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

When my son was born, I thought I had to choose between staying home to give him everything or going back to work and risking missing the moments that matter. But the truth is, you don’t have to choose. From September, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months up to school age could get up to 30 hours of funded childcare a week, over 38 weeks a year — worth up to £7,500 in savings. That’s not just money back; it’s time to work, breathe, build, and still be present for your child. Apply by 31 August.

Check your eligibility at childcarechoices.gov.uk

#ChildcareChoices @educationgovuk #ad

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

Today’s episode is a throwback episode with Kate Ferdinand — mother, entrepreneur, and host of the award-winning podcast Blended. We discussed what began as a WhatsApp group is now a powerful platform supporting Black and mixed-heritage fathers across the world.

In this episode, Kate and Marvyn explore how our own childhoods shape the way we parent, the importance of emotional honesty, and how to have age-appropriate conversations with children about race, identity, and belonging. It’s a powerful discussion about masculinity, legacy, and learning to be the parent you needed.

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

From Kool Herc’s Kingston-style block parties to Kendrick’s Grammy sweeps and Carti’s moshpit mayhem, who really ran rap every year since 1979? In this definitive timeline, we break down the Big 3 artists of each year, blending mainstream dominance, cultural impact, and lyrical integrity.

Featuring heavyweights like LL Cool J, OutKast, Missy, Future, Nicki Minaj, and J. Cole, this episode challenges revisionist history and makes room for the artists who actually defined the sound, the streets, and the stats.

Was Drake too dominant to leave off 2019? Should LL have been #1 in ’87? Did we underrate Future’s run? Is Kendrick now the GOAT closer? We’ve got facts, footnotes, and a lot of fire takes.

Whether you’re an old-head, new-school, backpacker or trap loyalist, this episode is your hip-hop history cheat code.

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

⚡ THE CHALLENGE

I forced my household to try twenty one penny pinching moves in one week. No edits. No mercy.

WHAT HAPPENED

• Hack 3 sparked a shower time race

• Hack 7 killed takeaway cravings

• Hack 14 slashed our energy bill in thirty seconds

• Hack 21 broke my Netflix habit and the kids survived

FULL LIST

1 Kill phantom power at bedtime

2 Daily smart meter checks

… all the way to 21 Rotate streaming subs like a pro

WHY LISTEN

✔ Zero cost entry

✔ Kid approved fun

✔ Laugh out loud dad banter

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

What does the government’s new health plan actually mean for your community?

In this exclusive, no-holds-barred Q&A, Marvyn Harrison sits down with Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to ask the questions that matter most to working-class and Black British families.

We dive into:

• The postcode lottery in care
• Why Black men aren’t trusting the NHS
• Where the money’s really going
• And how this plan could actually save lives—or just become another empty promise

This is the conversation the government has to hear. And you need to hear it first.

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

What’s it really like being Education Secretary? In this powerful conversation, Bridget Phillipson marks her first year in post by speaking openly with Marvyn Harrison and young voices from Dope Black Dads. She reflects on the teacher who changed her life, discusses her priorities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and sets out her vision for mental health in every school. This episode goes beyond policy, it’s about care, culture and community.

Topics covered:

• Why representation and personal connection matter in education
• Reforming SEND support for families and schools
• Embedding mental health into the school day
• Creating an inclusive education system that works for all

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

Is there still honour in hip-hop? Can rap teach us how to be better men?

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the extraordinary journey of Clipse—brothers Pusha T and No Malice—uncovering what their story reveals about masculinity, loyalty, and principled living. From “Grindin’” lunch tables to Louis Vuitton runways, we walk through their full timeline, pulling out the life lessons embedded in their rhymes, career moves, and public silence.

We explore how No Malice left the rap game for a higher calling, why Pusha T confronted giants like Drake and Kanye, and how the Clipse reunion has become a masterclass in grown-man artistry. Beyond the beefs and bars lies a deeper philosophy: patience, boundaries, spiritual audit, and the refusal to compromise.

This is more than a fan tribute. It’s a roadmap. For fathers, brothers, creatives, and thinkers. For anyone navigating manhood in a world that constantly tests your moral compass.

Featuring critical moments:

• The legacy of Hell Hath No Fury and Daytona
• The Kanye fallout and GOOD Music exit
• The calculated silence in response to Jim Jones
• The rollout of Let God Sort ‘Em Out and what it says about ownership
• Diaspora echoes through minimalist Neptunes beats and patois slang
• Why Drake had him banned from Canada—and why that doesn’t matter

Clipse didn't just make music. They made a code. And it still holds.

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

In this episode, Marvyn Harrison asks a question that shifts the way we show up in our relationships: How can I love you better?

This is a practical, vulnerable reflection on how love evolves over time, and why checking in with our partners, children, and friends matters more than ever.

From the changing landscape of fatherhood to the emotional intelligence needed for deep connection, this is a must-listen for anyone who wants to love with intention and grow while doing it.

🎧 Talking points include:

– Why love must evolve with growth

– How to ask the question without ego

– Common responses and how to receive them

– What to do when the answer challenges you

– Building emotional fluency as Black men and fathers

This episode is your reminder that emotional leadership begins at home.

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

Imagine Friends… but Black.

Not just a race-swap, but a complete cultural remix.

In this episode, we explore what a modern-day, all-Black reboot of the iconic 90s sitcom could look like, set in Hackney, rooted in today’s Black culture, with characters that reflect our reality.

We break down:

• The reimagined character archetypes
• The new hangout spot (spoiler: it’s not Central Perk)
• The themes that would actually resonate today—gentle parenting, therapy bills, ghosting during Mercury retrograde
• Why this show would shift culture and go viral across every platform

From the trap-jazz café to the Pan-African podcast host, this isn’t Friends.

This is FAM.

🎧 Tap in and tell us: would you watch this show?

Learn more about Instagram Teen Accounts by visiting https://familycenter.meta.com/uk/our-products/instagram/

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