The Mummafesto

Orla leads Solas Coaching. After her own single and co-parenting journey, she now works with both single parents, empowering them to navigate their unique challenges as well as with workplaces, to develop tailored policies and training to support single parents.

Orla recently authored a report on how to build workplaces that work for single parents, arguing that this is a way to both unlock potential and retain top talent.  She argues that “leading the way for single parents in the future of work”.

Joining me on the Mummafesto this week is Michelle Niziol. Michelle has spent more than two decades building and scaling companies across property, finance, and investment. From being on the brink of homelessness at 17 to running seven successful businesses – and even being fired in week one of The Apprentice.  She is also a Mum of two and an advocate for female entrepreneurship. In June this year she launched a campaign that calls on the government to make childcare costs tax-deductible for self-employed parents.

My guest this week is Dr Laura Abbott, whose research career has been dedicated to studying the experiences of pregnant women in the prison system. She co-authored The Birth Charter for pregnant women in England and Wales. She has contributed to Government reviews on how staff can manage and care for pregnant women and mothers in prison. She leads the Lost Mothers project, explores the experiences of incarcerated mothers, separated from their babies, and the professionals who support them.

Joining me on The Mummafesto this week is professor of sociology, Tina Miller. Tina’s research covers all things motherhood and fatherhood, reproductive health and constructions of gender. Tina, welcome to The Mummafesto.  

You can find out more about Tina's work and her publications here. Her latest book is 'Motherhood: Contemporary Experiences and Generational Change' Cambridge University Press.

Joining me on The Mummafesto this week is Becca Ehrlich. Becca is a Walthamstow local and founder of the noisy book club, designed to help teach parents how to support their children both in their education and emotionally. Becca’s mission is to teach parents alongside their children, creating a resilient household in which everyone can support and be supported. Becca, welcome to The Mummafesto.  

You can find out more about The Noisy Book Club via the website: http://www.noisybookclub.com/

Joining me on The Mummafesto is the indomitable Liuba Grechen Shirley. Liuba is the founder of the Vote Mama Foundation, the leading source of research and analysis about the political participation of moms. Liuba became the first woman in history to receive federal approval to spend Campaign Funds of childcare, gaining support from Hilary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren.

Helen is the Convenor of The Centenary Action Group, the UK’s largest coalition of women’s rights activists and organisations. The Centenary Action Group advocates for the development, improvement and implementation of laws and policies that reduce or remove the barriers to women’s political participation   

Helen is the great granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst.  

CARE International: Helen is an international development and women’s rights advisor to CARE international, working in Ethiopia and the UK. Her work with CARE focuses mainly on the trying to combat the dangers of a world that is de-prioritising development and a focus on women and girls.

She is a Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University and the first Chancellor of the University of Suffolk and holds honorary doctorates from Edge Hill University and the University of Manchester.   

Joining me on The Mummafesto this week is founder of Beyond the School Run, Louise Webster. Beyond the School Run was founded as a place to help parents utilise their skills and talents and help businesses connect with this talent. Since then, Louise has published her first book, ‘A new way for mothers’.

Joining me on The Mummafesto this week is the author and researcher Alex Bollen.  Formerly a research director at Ipsos MORI, Alex has recently published her first

book, 'Motherhood: Breaking free from bad science and good mother

myths' - exploring how motherhood has been weaponised by science and

the state and the inherently political nature of motherhood. Alex,

welcome to The Mummafesto.

You can find out more about Alex's work and book here.

Joining me this week on The Mummafesto is Georgie Harris and Bex Taylor, founders of Mums Who Build. Mums Who Build is a space for women navigating motherhood, business and career growth, focusing on financial security and tackling the motherhood penalty. It was born out of their own experience of managing careers and parenting. MOB, welcome to The Mummafesto. 

You can find out more about MOB at: www.mumswhobuild.com