3P's in a Pod: Paediatrics, Parenting & Perimenopause

Welcome to the fourth and final episode of our series on parenting teenagers. This time, Christy Herselman flies solo while Dr Claudia Gray is away—and she is tackling the topic every parent of a teen is wrestling with: screens. With school holidays in full swing, Christy knows firsthand how tricky it can be to maintain healthy screen boundaries when downtime increases. She breaks down why the tim...

Welcome to the third episode of our four-part series on adolescents. This time, we tackle one of the most fragile and important topics in a teenager's life: how they see themselves. In this episode, Dr Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman explore the complex world of teen body image and self-esteem. What is body image, really? It is not just what you see in the mirror—it is the thoughts, beliefs...

Welcome back to the second episode of our four-part series on adolescents. Last time, we explored what is happening inside the teenage body and brain. This time, we look at how it all plays out—in their emotions, their friendships, and their relationship with you. In this episode, Dr Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman tackle the emotional and social chaos of the teenage years. They start with a pa...

Welcome to the first episode in a four-part series on adolescents. If you have ever looked at your teenager and wondered who this person is and what happened to your sweet child, this conversation is for you. In this episode, Dr Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman pull back the curtain on the physical and neurological chaos of adolescence. Both mothers of teenagers themselves, they know this stage...

Last episode, we talked about what perimenopause feels like. This episode, we talk about what to do about it. Dr Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman return for a practical, empowering conversation about managing this chaotic chapter—not just surviving it, but thriving. Because while there is no magic pill that replaces lifestyle, there are real, evidence-based ways to ease the burden and even reinv...

For too long, perimenopause has been treated as a mystery—or worse, dismissed as "just part of getting older." But understanding what is happening to your body in this chaotic chapter changes everything. In this episode, Dr Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman finally turn the spotlight on themselves and every woman navigating this hormonal rollercoaster. They start with the basics: what is...

Most parents dread the talk. But what if the real mistake is waiting too long? In this episode, Dr. Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman tackle one of the most anxiety-inducing topics in parenting: talking to children about sex and reproduction. Christy shares the story behind founding The Chat, a movement born from a birthday party conversation where a room full of mothers admitted they had no idea...

South Africa has the highest screen time in the world. But while we're all scrolling, what are we actually losing? In this episode, Dr Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman explore a concept that changes how we think about our devices: opportunity cost. For every hour spent on a screen, something else is being sacrificed—and the price our children are paying might be higher than we realise. They...

When your child is miserable with a cough or fever, the medicine cabinet can feel like the only place to turn. But how many of those colourful syrups and familiar bottles are actually helping—and how many are quietly doing harm? In this episode, Dr. Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman take a hard look at the medications parents reach for most. From the sedating antihistamines Claudia calls "dir...

Walk into any pharmacy or listen to any school gate conversation, and you'll hear about the latest supplement promising stronger immunity, fewer sick days, and healthier children. But how much of this is backed by science, and how much is clever marketing? In this episode, Dr Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman tackle the million-rand question every parent faces: Do our children really need imm...

In our very first episode, we're tackling a question every modern parent grapples with: Is that smartphone in your hand a helpful parenting tool, or is it a trap that fuels anxiety and self-doubt? Join Dr Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman as they explore the five ways our digital devices are quietly reshaping parenthood. From the overwhelm of information overload to the danger of the comparis...

Expert-led chats on child, teen & parental health and wellbeing brought to you by paediatrician Dr Claudia Gray and journalist Christy Herselman. Hosted by trusted voices in health and parenting, this evidence-based podcast blends paediatrics, women's health and modern parenting into practical, relatable discussions. From childhood illnesses, development & teens to hormones, peri-menop...