In this episode of The Netmums Podcast, Wendy and Alison are joined by Leah Hazard, an NHS midwife, author, and advocate for maternal health. Leah shares her journey from television to midwifery, revealing the profound impact her own experiences of motherhood had on her career choice. As we delve into the realities of maternity care, Leah discusses the emotional toll of being a midwife and the importance of self-advocacy for expectant mothers.

The conversation covers:

- The Journey to Midwifery: Leah’s transition from a career in television to becoming a midwife, driven by her own challenging experiences during childbirth.

- The Reality of Midwifery: the fulfilling moments of connection between midwives and their patients, alongside the stress and burnout that can accompany working in the NHS.

- Breaking the Silence on Mental Health: addressing mental health challenges faced by healthcare professionals, and Leah’s own struggles with anxiety and burnout.

- Advocating for Yourself in Maternity Care: practical advice for expectant parents on how to advocate for themselves during pregnancy and birth.

- The Reality of Early Parenthood: the often-overlooked transition from pregnancy to parenting, and the need for honest conversations about the challenges of early motherhood.

- Embracing the Teenage Years: Leah’s insights on parenting teenagers; cherish the journey and don’t fear the transition.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode of The Netmums Podcast, Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry are thrilled to welcome back the fabulous Myleene Klass, a multi-talented presenter, musician, and mum of three. Myleene shares her candid experiences of parenting, the challenges of raising teenagers, and the joys of embracing the chaos of family life.

The conversation covers:

- The Reality of Parenting Chaos: Myleene opens up about her bustling household, juggling a teenager preparing for university with younger children and the challenges of family dynamics during school holidays.

- Navigating Teenagers: The trio discusses the emotional rollercoaster of parenting teens, including the bittersweet feelings of watching them grow up and the importance of maintaining open communication.

- Miscarriage and Advocacy: Myleene shares her heartfelt journey through miscarriage and how she transformed her pain into power by campaigning for better support and care for women experiencing pregnancy loss.

- The Importance of Emotional Connection: Myleene introduces the concept of the 'Disney hug', emphasising the significance of physical affection in fostering emotional growth and connection within families.

- Reflections on Career and Identity: Myleene reflects on her multifaceted career, the cultural impact of her work, and the lessons learned along the way, including the importance of being true to oneself.

- Future Aspirations: From new music projects to continued advocacy for women's health, Myleene shares her exciting plans and the passion that drives her to make a difference.

Join us for this heartfelt discussion filled with laughter, insights, and the raw realities of motherhood. It’s a must-listen for any parent navigating the ups and downs of family life.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

This episode of The Netmums Podcast features the insightful Dr. Punam Krishan, a busy GP, mum of two, and a familiar face on BBC Morning Live. As we mark Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, Dr. Punam shares her personal journey through motherhood, touching on sensitive themes such as birth trauma, maternal mental health, and the challenges faced by new parents.

The conversation covers:

- The Reality of Maternal Mental Health:

Dr. Punam opens up about her own experiences with postnatal depression following a traumatic birth, highlighting the importance of recognising and addressing mental health issues.

- The Struggles of a Medic Mum: 

Discussing the unique challenges faced by parents in the medical profession, Dr. Punam reflects on how her medical knowledge can sometimes lead to increased anxiety regarding her children's health.

- Understanding Baby Blues vs. Postnatal Depression:

 Dr. Punam explains the key differences between the common baby blues and more severe postnatal depression, offering valuable insights for new parents.

- The Importance of Seeking Help:

 The discussion emphasises the need for parents to advocate for their own mental health, encouraging listeners to reach out for support when needed.

- Navigating the Early Days of Motherhood:

 Dr. Punam shares practical self-care tips for new mums, emphasising the necessity of compassion and understanding towards oneself during the challenging fourth trimester.

- Breaking the Stigma: 

The conversation addresses the stigma surrounding maternal mental health, particularly within certain communities, and the importance of open dialogue to foster understanding and support.

Join us for this heartfelt and enlightening episode that aims to empower parents to prioritise their mental health and seek the support they deserve.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode of The Netmums Podcast, Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry are joined by the brilliant Casey Major Bunce, a mother of four and the creative mind behind Major Mum Hacks. Casey shares her incredible journey through motherhood, offering practical tips and life hacks that can save time, money, and sanity for busy families.

The conversation covers:

- The Reality of Family Holidays: Wendy opens up about her family's lack of overseas holidays and the honesty behind the struggles many parents face when it comes to finances and travel.

- The Power of Preparation: Casey reveals her essential hacks for managing chaotic mornings, including the famous pancake muffin hack that has transformed breakfast for her family.

- Visual Learning for Kids: The trio discusses the importance of visual aids in helping children understand daily routines and responsibilities, making mornings smoother for everyone.

- Navigating Parenthood with Neurodiversity: Casey shares her experiences as a neurodiverse parent and how it has shaped her parenting style, including her recent autism diagnosis.

- Family Outings Made Easy: From clever packing tips to keeping kids entertained on long journeys, Casey provides insights into making family outings more enjoyable and less stressful.

- Embracing Imperfection: The discussion turns to the pressures of social media and the importance of being honest about the realities of parenting, including the challenges and messiness that come with it.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this special bonus episode of The Netmums Podcast, guest host Louise Burke, our Editorial Director, delves into a crucial topic for modern parents: keeping our teens safe online. Joined by Tara Hopkins, Meta's Global Director of Public Policy and a fellow parent, they discuss the success of the Teen Accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, designed to protect young users as they navigate social media.

The conversation highlights:

- Understanding Teen Accounts: Tara explains the features such as automatic protective settings that ensure a safer experience for users under 18.

- Tools for Parents: How parental supervision tools work, allowing parents to monitor their teens' activity while respecting their privacy.

- Navigating the Digital Landscape: Tara shares insights on how parents can effectively engage with their teens about social media, including the importance of having open conversations and staying curious about their online world.

- New Features on the Horizon: Listeners will learn about upcoming tools being rolled out, including restrictions on live broadcasting and nudity filters, aimed at enhancing safety for younger users.

- Tara reflects on her journey as a parent navigating social media with her own children, offering relatable anecdotes and practical advice.

Join us for this informative discussion that aims to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to support your teens in the digital age. It’s definitely listening time well spent – it’ll arm you with everything you need to know to parent better.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode of The Netmums Podcast, Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry are joined by the absolutely delightful Alex Jones, renowned TV presenter, podcaster and mum of three, best known for her work on The One Show. In this super down to earth chat Alex shares her experiences of motherhood, the joys and challenges of raising young children (and pets!) and her recent move to the countryside.

- Birthday Reflections: Alex discusses her recent birthday celebrations and the importance of appreciating the gift of another year.

- Parenting Adventures: From ballet classes to dealing with chickenpox and broken bones, Alex shares the ups and downs of parenting young children.

- The Journey of Ageing: The trio discusses the notion of being an 'older mum' and how it has shaped Alex's parenting style and outlook on life.

- Balancing Work and Family: Alex opens up about her full-time job, the challenges of juggling work with family life, and the decisions she makes to prioritise her children.

- Home Renovations: Alex shares insights into her family's recent move to the countryside, the renovations of their new home, and how it has positively impacted their lives.

- Recommendations: Alex hosts the ‘Binge!’ podcast with McFly’s Harry Judd, and shares a snapshot of her favourite TV shows, books, and podcasts.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode of The Netmums Podcast, Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry welcome the incredibly insightful Emma Barnett, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster known for her work on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and Women's Hour. Emma, a mother of two, shares her experiences surrounding maternity leave and the often-unspoken realities of motherhood.

The conversation includes:

- The Reality of Maternity Leave: Emma discusses the challenges of feeling both isolated and in need of connection during this transformative period.

- Rebranding Maternity Leave: Emma proposes a new perspective on maternity leave, framing it as a time of service and kindness rather than just a break from work.

- The Impact of IVF: Emma opens up about her IVF journey, reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster and the importance of community support during this time.

- The Myth of Motherhood: The trio explores the romanticised notions of motherhood and how the realities often differ from expectations.

- Finding Balance: Emma shares her approach to juggling work, motherhood, and her new business venture, Claire Your Streets, while offering practical advice for parents seeking to find their footing.

Join us for a discussion that challenges the norms of motherhood and offers a fresh perspective on the journey of parenting.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode of The Netmums Podcast, Wendy and Alison are joined by the fabulous Vogue Williams, a busy mum of three, wife to Spencer Matthew, and the host of the popular podcasts My Therapist Ghosted Me and Never Live it Down. Vogue opens up about her parenting experiences, sharing the joys and challenges of raising her children while managing a hectic career.

The conversation covers a range of topics, including:

- Milestones in Parenting: Alison reflects on her 14-year-old's newfound independence in the kitchen, contrasting it with the demands of her younger children.

- Parenting Dynamics: Vogue discusses the division of household tasks with Spencer, and the often-unseen burden of managing family logistics.

- Child-Free Time: The importance of nurturing relationships outside of parenting, and how Vogue and Spencer make time for each other amidst their busy schedules.

- The Quest for Kindness: Vogue shares her approach to raising kind children while navigating the pressures of societal expectations.

- Future Family Plans: With Vogue contemplating a fourth child, the discussion delves into the realities of parenting and the impact of age on family dynamics.

Join us for a brilliant chat filled with practical advice for parents navigating the ups and downs of family life.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode of The Netmums Podcast, Wendy and Alison are joined by the fabulous television presenter Sarah Beeny and one of her four sons, Charlie Beeny, for a very lively chat about parenting, communication and tackling tricky topics at home.

Sarah shares insights from her new podcast, ‘Seriously?! With Sarah Beeney’, where she dives into conversations with her family about everything from sexting and OnlyFans, to gender identity and the menopause. They talk about how their open communication style has fostered a supportive environment for discussing sensitive subjects, allowing for honest conversations that many families shy away from.

Highlights of the episode:

- The Importance of Openness: Sarah and Charlie discuss how their family dynamic encourages awkward conversations, breaking down barriers around difficult topics.

- Parenting Challenges: The pair reflect on the evolving nature of parenting and how Sarah's approach has changed as her children have grown.

- Family Band: Navigating life when your kids and husband are living the rockstar lifestyle as touring musicians with band The Entitled Sons

- Positive Role Models: They explore the impact of role models in today’s society, particularly in relation to young boys and the influence of figures like Andrew Tate.

- Lessons Learned: Sarah reveals what she's learned from Charlie, whilst Wendy and Aliosn put Charlie on the spot to find out what he’d most like to change about Sarah’s parenting!

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode of The Netmums Podcast, Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry welcome Sara Davies MBE, renowned for her role on Dragon's Den and her new BBC series, The Big Idea Works. Sara shares her parenting journey, navigating business and parenting life with two energetic boys.

Sara offers her insights around the challenges of letting go as a fellow parent, reflecting particularly the differences between older and younger siblings.

The chat delves into:

- Entrepreneurial spirit: Sara's youngest son is already showing signs of business acumen with his plans for a YouTube channel.

- Imposter syndrome: Sara opens up about her own experiences with self-doubt and how she learned to embrace her achievements and authenticity.

- Luxury vs budget camping holidays: Sara discusses her philosophy on travel and the importance of instilling values in her children through experiences rather than luxury.

- Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: Sara provides valuable tips for parents with innovative ideas…

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative