Mamia & Me

This week on the podcast, Jen Hogan is going to save us all some money! She’s joined by Conor Pope, broadcaster and Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent, and Caz Mooney, whose @IrishBudgeting channel is followed by tens of thousands of families looking to save money and budget sensibly. 

Both guests chat about their accidental start as budgeting and consumer experts, and how their kids feel about all this focus on saving money! 

The conversation is packed with tips and ideas on budgeting in ways that don’t take the fun out of life, whether that’s easily reducing household bills, shopping cleverly, or going on an inexpensive holiday (just don’t call your Irish holiday a “staycation”!)

By the end of the episode, you’ll be making family meals for €5, planning to get outdoors with the kids, and be far less stressed about Christmas. What more could you ask for? 

This week is a very special episode of Mamia & Me, live from Electric Picnic! Host Jen Hogan is joined by singer, broadcaster, businesswomen, and parent of two, Una Healy to chat about music, careers, kids, and more. Una has had a fascinating career, from her early days looking for a break as a musician, to her huge success with The Saturdays and onwards to a solo career, business pursuits and, of course, motherhood. Are her kids in awe of their famous and talented mother? Not a bit of it! Una and Jen trade tales of motherhood and compare notes on some embarrassing parenting moments (with Jen even admitting to a “Home Alone” moment when she left one of her children behind!). Una also talks about her own childhood, getting through a divorce and making things work for your kids, even when co-parenting with someone living abroad. There’s also chat about home life in Tipperary, her future plans, and the one song she really wishes she had written! 

It’s a brand new season of Aldi’s Mamia & Me podcast, with a new host: journalist and mother of 7, Jen Hogan. On this episode, Jen is joined by fashion and lifestyle blogger, podcaster, entrepreneur and mum-to-be Louise Cooney.

Louise is expecting her first child in the coming weeks and is happy to get any tips Jen might have, from birth plans to reading to your child, to balancing a baby with being self-employed (hint: you make it up as a you go along!). They chat about social media and “sharenting”, and Louise’s plans for how much of her life as a parent will be online. Pregnancy aside, Louise has plenty to keep her busy, and she talks about her business, her own podcast and, of course, the essential question: would she rather be on Bake Off or Strictly!?

It’s the final episode of Season 2 and Amy sits down with writer, actor, and podcaster Stefanie Preissner. Stefanie recently became a mum, but it was a long and often difficult path and a topic she has been very open and honest about. Stefanie discusses pregnancy, miscarriage, IVF, and grief with Amy and how she has navigated them. She also discusses her recently diagnosed autism, how it shapes her career and family life, and how hospitals and medical practitioners can cater for autistic mothers. Finally, Amy catches up on Stefanie’s busy career, and gets the inside scoop on her upcoming tv show and play!

On this month’s episode, Amy sits down with comedian, author, and entertainer Jason Byrne. They chat about growing up and Jason’s happy, fun, if somewhat injury-prone, childhood. There’s also talk of a potential fight with Brian O’Driscoll, but this is immediately abandoned. Too many variables. 

Jason is father to two boys and breaks the terrible news to Amy that her kids won’t want to be in a WhatsApp group with her when they are teenagers. Sob. They discuss the highs and lows of parenting and talk about Jason’s dad, who passed away not too long ago, and the show Jason wrote about his life. There’s plenty about Jason’s career and life and how in the end, if things get a little too long-winded, it’s best to just shout “summarise!” and speed everything along!

On this episode Amy sits down with comedian Emma Doran, currently on tour with her headline show Mad, Isn’t It? From her recent appearance on RTÉ sketch show No Worries If Not, to a variety of radio, tv, and podcast work, Emma’s comedy career has gone from strength to strength. She is mum to three kids – Joe, Tommy, and Ella – and she tells Amy the story of becoming a mum while still in her final year at school. Her experiences have influenced her life, career, and her own parenting style. There’s plenty to chat about, from comedy and kids, to parenting a teenager, career changes, taking a chance and going for it and a few parenting fails along the way. 

On this episode Amy sits down with health coach, wellness speaker and podcaster Georgie Crawford. Georgie’s life changed utterly when she underwent treatment for breast cancer not long after having her first child. However, the experience allowed her to completely rethink her life and she and Amy discuss her illness, quitting her job, and how to see a positive side in everything. They also chat about parenting, surrogacy, Georgie’s career and new book, and the importance of a really cold shower! 

In the first episode of 2023, Amy chats to Gina and Karol Daly, the award-winning creators of The Daly Dish. From their first meeting, and whirlwind romance, to their recent win at the Irish Book Awards, Gina and Karol have plenty of stories to tell. Their love of cooking grew out of early attempts to feel healthier while still eating the tasty food they loved, and it has led them from tasteless tacos to recipes sought out by their hundreds of thousands of online followers and cookbook fans.

It's not all about the food, though. Gina and Karol are proud parents to Holly, Ben, and baby Gene. They chat about parenting, pregnancy, terrible baby food, and the very special significance of World Down Syndrome Day.

It’s nearly Christmas, and Amy sits down with Aoibhín and Ailbhe Garrihy to chat about sisters, mums, and how to have a Christmas without all the small kids constantly waking everybody up!

From a family of three sisters, and with several daughters and a son between them, Ailbhe and Aoibhín talk about growing up, parenting, and their own mum, whose advice they reluctantly admit is always useful. Ailbhe discusses working in the family business, while Aoibhín opens up about leaving her acting life behind to start her own business and a new life in Clare. There are tales of kids, plenty about dogs, both funny and tragic, and lots of Christmas cheer!

On this episode Amy chats to broadcaster, business owner and mother of three, Mairead Ronan. Mairead recently quit her very successful radio career to spend more time with her family and to concentrate on other projects, of which there are quite a few! She’s the long-time host of Ireland’s Fittest Family, a former winner of Dancing with the Stars (done with a new baby at home!) and owner of haircare brand Faro.  

Amy and Mairead chat about “mum guilt” and the difficulties of balancing work, family and personal time. Leaving her radio job allowed Mairead to put more time into her business, until suddenly she was as busy as before! She talks about parenting two young kids alongside a teenager, comparing it to her own childhood and of the fond memories of her mother who she sadly lost at a very young age. 

And, along the way, there are prank text messages, a very cute dog, parenting fails, learning to give herself a break and speaking of which… a mysterious broken arm!