He Said, She Said

"Maternity system is fundamentally broken."  It's a headline that understandably caught the attention of parents across the country last week. Following the publication of the landmark maternity report, Louise reflects on her campaigning for safer maternity care, unpacks what the findings really mean, and explains why the appointment of a Maternity Commissioner marks a significant step forwar...

This week, Louise and Ryan share an exciting update on their fertility journey, opening up about where things stand now and the possibility of welcoming a baby next year. They reflect on the emotional highs and lows along the way, with Ryan sharing a powerful moment of acceptance as he talks about finally feeling at peace with the surrogacy journey. They also catch up on life outside of it all, in...

This week we're joined by relationship expert and Celebs Go Dating coach Anna Williamson. As Sam and Pete's former dating coach, we had to get the inside scoop on what they were really like behind the scenes, and Anna shares a few stories that Louise and Ryan may not have heard before. The conversation then takes a more personal turn as Anna gives us some powerful techniques for reconnecting as a...

This week’s episode is a special Father’s Day edition, and one Ryan certainly wasn’t expecting. What begins as a conversation about fatherhood takes an emotional turn when a surprise message from his dad leaves him completely speechless, and the whole room fighting back tears. Also, as Ryan becomes an uncle for the fifth time, he opens up about the complex reality of holding multiple emotions at o...

This week, Louise and Ryan dive into the topic of argument styles and quickly discover they have very different views on how each other handles conflict. What starts as a conversation about communication soon turns into a debate of its own, with the retelling of one of their most recent disagreements... They also discuss a recent BBC Panorama documentary on failures in maternity care that left a l...

This week, Louise reflects on the often-unspoken reality of rebuilding confidence in your body after motherhood, opening up about her journey back to exercise and the ways becoming a parent has changed her perspective on beauty, self-care and the messages young girls are absorbing from the modern skincare industry. Ryan discusses why sport matters far beyond the game itself, particularly for men,...

This week, Louise and Ryan dive into the conversation sparked by a viral Vogue article about a woman becoming a mother at 49 and calling it the most self-aware decision she’s ever made. It opens up a bigger discussion around the pressure to have children “on time”, and the realities of having kids later in life, from the unexpected benefits to the challenges no one really talks about.&nb...

This week, Louise comes straight off the back of the BAFTAs with a very unexpected red carpet moment, bumping into someone from her past she hasn’t seen in over a decade....👀 Louise and Ryan then reflect on their individual moments with Leo over the weekend, and they share what they each learn from him. From the power of being silly, to slowing down and seeing the world through his eyes, they ref...

This week, Louise and Ryan head straight from egg retrieval into the podcast chairs, so there’s no better place to start than a real-time update on their fertility journey. What follows is a raw and incredibly honest conversation about how they’re both actually feeling through the process. Louise opens up about feeling unsupported at times, while Ryan shares how difficult he’s finding it to be the...

This week’s episode is a deeply personal one for Ryan, as he opens up about the experience of watching his grandma live with dementia, and the impact it’s had on him. He shares why it’s something that truly scares him, and reflects on the complicated ways we process change, including his own feelings about wanting to hold onto someone as they once were. We then get into the topic of sleepovers… wh...

Louise and Ryan head to UK Parliament to back the call for a maternity commissioner, with Louise sharing why this fight is so deeply personal. She opens up about her own experience of giving birth and the stark reality that care for women in the UK is still falling short, and why change shouldn’t have to come at the cost of tragedy. Then it pivots. A weekend away sparks a story no one saw coming,...

Louise has had a rare few days alone while Ryan and Leo headed off on their first father–son trip. Ryan reflects on what that one-on-one time meant to him, while Louise opens up about something many mums don’t say out loud: that she enjoyed the space, and why she refuses to feel guilt for needing time to herself. That honesty leads into a bigger conversation. Inspired by Emma Grede describing hers...

Louise and Ryan kick things off with a simple question, would they want a boy or a girl next? But their answers reveal something deeper, opening up a conversation about the quiet fears of parenting in a world shaped by the manosphere and everything kids are exposed to online. That leads into screen time, boundaries, and the looming question every parent faces… what happens when your child asks for...

It’s a full Thompson takeover this week, with Sam and mum Karen joining Louise. We get into teenage Louise… and it’s more chaotic than anyone remembers. This sparks a few long-overdue apologies from Louise, and some honesty about their family dynamic now. But it doesn’t stop there. Louise has something she’s been holding onto, and it opens up a conversation they’ve never had before as she asks for...

Louise and Ryan are back from Antigua and they have some BIG news…👀 After two years, Louise finally found her missing engagement ring. Which raises the question… is marriage finally on the cards? They also debrief the trip, from both Leo and Big Mike’s testing moments to Louise almost breaking her sobriety, there’s a lot to unpack. They talk about managing their IVF journey while away, and how it...

Happy Birthday Louise!!! 🥳 Of course, as it’s her birthday we had a few surprises planned… starting with Ryan transforming into Louise’s “ideal man.” Or at least, that was the plan. Let’s just say it didn’t exactly go the way we expected. We also get into why Louise actually HATES her birthday, and the deeper reason behind it. That conversation takes an unexpected turn, leading to a very hon...

This week we’re recording on the eve of our long-awaited trip - and let’s just Louise and Ryan approach holidays VERY differently... We chat honestly about how travelling as parents hits differently, the mental load of planning, and why even a&n...

This week on  He Said, She Said , we’re chatting all about sleep habits, mums, and welcoming a very special (and very small) guest to the podcast… We kick things off with a catch-up on our trip to Scotland and what travelling with a four-year-old is really like. Then we dive into a surprisingly heated debate about sleep… which leads to talking about our own sleeping habits, snoring accusation...

Louise’s dad, Mike Thompson, joins us as our very first guest! From what Louise was really like growing up, to sibling rivalries with Sam, suspensions and a very disciplined upbringing, Mike gives us a glimpse into what life was like in the Thompson household. We also discuss why he carries quail’s eggs, how becoming a grandfather has softened him, and his advice for Louise and Ryan as they try fo...

Sam is out of surgery and Louise goes to pick him up, expecting it to be funny. However, seeing him on vocal rest, with the roles reversed, feels very different to what she imagined. We get into the unexpectedly sweet and slightly strange things we love about each other. Louise admits she likes Ryan’s BO, and Ryan shares a small habit of Louise’s she’d rather keep private. Then come the letters. A...

Louise has a foot fetish fan club?! Apparently so. It also reminded her of the time Lily Allen tweeted about her back when she was on Made in Chelsea… and let’s just say Louise was not pleased. Then we turn to Molly-Mae, reflecting on her announcement of her second baby. We share our thoughts on navigating pregnancy and public life, and the difference in how Ryan and Louise experience sharing pers...

Louise and Ryan are going on their first date. Well, not technically their first ever, but one ten years after their first. Dressed up and ready to impress, they’re pretending it’s day one all over again. Over starters, they rewind to their actual first impressions and that very unexpected first date. They talk about what they love most about each other, what men really look for in a woman, and wh...

Ryan and Louise kick things off with a new favourite word of the week, a very creative term for “down there”, which quickly sparks a conversation about crossing swords, body hair, and Ryan being put to the test on whether he actually knows the difference between a pad and a tampon. Things then take a more personal turn as Ryan opens up, for the first time, about a journey he’s quietly been on over...

We’re back with He Said, She Said! After a little pause, Ryan and Louise are opening up for the first time publicly about their fertility journey and the path they’re about to take together through surrogacy. They share the why, the how, and what this next chapter really means for them. We also hear what it’s like now that Louise’s younger brother Sam is her boss, the unlikely (and hilarious)...

WE’RE BACK! After a little pause, He Said, She Said is officially back. New home. New chapter. And we genuinely cannot wait to take you on this new journey we’re finally ready to share with the world. It’s the same podcast you love, as we talk through the highs and lows of parenting, our relationship, and life as individuals. But this time, there’s a brand new chapter unfolding and we’re bringing...