Archives: Podcast

TRUTH with Jenna Kutcher

I’m joined by Jenna Kutcher author, host of Goal Digger marketing podcast, mum of 2 and insta influencer with something like a million+ followers. This episode called TRUTH delves deeps into Jenna’s book called, “How are you REALLY?” and I ask her quite a few pressing questions. These include when we talk privilege as she recounts in her book how everything she’s ever wanted she’s asked for, which I wanted to know more about as it seems just that bit too, let’s say, simple. And there’s a whole big question about being safe leaders by partnering with people who aren’t harmful to women. That’s such a massive responsibility. I wanted to hear her take on this. The episode is a meaty convo with lots of connecting flavour, which means it’s juicy. Let me know what you think on hello@schoolformothers.com.

“I love School for Mothers, it’s an injection of badass” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more mothers — just like you — move toward the badass life and business that they desire Click here‎, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not subscribed, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Subscribe now!

SFM host Danusia Malina-Derben takes on the role of guest on the “What’s the worst that could happen?” podcast. Hosted by multi-award winning business lawyer Suzanne Dibble, Danusia chats to her about the worst-case legal scenarios that have, and unfortunately did, rear their ugly head, and importantly how she dealt with them – this is all covered in a fun and light-hearted way, but with serious undertone. Danusia reveals what happened when IP for a mega media project was taken and in a separate corporate project when as advisor to a CEO, her client died unexpectedly. Both instances are not run of the mill and involved potential loss of substantial revenue. Listen in to hear what happened!  

“I love School for Mothers Podcast, it’s an injection of badass”

#167 MODERNISING FATHERHOOD

SFM host Danusia Malina-Derben takes on the role of guest on the “Father Daughter Dance” podcast hosted by Tim Taylor. Together we discuss the path forward to take on the challenges of being the best Dad possible. We talk about how a reframing of fathers roles and responsibilities is something that’s widely desired by many men but only slowly being enacted. Of course we talk about how women can, and must help and ways that we hurt efforts to ‘get there’. Lastly, we also touch on my relationship with my father and how it evolved particularly towards the end of his life.

“I love School for Mothers, it’s an injection of badass”

ALCOHOL FREE LIFE

SFM host Danusia Malina-Derben takes on the role of guest on a brilliant podcast about sober life, One for the Road, hosted by Grey area drinking coach, Dave Wilson. You can find him on insta @soberdave and while you’re there follow us on @school.for.mothers.podcast.

“I love School for Mothers, it’s an injection of badass”

 

FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL: How to Be a Happier Dad

Interview time with a difference as I’m the one answering all the questions. Suzy Walker from  Metro.co.uk asked me how men can reject toxic masculinity and become happier dads. So I told her! It was a big Father’s Day celebration with a splash of tough love taken from my book SPUNK: A Manifesto Modernising Fatherhood. See what you think and let me know!

SPUNK – My New Fatherhood Book

Celebration time in today’s episode. I’ve written a book due out at the end of the month all about fathers, and fatherhood identity. This is so exciting to share especially as it involved research with 1500+ men, and is my second book in a year! SPUNK, which is also the title of my new book, is me sharing why I chose this title (sidenote for all the “mansplainers”, I really do understand what the word means), what the meaning of this word originally was and how it relates to modern fatherhood right now. In reading the introduction to you, I hope I whet your appetite for more because the research findings are fascinating. A perfect gift for Father’s Day and anytime you want to check out why fathers behave as they do, this is how one reviewer described SPUNK, “This book makes me want to be a better father. Even better it shows me how”. Can’t say fairer than that, right?!

FIERCE – Building Your Impactful Career

FIERCELY serving others – that’s what my guest this week is all about. In this episode I’m joined by Vanessa Vallely OBE, Managing Director of WeAreTheCity and *so* much more. I explore with Vanessa 1) why serving others is where it’s at 2) keeping up our resilience 3) about “questionable” choices and 4) important questions to ask.

#164

GRIEF – Being a Mother Without a Mum

My guest for this special episode is freelance journalist and speaker, Georgina Fuller. She’s been a journalist for over 15 years and has written for everyone from Take a Break to Tatler.  In this episode I discuss with Georgina what not having a mother means when you’re a mother yourself, the things most missed and dealing with grief.

BOND – The Power + Influence Of The Mother-Daughter Relationship

What does the BOND between a mother and daughter mean when they’re *both* adults? I’m joined by Harriet Malina-Derben, my right-hand-woman in life and eldest daughter, for a candid conversation exploring the importance of that bond. Harriet shares why she’s keen to keep the matriarchal line strong and how she sees her role of adult daughter. We talk Shrill (no spoilers, promise), angsty teen years and hormones.

CHANGE – Menopause Unplugged

It’s like puberty for the middle aged and yet ~until recently nobody was talking about it. This week we delve into the issues surrounding this once taboo topic, with my guest Meg Mathews. As Founder of Megs Menopause, Meg empowers women through honest and frank discussion of all things menopause. Meg believes that we can’t find harmony and resonance within ourselves without truly understanding what is happening in our bodies. I couldn’t agree more.

LIES – The Impossible Dream Of Having It All

Do you feel like you’ve been hearing the same conversations about working parents for years, yet not enough has changed? This week my guest, Christine Armstrong, shares how she’s on a mission to blow apart the LIES about working parents and instead dig into the truths of what actually works.

There’s a false narrative that if you just work harder everything will be fine, regardless of the struggles of balancing motherhood with a career. While you may feel you’re alone in these struggles, this is not the case. Yet having this conversation with other women can only take us so far. For real progress to be made we need to engage men and leadership as well. Christine discusses how we can achieve this, while also providing tips & strategies that will help you stay sane(ish) as a working parent.

GRAY – Letting Yourself Be You

Can GRAY be more powerful than we imagine? I’m joined by recovering television executive, author, and serial entrepreneur: Anne Kreamer to explore the power of gray (and other things too). From hair dye to empowerment; this episode covers a lot!

COME – On Choosing Sex Toys

There’s no room for taboos on this show. Join Sarah Forbes, sexual culturalist, and I as we explore the wonderful realm of SEX TOYS. From their humble beginnings centuries ago (really!), to the famous Rabbit and into the world of 21st century sextech – no stone is left unturned.

We discuss the benefits of sex toys in amping up your sex life alone & with a partner plus how to promote sex positivity within the home. As Sarah, former curator of NYC’s Museum of Sex, says “You have all kinds of accessories in your life. Why not have another that brings you pleasure?”

STRENGTH – Creating Success From It All

How do we not let past trauma define us? Join me, as Dr. Shoshana Garfield shares how to convert pain (anything uncomfortable and more) in our goosebump inducing, life-changing conversation. As she says we are each dealt a stack of cards and we play them – hers included being sold as a 4 year old to sadists to support her mother’s drug addiction. Hear how Shoshana played her cards, and thrives.

PLONK – Living A Sober Life

Is sobriety boring? I’m joined by Clare Pooley, author of The Sober Diaries, as we dive into the realities of getting sober. Clare was a secret drinker, but soon ‘wine o’clock’ started to get out of hand. Now she shares her experiences of beating addictions with others to help those in the same situation and make being sober less shameful.  Clare is upbeat and positive while remaining well researched and informative, our conversation is a real treat.

CORE – Why Being A Good Enough Mother IS Success

Well, isn’t this quite the topic! Dr Joanna Fortune is a Psychotherapist, Media Consultant, Podcast host and Author of the 15 Minute Parenting Series. In this episode we question exactly what being a good mother *even* means and how doing your “enough” is absolutely perfect.

LAID – Claiming Your Sexual Self

It’s safe to say this is a NSFW podcast! Grab a set of headphones and buckle up. This week I’m joined by Steph D, a commercial lawyer and sex-positive blogger known as The Wicked Jade. Steph blogs about sex, lingerie and kink; and how she gets her lady-boner on.

During the episode we cover how mothers are sexual beings (duh), ‘volume’ dating after 22 years of marriage, the under-representation of asian women in the body & sex positivity movement and SO much more.  It’s an episode filled with awesome self-acceptance, love and hot tips.

Steph is a successful lawyer and founder of her own boutique law firm. Her alter ego The Wicked Jade is an Instagram lingerie and style blogger. She uses her blog to openly discuss sex, kink, dating and how she subverts society’s expectations of her as a professional woman, an Asian woman and a mother. She is divorced and is mother to two young boys.

KIND – Finding Time to Nourish Yourself

This ep is all about being KIND to ourselves. Zoe Blaskey, founder of Motherkind joins me for a conversation all about wellness and nourishment. Recorded in 2021, a a full on year for everyone, but *especially* for parents juggling careers, care, homeschool and everything else. This episode explores the importance of finding time to nourish ourselves in and amongst the juggle and insights from our conversation ring true in any year!

HEART – On Sharing Home Chores (Fairly)

Sick and tired of being the one to think about *E – V – E – R – Y – T – H – I – N – G* at home – from birthday gifts, cleaning {or organising the cleaner}, planning life, + remembering to put the bins out—basically the whole shebang?

You’re not alone. Lockdown’s been a magnifying glass on all those niggling chores that nobody else picks up. If you could, would you renegotiate sharing these domestics and who thinks about them? The mundane repetitive stuff that has to be done by someone. But does it need to be you? Course not.

Join my guests and I, as we explore exactly how to divvy up the domestics fairly: Rebekah Bostan – Corporate Professional and Diversity Advocate + Joy Foster – Founder of Tech Pixies  + Evelini Quarrell – Podcast Host

GOD – When Faith + Business Work Together

TRIGGER WARNING – mention of Suicide

What keeps us going through dark times? I’m joined by Joy Foster to discuss her relationship with faith and GOD.  We all have faith, whether that’s in GOD, people, ourselves, or something completely different. We explore where this faith comes from and how it can guide us when everything seems hopeless. This is a topic which is surprisingly close to home for me as I had a deeply religious upbringing (and yes I was educated at a convent with nuns in wimples!).

Our conversation heads to some dark places as we discuss Joy’s father’s suicide and history of mental health issues in her family. Joy provides invaluable insight into how to get through profound personal tragedy. Unsurprisingly, this is a highly emotional conversation, so you might want to have tissues close at hand.

FROST – Xmas Peace After Separation + Divorce

Navigating Christmas with separation and divorce in the mix? Today’s episode with Nina Farr is all about making this season as drama-free as possible. Let’s face it, Christmas can be an intense time, adding a new family setup/grief/conflict (and whatever else) into the mix is tough. This ep is a thought provoking view from someone who equips couples with practical advice and tips to move forward positively over Christmas and beyond.

 MOTHERHOOD on Em Stroud’s Podcast

In this episode I’m a guest on Emma Stroud’s entertaining podcast called “Clowning Around”. Fast paced, funny and poignant – watch out for Emma’s sidekick clown who makes her appearance. This is an episode like no other.

LEAD: Blending Leadership, Kids + More – DANUSIA MALINA-DERBEN

In this episode I’m a guest on Nicky Patrick’s fabulous podcast called ‘It’s Somewhere in the Bottom of my Handbag”. What I love about this show is the way Nicky asks guests to speak about one topic – she hits record and off guests go. Here’s me talking about work life balance.

RISE
HELPING OUR GIRLS SUCCEED
JO WIMBLE GROVES

Together, we must and can advance in making sure girls rising in this world becomes a sustained reality. This is the heart of my conversation with tech entrepreneur, Jo Wimble-Groves who is also mum of 3, an author and passionate advocate for women and girls.

Her book Rise of the Girl engages with how to help our daughters fulfil their potential and achieve success in this challenging world. Our girls show us starkly that they are struggling and Jo and I talk about this toll on relationships, friendships, mental wellness, academic progress and more.

This is not an episode that follows the seven conversation starters Jo suggests in her book (though we touch on these topics including poor self-esteem, low self-worth and lack of self-belief). Buy the book for that friends. Instead, we ponder the plight of boys and young men as well as why, right now, Jo had to start with the rise of girls. This is a crucial conversation…

About my guest:

In 2016, Jo started her Guilty Mother blog about parenting, work-life balance, and how we instil resilience into our kids – it now has over 50K followers on social media. Jo has been named as one of Management Today’s “35 under 35” in The Sunday Times. In October 2021 Jo published her first book, Rise of the Girl from DK.

LIVING A WHUP-ASS LARGE LIFE
CHARLOTTE AVERY

I’m joined today by Charlotte Avery author, speaker, and entrepreneur who is fiercely committed to helping women go from overwhelmed to living a whup-ass life. As The Family Strategist™, she draws upon her experiences as the wife of one, mother of seven, and owner of no pets to give moms the tools they need to define for themselves what it means to have it all. Which is interesting because between Charlotte and I we’re mothers to 17 children – in this episode you’ll hear deep wisdom about how not to get lost in your kids from two women who (believe me) know! Trust me, if you’ve ever wondered how to be you and have kids this is an episode you won’t want to miss.,

About my guest:

Charlotte is a powerhouse

LONE

NORMALISING NON-TRADITIONAL

ROUTES TO PARENTHOOD

LIV THORNE

What happens when you get to 37 and you’re single, and being a mother is the only thing you’ve ever truly wanted? My special guest this week is Liv Thorne, director of a web agency, who made the increasingly popular and big decision to go it alone. She bought some sperm and off she went. Easy? Not at all. Liv charted her journey to motherhood in her amazing book, Liv’s Alone. We talk everything you’ve always wanted to know about getting pregnant without a partner, being professionally single, and how it’s panning out for her as a solo mama…

About my guest:

Liv Thorne is a director of a web agency, mum to her son Herb, butler to Elvis the 12-year-old scruffy terrier as well as running @livsalone. Liv is in her early forties, but if you mention that she may flick you. There is a saying that ‘everyone’ has a book in them’, she just didn’t realise hers would be about buying sperm, as she has just released her debut novel ‘Liv’s Alone – Amateur Adventures in Solo Motherhood’. Liv is not an expert in fertility, or solo parenthood (or anything!) just a girl who desperately wanted to become a Mum and so did what she could to make that happen despite being professionally single, and now wants other people in her position to feel less alone whilst trying to normalise non-traditional routes to parenthood.

SEEN

SHAPING THE CHILDREN OF TOMORROW

DESRIEE ASOMUYIDE

Today I bring you the story of one woman’s determination to make sure her son and children like him are represented in products around them. Surely not a lot to ask but Desriee Asomuyide found otherwise and like the BADASS that she is she got up and did something about it. In this episode you’ll hear why representation brands are on the rise (big YES) and why every school must equip themselves with products to mirror the diversity of all people.

About my guest:

Desriee Asomuyide discovered that the UK market for educational flashcards representing children of colour was non-existent. It was important that her one year old son Isaiah, and other children like him, see themselves represented through educational and developmental resources. Little Omo was born. This episode is for everyone, friends.

HAVING CHILDREN AND A WHOLE LIFE

ERICKA SOUTER

Leave behind the idea that you can’t be a mother and have a life – it would be great to say that it’s ridiculous in 2021 for this to even be a topic of conversation, but yes, my guest Ericka Sóuter and I really ARE talking about exactly this.

About my guest:

Ericka’s an author, journalist and parenting expert and a nationally recognised voice in parenting news and parenting advice. A regular contributor on Good Morning America and other national broadcast outlets, it’s her job to speak to parents across the country to stay on top of the issues, controversies, and trends most affecting families today.

Her work appears on the Bump, What to Expect, CafeMom, and Mom.com, all high-traffic parenting sites that reach millions of mums each month. Her writing has also been featured in People magazine, Us Weekly, Essence, Cosmopolitan, Self and WebMD. Expect strong opinions, real talk, and straightforward advice on how to be a mother AND have a life.

BROKE

MOTHERS ARE NOT BROKEN

ANNA CUSACK

Join me as I connect with Anna Cusack,  a Motherhood Revolutionist who is also an author, podcaster, blogger and speaker. Through evidence-based information and inspirational, actionable content Anna reaches thousands of women every yea about traditional postpartum care, breastfeeding support, sociology and exercise physiology to guide women through their transition to parenthood and early years of mothering. You can find her book “Mama, You’re Not Broken: Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood” online, and listen in on the “Motherhood Made Magic” podcast wherever you access shows

In our conversation we chew over how women are the default carers (and that this must change, and how)  – in fact we’re the default for pretty well most things?! Because although we’re bombarded with messages that tell us our mothering is broken,  Anna and I bust this b******t and rally cry the fantastic job mothers do, on the daily.  Listen in for your injection of recognition.

About my guest:

Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist. As an author, podcaster, blogger and speaker, Anna reaches thousands of women every year with evidence-based information and inspirational, actionable content. Anna combines her knowledge in areas such as traditional postpartum care, breastfeeding support, sociology and exercise physiology to guide women through their transition to parenthood and early years of mothering. Her services include postbirth planning, in-home and online postbirth support, and mentoring for mothers and the professionals who work with them. You can find her book “Mama, You’re Not Broken: Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood” online, listen in on the “Motherhood Made Magic” podcast, browse her work at www.annacusack.com.au, and connect on socials as @annacusackpostpartum.

SHINE
CELEBRATING MUSLIM WOMEN
IN BUSINESS
JENNIFER OGUNYEMI

My guest in this episode, Jennifer Ogunyemi, is a pro when it comes to showing up intentionally and radiating confidence. Jennifer is a business owner, author, business mentor, speaker, mother & wife. She’s the founder of Sisters in Business which aims to support women from all walks of life on their entrepreneurial journey.

Jennifer’s firm belief that female entrepreneurs can be crazy successful entrepreneurs without compromising our values and beliefs or our family and community roles shines through in everything she does including in our conversation. She’s passionate about representation, religious diversity and Inclusion.

About my guest:

Prior to founding Sisters In Business Jennifer built a 10 year career within the NHS working with diverse and vulnerable communities spanning from Maternity health, Project management, community development and GP management. She decided to step away and focus on what she care about the most – changing the narrative of the Muslim business woman. When she isn’t planning the next amazing networking event, you’ll often find her playing pranks with her kids, mentoring her business sisters, or busy brainstorming ways to bring more value to her community!