Parent Unplugged is a parenting podcast built on real stories.
Through raw, honest conversations, we explore what it actually feels like to raise children - the moments no one prepares you for, the thoughts you don’t say out loud, and the experiences that change you.
From everyday overwhelm to life-altering challenges, each episode brings you inside the reality of parenting - not the polished version.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one struggling, thinking or feeling a certain way… you’re not.
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In this eye-opening podcast episode, we unpack the truth about potty training, nappies, toilet learning, constipation, poo withholding, and the “readiness” myth many parents are told to follow. A research nurse explains why children historically potty trained much earlier, how disposable nappies changed parenting culture, and why waiting for “signs of readiness” may be causing more problems than parents realise. We also discuss toddler constipation, bowel health, potty refusal, anxiety around pooing, and practical ways to make potty training gentler and less stressful for both children and parents. Essential listening for parents of toddlers navigating toilet training struggles, poo withholding, accidents, or delayed potty training.
She Found a Love Letter in His Jacket Pocket After 22 Years of Marriage
Monday, June 29, 2026 • Duration 33:15
Helen Thorn - comedian, author and one half of Scummy Mummies — joins me to share the story behind the smile. After discovering her husband had been having an affair, Helen suddenly found herself navigating heartbreak, divorce, single motherhood and rebuilding her life in her 40s - all at the start of lockdown.
We talk about betrayal, telling the children, grief, anger, identity, people pleasing, and how she slowly created a life she never expected to love. This is an honest conversation about losing the future you imagined and discovering something better on the other side.
🎙️ Topics: divorce, affairs, co-parenting, motherhood, rebuilding after heartbreak, relationships & resilience.
What Severe Autism Really Looks Like
Thursday, May 28, 2026 • Duration 13:44
What is it really like raising children with severe autism?In this powerful and emotional highlight, one mother shares the raw reality of parenting two non-speaking autistic sons with high care needs. From early diagnosis and sleepless nights to extreme behavioural challenges, medication decisions, and the heartbreaking choice to separate her children - this is a story rarely told in full.She opens up about:The early signs of autism and the diagnosis journeyLiving through constant crisis and emotional burnoutWatching your child in distress and not knowing how to helpThe impact on marriage, family life, and identityCo-parenting after separation and doing what’s best for your childrenAnxiety, mental health, and learning to ask for helpThis is an honest, unfiltered conversation about autism parenting, resilience, and survival.If you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child, a carer, or someone looking to better understand autism, this episode offers both insight and hope.
The Scan Changed Everything
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 • Duration 35:23
In this deeply emotional episode, we’re joined by Bex Gunn to talk about the reality of miscarriage, baby loss, grief, and the silence so many parents experience after pregnancy loss.
Bex shares the heartbreaking story of discovering there was no heartbeat at her 12-week scan during Covid, the traumatic physical experience of miscarriage, and the loneliness that followed. Together, we discuss the things nobody prepares you for - the medical language, the shame, the isolation, the impact on relationships, and why so many people feel unable to talk about pregnancy loss openly.
We also explore:
What miscarriage is really like physically and emotionally
Why baby loss still feels so taboo
The comments that help - and the ones that hurt
Navigating grief while parenting other children
Fertility struggles, jealousy, anger, and guilt
How Bex went from sharing one honest post online to co-founding The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation
Why no one going through miscarriage should feel alone
This episode is raw, honest, validating, and incredibly important for anyone who has experienced miscarriage, fertility struggles, or baby loss - or wants to better support someone who has.
If this conversation resonates with you, please like, comment, and share to help normalise these conversations around pregnancy loss and grief.
No One Talks About How Motherhood Changes You
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 • Duration 46:49
Alice Liveing joins Parent Unplugged for an honest conversation about body image, self-worth, pregnancy, postpartum identity, and what it really means to feel strong.In this episode, Alice opens up about her early experiences in dance and fitness, the pressure to be thin, the reality behind being known as “Alice with abs,” and the physical and emotional cost of chasing a certain body. She also shares how becoming a mum has changed the way she sees strength, health, confidence, and the message she wants to pass on to her daughter.This is a powerful discussion about letting go of “bounce back” culture, rebuilding your identity after having a baby, and learning to value a body that feels strong rather than simply looks a certain way.If you’ve ever struggled with body image, comparison, postpartum confidence, or feeling at home in your body, this episode is for you.#ParentingPodcast #BodyImage #PostpartumJourney #Motherhood #AliceLiving
Mothers must stop trying to be selfless
Thursday, May 14, 2026 • Duration 15:01
So many mothers feel pressure to be endlessly giving, patient, and selfless.
But what if that expectation is actually hurting us?
In this highlight episode, psychologist and author Susie explains why the “selfless mum” myth leads to burnout, resentment, and losing your sense of self - and how small shifts in self-compassion and self-advocacy can change everything.
You’ll also learn simple tools to calm your nervous system, reconnect with yourself in everyday moments, and show up as the parent you truly want to be.
Because motherhood doesn’t mean you stop mattering.
Will My Son Ever Speak?
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 • Duration 57:10
What happens when your child isn’t developing the way you expected?
In this emotional episode, a father shares the reality of raising a nonverbal child - from the heartbreak of self-harm and the fear of an uncertain future, to the questions every parent is scared to ask:
Will they ever speak?
Will they make friends?
Will they live independently?
This is a raw, honest conversation about autism, parenting, and the mental spiral so many parents experience - but rarely say out loud.
And then… a moment that changes everything.
A small, unexpected act of affection that redefines connection, communication, and hope.
If you’re a parent navigating autism, speech delays, or just the overwhelming unknowns of raising a child, this episode will stay with you.
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to be the first to hear more real parenting stories every week.
Parents Are Using Pouches Wrong
Thursday, May 7, 2026 • Duration 12:07
Are baby food pouches actually bad for children? 🤔 In this conversation, registered nutritionist Charlotte breaks down the growing debate around baby food pouches, sugar, and how early eating habits shape a child’s relationship with food.Charlotte explains why pouches aren’t necessarily “bad”, but why relying on them too often may affect a child’s development, texture learning, and long-term eating habits. She also shares practical advice for reducing mealtime pressure, introducing new foods, and helping babies develop healthy relationships with food.In this discussion we cover:Whether baby food pouches are good or bad for babiesWhy texture is important for babies learning to eatThe truth about sugar and hyperactivity in childrenHow early food exposure shapes long-term eating habitsWhy family meals matter during weaningHow parents can reduce stress around mealtimesSimple “1% changes” that can improve your child’s dietThis episode is all about removing guilt from parenting while giving practical, evidence-based advice on feeding babies and toddlers.Whether you're starting weaning or navigating toddler mealtimes, this conversation offers helpful insight and reassurance for parents.
We’re Getting Screen Time Wrong… Here’s Why
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • Duration 57:39
What age should kids get a smartphone - and are we getting it wrong?
In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest parenting debates right now: screen time, smartphones, and how to support children’s emotional development in a digital world. From toddler tantrums to teenage group chats, we unpack what’s actually going on beneath behaviour - and why emotional regulation is a skill that takes practice, not punishment.
We talk about why telling kids to “calm down” often backfires, how to respond to big emotions in a way that actually works, and why perfection isn’t the goal when it comes to parenting. The conversation also explores the reality of screen use today - breaking down the difference between screens vs content, the pressures parents face, and how to set healthy boundaries without guilt.
You’ll also hear practical advice on:
Managing tantrums and emotional outbursts
Teaching kids lifelong coping skills
Setting realistic screen time boundaries
Navigating smartphones, social media, and peer pressure
Modelling healthy behaviour as a parent
This is an honest, relatable conversation for any parent trying to do their best in a world that feels increasingly overwhelming.
Because it’s not about getting it perfect - it’s about making small, meaningful changes that actually stick.
Play Based Learning Beats Classrooms
Thursday, April 30, 2026 • Duration 09:48
Former deputy headteacher Ruth Lue-Quee explains why children learn best through play - not sitting at desks. After launching a petition from her bed that gained 106,000 signatures and triggered a debate in Parliament, she’s campaigning to protect play-based learning in schools. In this highlight episode she reveals why play improves memory, wellbeing, creativity and problem-solving - and why many education systems around the world are already moving in this direction.
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