The Scummy Mummies Podcast Ellie Gibson and Helen Thorn

What's the best thing to say to someone who's in mourning? Is the second year of grief really the hardest? And who was the lead singer of Westlife? Helping us answer all these questions is the amazing Stacey Heale! 
She tells us what it was like to lose her husband, Greg, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer on their daughter's first birthday. Stacey explains what life is like now, nearly three years after his death. We discuss Widow's Fire - the phenomenon of bereaved people who turn to sex for comfort. Plus, the best and worst ways to help someone you love through the grieving process. 
It all sounds a bit dark, doesn't it? But honestly, we have loads of laughs along the way. We also take a deep dive into the live advice of Ireland's greatest philosopher-king, Ronan Keating, and discover Helen knows nothing about boy bands. We finish with some Scummy Mummy Confessions involving wee and a close encounter with a member of Bros. 
Stacey's brilliant book, Now is Not the Time for Flowers, is out now. Follow her on insta @stacey_heale.
*WE ARE ON TOUR!* We have one more show this summer, in Sevenoaks on 19 July. Then in the autumn we're coming to Barnard Castle, Darlington, Sturminster Newton, Portsmouth, Guildford, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee, Hertford, Canterbury, Blackburn, Tenbury Wells, Newport, Norwich, East Grinstead, Harrogate, Newcastle... And then it's our Christmas tour! Go to scummymummies.com for dates and tickets.
 
*WE HAVE A SHOP!* Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  
 
We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.
 
Thank you for listening! 

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This special bonus episode was recorded on Saturday 6 July, just two days after the general election. We got to interview Jess Phillips MP in front of a live audience at the Birmingham MAC, and she was brilliant. 
We covered loads of topics including Jess's work in the areas of women's rights and domestic violence, what she wants the new Labour government to prioritise, and what she thinks of Starmer's cabinet appointments. We also talk about the abuse suffered by Jess and her staff in the run-up to the election, and why she thinks it was the worst campaign she's ever been involved in. 
Plus: fancying Stanley Tucci, why becoming an MP is like joining the NCT, and parliamentary hairdressers - do Tories have better hair? 
After all that we had some questions from the audience that were so brilliant we ran out of time (forgot) to do the Scummy Mummy Confessions. But if that's your favourite bit of the show, have no fear - we have something special coming soon. Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you don't miss out. 
Huge thanks to Jess Phillips, and a massive thank you to the Birmingham MAC for having us. If you're round that way do check out their Motherhood Season - there are loads of amazing talks, exhibitions, workshops and more running right through September. 
*WE ARE ON TOUR!* We have one more show this summer, in Sevenoaks on 19 July. Then in the autumn we're coming to Barnard Castle, Darlington, Sturminster Newton, Portsmouth, Guildford, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee, Hertford, Canterbury, Blackburn, Tenbury Wells, Newport, Norwich, East Grinstead, Harrogate, Newcastle... And then it's our Christmas tour! Go to scummymummies.com for dates and tickets.
 
*WE HAVE A SHOP!* Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  
 
We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.
 
Thank you for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest for this episode is best-selling author, dear friend and Saturday Kitchen wine expert Helen McGinn! 
She tells us what wine we should be looking for in the shops this summer. We discuss whether Whispering Angel is worth the money, and McGinn gives us some suggestions for budget rosés, cheap fizz, picnic wines, and what to stick in the fridge if you fancy a nice chilled red. We find out what goes on behind the scenes at Saturday Kitchen, who McGinn's favourite celeb guests have been, and which one she got told off for staring at.
There's also some book chat as McGinn tells us how she's managed to write four bestsellers and counting. She explains how her creative process has changed, and reveals the biggest lesson she's learned about writing fiction. We round off with some Scummy Mummy Confessions involving a hamster, lying to children, and al fresco rumpy pumpy.
This episode was recorded at the Park Lane Hilton - huge thanks to them for having us.
Here are McGinn's wine recommendations.
Majestic Agapi rosé
M&S Asti Secco
Sainsbury's rosé cava
Waitrose Susumaniello
McGinn's brilliant new book, Island of Dreams, is out now. Do check out the Knackered Mother's Wine Club, Homemade Cocktails and Helen's other novels, too. 
Thanks for listening!

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How do you get a book deal? Is Michael Buble's music for life, or just for Christmas? What's it like to watch your husband simulate anal sex with one of Britain's leading actors? Answering all these questions is the brilliant Beth Morrey! 
She tells us how her first novel ended up in a bidding war after facing loads of rejections, and how her writing process works now. We hear her top tip for avoiding procrastination, and learn why she doesn't read her own reviews. 
Then yes, it's a bit early, but we discuss Ellie and Beth's shared love of all things Christmas. Are they insane, or just organised? You decide! (NB There is a bit of Santa chat here, so maybe skip ahead if there are little ones around...)
Beth talks about the hilarious back to school photos she does every year with her husband, Magic Radio's Tom Price. We brainstorm some new ideas for her. And if you remember Tom's Billie Piper story from previous episodes, get ready to enjoy a whole new layer of hilarity. 
We end with Scummy Mummy Confessions - you may never eat cherries again. 
Beth's fantastic new book, Lucky Day, is out now. Find her on Insta and X @bethmorrey.
*WE ARE ON TOUR!* Come and see our live comedy show in Exeter, Redruth, Newbury, Watford, Sevenoaks... Big Scottish tour in October... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.
 
*WE HAVE A SHOP!* Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  
 
We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.
 
Thank you for listening! 

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Our guest for this episode is the amazing Caro Tasker. We cover a huge range of topics, including baby loss, raising autistic kids, and how trauma can help you discover who you are. 
There's also some much less serious nonsense. Why doesn't anyone use the word git any more? Is being married to a famous rugby player like being in Footballers Wives, only with different shaped balls? What was it like to be a guest at Harry and Meghan's wedding, and what's the one sentence George Clooney said to Caro? 
Ellie and Caro are co-hosting the new Borne Podcast, so we chat about that, and the amazing research the charity is doing into preventing premature birth. We sing the praises of Professor Mark Johnson and his Justice League of Fannies (not his terminology.) Caro discusses the amazing gift the prof gave her, and Ellie talks about the weight he took off her shoulders. 
You can follow Caro on Insta @spikey, and find The Borne Podcast wherever you found this one. 
This episode is dedicated to Freddie, with love. 
*WE ARE ON TOUR!* Come and see our live comedy show in Liverpool, Nottingham, Exeter, Redruth, Newbury, Watford, York, Sevenoaks... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.
 
*WE HAVE A SHOP!* Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  
 
We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.
 
Thank you for listening! 

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It's a transatlantic party in this episode as we meet KK and Kerry, the world's second best female comedy double act! We hear about their fab show, Six Chick Flicks, and they tell us the best meet cute stories they've heard from audience members. 
We discuss how they're enjoying their UK tour, including what they think of Scunthorpe and why they love M&S. Kerry tells us about the time she auditioned to be a theme park princess, and Ellie reveals the reason she got turned down for a job at the Disney Store. 
There's a bit of political chat - we touch on Trump, Sunak, and the terrifying recent changes to US abortion law. Then it's business as usual as we round up with some incredibly low brow confessions involving broken toilets and peeing yourself on stage. 
Six Chick Flicks - aka A Legally Blonde Pretty Woman Dirty Danced on the Beaches while writing a Notebook on the Titanic - is going all around the UK right now! Grab your tickets from sixchickflicks.com.
*WE ARE ON TOUR TOO!* Come and see our live comedy show in Mansfield, Leicester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Exeter, Redruth, Newbury, Watford, York, Sevenoaks... And new dates are being added all the time! Keep an eye on scummymummies.com for announcements and tickets.
 
*WE HAVE A SHOP!* Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, washbags, sweatshirts and beach towels. FREE UK DELIVERY!  
 
We're on Twitter (@scummymummies), Instagram, and Facebook. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.
 
Thank you for listening! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.