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Not Another Mummy Podcast
Jo Tutchener-Sharp (Scamp & Dude) on Facing Death & Being Inspired By It
Most of us can't imagine ever having to say goodbye to our children, not knowing if we'll ever see them again, but my guest on this episode, Jo Tutchener-Sharp, had to do that when she went into hospital for an operation following a brain haemorrhage. Chatting to Jo about what that was like, I could hear the heartbreak in her voice as she remembered that moment. But Jo survived the surgery and when she was recovering, in hospital, she came up with a business idea that would help children who are separated from their parents, either because of a hospital stay like Jo, or just because of work or circumstance.
Her business, Scamp & Dude, has been a roaring success, with the kids and grown ups' clothing being sold in Liberty, Harvey Nichols and Harrods. Scamp & Dude also sell Superhero Sleep Buddies - a special cushion that watches over a child - and for every one sold another is donated to a vulnerable child who needs a Superhero to have their back, via the charities Don’t Forget the Kids and Grief Encounter.
Jo's story is inspiring and it's amazing to hear how she turned such an awful experience into something that helps so many people.
Music: Epidemic Sound
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7. Emma Barnett: Why maternity leave should be rebranded as maternity service
27:01||Season 12, Ep. 7Quick note about this episode before I introduce it - the audio quality isn't up to the usual standard. I've done what I can to improve it, and hopefully it doesn't take away from the importance and brilliance of the conversation. That said...My guest on this episode is the fantastic Emma Barnett. Emma is a presenter and journalist, currently on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and formerly presenter of Woman's Hour.Emma joins me to discuss her new book Maternity Service: A Love Letter to Mothers from the Front Line of Maternity Leave which looks at what maternity leave is really like for millions of new mums. Emma talks about her own experiences from her two 'tours of duty' and questions why it's called maternity leave which it involves no actual leave...Buy Emma's book: https://amzn.eu/d/2KtDOkBFollow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmabarnett/Buy Emma's ace colouring books: https://colouryourstreets.co.ukIf you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor Bowmer6. Louisa Lytton (LIVE at The Baby Show): Reflections on the first three years of motherhood
28:45||Season 12, Ep. 6This is a very special LIVE episode, recorded in front of an audience at The Baby Show at London's Excel. While new parents and parents to be rested their weary feet in between shopping for baby essentials from the biggest and best brands, they could also watch us on stage.I was so thrilled to chat to Louisa Lytton - best known for playing Ruby Allen in EastEnders but who has also starred in The Bill, competed on Strictly Come Dancing, and she will soon to be playing Rachel Watson in the stage adaptation of The Girl on The Train. Louisa, who is mum to a three-year-old, chatted to me about how she balances work with motherhood, what her expectations of being a mum was compared to the reality, who she goes to for advice and what it's like being part of a British institution with EastEnders!Big thanks to The Baby Show for making Not Another Mummy Podcast your official podcast partner for 2025. Tickets are now on sale for the next Baby Show at the Birmingham NEC from 9th to 11th May 2025.If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor Bowmer5. Ashley James: Mum shaming and the chaos of parenting preschoolers
21:04||Season 12, Ep. 5I'm joined on this episode by one of my FAVOURITE people on social media - and the telly box - Ashley James. Ashley is a mum of two and regularly appears on ITV's This Morning sharing her views on the topics of the day.She is a kick-ass feminist and manages to keep calm in even the most frustrating of conversations so I was keen to chat to her about mum shaming and coping with feeling judged by other parents.We also talk about mum guilt she feels over working so much, scrabbling around in the dressing up box on the morning of World Book Day (hard relate) and more.Follow Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleylouisejames/?hl=en-gbFind out more about the MAM campaign: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHBffSwCR1d/?img_index=1If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor Bowmer4. Dr Martha Deiros Collado: Learning how to be a grown up and why screen time isn't the enemy we think it is
54:47||Season 12, Ep. 4My guest on this episode is someone who is my online go-to for parenting advice. Clinical Psychologist Dr Martha Deiros Collado shares wise, thoughtful, evidence-based views on her Instagram posts and she is the author of the brilliant book How To Be The Grown Up, which has just come out in paperback.Dr Martha and I discuss what she has learned about herself since becoming a mum and how her kids have taught her new skills. We also cover how time-poor parents can navigate research and studies about parenting and children, knowing what to listen to and what to ignore.Dr Martha talks a lot about emotional regulation, both teaching ourselves how to process our own feelings, and how to model to our kids and teach them how to regulate their emotions. A really hard one to do!And we also discuss screen time, how it's not the enemy we're led to believe, why we shouldn't demonise smartphones and how to work out what a healthy screen and device relationship looks like within your family.Follow Dr Martha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.martha.psychologist/Buy her book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1787636887This episode is brought to you by The Baby Show and I am really excited to share that Not Another Mummy Podcast is the Official Podcast Partner for The Baby Show Excel London 2025. It is from Friday 7th March to Sunday 9th March at Excel London, and I will be there on Saturday 8th March recording a LIVE podcast with the wonderful Louisa Lytton talking about everything motherhood. Tickets can be bought online at thebabyshow.co.uk/excel and if you pop in the code PTNAMPODCAST before Thursday 6th March at midnight, you’ll get your ticket for only £16 per person, saving £14 on-the-door!If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor Bowmer3. Indu founders Reena Hammer & Aaron Chatterley: The teen skincare boom and how to navigate it as a parent
31:48||Season 12, Ep. 3My guests today are Reena Hammer and Aaron Chatterley - founders of teen beauty brand Indu.They talk to me about the teen and tween skincare boom which has seen young girls flock to buy large numbers of products - often aimed at adult skin.We discuss which ingredients parents should be looking out for - and avoiding - on their teen's bathroom shelf but also, how much of it they think should be a brand's responsibility to discourage young buyers vs parents or even the government.Aaron also explains how it was a conversation with his own teenage daughters which led him to launch Indu, a cool teen beauty brand with safe ingredients. If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor Bowmer2. Dr Linda Papadopoulos: Navigating smartphone and social media use with tweens and teens
31:34||Season 12, Ep. 2Whether you've got a teenager and you're right in the thick of smartphone and social media use, or you've got a younger child and worries about what's to come, this episode is an essential listen.I'm joined on this episode by one of the nest known psychologists in the UK - Dr Linda Papadopoulos. I met Linda at an event held by Meta in November, where we learned all about Instagram Teen Accounts, and I asked her to join me as a guest. As a psychologist and mum of a teenager, she is well placed to talk about the ins and outs of navigating smartphone use and social media. Expect LOTS of brilliant, helpful, take away points from her!If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor Bowmer1. Dr Hilary Jones: Being a grandparent and protecting our families from flu
29:52||Season 12, Ep. 1Welcome to a brand new series of the podcast - series 12!I'm joined on this episode by a familiar face from breakfast TV - Dr Hilary Jones. A father of five and also a grandparent, Dr Hilary talks to me about what it's like to be a grandparent, his views on modern parenting and the screen time debate.He also offers up some brilliant advice on protecting our families from flu and helpful explanations of why it's important to get the available NHS vaccinations.If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor Bowmer14. Suzy Reading (REPLAY): Finding calm in the chaos of Christmas
41:20||Season 11, Ep. 14This is a replay episode from 2023, when I talked to the brilliant Suzy Reading.Suzy is a chartered psychologist, yoga teacher, coach, mum of 2 and author - but most importantly she is a solidly good human.Her Instagram posts are among my favourite and I always take the time to stop scrolling and read what she has to say. She is also the author of a whole bunch of books including her latest one Selfcare For Winter.Follow her on Instagram here and buy her books here.If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor Bowmer13. Candice Brathwaite (REPLAY): The reality of being a Black mum in Britain
38:26||Season 11, Ep. 13Candice Brathwaite is such an important voice in the motherhood sphere so this is a chance to revisit my conversation with her from 2020.Double Sunday Times Bestselling author, podcaster, mum, step-mum, fashionista and top-notch content creator, Candice talks to me about the reality of being a Black mum in Britain.Her critically-acclaimed memoir I Am Not Your Baby Mother had just been published when we spoke and since then she has gone onto write more books and be a huge part of the conversation about diversity and representation.Follow her on Instagram and check out her books.If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor Bowmer