Happy Mum

This week Giovanna welcomes legendary singer-songwriter Laura Marling to the studio! Laura tells Gi about her early fears that becoming a mother might stifle her creativity, and shares her experiences of having two home births. She also discusses her mission to create children's music that parents can genuinely enjoy, and introduces her new venture, 'Laura Sings Raffi,' a 17-track cover album of b...

"If my gut is telling me something is wrong, something is wrong." This week we hear from two midwives who know the power of following their instincts. 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: Midwife Pip: The Home of Trusted Pregnancy, Birth and Postnatal Support For Pa...

This week Gi reunites with her old friend Susannah Fielding! You’ll know Susannah from This Time with Alan Partridge , Man vs Baby , and Wolf Hall — but her most important role is being mum to her two-year-old son Alfie. Susannah opens up to Gi about growing up with a single mother and an intermittently absent father, how those experiences shaped her relationships, and why she’s so focused on brea...

Trigger warning: this episode incudes challenging experiences relating to baby loss. If you feel this may be a difficult listen please consider choosing another episode 💜 This week on Life of a Midwife we hear more of Anna’s extraordinary story, beginning with one of the first births she attended in South Sudan before she had even qualified as a midwife. Anna also speaks candidly about her own ex...

This week, Giovanna sits down with singer, presenter and all-round ray of sunshine Mollie King ! Mollie chats to Gi about life with her two young daughters, the realities of motherhood (no sleep), and her exciting new venture into podcasting. She also opens up about navigating her father’s terminal illness while preparing to welcome her first baby. Don’t forget to check out Novel Idea — Mollie’s b...

Trigger warning: this episode contains descriptions related to childbirth that may be distressing or upsetting to some listeners. Purpose isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it takes you somewhere extraordinary. This week we delve into the inspiring stories of two midwives whose paths were shaped by a pull they simply couldn't ignore. If you’re interested in being part of the next series of Life o...

TRIGGER WARNING: this episode contains some difficult conversations, including discussions around suicidal thoughts. We know this can be a lot to take in, so 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 💛 May is Maternal Mental Health Month, a reminder that keeping the difficult conversations going matters more tha...

What does it feel like to hold a life for the first time? In this episode of Life of a Midwife, three midwives tell us what it feels like to catch a baby! 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: BabySZN™ is a platform built to help women train specifically for...

Over the past nine years, Happy Mum Happy Baby has evolved — and so has our mission! Increasingly, our conversations have centred on mums themselves: their mental health, wellbeing, relationships, and identity. Because when a mum feels supported, seen, and heard, everything else can flourish. So... welcome to the era of Happy Mum ! And joining us to start this exciting new chapter is the gorgeous...

To celebrate the international day of the midwife we’ve got something very special for you — the very first episode of our brand-new miniseries! Every Thursday, we’ll be sharing powerful stories from midwives, past and present, as they reflect on the moments that have shaped their lives and careers. In this first episode, we'll trace the moments two women were pulled into midwifery. We’ll return t...

We’ve got a special delivery coming your way… a brand-new miniseries! Life of a Midwife brings you raw, honest, and deeply personal stories from midwives — past and present — as they share the moments that shaped not just their careers, but their lives. Our first episode drops on Tuesday 5th May, perfectly timed to celebrate International Day of the Midwife! And new episodes delivered every Thursd...

This week Giovanna sits down with creator and OG YouTuber Hannah Witton! Hannah opens up about navigating motherhood while living with long-term chronic illness. She also shares her journey with secondary infertility and the emotional challenges of coping with other people’s pregnancy announcements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Simpson thought she was failing as a mother throughout the first 10 years of her daughter Nina's life. After a decade of misdiagnosis, blame, and searching for answers, she finally discovered the truth: Nina is autistic. In this episode of Happy Mum Happy Baby, Catherine sits down with Giovanna for a conversation about the journey to getting Nina—now 31—her diagnosis. This episode is all...

In this episode Giovanna sits down with comedian, author, and podcaster Emma Doran. Emma reflects on becoming pregnant as a teenager while attending an all-girls convent school, and the challenges that followed. She also shares how she began stand-up on maternity leave, performing her first open mic when her baby was just six weeks old! Catch Emma on tour! Emma Doran has extended her Emmaculate UK...

When it comes to having children, what happens when you’re just not sure? This week, Vicky Pattison and husband Ercan Ramadan join Gi for a chat about the pressure to decide, the different paths available—from having children to adoption, surrogacy, or choosing a child-free life—and why the answer isn’t always simple. Vicky also opens up about her childhood, shaped by complex family dynamics and h...

This week, we welcome broadcaster, High Performance Podcast host, and father of two, Jake Humphrey , to the studio. Jake and Giovanna share their experiences of being bullied at school, with Jake sharing how those early challenges later helped him navigate public scrutiny as the BBC’s F1 presenter. He also talks candidly about fertility struggles and the deal he made with his wife while trying to...

In this episode, Gi sits down with comedian Hannah East to talk about the chaos of parenting three children. Hannah shares her unique career journey, from competing on Gladiators (where she met her husband) to presenting at the 2012 Olympics. She also opens up about her fertility struggles and two miscarriages, and how her experiences with grief inspired her to create a stand-up show to help other...

In this episode, Giovanna sits down with Debbie Bright for an eye-opening conversation about what it’s really like to be a foster carer. Best known to many from  TOWIE , Debbie is also one of the UK’s longest-serving foster carers, having cared for over 200 children across 35 years. Gi and Debbie talk about why children enter care, the importance of showing compassion rather than ju...

Our guest this week is presenter and author Chessie King! Chessie opens up to Giovanna about navigating her husband’s postnatal depression and the incredibly tough time that left their marriage on the brink of divorce. She also talks about the emotional journey of trying to conceive again after experiencing fertility struggles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Giovanna is joined by adventurer and explorer Steve Backshall Steve and Gi catch up on family life as he reflects on his childhood and how it shaped the person he is today. He also opens up about his wife Helen's inspiring journey training for the Tokyo Olympics just months after giving birth, and of course, there are plenty of tales from his iconic adventures along the way. LEGO® Educa...

One huge milestone. One unforgettable twist 👀 To celebrate 300 incredible episodes of  Happy Mum Happy Baby , Giovanna finally finds herself on the other side of the table, lovingly nudged out of the hosting chair by none other than her best friend Emma Willis! In a perfect full-circle moment, Emma—who was  HMHB ’s very first guest—returns to turn the tables and get the full story...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains explicit discussion surrounding issues including depression, postpartum psychosis and suicidal thoughts. This may prove a difficult listen for some and if you feel that listening may affect you negatively then please choose another episode. This week Giovanna sits down with Jade Lloyd for a powerful and deeply personal interview about her experience with post...

This week, Giovanna is joined by the brilliantly funny reality star and mum of three, Charlotte Dawson! Charlotte opens up to Gi about honouring her dad Les Dawson’s memory at home, alongside her mission to champion body positivity for women everywhere. A hilarious, honest, and slightly chaotic episode — enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Happy Mum Happy Baby, Giovanna chats with the brilliant Lou Beckett! Lou opens up about the pressures of breastfeeding, and shares how she and her husband Rob navigated the all-too-real 'roommate phase' during their early days of parenthood. She also talks about the mental load of being the 'default parent': the one who keeps family life ticking, from organising clubs and parties to t...

National treasure of stage and screen Denise Van Outen joins Giovanna this week! Denise and Gi chat about their stagey childhoods and the impact motherhood has had on their careers in the performing arts. Plus, Denise opens up about her relationship with ex-partner Lee Mead and how they successfully co-parent their daughter, Betsy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.