Wiggle Talk - A Podcast For Parents

Anthony joins Simon and Lachy to talk all things Wiggles live shows - what changes between a small local venue and a huge arena, how much of the show is planned, and how much can change once there’s an audience in the room. They also get into the gigs where things went properly off the rails - and the stories are very good! To submit a question for the ‘Dear Wiggles’ segment, ema...

The last time Jessie Stephens came into Wiggle Talk , she was very pregnant with twins. What none of us knew was that she was already in the early stages of labour. Her waters broke that night. Three days later, Margot and Harry arrived. Now, six months on, the writer, author and  Mamamia Out Loud co-host is back - and we’re taking her back to some of the things she told us before she h...

Over the years, The Wiggles have welcomed some very famous faces into their world - sometimes for a song, sometimes on stage, and sometimes simply because their kids were huge fans. Anthony joins Simon and Lachy to look back at some of the most memorable encounters and collaborations, from Kylie Minogue and Shaquille O’Neal to Coldplay, Steve Irwin, Metallica and more - and the stories behin...

Screens are part of everyday family life - but what might they be crowding out? One of Australia’s best-known parenting authors and educators, Maggie Dent, joins Simon and Lachy to unpack what screen use can mean for play, movement, attention and connection, and why a handheld device isn’t quite the same as putting on the TV. You can find all of Maggie Dent’s books including&nbsp...

Girls learn to perform perfection. Boys learn to perform toughness. But where do those messages come from - and what can parents do differently? Clinical psychologist, New York Times bestselling author and founder of the Conscious Parenting movement Dr Shefali returns to  Wiggle Talk to unpack the pressures facing boys and girls today - from screens and algorithms to vulnerability, body image...

Birthday parties seem to come with a whole new set of rules - how much do you spend, what do you buy for a child you barely know, and what happens when the presents start piling up? Simon and Lachy talk birthday gift pressure, $5 parties and whether “no presents” is ever the answer. Then Simon shares a more personal side of raising an only child - the questions he and Lauren have wrest...

Grandparents can be one of the best parts of family life. They can also bring different rules, different ideas about discipline, and occasionally a few more treats than you had in mind. Maggie Dent joins Simon and Lachy to talk about finding the balance between parents and grandparents, setting boundaries without creating tension, and why the small moments with grandparents can become some of the...

That throwaway comment about needing to work off dessert, hating a photo of yourself or wishing your body looked different? Your children may be listening more closely than you realise. 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt and body image researcher Dr Zali Yager from The Embrace Collective join Simon and Lachy to unpack how children learn to think about their bodies, often long before the te...

A broken peg has become one toddler’s most treasured possession. Simon and Lachy get into the weird little obsessions children develop - before a listener asks a question that hits a little closer to home: do you ever miss your pre-kid weekends? From spontaneous plans to finding five minutes to yourself, it’s a very familiar look at just how much family life changes everything. To subm...

When Lachy met Dana, he wasn’t just beginning a new relationship. He was also stepping into the life of her three-year-old son and working out what his place in their family might become. Dana joins Lachy and Simon for a deeply personal conversation about how their blended family came together, the moments that shaped it and what they’ve learned as their family has grown.   HOSTS...

You’re tired, busy and usually being climbed on by a small child - so where exactly is exercise supposed to fit? Big Strong John joins Simon and Lachy to share how becoming a dad changed his routine, why a workout doesn’t need to take an hour and the small changes that can make moving more achievable. He also puts the boys through a five-minute workout you can try at home - no gym or e...

They only want to help. So how have you ended up refolding the washing, rewiping the bench and cleaning flour off the floor? Simon, Lachy, Caterina and John compare notes on toddlers who want in on absolutely everything - and how they keep them involved without completely losing the plot. To submit a question for the ‘Dear Wiggles’ segment, email us at podcast@thewiggles.com.au or send...

The idea of a family pet is lovely. The reality depends very much on the pet, the timing and the family bringing it home. Veterinarian, TV presenter and much-loved pet expert Dr Katrina Warren joins Simon and Lachy, with her border collie Chilli, to unpack what life with pets and young children can really look like - including the things families often don’t consider until the animal is alre...

Few things test a parent quite like hearing those dreaded words: “My tummy hurts.” So how do you prepare for a bug you cannot entirely prevent? Simon and Lachy compare their household defences and admit that, when the vomiting starts, sometimes the only real strategy is to get in, clean it up and hope everyone makes it through the night. To submit a question for the ‘Dear Wiggles...

When your child’s speech is difficult to understand or seems behind other children their age, it can be hard to know whether to give it time or seek support. Speech pathologist and occupational therapist Kate Broderick joins Simon and Lachy to unpack the milestones parents should know, the signs worth paying attention to and why early support can make such a difference. HOSTS Simon Pryce Lac...

Alfie loves musical theatre - but being one of the only boys in the room is starting to get to him. His mum asks Simon and Lachy for advice in this Dear Wiggles episode about boys, performing, confidence, and sticking with the thing you love. To submit a question for the ‘Dear Wiggles’ segment, email us at podcast@thewiggles.com.au or send us a DM on Instagram .   HOSTS Simon Pryc...

Lachy walks into the studio with an idea, and Simon is trying to work out whether it’s brilliant, ridiculous, or a bit of both. The pitch: a 2027 Wiggle Dads calendar. What starts as fitness motivation somehow turns into a charity fundraiser, a possible Christmas surprise, and a surprisingly serious conversation about poses, months, paper quality and whether anyone is actually ready for this...

What happens when your toddler is falling apart, your partner is away, and you’re the only parent in the room? This week on Dear Wiggles, Simon and Lachy talk about the reality of parenting solo while one partner travels for work - the guilt, the meltdowns, the long-distance check-ins, and the little things that can help everyone feel a bit more connected. To submit a question for the &lsquo...

Watching our kids struggle can bring out every protective instinct we have. But what if falling, failing, losing and trying again are all part of how kids learn to back themselves? This week, Simon and Lachy chat with mental health clinician, surf therapy founder, dad and children’s author Joel Pilgrim about confidence, resilience, big feelings and the tricky parenting moments where stepping...

Fitness looks a little different once kids come along. Simon and Lachy talk about staying active around parenting, work and life on the road - from knee surgery and garage workouts to the very honest reality check of the Wiggle pants. To submit a question for the ‘Dear Wiggles’ segment, email us at podcast@thewiggles.com.au or send us a DM on Insta.   HOSTS Simon Pryce Lachy Gille...

Before this is a conversation about grief, it’s a conversation about love. In this deeply personal episode, Simon and Lachy are joined by Lauren - Simon’s wife - to talk about her mum Michelle, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. They reflect on the beautiful bond Michelle shared with her grandson Asher, and what it means to keep someone you love part of the family st...

Bedtime is meant to be the calm part of the day. So why does it suddenly involve one more book, one more cuddle, one more drink, the other teddy, the blanket fixed, and a very specific sock situation? In this Dear Wiggles, Simon, Lachy, John and Caterina answer a listener’s question about bedtime stalling: when to say yes, when to hold the line, and how to stop the whole routine turning into...

The iPad is quiet. The YouTube video looks harmless. The game seems age-appropriate. But what is your child actually learning online? Online safety expert and former police officer Yasmin London joins Simon and Lachy to unpack why digital safety starts long before the first phone - from Roblox and Minecraft to tech tantrums, online strangers and helping young children build digital street smarts e...

What do you do when your child starts lying about the small stuff - brushing teeth, making mess, or sneaking tiny treasures home from school? This week on Dear Wiggles , Simon and Lachy talk about those everyday moments when children test the truth, and how to call it out without turning it into a big shame spiral. To submit a question for the ‘Dear Wiggles’ segment, email us at podcas...

Few things land harder than your child coming home and saying, “No one played with me today.” In this episode, Simon and Lachy are joined by parenting educator Gen Muir to talk about the friendship stuff that can make parenting feel especially helpless - being left out, intense best-friend phases, playground politics, and knowing when your child needs comfort, coaching, or a little mor...