Step Life

Father of two children and two stepchildren, Joe Swash speaks about his blended family.Joe has a 15-month-old-son, Rex with presenter Stacey Solomon and is stepdad to Stacey's sons Zach, 13 and Leighton, 8. He also has a 12-year-old-son, Harry from a previous relationship.Joe talks about how his son, Rex, has united their blended family, how all the kids get along, hurdles he's faced as a dad and stepdad and advice to people in a stepfamily.__This episode is sponsored by Network Rail who are working with Joe to teach children about rail safety. The Stay Safe with Thomas campaign, launched by Network Rail and Thomas & Friends™, is designed to give parents the tools to educate their children about how to keep safe when travelling on the railway.Joe is featured in a short film reading the Stay Safe with Thomas story. Parents can use the film as an engaging way of approaching the subject of rail safety with their children. Click here to download the book and watch the film. 

Elen Stritch is a solicitor specialising in family law. She advises clients on divorce, separation and custody arrangements.In this episode, Elen speaks about her work with blended families and how she works with them on a number of issues from custody arrangements to inheritance issues and will disputes.For more information about Step Life go to www.steplife.co.uk or @steplifesupport on Instagram.

Shayna, a stepmum to two boys aged 12 and 7, with different birth mums, talks about how she is struggling to establish her role in her blended family.Claire Asherson-Bartram, a psychotherapist who works with stepfamilies, gives her advice to Shayna on how she can improve her relationship with her stepsons and partner. Claire gives her tips on things Shayna can do to feel heard and happier in her stepfamily rather than feeling invisible, isolated and alone.Show notes:Books mentioned in episode:Fair Play: Share the mental load, rebalance your relationship and transform your life - Eve RodskySurviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn't - Patricia L. Papernow Podcast music:Carefree by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3476-carefreeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marcie Shaoul, the UK's only dedicated Co-Parent Coach talks about how to co-parent with your ex. Marcie works with parents on how they can bring up their children together, even though they are no longer in a relationship.She successfully co-parents her son with her ex husband and started Rolling Stone Coaching to help others in a similar situation navigate raising their kids together and building better communication. Show notes:To contact Marcie and for more information on her coaching:Rolling Stone Coaching - https://rollingstonecoaching.com/Show music:Carefree by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3476-carefreeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Nicola, a mum to a teenage son talks about her relationship with her boyfriend, his 12 year old daughter who has nonverbal autism and her birth mother.Claire Asherson Bartram, a psychotherapist who specialises in working with stepfamilies gives her advice on ways Nicola can communicate her feelings to her partner and how they can both deal with his ex-partner better.Podcast music:Carefree by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3476-carefreeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Dr. Claire Asherson Bartram BA UKCP, a psychotherapist who specialises in working with stepfamilies shares her knowledge and advice from her experience in working with blended families. Claire has a personal and professional interest in stepfamilies, and has been writing, researching and running groups on stepfamily issues for over 20 years. She founded StepIN ASAP which is an organisation of psychotherapists who share their personal and professional experiences in order to be able to support stepfamilies. Since its inception they have been developing therapy and counselling services and educational events for people who find themselves in stepfamily situations and for people who work with them; for example teachers and social workers.Claire talks to Rachel about why she started to work with blended families and gives her advice on a number of common issues stepfamilies face and how to deal with them. She touches on how to have better communication with your partner and stepchildren and how to deal with your ex partner or partner's ex.Episode notes:Articles and books talked about in the show:Research on disciplining stepchildren - Claire Cartwright Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn't - Patricia L. Papernow Podcast music:Carefree by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3476-carefreeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Liz Matthews, founder of global communications and brand building agency LMPR, which represents some of the most well-known faces and lifestyle brands around talks about her blended family.Liz has four children and a stepson. She speaks about getting divorced, rebuilding her single life, meeting her new partner and about blending their families. Podcast music:Carefree by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3476-carefreeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Special bonus first episode: Stepfamilies navigating life during CoronavirusIn this special first episode, which was recorded during lockdown, Rachel Silver talks to Cilla Appeaning, stepmum, mum and founder of The Stepmums' Club about the impact of the Coronavirus on her blended family. Cilla also gives her advice to other stepfamilies during this unprecedented time.This episode was recorded remotely and not in a studio which has slightly affected the sound quality of the episode. Links and information:The Stepmums' Club was founded by Cilla Appeaning to try and rewrite the narrative of stepmothers in society whilst normalising the conversation of blended families. The club meet for socials and it primarily functions via its Instagram and Twitter account.Podcast music:Carefree by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3476-carefreeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/