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My guest today is Bryony Gordon - journalist, author, mental health advocate and host of The Life of Bryony podcast. Bryony has written extensively and honestly about OCD, addiction, depression and disordered eating, and her new book, People Pleaser, is her first novel. It follows a chronically people-pleasing woman who wakes up one day to find she's lost the ability to put anyone first but herself - and the chaos that follows. Bryony talks to me about why people pleasing is at the root of so many of the issues women face, what "good girl conditioning" actually costs us over a lifetime, and why hitting your 40s can feel like finally running out of patience for everyone else's bulls**** - in the best possible way. We also chat about: Why people pleasing is actually manipulative - and why that's not the judgement it sounds likeWhat she'd do differently if she woke up tomorrow unable to people pleaseHow early perimenopause brought back her OCD symptoms, and what finally getting her HRT right changedThe three things she does every day to keep her mental health in check Why she deliberately picks the least flattering photo to post on Instagram Her female elder in her 60s who responds to every crisis with "so what?", and why everyone needs one of those Follow Bryony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryonygordon/ Listen to her podcast: https://www.instagram.com/lifeofbryonypod/ Buy People Pleaser: https://amzn.to/4scaxYR If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on this episode is Shakira Akabusi - women's health and fitness expert, regular face on daytime TV, author of The Strong Like Mum Method and founder of the brand new Strong Like Mum YouTube channel, where she's making all her expertise available to mums for free. Shakira talks about the deep connection between physical movement and how we feel - and why, since becoming a mum, that link has never been clearer to her. She's also honest about what confidence actually means to her: it's not about perfection or having it all figured out, but backing yourself as a human being and giving yourself the same grace you'd give a friend. We also chat about: Why releasing the pressure to be perfect was the moment Shakira finally felt truly confidentHow she manages anxiety and OCD on the hard days - and why that doesn't have to shake your confidenceHer three go-to techniques before a big TV appearance or nerve-wracking moment: sleep, breathing and movementThe 4-7-8 breathing technique she uses on set when she has 60 seconds before her segment goes liveWhy "keep showing up" - for yourself, not just for everyone else - is the message she keeps coming back toFind Shakira on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shakira.akabusi/ Find the Strong Like Mum YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE5DBny6x7gZgT7LdMxTxYg If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Poorna Bell - award-winning journalist, author and competitive powerlifter. Poorna has written for The Times, Grazia, Red and Stylist among many others, and her latest book, She Wanted More, examines the quiet revolution taking place among women over 40 who are questioning the rules they've been handed and rewriting what the next chapter of their lives looks like. She talks with me about what those rules actually are, who set them, and why so many women in their 40s are reaching a point where they simply refuse to keep playing by them. Poorna is honest about her own journey - losing her husband in her 30s, navigating a life that doesn't look like her mother's and finding an unexpected sense of peace in that - and she has a lot to say about the mental load, the patterns that get set early in relationships and why in 2026 we're still having the same conversation about who does the dishes. We also chat about: Why 90% of the 1,000 women Poorna surveyed said friendship - not family or romance - is what matters most as they get older, and what that tells us about what we've been soldThe concept of "weeding" your life - and the gentlest way to let go of friendships that no longer serve you without blowing everything upWhy the patterns set early in a relationship are so hard to shift later and what that means for the mental load conversationWhat it means to build a sense of purpose when mainstream society offers you precious little validation for living differentlyHow strength training replaced diet culture noise, and why Poorna lifts heavy weights not for how she looks, but for the bones she wants to have at 80 Find Poorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poornabell/ Find Poorna on Substack: https://poornabell.substack.com She Wanted More is available wherever you buy books. If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on this episode is Mum Bum - an anonymous content creator who shares the funny, honest reality of motherhood on Instagram - debt, the mental load and the daily battle with self-doubt included. She started her account in secret, blocking everyone she knew, and has grown to over 245,000 followers without ever using her real name. In this episode of 10 Minute Confidence Boost, Mum Bum talks about why anonymity was actually a confidence strategy, what it looks like to fight self-doubt when you're someone who really doesn't feel confident, and why looking at the evidence - rather than the story your brain is spinning - is such a useful tool. We also chat about: Dropping a Times article into the friend group chat with no explanationTreating yourself like you'd treat a friendJungle music and the Rocky theme tune for nursery run emergencies Find MumBum on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_mum_bum/ If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on this episode is Jake Humphrey - one of the UK's most recognisable broadcasters, having fronted the BBC's Formula 1 coverage and led BT Sport's Premier League and Champions League output for a decade. But these days he's just as well known as the host of the High Performance podcast, one of the most downloaded shows in the world on leadership, mindset and what it actually takes to perform at your best. Jake's latest book, Game Plan, aims to get these life skills into the hands of young people across the UK. He talks with me about what it actually means to raise resilient kids and why being your child's biggest cheerleader matters more than being their coach. Jake shares the "golden blink" concept and explains why the moments that feel ordinary right now are the ones you'll miss most. We also chat about: Why studying elite performers has made Jake a different parent, not necessarily a better one - and what he's unlearned along the wayThe manosphere, Louis Theroux's documentary, and why Jake thinks "toxic masculinity" is a dangerous phrase for young menWhy embarrassment is the price of entry and failure is the price of ambition - and how to pass that message on to your kidsHow to stop "nexting" yourself and actually enjoy what you've builtThe High Performance Foundation and how you can get your child's school involved for free Find Jake on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jakehumphrey/ Find Jake on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakehumphreyofficial/ Search "High Performance" wherever you get your podcasts To find out more about the foundation, visit highperformancefoundation.org If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is Liz Alexander - model, content creator and body confidence advocate who has built a passionate following by celebrating mid-sized bodies and showing up - bikini and all - exactly as she is. Liz talks to me about how posting on Instagram on days when she feels least confident has actually become one of her greatest tools for growth, and why she believes representation in fashion isn't just nice to have, it's essential. We also chat about: Why confidence tends to come with age and life experience rather than appearing fully formedThe rise of the "skinny trend" and why she feels body positivity progress is going backwardsHer meditation practice and the Boho Beautiful mantra that keeps her grounded Follow Liz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelizeditorial/ If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on this episode is Cariad Lloyd - award-winning comedian, actress and writer, well known for Griefcast, the podcast where she talks to guests about death and grief. She's also the author of the adult grief guide You Are Not Alone, and her debut picture book Where Did She Go?, about a little girl trying to make sense of losing her grandmother, is now out in paperback. Cariad talks to me about why the language we use around death confuses children (and why "she's gone to sleep" or "watching over you" can actually do more harm than good), why so many of us freeze when someone we know is grieving and why the five stages of grief is an outdated idea. We also discuss: Why kids need clear, honest language when someone dies and how to practise those conversationsThe specific grief that comes with becoming a parent when you've lost oneWhat to say (and why you won't make it worse) when a friend is bereavedThe real reason dark humour exists around death and dying Buy Where Did She Go: https://amzn.to/4bvqXXu Buy You Are Not Alone: https://amzn.to/4uTmfKQ Listen to Griefcast: https://shows.acast.com/griefcast Follow Cariad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cariadlloyd/ If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest is Elizabeth Davies, aka This Woman Lifts - strength training coach, women's fitness advocate and author of the brand new book Training for Your Old Lady Body. Elizabeth is on a mission to help women completely reframe their relationship with exercise - shifting the focus away from bikini bodies and short-term aesthetic goals, and towards building strength that will serve them for decades to come. We talk about why so many women are put off strength training before they've even tried it, and why that needs to change. We also chat about: Why the weight section of the gym feels so intimidating for women — and why it shouldn'tThe "old lady self" mindset trick Elizabeth uses when her confidence wobblesWhy your body is a beautiful adaptive machine (and what that actually means in practice) You can follow Elizabeth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thiswomanlifts/ And find her book Training for Your Old Lady Body  If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest is Helen Thorn - comedian, one half of the Scummy Mummies duo, author and marathon runner. Six years ago, Helen's life changed overnight when she discovered her husband of 22 years had been having an affair. What followed was divorce but then, eventually, a complete rebuilding of herself. Helen's new book, How to Face Big Change and Come Back Stronger tells that story, and weaves in the experiences of 50 other women who have faced their own life-altering moments. We chat about the whole journey, from the darker moments of her "rebellious explosion" phase to completing all six of the World Marathon Majors and finding peace and happiness on the other side. We also discuss: Why lockdown, as brutal as it was, became an unexpected "sad boot camp" that forced her to actually face her griefThe difference between the false confidence of her post-divorce rebellion and the much deeper confidence she has nowHow she went from size 18, smoking behind her house and sobbing, to running marathons on every continentWhy becoming a stronger, happier version of yourself can be really confronting for the people around youWhat her kids have learned from watching her rebuild her lifeWhy the goal after big change isn't to be happy all the time - it's to be OK with being sad You can follow Helen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmehelenthorn/ You can follow the Scummy Mummies: https://www.instagram.com/scummymummies/ And you can pre-order Helen's book How to Face Big Change and Come Back Stronger : https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Face-Big-Change-Stronger/dp/1785045180 If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's 10 Minute Confidence Boost guests are Olivia and Tanyka Davson - sisters, founders of Cubbi, and the women who walked into the Dragon's Den (while one was nine months pregnant) and came out with a £50,000 investment. They built their business - a discount platform for new parents - while Olivia was on maternity leave, and since appearing on Dragon's Den the response from parents has been overwhelming. They talk to me about what confidence really means when the stakes are high, how leaning on each other got them through the Den, and why becoming a mum was the thing that finally made Olivia start backing herself. Tanyka also shares the simple "why not me?" mindset shift she uses when self-doubt creeps in, and why Olivia's trick involves silly videos of her sons. Follow Cubbi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cubbi.uk And check out their website: https://www.cubbi.uk If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest is Michelle Griffith Robinson - Olympic triple jumper, personal trainer, life coach and mum of three. Michelle competed at the highest level in athletics for two decades, representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the world stage - including at the Olympic Games. She talks to me about what happened when she went from being a sponsored, in-demand athlete to the phone suddenly going quiet - and how that identity shift mirrors what so many mums experience when they step back from their careers. Michelle is honest about the highs and the harder moments, including leaving an abusive relationship, navigating early motherhood while training for the Olympics, and reinventing herself as a PT and life coach. We also chat about: Why "brave doesn't have to be big" - and how small steps can be more powerful than grand gesturesThe Olympic mindset she's brought into parenting (including the family mantra "next minute")Why girls drop out of sport at 14 - and why keeping them in it matters more than winningHer perimenopause journey, including how hormone changes led to an unexpected pre-diabetes diagnosisWhat she'd say to any mum feeling lost, invisible or stuck in a rut You can follow Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellegrifithrobinson_oly If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s 10 Minute Confidence Boost guest is Nicky Denson-Elliott - podcaster, writer and founder of The Wilder Collective, a community supporting female founders. Nicky first came on the main podcast show last year, and she’s back for a 10 Minute Confidence Boost because she’s in the middle of a year-long deep dive into all things confidence. Her 12-month experiment, The Confidence Project, explores what confidence really is - and what it absolutely isn’t. In this episode, we talk about why confidence isn’t a personality type, why competence and confidence aren’t the same thing, and how hormones, cycles and context play a far bigger role than we’re often willing to admit. Nicky shares why fluctuating confidence doesn’t mean you’re failing, how to “optimise” yourself on the days you need to show up, and why sometimes the most confident thing you can do is give yourself a break. Follow Nicky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickydensonelliott/ Check out The Wilder Collective: https://thewildercollective.co.uk/ If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is Dr Anna Colton, clinical psychologist and author of How to Talk to Children About Food. Anna has spent more than 20 years working with young people and families in eating disorder services, from outpatient settings to inpatient units supporting the most severe cases. In her book, she unpicks how the way we speak about food, dieting and bodies - often without even realising - shapes our children’s relationship with eating and with themselves. We talk about the anxiety many of us carry around what our children eat, the pressure parents feel in the face of childhood obesity headlines, and why Anna believes we should be far more focused on protecting our children’s relationship with food than policing it. We also discuss the rise of GLP-1 weight loss jabs and what their growing normalisation means for teenagers who are forming their own body image. Anna shares her concerns about the current lack of regulation, the seductive messaging around rapid weight loss, and how parents can approach the topic at home. Anna and I also chat about: What a genuinely healthy family relationship with food looks likeThe “division of responsibility” and how to apply it without mealtimes becoming a battlefieldWhy food neutral language matters (and what to say when schools send home “healthy vs unhealthy” worksheets)How to respond when your teenager says they hate their body or want to go on a dietThe impact of parents modelling dieting - including GLP-1 useSocial media, “Skinny Tok” and building resilience in teenagersWhy eating disorders - not occasional McDonald’s - are the real fear You can find Dr Anna Colton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drannacolton Her book How to Talk to Children About Food is available now from all major booksellers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Talk-Children-About-Food/dp/1785120557 If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on this bite-sized confidence episode is Keira O'Mara. Keira is a mum-of-three who runs Scott-Samuel, a fashion brand selling gorgeous accessories and bags. She had the confidence to pivot from running a very successful mum and baby brand to entering the fashion space when her business struggled during lockdown. Keira opens up about the moments her confidence wobbles and what she does to tackle that. Follow Keira on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keira_scottsamuel/ Check out Scott-Samuel: https://scott-samuel.co.uk/ If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is Lou Beckett, author of the Sunday Times bestselling book Lessons From A Default Parent. Fans of the Parenting Hell podcast will be very familiar with Lou, thanks to husband Rob Beckett mentioning her lots, but this time Lou is firmly in the spotlight in her own right. In her debut book, Lou explores the reality of being the “default parent” - the one who carries the invisible admin, the mental load, and the assumption of responsibility that very often falls to mums. We talk about what the term default parent actually means, why it happens (even in relationships with “one of the good ones”), and how easily it can chip away at your identity. Lou shares her experience of early motherhood, being at home with Rob's life seemingly carried on as usual, the mild resentment and sheer exhaustion that led to an argument in The Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley. We also chat about: Why the “I love my kids but…” caveat existsWhether maternity and paternity leave policies contribute to the imbalanceWhy modern parenting feels heavier than it used toAnd how to stop being the sole keeper of all the information in your house Lou’s book Lessons From A Default Parent is out now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lessons-Default-Parent-Surviving-Without/dp/024176291X You can read Lou’s blog here: https://louembeckett.co.uk And follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lou_em/ If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss future episodes. Thank you!   Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.   Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor Bowmer Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.