Happy Mum Happy Baby

Our guest this week is presenter and author Chessie King! Chessie opens up to Giovanna about navigating her husband’s postnatal depression and the incredibly tough time that left their marriage on the brink of divorce. She also talks about the emotional journey of trying to conceive again after experiencing fertility struggles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Giovanna is joined by adventurer and explorer Steve Backshall Steve and Gi catch up on family life as he reflects on his childhood and how it shaped the person he is today. He also opens up about his wife Helen's inspiring journey training for the Tokyo Olympics just months after giving birth, and of course, there are plenty of tales from his iconic adventures along the way. LEGO® Education has launched four innovative STEM sets for young builders aged 7+, championed by explorer Steve Backshall. These sets turn children's big 'Why?' questions into hands-on, independent scientific discovery. Available today via select LEGO Stores and LEGO.com/LEGOEducation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One huge milestone. One unforgettable twist 👀 To celebrate 300 incredible episodes of Happy Mum Happy Baby, Giovanna finally finds herself on the other side of the table, lovingly nudged out of the hosting chair by none other than her best friend Emma Willis! In a perfect full-circle moment, Emma—who was HMHB’s very first guest—returns to turn the tables and get the full story on Gi’s parenting journey. It’s raw, revealing, and the perfect way to honour 300 episodes of honest conversation! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains explicit discussion surrounding issues including depression, postpartum psychosis and suicidal thoughts. This may prove a difficult listen for some and if you feel that listening may affect you negatively then please choose another episode. This week Giovanna sits down with Jade Lloyd for a powerful and deeply personal interview about her experience with postpartum psychosis. Jade tells Gi about her traumatic birth during COVID-19, followed by a descent into severe postpartum psychosis that required her being admitted to a mother and baby unit and sectioned. Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency that requires immediate intervention. If you are worried about yourself or a loved one it’s important to speak to a health professional such as a GP, midwife or health visitor. If it's an emergency and you don’t feel safe, call 999 or go straight to A&E. If Jade’s story has resonated with you and you need help or support, please don’t hesitate to use the resources below: Action on Postpartum Psychosis https://www.app-network.org/ Pandas https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/ Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org Mind UK https://www.mind.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Giovanna is joined by the brilliantly funny reality star and mum of three, Charlotte Dawson! Charlotte opens up to Gi about honouring her dad Les Dawson’s memory at home, alongside her mission to champion body positivity for women everywhere. A hilarious, honest, and slightly chaotic episode — enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Happy Mum Happy Baby, Giovanna chats with the brilliant Lou Beckett! Lou opens up about the pressures of breastfeeding, and shares how she and her husband Rob navigated the all-too-real 'roommate phase' during their early days of parenthood. She also talks about the mental load of being the 'default parent': the one who keeps family life ticking, from organising clubs and parties to taking on the emotional and administrative side of home life. Lou's book Lessons From a Default Parent is available for preorder now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National treasure of stage and screen Denise Van Outen joins Giovanna this week! Denise and Gi chat about their stagey childhoods and the impact motherhood has had on their careers in the performing arts. Plus, Denise opens up about her relationship with ex-partner Lee Mead and how they successfully co-parent their daughter, Betsy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Giovanna is joined by manifestation expert and two-time Sunday Times bestselling author, Roxie Nafousi! Roxie opens up about her turbulent past with addiction and the powerful journey of finding sobriety when she became pregnant. Roxie also tells Gi about manifesting and the simple steps you can take now to shape the life you want later. You can check out Roxie’s guided visualisation for future-self and retirement here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being able to share incredible stories is a huge reason why we do this podcast. Last year, Giovanna read Lifeblood: A Mother in Search of Hope by author and journalist Mina Holland. The book reveals Mina’s harrowing journey after learning her baby, Vida, was critically ill just two days before turning 12 weeks old. What unfolded next was nothing short of extraordinary. Now, Mina joins Gi to share her powerful story firsthand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leanne Quigley is back for part two of her extraordinary conversation - if you haven't already heard part 1 you can listen here. In this episode, Leanne opens up to Gi about her experience on The Traitors, including the emotional challenge of leaving her two young boys while filming. She also reflects on the life-changing moment after filming when her fiancée, Sophie, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re hooked once again on the new series of The Traitors, so it felt only right that we sit down with Season 3 champion, Leanne Quigley for a chat on all things motherhood (and reality TV!) Leanne’s story is truly remarkable, and with so much to unpack we've divided this episode into two parts. In this first episode, Leanne opens up to Gi about her IVF journey with her partner Sophie, and the incredible moment they discovered they were expecting twins. She also shares the intense experience of giving birth three and a half months early, along with the challenges that followed and subsequent hospital visits. Tune in for part 2 this Thursday - you definitely won’t want to miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special episode features never-before-heard snippets from some of our favourite conversations, including: Dr Emily MacDonagh on the importance of honest conversations about the realities of parenting; Joanna Page on the chaos of writing a book while managing four children, and a bonus Q&A with Midwife Pip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carrie and Joel are back for part 2 of their Christmassy chat! This time, we hear about the birth of their daughter Mabel, the challenges of sleep deprivation, and balancing work and family life in the theatre industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a true family affair on this week’s episode of Happy Mum Happy Baby! Gi’s sister-in-law Carrie Hope Fletcher and her husband Joel Montague stop by Gi's house for a very festive chat. The couple share what it’s like working together in their new roles in Elf The Musical, plus talk about how they prepared for the arrival of their now one-year-old daughter, Mabel. Don’t miss the second part of their conversation, coming next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Gi sits down with women's health nutritionist GQ Jordan, whose philosophy centres on listening to and nourishing your body - and making healthy eating feel simple and achievable. GQ opens up about her personal journey with IUI and IVF, sharing how nutrition can play a role in supporting our bodies through fertility treatment and beyond. She also opens up to Gi about her experience of baby loss and navigating grief. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The queen of disco is in the house! Pop icon and mother of five Sophie Ellis-Bextor joins Giovanna to chat motherhood, music, and everything in between. She tells Gi about falling pregnant with her son just 6 weeks into a new relationship, and shares her experiences with pre-eclampsia and caring for babies who battled sepsis and meningitis. Sophie's brilliant new album Perimenopop is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get ready for laughs, tears, and everything in between as Giovanna sits down with stand-up comedian Harriet Kemsley. Harriet opens up to Gi about the end of her marriage and why walking away was ultimately the best thing she could do for her family. She also talks about her PTSD and how it affected her during birth. Plus, Gi gets the inside scoop on Harriet’s new adventures in dating! Ps. Harriet is back on tour! Catch her in 2026 with her brand-new stand-up show Floozy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This November is Men's Mental Health Month so we're joined by the UK's Youth Metal Health Ambassador, Dr Alex George to discuss Paternal wellbeing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everybody needs good Neighbours — and this week, Gi’s joined by the ultimate one! Singer, actor, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat LEGEND Jason Donovan opens up about the highs and lows of fame, his struggle with addiction, and the life-changing decision he made after becoming a dad for the first time. Plus, he opens up about the challenges and rewards of watching his three children grow up and what they've taught him about trusting the process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turn It Up as this week we’re joined by perhaps our most pregnant guest yet...? the incredible singer and pop superstar, Pixie Lott! Pixie chats with Gi about her second pregnancy, from what it’s like to perform while heavily pregnant to how she’s helping her toddler get ready to become a big sibling. Plus, Pixie opens up about how meditation has helped her through some of life’s tougher moments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.