Parenting Out Loud

Are you an intensive millennial parent who feels stressed and burnt out? This week, we introduce the “Click Test,” which Amelia claims will change parenting for the better. Meanwhile, Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell are taking an unconventional approach — why they are raising their children to be "intentionally disrespectful".  Plus, Monz had a park fight with a man who told he...

Parenting comes with big ideas, cultural moments and the occasional guilty pleasure, and this week we’re unpacking all three. Are fancy lollies the new Labubus? Stacey thinks this might be another sign adults are craving whimsy. Plus, Amelia has declared Bluey’s dad Bandit a certified DILF, and we dig into why hot dads are suddenly everywhere. And finally, Monz asks the hard question:...

Friends, do you too have a box of keepsakes? Perhaps teeny tiny socks, some pre-school era artworks, maybe even some  old baby teeth or twenty? Well your parents might have been a collector and we pitch that perhaps there’s some truth to this form of maximalism.  Plus, are we rushing kids out of childhood? Experts are saying that to delay delay delay when it comes to kids&rsqu...

Happy Holidays Parents! Are you having fun, are you a bit sweaty, dehydrated? Well don’t be, because today we're going to talk about: The mental health pyramid for both kids and adults that is both genius and incredibly simple. Plus, should you be able to choose who you sit next to on a flight and if so, would you ever sit next to a stranger’s baby again? And, do you have shameful litt...

The Christmas rush has officially brought a new generational conflict: Grandparenting on Eggshells. We unpack the tension between teaching kids bodily autonomy and avoiding the Grandma guilt trip. Plus, where did all the weird kids go? Monique Bowley, Amelia Lester and Stacey Hicks blame late-stage capitalism, social media surveillance, and a collective fear of deviance for the new conformity epid...

Is the ultimate parenting flex actually… no gifts at all? Because according to The Cut , Millennial parents now fall into two dramatic camps: Camp Maximalist: “Here’s every toy that's ever been produced.” Camp Minimalist: “Your present is… presence.” Meanwhile, gentle parenting has officially been cancelled. After a viral post dragged the whole “bo...

Uh-oh. The Wiggles are in hot water after popping up in a video with some 'unusual' lyrics — and it’s forcing us to ask what we really expect from children’s entertainers. We’re also calling out the new under-16 social media laws as this generation’s 'seatbelt moment': a long-overdue, system-wide safeguard for kids’ developing brains. Plus, the problem with nost...

Science has finally established the perfect age gap for siblings, but who is this helping? One of our hosts hates it more than others.  And it's the Wicked elephant in the room: Hollywood's return to extreme thinness is prompting us to question what's being modelled to our sons and daughters. Also, the rising trend of kindymoons. What are they? Who's taking them and why? We discuss. Plus, we...

The new trend of 'underconsumption core' is taking on Black Friday, but is this thrifty, anti-consumerist vibe even achievable for parents who are the ultimate victims of the 'stuff' economy? Special guest host Luca Lavigne joins Stacey Hicks and Monique Bowley to unpack. Plus, casual nudity is slowly disappearing from the public pool and gym change rooms but what does this mean for our kids? Welc...

Shay Mitchell's skincare line for toddlers is here. So, are sheet masks for your three-year-old just some harmless fun, or the latest commodification of girlhood? And, everyone says “it takes a village”, but we beg to differ. Monique, Stacey and Amelia unpack why community is harder than ever to build, and whether we even want a village at all. Plus, we have a new term for you: 'Hub-So...

Call it what you like — sleep deprivation/sleep recession/The Exhaustion Economy —but when you're not getting enough sleep as a parent, it's sheer torture. And when actor Keira Knightley named it for the hell it is, every parent felt it in their (tired) bones. This week, we’re unpacking the long-haul burnout that comes with parenting — and the societal shrug that keeps it i...

Did you grow up in a home with a favourite child? Do you secretly favour one of your own kids? We unpack the expert opinions and whether or not parental favouritism actually matters in the long run.  Plus, we deep-dive into Jennifer Lawrence's recent The New Yorker profile where she shares what her life looks like postpartum and how returning to work has left her feeling like a fundamentally...

Parenting can involve big ideas, public debates and the odd festive guilt trip - and this week, we’re tackling all three. The man who created Adolescence  has a new idea for how dads can connect with their sons - it’s beautiful, but one of us hates it. Plus, Amelia dives into the kids party photo that’s divided Australia: can you really “bags” a park table? And f...

Spooky season is just about to hit and we’re asking: what’s the point of Halloween, anyway? And are Australians missing one crucial trick about it that could change... everything? Monz unpacks. Then, Amelia makes a bold claim — some nepo babies are better than others. But why do some rise while others flop, even within the same famous family? And in a twist no one saw coming, Hai...

Your weekend sanity check has arrived. A new episode of  Parenting Out Loud is here with all the conversations you need - because if parents are thinking about it, we're talking about it.  Are you feeling ‘The Squeeze’?  The daily chaos of modern parenting is real. We unpack why you’re feeling maxed out and overwhelmed and talk about whether there’s actually...

The kids are at home, the holiday activities are seemingly endless and you probably need a break. So welcome back to the podcast that's not just any parenting podcast.  On the show today:  You're officially excused from ever attending your child's sport practice. Don't believe us? Just ask the professional soccer player Abby Wambach.  Plus, are you an eldest daughter? Well, so is Ta...

The school holidays are upon us and Monz, Amelia & Stacey are back to distract you with some Millennial core memories, a flashback to Shania Twain and a playlist that will lift your mood. On the show this week: Genius or completely unhinged? Do our kids need ‘Social Media Prep School’? We've got thoughts. And, are you holding onto a room full of stuff to hand down to your kids? How...

Welcome back to  Parenting Out Loud  where we've got a brand new episode to start your weekend off right. On the show this week: The rise of the stealth mum. From Margot Robbie's press tour to your work colleague who's never mentioned having kids, we're exploring why hiding motherhood has become the new cultural currency. Plus, praising your child is a fraught business. Do you compliment...

Welcome to Parenting Out Loud where you can be sure you're kicking off your weekend right. Monz, Amelia and Stacey are here to unpack the week once more — through the wild, wonderful lens of parenthood. On the show this week: KPop Demon Hunters is smashing records. Kids love it, parents ADORE it so, what’s behind all the hype? Tracking apps: a non-negotiable today, or are we just...

Excellent news, friends. We're back with another episode of  Parenting Out Loud .  Father’s Day is tomorrow and there's been a distinct shift in its marketing. Amelia unpacks what’s changed and why. Bluey : adorable? Absolutely. But is this the kids' TV show that's also making us feel… bad? Welcome to the Bluey Inadequacy Complex. Monz explains all. Plus, ❤️💜 Two emoj...

🎉 Guess who's back, back again… 🎉 You asked. We listened. And now, it’s happening: Amelia Lester and Stacey Hicks are officially back — and they’ve brought the one and only Monique Bowley with them. Yep, Monz has returned to the Mamamia family to bring you Parenting Out Loud . If you love it (OF COURSE YOU WILL), make it your new Saturday ritual. Just tap ‘+ follow...

Welcome to Parenting Out Loud where if parents are thinking about it, we're talking about it. On the show today, Jessie Stephens, Amelia Lester and Stacey Hicks sit down to tackle; Glam retreats: a cultural necessity for post-partum mums? Why bedtime stories are being put to bed themselves.  How some dads forget their kids names, refuse to change a nappy or fail to RSVP — and why some w...

We've got a fresh episode of Parenting Out Loud for you. Because if parents are thinking about it, we're talking about it. On the show today, Jessie Stephens, Amelia Lester and Stacey Hicks join forces to chat all things including:  👩 'I abandoned my family without warning. It was the best thing I ever did.' We dive into the article that went viral on site this week and we have lots of thoug...

Another week, another Parenting Out Loud episode where if parents are thinking about it, we're talking about it. On today's show, Jessie Stephens and Amelia Lester are joined by friend of the pod, and Mamamia's Deputy Editor, Stacey Hicks to discuss whether or not kids ruin your adult friendships.  Also, to what extent should children's entertainment figures be apolitical, and why is YouTube'...

Should partners (and exes) automatically be each other’s parenting hype squad? We all know relationships are... complex and the answer to this question isn't straightforward — as Jessie Stephens and Amelia Lester discover on this week's show.  Plus, the Ellen Pompeo quote that made our hosts seriously question if mums can ever give 100% at work. And, is letting your kid play with...