Parents Who Think

What happens when a woman writes the truth the world isn't ready to hear? In this episode of Parents Who Think, host Danusia Malina-Derben joins Erica Jong, novelist, poet, and unapologetic icon, in a conversation about the power and price of honesty.

They explore how female jealousy gets buried in family and friendship, how mothers and daughters carry inherited pain, and why admitting negative emotions is still radical. Erica reflects on the terror of writing Fear of Flying, the myth of zipless fucks, and why she's always preferred warm and cuddly sex to bodice-ripping fantasy.

From literary rebellion to maternal ambivalence, this episode offers rare insight into what it means to be a woman who speaks her mind, and refuses to apologise for it.

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Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

In this episode of Parents Who Think, Danusia Malina-Derben joins Ken Mossman for a layered and moving conversation about modern masculinity, emotional maturity, and what it means to be an integrated man. Ken brings wit and wisdom to topics most men were never taught to face: how to play, how to feel, and how to take responsibility without shame or performance.

They explore why so many men exile parts of themselves, like their inner child or rebellious adolescent, and what's possible when those voices are finally welcomed home. Ken also shares what it looks like to meet children where they are, and how one moment with his four-year-old son changed everything he thought he knew about parenting.

This is not your typical fatherhood talk. It's about presence, power, and the radical responsibility of being a fully formed human, on purpose.

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• Join the Parents Who Think community on Substack

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Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

Parents Who Think host Danusia Malina-Derben joins Clare Pooley in an unflinching conversation about motherhood, sobriety, and the silent unraveling that so often hides behind 'wine o'clock'."

Together, Clare and Danusia speak frankly about alcohol as a socially sanctioned drug, the seductive myths around moderation, and the messy, non-linear journey of quitting. Clare offers sharp insights for those wondering if their drinking has crept too far, and shares what it means to live fully, vividly, and without blurring the edges.

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Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

In this episode of Parents Who Think, Danusia Malina-Derben talks with Stuart Lawrence, teacher, author, and younger brother of Stephen Lawrence, about what it means to carry grief and use it as a tool for change.

Stuart reflects on stepping into a leadership role in his family after Stephen's murder, navigating the long and painful road toward justice, and discovering his own purpose through education and public speaking. He shares intimate memories of his brother, the confusion and pain of dealing with systemic failure, and how his mother's strength and clarity became the foundation for everything that followed.

Together, Danusia and Stuart explore what it means to raise a Black son in Britain today, how to instil hope without dishonesty, and why personal action, no matter how small, is never wasted. Stuart's work in schools, his books Silence is Not an Option and Growing Up Black in Britain, and his belief in the power of education shine throughout this conversation.

This is an episode about personal responsibility, family legacy, and how to keep going when the fight was never supposed to be yours, but you take it up anyway.

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Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

Danusia Malina-Derben talks with Rosie Sherry about what it really means to educate and parent outside the system. Rosie, a home educator and founder of a global tech community, shares the story of pulling her children out of school—not out of rebellion, but out of radical care. What followed wasn't just a change in schooling—it was a reordering of her entire life.

Together, Danusia and Rosie talk about the mismatch between modern schooling and real children, the pressure for constant peer socialising, and why introverted kids often get left behind. Rosie also reflects on building a business while home educating five kids, what success looks like when you stop chasing other people's definitions, and why she no longer wants to "scale" just because she can.

This is a conversation about instinct, discernment, and the quiet power of doing things differently.

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Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

Eldra Jackson doesn't soften the truth. And he doesn't offer redemption stories tied up in a bow. In this conversation, he speaks openly about the crimes that led to his 24-year prison sentence and the deeper inner work that began long after the bars closed behind him.

Danusia Malina-Derben, host of Parents Who Think, joins Eldra to explore what happens when men are taught that power depends on domination—and what unfolds when trauma goes unnamed. And what it means to take full responsibility not just for your past, but for the impact you still have on others every day. They discuss his turning point in solitary confinement, his choice to step away from gang life, and how spiritual and emotional discipline helped him begin again.

This episode offers a profound and grounded look at change—not the glossy kind, but the kind forged in silence, self-inquiry, and discomfort. Eldra speaks not just to those who've done harm, but to anyone who wants to stop running from the truth and start doing better.

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Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

When Suzy Walker began a mindfulness course, she didn't expect it to unearth a lifetime of suppressed grief. But in conversation with Danusia Malina-Derben, host of Parents Who Think, what unfolds is a raw, honest reflection on what happens when we stop running, and start listening.

Danusia and Suzy explore the seductive trap of busyness, the spiritual disorientation of stillness, and the hidden grief we mask with productivity. Together, they unpack what it means to be present in a culture that values performance over peace, and why women, especially mothers, struggle with simply being.

From Whitstable beach meditations to missed flights and social media audits, this is a fiercely intelligent, intimate exchange between two women unafraid to question what success, selfhood, and service really mean. A reminder that we don't have to do more to be more, and that sometimes the most radical move is to be still.

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Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

What does real equality look like when you're parenting solo? In this moving conversation, Danusia interviews Michael Ray, a father who's raising his daughter on his own after her mother stepped away from their lives. What might sound like a tough beginning becomes a powerful dialogue on parenting, presence, and the messy realities of gendered expectations.

Michael shares what it means to parent with depth and integrity—how he built his work life around his daughter's needs, and why respect for her mother remains non-negotiable. We talk about how men are still applauded for showing up as parents, while women are expected to carry the full load with little recognition. We also get into why equality initiatives often fail, because they don't come with a redistribution of domestic labour.

This conversation isn't only about lone parenting. It's about the emotional labour of raising children well, the cultural rewiring men need to do, and how raising a daughter changed Michael's entire outlook on power, gender, and responsibility. If you think you've heard every take on fatherhood, think again.

Discover more from us:

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Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

If you think menopause is just hot flashes and mood swings, Meg Mathews is here to set you straight. In this unfiltered episode, Meg opens up about how menopause knocked her sideways—crippling anxiety, misdiagnosis, zero libido—and how it took years before anyone mentioned hormones. That journey led to Meg's Menopause, a platform busting taboos and pushing for real education, access, and self-respect.

We cover it all—testosterone, bone health, dry everything, and the identity shifts no one warns you about. Meg tells it like it is: women aren't broken, they're just not being told the truth.

Discover more from us:

• Join the Parents Who Think community on Substack

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• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

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Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram

What does it really mean to be a good dad in a world that's (finally) rethinking power, privilege, and gender? Jordan Shapiro offers a fresh framework—one that demands more than just 'helping out' or being 'the fun one.' In this episode, we talk about radical inclusivity, critical consciousness, and why patriarchal manliness needs a total rethink. Jordan doesn't dodge the difficult stuff—he names the creepy undercurrents of the "daddy as first boyfriend" trope and unpacks why so many men feel attacked when the cultural tide changes. We cover big ideas, big shifts, and the kind of inner work modern fatherhood really requires.

Discover more from us:

• Join the Parents Who Think community on Substack

• Follow us on Instagram

• Connect with Danusia

• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

• Advertising Inquiries here

Credits:

• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben

• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz

• Cover art by Anthony Oram