47 tabs open. Voice-noting while making dinner. Replying to emails on the school run. Sound familiar?

In this episode of M's The Word, we're tackling multitasking — the habit so many of us wear as a badge of honour, but one that might be costing us more than we realise.

Plenty of us proudly call ourselves multitaskers, certain that doing several things at once makes us more productive. But the science tells a different story: while our brains can handle simple, automatic actions at the same time, they aren't built to focus on more than one attention-heavy task at once.

So why do we keep doing it? Is this really how we want to live, and more importantly, is it what we want to teach our children?

We dig into why multitasking has become the norm (especially for busy mums), what's actually happening in our brains when we juggle tasks, the pressure to do it all, and whether there's a better way.

So, which are you - a proud multitasker or a one-job-at-a-time triumph? We'd love to hear from you.

Enjoyed this episode? Follow M's The Word wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a rating and review - it really helps others find the show.

Do you feel guilty when you prioritise joy? If it doesn't fall into the category of productivity or making money, does it get relegated in your head? Somewhere between responsibility, motherhood and bills, so many of us stopped making time for the things that light us up.

In this episode of M's The Word, Sarah Tucker is joined by Jade, Gemma and Shelley to talk about Muse Medicine — the creative, playful, "just because" moments that bring you back to yourself.

The goals, the ambitions and the masterplans are all valid, and as ambitious, driven women we cherish the choice to pursue them. But life is lived in the moments in between, and sometimes you need a little muse medicine to smooth out your edges. When you aren't measuring or judging your contribution, you're simply present — doing something that lights you up.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why joy so often gets relegated behind productivity and profit
• The guilt that comes with doing something "just because"
• How motherhood, responsibility and bills changed our relationship with play
• Finding your way back to the things that make you feel creative and lit up

So tell us, what's your muse medicine?

Connect with us: Instagram: @the_mortgagemum Website: www.themortgagemum.co.uk

In this episode of On The Ladder, our exclusive series for first-time buyers, we're talking about one of the most overlooked steps in the home-buying process: the survey. It might feel like an extra cost you don't need, but a survey can reveal hidden issues like structural damage, damp, and subsidence before you commit to buying. Skip it, and you could be signing up for expensive surprises down the line. Watch to find out what surveyors actually check for, the different types of surveys available, and why this step could save you thousands as a first-time buyer.

🪜 New episodes of On The Ladder every month, subscribe so you don't miss out!

Could your child BUY a home instead of renting at university? In this episode of On the Ladder, we're exploring the Buy for University mortgage from Loughborough Building Society, and it could be a game-changer for students and their families. With tuition fees at £9,535 a year and average student rent now around £563 a month, so many parents are asking: is there a smarter way? A Buy for University mortgage allows a student to buy a property near their uni, live in one room, and rent the spare rooms to fellow students, often helping to cover the mortgage payments along the way. In this episode, we cover:

✅ What a Buy for University mortgage actually is, and how it works

✅ Who can apply, and the property restrictions to know about (max 3 bedrooms)

✅ How renting rooms to other students can help cover the costs

✅ Whether it could be the right step for your family

On the Ladder is our exclusive series for first-time buyers, created by Sarah Tucker, founder of The Mortgage Mum, here to hold your hand through every step of your home-buying journey. If you found this helpful, don't forget to like, subscribe and share with someone who needs to see it, and if you have any questions, pop them in the comments.

Find out more: https://www.theloughborough.co.uk/

This June, for Men's Mental Health Month, we're doing something different. In our very first guest episode, we were honoured to be joined by Paul Adams of Pepper Money, a man who spoke with extraordinary courage about his personal experience with alcohol dependency and the road to recovery.

Ahead of Father's Day, this felt like exactly the conversation we needed to have.

Because the reality is, the numbers don't lie:

• 3 in 4 suicides in the UK are male
• Men are 3x more likely to die by suicide than women
• 5,717 people lost their lives to suicide in the UK in 2024

Men are conditioned to keep going. Keep providing. Keep it together. But that silence has a cost, and it's one too many families are paying. This episode is a step toward changing that.

Whether you're a man who's been keeping it all in, or someone who loves one, this conversation is for you. WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION • M's The Word | E12 Memory Making: How to ...

📣 If you or someone you know needs support:

🟢 Samaritans – 116 123 (free, 24/7)

🔵 CALM – 0800 58 58 58

🟠 ANDYSMANCLUB – andysmanclub.co.uk

Summer is wonderful, and overwhelming. With children getting around 70 weekdays off school a year and 30 of those falling in the summer alone, working parents face a logistical puzzle that never quite solves itself neatly.

In this episode of M's The Word, host Sarah Tucker is joined by Gemma, Jade & Shelley to talk honestly about the planning, the pressure, and the possibilities of the summer holidays. From childcare patchworks to intentional memory making, this episode is packed with practical ideas and real-world wisdom to help you head into summer feeling prepared rather than panicked.

https://youtu.be/Z3_3AYk96dc

Libsyn Podcast Distribution Description Episode 7b | Interest Rates: The 4 Types You Need to Know

Thinking about applying for a mortgage but not sure which rate to choose? In this episode of On The Ladder, host Sarah Tucker and acting senior mortgage adviser Gemma Bennett walk you through the four most common mortgage rate types - fixed, tracker, discount, and SVR.

You'll learn how each rate works, how your monthly payments could be affected, and crucially, why landing on the SVR is something every first-time buyer should try to avoid. Gemma also explains why you should be talking to your adviser six months before your current rate ends.

On The Ladder is an exclusive series created to help first-time buyers understand the mortgage process with confidence.

Hosted by Sarah Tucker, CEO of The Mortgage Mum & broadcaster. Mortgage expertise from Gemma Bennett, Acting Senior Mortgage Adviser at The Mortgage Mum.

Getting a mortgage can feel daunting, but lenders are really just looking for one thing, proof that you can afford it now and if life changes. In this episode, we break down exactly what happens when you apply, what lenders are looking at, and the key terms every first-time buyer needs to know before they sit down with a lender.

We cover what LTV actually means, why getting a Decision in Principle is such an important first step, and what your bank statements are really telling your lender. Simple, straightforward, and everything you need to walk into that mortgage meeting with confidence.

Are the choices we make about our bodies really our own — or are we more influenced than we think?

In this episode of Mums the Word, we get into the thoughts behind our choices to do tweaks and touch upon the wider culture driving those decisions. It's an open, honest conversation and we can't wait for you to be a part of it.

Gemma opens up about still succumbing to beauty standards set by the patriarchy — and the frustration that comes with knowing that. Sarah questions whether opting out even means anything if we're not all doing it together. And through it all, one thing becomes clear: it's complicated, it's personal, and nobody has a clean answer.

Under 30 minutes. No judgement. Just real women talking about real decisions.

New episodes every Monday at 12PM!

The Renters' Rights Act is now law, but what happens next?

In Part 2 of this essential conversation, Sarah Tucker is joined once again by Louisa Sedgwick, Managing Director of Mortgages at Paragon Bank, for a forward-looking discussion on where the Private Rented Sector goes from here.

With over 30 years of mortgage industry experience, Louisa shares her honest, expert perspective on the big questions that landlords, tenants, and first-time buyers are all asking right now.

In this episode, they cover:

🏘️ How to encourage responsible investment in the PRS at a time when legislation feels increasingly restrictive

📊 What a balanced and sustainable Private Rented Sector could, and should, look like in the future

🏡 What genuinely needs to change to better support tenants and the next generation of first-time buyers trying to get on the ladder

This isn't a doom-and-gloom conversation. It's a grounded, honest look at the road ahead — and what it means for everyone navigating today's housing market.

Whether you're a landlord reassessing your portfolio, a tenant wondering what your future looks like, or a first-time buyer trying to make sense of it all, this episode is for you.

🎧 Missed Part 1? Search click her to listern Renters Rights Part 1 or search for The Mortage Mum in your podcast app or head to themortgagemum.com

The Mortgage Mum Podcast is hosted by Sarah Tucker, CEO of The Mortgage Mum and regular contributor to ITV's This Morning. New episodes every week, subscribe so you never miss one.