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.

The conversation covers:

- 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

In this episode of The Netmums Podcast, Wendy and Alison chat with Oritse Williams from JLS about his wild ride into fatherhood. Oritse spills the beans on the highs of baby Shiva and the lows of sleepless nights and nappy disasters.

He gets real about the tough times, including the heartbreak of two miscarriages, and how keeping his wife’s pregnancy under wraps was a protective move for their mental health.

Oritse also dives into the tricky topic of dads showing their feelings, sharing how it’s helped his bond with his wife and how society can make it tough for blokes to talk about their emotions.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 
Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

Netmums hosts Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry join smartphone-free campaigners Daisy Greenwell and Joe Ryrie to discuss whether a smartphone free childhood is the right approach for our children today.

Daisy and Joe started the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign in February 2024, after one Whatsapp message went viral and later grew into a movement with over 200,000 members! They talk about their journey from being concerned parents to leading a national campaign, tackling the challenges and pressures of smartphones and social media on children. 

The chat covers the risks of kids having unrestricted smartphone access such as exposure to harmful content and social media addiction. They also discuss the balance between enjoying tech benefits and keeping kids safe online. 

You'll hear about the importance of parents working together, tech companies' roles, and the need for rules to ensure kids have age-appropriate tech access. If you're a parent struggling with setting smartphone boundaries, this episode offers practical advice for healthier digital habits and encouraging real-world engagement. 

Daisy and Joe also share their ideas of smartphone alternatives that keep kids safe and connected without the risks. 

If you’d like to learn more about their campaign or sign the Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact, check out their website for resources and connect with local WhatsApp groups to meet like-minded parents:
https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/ 

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 
Series 15 of the Netmums Podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative