Dear Mum

Charlie Barker
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Dear Mum is the funny, honest, zero-judgement podcast that feels like the mums’ group chat that’s always open - for 3am feeds, school runs, and everything in between. Hosted by Charlie Barker (mum of three, business owner), it’s real chats, stories you couldn’t make up, deep-breath moments, and practical little wins - from newborn nights to exam weeks, nap traps to parenting with your partner. Not perfect... just your go-to mum chat - in your ears and on your screen. https://linktr.ee/dearmumpodcast

  1. Dear Mum, it's Anna Mathur: Mum overwhelm, burnout and why snapping at your kids is NOT your fault

    22 HRS AGO

    Dear Mum, it's Anna Mathur: Mum overwhelm, burnout and why snapping at your kids is NOT your fault

    We’re at the end of Series 1 of Dear Mum - and I feel like I should be the one writing a post-it note for myself, because this series has genuinely changed how I think about motherhood, and this final conversation is the perfect way to close it out. Anna Mathur is a psychotherapist, author, and a refreshingly honest mum of three. You might know her from her books, her incredibly honest Instagram, or from the way she has this gift of making you feel like someone finally gets it. We'd been talking about doing this episode for months and I'm so glad we waited, because it felt like the perfect conversation to end on. We talk about overwhelm; what it actually is, why it's so physical, and why the Hot Wheels car on the radiator can genuinely feel like a threat to your nervous system. We get into burnout, the real kind, and Anna shares her own experience of grinding to a complete halt after the pandemic and what it took to rebuild. We talk about the Mary Poppins to Hulk Continuum (yes, really), why snapping at your kids is a symptom not a character flaw, and how to repair things when it goes wrong - without the but. We also talk about capacity. How we pour everything into everyone else and run on empty, and why doing something for yourself isn't selfish - it's active love for your children. This episode felt like a big exhale. I hope it does for you too. — If you've been listening to series one, thank you. Truly! I'd love to know what you've loved, what you want more of, and who you'd like to hear from in series two. Comment on whatever platform you’re watching, or drop me a message on Instagram. And also consider leaving a review; it means the world and helps more mums find the show. ❤️ New episodes every Thursday - hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss one ✨ Follow Anna Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/annamathur/Website (including her books!) - https://www.annamathur.com/start-here/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnQA0UUOeMzMNFXm920VIS0VKC2KB1efhRCa4tG1VPkgH54KTSJQvLvUVtPMg_aem_pLy0UqoLghR4rK-c2PWYHg Follow me (Charlie!) Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/charlielaunderAnd get to know my business, Bumps & Burpees - https://www.instagram.com/bumpsandburpees and http://www.bumpsandburpees.com Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW

    59 min
  2. Dear Mum, it's Maisie Crompton: Surprise pregnancies, sold-out bag launches and 5pm bedtimes!!

    9 APR

    Dear Mum, it's Maisie Crompton: Surprise pregnancies, sold-out bag launches and 5pm bedtimes!!

    This week's guest is proof that there is no perfect time, no perfect age, and no perfect plan... and that things can still turn out better than you ever could have imagined. Maisie Crompton is the founder of Totes For Youu, content creator, and mum to the most fiery, loving three-year-old, Elsie. We'd never met in person before this, but it felt like catching up with an old friend - which I think says everything about the kind of person Maisie is. We talk about what it was actually like finding out she was pregnant at 19, telling her boyfriend by text at 11pm, and how both sets of parents showed up in the most beautiful way. We get into running a business through pregnancy, growing a following by just bringing people along for the ride, and how she and her partner Charlie now work together full time — with very clear lanes. We also get into the parenting stuff — early bedtimes that changed everything, the comparison trap on social media, birth order (we go deep on this one), and why showing up fully in one place at a time is the goal, even if it's easier said than done. Plus Maisie's take on travelling with a baby, Australia at five months, and why she will stand by that decision forever. Pop this on for the school run, while you're packing orders, folding laundry, or any time you need someone to remind you that you're doing better than you think. 💕 New episodes every Thursday - hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss one ✨ Follow MaisieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/maisie_crompton/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maisie_crompton Check our her business Totes For YouuWebsite: https://wearetfy.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totesforyouu/?hl=en Follow me (Charlie!)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlielaunder And get to know my business, Bumps & BurpeesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumpsandburpeesWebsite: http://www.bumpsandburpees.com Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW

    50 min

  3. 2 APR

    Dear Mum, it's Neema Sempebwa: Perimenopause, motherhood and advocating for yourself

    Nobody warned us about perimenopause. Not really. We heard about menopause - hot flushes, older women, “something to worry about later”… But perimenopause? The feeling that you are fundamentally breaking apart, that the person showing up for your kids every day isn't really you anymore… and all of it arriving while you're also knee deep in the baby years?! It's a whole other world. This week I'm joined by my friend of many years, Neema Sempebwa — personal trainer, mum of two, and someone I used to work alongside doing towel duty at a gym in Chelsea about 12 years ago. By 43, Neema knew something wasn't right. What followed was a battle to be taken seriously, two dismissals, a misdiagnosis, and the offer of antidepressants before anyone would even say the word perimenopause. We talk about what perimenopause actually is, why it can start up to 10 years before menopause, why South Asian and Black women are often affected earlier, and what's actually helping Neema now — from HRT to movement, morning routines, and handpan music (trust me on this one). This is a conversation every mum needs to hear - whether you're in the thick of the baby years or starting to wonder if something feels a bit off. ❤️ New episodes every Thursday - hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss one ✨ Follow NeemaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/neemasempebwa/ Follow me (Charlie!)Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/charlielaunder And get to know my business, Bumps & Burpees - https://www.instagram.com/bumpsandburpees and http://www.bumpsandburpees.com Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW

    42 min
  4. Dear Mum, it's Clare Bourne: Honest truths about pelvic floor, diastasis and getting back to exercise

    26 MAR

    Dear Mum, it's Clare Bourne: Honest truths about pelvic floor, diastasis and getting back to exercise

    Pelvic floor… It comes up at every antenatal class, every postnatal check, every mum WhatsApp group. And most of us are still just crossing our legs and hoping nobody brings it up!! This week, I'm joined by Clare Bourne - pelvic health physiotherapist, author of Strong Foundations, mum of two (soon to be three!), and one of my oldest friends. We met nine years ago when I was training her, and now she's the one educating me. So we sat down for what was genuinely one of the most useful conversations I've had on this podcast. We talk pelvic floor - properly. Not the scary version, not the "just do your Kegels" version, but the honest, empowering, myth-busting version. Clare breaks down what's actually happening to your body in pregnancy and postpartum, why fear is the number one thing she sees in her clinic, and why common doesn't mean normal — and it doesn't mean permanent either We also get into diastasis recti — what it actually is, why you absolutely cannot prevent it, and why loading your core is often the answer, not the enemy. Pop this on for the school run, while you're doing those squeezes you keep forgetting about, or any time you need someone to tell you that your body is not broken - it just needs a bit of attention. New episodes every Thursday - hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss one ✨ Follow Clare Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/clarebournephysio Website - https://www.clare-bourne.com/ Follow me (Charlie!) Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/charlielaunder And get to know my business, Bumps & Burpees - https://www.instagram.com/bumpsandburpees and http://www.bumpsandburpees.com Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️ Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW

    48 min
  5. Dear Mum, it's Courtney-Mae Briggs: Losing yourself after baby - and rediscovering her spark (and style!)

    19 MAR

    Dear Mum, it's Courtney-Mae Briggs: Losing yourself after baby - and rediscovering her spark (and style!)

    To the mum who's standing in front of a wardrobe full of clothes that don't quite fit the same way anymore, wondering where she went - this one's for you. This week I'm joined by Courtney-Mae Briggs; actress, voiceover artist, fashion content creator, and mum to the most stylish almost-two-year-old, Minnie. You might know her from the West End, from Wicked the film (yes, that Wicked), or from her absolutely brilliant outfits on Instagram. We last saw each other on the floor at baby music class - now we're in chairs, no children.?! What a strange luxury. In this episode, we talk about what it's really like to build a career around your body and your identity… and then to have a baby and not recognise either. Courtney is so honest about the postpartum body image stuff, not the weight, but the shape. The hips, the ribs, the shoulders, the fact that nothing hangs quite the same way. And how she found her way back to herself, one outfit at a time. We also get into breastfeeding, leaving Minnie for the first time at ten weeks for a hen do in the South of France, hosting dinner parties with a baby asleep upstairs, and why she refuses to feel guilty about doing things for herself - and thinks you shouldn't either! Plus the wardrobe clear-out that changed everything, dressing Minnie exclusively in the boys section, and a very exciting NDA-ed TV project coming later this year. Pop this on for the school run, while you're scrolling and feeling like you've lost your style a bit, or while you're running that bath you keep putting off. Do something small for yourself today. And don't feel guilty about it ❤️ New episodes every Thursday - hit SUBSCRIBE or FOLLOW so you don't miss one ✨ Follow Courtney-Mae Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/courtneymae_briggs/ Follow me (Charlie!) Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/charlielaunder And get to know my business, Bumps & Burpees - https://www.instagram.com/bumpsandburpees and http://www.bumpsandburpees.com Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️ Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW

    42 min
  6. Dear Mum, it's George: My husband gets honest about pregnancy loss, parenting and whether we're having a fourth

    12 MAR

    Dear Mum, it's George: My husband gets honest about pregnancy loss, parenting and whether we're having a fourth

    Dear Mum, meet George. Our very first DAD on the podcast… who also happens to be a very special “Dad” in my life - because he’s my husband and the father to our three. This episode is proper, unfiltered, and surprisingly emotional - because George and I sit down (possibly for the longest uninterrupted conversation we've had in years?!) to talk through our whole journey into parenthood. From meeting at university and never really moving apart, to four miscarriages in our first year of trying, to navigating three children under five and everything in between. We get into the one-to-two transition (spoiler: it broke us a little), the unspoken household systems that keep the chaos manageable, the favourite parent problem that nobody warns you about, and whether (hand on heart!!) we're actually done at three. Oh, and we possibly risk it all(?!) with a couples quiz… Pop this on for the school run, folding that mountain of laundry, or whenever you get a moment to sit in parenthood that feels as honest as it can. New episodes every Thursday - hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss one ✨ Follow me (Charlie!)Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/charlielaunder And get to know my business, Bumps & Burpees - https://www.instagram.com/bumpsandburpees and http://www.bumpsandburpees.com Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW

    53 min
  7. Dear Mum, it’s Dr Lils: Nursery bugs to kissing newborns - Advice from a Paediatrician you NEED to hear

    5 MAR

    Dear Mum, it’s Dr Lils: Nursery bugs to kissing newborns - Advice from a Paediatrician you NEED to hear

    Trigger warning & Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of infant infections, hospitalisation, and childhood illness anxiety. This episode is for general information and support only, not personalised medical advice. If you’re worried about your child, trust your instincts and speak to your GP, NHS 111, or seek urgent care if needed. ** To the parents who are permanently wiping noses, side-eyeing a thermometer, and wondering if you’re overreacting (or not reacting enough) - welcome back to Dear Mum… This one is a proper deep exhale. This week I’m joined by Dr Lils (Dr Lillie Parker) - paediatrician, mum-to-be (literally due any minute at the time of recording), and the calm voice so many parents trust when it’s 2am and you’re googling symptoms with one eye open. We cover the stuff that comes up constantly in family life: the difference between viral and bacterial infections (and why you’re often told to “wait it out”), what’s normal when your child is catching every nursery bug going, and what you can realistically do to support their immune system without falling for magic-supplement promises. We also talk fevers (and why the most important thing isn’t the number on the thermometer). Plus, we get into the question that brings up so much awkwardness for new parents: kissing newborns - why the first 12 weeks are different, how to hold boundaries without feeling “neurotic”, and what the real risks actually are. Pop this on for the school run, a nap-trap, or while you’re cleaning the kitchen like someone’s about to inspect it (because one child has vomited and now you’re in germ lockdown mode). I truly hope it helps you feel more confident making decisions when your child is ill ❤️‍🩹 New episodes every Thursday - hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss one ✨ Follow Dr LilsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/doctor.lils/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p/Doctor-Lils-61566126069934/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.lillie.parker Follow me (Charlie!)Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/charlielaunder And get to know my business, Bumps & Burpees - https://www.instagram.com/bumpsandburpeeswww.bumpsandburpees.com Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW

    50 min
  8. Dear Mum, it’s Milly Griffin: ‘Remove what’s removable’… the GP advice that changed everything

    26 FEB

    Dear Mum, it’s Milly Griffin: ‘Remove what’s removable’… the GP advice that changed everything

    Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of maternal mental health, burnout, anxiety, depression and postnatal depression, including seeking support from a GP. To the mums who feel like they’re “fine” right up until they’re suddenly… not - this one’s for you. This week I’m joined by one of my closest friends, who I met through motherhood, and is one of the most honest people I know (even when it’s messy)… Milly Griffin. This is the kind of conversation that feels like a voice note from the friend who won’t sugarcoat it, but will make you feel less alone. Milly takes us right into the moment she realised something had shifted. Not a dramatic breakdown - more like a slow build of pressure, tears that wouldn’t stop, and a body that started waving a massive red flag. We talk about what it’s like to carry the mental load for so long that “overwhelmed” feels normal… and how hard it can be to admit you need help when you’re used to being the one who gets on with it. We also get practical. What helped in the thick of it; from the GP appointment that changed everything, to the decision to take sick leave (and the fear of telling work), to the small everyday resets that brought her back to herself. It’s honest, it’s funny in parts (because what else can you do), and it’s full of that deep exhale feeling of hearing someone say: me too. I really hope that if you need it right now, this helps you feel seen. And if you’re in need of a little extra support, we’ve listed some online resources below: ​Mental Health UK - https://mentalhealth-uk.org/burnout/​Mental Health Foundation - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/articles/burnout-signs-causes-and-ways-recoverNew episodes every Thursday - hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss one ✨ Follow me (Charlie!) IG - https://www.instagram.com/charlielaunder And get to know my business, Bumps & Burpees - https://www.instagram.com/bumpsandburpees www.bumpsandburpees.com Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️ Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW

    51 min
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About

Dear Mum is the funny, honest, zero-judgement podcast that feels like the mums’ group chat that’s always open - for 3am feeds, school runs, and everything in between. Hosted by Charlie Barker (mum of three, business owner), it’s real chats, stories you couldn’t make up, deep-breath moments, and practical little wins - from newborn nights to exam weeks, nap traps to parenting with your partner. Not perfect... just your go-to mum chat - in your ears and on your screen. https://linktr.ee/dearmumpodcast

Information

  • Creator
    Charlie Barker
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Charlie Barker
  • Show Website
    Dear Mum

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