I'm joined on this episode by the brilliant Sian Welby - broadcaster, presenter, and one of the funniest, most energetic voices on morning radio. You'll probably know Sian from Capital Breakfast where she wakes up the nation alongside Jordan North and Chris Stark, and you might also recognise her from ITV1's This Morning and Lorraine.

But more recently, Sian became a mum to baby Ruby and in this episode, we chat about how becoming a mum has shifted her identity, what it was like returning to Capital Breakfast just three months after giving birth, and the shared parental leave setup she and her partner Jake have carved out.

Sian also talks honestly about the pressure that exists to 'snap back' to her pre-baby body, and why she's happy just focusing on family and work rather than her abs (whoop!).

Follow Sian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sianwelby

Big thanks to the sponsor of this episode, Eurocamp, the UK’s leading European outdoor holiday specialist. There's still time to grab a last-minute deal on a May half term holiday, with many 7-night stays available for less than £350 per party. Head to Eurocamp.co.uk to book and you can get up to 20% off on last minute summer holidays in July and August.

If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review — and hit follow so you don’t miss future chats. Thank you!

Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and come say hi on Instagram: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It’s Twins now.

Music: Epidemic Sound

Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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

My guest on this episode is the brilliant Ben Miller. Ben is an actor, comedian and bestselling children’s author – you’ll no doubt recognise him from Paddington, Death in Paradise, Bridgerton, and a whole host of brilliant comedy shows.

Ben joins me to talk about his new book Diary of a Puss in Boots, how he uses humour in his children’s books to get kids excited about reading, and why he thinks laughter is the best way to hook them in.

We also talk about his life as a dad who often travels for work, and why mums still get shamed for doing the same thing. We chat about the double standards at play, and how that ‘mum guilt’ doesn’t always hit dads in the same way.

Buy Ben’s latest book: https://amzn.eu/d/g05VFzq

Follow Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actualbenmiller

If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review – and hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!

Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It’s Twins now.

Music: Epidemic Sound

Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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

I’m joined on this special episode by two guests to discuss a topic that’s very much part of the national conversation right now - keeping teens safe online.

Valiant Richey is Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, Trust and Safety at TikTok in Dublin and Dr Kirren Schnack is a clinical psychologist and author of Ten Times Calmer - Beat Anxiety and Change your Life and a content creator. Both are parents of teens and so really understand the need to keep teens safe online

We discuss how to help your teens develop healthy screen habits, what digital wellbeing is (and how healthy your own might be never mind your kids').

This episode is packed full of wise advice and loads of info about the new safety features rolled out by TikTok recently, making it easier for parents and teens to have conversations about staying safe online, with new ways for parents to understand how their teen is using TikTok, and understand if they’re coming across content they are concerned about.

For more information, head to the TikTok Safety Centre.

This podcast episode is sponsored by TikTok

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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

Quick note about this episode before I introduce it - the audio quality isn't up to the usual standard. I've done what I can to improve it, and hopefully it doesn't take away from the importance and brilliance of the conversation. That said...

My guest on this episode is the fantastic Emma Barnett. Emma is a presenter and journalist, currently on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and formerly presenter of Woman's Hour.

Emma joins me to discuss her new book Maternity Service: A Love Letter to Mothers from the Front Line of Maternity Leave which looks at what maternity leave is really like for millions of new mums.

Emma talks about her own experiences from her two 'tours of duty' and questions why it's called maternity leave which it involves no actual leave...

Buy Emma's book: https://amzn.eu/d/2KtDOkB

Follow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmabarnett/

Buy Emma's ace colouring books: https://colouryourstreets.co.uk

If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!

Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.

Music: Epidemic Sound

Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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

This is a very special LIVE episode, recorded in front of an audience at The Baby Show at London's Excel. While new parents and parents to be rested their weary feet in between shopping for baby essentials from the biggest and best brands, they could also watch us on stage.

I was so thrilled to chat to Louisa Lytton - best known for playing Ruby Allen in EastEnders but who has also starred in The Bill, competed on Strictly Come Dancing, and she will soon to be playing Rachel Watson in the stage adaptation of The Girl on The Train. 

Louisa, who is mum to a three-year-old, chatted to me about how she balances work with motherhood, what her expectations of being a mum was compared to the reality, who she goes to for advice and what it's like being part of a British institution with EastEnders!

Big thanks to The Baby Show for making Not Another Mummy Podcast your official podcast partner for 2025. Tickets are now on sale for the next Baby Show at the Birmingham NEC from 9th to 11th May 2025.

If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!

Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.

Music: Epidemic Sound

Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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

I'm joined on this episode by one of my FAVOURITE people on social media - and the telly box - Ashley James. Ashley is a mum of two and regularly appears on ITV's This Morning sharing her views on the topics of the day.

She is a kick-ass feminist and manages to keep calm in even the most frustrating of conversations so I was keen to chat to her about mum shaming and coping with feeling judged by other parents.

We also talk about mum guilt she feels over working so much, scrabbling around in the dressing up box on the morning of World Book Day (hard relate) and more.

Follow Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleylouisejames/?hl=en-gb

Find out more about the MAM campaign: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHBffSwCR1d/?img_index=1

If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!

Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.

Music: Epidemic Sound

Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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

My guest on this episode is someone who is my online go-to for parenting advice. Clinical Psychologist Dr Martha Deiros Collado shares wise, thoughtful, evidence-based views on her Instagram posts and she is the author of the brilliant book How To Be The Grown Up, which has just come out in paperback.

Dr Martha and I discuss what she has learned about herself since becoming a mum and how her kids have taught her new skills. We also cover how time-poor parents can navigate research and studies about parenting and children, knowing what to listen to and what to ignore.

Dr Martha talks a lot about emotional regulation, both teaching ourselves how to process our own feelings, and how to model to our kids and teach them how to regulate their emotions. A really hard one to do!

And we also discuss screen time, how it's not the enemy we're led to believe, why we shouldn't demonise smartphones and how to work out what a healthy screen and device relationship looks like within your family.

Follow Dr Martha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.martha.psychologist/

Buy her book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1787636887

This episode is brought to you by The Baby Show and I am really excited to share that Not Another Mummy Podcast is the Official Podcast Partner for The Baby Show Excel London 2025. It is from Friday 7th March to Sunday 9th March at Excel London, and I will be there on Saturday 8th March recording a LIVE podcast with the wonderful Louisa Lytton talking about everything motherhood. Tickets can be bought online at thebabyshow.co.uk/excel and if you pop in the code PTNAMPODCAST before Thursday 6th March at midnight, you’ll get your ticket for only £16 per person, saving £14 on-the-door!

If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!

Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.

Music: Epidemic Sound

Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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

My guests today are Reena Hammer and Aaron Chatterley - founders of teen beauty brand Indu.

They talk to me about the teen and tween skincare boom which has seen young girls flock to buy large numbers of products - often aimed at adult skin.

We discuss which ingredients parents should be looking out for - and avoiding - on their teen's bathroom shelf but also, how much of it they think should be a brand's responsibility to discourage young buyers vs parents or even the government.

Aaron also explains how it was a conversation with his own teenage daughters which led him to launch Indu, a cool teen beauty brand with safe ingredients.

If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!

Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.

Music: Epidemic Sound

Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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

Whether you've got a teenager and you're right in the thick of smartphone and social media use, or you've got a younger child and worries about what's to come, this episode is an essential listen.

I'm joined on this episode by one of the nest known psychologists in the UK - Dr Linda Papadopoulos. I met Linda at an event held by Meta in November, where we learned all about Instagram Teen Accounts, and I asked her to join me as a guest.

As a psychologist and mum of a teenager, she is well placed to talk about the ins and outs of navigating smartphone use and social media. Expect LOTS of brilliant, helpful, take away points from her!

If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!

Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.

Music: Epidemic Sound

Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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

Welcome to a brand new series of the podcast - series 12!

I'm joined on this episode by a familiar face from breakfast TV - Dr Hilary Jones. A father of five and also a grandparent, Dr Hilary talks to me about what it's like to be a grandparent, his views on modern parenting and the screen time debate.

He also offers up some brilliant advice on protecting our families from flu and helpful explanations of why it's important to get the available NHS vaccinations.

If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!

Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.

Music: Epidemic Sound

Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy.

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