Parents Who Think

Navigating Christmas with separation and divorce in the mix? Today's episode with Nina Farr is all about making this season as drama-free as possible. Let's face it, Christmas can be an intense time, adding a new family setup/grief/conflict (and whatever else) into the mix is tough. This ep is a thought provoking view from someone who equips couples with practical advice and tips to move forward positively over Christmas and beyond.

In this episode I'm a guest on Emma Stroud's entertaining podcast called "Clowning Around". Fast paced, funny and poignant – watch out for Emma's sidekick clown who makes her appearance. This is an episode like no other.

In this episode I'm a guest on Nicky Patrick's fabulous podcast called 'It's Somewhere in the Bottom of my Handbag". What I love about this show is the way Nicky asks guests to speak about one topic – she hits record and off guests go. Here's me talking about work life balance.

Together, we must and can advance in making sure girls rising in this world becomes a sustained reality. This is the heart of my conversation with tech entrepreneur, Jo Wimble-Groves who is also mum of 3, an author and passionate advocate for women and girls. Her book Rise of the Girl engages with how to help our daughters fulfil their potential and achieve success in this challenging world. Our girls show us starkly that they are struggling and Jo and I talk about this toll on relationships, friendships, mental wellness, academic progress and more. This is not an episode that follows the seven conversation starters Jo suggests in her book (though we touch on these topics including poor self-esteem, low self-worth and lack of self-belief). Buy the book for that friends. Instead, we ponder the plight of boys and young men as well as why, right now, Jo had to start with the rise of girls. This is a crucial conversation... "I love School for Mothers, it's an injection of badass" please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire. Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Subscribe now!

I'm joined today by Charlotte Avery author, speaker, and entrepreneur who is fiercely committed to helping women go from overwhelmed to living a whup-ass life. As The Family Strategist™, she draws upon her experiences as the wife of one, mother of seven, and owner of no pets to give moms the tools they need to define for themselves what it means to have it all. Which is interesting because between Charlotte and I we're mothers to 17 children - in this episode you'll hear deep wisdom about how not to get lost in your kids from two women who (believe me) know! Trust me if you've ever wondered how to be you and have kids this is an episode you won't want to miss. "I love School for Mothers, it's an injection of badass" please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire. Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Subscribe now!

What happens when you get to 37 and you're single, and being a mother is the only thing you've ever truly wanted? My special guest this week is Liv Thorne, director of a web agency, who made the increasingly popular and big decision to go it alone. She bought some sperm and off she went. Easy? Not at all. Liv charted her journey to motherhood in her amazing book, Liv's Alone. We talk everything you've always wanted to know about getting pregnant without a partner, being professionally single, and how it's panning out for her as a solo mama… "I love School for Mothers, it's an injection of badass" please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire. Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Subscribe now

Today I bring you the story of one woman's determination to make sure her son and children like him are represented in products around them. Surely not a lot to ask but Desriee Asomuyide found otherwise and like the BADASS that she is she got up and did something about it. In this episode you'll hear why representation brands are on the rise (big YES) and why every school must equip themselves with products to mirror the diversity of all people. Desriee Asomuyide discovered that the UK market for educational flashcards representing children of colour was non-existent. It was important that her one year old son Isaiah, and other children like him, see themselves represented through educational and developmental resources. Little Omo was born. This episode is for everyone, friends. "I love Danusia and School for Mothers" please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire. Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Subscribe now!

Leave behind the idea that you can't be a mother and have a life - it would be great to say that it's ridiculous in 2021 for this to even be a topic of conversation, but yes, my guest Ericka Sóuter and I really ARE talking about exactly this. Ericka's an author, journalist and parenting expert and a nationally recognized voice in parenting news and parenting advice. A regular contributor on Good Morning America and other national broadcast outlets, it's her job to speak to parents across the country to stay on top of the issues, controversies, and trends most affecting families today. Her work appears on the Bump, What to Expect, CafeMom, and Mom.com, all high-traffic parenting sites that reach millions of mums each month. Her writing has also been featured in People magazine, Us Weekly, Essence, Cosmopolitan, Self and WebMD. Expect strong opinions, real talk, and straightforward advice on how to be a mother AND have a life. "I love Danusia and School for Mothers" please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire. Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Subscribe now!

Join me as I connect with Anna Cusack, a Motherhood Revolutionist who is also an author, podcaster, blogger and speaker. Through evidence-based information and inspirational, actionable content Anna reaches thousands of women every yea about traditional postpartum care, breastfeeding support, sociology and exercise physiology to guide women through their transition to parenthood and early years of mothering. You can find her book "Mama, You're Not Broken: Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood" online, and listen in on the "Motherhood Made Magic" podcast wherever you access shows In our conversation we chew over how women are the default carers (and that this must change, and how) - in fact we're the default for pretty well most things?! Because although we're bombarded with messages that tell us our mothering is broken, Anna and I bust this bullshit and rally cry the fantastic job mothers do, on the daily. Listen in for your injection of recognition. "I love Danusia and School for Mothers" please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire. Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Subscribe now!

My guest in this episode, Jennifer Ogunyemi, is a pro when it comes to showing up intentionally and radiating confidence. Jennifer is a business owner, author, business mentor, speaker, mother & wife. She's the founder of Sisters in Business which aims to support women from all walks of life on their entrepreneurial journey. Jennifer's firm belief that female entrepreneurs can be crazy successful entrepreneurs without compromising our values and beliefs or our family and community roles shines through in everything she does including in our conversation. She's passionate about representation, religious diversity and Inclusion. Prior to founding Sisters In Business Jennifer built a 10 year career within the NHS working with diverse and vulnerable communities spanning from Maternity health, Project management, community development and GP management. She decided to step away and focus on what she care about the most – changing the narrative of the Muslim business woman. When she isn't planning the next amazing networking event, you'll often find her playing pranks with her kids, mentoring her business sisters, or busy brainstorming ways to bring more value to her community! "I love Danusia and School for Mothers" please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire. Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Subscribe now!

Visibility in your business feel like an uphill battle even though you know getting noticed is a must have? PR guru and strategy ninja, Lucy Werner joins me to bring her no nonsense PR goldmine tips and lowdown. Self promotion doesn't have to be perfect, but it needs to be real and Lucy shares how. As founder of The Wern, a consultancy for publicity & design, Lucy has 17 years of publicity experience both in-house and for some of London's top agencies. In May 2021, she created HypeYourself.com an online DIY PR & brand platform for small businesses. She's written the best-selling book Hype Yourself and her second book Brand Yourself is written with the co-founder of her two children and creative director Hadrien Chatelet. She's worked with hundreds of creative entrepreneurs and teaches on all things publicity for spaces such as Cass Business School, Hatch Enterprise, University of the Arts London, Courier magazine and Second Home. "I love Danusia and School for Mothers" please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire. Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Subscribe now!

What's Soul really all about? And how possible is it to live a 'sacred' life once we become mothers? I ask world renowned writer, mystic, poet, mother, channel and creative, Rebecca Campbell, this and more. We explore how to stitch sacred soul into the daily rhythmns of busy mothering and all the paradoxes that this brings. By the way, Rebecca believes that we ARE nature and all of her creations are in devotion to the beauty of nature and weaving the soul back into everyday life. Rebecca is a best selling author of Rise Sister Rise, Letters to a Starseed, The Work Your LightOracle, The Starseed Oracle and Light Is The New Black and her books and oracle decks are published in over 20 languages. She's also featured in Vogue, Stylist, Red, Cleo, Oprah and the Style column of the Sunday Times, Rebecca's work has been recognised globally and she's won a multitude of awards for writing, devotion and creativity. "I love Danusia and School for Mothers" please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire. Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Subscribe now!

Are you into Sophrology? If not, after my conversation with Dominique Antiglio, you might well want to be! Dominique is a Sophrologist, author and founder of BeSophro, a global Sophrology platform which The Guardian newspaper calls the "dynamic young cousin" of mindfulness. Dominique specialises in sleep and stress management, anxiety reduction and burn-out prevention. Her best-selling book "The Life-Changing Power of Sophrology" was the first widely published book on Sophrology in English and Dominique and her book are now the leading authority on the subject.

Sunday Times bestselling author, Rebecca Wilson recently released her third cookbook, Family Comforts: Simple, Heart Warming Food to Enjoy Together and in this episode we tuck into chat about homely foods and how to feed ourselves and our families easily. Rebecca is a mother, recipe developer, author and founder of the popular social channel @rebeccawilsonfood Born out of her popular Instagram page @WhatMummyMakes, (now rebranded to @RebeccaWilsonFood), Rebecca's down-to-earth approach to family life and cooking has enabled her to resonate with an audience which continues to grow daily. A follow up to Rebecca's bestselling debut book What Mummy Makes: Cook Just Once for You and Your Baby, her third book uses her personal experience to make the lives of busy families easier and broaden children's culinary tastes early. This isn't an episode full of food one up-womanship, it's especially inspirational for the lazy cooks among us!

I'm joined by Petra Wenham and her wife Loraine as we talk about freedom, femininity and feminism. Petra, a mature married transgender woman regularly gives transgender awareness talks to community groups and has been featured in the Press when she became the Women's Institute's first trans cover girl. To find out more about Petra's career and trans journey you can follow her over on insta https://www.instagram.com/petra_east_anglia/

Finding power in the things we're told to hate. My guest is Hollie McNish, writer and poet. We explore her upcoming book "SLUG and other things I was told to hate" and SO much more. We talk masturbation, grief, feminism, being blunt and of course, her poetry. PRE-ORDER MY BOOK >> NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Motherhood https://www.triumphpress.co/books/p/noise Hollie McNish is a UK writer based between Glasgow and Cambridge. She has published three collections of poetry – Papers, Cherry Pie, Plum – a play relating the history of UK women's football – Offside, co-written with Sabrina Mahfouz - and one poetic memoir – Nobody Told Me – of which The Scotsman stated 'The World Needs this Book' and which won the Ted Hughes Prize for New Work in Poetry. Her poems have been translated into French, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Polish and Japanese and she has performed them worldwide alongside the likes of Irvine Welsh, Kae Tempest, Jackie Kay, Helen Pankhurst and Young Fathers.Her forthcoming title – Slug: and other things I've been told to hate – is to be released in May 2021 with Fleet, Hachette. Read the full show notes over on our website: >> https://www.schoolformothers.com/podcast_sfm/118-slug-hollie-mcnish/ School for Mothers Website ● School For Mothers Private Facebook Group ● School for Mothers Instagram

Rebekah Taussig, aka @sitting_pretty, joins me to crack open the disability narrative. We talk stereotypes, limitless potential and the beautiful nuanced stories Rebekah shares in her upcoming book Sitting Pretty (August 2020).Read the full show notes over on our website >> https://www.schoolformothers.com/podcast_sfm/94-sit-rebekah-taussig/

It's like puberty for the middle aged and yet ~nobody~ is talking about it. This week we delve into the issues surrounding this "taboo" topic, with our guest Meg Mathews. As Founder of Megs Menopause, Meg empowers women through honest and frank discussion of all things menopause. Meg believes that we can't find harmony and resonance within ourselves without truly understanding what is happening in our bodies. I couldn't agree more. Read the full show notes over on our website School for Mothers Website ● School For Mothers Private Facebook Group ● School for Mothers Instagram

Bringing up race with our kids. Blogger, screenwriter and creative consultant Uju Asika joins me to share exactly how we can raise kinder kids. We explore how Gen Z have the opportunity to change the world and our role as parents in this. As Uju says, we have to be "actively inclusive". Uju Asika is a multiple award-nominated blogger (babesabouttown.com), digital consultant (mothersandshakers.net) and author of the book Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World, published in September 2020 by Yellow Kite (Hachette UK). Uju lives in Islington, north London with her husband and two football-mad boys. Follow Uju @babesabouttown on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook

Having the NERVE to do big and bold things. My guest this week is broadcaster and author, Kaye Adams. A UK household name, Kaye's known for her candour on-screen. We explore having the nerve to be transparent & open, the nerves of menopause and so much more. About my guest, Kaye Adams: Kaye is a regular panellist on ITV's Loose Women for 20 years on and off and the original anchor with Nadia Sawalha . She's bombed off Celebrity Masterchef, won Celebrity Mastermind, and was completely humiliated on Total Wipeout. Kaye presents The Kaye Adams programme on BBC Radio Scotland Mon-Thurs, 9-12. She's also co-authored, with Vicky Allan, STILL HOT! 42 Brilliantly Honest Menopause Stories. School for Mothers Website ● School For Mothers Private Facebook Group ● School for Mothers Instagram

How do we take control of our libido? Women's Wellbeing and Menopause Doctor; Dr Shahzadi Harper, joins me to share her wisdom on libido-boosting. Shahzadi says "It's not just about sex. It's a life force. It's the joy of living. It's an energy." Listen in for actionable steps to connect and strengthen your libido. Read the full show notes over on our website >> https://www.schoolformothers.com/podcast_sfm/lessons-on-libido-dr-shahzadi-harper

What does it take to be an Olympian? In this week's episode STRIDE, Michelle Griffith-Robinson former Olympic athlete shares how she finds focus, builds inner strength and goes after what she wants in life. Listen to this powerful and uplifting conversation on resilience and how the Olympic values impact her approach to life. WHAT WE COVER Michelle's Olympic journey What it is REALLY like to be a high performer and elite athlete Danusia shares why she didn't (!) let her daughter go to dancing lessons Michelle shares how she teaches her children to become the best version of themselves The power of having different "teams" for different events Tips on building inner strength & resilience Wisdom on how to build resilience in children About Michelle Griffith-Robinson Michelle Griffith-Robinson is a former Olympic athlete, speaker and mother of three. She represented Great Britain for over two decades in the Triple jump. Michelle was the first woman to have jumped over 14 metres in the Commonwealth and joins only a handful of women in the UK to have done this. Michelle naturally followed her passion for helping others by setting up a successful personal training company in 1999. She has trained many celebrities including Mel B and Gail Porter to name a few. Michelle is also one of the lead mentors for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust – which helps young people get their 'lives back on track'. In 2016, Michelle appeared on a BBC lifeline appeal alongside Dame Kelly Holmes and was one of the guest speakers alongside Dame Kelly Holmes at the Institute of Directors Conference at the Royal Albert Hall. Michelle regularly speaks in schools and corporate companies about high performance and 'winning at life' KEY QUOTES: "Don't give me half, because half doesn't do anyone any favours" Michelle "Don't leave any stone unturned because your options are there" Michelle "I teach my children life is not fair. The fact is, we don't start from the same place in life" Danusia RESOURCES Connect with Michelle: Website Michelle's Facebook Michelle's Instagram Michelle's Twitter Michelle's Youtube channel The Olympic values video MORE FROM SFM Join SFM private FB Community: School For Mothers Group Take a look around SFM website: www.schoolformothers.com Sign up for your FREE Me Sheets: www.schoolformothers.com/mesheets MORE FROM *YOU* Like what you hear? If SO, be sure to subscribe to the School for Mothers Podcast on iTunes. Or Stitcher. Or Google Play. If you're feeling extra kind, SFM would be really grateful if you'd leave a review over on iTunes, too. These reviews help other mamas find the podcast and they're also fun to go in and read. Just click here to Leave us a rating + review!, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Use the hashtag #SFMpodcast to join the conversation on social media. Want to join Danusia on a future episode? Get in touch using the form HERE.

This week I'm exploring ambition and motherhood with Anna Paula Tediosi, author of Ambition Factor: Rewriting the story of working mothers. I question what ambition for mothers looks like across different cultures. We talk working motherhood, different types of ambition, and how we can increase (not decrease) our ambition whilst raising kids. Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Ana Paula Tediosi: Swiss Brazilian working mother, Ana lives in Zurich with her husband and two children. She plays an active role in Zurich's community of working women, blogs about working mothers life's since 2018, founded her own publishing house Birdhaus Writing& Publishing, has published two books, and works as a lifescience professional since over 20 years. Her book, Ambition Factor: Rewriting the story of working mothers (2021) is a discovery journey about the reality of ambitious professional mothers today. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Is a glass of wine the escape that mothers really need? My guests today are Kate Baily and Mandy Manners, authors of Love Yourself Sober: A Self-Care Guide to Alcohol-Free Living for Busy Mothers. We explore the role of alcohol in relationships, motherhood + "mummy-wine" and the marketing of alcohol. If you're wondering whether alcohol has a place in your life anymore or you're already sober, this conversation explores the many joys of a sober life. Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guests, Kate Baily and Mandy Manners: Kate Baily and Mandy Manners - Sobriety & wellbeing coaches, authors, speakers, coach trainers. Founders of Love Sober - which provides support for women to get, stay and LOVE Sober through courses, connection and the Love Sober podcast. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Every menopause has its own story - and here's mine. In this episode I share a part of my own journey - which was included in Kaye Adams and Vicky Allan's book STILL HOT! As Kaye and Vicky say "Let's rejoice as we step free of the menopausal closet. The menopause is not one story, but many and diverse . . . and, whatever your experience, you are not alone." My story was included alongside household names like Lorraine Kelly, Baroness Warsi, Anthea Turner, Michelle Heaton and Trinny Woodall and many more. Buy Kaye Adams & Vicky Allan's book STILL HOT! Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood Listen to Kaye Adams' SFM episode here Listen to Vicky Allan's SFM episode here School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

"Life is undulating". My guest this week is illustrator Alessandra Olanow and we're exploring all things PLAN, or rather when things don't quite go as planned. Alessandra shares how she pivoted in the wake of her divorce and the death of her mother. We also explore how going off-piste from plans is opportunity for growth, healing and magic. Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Alessandra Olanow: Alessandra Olanow is an illustrator whose clients include major brands such as Bergdorf Goodman, Clinique, Yahoo, Urban Outfitters, West Elm, and Uniqlo, as well as major print and online publications including the Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, Vogue, Goop, Cherry Bombe, A Cup of Jo, Variety, Shape Magazine, Parents magazine, Rachael Ray magazine, and Bon Appétit. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her daughter Coco. This is her first book. She lives with her daughter in Brooklyn, NYC. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Play is a powerful thing - but how do we bring more of it into busy (and stressful!) lives? That's exactly what this Sunday Supplement with Emma Worrollo is answering. We explore the power of play, why it's important for kids and adults, and how we can become more playful in our daily lives. From playful decorating tips to playful philosophy - this ep is chock full of playful advice! Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Emma Worrollo: Emma is an expert in play and kid-culture and committed to empowering people to #liveplayfully. She's founded an international insight agency advising the world's largest brands on how to connect with emerging generations. Emma has also grown an Instagram community sharing philosophies on modern motherhood and the role of play in mental health. She has 3 kids, sort of built a skate park in the garden, and swims all year round in the sea. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Unpacking the evolutionary pressure of being a woman. My guest this week is Dr. Anna Smajdor and we're exploring the pressure on women to reproduce and become mothers - and what that means in reality for us as individuals and a collective. We question whether men are put under pressure in the same way, the ethics of the motherhood experience, and the ways that motherhood *hasn't* progressed or innovated like the rest of society. Join us for this chunky episode packed full of thought-provoking and myth-busting ideas. Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Dr. Anna Smajdor: Anna is an associate professor of practical philosophy at the University of Oslo - working in the field of reproductive ethics. Anna has written extensively on questions about reproductive technology and particularly interested in the relationship between the needs of society for new citizens, and the interests of women, as those who are tasked with gestating and giving birth to these new citizens. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Raising teen girls - does it have to be hard...?! Lorraine Candy joins me to talk about the realities of raising teen girls - the subject of her new Sunday Times Bestselling book, 'Mum, What's Wrong with You?': 101 Things Only Mothers of Teenage Girls Know. I question whether the teen years really have to be so hard and what's the best way forward for mothers. Join us for this refreshingly honest convo on what Lorraine calls "the most challenging years of parenthood". Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Lorraine Candy: Lorraine Candy is a mother of four and an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience writing about parenting in national newspapers and magazines, including columns with the Sunday Times Magazine and Daily Mail. She is also the co-host of the chart-topping lifestyle podcast Postcards from Midlife, which features the stories of spirited midlife women and tackles parenting adolescents. Formerly the editor-in-chief of Sunday Times Style, ELLE and Cosmopolitan, she is now focusing full-time on writing. Lorraine is a keen open-water swimmer and dog lover and grew up in Cornwall. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

What does it take to keep fanning the flames of our own ambition whilst raising kids? Entrepreneur and Wellness Business Coach, Kirsty Kianifard joins me for an episode exploring how we can set ourselves and our families up for success, whatever that may look like for each of us. We talk raising children with special needs, embedding our achievements and unpacking what ambition *really* is. Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Kirsty Kianifard: Kirsty is a Wellness Business Coach supporting impact-driven, female wellness entrepreneurs master their message and uplevel their income whilst creating more freedom in their life and business. Her own award-winning wellness business is based in Brighton and Hove. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

What's the problem with being an angry woman? This week I'm joined by actress and writer Julie Graham to explore all things RAGE. Yes, we're tapping into the power of all things anger and more. We cover: Fierce Feminism Why we aren't "allowed" to show rage or anger How this holds us back Menopause + Mental Health Why being attractive is 100% not our job Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Julie Graham: Julie Graham is an actress and writer. She's been a firm favourite in UK television for 35 years, with her best-known credits including At Home With The Braithwaites, William And Mary, Shetland, Being Eileen, Benidorm, Bletchley Circle and her most recent project Dun Breedin' - a Youtube comedy-drama created remotely during lockdown. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Looking for a dose of inspiration? I'm joined by my guest, entrepreneur, and founder of Absolute Collagen Maxine Laceby, to talk all things business + motherhood, menopause, SAHM and the power of stripping back to build up again (and SO much more). Maxine shares her journey from 25 years as a Stay at Home Mother to going to University at 50 and onto award-winning entrepreneurship. Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Maxine Laceby: Maxine is an award-winning businesswoman, who founded her business from her kitchen table with no formal training and after 25 years as a stay-at-home mother. She discovered the benefits of taking collagen while boiling up bone broth in her kitchen, and realised there was a gap in the market. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

"We need to start looking at what it is to see black people thriving because the floor is not a good enough bar". My guest, Mars Lord, has the mic to say what needs to be said on the topic of Black Maternity. This is a no-holds-barred, clarion call for change to be made. We cover racism in maternity and beyond, what the government needs to do and how we can create positive change too. Watch The Black Maternity Scandal: Dispatches with Rochelle Humes episode here Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Mars Lord: Double award winning doula and birth activist Mars Lord has been a birth keeper for well over a decade. After attending the Paramana Doula course with Michel Odent and Lilliana Lammers, a spark was lit within her and the passion that she discovered for birth and supporting parents has fired her soul ever since. She has had the privilege of working with hundreds of families. A birth activist, with a desire to see the 'colouring in of the landscape of birth' and finding out the reasons for the maternal and neonatal morbidity rates amongst the BAME community, Mars created Abuela Doulas a doula preparation course primarily, but not exclusively, for women of colour. Her desire for reproductive justice led to the creation of the 'Reproductive Justice Retreat'. Mars speaks out against cultural safety and reproductive justice and racism in maternity services (and beyond) regularly in the media. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Making a life that incorporates all of our talents. Today's guest Dr. Pam Spurr, a self-help expert, psychologist, and now painter. We explore what it takes to MAKE a vibrant and fulfilling life in and amongst motherhood (during university studies), big careers and busy family life. Pam shares her experiences as a relationships expert in the media and how she's returned back to one of her first passions; painting. Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Dr. Pam Spurr: Dr. Pam Spurr is a well-known relationships, well-being, and self-help expert, life coach and media psychologist, as well as an award-winning radio presenter and TV guest/pundit - and now painter. Pam has always promoted powerful messages of empowerment in her media work and in her private practice. From radio show host, relationships columnist and resident behaviour and relationship expert for Big Brother (and more!). School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

What are the "rules" of being a woman? Do they include becoming a mother? This week's episode is all about whether motherhood is a calling and what that means for women who don't become mothers. My guest this week is author Glynnis MacNicol. In 2018 her memoir, No One Tells You This, Glynnis explores the question "If the story doesn't end with marriage or a child, what then?" and how that impacted her as she turned 40, single and child-free. We get right into the RULES of womanhood and, most importantly, how women everywhere are striving to subvert them. Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Glynnis MacNicol: Glynnis MacNicol is a writer and the author of No One Tells You This: A Memoir (S&S, 2018). Her work has appeared in print and online for publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, The Cut, New York Daily News, W, Town & Country, The Globe & Mail, The Daily Beast, GEN, and ELLE, where she was a contributing writer. She lives in New York City. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

It's time to get real about the impacts of the pandemic on motherhood. It's not just homeschooling that's taken a toll on us all, it's as if motherhood has gone under a microscope and there's no returning to normal. My guest Katherine Goldstein, host of the Double Shift Podcast, and I explore: Why it's time to choose anger over guilt Who has to step up to intensive parenting Making motherhood political Why this isn't our problem Whether women are leaving the workforce or are we forced out? Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Katherine Goldstein: Katherine Goldstein is the creator and host of The Double Shift Podcast a reported show the challenges the status quo of motherhood in America. An award-winning journalist, speaker, and media entrepreneur, Katherine is extensively quoted as an expert in issues facing working mothers in the NYTimes, Washington Post, The Atlantic, and on WNYC and NPR. A Harvard Nieman Fellow, '17, She runs Double Shift Productions as an independent journalism company out of Durham, N.C., where she lives with her husband, five-year-old, and twin babies. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Finding what helps us come back to mental wellness, in and amongst motherhood. For episode #130, I'm joined by writer and author Jessica Friedmann. In this no-holds-barred conversation we explore the mental health and political impact of motherhood and Jessica's journey with PPD and maternal mental illness. Read my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Jessica Friedmann: Jessica Friedmann is a writer and editor based in Braidwood, New South Wales. Her writing has appeared in Australian and international publications such as The Guardian, the Australian Financial Review, and The Globe and Mail, as well as literary journals such as The Rumpus and LitHub, and she has worked as an editor and publications manager at independent publications Going Down Swinging, Dumbo Feather, and the Australian Poetry Journal. Her first book, Things That Helped (Scribe, 2017), is a memoir in essays, which charts her experience with severe postnatal depression and anxiety. The book looks at the social, cultural, and political implications of motherhood, and asks how small rituals can help nurture us back to health. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Having the space to DREAM and think big. My guest this week is entrepreneur Justice Williams MBE. We explore Justice's journey from prison to MBE, raising black sons, the importance of role models in dreaming and her work inspiring young people to dream, which led to her MBE award. Get my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Justice Williams: Justice Williams is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, business coach and trainer, who supports women to start and scale their business. With a career spanning more than a decade, in 2004 she began as a volunteer in the non-profit sector and has gone on to work with over 3000 individuals. Justice was awarded an MBE at the age of 28 for Services to Young People in Birmingham. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Unpacking creativity and individuality in amongst the BOND of mothering. My guest today is published poet, sound artist, and creative alchemist, Elana Bell. This soulful + down-to-earth episode explores: The world of mother-daughter bonds Making space for creativity within motherhood Rhythms of life as a mother and the deep interiors of women's lives Depression and PPD Elana shares on the experience of supporting her mother's depression and how that helped their relationship and seeing the individuality of her mother and herself. One of my fave parts of this episode is when Elana tells the story of how her mother encouraged her to be the fullest expression of herself. Get my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Elana Bell: Elana Bell is a published poet, sound artist, and creative alchemist. Her passion is connecting people to their creative life force energy for healing, transformation, and artistic expression. Elana is the author of Mother Country, a book of poems about motherhood, fertility, and mental illness. Her debut collection of poetry, Eyes, Stones received the Walt Whitman Award from the Academy of American Poets, and brings her complex heritage as the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors to consider the difficult question of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Elana teaches poetry to first-year acting students at the Juilliard School and sings with the Resistance Revival Chorus, a group of womxn activists and musicians committed to bringing joy and song to the resistance movement School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Getting real about motherhood with sitcom writer, author, and mother...ish, Liz Astrof. In this rip-roaring episode, Liz and I talk selfishness, being a Stay at Work Mother, therapy, and whether Liz regrets having kids (she doesn't). If you're in the mood for snark and realness about the highs and lows of motherhood, this is the ep for you! Get my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Liz Astrof: Liz Astrof is the author of DON'T WAIT UP: CONFESSIONS OF A STAY-AT-WORK MOM. An award-winning executive producer and successful sitcom writer, Liz is currently casting her sitcom pilot for Fox Network. She has worked on many shows, including The King of Queens, Raising Hope, 2 Broke Girls, Whitney, and Becker. Liz lives in California with her husband, two children, two dogs and some turtles. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

"Invisible and Unacknowledged" The link between the mental load and sex What the world would be like if the mental load was equally divided between men and women Raising kids that *don't* expect women to be domestic managers by default And more... Get my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Emma Clit: Emma is a 40-year-old writer and computer science engineer who lives in Paris but who says she learns 'all over the place'. Emma's strips have a record of going viral. 'You Should've Asked' was viewed on blogs around the world, and an article about her in the French magazine L'Express drew 1.8 million views - a record since the site was created. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

You know those times when you think things really can't get any worse?…and then they do. Today's episode is all about getting your arse kicked (by life!) and picking yourself back up again. My guest for this fab convo is Susie Lodge, Founder of Wiki Places for Kids. We get right into how to overcome obstacles over and over again in business, life, family and beyond. Get my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Susie Lodge: Susie Lodge is the founder and director of the award-winning platform Wiki Places For Kids. Available online and as IOS and android apps, wikiplacesforkids.com Is a TripAdvisor for parents looking for things to do all across the UK where everything has been added and recommended by parents. The mum of three says the app will be a game-changer for time-poor parents once the restrictions are lifted as it will ping you to let you know what is open and what safety measures are in place in venues all across the UK, saving you time from searching from site to site. School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Dealing with the BLOWs of life. My guest today is Eleanor Tweddell author of Why Losing Your Job Could Be The Best Thing That Ever Happens To You. We're exploring the highs and lows of success + failure, anger/revenge and getting in agreement with it. Top quote from this episode's got to be "I don't give a shit anymore" Trigger warning for this episode: mention of miscarriage About my guest, Eleanor Tweddell: After being made redundant a few years Eleanor wondered what else she could be doing. After 23 years of corporate life, working for great brands like Costa Coffee, Virgin Atlantic and Vodafone she decided to set up her own business. She wrote a blog about being out of work, and now that is the business she runs, along with her writing and her book, which was published by Penguin this autumn. She now helps people through losing their job, to make it the best thing to happen to them. Get my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

We're challenging stereotypes in today's Sunday Supplement episode. My guest, Clare Willetts, and I explore the dangers of stereotypes and the impact they have on individuality, creativity and worldview. From 'girl' toy aisles that are 100% pink and baby mad, to the hyper-masculine 'boy' aisles that encourage destruction and fighting - the noise around gender is loud from birth. If you're wanting to parent on the basis that gender does not define your life path (or anything else), this is the episode for you. Get my book, NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Modernhood About my guest, Clare Willetts: Clare is CEO and Founder of Not Only Pink and Blue an online retailer challenging stereotypes in children's clothes, books and toys. Clare set up not only pink and blue to challenge the tradition of dressing girls in pink and boys in blue. After all, there are 11 colours and over 10 million shades to choose from! As well as all the colours, she wanted to see more inclusive books with diverse role models, and toys that feed imaginations. Clare previously worked in marketing and advertising for 20 years leading agency teams at TBWA and M&C Saatchi, before going on to head up Customer and Brand Experience at Virgin Group. Now as Founder of notonlypinkandblue.com she delivers talks about the long-lasting effects of stereotypes and works with leaders from multiple fields to map and promote the benefits of a world that does not stereotype children. Mentioned in this episode: Gina Ripon and Cordelia Fine School for Mothers Website - School for Mothers Instagram

Is life a STAGE? The multi-talented Nicole Ansari joins me for a conversation on STAGE. Whether that's her on-stage (and screen) roles, setting the stage as a director, the different stages of life and so much more (including the hemp/cannabis had on Nicole's life and work) "It's in the uncomfortable moments that change and transformation and the deeper understanding of ourselves as human beings and our purpose here can take place." About my guest, Nicole Ansari: Nicole Ansari Cox is an internationally renowned actress, producer and director of Film, TV and Theatre who, parallel to her acting career which started at the age of 14, has pursued and been certified in numerous training programs in the healing and wellness field. She was born a seeker of spiritual knowledge and is a certified advanced Theta healing practitioner, KRI certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, IAYT certified Yoga Therapist, certified OM trainer and life coach and coaches actors and professionals. School for Mothers Website ● School For Mothers Private Facebook Group ● School for Mothers Instagram

How do we find Zen in and amongst the NOISE of motherhood? Today I'm joined by Founders of Zen Mana and Hollywood actresses and entrepreneurs, Sarah Wright Olsen (Mad Men, Parks & Recs, Spinning Out) and Teresa Palmer (Sky TV's, A Discovery of Witches). We have a down-to-earth conversation about Finding our Zen in and amongst life/motherhood/the-whole-caboodle. Join us as we explore: Finding Zen with a VERY busy schedule How to establish & maintain boundaries The power of small habits Letting go > embracing the peaks + troughs Love Languages And more.... Buy NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Motherhood HERE Buy Teresa's & Sarah's new book, "Zen Mamas: Finding Your Path Through Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond" here About my guests, Sarah Wright Olsen and Teresa Palmer: Sarah Wright Olsen is a mother of three, Esme, Wyatt and Winter. She started the website Yourzenmama.com with her partner Teresa Palmer to help support mothers, fathers and caregivers and provide a safe space to learn and share stories about the parenting journey. Sarah has starred in many TV shows and movies including Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, The House Bunny and opposite Tom Cruise in American Made. She is currently has a show on Netflix called Spinning Out. Sarah is also the co-owner of a plant-based organic mommy/baby skincare line, baeo.com Teresa Palmer is a mother of three, Bodhi, Forest and Poet, and stepmother to Isaac. She has starred in many major films, including Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge, for which she received an AACTA nomination for best supporting actress, and Ride Like a Girl, the biopic of trailblazing Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne. She is currently playing the starring role in the Sky series A Discovery of Witches while running the plant-based wellness brand Lovewell. www.schoolformothers.com — School For Mothers Private Facebook Group — School for Mothers Instagram

How do we FEED our ambition? I'm joined by TV Chef and "Challah Mummy" Allegra Benitah for a conversation on FEED. We get right into: - What FEEDs Allegra's ambition and how this has changed over the years - What FEEDs her passion for all things challah and growing fruit and veg at home - Allegra's decision to step away from her career as a Magic Circle Tax Lawyer when she became a mother - and how that doesn't make her any less ambitious for herself Here's a quote from Allegra that I adore "Being a mother ramped everything up for me intellectually". About my guest, Allegra Benitah: Allegra Benitah read Law at Magdalene College, Cambridge before qualifying as a Tax Lawyer at a Magic Circle Law Firm. After the birth of her first child, Allegra walked away from her legal career to be a full-time Mum. Allegra began baking to entertain her children and became a TV Chef and Instagram baking personality known as the Challah Mummy. Allegra has appeared on many TV Shows, including ITV's This Morning, Good Morning Britain and James Martin's Saturday Morning. School for Mothers Website ● School For Mothers Private Facebook Group ● School for Mothers Instagram

We're reclaiming JOY on the podcast with Molly Mahar, founder of Stratejoy! Here's a fab quote from Molly > "I'm not afraid of joy. I'm more afraid of boredom and numbness than I am of grief or despair. So I think that's the flipside of letting joy in. You have to let the hard ones in too." YES to that - it's about feeling it all! We get into: - Reclaiming JOY - Being ballsy and going for gold - The link between rest + contemplation + joy - That Public/Private persona balance About my guest, Molly Mahar: Molly Mahar is the founder of Stratejoy — an online community that has helped thousands of women reclaim joy and meaning in their world. She's an entrepreneur, mama, and adventurer obsessed with taboo topics, designing personal experiments, and the power of sisterhood. Her superpowers? Telling the truth kindly, gathering awesome women together, and yes — reclaiming joy. School for Mothers Website ● School For Mothers Private Facebook Group ● School for Mothers Instagram

"The mother is the beginning of everything yet she's often the last called to the table" Dr Aurelie Athan joins me for an episode about motherhood, identity, and so much more. Aurelie's a reproductive psychologist and faculty member at Columbia University where she's revived the term Matrescence. Her work is revolutionary - unlike the majority of academic studies into motherhood she focuses on the actual mother (not their children). She studies mothers' development holistically, both their thriving AND distress. In this episode we explore how her work on matrescence led her to new work around reproductive identity. If you've seen the back cover of my book, NOISE, you'll know that the central question I explore is "How can I be a Mother and be Me?" so talking about motherhood and identity is always right up my street. In fact, I reference Aurelie's research in NOISE, and the quote above is included in the book. Get my book - NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Motherhood - Danusia Malina-Derben School for Mothers Website ● School For Mothers Private Facebook Group ● School for Mothers Instagram

MEET felt like a rather apt title after a year of limited meetings, and needing to meet plenty of new challenges, too! In today's episode I'm joined by Founder of @happity.co.uk Sara Tateno. We get into >>> - How Happity began - Gender neutrality in parenting - The power (and importance!) of support networks - Combining motherhood + startup life .... and more! About my guest, Sara Tateno: Sara is the co-founder of Happity.co.uk, the UK's leading platform for finding and booking classes for under-5s. She is passionate about connecting new parents in their communities to make life better. Sara worked in corporate roles before having children. She had the idea for Happity during her second pregnancy having been abruptly made redundant. Determined to bring her idea to fruition, yet knowing nothing about tech, she started learning to code with her baby in tow and went on to build the first versions of the site. She now oversees the Product and Technical aspects of Happity, with a team that has always worked flexibly from home, long before Covid came along! School for Mothers Website ● School For Mothers Private Facebook Group ● School for Mothers Instagram