The Parent Hood

It's something none of us talk about - we end up flushing it away, wanting to forget about it as soon as possible. But rather than just being something disgusting, what our poo looks like, how often it happens and how it smells can tell us a lot about our gut health. Marina talks to Dr Chiara Hunt about what we should notice about our poo and how to talk about its importance to our children.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

No-one likes a people pleaser - someone whose opinion is based on what they think you want to hear. But how do we have that conversation with our children, on the one hand teaching them politeness but also giving them the confidence to voice what they really think? Marina chats to psychotherapist Anna Mathur, about giving our children the confidence to be different.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

They say nature's playground offers more fun and more health benefits than any other environment, and yet today's children spend less time outdoors than any previous generation. Marina talks to Alex Gregory, double Olympic gold medalist, father and author about how to nurture of love of the great outdoors, whatever the weather.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The age old adage, happy mother, happy baby is widely used for a reason - it’s absolutely true. Marina talks to Clio Wood, post natal counselor about the importance of self care for both parents and how to realistically achieve this.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Whether by choice or circumstance, single child families are on the rise. Marina talks to psychologist and only child Ann Richardson about being an only child and what parents can do to help them adjust to situations that can sometimes be challenging.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A big predictor of whether your child is happy is their friendships, and yet these relationships, while often causing intense rewards, can also be the subject of great hurt. Marina talks to Tanith Carey, best-selling author of The Friendship Maze about why our children's friendships are so important and what we as parents can do to ensure our children build strong and lasting friendships.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The concerns we have before having our second and third babies differ hugely from when you were pregnant first time round. Marina and Chiara have a frank, honest and hilarious chat with midwife and mother of three Jo Hooper about the common misconceptions around life with more than one child.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This Mothers Day, Marina celebrates what it means to be a mother to a daughter with acupuncturist, fertility expert and mother of two daughters, Emma Cannon. From vaginas to periods, to fertility to the menopause, Emma questions why traditionally being female has been regarded as a liability and argues that today's parents should instead, embrace the power our bodies give us.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As family dynamics become more fluid, single parent families are on the rise. Marina talks to lifecoach and mother of one Mel Johnson, who decided to have her baby with a sperm donor, about the challenges that single parents face and how to tackle them.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Twenty-first century life puts huge pressure on us parents to give our children all the opportunities we possibly can. And while opportunity is great, racing through life isn't great for everyone. Marina talks to ex-primary school teacher and HD campaigner Kelly Terranova about how to slow down and take stock of those ordinary moments.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's excruciating when our children are ill - it's awful seeing them not well but it's also exhausting. But is there anything we can do to prevent them from being sick? Marina talks to pediatrician Dr Sophie Niedermaier-Patramani about how our children's immune systems work and what we can do to boost them.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Parents all over the world are under increasing pressure from our children to play computer games. But how sensible is this? Are our worries about addiction a huge over-reaction? Marina speaks to Tanya Goodin - a digital consultant, digital detox expert and author.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The loss of a baby is universally tragic, but having been affected by miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a baby, how do you manage subsequent pregnancy motherhood without the fear and trauma of your past experience defining your job as a parent? Marina talks to Michelle Tolfrey, a clinical psychologist and mother to Orla who was stillborn and Esme who was born 11 months later.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're all aware that a complicated relationship with food destroys young lives. Marina and Dr Chiara talk to Dr Adrienne Key, a psychiatrist who specialises in eating disorders about what we as parents can do to nurture a healthy relationship with food.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Taking time off work when you become a parent is an inevitability but should it affect your career negatively? Marina chats to Dominie Moss, founder of The Return Hub about why parents returning to work after a career break are often stronger, more resilient and tenacious and emerge as one of the work place's most valuable assets.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Having a baby, however you gave birth, will put pressure on your pelvic floor muscles. A generation ago, it was deemed an acceptable consequence of being a mother that your trampoline days were over but now we know this is not the case. Marina talks to Camilla Lawrence, a women's health physio about the myths surrounding this taboo and what you can do to ensure your pelvic floor emerges from motherhood strong and healthy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

They say the future belongs to the curious, to those who are not afraid to try it, to explore it, poke at it, question it and turn it inside out. But can we do anything to encourage our children to be curious? Marina’s guest is the author, podcaster and QI Elf, Molly Oldfield about how we can encourage that curiousity.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Terrified of the transiiton out of nappies? Then you'll love this - Dr Chiara Hunt and Marina talk about how to know when your child is ready for potty training, how to do it and what happens if it's not as easy as you'd anticipated. Myth busting, evidence based and full of useful information and tips, this podcast is a must listen to for all parents and carers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've got better at talking about mental health but we're still not good enough. At least 10% of new mothers experience Post Natal Depression. Marina and Dr Chiara talk to Rosie Trotter, a mother of two who experienced PND about symptoms and how you treat it.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Starting 'big school' is exciting but often intimidating, for children as well as parents. Marina and Dr Chiara talk to teacher Iona Hewitt about what you can do to support your child in the year leading up to and when they actually start school.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.