Precarious Parenting

Dave Young discusses his experience of being a widower for more than six years from his childhood sweetheart, Emma. He speaks about loss but he also focuses on how he and his daughter, Mabel, have worked together to keep moving forward, by remaining in the present. Dave can be contacted on daveyoungcoach@gmail.com

Sarah Wehkamp is a mom coach, podcaster, speaker, YouTuber and contributor to the Huffington Post. In this episode she talks about her experience of having twins and then another boy soon after and, along with postpartum depression, how she lost sight of herself. As a result, she realised she needed to separate her deep love for her children away from her frustration around parenthood. She didn't...

Mandy and Rob Morsley chat about their two children who both become international sailors. They share the high points and the challenges of both representing Great Britain in their sport of sailing. We talk about how they managed the training, competitions, school work, plus their own lives and careers too! Mandy and Rob can be contacted via amanda.morsley@sky.com

Gail Swift has spoken for the first time about her failed suicide attempt as a teenager and how it felt to watch her son go through the exact same thing. She speaks with raw passion, love, faith and, above all, hope. This is an episode not to be missed. Gail can be contacted on: planstoprospercoaching.com

Pete Hull MBE chats about his life having been born without limbs, and what it felt like to stand on the podium holding GBR Gold medals for swimming at the Paralympics. He discusses the support he has received throughout his life and what the future looks like to him now. Find out more about Pete at www.peterhullmbe.com and contact him on hullster65@sky.com

Vicky Stead was fostered at the age of 9 years old, following the murder of her mother in the family home. She talks of her feelings of injustice regarding what happened and how she has grown up with a clear sense of right and wrong. In this honest and thought-provoking episode, Vicky talks about a childhood with a sense of being a 'silent observer' but, even through it all, she's at a place of me...

Richard Capriola is a retired Addictions Counsellor and the author of the award-winning book: The Addicted Child: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse. We discuss the impact of addiction on the young person and the parent. His message is one of hope and his goal is to educate and inform parents about this challenging and painful topic. www.helptheaddictedchild.com

Shannon Parola lives in the San Francisco Bay area and is a career nanny, new-born care specialist and sleep consultant ... as well as a self-professed nerd! She discusses her experience of becoming a new mum and thinking she'd have all the answers, but this didn't end up being the case. https://www.theviparolaz.com/

Sally and Alex Palmer, mother and son, speak candidly about how Cystic Fibrosis has affected them as individuals and as a family. I first met Alex when he was a student and we have remained in touch ever since. He is one of the most inspiring people I've ever met. This episode lasts longer than usual but it was too beautiful to end early. Sally reads out Emily Perl Kingsley's poem: 'Welcome to Hol...

Elizabeth Lovius is a leadership consultant who works with top level leadership teams and has done for more than 30 years. But she feels her true qualifications for leadership coaching come from being a parent. Here, she talks about the roots we provide for our children to enable them to fly the nest. Contact Elizabeth on leadershipwisdom.info

Dr Orlena trained in paediatrics and helps families to lead a healthy life by focusing on the parents' health habits and then, in turn, focusing on their children's healthy lifestyles. She says she hopes to "help families create healthy habits they love so they can feel fit and fabulous without having to think about it." www.drorlena.com

Toby Hayter, mid-20s and living in London, talks about risk taking and the anxiety he felt when things didn't go to plan. He gives us an honest view of how he managed this challenging time, the support he received from his family and the steps he took to come through it. He knew that the answer was within him and how he thrived once he saw that for himself. tobyhayter@hotmail.co.uk

Laura looks back on her childhood and explains how confusing it was to witness the abuse within her parents' marriage. She talks of the 'rules' and the consequences of ignoring them. She discusses her fear of not knowing who to trust, or who to turn to for help and how she ended up siding with her dad. This moving podcast follows Part 1: Debs' story and you are encouraged to listen to both.

Part 1: Deb Simmons talks about her escape from ongoing abuse within her marriage and the affect this had on her children. She chats candidly about the role her daughter, Laura, played as the 'spy' for her father. This is a gripping episode and will be followed by Part 2: where Laura discusses her experience of the same story. Deb can be contacted at www. Dare2BU.co.uk

A mother and daughter, Rebecca Perkins and Bea Arscott, openly share their experience of Bea's anorexia. They talk of fear, loss of trust and lack of control, seeing her mum as a 'prison guard' and then, ultimately, seeing through the eating disorder. This is a story of hope and unconditional love. Together, they are the authors of the book Recovery From Within; a powerful story sharing their jour...

Beth's son has complex health needs and learning difficulties including dyspraxia, sensory processing disorder and ADHD. She talks with clarity about the practical issues of coping with this 20 year old at home and her hopes for their future. beth.soderstrom@live.co.uk

Claire discusses her life as a single person, living at home, working full time and managing to care for her physically disabled mother and her father who has symptoms of dementia.

Lindsey explains how she felt consumed that the Covid-19 virus would cause her own death and that of her husband and young son. She talks about how it affected her and how she started to see through the fear. Contact Lindsey Elliott: https://www.lindseyelliott.co.uk/

Cassie was fostered at a young age, raped at 15 and found out she was pregnant. Her story is one of courage, strength and resilience.

Paula tried so hard to be the best teacher possible for her 4 year old and 8 year old that she ended up making herself ill.

Becky talks honestly and openly about how life was for Archie before his ADHD diagnosis and how things are for him now, both in his school and home life. http://beckywhitcroft.com

Aku's 9 month old son, Ezekiel, is mixed race and we look at what this means to her as he starts to move forth into his life in Devon and the UK.

Claire and Barney talk about the effect of his father's death by suicide and how Claire focused on her sons' emotional development to guide them through. This podcast series shares real chats with real people discussing their stories, explaining with honesty and clarity how they saw through their confusion and overwhelm to see life beyond this challenging time. Barney mentions Chaos TV: thisischao...