by AUK staff member

Are you feeling frazzled and in need of a bit of ‘me-time’? Tune out of life’s chaos by tuning in to one of these podcasts.

Happy Place

Happy Place sees presenter Fearne Cotton chat to an eclectic range of guests – from musicians, actors and Olympians to breathing coaches, yoga teachers and campaigners – about their lives and mental wellbeing. A new episode is released weekly, or you can listen back to previous episodes featuring the likes of Dawn French, Stephen Fry, Davina McCall, Mary Berry, Matt Haig and Ruby Wax.

Happy Mum, Happy Baby

Author, social media star and mum of three, Giovanna Fletcher, uses this podcast to talk to other celebrity parents about the joys and challenges of their family lives. The back catalogue includes episodes with Nadiya Hussain, Rochelle Humes and Caitlin Moran, as well as adopters Isma Almas and Prue Leith. The wide-ranging conversations touch on everything from single parenthood to baby loss, IVF to raising children with autism.

Gaba

Created by Adam Martin, Gaba is a series of short meditations designed to promote better being. Ranging between poignant, light-hearted and ethereal, these are not like meditations as you may know them. Adam’s sound stories compromise of a mix of music (from classical and pop to EDM), narration and clips from lectures, interviews, TV shows and films. Each is based around a theme – from letting go of shame and keeping calm during the corona crisis to the philosophical meaning of a Ronan Keating song and a tribute to the actress and activist Jane Fonda.

Mothers’ Meeting

Mummy YouTuber Louise Pentland’s podcast is a snappy 30 minute chat with a changing rotation of fellow mothers – such as Katie Piper, Konnie Huq, Caroline Hirons and Rachel Stevens. Each episode includes a discussion about parenting struggles major and minor, and the mum hacks that will get you through.

How to Fail with Elizabeth Day

In this series, author and journalist Elizabeth Day interviews an array of celebrity guests about the failures that have defined their lives. While it might sound like a gloomy premise, it’s anything but. Instead, interviewees reflect on what they’ve learnt from these experiences and how their adversities have led them onto success. Among the guests are stand-up comedian and host of The Guilty Feminist, Deborah Frances-White and SAS hero, Andy McNab, both of whom speak about their lives as adoptees.

Table Manners

Each week musician Jessie Ware and her mother Lenny invite a famous guest to their house for a homecooked meal and a chat. While the interviewees have included many much-loved stars of the stage and screen – including Ed Sheeran, Nigella Lawson, Rick Astley, Sadiq Khan, Mel B and Dermot O’Leary – the real treat is listening in on the interactions between mum and daughter as they bicker, tease and appease each other as they cook and serve the food.

Some Families

Hosted by Stu Oakley and Lotte Jeffs, this is the UK’s first LBTQ+ parenting podcast series. In each episode the duo explore a different kind of family – including those created by IVF, sperm donation and adoption. As well as sharing their own personal stories, Stu and Lotte interview guests such as comedian Jen Brister and actor Charlie Condou about their experiences as gay parents.

A Good Read

Ever wondered what books Alan Carr, Trevor McDonald or Marian Keyes has on their nightstand? This audio book club sees two well-known guests join presenter Harriet Gilbert to discuss their favourite reads. With suggestions ranging from the classics to the contemporary – and sometimes even the whacky (see George Lamb’s choice of an employee company manual) – the conversation is always animated and provides plenty of inspiration for your own future reading.

The Scummy Mummies

Hosted by comedy duo Ellie Gibson and Helen Thorn, this show takes a wry look at the trials and tribulations of parenting. Delve into the archive to find interviews with the likes of Sandy Toksvig, Stacey Solomon and Bryony Gordon or try episode 155 where the pair chat to TV presenter, producer and adoptee, Simon London. Don’t miss the ‘scummy mummy confessions’ at the end of each podcast, where guests admit to some of their funniest parenting faux pas.

Fortunately

In their ‘day jobs’ as broadcasters on Radio 4, Jane Garvey and Fi Glover are responsible for many feats of serious and important journalism. On Fortunately, that is not quite the case. Instead the two friends gather at a coffee shop in the BBC Plaza to discuss their preferred dips of choice, train delays, inventive new ways of wearing a cardigan and the ‘chuff’ they find in their cutlery drawer. Each episode they manage to either accost or persuade a well-known guest – such as Claudia Winkleman, Clara Amfo and Ian Wright – to join them.