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On this month's Parenting SOS, we’re joined by Clinical Psychologist and expert on maternal rage Dr Caroline Boyd. Anger is a natural response to the overwhelming demands of motherhood in today’s society. Many of us feel pressure to be supermums - calm, coping and in control at all times - and were raised to see anger as a ‘forbidden’ emotion for women. This often means our feelings stay simmering under the surface, until we reach a breaking point. Caroline shares her insight on what happens to us when we’re angry, how can we move through the emotion, and letting go of the inevitable guilt that comes after an angry reaction. Gi and Caroline also touch on the different contextual forces at play that shape our responses to anger. These social contexts are numerous and varied for every individual, often including important identities such as race, class and sexuality, which influence how we feel and express anger. Plus, we answer some of your questions, including how to manage anger towards your partner, keeping your cool when overstimulated, and identifying burn out. Caroline offers a self-paced anger course for mothers (USE THE CODE “HMHB” TO CLAIM YOUR £100 DISCOUNT): https://dr-caroline-boyd.mykajabi.com/maternal-rage-sign-up Download Caroline’s FREE GUIDE on how to handle partner rage: https://dr-caroline-boyd.mykajabi.com/3rs-free-download Caroline’s book, Mindful New Mum: A Mind-Body Approach to the Highs and Lows of Motherhood, is available to buy online Amazon, Waterstones or Bookshop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this week is the insightful, witty, and all-round wonderful Cherry Healey, who over the years has graced our screens with the likes of SAS Who Dares Wins, Inside the Factory, and numerous BBC3 documentaries. Cherry opens up to Giovanna about her complex relationship with her dad, and how having children herself and leaning into therapy helped to heal her childhood wounds. Plus, Cherry admits that she once subscribed to the societal stereotypes associated with being a single parent - until she became one herself. She also expresses heartfelt admiration for her ex-husband and tells Gi she feels lucky that her children have the best dad in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Giovanna sits down for a raw and hilarious conversation with comedian Sara Pascoe. Sara speaks candidly about the highs and lows of her mental health during IVF and the experience of being manic after having her first child. Plus Sara and Gi describe how their relationships evolved after becoming parents. Sara Pascoe will tour the UK and Ireland with all new show, I Am A Strange Gloop in 2025/26, including the London Palladium on Sunday 1st March 2026. Tickets: sarapascoe.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giovanna's guest this week is Love Island winner, TV personality, and podcast host Dani Dyer! Dani opens up about becoming a single mum after the birth of her son, discussing the guilt she felt about how expanding her family might affect her first child. She also delves into the challenges of dating as a single mum and shares the story of how she met her fiancé footballer Jarrod Bowen. Plus how her dad, the legendary Danny Dyer, reacted to the news he was going to become a grandparent, and the chaos (and joy!) of raising three under three. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parenting SOS is back, and we’re diving into all things fussy eating with children's food guru Annabel Karmel!* Annabel, the leading expert on nutrition and cooking for babies and children, sits down with Gi to discuss why some kids are just fussy when it comes to food (spoiler: it's not your fault!), the importance of celebrating good eating habits, and she shares some creative ways to encourage our little ones to enjoy a more varied and nutritious diet. Plus, Annabel answers some of your questions about picky eating, offering a wealth of practical tips and delicious recipes along the way! *Our discussion with Annabel focuses specifically on picky eating and Annabel’s area of expertise as a nutritionist and chef. While we do touch on the differences between fussy eating and ARFID in the episode, we recognise that restrictive eating and sensory issues with eating are much more complex than what our discussion covers, and requires its own specialist support. For our listeners with children experiencing extreme food aversions, we encourage them to seek guidance from health professionals who specialise in this area, and hopefully it’s a topic we can discuss more in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, Giovanna sits down with bestselling author Holly Bourne! Holly tells Gi about the impact sleep deprivation had on her mental state when her baby daughter just wouldn't sleep. She also opens up about her long and painful journey to getting treated for endometriosis, a condition that is still widely misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Plus, Holly talks about writing her latest novel in the throes of first-time motherhood. So Thrilled for You, is a hilarious, raw and honest expose of early motherhood and friendship, and you can get your copy here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giovanna’s guest this week is the brilliant Fiona Button! Fiona stars as Rose in one of Gi’s favourite shows, The Split, but off screen she has an even bigger role to play as mum to 7-year-old Fordy. Fiona opens up about her experience with health anxiety, how it impacted her pregnancy and postpartum, as well as the unique qualities of being a parent with ADHD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Ferdinand is back! We last spoke to Kate back in 2020, and her blended family has since grown with the arrival of Cree and Shae. Kate tells Gi all about the challenges of this new phase of motherhood, including her difficult births and spending time in NICU. She also opens up about how she and husband Rio suffered a miscarriage and the heartbreak of having to tell their children. Plus, the guilt that comes with trying to accommodate babies and teenagers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're bringing ancient practices of health and wellness into the modern day for this very special episode. As parents, we know how tricky it can be to stay on top of everything but luckily Jo Woodhurst, Head of Nutrition at Ancient & Brave, is here to guide us through some simple changes you can make to help your family feel their very best. Gi and Jo discuss it all, from laying foundations for nourishing nutrition to some practical tips on getting the best night's sleep. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Giovanna is joined by the incredible Jessica Brown Findlay! Jessica is an actor, perhaps best known for her role as Lady Sybil in Downton Abbey. She opens up to Gi about becoming a mum to twin boys via IVF, and the complicated feelings she experienced around her friends' pregnancies whilst struggling with her own fertility. Jessica also discusses how pregnancy affected her acting career, plus makes us all fall a little bit in love with her husband Ziggy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a new year which means a whole host of brand new amazing guests! To kick things off, Gi welcomes singer and presenter Fleur East to the studio. Fleur tells Gi the amazing story of her home birth, which ended in her giving birth on her husband’s lap..! Fleur also opens up about the pressure she felt over feeding her baby girl, plus pays tribute to her late father who passed away just before Nova was born. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we caught up with broadcasting legend Kate Thornton! Kate shares her best advice for raising young teens, finding male role models for her son, and why we should be championing single parents. Plus, Kate tells Gi why she’s not dreading the prospect empty nest! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Giovanna is joined by vegan chef and Youtuber Rachel Ama! She and Gi discuss the systemic racial bias within healthcare, and how that influenced Rachel to fight for a home birth. Plus, the highs and lows of having a covid pregnancy, the pressures of being a single mum, and of course, food! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gi’s guest this week is the hilarious actress, comedian, and content creator, Jane Dowden, aka Mum and a Mic! Jane shares her journey of conceiving her twin boys through IVF. She also reflects on the emotional turmoil she faced when she went into early labour at just 21 weeks, being forced to confront the possibility that she could lose her babies. Plus, finding a work-life balance with acting jobs, and why being a parent can often feel like being a referee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giovanna is joined this week by the writer Kerry Hudson. Kerry had a turbulent upbringing marred by poverty. She tells Gi how homelessness and time spent in and out of foster care made her all the more determined to create a sense of stability and comfort for her own son. Kerry also shares her experience of giving birth in Prague, living life to the full with a chronic illness, plus how parenthood has affected her marriage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this very special episode we’ve been working with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, which is currently in the middle of its biggest-ever fundraising appeal to build a world-leading cancer centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital. And no-one understands the significance of this appeal more than this week’s amazing guest Shaima, whose daughter Tia was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer when she was just 4 years old. Tia is now 12 and doing well at home, but has spent over half of her life in hospital. Shaima sits down with Gi for a very candid conversation about her journey with Tia’s cancer treatment and why places like Great Ormond Street Hospital need our support. Trigger warning: this episode contains discussions about cancer. If you feel this may be a difficult listen, please choose another episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love is in the air in the studio this week! Everyone’s favourite maître d', Fred Sirieix, perhaps best known for appearing on Channel 4's First Dates, joins Giovanna to talk all things fatherhood, food, and falling in love with the UK. Fred also opens up about dad guilt, his upbringing in France, and the pride he felt when his daughter Andrea won a bronze medal for diving in this year’s olympics! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giovanna quite literally fell off her chair from laughing so hard with this week’s guest Olivia Bowen! Reality royalty Olivia was runner-up on the second series of Love Island in 2016 with her now husband Alex Bowen. And six years later they became parents to baby Abel! Olivia and Gi talk body confidence, with Olivia opening up about her struggles with body image after giving birth, plus how much she loved dressing her baby bump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have journalist and broadcasting legend Victoria Derbyshire in the studio! Victoria tells Gi all about life as a mum of two teenage boys, blending motherhood with a hugely successful career, and how her 2015 breast cancer diagnosis inspired her to marry her partner of 17 years. Plus Victoria speaks about the domestic abuse she faced in her childhood growing up with a violent father. Trigger warning: this episode contains discussions about domestic abuse. If you feel this may be a difficult listen, please choose another episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giovanna sits down with Melissa Hemsley for this week’s delicious episode! Melissa is a former private chef, a writer, and a huge champion of sustainable, nourishing food. Now mum to baby Summer, Melissa and Gi had so much to catch up on, from IVF and pregnancy to ultra-processed foods and placenta smoothies… Melissa also opens up to Gi about her struggles with fertility and postnatal anxiety, and the steps she took to healing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.