The Scummy Mummies Podcast

Robot butlers! Self-cleaning toilets! Hoovers that judge you! We find out all about these gadgets and more with the help of BBC technology journalist Zoe Kleinman. There's some chat about screen time, virtual reality, and the most useless baby gadgets we have owned. Ellie reveals how she deals with mansplaining in PC World, and Helen presents a new game called Buzz My Feed! In Boob Chat we talk ab...

We are on location for this episode, coming to you live from the launch of Cherry Healey's fabulous new book, Letters to my Fanny. Cherry tells us how writing a book is like having a baby, and why she's sick of everyone saying they've read it in two days. She also shares the top nugget of wisdom she plans to pass on to her kids. Then Helen and Ellie play top game Fanny Fiction. The brilliant Lette...

What's on trend for Spring/Summer 2016? Are designer jeans worth the money? Is it OK to wear your pyjamas for the school run? Answering all these questions is fab fashion blogger Zoe de Pass, from Dress Like a Mum! She tells us why she set up her blog, how she feels about being an "Instamum", and how to be good at social media. We play a new hashtag-themed game, and there's some chat about the per...

We are 70! And to celebrate, here's a bumper episode with hilarious poet Hollie McNish! We discuss hot topics such as whether motherhood boosts creativity, and sexual tension in Bob the Builder. Hollie tells us about her experience of being a younger mum, and why she thinks party poppers should be available on the NHS. She performs her brilliant poem Embarrassed, which is all about breastfeeding,...

What's the best way to get through divorce? What's it like to date a younger man? And what does Benedict Cumberbatch smell like up close? Answering all these questions is fabulous comedian Wendy Wason! We discuss the trials of trying to have sexy time without the kids catching you at it, and Wendy tells us who she fancies most out of Johnny Depp, John Malkovich, and Nicholas Lyndhurst. Then it's t...

Our guest for this episode is the brilliant author and columnist Zoe Williams. We cover all the issues, from Corbyn vs Cameron to what rich people think recycling bins are for. Ellie explains why US politics is a bit like Star Wars, and Helen introduces a new game - If Politicians Were Food. There's also some parenting chat as we discuss the issues around feeling like a failure, and what gets us t...

Our guest for this episode is TV critic Julia Raeside. We discuss our favourite shows, how much telly our kids should be watching, and having breakfast with Simon Groom in his dressing gown. Ellie has a shocking confession to make about Breaking Bad, and Julia reveals her First And Last Theory - it may change the way you watch TV forever. Helen presents a new game, and we round off with Scummy Mum...

Yes, it's Tim Dowling off of The Guardian! We discuss how to stay married, Tim's tips for raising kids, and what his wife thinks of his column. Then we make Tim play our brilliant new game, Did Our Husbands REALLY Say That?, and chat about his band, Police Dog Hogan. We round off with a bumper set of Scummy Mummy Confessions. Tim's ace book, How to be a Husband, is out now. You can find out about...

What is the best album of all time? Who's more fun to interview, Kylie or Justin Timberlake? What kind of salad does Bjork prefer? All these questions and more are answered in this episode, with music journalist Jude Rogers! We talk about Jude's career, including how she manages work with motherhood, and her new book - Pop!, a history of music for kids. There's also some serious chat as we discuss...

Our guest for this episode is Coronation Street star and columnist Charlie Condou. He talks about being a gay dad, how having kids later in life has its advantages, and the time he taught Rob Lowe a useful fact about British slang. Helen presents a new game, Tell Me Condou Condou Condou. It's as good as it sounds. Plus we talk about the time Charlie blanked Neneh Cherry, and a listener reveals the...

Happy new year! In this episode, we share our Christmas Scummy Mummy Confessions, and reveal our resolutions for 2016. Plus there's an interview with top columnist Polly Vernon. We discuss creativity and motherhood, why Polly's chosen not to have kids, and how to be a hot feminist. Polly's book, which is in fact titled Hot Feminist, is out now. We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Fac...

Ham, wine, whinging, and stupidity - yes, it's the Scummy Mummies Christmas Special! With our old friends stay-at-home dad Steve Hill and Nurse Jessie. We discuss our highlights of 2015, Helen's new idea for Dragon's Den, and Steve's problem with phonics. Then it's time for Ham Review, and a proper wine tasting - which begins with lots of talk about grapes and aroma, and obviously descends into fi...

Why do we need a Women's Equality Party? Are people too easily offended these days? And what's it like to be voted sexier than Hitler? Answering all these questions are two very special guests, Sandi Toksvig and David Baddiel! We chatted to them at the recent Mumsnet Blogfest event. Listen in to find out how David feels about being a dad, and what he thinks of our new TV show idea, Baddiel Or No B...

Educating Stephen Fry, teaching Salman Rushdie the limbo, asking Prince William if he wants tongues... It's all in a day's work for the fabulous Kathy Lette! The author of best-selling novels Foetal Attraction and Mad Cows tells us what inspires her, and why mothers never get writer's block. There's some chat about why Australians talk like they do, and the fate of Kylie's gold hotpants. Plus, Kat...

With 40 recipe books to her name, Annabel Karmel is the Nigella of children's food. But does she give her own kids fish fingers? What's her view on eating organic? And does she ever go for a cheeky Nando's? We find out the answer to all these questions and more. There's some chat about how attitudes to kids' food have changed, and why allergies seem to be on the rise. Annabel tells us how to get c...

Our guest for this episode is comedian, TV star and first-time mum Hatty Ashdown. She gives us her take on being up the duff and preparing for birth, and reveals the things you should never say to a pregnant woman. We discuss subjects as diverse as vlogs, weird jobs, comedy, bunting, and farting. We play one of the daftest games on the podcast yet, and there are some special cameos by Baby Joe and...

What are the best video games to play with kids? How much screen time should they have? Which celebrity would Helen most like to have it off with in a virtual reality environment? All these questions and more are answered in our Video Games Special! Our guest is Keith Stuart, games editor of The Guardian. He's also writing a novel about a dad who connects with his son who has autism via Minecraft,...

Guardian writer and former guest Stuart Heritage returns to the podcast, this time with his lovely wife Robyn and baby Herbie. We talk about telly, muslins, and writing for Buzzfeed. Plus, there's some Masterchef gossip: you won't BELIEVE what Gregg Wallace gets up to between takes. We've got a brand new game: Kent or C***?, and Helen shares this one weird trick that could save your marriage. We r...

Our guest this time round is Guardian columnist Suzanne, who tells us all about how to be a good mother, what makes a feminist, and the best way to raise teenagers without going bonkers. This episode was recorded in a yurt at Camp Bestival, just after Suzanne delivered a talk on feminism - so there's lots of chat about why we still need it, and some advice on dealing with sexists. Plus we discuss...

In this episode we talk to Jane Garvey, presenter of Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4. She tells us what goes on behind the scenes in Broadcasting House, and reveals the guests she gets nervous about interviewing. We cover a wide range of topics including teenagers, mince, The Archers, vaginal plastic surgery and Nando's. Helen presents a new game, The Greggs Quiz: What Is In Jane Garvey's Mouth? Ellie...

It's a Camp Bestival special! We're joined once again by the fantastic Helen McGinn, author of The Knackered Mother's Wine Club. She teaches us what to look for in a nice rosé, how to taste wine properly, and which wines to seek out this summer. There's also a bit of chat about meeting famous people (CHERYL!) and surviving the school holidays with three kids. Helen presents a very exciting celebri...

Our guest for this episode is Jo Middleton, author of the hit blog Slummy Single Mummy. She tells us how to write a great mummy blog, and we discuss the 40 things we want to do before we're 40. There's also some chat about Helen's unusual new haircut, the invention of the word chillax and The Henry Kelly Experience. We round off with a biscuit-based game that quickly escalates, and of course some...

Acting, accents, having four kids and losing your on-screen virginity to Jane Horrocks - this episode covers all these topics and more! Our guest is the fabulous Shaun Dooley, who played dodgy dad Ricky in Broadchurch. He reveals the one thing he insisted on before taking the role, and what his wife said when she realised why the house was full of bluebells. With four children and over a decade of...

What's the one thing you can do that will make your skin look better in a week? Should you tell a stranger if her make-up is wonky? And what is primer, anyway? Columnist Sali Hughes answers all these questions and more in our bumper 50th episode. We discuss the importance of honesty and who we love most out of Madonna, Kylie and Olivia Colman. Sali reveals the truth behind no make-up selfies and w...

Raising sons, hating horses and self-love. Happy Father's Day! Celebrating with us is popular podcast regular Steve Hill. We discuss raising boys and Steve reveals the number one piece of parenting advice he plans to pass on to his son. Plus there's some general chat about horses, the analogue-digital switchover and auto-fellatio. Helen reveals the party trick she did in her university days and El...