The Scummy Mummies Podcast

Making lists, managing screen time, coping with debt, deciding which animals look like which biscuits - we cover all these topics and more with the brilliant Clemmie Telford! We talk about her blog, Mother of all Lists, and her career in advertising. There's some advice on making money from Instagram, and how to boost your creativity. Clemmie discusses what she loves about living in Peckham, and E...

Our guest for this episode is the fabulous Giovanna Fletcher, author of the ace Happy Mum, Happy Baby. We discuss her book, find out how she got started, and discuss the tricky but important issues surrounding hotpants and flip flops. Giovanna shares the best vlogging tip ever, as invented by her husband, Tom McFly, and Helen reveals her favourite thing to do after the school run. There's also a b...

What is a doula? Why do birth rights matter? And how would Ellie guide someone through a difficult labour with the help of a Pepperami? All these questions are answered in this episode, with special guest Rebecca Schiller. She's the author of the excellent book Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter, which is out now. We discuss the issue of birth rights around the world, including why it's so hard...

She's been a DJ for nearly three decades, she's Kelis's best mate, and she was once pushed out of G-A-Y in a wheelchair while eight months pregnant - it's the amazing Nikki Beatnik! We discover the surprising truth about where Kelis likes to hang out on Saturday afternoons, and whether Madonna prefers M&S or M&Co. Nikki discusses the challenges facing women in her industry, and how she manages cha...

She's a social media sensation, a champion for flexible working, and close personal friends with Gloria Hunniford - it's megavlogger Mother Pukka! We compare Caesarean scars, make jokes about bacterial vaginosis, and explain why everyone needs a c***ometer. There's also some serious talk about miscarriage, and Pukka tells us an amazing fact about herself. We learn about what inspired her to start...

It's shameless plug time, as Ellie and Helen discuss their new Scummy Mummies book! And keeping them in check is fabulous Glamour editor Jo Elvin! The Scummies reveal how they met, how they got their book deal, and how much wine they consumed during the writing process. Plus, find out why they have to keep their famous catsuits in a hermetically sealed bag. It's not all book talk - Helen explains...

Our guest for this ep is midwife, author, and instagram sensation Clemmie Hooper, otherwise known as Mother of Daughters! She tells us how she managed to write her book, How to Grow a Baby and Push it Out, while looking after twin babies. We find out what it's like to have four small children, and what it is Clemmie has finally forgiven Keira Knightley for. There's some chat about how Clemmie beca...

Time to welcome back one of our favourite guests - it's writer, mental health campaigner and absolute hoot Bryony Gordon! She tells us all about her new book, Mad Girl, which is out now. There's some Fitness Chat - Bryony tells us how she got into running, and how she deals with temptation. We discuss the importance of talking about mental health, and the struggles new parents often face. Then we...

In this episode we meet Sharon Maguire, the real life Shazzer from Bridget Jones's Diary! She also directed the Bridget movies, so there's some chat about that. We find out what it's like to be actual best mates with Helen Fielding, and discuss Sharon's experience of being an older mum. Then she shares a Scummy Mummy Confession that will make her husband wince. After that it's time for some film c...

What's the best way to cook with kids? How do you make the best Bolognese? And do Italian mamas ever just give their children chicken nuggets? To answer all these questions we have actual Italians Caterina, Laura and Francesca! They are the authors of My Little Sous-Chef, a tandem cookbook that makes it easy for kids and parents to prepare food together. We chat about the differences between Itali...

What's the secret to a happy, healthy relationship? How often should we have sex? What's the number one behaviour we should model for our children? To answer these questions, we welcome ace psychotherapist Philippa Perry. She tells us why it's important to let go of being right, and why we should be open to being changed by our kids. There's some chat about Philippa's recent Radio 4 show, and why...

It's Christmas! Time to welcome back two of our most available guests, Nurse Jessie and Steve Hill. We chat about our favourite Christmas songs, and share our highlights and lowlights of 2016. There's a bumper festive edition of our popular filth-based game, Anything For Money. As always, Ham Review is back, and we round off with some Christmassy confessions. This podcast was fuelled by some delic...

Our guest for this episode is megablogger author Katie Kirby, otherwise known as Hurrah For Gin! We discuss how she turned her hilarious stick figure cartoons into a best-selling book. She reveals the one post her husband wasn't happy with, and shows us the tattoo on her bum. There's some chat about writing, making money from blogging, and which Thomas the Tank Engine character we'd "do". As alway...

What's the best gift to get a new mum? Why shouldn't you buy her flowers? And what's the worst present our husbands ever gave us? We answer all these questions and more in this episode, with special guest Steph Douglas. She tells us all about how she set up her own business, and why it makes women cry. We discuss the phenomenon of being hangry, what it's like to have a vicar for a dad, and where t...

How long should you wait to introduce your kids to a new partner? What's Lady Gaga really like? And what's the best way to cut up cherry tomatoes? Answering all these questions is Heat Radio's Sarah Powell! She shares her favourite life hacks and tells us about the time she raided Take That's mini bar. We chat about her appearances on This Morning, and discover who is filthiest out of Holly and Ph...

This episode is especially not suitable for children, as we discuss a wide range of filth - everything from sexting and porn to front bottoms and Top Gun. Our guest is the wonderful Peggy Orenstein, author of new book Girls & Sex. She tells us what kids are really up to these days, and why we should all copy lesbians and the Dutch. Then it's time for PRACTICAL CHAT - Peggy reveals when we should s...

She's one of the UK's biggest bloggers, she's a best-selling author, and now she's on our podcast - it's Sarah Turner, otherwise known as The Unmumsy Mum! We chat about why she started her blog, and the challenges we all faced as new mums. There are various tangents about tiredness, judging each other, and rum balls. Then it's time for some fun as we play our new favourite game, Anything For Money...

IT'S SALLY PHILLIPS! She tells us all about her new documentary, the new Bridget Jones film, and why sperm is one of Denmark's biggest exports. There's some serious talk about Sally's experience of having a child with Down's Syndrome, and why she wants to start a conversation about screening. Then we move on to Career Chat - Sally discusses Smack the Pony, Veep, and reveals what Colin Firth is rea...

One minute she's feeding Greg Wallace chips on Celebrity Masterchef, the next she's riding her mum bike round the Olympic velodrome, and trying to lick David James. Yes, it's TV's Cherry Healey! She tells us how she got her start in television, and we discuss what we wanted to be when we grow up. We also cover the tricky topic of baby names, and share some super Scummy Mummy Confessions. By the wa...

How honest should we be with our kids about drugs? How do you get a novel published? What's it like to live in the most underpopulated part of France with three children under five? Answering these seemingly unrelated questions is the brilliant Patrick Garratt! We kick off with Expat Pat Chat, where he tells us why his decision to move abroad was "incredibly stupid, in retrospect." Helen does some...

In this short but very special episode, we talk to X-Factor stars Reggie and Bollie! They reveal why they got told off for being too happy, and where Cheryl takes people for posh nosh. Plus there's some exclusive celebrity chat about taking the bins out. This podcast was recorded live at Camp Bestival, where we did a Scummy Mummies show at the same time Reggie and Bollie were on the main stage. Li...

Our guest for this episode is Miles Jupp, host of Radio 4's The News Quiz and star of Balamory! He tells us what it's like having five kids, discusses his bitter rivalry with Mister Maker, and does the sexiest impression of Craig McLachlan anyone will ever hear. We find out what's REALLY going on in Balamory, and Helen reveals how she's using a Fitbit to spice up her sex life. We also do a bit of...

Episode 77: Stacey Solomon Special She's an X-Factor star, an I'm a Celebrity jungle queen, and now she's a Scummy Mummies podcast guest - it's Stacey Solomon! Stacey tells us what it's like to have a baby at 18, and how she manages being a single mum. We chat about being judged on the school run, and whether she'd let her own kids audition for The X-Factor. Then it's time for Judges' Houses as St...

The amazing Miranda Sawyer is our guest for this episode! She tells us all about having kids later in life, dealing with mid-life panic, and getting off with Grace Jones. We discuss Miranda's time working on Smash Hits, when she interviewed everyone from Madonna to Bros, and she tells us what's wrong with music today. Then there's some chat about her brilliant new book, Out of Time, which is all a...

Is it OK to brainwash your kids? What's it like growing up as the son of the woman who inspired Absolutely Fabulous? And why is Josh Howie such a dick? Answering all these questions is the one and only Josh Howie! We talk about Josh's new sitcom, coming to Radio 4 later this year. There's some chat about what makes a good dad, and how not to make friends with James McEvoy. Plus we play a movie gam...