Conversations with Parents

Coleen Nolan has always had a very open relationship with her children.When it comes to having conversations with them, nothing is off the table, explains the TV personality and member of The Nolan Sisters.When her son told her he had sex for the first time, it was possibly a more personal sharing of details than many parents are used to when it comes to their teenagers’ lives, but Nolan says her own experiences of growing up, with parents who didn’t like to talk about certain things, made her particularly conscious to be a mother whose children could speak to her about anything.In today's episode, Nolan shares what it was like growing up in the spotlight, navigating being a parent amid marriage separation, and bringing up teenagers under the glare of the British tabloids. Produced by Andrew McNair. The series producer is Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a hormone doctor wasn’t actually much help when it came to parenting three girls, according to Donal O’Shea. He’s an expert in how hormones affect the body but he admits his wife handled ‘the talk’ when his three daughters were teenagers. However, he goes on to say he will be advising them “if I’m around when they are post-menopausal, that they need to be going on HRT.” O’Shea is a consultant endocrinologist and one of the most recognisable doctors in Ireland, owing to his work and advocacy for people living with obesity. In this episode, he discusses the pressure on parents when it comes to the influence of junk food marketing on their kids, how to handle picky eaters and how they might approach the tricky puberty years. He also draws on his experience of working with gender-questioning teens and how their parents may also need support. We also get to know another side of O'Shea, including how he once wanted to become a priest.Presented by Jen Hogan. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.Brought to you in association with Avonmore Super Milk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conversations with Parents from The Irish Times is coming back with a new season. Last year Jen Hogan spoke to interesting people about the hardest challenge of their lives: raising kids.Season two will feature eight brilliant guests with new parenting stories to tell. So stay tuned, wherever you get your podcasts - or on irishtimes.com.Conversations with Parents from The Irish Times is brought to you in association with Avonmore Super Milk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does parenting with the seemingly never-ending juggle of work, home-life, and trying to be everything to everyone, actually get any easier? What about if you have a child struggling with anxiety, where do you begin in the search for meaningful support? Siblings; ready-made friends, or sworn enemies - how do you manage sibling conflict? And does it really matter if parents share pictures of their children online? These are just some of the many questions that came in to us from listeners to our Conversations with Parents podcast. And, in this special episode, Jen Hogan sits down with the podcast’s producer, Aideen Finnegan, to look back over the series, discuss some of the themes and issues that emerged over the course of eight episodes, and answer a selection of your questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Black Paddy wants to teach his children self-acceptance; to love their bodies and their skin colour. The comedian and social media star is best known for his viral videos which gently poke fun at the culture shock of moving to Ireland from Africa. But he won't be including his children in his antics, preferring that they grow up with a 'strong mind' before they're ever exposed to the opinions of others online. In this conversation with host, Jen Hogan, he discusses the impact of losing his father at a young age, his period of homelessness and substance abuse and how he was happy for fatherhood to take him out of the fast lane. This episode contains strong language.Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ivan Yates is known for his controversial views on all manner of issues, and parenting is no different. The broadcaster admits the number of nappies he has changed in his time are in single digits and that 'learned helplessness' served him well. But Yates shares a more thoughtful side to him in this conversation with Jen Hogan. He speaks about how a lack of emotional warmth in his own childhood influenced how we would parent his own children, how he was determined they would be in no doubt how much he loves them and how is outspoken beliefs are not always well received by his sons and daughter.Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maïa Dunphy had never thought it was the right time to have a baby until, she jokes, her ex-husband told her at nearly 40 "it was time to 'do something' or get off the pot." The writer and TV star speaks to host Jen Hogan about becoming a mum later in life, fearing lone parenthood upon the break-up of her marriage and the conundrum of letting her son Tom make his holy communion, when she herself is an atheist. After losing her mum to cancer two years ago, she urges everyone to participate in family photo opportunities, lamenting that Tom has few pictures with his granny. Though, Dunphy reveals, he has her hilarious cameo appearances on her noughties TV production - Podge and Rodge's 'A Scare at Bedtime' - to look back on.Produced by Aideen Finnegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brendan O’Connor is used to being the one who asks the questions on his radio show. But in the very first episode of Conversations with Parents, the tables are turned on the RTÉ broadcaster, as host Jen Hogan queries him on all things parenting and discovers he is suffering with a touch of Imposter Syndrome. He's the proud father of Anna and Mary and husband to journalist, Sarah Caden. We're not used to seeing such a personal side to O'Connor, who opens up about the realities of raising two teenage girls, his attempts at 'teachable moments' and how parenting a child with Down Syndrome has changed him.Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.