My guest today is award winning author and mum of one Laura Dockrill. Laura went viral back in 2018 when a blog post she wrote about her experiences of postpartum psychosis went viral. She went on to write memoir What Have I Done in 2020, sharing more on her experiences but she’s also the author of YA books, kids' books and her first adult fiction book I Love You, I Love You, I Love You comes out in June. Her latest project is a beautiful picture book, Grey, illustrated by Lauren Child. It's...

Season 11 of Not Another Mummy Podcast kicks off with a chat with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Previously a lawyer and Labour MP, Sadiq has been mayor since 2016. As well as creating policies for the smooth-running of the city, he is a dad of two daughters, now in their twenties. Sadiq talks to me about how his own upbringing with seven siblings in a South London council flat has influenced his own parenting, what it was like to raise two teenage girls and how they navigated things like phones...

I’m joined on this episode by Harriet Shearsmith. Harriet is a mum of three and the presenter of the Unfollowing Mum podcast - about breaking the parenting cycle, unsubscribing from drama by healing generational trauma and putting ourselves and our mental health first.  Harriet talks to me about what cycle breaking parenting is, why we might want to do it and the things she personally is breaking the cycle with. We also delve into parental estrangement with Harriet talking about her own...

My guest on this episode is a returning guest! Rosie Nixon is a mum of two tween boys and passionate about reclaiming midlife. We chat about everything from how she is reinventing midlife - and her recent career pivot away from being Editor-in-Chief of Hello! magazine towards coaching and creating - to parenting tweens, tackling screentime and more. We also touch on how Rosie uses AI - namely Microsoft Copilot in Windows - to plan memorable holidays, how her kids are creating amazing artwork...

TV personality best known for The Only Way Is Essex, influencer and entrepreneur Lydia Bright joins me on this episode. Lydia is a mum to toddler Loretta and has her debut picture book coming out on February 1st – Mummy and Me. Lydia chats to me about single motherhood, how giving birth two weeks into the first 2020 lockdown was a blessing for her, what the term co-parenting means to her and how growing up in a family that fostered children has influenced her as a mum. We also talk about her...

I'm joined on this episode by Jess Chalmers, who runs workshops on online child safety. As a mum of two tweens herself, Jess got the fear after watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix and took matters into her own hands by training herself up on the latest online child safety information. She now goes into schools and workplaces to talk to parents and kids about online safety. Jess chats to me about the mantra you should be drumming into your children (screenshot, block, report), why setting...

We've got a replay episode this week - this episode originally went out in January 2022 and if you're in the mood to declutter and organise as 2023 draws to a close, this episode is for you. My guest is Nicola Lewis. If you’re not already familiar with Nicola, she can be found offering hints, tips and practical real life solutions on keeping organised on social media as well as providing a home decluttering and organising service to people all over the UK. She is also the author of Mind Over...

Whether you're already perimenopausal/menopausal or you're looking ahead to it, my guest today will give you lots to think about. Mum of 3, Kate Rowe-Ham, is a personal trainer who specialises in using exercise and fitness to help women through perimenopause and menopause. Despite being a personal trainer, Kate found herself totally derailed in her early 40s as perimenopause started. Her usual strategies to stay well weren’t working and HRT wasn’t the magic bullet she hoped it would be. Only...

My guest on this episode is CBeebies legend Andy Day. Presenter of an array of programmes like Andy's Global Adventures and star of Andy And The Band with his rock band Andy and the Odd Socks, Andy is also a dad of two - with one more on the way. Andy also works as an ambassador for Anti-Bullying Week and Odd Socks Day which is all about spreading the anti-bullying message and encouraging children to celebrate their uniqueness and individuality. We talk about his experiences as a dad of...

My guest on this episode is Suzy Reading. As well as being a chartered psychologist, yoga teacher and coach, Suzy is a mum of two and the author of a whole bunch of books including her latest one, Rest To Reset. Suzy is a must-follow on Instagram where her daily reminders, questions and invitations to adjust your thinking will soothe even the most tired, frazzled brains. So who better to chat to about the overwhelm so many of us feel in the run up to Christmas? Suzy offers up advice on how to...

I'm joined on this episode by Lotte Jeffs and Stu Oakley, authors of the book The Queer Parent and hosts of the podcast From Gay To Ze. From fostering and fertility treatment to co-parenting and dealing with homophobia, the book is an essential parenting handbook for the LGBTQ+ community, their friends, families and allies, and anyone who wants to understand and support the full breadth of the queer experience. Lotte, who is mum to a five-year-old (and cats who like frogs, as you'll hear)...

Welcome back to SERIES TEN of Not Another Mummy Podcast. It's six years since we launched, back in a time when believe it or not, there were hardly any parenting podcasts! I'm thrilled to be kicking off our tenth series with an episode which is part of Acast's Take the Scary out of Menopause campaign in conjunction with The Menopause Charity. We know we need to revolutionise the support and advice women receive for menopause and perimenopause — and it all begins by having open, honest...

Why are mealtimes so stressful? Is it really that important to eat as a family? How bad are those toddler snacks you can buy in the supermarket, really? If - like me - you ask yourself these kinds of questions a lot then this episode is for you! My guest today is Charlotte Stirling-Reed, leading nutritionist and author of a whole array of books about feeding babies, toddlers and her latest one - whole families. She worked with Joe Wicks on his Wean In 15 book and when she's not dishing up...

It's not every day you get to chat to an ACTUAL Lioness, but in this week's episode, my guest is the epic Beth Mead.  England and Arsenal footballer Beth was the top goalscorer in the UEFA Euros 2022, which saw England crowned champions - their first international trophy since the 1966 Men's FIFA World Cup. She was also named Player of the Tournament and has since won BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022. In February 2022 she launched the Beth Mead Scholarship with Teesside University to...

Grief is still such a taboo subject but that's something that my guest on this episode is determined to change. Stacey Heale is a mum of two and in September 2021, her husband - Delays singer Greg Gilbert - died, five years after being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. Stacey talks to me about what life was like before the diagnosis - falling in love with this bookworm pop star and having babies together - and then what it was like to process his cancer diagnosis. She tells me how she's...

My guest today is one of the biggest experts in menopause and perimenopause. Dr Louise Newson is a GP, the creator of free menopause app Balance and runs The Newson Clinic which helps thousands of women to navigate perimenopause and menopause smoothly. Dr Louise is also the author of the book The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause, appears regularly on This Morning and hosts a podcast The Dr Louise Newson Podcast. Phew! How she had time to chat to me, I don't...

We hear lots about the risks and dangers of young people using social media and the internet but my guest today says since it's here to stay, we may as well teach our kids how to use it wisely. Natasha Devon is a presenter, writer and activist and her new book Clicks: How To Be Your Best Self Online is a guide for young people. She talks to me about how to talk to our kids about the online world, the signs they might be developing unhealthy habits, the importance of having a healthy...

This podcast delves into lots of different areas and experiences of motherhood and parenthood, but one area I've wanted to cover for ages is the act of not having kids. My guest today is Ruby Warrington who has known ever since she was a child that she doesn't want to have children. Her book, Women Without Kids, is a fascinating and refreshing look at what it means to be a mother and therefore what it means to not be a mother. Ruby talks to me about the language we use (childless = so sad,...

In this special episode organised and funded by Sanofi, I chat to not one but two guests – first up is Ben Anderson who is dad of five under nine, entrepreneur and can be found online as The Diary of a Dad and on his podcast of the same name. We chat about life with a large brood of kids, how he and his wife Sophie juggle running their business with family life and how unapologetic he is about them having three nannies to help them do it. Then we are joined by Dr Shireen, GP and mum of one,...

My guest on this episode used to work in finance as an Actuary in a fast-paced, high-pressured environment. Now, Hannah Barrett is the UK’s leading online yoga teacher with a completely different approach to life. Hannah’s also a mum of two and the author of Yoga Happy, a beautiful inspiring book which shows you how to find your energy, reduce stress, get a good night’s sleep and even ease a headache! We chat about how she uses yoga and meditation to deal with the chaos of family life, how...

I'm joined on this episode by someone I've wanted to have on as a guest for ages - writer and editor Cathy Reay. Born with dwarfism, Cathy is a disability consultant and writes about her experiences as a disabled, single mum. Cathy talks to me today about her experiences of pregnancy, birth, new motherhood and single motherhood. She reflects on her own childhood with non-disabled parents and talks about the experiences of her daughters - both born with the same type of dwarfism;...

After an extended break, we're back for a new season! Katie Kirby is my guest on this episode. Katie started off blogging at Hurrah For Gin, shining a light on the realities of motherhood at a time when the online world was filled with rose-tinted picture perfect versions of mum life. Since then, she's moved to writing books and her latest series is the Lottie Brooks books, aimed at the tween audience. We recorded this episode last summer and we talk about Katie being one of the first people...

Whether you’ve got a baby right now or your kids are a bit older, my chat with Libby Page on this episode will probably resonate with you. Libby is the author of three bestseller books - The Lido, The 24-Hour Café and The Island Home – and she became a mum last year to her son Robin. Libby is refreshingly honest about the ups and downs of her experiences so far as a mum, talking openly on social media when things go well, and when they all feel a bit overwhelming. We talk about her...

How well does your baby or child sleep? Chances are, you’ve had or are having some issues with sleep (I know we are!) and if that’s the case, my guests today have got lots of helpful advice for you. Eve Squires and Gem Fryer run Calm & Bright Sleep Support which is a lifeline for so many parents facing sleep challenges with their children. We discuss some of the biggest sleep problems you guys are facing, answering your questions and we also look at the extreme versions of sleep coaching...