Parental Control

If you've ever found yourself shouting over something small, only to be overwhelmed with guilt moments later, you're far from alone. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by award-winning journalist and author Lauren Novak to explore one of motherhood's least talked about realities: mum rage. Lauren has spent more than two decades reporting on family life, child safety and social issues, and after becoming a mother herself during the Covid-19 pandemic, she turned her attention to the hidden pressures facing modern mums. In her book Meltdown, she explores what really sits beneath the anger, from the relentless mental load and sleep deprivation to hormones, guilt and the impossible expectations placed on mothers today. Together, Ellie and Lauren discuss why so many mums feel they're constantly on the edge, why maternal anger is still surrounded by shame, and what parents can do to recognise the warning signs before they reach breaking point. If you've ever wondered, "Why am I so angry all the time?" this honest and reassuring conversation is for you. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Mum Rage Survey Buy the book Meltdown, by Laura Novak Instagram @lauranovakwrites What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

Body image worries are starting younger. Diet culture may have changed its clothes, but it certainly hasn't gone away — it's simply rebranded as wellness, self-improvement and "health optimisation," all while our children scroll through TikTok, influencers and impossible appearance standards in real time. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by Elle Mace, eating disorder expert, coach, author of the upcoming book Food Freedom, and someone whose own struggles with body image and disordered eating began at just 10 years old. Together, they explore the early warning signs parents may miss, how to tell the difference between normal food fussiness and something more concerning, the everyday language around food and bodies that can accidentally cause harm, and what today's obsession with wellness, weight-loss drugs, and appearance culture is doing to young minds. A thoughtful, honest and hugely important conversation for any parent raising children in a world obsessed with bodies. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Instagram: @iamellemace Food Freedom is available from 27th August at £14.99 via major retailers including Penguin, Amazon and Waterstones. What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

Exam season can bring stress to the entire household. From slammed bedroom doors and sleepless nights to younger children already feeling the pressure of assessment before secondary school is even on the horizon. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by education expert Katharine Radice, author of The Parent's Guide to Exam Stress, to unpack what exam pressure is really doing to our children, and to us as parents. Are SATs putting too much pressure on children far too young? How do anxiety, ADHD, autism and perfectionism change the way exam stress shows up? And how can parents support revision without becoming the household drill sergeant? With more than 20 years in education, Katharine shares practical, reassuring advice on spotting the signs a child is struggling, managing expectations, navigating post-exam meltdowns, and helping children build resilience without tying their self-worth to academic performance. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes The Parent's Guide to Exam Stress is a new release and available via all usual booksellers. Website: katharineradice.co.uk To join Katharine's mailing list for a fortnightly conversation piece about supporting children through school, it's https://katharineradice.co.uk/join-in. What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

One of the most-searched questions in sexual wellness today is "Why are vibrators healthy?" — and few people are better positioned to answer it than Samantha Marshall, Head of Brand at Smile Makers Collection. As a leader in the global intimate-wellness space, Sam has spent the past five years helping redefine pleasure as an important part of self-care. Under her leadership, Smile Makers' colourful, wellness-driven vibrators and tools have entered mainstream retailers like Sephora, Ulta, and Selfridges, pushing the conversation around sexual wellbeing further into the open. Sam also leads Vulva Talks, Smile Makers' free, pleasure-positive sex-education programme, where she offers clear, accessible guidance on everything from self-pleasure to understanding your body. Her work directly addresses why vibrators can support sexual health — from boosting confidence to reducing stress and improving body awareness. In today's episode, we explore sexual wellness, self-pleasure, and how changing the narrative around intimacy empowers people to build healthier relationships with their bodies. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Debby Herbernick: https://theweek.com/articles/749978/female-price-male-pleasure Smile Makers Collection Instagram: @smilemakerscollection What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

This week on the podcast, Ellie Thompson catches up with the brilliant Jaime Amor, the creative force behind Cosmic Kids Yoga, and now star of her brand-new Sky Kids Original series, Jaime's Yoga Adventures. If you've ever done a downward dog with your little ones, you'll already know Jaime — her YouTube channel has inspired millions of children to move, stretch, and breathe through storytelling. And now, she's bringing that same magic to television, blending adventure, mindfulness, and movement in a fun, family-friendly format. In this episode, we chat about Jaime's Yoga Adventures, the power of storytelling to help children connect with their emotions, and how yoga can build strength, balance, and resilience — both physically and mentally. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Follow Cosmic Kids on Instagram and YouTube. What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

Ellie Thompson is joined by the amazing Fran Amber, the viral manifesting mum behind the chart-topping Law of Attraction Changed My Life podcast. Fran joins the show to talk about her new book, Manifest Like A Mother (out 4 September). After losing her businesses and becoming a single mum, Fran used manifesting to rebuild her life into a thriving brand, near-sold-out tour, and millions of downloads—and she's sharing exactly how. In this episode, we dig into: chore therapy (turning chores into self-care), setting clear goals with gratitude, cyclical living, creating a supportive environment, making the ordinary feel special, and reframing money to release old beliefs. If you've ever thought you're "too busy" to manifest, this one's for you. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes The Secret, Rhonda Byrne Manifest Like A Mother, Francesca Amber Proof of Heaven, Dr Eben Alexander, URL:https://francescaamber.com/ IG @FrancescaAmber Podcast @LawOfAttractionChangedMyLife What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions, please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

On this week's episode, we're joined by Louise Fox, a mother who has turned unimaginable personal loss into a powerful force for change. Louise's son George was a bright, animal-loving 12-year-old when he began having headaches that were repeatedly dismissed as harmless. Eleven months later, he died from an aggressive brain tumour. In the years since, Louise has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Brain Tumour Research, supported the Tessa Jowell Foundation and co-founded the Angel Mums collective to improve paediatric palliative care. She's now a leading voice in Brain Cancer Justice, a campaign demanding serious government investment and better care for brain cancer patients. Brain Cancer Justice We'll talk to Louise about how she and her family navigated those first terrifying weeks of misdiagnosis, what she learned about the shortcomings of current treatments and why she's fighting to make genome sequencing and clinical trials available to every child with a brain tumour. We'll hear about George's character and the community of "Gorgeous George" supporters who've kept his memory alive, and ask Louise what policy changes she believes could help transform brain cancer from terminal to treatable. Sign the petition for Brain Cancer Justice. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Sign the petition for Brain Cancer Justice. Instagram Links Brain Cancer Justice Louise Fox Angel Mums Tessa Jowel Foundation What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/