The Scummy Mummies Podcast

Our guest for this episode is the amazing Shareefa J - model, diversity activist, fitness champion, and all round bloody brilliant woman.  She tells us what it's like to watch a photographer lighten your skin tone, and to be told you're too fat when you're a size 10. We discuss how far the modelling industry still has to go when it comes to encouraging inclusivity and stamping out racism.&nbs...

What should you say to a friend who has cancer? If you're the one with the diagnosis, how do you tell your kids? And is it really possible to futureproof your body against illness? Answering all these questions is the brilliant Rosamund Dean.  She tells us about her journey from finding a lump in her boob to being cancer free, and what she wishes she'd known at the beginning. We discuss clipb...

Our guest for this episode is the awesome Ayo Akinwolere - Blue Peter presenter, documentary maker, fitness champion, and all-round bloody good bloke.  He tells us how he went from not being able to swim to crossing the deepest trench of the ocean in just ten weeks. We talk about the cultural divide that separates swimmers and non-swimmers in Britain, and how Ayo is trying to change things. W...

Do we all need therapy? How do you talk to a partner about sharing the mental load? And what's the first thing you need to do if you feel you're approaching burnout? Answering tricky questions like these is the awesome psychotherapist Karen Hartley!  Along with her brilliant wisdom, she shares some practical tips for things like coping with anxiety. We discuss whether there's a gene...

What's the best way to avoid family days out turning into disasters? How do you stop kids asking for snacks all day? And what do mums have in common with combine harvesters? Helping us to survive the last few weeks of the summer holidays is Susie Lodge! She tells us all about the website she founded,  wikiplacesforkids.com , which is an excellent resource for anyone looking for ways to entert...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains two of Ellie's Dad's jokes. He joins us to share some tall tales about a magical dog, the funeral of King George VI, and the time he was at a party with Elton John (or not.) We discuss the tall tales (lies) our parents told us, and come clean about the myths, legends, and big fat whoppers we've told our own children. (NB: There's a bit of Santa chat you might...

It's hard to believe it's been a whole decade since we sat down on Ellie's sofa to record the first episode of the Scummy Mummies Podcast. But here we are, having survived premature childbirth, a shitty divorce and a global pandemic, still on the sofa, and better friends than ever.  In this special anniversary episode, we reminisce about the good old days, and reflect on whether we should be...

What's hardest part of parenting - the baby bit, toddler tantrums, or teenage rage? What's it like to live with your dad at the age of 40? And what's the best way to cope with an emergency nipple hair situation?  Helping us answer all this questions is the hilarious Esther Manito! She tells us all about her experience of starting comedy after having two kids. We discuss sharing domestic chore...

How do fighter pilots get their callsigns? What's it like to risk your life every time you go to work? And why should you never eat out-of-date fudge? Answering all these questions is the amazing Mandy Hickson!  She tells us how she became one of the UK's first female fighter pilots, despite the best efforts of the Bloody Patriarchy. We talk about her 17 years in the RAF, her t...

What's the best way to deal with an angry child? Why should we be saying "thank you" to our kids instead of "please"? And how do you get them to put their bloody shoes away? Answering all these questions is the awesome Marie Gentles!  Marie has loads of practical parenting tips, from managing screen use to carving out quality time - and what to do if your children don't wa...

257: TV's Dr Zoe Williams on teenage girls, healthy farts and being a Gladiator! Our guest for the episode is the fabulous Dr Zoe Williams off of the This Morning and Gladiators . She tells us about how she became a doctor via an epiphany in Ayia Napa, what it's like to be an actual Gladiator, why it's important to get your teens into sports, and she attempts to solve Helen's farting problems. The...

Our guest for this episode is the awesome Kate Ferdinand! She tells us about her experience of becoming a stepmum to three kids at the age of 26, and shares what she wishes she'd known at the start of her parenting journey.  Kate is brilliantly honest about how she really feels about pregnancy, and the expectations around forming a blended family versus the reality. We discuss some hot topics...

What's the best food to make for date night? How long should you really cook a fish finger for? And is grapefruit ever acceptable? Answering all these questions is the brilliant Sarah Rossi, aka  @tamingtwins !  We talk about her fab new book,  What's for Dinner? , and how she saved Ellie's Christmas. We share our filthy food secrets including our laziest comfort recipes,...

In this episode we're joined by Nicki Bamford-Bowes, aka @andthentheywentwild, and Wayne Perrey, the TV carpenter! They're here with loads of tips for improving your interiors, whatever your budget.  Nicki tells us the number one thing you should do before you start any design or diy project, and Wayne has a great idea for giving kids their own space in a shared room.  We talk about...

This month marks TEN YEARS together as the Scummy Mummies! So we decided to celebrate in the traditional way - by walking to the foot of Everest to break the world record for the highest ever stand-up comedy gig!  Listen in to find out how it all went, and why we decided to go on this nonsensical adventure in the first place. We discuss the joy of hot water bottles, the misery of sleeping in...

What a Mann, what a Mann, what a Mann, what a mighty fine Mann - it's Olly Mann! The podcasting legend from  Answer Me This , Today in History with the Retrospectors ,  The Modern Mann  and many more joins us for a chinwag. We cover everything from the invention of home pregnancy testing kits to the shock of fatherhood, and who we'd rather have it off with out of Colonel Sanders and...

One of our favourite guests returns to the podcast to tell us about her fabulous new book! And along the way we cover everything from family secrets and maternal relationships to pubic hair shame and Beowulf.  There's some chat about how we feel about our kids getting older, and Helen shares her experience of Teensplaining. Ellie explains why she's never taking advice on days out from Instagr...

Why do we always want to eat rubbish when we're tired? Are low carb diets really a good idea? And is it OK to clap your own crap? Answering all these questions is Dr Sarah Berry!  Sarah is an associate professor at King's College and also the chief scientist at Zoe, which helps people to work out which foods suit them best. Ellie talks about her experience of the program, and how her favourit...

Our guest for this episode is TV's Adrian Chiles! We talk about everything from booze and Bette Midler to coping when your kids go off to uni.  Adrian tells us why he decided to cut down on the booze, and Ellie apologises for copying him by doing a podcast about the same thing, titled Sort Your Shit Out and available now wherever you get your podcasts or  https://pod....

Our guest for this episode is the hilarious comedian Alasdair Beckett-King. He tells us why he decided to write a children's murder mystery book, even though he has no kids and has never killed anyone.  We talk about how Alasdair went from doing shit gigs in terrible pubs with us to starring on Mock the Week. He explains how a failure at film school kicked off his comedy career, and why he be...

What makes social media so addictive? How do we get our kids off their phones? Why is multitasking a myth? And what's it like to be mates with Oprah and fat-shamed by the Dalai Lama? Answering all these questions is best-selling author Johann Hari!  He tells us how a trip to Graceland with a phone-obsessed teenager kicked off his investigation into how our brains are being changed by technolo...

We are smashing the patriarchy in this episode with the help of Laura Bates - campaigner, writer, speaker, and all-round excellent woman. She explains why she started the Everyday Sexism project, and we discuss how the landscape has changed in the decade since.  Laura tells us what she'd change tomorrow if she had a magic wand, and we ask her advice on how to raise our kids so they don't turn...

She's a campaigner, an author, a podcaster, and an all-round legend - it's the awesome Mika Simmons!  We talk about why she set up her brilliant foundation, Ladygarden, and what it was like to lose her mother to cancer. There are some very moving moments as Mika describes their last moments together, and what it's like to have to tell your mum she's going to die. Plus, she...

It's the stupidest podcast episode of the year! Sam Pamphilon and Nurse Jessie join us once again to get drunk in Ellie's lounge and forget their conversation is going on the internet.  As is tradition, we discuss Jessie's new job, and try to get to the bottom of what the fuck she actually does for a living. Sam tells us whether he's divorced yet, and it's the return of Linda Chat -...

YES DALLYN! Our guest for this episode is the hilarious Gareth Howells - Hunsnet founder, brunch hoster, Victoria Beckham fan and all around legend.  He tells us about why he started Hunsnet, and how it's grown into an amazing social media phenomenon that makes us laugh every day. We hear about Gareth's brilliant book,  The Hundamental Guide to Life , and his tips for shit...