For our final episode, we have an intimate conversation between Tobi Oredein (co-founder and CEO of Black Ballad) and Jendella Benson (Black Ballad's head of editorial) about working motherhood, women's health, parenting choices and future hopes for their children... Use the code THRIVE to get 50% off a Black Ballad membership for a year at www.blackballad.co.uk Join the conversation on social media! #BBSurvivalGuide   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've spoken about a lot of hard things during this season of The Survival Guide, but that only makes us appreciate the little joys of motherhood even more. In this episode, we revisit with previous guests, as they tell us about the little things that bring maximum joy along their parenting journey. Featuring Samantha & Ola (@shadesofblackpodcast), Bolanle Tajudeen (@bolanle_tajudeen), Tobi Asare (@mybumppay), Kelechi Okafor (@kelechnekoff) and Wunmi Etti (@abwunmi_). Use the code...

Motherhood is wild. Have we told you that it's wild? Just in case you haven't gathered that from the first nine episodes of this series: MOTHERHOOD IS WILD!!!!! In the process of caring for your new baby and adjusting to your new normal, it can feel like you've lost yourself in some ways, and it can be quite a process to 'find' yourself again. Kelechi Okafor (@kelechnekoff) talks frankly with us about healing from trauma, mothering herself, why mums need boundaries and so much more. Use...

Not only are black children over-represented in the care system, but black boys wait on average over a year longer than white children to get adopted... These grim figures are encouraging some of us to make the leap into mothering in a different form: through fostering and adoption. But the road is not easy, and this week Aunika (@AunikaBlake/@recoilyouth) takes through her own journey to becoming a foster carer. Use the code THRIVE to get 50% off a Black Ballad membership for a year at...

How do you date when you have children? Practically? Whether you use The Apps or you're a fan of an old-fashioned lingering look across the bar, there are lots of questions that come into play when you decide you're a mum who decides they're ready to date. We talk with Wunmi (@abwunmi_) about her journey with dating, the conclusions she's come to and where she's at now. Use the code THRIVE to get 50% off a Black Ballad membership for a year at www.blackballad.co.uk Join the conversation...

As well as your usual instalment of The Survival Guide, this week Black Ballad takes over the Vintage Books Podcast! Join Jendella in conversation with award-winning author Diana Evans (26a, The Wonder, Ordinary People) as they talk about Black British identity and ‘home’, the British literary canon and reflect on the events of the past year and what we can learn. Search for 'Vintage Books Podcast' wherever you listen to podcasts, or click this link: https://bit.ly/VBPxBB Let us know...

We just want our kids to be healthy, happy and... hopefully not in therapy in 20 years time telling someone how we messed up their lives! Easier said than done though, right? We speak with Liz Pemberton, aka @theblacknurserymanager, about creating a childhood for black children that is safe and joyful. Use the code THRIVE to get 50% off a Black Ballad membership for a year at www.blackballad.co.uk Join the conversation on social media! #BBSurvivalGuide   See acast.com/privacy for...

If pregnancy and child birth wasn't wild enough, the period immediately after having a baby – aka 'the fourth trimester' – can feel like the jungle! This episode we're joined by Samantha (@thisislovesam) and Ola (@ola_olivia_) from Shades of Black Parenting Podcast (@shadesofblackpodcast) to talk through the joy, rage, and emotional rollercoaster of being a new mum. Use the code THRIVE to get 50% off a Black Ballad membership for a year at www.blackballad.co.uk Join the conversation on...

It's that moment we've been waiting for... it's Baby's Big Showtime!! But you'll need to have been living under a rock to not know about latest figures that suggest that black mothers are five times more likely to die in childbirth than white mothers in the UK. On the surface it doesn't make sense – how does that disparity come about?! And on a human level, it is petrifying! We revisit our conversation with Anu from episode 1 to answer the hows and whys, and also talk about the ways that...

Babies cost money and children cost even more!! And that's before we even start talking about the impact that pregnancy and motherhood can have on our careers... Tobi, the founder of MyBumpPay (@mybumppay), talks to us about navigating "the motherhood penalty" at work, how we can prepare for the unexpected, and how to come back to work with a bang – whether that's in your previous role or you've decided to start something new after maternity leave! Use the code THRIVE to get 50% off a...

Content Warning: This episode is about miscarriage and baby loss and will not be for everyone. Please take care of yourself and make use of the following websites: miscarriageassociation.org.uk, sayinggoodbye.org and petalscharity.org. If you are expecting a baby and want reassurance, then kickscount.org empowers mums-to-be with knowledge and confidence. The reality is that you can do everything right and things still go wrong. It's devastating and heartbreaking, but Rachel Yvonne...

How do you make a baby? Turns out even with age, life circumstances, and general health in your favour, it might not be as easy as you'd think. On this episode, our guest, Grace, takes us through the ins and outs of assisted conception – how it can affect your body, your mind and also your relationships. For more information and support on your fertility journey, check out www.fertilitynetworkuk.org. Use the code 'THRIVE' for 50% a 12 month membership of Black Ballad at...