Deciding to start a family is an exciting time for many, but the reality of seeing a positive pregnancy test can send many women into a spiral of sleepless nights way before a baby arrives to do that for them. But this podcast isn’t about the practicalities of sleep or feeding, it’s not about birth or your changing body, this is all about YOU as a woman with a mind all of your own.
From identity to parental leave, to the inequality of the sacrifices men and women are still expected to make, each episode of Baby On The Brain tackles one of the conundrums that keeps many mums-to-be awake at night when they find out their life is about to change.In this thought-provoking but light-hearted new podcast, Stylist’s Fliss Thistlethwaite - a mum-to-be grappling with her own questions - meets other pregnant women to chat about their concerns; finding experts and mothers who have answers to their middle-of-the-night worries.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Are you and your partner feeling less like lovers and more like logistics managers for a tiny, demanding boss? Welcome to Roommate Syndrome – the ultimate parenting rite of passage.
This week on Baby on the Brain, hosts Fliss and Miranda sit down with relationship and sex therapist Georgina Vass (15+ years experience) to break down what actually happens to our romantic dynamics after having children—and, most importantly, how to get the spark back.
Together, they dive deep into:
What "Roommate Syndrome" really is: Why it’s not a clinical diagnosis or a sign of falling out of love, but a natural (and temporary!) chapter.
Red flags vs. temporary slumps: How to tell if your relationship is going through a developmental "leap" or if you're sliding into deeper trouble.
The truth about scheduled sex: Why taking performance pressure off the table can actually save your sex life.
Why absence makes the heart grow fonder: The surprising downside of shared calendars, location tracking, and 24/7 texting.
Small wins & simple shifts: One immediate action you can take tonight to reconnect with your partner without taking a hot-air balloon to Paris!
Whether you’re stuck in the middle of bed-sharing logistics, drowning in task management, or just missing your partner's eye contact, this warm, honest, and funny episode is the realistic reality-check every parent needs.
Show notes and timestamps:
00:55 — What is Roommate Syndrome?
03:33 — Warning signs vs. temporary parenting chapters
06:36 — Tackling cognitive load imbalances and desire gaps
08:52 — Is scheduled sex actually effective?
11:17 — Competing with screens and household admin
17:55 — Why closeness can kill desire (and why you need "separateness")
23:30 — The single easiest thing you can do tonight to shift the dynamic
24:35 — This or That: Shared calendars vs. separate responsibilities
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Sept 2026
"Take the pressure off": Why it’s time to rewrite the rules of postpartum fitness
Balancing fitness with the relentless demands of parenting often feels like an impossible task. Between juggling childcare logistics, full-time work and constant sleep deprivation, carving out time for personal wellness is usually the first thing to fall off the to-do list.
In this episode of Baby On The Brain, hosts Felicity Thistlethwaite and Miranda Larbi are joined by Shakira Akabusi – founder of Strong Like Mum, fitness expert, and mother of four – for an unfiltered, relatable dive into post-baby fitness. Together, they unpack why movement so often feels like a chore, dismantle the pressure of wellness tracking and high-intensity burnout and share how to rebuild a sustainable relationship with exercise.
From navigating different stages of motherhood to the power of micro-habits like ten-minute walking breaks and simple morning routines, this conversation offers a refreshing roadmap for taking the guilt out of movement. Tune in for practical advice, honest laughs, and a compassionate reminder that exercise should leave you feeling energised, not exhausted.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
23 Sept 2026
“I didn’t want to carry on”: the reality of severe postnatal depression
Content note: discussion of severe depression and suicidal thoughts
In this episode of Baby On The Brain, host Stylist's Felicity Thistlethwaite and guest Alice Holland-Lu dive deep into the raw reality of early motherhood, maternal mental health and identity shifts.
Alice shares her personal journey through severe postnatal depression after giving birth during the 2021 lockdown – a period marked by isolation, a complex birth and a baby suffering from undiagnosed allergies. She speaks candidly about trying to "power through" before getting life-changing support from the NHS perinatal mental health team.
The conversation explores how women can feel blindsided by parenthood, the emotional toll of carrying an invisible workload and how Alice channeled her recovery into creating The Female Archetypes – an ethical London fashion brand designed to honour women’s changing bodies. Packed with honesty, comfort and practical wisdom, this episode is a reassuring reminder to take the pressure off and be kind to yourself.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 17 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
21
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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