how their own upbringings in single-parent homes shaped their views.

Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story.

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

In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to dive deep into what really happens when kids are raised across two homes with different sets of rules.

Cilla explains the real difference between co-parenting and parallel parenting, and why understanding the difference can save families a lot of conflict.

Kate, Cilla, and Nathalie each open up about their own parenting styles, how they set rules, maintain structure, and handle boundaries in their homes.

The trio also explore whether softer or stricter parenting styles actually get better reactions, and whether having different rules really confuses children long-term or if kids are more adaptable than we give them credit for. They also reflects on how children sometimes adapt their behaviour depending on which parent they're talking to and how kids can even learn to play parents off against each other when the rules aren't aligned .

If you’ve ever struggled with mixed messages, different expectations, or feeling like you're parenting in two completely different worlds, this episode is a must-listen.

Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story.

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

In this special episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by her husband Rio and co-host Cilla to explore what it’s like to navigate blended family life from a male point of view. 

This week’s listener's dilemma asks: “Do I have to end my marriage if he won’t accept my child?” — sparking a deep and emotional conversation about loyalty, love, and the hard choices many blended families face.

The trio also tackle adult children moving back home, how it affects family dynamics, and what happens when one partner struggles with a stepchild returning to the household.

Rio shares his honest take on fatherhood, why men sometimes struggle to express how they feel, and why “firsts” in blended families can hit differently for men.

Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story.

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

Being a stepmum without your own children? People have opinions.

Choosing not to have kids? Even more.

And if you want to be a mum but life has other plans? That’s a whole different kind of heartbreak.

In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Priscilla Appeaning and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis for a powerful and honest conversation about the pressure on women to sacrifice their bodies and mental health for motherhood, what it means to step-parent without biological children of your own, and how motherhood expectations shape emotional identity in blended families.

Cilla explains the difference between being childfree and childless. Kate reflects on her experience entering a blended family without children of her own and Nathalie opens up about her health journey and her decision around motherhood.

They also explore how “ours babies” , a term used in the blended family space to describe a child shared by both partners, can impact identity, connection, and emotional roles for women who aren’t biological mums.

Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story.

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

Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Priscilla Appeaning and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis for another real, raw and relatable episode of Blended. This one’s all about family drama, blurred boundaries—and one photo that caused major tension.

In this episode, they dive into a dilemma that had the group chat on fire: A mother-in-law gifts a photo of a child’s half-sibling... and the stepmum and partner throw it away. Was it about protecting the child—or shutting down the in-laws? Is the mother-in-law just trying to stay involved—or fully stirring the pot? 

They get into the messy middle of extended family politics, Christmas card awkwardness, and where photos live within the household.

If you’ve ever dealt with overstepping in-laws, silent partners, or hard decisions to do with your stepchildren —this one’s for you.

If you’ve got a dilemma of your own within a blended family, we’d love to hear from you.

Send it to us via Instagram @blended.

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

Blended is back—but with a difference. Kate Ferdinand is joined by her brand new co-hosts Priscilla Appeaning, stepmum and blended life coach, and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis, step-mum and businesswoman. This season, they plan to have more honest and deeper conversations that help blended families feel supported and understood.

Introducing a new partner to your children is a significant and sometimes stressful moment in blended families. Hear from Kate, Priscilla, and Nathalie as they chat about the timing and challenges of this introduction.

They address common worries, including fear, resistance from children or the opinions of ex-partners, and whether delaying the introduction is beneficial. We learn about the importance of making sure the children feel part of the conversation and how building the introduction slowly can benefit everyone.

We also hear from a listener with a dilemma:

“I’ve been seeing someone great for four months and I’m feeling ready to meet the kids. They’re aged 7 and 11 but my ex says it’s too soon and that I’m not thinking about the kids’ feelings. Should my ex’s opinion affect my timing or is this decision mine alone?”

This sparks conversations around how to navigate the role of the ex-partner and how to keep the communication amicable. If you've ever felt unsure about the big introduction, this episode reminds you that there's no right or wrong way—just what works for your unique family.

To become part of the Blended family, follow @blended on Instagram.

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

We’re beyond excited to announce that the blended podcast is back!

This season, Kate is joined by two incredible Step-mums, Cilla & Nathalie, each with their own unique family setup. We’re here to offer different perspectives on the step-parenting experience, and we hope you’ll feel seen and understood as we share our stories and answer your questions each week.

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

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

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