Welcome to another episode of The Netmums Podcast, sponsored by Duracell. This week, Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry are joined by Marvyn Harrison, the inspiring founder of Dope Black Dads. Marvyn shares his journey of creating a supportive community for black fathers and delves into the challenges and triumphs of black fatherhood.

Discover the powerful story behind Dope Black Dads, from a heartfelt Father's Day message to a thriving community of over 250,000 members. Marvyn discusses the stereotypes black fathers face, the importance of peer support, and the unique struggles and joys of being a black father in today's society. He also highlights crucial issues like mental health, financial literacy, and the higher risk of prostate cancer among black men.

This episode is packed with invaluable insights on parenting, masculinity, and the importance of community support. Marvyn’s wisdom and candid reflections offer a fresh perspective on fatherhood and the ongoing journey towards equality and understanding.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Netmums socials: @netmums / Facebook / TikTok / X 

Series 14 of the Netmums Podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative

Welcome to another episode of The Netmums Podcast! This week, hosts Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry dive deep into the world of weaning with special guest Lucy Upton, a qualified paediatric dietitian and feeding therapist. Lucy shares her expert insights and practical tips to help parents navigate this often challenging milestone.

Discover the "golden opportunity" windows for introducing tastes and textures, and learn how to sift through the overwhelming noise of parenting advice. Lucy also discusses the importance of variety in your baby's diet and reassures parents that it's perfectly okay to mix homemade and shop-bought baby food.

In this episode, you'll find out how to handle common weaning concerns, from gagging and food refusal to the pressures of getting it right.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Netmums socials: @netmums / Facebook / TikTok / X 

Series 14 of the Netmums Podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative

Parenting is a journey with its own set of challenges. But when you add special educational needs into the mix, that journey takes a unique turn. This week on The Netmums Podcast, Wendy Gollage and Alison Perry are joined by comedy writer and producer Ashley Blaker, a father of six, three of whom have special educational needs. Ashley is not only a parent navigating this complex world but also the author of the book "Normal Schnormal" and is currently touring the UK with his show of the same name.

Ashley opens up about the unconventional path that led him to adopt his daughter with Down Syndrome, the rigorous and sometimes bizarre adoption assessment process, and the joys and trials of raising neurodiverse children. From the innocence of his teenage daughter to the challenges of playdates and school systems, Ashley’s candid and often humorous insights offer a refreshing perspective on parenting SEND children.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Listen as the ‘A Place In The Sun’ presenter shares how she realised she was suffering from panic attacks during lockdown, and how she's learnt to manage them, PLUS how to juggle EVERYTHING as a working mum of two. Note: It ain't easy!

Listen as the artistic equivalent of PE with Joe, author and illustrator Rob Biddulph, chats to Annie and Wendy about keeping kids occupied in lockdown, and his new book, Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City, out now!

Listen as Annie and Wendy talk to Frankie Bridge about more or less everything. From getting ready for Wayne's birthday party to dealing with the class smart-arse during home-schooling, PLUS what it's like living with depression when you're a mum.

Listen as Annie and Wendy chat to Joanne Harris about keeping your creative juices flowing when you're a mum to little ones, PLUS what it's like losing your taste for chocolate thanks to chemo - when chocolate is the thing you're most famous for!

Listen in on Wendy and Annie's catch up with comedy icon turned psychotherapist, Ruby Wax as she describes why our mindfulness muscles need flexing every day and why her daughters have banned her from their comedy shows! Ruby reminds us why investing in our mental health is so important for us all.

Listen as Sky News host Sarah-Jane Mee gets teary over the love you feel for little ones... plus the relentlessness of motherhood, especially when you're a working mum just back from maternity leave. Don't miss her account of an induction - alone! - in the middle of lockdown plus why baby Rae and stepson Teddy make her feel so lucky, she won't be tempting fate with a third.

Listen as author Liv Thorne talks middle aged cliches, toddlers and turkey basters and single parenting in a pandemic.

Confused as to whether Covid vaccines for kids are happening or not, and if so, whether your child should have one? Dr Ranj answers all your most asked questions – from whose eligible right now, to THOSE side-effect rumours.

Listen as comedian Ellie Taylor chats with Wendy about the vulnerability of PND, losing yourself in motherhood and how thick your skin needs to be to appear on panel shows. Ellie's new (fabulous!) book is called My Child And Other Mistakes, £16.99, Hodder & Stoughton.

Listen as Annie and Wendy talk about alternative routes to motherhood with actress turned celeb cook, Lisa Faulkner. From the agonies of ectopic pregnancy to the stress of IVF; that first day as an adoptive mum to her golden rule as a step-mum: NEVER parent your partner's kids.

On this week’s episode of The Netmums Podcast we get a taste of the chaotic world of a parent and entrepreneur: Tom Skinner; star of The Apprentice, and a father of 3 sits down with Wendyand Alison to chat about raising three young kids, including a pair of twins. Tom shares his rollercoaster journey from boardroom battles with Lord Sugar to the negotiations with toddlers that leave him baffled and outwitted at home!

Tom's heartfelt (and hilarious) storytelling as he recounts the dramatic birth of his twins, and his experience of fatherhood in general will have you on tenterhooks AND in stitches! From cooking with his son to the famous spaghetti hoop fiascos, Tom imparts wisdom on involving kids in meal prep to foster a love for diverse, nutritious foods. 


Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Listen as Annie and Wendy chat Vesper Martinis AND dealing with do-gooders with Gill, author of the infamous Why Mummy…  books.

Listen as Annie and Wendy chat co-parenting AND having a new baby in lockdown with Rebecca Adlington. PLUS listen up for Rebecca's parenting dating tips - hint: don't tell them you're a gold medalist... wait for them to find out

Listen as Annie and Wendy get up close and personal with Baby Spice, discussing everything from never being able to shed your younger you to what’s for tea.

Listen as Annie and Wendy talk to Instagram’s favourite mum, about how to raise kids who know how lucky they are, plus what it’s like following in the footsteps of a truly remarkable mum of her own. Oh, and don’t miss her singing go at the end. It’s ace.

Listen up as the lovely Alesha talks juggling work with parenthood, life in lockdown AND as she puts in a call on air to her mate David Walliams. Ohn and check out her plans to become the British Gwyneth Paltrow - MINUS the vagina candles.

Listen as Ore gets real about navigating the path from couple to family PLUS why stockings and high heels have been his lockdown outfit of choice ;)

Listen as Annie and Wendy talk to TV presenter and fitness trainer Annie Price about her astonishing childhood story and how it's made her the mum she is. To find out more about BBC's Tiny Happy People campaign - designed to help us develop our child's communication skills through simple interaction and play - check out their Instagram page here @bbctinyhappypeople

Listen as Annie and Wendy get up close and personal with Helena and Ellie. It'll make sense when you do. WARNING: not for fainthearted, easily offended types.

Listen as Annie and Wendy get up close and personal with Aston Merrygold from JLS. From racist trolling of his kids to what it’s like having a talented child, Aston tells it like it is.

Listen as Annie and Wendy grill Helen Glover on her astounding rowing comeback and how she's handling the pressure with a toddler and baby twins in tow. ps GO HELEN! WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!

“No snowflake thinks they’ve caused the avalanche”.

This episode of the Netmums Podcast dives into mental health, online culture, and finding balance in the avalanche of social media.
Wendy Gollage and Alison Perry welcome Zara McDermott, a media personality and documentary maker, to discuss the digital age's impact on our children and society. From the startling statistic that a quarter of five to seven-year-olds now own smartphones, to exploring the darker side of internet sleuths and the spread of fake news, this conversation delves into the complexities of parenting in today’s tech-savvy world. 
Zara also shares her personal experiences with revenge porn and the effects of body image pressures post-Love Island. Plus, get an inside look at her new clothing brand, Rise which recently launched in Tesco stores. 


Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Don't miss this extra special episode of SS&T as we explore how best we can help our kids get back to some kind of new normal after a year in and out of lockdowns. Annie and Wendy are joined by fellow parents Nadiya Hussain, Joe Wicks PLUS Clinical Psychologist for Netmums, Linda Blair, and Head of Parent Support, Health Visitor Tracey Stone.

Listen as the former Love Island star, shares the honest and conflicting truths about life with a newborn, and how to get to grips with a birth that didn't go to plan. Plus how she deals with social media trolls, and what she misses about life in the minefields.

Listen as Annie and Wendy talk to one of the original 'online creators' about vlogging your birth, the fine line between sharing and over-sharing, and why she thinks she attracts the most positive comments on YouTube. Louise's book 'MumLife: What Nobody Ever Tells You About Being a Mum', is out now.

Listen to Annie and Wendy discuss everything from fish fingers and lycra one-pieces to mental health in lockdown, as well as, of course, gin, with Katie 'Hurrah for Gin' Kirby. 

The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks, by author and blogger Katie Kirby, AKA Hurrah for Gin, is out now!

Wendy and Annie get up close and personal with Denise Van Outen, on what it's like realising you're a rubbish lockdown teacher to your child, the challenges of settling down for a second time AND whether there'll be any more little Van Outens joining daughter Betsy any time soon.

Listen as Annie and Wendy chat to Myleene about life as a mum of teens and a toddler and how this year of on and off lockdowns has affected each of them differently. Plus why she went public with her miscarriage story.

Listen as Annie and Wendy catch up with Annie's cousin Dermot (no, not really) on all things new baby, new book and whole new world in response to Covid. From the kids' books Dermot loved as a kid to the baby books he's loving reading to Kasper, Dermot gets his bookworm geek on ... and we loved every single second of it. We hope you do, too.

From finding out her character was to be murdered in Eastenders, to drinking pig’s vaginas with Shane Ritchie in I’m A Celebrity, Jessica Plummer has had QUITE the year. Listen as she charts the highs and lows with Annie and Wendy.

When Rosie Green's husband left her and her two children, a friend joked that she'd, 'shagged more people on holiday than Rosie ever had in her life.' So how do you come to terms with life as a single mum - including dating - when you've been with the same guy since you were 18? Listen as Annie and Wendy chat to Rosie Green about breaking up - and how to piece yourself together again so that you emerge happy, strong and a role model for mums everywhere. Rosie's new book,How to Heal a Broken Heart: From Rock Bottom to Reinvention (via Ugly Crying on the Bathroom Floor) is out now (from £7.99, Orion Spring). Follow Rosie at www.lifesrosie.co.uk and @lifesrosie

Listen as Annie and Wendy chat I'm A Celeb, dad dancing and renewing your wedding vows with Vernon Kay. Plus what's next when no one's making any telly programmes, and what he's making for tea. Oh, and don't miss a surprise guest appearance from Tess. Hi, Tess!

Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry sit down with the remarkable Liz Earle, a true beacon in the wellness industry with over three decades of experience. Liz, a (now Sunday Times) best-selling author, TV presenter, and podcast host, dives deep into the transformative journey of midlife, discussing her latest triumph, 'A Better Second Half'.  Liz's message is clear: embrace pro-aging, find your purpose, and seize the joy in every moment.
Liz's candid conversation sheds light on the often overlooked and marginalised world of women's health in midlife, offering a treasure trove of evidence-based techniques and wisdom to thrive, not just survive. From debunking myths to embracing the ageing process, Liz advocates for self-care as a non-negotiable priority and shares her personal anecdotes, including the surprise of her 'autumn leaf' baby at 47.
She also touches on the profound impact of honest conversations about our health and the importance of smashing taboos, particularly around ageing and menopause. Liz's refreshing perspective is a call to action for women to reclaim their health and vitality, armed with simple yet life-altering daily habits and routines.
Listen for practical tips for a better start and end to your day, and make your second half of life your best yet.

Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Listen as Annie and Wendy catch up with honorary parent, Dr Ranj. Listen as he firmly puts down anti-vaxxers plus what he says people ALWAYS ask him in the supermarket.

Listen as Annie and Wendy chat all things parenting with influencer extraordinaire and mum of four, Anna Saccone Joly. From how she juggles a hectic daily life with content creation, to how she navigates her struggles with her children's privacy and choices.

Listen as the nation’s most beloved chef tells Annie and Wendy all about his own childhood and how he’s doing it differently PLUS why we’ve all been grating cheese wrong. Yes, you heard it here first.

Note: Tom's lullaby is by Stefan Holmes and is called "Schlaf, Kinderlein, Schlaf": https://open.spotify.com/track/5P7qWe2pX0ckIuJ0D4io2Y?si=IIPrJJOATfKYcbyvRkg2hA

Listen as Annie and Wendy discuss parenting with Bryony, author of new book, No Such Thing as Normal. Listen as she shares how she parents daughter Edie, and what it's like being friends with the 'very normal' Harry, Meghan and Archie. Could there be anyone nicer than Bryony? We don't think so.

Listen as Annie and Wendy get up close and personal with the nation’s PT – Joe Wicks. From his own chaotic childhood to media beloved, Joe shares the thinking and determination that propel him forward, and that he believes we can all live by.

Listen as Annie and Wendy chat everything from IVF, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy to traumatic births, PND and loving a newborn cone head with Paloma, who's well known for telling it like it really is.

Listen as Annie and Wendy chat all things parenting with Ella Mills (aka healthy eating and food guru Deliciously Ella). From being too sick to eat in pregnancy, when food is your livelihood, to why adult nappies beat maternity pads hands down.

Listen as Wendy and Annie discuss the secrets to life with new babies. While Steph started her (very successful!) business with three tiddlers in tow, she says the key is ... doing nothing and having zero expectations. Oh, and listen to the end for her hilarious birth story. She's nothing if not honest, our Steph.

What does it feel like to become a parent when for so long you thought it wouldn’t happen for you? Katie Piper, bestselling author, activist, model and TV presenter of Songs of Praise, shares why she’d have 10 children if her husband would go for it. Listen as she shares with Annie and Wendy how life as a mum has brought home the agony her own mum must have felt at watching her suffer after the acid attack that caused major damage to her face and blinded her in one eye. And prepare to be awed – Katie isn’t just a survivor, she’s a thriver. No wonder her books sell by the bucket load!

Listen as Annie and Wendy hear Tana Ramsay’s honest and inspiring story of coping with baby loss and the birth of premature babies. Tana shares how she discovered, 'Talking is the best form of therapy, even though it doesn't come naturally to me because I'm very private,' giving hope to others who’ve suffered the same. TRIGGER WARNING: this podcast episode discusses pregnancy loss.

Alison Perry is flying solo in this episode and sits down with TV presenter and property developer, Laura Hamilton. Known for whisking hopeful homeowners to dreamy locales on "A Place in the Sun," Laura, mum of two, spills her best-kept secrets for travelling with kids, from essential travel gear to encouraging adventurous eating.
Laura talks about her entrepreneurial side, and also shares her philosophy of integrating children into her dynamic lifestyle, starting from their first passport photos at just three weeks old. She advocates for the power of travel in teaching kids people skills, confidence, and an appreciation for different cultures and ways of life.


Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums 

Annie and Wendy cosy up with former Boyzone bandmember Ronan Keating about the joys and challenges of being a dad of five, what it’s like having a baby in lockdown and why he’s DEFINITELY not planning on a baby number six. Ronan also talks about parenting in the face of the tragic loss of his mum, Marie, and the work he does to raise awareness of the importance of early cancer detection with the Marie Keating Foundation (mariekeating.ie).

Gemma Atkinson, actress and radio host, shares her birth story and what it’s really like being the partner of a Strictly pro.

In need of some comfort and a bit of an escape from your lockdown world? Then listen as Claire Richards, Faye Tozer and Lisa Scott-Lee from Steps reveal what life’s like as parents after you’ve been the soundtrack to all the other parents’ teenage years.