What They Don’t Tell You (but we will!) – Details, episodes & analysis

Join Emily and Matt Norris as they pull back the curtain on real-life parenting, the highs and lows of marriage, and everything in between.

With 20 years together, three kids, a dog, and a home renovation under their belts, Emily brings her signature positivity and practical tips, while Matt keeps things grounded with his honest, often humorous, dad’s-eye view. Expect raw and relatable chats, lessons learned (and mistakes made), and the advice they wish they had heard sooner.

Whether you’re in the thick of parenting or just love a good family chat, What They Don’t Tell You (but we will) is here to tell you what no one else does – with warmth, wit, and a touch of British moaning. Parenting, marriage, and family life – no one hands you a manual, but we’re here to share what we’ve learned along the way.

New episodes every Monday

Welcome to the very first episode of What They Don’t Tell You… But We Will, with Emily and Matt Norris. Join us as we pull back the curtain on parenting, marriage, and everything in between, with plenty of laughs and brutal honesty along the way.


In this episode, we’re diving into:


✅ The three biggest things we wish we’d known before becoming parents

✅ Why naps are not worth obsessing over (trust us, we’ve been there)

✅ How parenting styles clash and why teamwork is the secret to surviving the chaos

✅ Matt’s Moan of the Week – where he lets loose on his latest grievance

✅ Our most embarrassing parenting story ever (seriously, why are we sharing this?)


Expect some classic British sarcasm, plenty of real talk, and a behind-the-scenes look at the things no one tells you about raising kids. Whether you are a new parent, a seasoned pro, or just here for the fun, you are in the right place.


Listen now and let us know – what is something you wish you had known before becoming a parent?

Email us: emilynorrisloves@gmail.com for feedback, funny stories or partnerships. 

Welcome back to What They Don’t Tell You… But We Will, with Emily and Matt Norris. This week, we're diving headfirst into the whirlwind world of labour and birth — from broken tailbones to home births and everything in between.

In this episode, we’re sharing:

✅ Our three very different birth stories

✅ A dad's role in the delivery room (spoiler: there’s no time for a coffee break)

✅ The unexpected moments that can turn a calm birth plan upside down

✅ Your amazing birth stories — from unexpected breech arrivals to chaotic delivery room antics

✅ Matt’s Moan of the Week – featuring a rant about that infamous red book

Expect laughs, relatable chaos, and plenty of “why did no one tell us this?” moments. Whether you’re a new parent, a seasoned pro, or just here for entertainment, you're in the right place.

Got a funny or memorable birth story of your own? We’d love to hear it! Email us at emilynorrisloves@gmail.com

Welcome back to What They Don’t Tell You… But We Will, with Emily and Matt Norris. This week, we're diving into the chaotic, heartwarming, and often hilarious world of sibling rivalry — the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

✅ The never-ending bickering
✅ Why rough and tumble play might actually be good for your kids (even if it looks terrifying)
✅ The showdown moments
✅ Sweet sibling moments that prove they do love each other (deep down)
✅ Matt’s Moan of the Week – featuring parents & tired kids in shopping centres

Whether you're raising a house full of siblings, grew up battling your own brothers and sisters, or just love a good family drama — this episode’s for you!

Got a sibling story to share? We’d love to hear it!
Email us at: emilynorrisloves@gmail.com

In this episode, we're tackling the all-important and often debated topic: kids, technology, and screen time. We'll share our experiences navigating the digital world with our boys, and what we’ve learnt along the way.

Join us as we dive into:

✅ The shift in technology over the years and how it impacts our parenting journey
✅ Realistic and effective ways to manage your children’s screen time – because let’s get real, we all need a little peace and quiet!
✅ The fascinating paradox of how today’s children are growing up with more advanced tech but possibly missing out on the childhood experiences that previous generations enjoyed
✅ Our take on setting boundaries with digital devices while still encouraging creative and educational uses of screen time
✅ Matt’s Moan of the Week – his pet peeve that you might resonate with!

Expect a light-hearted yet informed conversation that’s packed with tips for navigating the murky waters of parenting in the digital age. Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, or simply a tech observer, there’s something in this episode for everyone.

Share your thoughts, feedback, or even your struggles with screen time at emilynorrisloves@gmail.com. We’re all on this journey together, and your stories might just make it into a future episode!

Today, we open up about raising boys! With three sons aged 8, 11, and 14, we'll share our firsthand experiences, hard-earned wisdom, and practical tips that we've gathered over the years.

We'll be talking about:

• The delightful chaos of having boys
• Positive household dynamics and keeping tantrums at bay
• Emotional intelligence in boys in today’s world
• The best way to talk to your boys
• And of course... Matt's Moan of the Week!

So, whether you're a seasoned parent, a new parent, or simply intrigued, this episode is for you!

Share your own stories, tips, and experiences with raising boys (or children in general) at emilynorrisloves@gmail.com. 

Today, we're talking about something slightly different and it's... What They Don't Tell You about marriage and parenting! We've got 10 tips on how to have a better &  stronger marriage... but we're doing this episode mainly because we need reminding!

In this episode, we'll talk about

• The impact of upbringings and how our parents have impacted the way we are today
• Embracing differences
• Scheduling quality time with each other - day dates are the way to go
• Creating traditions - not just with the kids but with each other too
• Understanding each other's love languages
• Teamwork in marriage 
• And we'll read through some of your tips for staying strong in your relationship

We hope that the humour, honesty and practical advice in this episode inspires you to take a bit of time for each other and remember why you're together!

We would love to hear your tips for a healthy & happy relationship and would love to hear your thoughts and feedback too. Send us an email at emilynorrisloves@gmail.com.

See you next week x 

In this episode, we share our toughest parenting moments and the lessons we've learned along the way! Preparing for this episode was relatively easy since we have so much to discuss, but don’t worry—we’ve got some helpful tips for you as well!

We’ll be discussing:

• Sleep deprivation with newborns and tips for healthy sleep habits for your children.  
• Challenges of balancing work and family life.  
• The impact of different disciplinary styles on children.  
• Financial strains.
• Our eldest child's nut allergy.  
• The importance of self-care for parents.  

We hope this episode makes you feel seen and offers some comfort in knowing that you are not alone in the struggles that come with parenting!

As always, we would love to hear your stories and challenges. Feel free to reach out to us at emilynorrisloves@gmail.com.

This week, it's all about... What They Don't Tell You about Family Holidays! We have traveled a lot with our children, we've been very lucky and we've always really prioritised it. So in this episode, we are sharing everything we’ve learned (and are still learning) about making holidays work as a family. There should be a good few “same here!” moments!

In this episode, we’ll chat about:

• Why holidays with young kids aren’t really relaxing – and that’s okay
  
  
• Airport Dads and why we love them!
  
  
• Traveling hacks to keep your kids entertained and their bellies full!
  
  
• The rising cost of holidays in the school holidays
  
  
• And... a family holiday to New York which didn't end well!
  
  

So, whether you're about to go away or just got back, we hope this chat makes you feel seen, supported, and inspired to find all the joy in the chaos!
We’d love to hear your holiday hacks and stories – email us at emilynorrisloves@gmail.com.

Today, we're talking about What They Don't Tell You... about feeding kids! From purees and baby-led weaning to hidden veg hacks and picky eaters, we’re getting into the chaos, stress, and occasional triumph of getting food into little humans. With three kids well out of the toddler stage, we’re sharing what we’ve learned along the way – the wins, the regrets, and the hilarious moments too!

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Weaning 101: What we did right (and wrong) with each child
• Baby-led vs. puree: why we landed somewhere in the middle
• Toddler food battles and picky eaters
• Hidden veg, fun meals, and the power of Hulk smoothies
• Our go-to hacks, lazy dinners, and sanity-saving routines

We hope this chat brings you some ideas, a few laughs, and a reminder that it does get easier!

Share your food fails, wins and tips with us on Instagram at @whattheydonttellyoupod or email emilynorrisloves@gmail.com.