The Scummy Mummies Podcast

We know it's only November, but we can't help it - we bloody love Christmas! So in our latest podcast episode, we are sharing some of our favourite festive confessions from previous shows - along with some personal stories of Christmas chaos.

We discuss our favourite things about Xmas, the worst gifts we've ever received, and what we're planning to wear on the big day. Ellie comes clean about her Elf on the Shelf spreadsheet, and shares her top tips for quick and easy elf pranks for lazy people. Plus we answer big, important questions like whether cranberry sauce is acceptable in the Boxing Day sandwich.

Big thanks to White Stuff for teaming up with us for this episode, and for our amazing Christmas competition! You could win a gig from us at your Christmas party, or more excitingly, some vouchers to spend on their fabulous clothes. Just send us YOUR festive confessions - either DM us on Instagram, or email [email protected]. Make sure you get them in by 22 November. Terms and conditions apply.

AND we have a discount for you - use the code SCUMMIES15 to get 15 per cent off all full-priced items on the White Stuff website! Offer ends 12th December.

Here are some of our favourite picks, as mentioned in the podcast:

Elyse coat

Borg slippers

Ayra velvet dress

Wren jacquard dress

Evelyn velvet suit

Poppy fairisle jumper

And of course the awesome Christmas decorations - we love the little Christmas jumpers, and £5 from each sale goes to the excellent charity Home-Start UK.

*WE ARE ON TOUR!* Come and see our live comedy show in 2023! We are on our way to Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Brighton, Bath... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

*WE HAVE A SHOP!* Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thank you for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

267: From Morrisons to Drag Race with Ella Vaday

Our guest for this episode is Nick Collier, aka drag superstar Ella Vaday! He tells us how he went from working in Morrisons to wowing us with his Nigella impression on season three of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. 

We hear about his time performing in the West End, and why he was banned from selling perfume in Harrods. We find out how scripted Drag Race really is, and how Nick feels about the way he was represented in the edit.

Then there's some general drag chat - just how bitchy is it backstage? What's Nick's view on the transition of drag into mainstream culture? And what's really behind the complaints about drag queen storytime? 

We end with Scummy Mummy Confessions, and a cautionary tale about why you should never work with wigs and dogs. 

For more from the fantastic Nick/Ella, follow @ellavaday on Instagram. 

**WE ARE ON TOUR!** Come and see our live comedy show in 2023! We are on our way to Cambridge, Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Bristol, Brighton, Bath... We have two HUGE nights in Catford on 1 & 2 December... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

**WE HAVE A SHOP!** Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thank you for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest for this episode is the amazing Shareefa J - model, diversity activist, fitness champion, and all round bloody brilliant woman. 

She tells us what it's like to watch a photographer lighten your skin tone, and to be told you're too fat when you're a size 10. We discuss how far the modelling industry still has to go when it comes to encouraging inclusivity and stamping out racism. 

We get a bit personal as Shareefa and Helen discuss their experiences of being cheated on. If you're the victim of multiple infidelities, is it helpful or hurtful to know how many other people are involved? And how has Shareefa's experience changed how she feels about monogamy? 

Then of course it's time to lighten the mood with the Scummy Mummy Confessions. Tune in to find out which one of us once shat on our sister's back.

For more from the fantastic Shareefa, follow her on all the things via her linktree. 

**WE ARE ON TOUR!** Come and see our live comedy show in 2023! We are on our way to Middlesborough, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Leatherhead, Bristol, Brighton, Bath... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

**WE HAVE A SHOP!** Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thank you for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should you say to a friend who has cancer? If you're the one with the diagnosis, how do you tell your kids? And is it really possible to futureproof your body against illness? Answering all these questions is the brilliant Rosamund Dean. 

She tells us about her journey from finding a lump in her boob to being cancer free, and what she wishes she'd known at the beginning. We discuss clipboard people versus duvet people, and whether early menopause is more like pick'n'mix or a Glastonbury toilet. Rosamund explains how having cancer has affected her perspective, and reveals the biggest change she's made to her lifestyle. 

Yes, it's a serious subject, but we still manage to have some laughs along the way. And of course we finish with some Scummy Mummy Confessions - this time involving Baileys, sweat, glitter, and lying to children. 

Rosamund's book is a great read whether you have cancer, you're supporting someone through treatment, or you're interested in looking after your health. Reconstruction is out now. We are also huge fans of her book about reducing your alcohol intake, Mindful Drinking. And do check out her substack, Well Well Well. Rosamund is on Instagram @rosamunddean.

**WE ARE ON TOUR!** Come and see our live comedy show in 2023! We are on our way to Leamington Spa, Corby, Harrogate, Middlesborough, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Leatherhead, Bristol, Brighton, Bath... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

**WE HAVE A SHOP!** Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thank you for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest for this episode is the awesome Ayo Akinwolere - Blue Peter presenter, documentary maker, fitness champion, and all-round bloody good bloke. 

He tells us how he went from not being able to swim to crossing the deepest trench of the ocean in just ten weeks. We talk about the cultural divide that separates swimmers and non-swimmers in Britain, and how Ayo is trying to change things. Will he turn Ellie into an open water wanker?

There's some serious chat about Ayo's experience of moving to the UK from Nigeria as a child, and the racism his family faced. We discuss the British class system, and whether meritocracy is a myth. 

Then it's back to the usual old nonsense as we share confessions involving a language barrier, an email sent to the wrong person, and a child licking a cake. 

You can follow Ayo and his adventures on Instagram - @ayoakinwolere.

**WE ARE ON TOUR!** Come and see our live comedy show in 2023! We are on our way to Southampton, Leamington Spa, Corby, Harrogate, Middlesborough, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Leatherhead, Bristol, Brighton, Bath... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

**WE HAVE A SHOP!** Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thanks for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do we all need therapy? How do you talk to a partner about sharing the mental load? And what's the first thing you need to do if you feel you're approaching burnout? Answering tricky questions like these is the awesome psychotherapist Karen Hartley! 

Along with her brilliant wisdom, she shares some practical tips for things like coping with anxiety. We discuss whether there's a generational divide when it comes to therapy and mental health, and how to help teenagers cope with their feelings. Helen talks about the advice she gives to people who are starting the divorce process, and Ellie reveals the most annoying thing her husband and comedy partner have in common. 

Plus: we discuss when and where we're happiest, the downside of to do lists, and whether Karen ever gets bored listening to people bang on about their feelings. 

You can find out more about Karen and the workshops she runs over at karenhartley.co.uk. Follow her on Instagram @karen_hartley_.

**WE ARE ON TOUR!** Come and see our live comedy show! We are on our way to Southampton, Leamington Spa, Corby, Harrogate, Middlesborough, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Leatherhead, Brighton, Bath... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

**WE HAVE A SHOP!** Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the best way to avoid family days out turning into disasters? How do you stop kids asking for snacks all day? And what do mums have in common with combine harvesters? Helping us to survive the last few weeks of the summer holidays is Susie Lodge!

She tells us all about the website she founded, wikiplacesforkids.com, which is an excellent resource for anyone looking for ways to entertain the kids. We get some great tips for pleasing children with different ages and interests, saving money at the cinema, and generally making outings more bearable. 

We discuss the virtues of the pack mentality versus the divide and conquer strategy, and share war stories of our worst days out ever. And Susie tells us about her brilliant network for mums in business, wikimama. 

The game Ellie bangs on about is called Heads Up! and it's free to download via the Apple and Google Play stores. 

**WE ARE ON TOUR!** Come and see our live comedy show in 2023! We are on our way to Southampton, Leamington Spa, Corby, Harrogate, Middlesborough, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Leatherhead, Bristol, Brighton, Bath... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

**WE HAVE A SHOP!** Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thanks for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains two of Ellie's Dad's jokes. He joins us to share some tall tales about a magical dog, the funeral of King George VI, and the time he was at a party with Elton John (or not.)

We discuss the tall tales (lies) our parents told us, and come clean about the myths, legends, and big fat whoppers we've told our own children. (NB: There's a bit of Santa chat you might not want to listen to with little ones around.) And we share some brilliantly hilarious tall tale confessions from listeners.

This is a special episode of the podcast, because we’ve partnered with Audible to celebrate the release of their brand new original audiobook, The World According to Grandpa.

The World According to Grandpa is available to listen to now, only on Audible and you can even sign up to a 30 day free trial to listen now. Subscription required. See Audible.co.uk for terms.

**WE ARE ON TOUR!** Come and see our live comedy show in 2023! We are on our way to Southampton, Leamington Spa, Corby, Harrogate, Middlesbrough, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Leatherhead, Bristol, Brighton, Bath... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

**WE HAVE A SHOP!** Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thanks for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's hard to believe it's been a whole decade since we sat down on Ellie's sofa to record the first episode of the Scummy Mummies Podcast. But here we are, having survived premature childbirth, a shitty divorce and a global pandemic, still on the sofa, and better friends than ever. 

In this special anniversary episode, we reminisce about the good old days, and reflect on whether we should be grateful for the bad times too. We tackle some tricky questions - how bad do the catsuits REALLY smell? What's better to make with lemons than lemonade? And how much longer do we actually think we can get away with this bullshit? Tune in to find out. 

We play two games - an old favourite returns, and Helen introduces Guess the Guest, which makes Ellie get something in her eye. We finish with Scummy Mummy Confessions, for the 261st time. 

We have TWO fabulous sponsors for this special podcast! Thank you to Their Nibs and HotSquash - two London based fashion brands we LOVE.

"Their Nibs" creates gorgeous pyjamas for special occasions such as Christmas and birthday mornings or just a rainy Tuesday evening when you want to feel cherished. Started 20 years ago by the marvellous Fiona Barber, this fabulous London based brand makes women feels amazing! We have a discount code: SCUMMYMUMMIES10 which gives you 10% off everything on the website, including sale items. Go to theirnibs.com to see their gorgeous collection. See our Instagram page for a fabulous giveaway.

"HotSquash" is a women’s fashion brand that designs and makes everything in London! They use premium quality recycled fabrics when possible. This makes your outfit choices not only stylish, but also sustainable. Use code SCUMMYMUMMIES10 for £10 OFF any purchase over £75. Visit hotsquash.com to see all their amazing dresses and jumpsuits WITH POCKETS.

**WE ARE ON TOUR!** Come and see our live comedy show in 2023! We are on our way to Southampton, Leamington Spa, Corby, Harrogate, Middlesborough, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Leatherhead, Bristol, Brighton, Bath... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

**WE HAVE A SHOP!** Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thanks for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's hardest part of parenting - the baby bit, toddler tantrums, or teenage rage? What's it like to live with your dad at the age of 40? And what's the best way to cope with an emergency nipple hair situation? 

Helping us answer all this questions is the hilarious Esther Manito! She tells us all about her experience of starting comedy after having two kids. We discuss sharing domestic chores and balancing out the mental load, and generally have a good old moan. 

Esther discusses living with her dad, and the influence her Lebanese heritage has had on her own parenting. We round off with some tip top confessions involving theme park rides and hairy nipples, and describe our breasts for the listener. 

Esther's tour of her new show, Hell Hath No Fury, kicks off at the Soho Theatre on 17 August. Then she's off to Southend, Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford, Newcastle, Brighton, Edinburgh, Glasgow... Follow her on instagram @esthermanito or visit esthermanito.co.uk for dates and tickets! 

**WE ARE ON TOUR!** Come and see our live comedy show in 2023! We are on our way to Southampton, Leamington Spa, Corby, Harrogate, Middlesborough, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Banbury, Poole, Worthing, Barnsley, Stroud, Trowbridge, Henley-on-Thames, Leatherhead, Bristol, Brighton, Bath... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.

**WE HAVE A SHOP!** Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  

We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thanks for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.