As we take time on Mother’s Day to celebrate all those marvellous mamas out there, it’s only natural that we reflect on what kind of mothers we want to be ourselves. Yikes! What’s the answer? Thankfully there are now plenty of witty and wise podcasts that we can turn to for guidance – whether we are wrangling bawling babies, talkative tweens or tricky teenagers. In a heavily populated space, here are some of our favourites.

Main image: Spinning Plates

The Parenthood





Delivering professional and reassuring advice, this is parenting podcast gold. Hosted by a pair of fab mothers – Dr Chiara Hunt and Marina Fogle – who are also sisters, it is devoted to the minefield of worry that comes with being responsible for the health and happiness of children. Clever hosts probe clever guests who come up with the goods. Excellent recent episodes include the one about swearing in front of your children and the one about the art of having difficult conversations with your brood. Great, supportive stuff. Listen here.


How Not To Screw Up Your Kids





This is a podcast for anyone who wants ‘to be part of a movement to raise confident children who grow up believing in themselves’. Rather more serious than others on this list, How Not to Screw Up Your Kids is a true gem. Listening to it is like consulting that ever-elusive manual. The host is psychologist, mother and parenting expert Dr Maryhan. She says: ‘The greatest gift we can give our children is self-belief. It will get them further in life than any qualification and is absolutely possible for each and every child; we just need the right information and support around us to teach them. The old saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ couldn’t be more true than now.’ We say: pop this in your armoury today. Listen here.


Spinning Plates With Sophie Ellis-Bextor





Remember Sophie Ellis-Bextor from the Noughties? Of course you do, particularly after her brilliant lockdown disco sessions. She is still a singer-songwriter but she is now also the mother of five sons. In this brilliant podcast, the star speaks to busy, inspirational, working women – who are mothers, too – about how they make it all fit together. Her guests include Janet Ellis (her mum), Fearne Cotton and Myleene Klass. The Caitlin Moran one, which was filmed in Caitlin’s garden pod, is a particular highlight. She is brilliant on things like the importance of gardening for the soul, how everybody needs a room of their own and how hangovers in your forties are intolerable. Listen here.


Happy Mum, Happy Baby





This podcast’s host Giovanna Fletcher wrote a book of the same name – about life as mother to her two boys, Buzz and Buddy (who have since been joined by little Max) – which became a Sunday Times bestseller. The spin-off podcast is just as valuable. Her belief that we’re all just doing our best is evidenced through her convivial and warm chats with well-known mothers (and occasionally dads, too), from Millie Mackintosh to Jennifer Garner to Lorraine Kelly. Listen here.


The Parentalk Podcast For The Primary Years





This excellent podcast, an offshoot of the charity Care for the Family, doesn’t seem to appear with much fanfare or regularity. Search out its episodes, though, and you will be richly rewarded with instructive wisdom. Be sure to look for the ones in which parenting experts Nicky and Sila Lee give their tuppence worth. The calming tones of this husband-and-wife duo make everything feel all right with the world. In fact, we think they should have their own podcast. Listen here.


Scummy Mummies





‘A comedy chat show for less-than-perfect parents’, this ragingly popular podcast, hosted by Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson, is a hearty antidote to the nauseating concept of a yummy mummy. You come away from an episode of this more secure than ever in the knowledge that effort is more important than perfection in this big old parenting game. Excellent recent guests include super-therapist Julia Samuel and Dr. Rangan Chatterjee. There is also a Scummy Mummies blog, masses of merch and a series of Live Comedy Shows. Listen here.

Made By Mammas





TV presenter Zoe Hardman and her friend Georgia Dayton’s easy chat makes you feel as though you’re in the bosom of your best buddies. In each episode of this award-winning podcast, the pair talk about motherhood with all its highs and lows and interview an interesting mother on how to manage the juggle. We like the episode with fashion designer Savannah Miller – she’s especially good on step-parenting. Listen here.

By Becky Ladenburg
March 2022

Read More
Etsy Does It: 54 Lovely Gift Ideas For Mother’s Day
5 Popular Vegan Podcasts To Get Your Teeth Into
Mother’s Day Book Inspo 2022