Happy Mum

Trigger warning: this episode includes discussion of infertility, IVF, miscarriage and pregnancy loss. If you feel this may be a difficult listen please choose another episode xx

Something a bit different this week. Author and podcaster Elizabeth Day joins Gi to talk about coming to terms with a life without biological children.

Elizabeth opens up to Gi about her 12-year journey through infertility, IVF and miscarriage. Now, Elizabeth talks about finding a different kind of purpose through sharing her experience. If you are going through IVF or have decided to end your journey, we hope this episode helps you feel less alone.

Don't forget to watch the new adaptation of Elizabeth's amazing book The Party, now on ITV!

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We have an international bestselling author in the studio this week! It’s the brilliant Matt Haig.

Matt talks to Gi about his decision to homeschool his children and, drawing on his own experiences of depression and recovery, why he believes it’s not about shielding our children from life’s difficulties, but helping them develop the tools to cope when things get hard.

He also shares how his son’s autism diagnosis led him to discover he had autism and ADHD himself, and how better understanding himself has helped him understand his son.

Matt’s latest novel, The Midnight Train, and a graphic novel adaptation of his multi-million-copy bestseller The Midnight Library are out now!

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This week Giovanna is joined by model and presenter Hannah Cooper-Dommett.

Hannah opens up about how her relationship with husband Joel has changed since they became parents to their two boys, and how they've navigated keeping their marriage strong amid the chaos of family life.

She also shares what it was like to step into the role of carer when her mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and how she came to accept that her mum couldn’t be the support for her children that she had always imagined.

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Giovanna catches up with her friend Becky Cheetham this week to talk about Becky's experience as a sibling carer.

Becky’s sister, Hannah, has cerebral palsy, and Becky opens up to Gi about the challenges and joys of growing up as part of a family shaped by disability. She reflects on feeling like ‘the glass child’ – the sibling whose needs can sometimes take a back seat – and the impact this has had on her life.

Plus, Becky shares her thoughts on the future, navigating her role as a sibling carer and what it means for her relationship with Hannah as they get older.

You can follow Hannah and Becky (Cheethams with Dreams) on Instagram and TikTok x

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This week Giovanna sits down with the incredibly talented Annabel Scholey!

You’ll know Annabel from Rivals and, of course (the Happy Mum team’s personal favourite) The Split. But behind the scenes, Annabel was navigating the end of her own marriage, alongside balancing her acting career and raising her daughter.

Annabel opens up to Gi about the moment she knew her marriage was over, and talks about the grief that came with accepting she doesn’t have the ‘traditional’ family unit she once planned.

You can catch Annabel in Winter on ITV now, and Rivals Part 2 arrives on 11 November.

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What happens when you’ve spent so long holding everything together that you simply can’t anymore?

This week, Giovanna sits down with former Editor-in-Chief of HELLO! Magazine Rosie Nixon to talk about the breakdown that became the catalyst for transforming her life.

Rosie opens up about motherhood, the pressure to keep going and the guilt that can come with admitting you’re struggling.

Rosie’s book, The PRO Method: Pause, Reflect & Organise, is available now!

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Trigger warning: this episode includes discussions around bereavement and cancer. If you feel this may be a difficult listen, please choose another episode x

Giovanna is joined this week by her good friend and CoppaFeel! co-founder Maren Sheldon.

Maren opens up about navigating first-time motherhood alongside her twin sister Kris's incurable breast cancer diagnosis. and shares the honest, sometimes heartbreaking, and often unexpectedly funny realities of parenting through grief.

The new edition of Kris Hallenga's memoir Glittering a Turd, featuring new material from Maren and a foreword by Dawn French, is out 24th September.

Head to CoppaFeel! for more helpful information and resources xx

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This week, the hilarious Maddy Lucy Dann joins us for a chat about becoming a mum for the first time.

Maddy tells Gi what it’s really like balancing life as an A&E doctor with pregnancy, including navigating night shifts while expecting, and how becoming a mum has changed the way she sees her work.

She also opens up about sharing her aspects of her life online, including the criticism she faced over a breastfeeding video, and the reaction to her viral discussion of Bonnie Blue.

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This week on Happy Mum, we are joined by strong, inspiring and incredible mother of two Sophie Derry.

When Sophie's daughter Odette started vomiting on car journeys and having headaches, doctors initially put it down to travel sickness. An eye test changed everything, revealing a brain tumour that would lead to emergency surgery and fifteen further operations over seven months. Before the family could catch their breath, Sophie's younger daughter Eliza was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Sophie opens up to Gi about what it's like to face childhood cancer not once but twice -- the fear, the exhaustion, and the moments of hope.

If you’d like to show your support for some of the charities that have been there for Sophie, you can find links to them below:

PASIC

https://www.pasic.org.uk

When You Wish Upon a Star

https://www.whenyouwishuponastar.org.uk

Young Lives v Cancer

https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk

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This week, our favourite reality star turned singing and cooking sensation Megan McKenna joins Giovanna in the Happy Mum studio!

Megan tells Gi all about becoming a mum to Landon, including her experience with IVF and what it’s like living between two countries as a new mum.

She also reflects on the bullying she experienced at school, and how it shaped her confidence and the way she wants to parent.

Plus, stay tuned for a surprise at the end of the episode! 👀

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In this episode, Made in Chelsea's Sam and Alice Vanderpump join Giovanna to talk about the reality of becoming parents.

Alice bravely opens up about what life feels like for her right now as she navigates postnatal depression. She talks honestly about anxiety, feeling isolated and how she hasn't felt like herself since becoming a mum.

Sam shares what it has been like supporting Alice through her mental health struggles, while also reflecting on his own health journey and how becoming a dad has given him a new perspective on what his own parents went through.

Find out more about Sam's end-stage liver disease diagnosis -- Made in Chelsea: Sam Vanderpump’s Story is available to stream on Channel 4 now

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The summer holidays are in full swing... and if your usual routines have gone completely out the window, you're definitely not alone!

Whether you're juggling work and childcare, surviving later bedtimes, entertaining little ones, or simply trying to keep everyone fed, this special episode is here to remind you that you're doing a better job than you think.

00:54 – Keira Knightley gets refreshingly honest about sleep deprivation, survival mode and the reality of those early months

09:47 – Lucy Watson on letting go of expectations, trusting your instincts and why comparison is never helpful

19:03 – Carrie Hope Fletcher & Joel Montague discuss juggling careers and family life, and why you don't have to follow anyone else's path

25:18 – Lacey Turner shares why she's become more relaxed with each child, and why sometimes you just have to throw the parenting books out the window

35:37 – Emma Willis on why accepting help doesn't make you a bad parent...it makes you human!

☀️☀️☀️

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We might only be halfway through the summer holidays, but for many families the countdown to a new school year has already begun. And September can bring a whole mix of emotions for children and parents alike.

So, as part of Matalan’s Back to School Special, Giovanna sits down with NSPCC expert Gail Sayles to talk about something that can make all the difference when those school gates open again: confidence.

Drawing on years of supporting children through everything from school anxiety and bullying, to exams and friendship worries, Gail shares thoughtful, practical advice on how we can help our children navigate big feelings, build self-belief and feel empowered as they head back to school.

And the confidence doesn’t stop here! The Matalan Confidence Caravan is hitting the road this August, giving you the opportunity to add a personalised message to your little one’s pre-purchased Matalan uniform. The Confidence Caravan will be visiting four stores: Bilston, Preston, Luton and Swindon - check @shopmatalan or in-store for dates.

For more support, please visit the links below:

Childline counsellors are available to take calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from children and young people under 19

NSPCC Helpline is available between 10am and 4pm, Monday - Friday if you have concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing

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Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of miscarriage and pregnancy loss. If you think you may find this difficult to listen to, please choose another episode x

You might know her from Pop Idol, starring in the West End as Tina Turner, or her recent stint joining Take That on tour, but this week Zoe Birkett is reflecting on her role as a mum.

Zoe shares with Gi how she never imagined motherhood for herself, how meeting her husband changed everything, and why returning to a career she loves has made her a better mum.

She also opens up about her experience of pregnancy loss while performing as a leading lady in the West End, opening up about navigating grief behind the scenes, and the support that helped her through.

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Trigger warning: this episode contains discussions of suicide, mental illness and childhood trauma that some listeners may find upsetting.

Ruthie Henshall has spent decades captivating audiences on stage, but in this episode she joins Giovanna to talk about the role that has shaped her most: being a mum!

Ruthie reflects on choosing motherhood at the height of her career, raising two daughters as a single parent, and how becoming a mum changed her ambitions forever.

She also opens up about her own childhood, the lasting impact it had on her parenting, and the unexpected healing she found with her mother later in life.

Ruthie's new memoir, The Showgirl and the Prince, is out now!

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How has maternity care changed over the last few decades, and what still needs to improve?

In the final episode of this series, we reflect on the evolution of birth and look forward to the future of maternity care.

If you're interested in being part of the next series of Life of a Midwife we'd love to hear from you! Just drop us an email midwives@pixiu.co.uk

Links from our midwives:

All4Maternity is the go to place for education and support if you’re a midwife or student midwife.

And All4Birth is the home for expectant and new parents - free, non-biased, evidence-based information! Curated by a midwife ❤️

BabySZN™ is a platform built to help women train specifically for fertility, pregnancy from a birthdual-qualified midwife and performance trainer

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TW: This episode contains devastating conversations around child loss from a traumatic event, and themes of grief. Please do take care of yourself while listening, and know that it’s completely okay to step away and come back when you’re ready.

In this week's episode, Gi sits down with Jen Stancombe to honour the life of her daughter, Elsie Dot Stancombe.

In July 2024, seven-year-old Elsie was one of three young girls killed in the Southport attack. Jen joins Gi to share who Elsie truly was beyond the headlines: a joyful, caring, and inspirational big sister, who brought light to everyone she met.

Jen speaks about navigating the unimaginable grief alongside her husband David and their younger daughter, while sharing how love for Elsie continues to shape their family every day. She also reflects on the strength they've found in keeping Elsie's memory alive and the purpose they've discovered through the foundation created in her name.

We are incredibly grateful to Jen for trusting us with Elsie's story. To find out more about the incredible work being carried out in Elsie's memory, or to support the foundation, please visit Elsie's Story.

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Trigger warning: this episode incudes challenging experiences relating to birth and baby loss. If you feel this may be a difficult listen please consider choosing another episode 💜

Fear and hope often exist side by side throughout pregnancy and birth.

This week two midwives highlight the importance of clear, compassionate communication -- from easing birth anxieties to supporting families through pregnancy loss.

If you're interested in being part of the next series of Life of a Midwife we'd love to hear from you! Just drop us an email midwives@pixiu.co.uk

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This week make some noise for the first wrestler to join us on the podcast: WWE icon Becky Lynch!

Known to millions as The Man, Becky tells Gi about the moment she found out she was pregnant — while reigning as WWE Champion.

She also opens up about becoming a mum to daughter Roux during the pandemic and the challenges that followed, including post-weaning depression, grief after losing her father, and learning to see her body in a whole new light.

Watch Becky on WWE Raw live every Monday night exclusively on Netflix!

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Trigger warning: this episode incudes challenging experiences relating to birth. If you feel this may be a difficult listen please consider choosing another episode 💜

When birth takes an unexpected turn, staying calm can make all the difference.

This week two midwives share the emergencies they'll never forget.

If you’re interested in being part of the Life of a Midwife series, we’d love to hear from you — just drop us an email midwives@pixiu.co.uk

Links from our midwives:

Little Light Supportoffers independent, trauma-informed birth debriefs for women and families — particularly those who’ve had complex, confusing or difficult experiences

East Anglian Midwives offer personalised pregnancy care, homebirth and hospital birth support, and postnatal care in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, and Cambridge

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