Mother of All Solutions

For this final episode of the Spring 2024 mini-series of Mother of All Solutions, I am pleased to share an interview with Donna Bloye (winner) and Steven Broughton (semi-finalist) from series seven of the Great Pottery Throwdown. Fans of the series will have enjoyed watching them on screen and like me picked up a strong sense of their love for pottery and ceramics, but also their role as parents. Donna is mum to three children and Steven is dad to one daughter. I wanted to talk to them together and hear more about their careers as art and design teachers too - and their work now as potters, alongside parenting. I hope you enjoy the conversation and it gives you some nice moments to think about creativity, ceramics and kids too. Thank you for listening! You can find out more about these fantastic people and their work: Donna Bloye www.otonipottery.com / Instagram @oto.ni.pottery Steven Broughton www.stevenbroughtonceramics.com / Instagram @steb_pots Mother of All Solutions podcast is an independent podcast hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser www.motherofallsolutions.com / Instagram and X @SolutionsMother If you have enjoyed the episode it would be much appreciated if you could like and share, and do subscribe for future episodes coming later in 2024!

This episode was recorded at the Mothers in Music all-day festival on 7 March 2024 at the Mount Without venue in Bristol. Organised by Alice Ballantine Dykes of Mama Coaching, with a team of producers (mothers and musicians) - “a collective of mothers challenging norms to stay visible, valued and celebrated in the music industry.” The event included wonderful performances, along with discussions about the challenges and ways for mothers to keep performing and thriving in their musical careers. It was a joy to attend. This episode is a record of the conversations I had with musicians who make and produce in many ways (singers, songwriters, community leaders, therapists, solo performers, band members, DJs etc). I hope you enjoy listening and if it resonates with you do share with someone else who you think would benefit from hearing about these fantastic musicians who are also mothers. To find out more about Mothers in Music you can follow Alice and the network on Instagram @mamacoachinguk. To find out about coaching workshops and opportunities you can email Alice info@mamacoaching.org / www.mamacoaching.org Music throughout the episode was the Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) choir performing. The final song is by the artist JMA. Mother of All Solutions intro and outro music by Ros Fraser. Cover photo for this episode taken by Emma Rice. The podcast is hosted by Laura Broderick - you can connect on Instagram and X as @SolutionsMother / www.motherofallsolutions.com Thank you for listening.

In this episode I talk with Harriet Williams, Deputy Leader of the Women's Equality Party (WEP). I initially interviewed Harriet back in the beginning of making Mother of All Solutions podcast when Harriet worked as a 'Young Parent Consultant'. She still works in many roles and in this episode mentioned supporting: Care experienced parents: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/research/care-experienced-parents-unite-change Single parents: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/ In this episode, we specifically discuss current issues around childcare costs and entitlements, and reference data from Pregnant Then Screwed published in Feb 2024: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/shocking-new-stats-about-the-cost-of-parenting/ This was discussed in the context of 15 hours free childcare (for those eligible) starting next month in April 2024: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/03/15/how-to-claim-15-hours-free-childcare-code/ I hope you find the conversation interesting and you will also listen back to Harriet when we talked 4 years ago! You can connect with Harriet: Instagram @mummyharrii and X @HarriAWilliams Mother of All Solutions is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. You can connect with Laura: Instagram and X @SolutionsMother Thank you for listening. Note to listeners: whilst no personal scenarios are shared we do touch upon some sensitive issues relating to women and girls, so keep this in mind before you listen.

It was a pleasure to speak about momfluencer culture with writer and podcaster Sara Petersen. Author of the book Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture, Sara shared lots of insights into the moms and mums of social media. It was fascinating to hear more and also reflect on mumfluencer culture in the UK, and our relationships with influencers and sharing online in general. Plus, what is the British equivalent of the family pumpkin patch outing?! To learn more about Sara and her work you can sign up for her Substack - In Pursuit of Clean Countertops: https://sarapetersen.substack.com/ You can also connect with her on Instagram @slouisepetersen Mother of All Solutions podcast is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick with music by Ros Fraser. Stay in touch via Instagram and X as @SolutionsMother Thank you for listening - and do tell a mum or mom friend you think might like the pod!

This first episode of the new series of Mother of All Solutions is an interview with Katy Marks - architect and designer. Katy talks about her career as an architect, establishing her own business and navigating maternity leave and work. She then shares about her experience of going through a single mastectomy and later designing the Unobra for asymmetric bodies. It was a pleasure to learn more about Katy and aspects of her life and work. You can connect with her: Architectural practice via Citizens Design Bureau https://www.citizensdesignbureau.net/ Design work at Unobra https://www.unobra.co.uk/ Instagram @citizensdesignbureau and @_unobra Mother of All Solutions is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. Listen out for the rest of the new 2024 mini-series - dropping Mondays in March and April. Subscribe so you don’t miss out, and it would be wonderful if you could share with your friends. Thank you x https://www.motherofallsolutions.com/ Instagram and X @SolutionsMother

I am delighted to announce a new mini-series for Mother of All Solutions. This teaser contains clips from interviews with some of the amazing mothers who joined me for the podcast. Full episodes will follow on Mondays through March/April, and I am excited to share many perspectives on parenting and work over the course of the season. I hope you enjoy listening! #mothersday #internationalwomensday MOAS is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. Portrait photo by Jannine Newman. www.motherofallsolutions.com Do connect via Instagram and X @SolutionsMother

Hello! It's almost the holidays so this episode is a short n sweet end to the Mother of All Solutions podcast in 2023. Featuring guest contributions from Suze Cooper, Vivi Koroma Kala and Molly Rowan, plus my mum and my daughter, there is chat about podcasts and books (my favourite things) plus a poem and a song. I really hope you enjoy it and it makes you feel festive in a friendly podcasty way. Thank you for listening this year, and do listen out for more MOAS episodes in 2024 - likely March - all being well! Thank you for all the support with the podcast. MOAS is produced and hosted by Laura Broderick - you can connect on socials via @SolutionsMother. Music by Ros Fraser. Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas and all the very best for the New Year. Laura x

For this episode Laura interviews photographer Jannine Newman, who has adult sons and came to use the term ‘photographer’ professionally in her 50s. We discuss her work and ambitions through the decades, and how being a mum has influenced her career moves. We also talk about looking after kids through their stages, parenting twins, ADHD in the family and more. Jannine explains the term skill stacking and why she believes it's important to maximise your niche set of skills and experiences. She is also a stylist and vintage market host and we chat about side projects, business ideas and confidence. I hope you enjoy the conversation! You can find out more about Jannine and her work at www.janninenewman.com And find her on Instagram as @underthecloth The podcast Mother of All Solutions is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick. You can connect on Instagram and X via @SolutionsMother Music by Ros Fraser, and episode recorded in Content is Queen studios.

In this episode, timed with International Men’s Day 2023, Laura shares clips from a recording with dad-of-two Steve Folland, Being Freelance and Doing It For The Kids (DIFTK) podcast. Laura and Steve spoke earlier this year as part of the DIFTK community meet up. It was a great conversation but there was a lot of chat I couldn’t squeeze into that episode - so here are some clips in this mini bonus one! Steve shares his journey from starting as a freelancer when his kids were very young, to them now being 10 and 13. He also discusses running a community for freelancers and how workflow can be for those who are parents and those who aren’t. It was great to hear his thoughts and I hope you enjoy listening too. #InternationalMensDay You can find out more about Being Freelance here: https://www.beingfreelance.com/ You can also listen to Steve within 'The DIFTK Community' episode on the Mother of All Solutions podcast. To keep in touch with Laura Broderick, host and producer of Mother of All Solutions, please do connect via: https://www.motherofallsolutions.com/ Instagram and X @SolutionsMother Music for the series by Ros Fraser.

A year ago I participated in Pregnant Then Screwed's event, The March of the Mummies, and recorded with parents on the march in Newcastle. As it's been Halloween this week and there is a lot in this episode that is still relevant at the one year anniversary point I thought I would re-release it. If you listened previously - thank you. If you missed the episode first time, I hope you enjoy it now. And please do share it if you can. Happy listening, Laura (mummy, host and producer) Do also keep in touch on X and Instagram as @SolutionsMother

In this episode Laura speaks with Rosa Schling, Co-Director of oral history production company On The Record and project manager of the Grow Your Own project, to discuss the project and the podcast series Childcare Voices. The episode was recorded at the Bishopsgate Institute in London during a childcare archive workshop day. Also on mic are participants involved in helping map the history of childcare in London - they share what they discover through looking at archives about settings and actions of the past. To follow the Grow Your Own project and listen to the Childcare Voices podcast please visit: https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ Mother of All Solutions is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick with music by Ros Fraser. You can keep in touch via: https://www.motherofallsolutions.com/ Instagram and Twitter/X @SolutionsMother If you have enjoyed the episode please do subscribe, share it on your socials, or leave a rating and review! And do listen through the MOAS archives - I also mention relevant past episodes - ‘The Childminder’ and ‘WOW Festival: Radical Childcare’

It was a pleasure to chat to comedian and writer Eleri Morgan about her work doing stand up and comedy writing, now as mother to an 8 month old baby. We discuss taking her son to gigs, being part of writing rooms and how to navigate work around childcare going forward. We also discuss her documentary ‘DRYCH: Dyfodol i Dewi’ (on iPlayer for a few more days!) which follows her struggle to reconcile having a baby with leading a low-carbon life. And we chat about her plans for future documentaries on subjects such as the cost of childcare. I hope you enjoy the episode, and please do keep in touch / share the episode with your friends. You can connect with Eleri on X as @eleri_morgan or on Instagram as @eleri_morahan (and @eleri_morgan_comedy) The Mother of All Solutions podcast is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick - you can find me on X and Instagram as @solutionsmother Music by Ros Fraser. Thank you for listening!

It's back to school, and a new term for MOAS too, starting with quarter-finalist Lauren Tedstone and semi-finalist Vicki Reid from the Great British Sewing Bee 2023 #sewingbee #gbsb #greatbritishsewingbee Both mums of two young children, we discuss their careers before entering the Sewing Bee, plus their work, family and sewing lives now. It was great to chat to these enthusiastic and talented sewists about hobbies, community and of course their friendship (formed over a cuppa.) So make a brew and take a listen! Do also keep in touch and tell your friends... Vicki Reid @whatvickimade Lauren Tedstone @madebylaurentedstone Laura Broderick @solutionsmother Mother of All Solutions is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick with music by Ros Fraser. Find out more via the website www.motherofallsolutions.com and subscribe to the podcast via your favourite app.

I am delighted to share this episode from the Creativity Found podcast… Claire Waite Brown interviews Caro Giles, author of Twelve Moons. I loved this conversation and love Caro’s book, which outlines her life as a single mother of four daughters living in rural Northumberland. There is family, nature, isolation, rediscovery - it’s practical and emotional. I hope you enjoy Claire’s interview about Caro’s life and work, here on my podcast feed. To connect with them both: https://www.creativityfound.co.uk/Podcast @creativityfoundpodcast https://www.carogiles.com/ @carogileswrites Mother of All Solutions is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. Thank you for listening - please subscribe and keep in touch! Website coming soon, for now find me @SolutionsMother

Ready for new Mother of All Solutions episodes from September 2023? New to the podcast? Well, take a listen to the trailer! Mother of All Solutions - conversations about careers and caring for today's parents. So whether you are a parent, an employer or you just love a good chat/interview style listen then MOAS is made with you in mind. The podcast is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. Listen to MOAS wherever you get your pods - and do subscribe, stay in touch (@SolutionsMother) and stay well. Thanks for listening x

In the final episode of Mother of All Solutions before a summer break, Laura speaks with Becky Lamb-Pritchard, Head of Marketing at This is Distorted, and Lucy Critchley Head of Untold Creative. https://www.thisisdistorted.com/ https://untold-creative.com/ We discuss marketing roles and workplace cultures and settings. We share stories of life with 3 year olds, and plans for the future. It's both serious and fun - and we cover LOTS. Both Becky and Lucy have made significant location and career moves, and had their babies during the height of the pandemic. It was great to bring them together for this "Marketing Mums" chat. I really hope you enjoy hearing from a fantastic 'mum' and a wonderful 'mam' who are both busy doing great work and raising their equally busy preschoolers. The conversation was recorded in This is Distorted's podcast studio in Leeds. MOAS is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. Mother of All Solutions can be found on Instagram and Twitter as @SolutionsMother and we'll be back with more episodes in September 2023. Thank you for listening and do subscribe to keep in touch after the summer!

Hannah Russell, Co-founder of Mags Creative podcast business is the guest on this episode of Mother of All Solutions. Hannah is mum to a 3 year old, and her second child is due in a few months time. Hannah and Laura talk business and parenting - the highs, lows and parallels. We discuss the rollercoaster of founding a company (Mags recently turned 5!) and being a mother, boundaries in both professional and family life, and being fully present with your work and kids. Mother of All Solutions is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. I hope you enjoy the episode and can share with friends and colleagues. To stay in touch please follow @SolutionsMother on Instagram and Twitter. To find out more about Mags Creative visit www.magscreative.co.uk and connect on Instagram @mags.creative Thank you for listening!

For this recording, host Laura Broderick speaks with Lauren Ingram, Founder of Women of Web3, a community helping women around the world make the leap into the exciting new world of Web3. We discuss Web3 - what it is, and what Lauren is doing to support women learn more about its potential. We then talk about Lauren’s pivot and career shift during her pregnancy and various aspects of life as a ‘working mum’ and business founder/entrepreneur. Lauren is also the host of the Women of Web3 podcast, and there is a new season coming soon on 8th June! Search on your podcast platforms to find this and past episodes. To connect with Women of Web3, please check out: https://www.womenofweb3.co/ Twitter and Instagram @womenofweb3co Mother of All Solutions is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. To connect on Twitter and Instagram please follow @SolutionsMother and if you can rate, review and subscribe to the podcast that would be much appreciated. Thank you! This episode was recorded on the Shure stand at The Podcast Show, London, on 24 May 2023. Thank you to Shure, and to Everybody Media - the collective of podcasters that Laura and Lauren are both part of.

In this episode Laura interviews Katie Carr - author, business coach, mum and kayaker. Katie is currently on a huge adventure to plan and kayak the remaining areas of the shipping forecast that her late brother, Toby Carr, wasn’t able to complete. Katie finished the book 'Moderate Becoming Good Later - Sea Kayaking the Shipping Forecast' earlier this year - this is the book Toby hoped he would have had time to complete. Toby captured his adventures in recordings, photos, notes and videos - all of which made it possible for Katie to write 'Moderate Becoming Good Later' after his death. Not only was Katie determined to tell Toby’s story, but she is now determined to take on the challenge of kayaking the areas of the shipping forecast that he was sadly unable to - notably Wales, Ireland, Scotland and the North East of England. Laura had the pleasure of learning more about Katie’s challenge and motivations. Parenting two young children is a huge part of her planning, and we talk about navigating adventures as a mum, and taking on ‘mini adventures’ for ourselves and our kids too. I hope you enjoy hearing more about the resilient and inspirational Carrs through this interview with Katie. The book will be available to buy in all good book shops and online on 8 June 2023. To connect with Katie Carr: Instagram @moderatebecominggoodlater / @katieannice Twitter @KayakForecast www.katieannicecarr.com The episode of the Mother of All Solutions has been hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. You can find the podcast on Twitter and Instagram as @SolutionsMother

For this episode, Laura recorded with members of the Doing It For The Kids (DIFTK) community - a platform and podcast for freelance parents trying to make flexible working work. Joining their London meet-up on 27 April 2023, Laura had a chance to chat with various members about what makes the community so special. It was a real pleasure. I also had some pre-chats and the result is hopefully a good overview of how the community operates - the people and purpose. I do hope you enjoy it. Thank you to Frankie, Steve, Karina, Kayleigh and Jon for their time and trust. You can find out more about DIFTK via: doingitforthekids.net The Mother of All Solutions podcast is produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. You can connect with via socials @SolutionsMother and please do subscribe for future MOAS episodes on your favourite podcast app. If you have enjoyed this episode a rating/review would be much appreciated too!