Blended

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Nathalie and special guest co-host Ashley John-Baptiste — , journalist, documentary-maker and now author of Looked After, his powerful memoir.Ashley's no stranger to the podcast and he's back to talk about his own story growing up in the UK care system, living with five different families, and never quite feeling like he belonged. In this emotional and honest conversation, he shares how that shaped his sense of identity, his education, his relationships, and the kind of father he is today.The trio also tackle a heartfelt dilemma from a listener who's trying to help her foster son feel welcomed into their family especially by her partner, who's parenting for the first time. Ashley shares real insight into what children in care may be feeling in moments like this, while Nathalie opens up about her own past and how childhood trauma can lead to emotional walls and coping mechanisms.This is a moving episode about identity, resilience, and the healing power of love and a reminder that family isn't always where you start, but what you grow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, it's the Father's Day special and Kate's handed over the mic. Rio Ferdinand takes on hosting duties, joined by Cilla's husband Philo Appeaning and Nathalie's husband Sayce Holmes-Lewis for a rare and honest conversation from the men's side of the blended family dynamic.The trio tackle a dilemma sent in by a man who didn't tell his partner that his ex would be at a party he was taking his daughter to. When she found out, it caused serious drama but now he's asking: should you always tell your partner the truth, even if you know it'll cause problems?That sparks a deeper chat about communication in relationships, how the men have evolved emotionally since their younger years, and the impact their wives have had on the way they express themselves now.They reflect on how easy it is to slip back into old patterns, and why working on emotional growth in your home is worth the effort especially when you're trying to break cycles.They also open up about boundaries with exes and extended family, and share how those lines have had to shift over time to protect their wives and their peace.Then comes the surprise: Kate hits them with some loaded questions submitted by their wives and they have to answer on the spot. Plus, they have a proud moment as they hear unexpected Father's Day messages from their children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie for a powerful and deeply personal episode. For the first time, the ladies speak not from the perspective of parents but as the children of single-parent homes.They open up about how growing up without a father in the house shaped their understanding of love, trust, and family. From not knowing how to have a platonic relationship with a man to struggling to understand how your husband can love you without conditions they open up about the emotional impact of growing up in homes where love looked different.Cilla gets emotional as she reflects on how certain moments from her past still leave her feeling disappointed and hurt and how that has shown up in her adult life and relationships.The trio also discuss how they're doing the work to break generational cycles, raising their own children differently, and learning that healing can happen at the same time as parenting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie to unpack a dilemma that hits deep for many stepparents — feeling left out, even when you've been fully present. A listener shares that she wasn't invited to her stepdaughter's birthday party, which is being held at the mum's house, and it's left her feeling sidelined. She's been a part of her partner's daughter's life for 3 years and thought their bond meant more but now she's questioning her place in the bigger moments.The trio reflect on the unspoken boundaries of blended family life. Should you expect to be welcomed into someone else's safe space, like their home? Or is it fair to suggest neutral locations or even host your own celebration?The ladies explore whether we expect too much too soon as stepparents, or whether exclusion from big milestones like birthdays and school events says more about unresolved tensions between adults. They also dig into how confrontation gets a bad wrap especially for women and why speaking up isn't about ego, but about protecting your peace.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to talk about one of the most emotional and overlooked issues in blended families — money.The conversation is sparked by a dilemma from a stepmum who financially supports her partner's children but feels completely shut out of the decision-making. With talk of private school on the table and no voice in the conversation, she's left wondering: am I being manipulated, or is this just part of being in a blended family?They dive into the uncomfortable but necessary questions: Should financial contribution equal a say in parenting decisions? and Where's the line between support and exploitation?The trio reflect on the emotional costs that go beyond finances especially when step-parents raise children they have no legal rights to. From wills and inheritance to guardianship and long-term planning, they unpack why these conversations matter so much more in blended families.One big question the group debates: Should parents leave different amounts to different children, based on what they're already receiving from their other biological parent? Is fairness always equal or does it depend on circumstance?Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie for a tough but necessary conversation about something many families silently struggle with the different ways love can show up for biological and stepchildren.This honest discussion is sparked after Kate asks her stepdaughter Tia to send a voice note sharing how she feels compared to her younger siblings and opens the door to one of the biggest debates yet.They explore a powerful question: What is love? Is it a feeling, an action or both? And if you don't feel the same for all your children, what can you do to make sure none of them feel left out?They discuss how factors like living arrangements, age, time, and even permission to parent can all affect how love is shown and felt. When 1 in 3 families in the UK are blended, this is not a niche issue it's a growing reality for so many.The trio explore what happens when you don't feel the same bond with your stepchildren and how you can still show up for them with care and consistency. They unpack the pressure stepmums often face to “love like a mum,” while also being told not to overstep.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie for one of the trickiest dilemmas they've tackled yet. A listener shares her story of planning to separate from her husband after years of being together but they've decided to carry on living under the same roof until their children turn 18.Why? Because she's terrified her son might choose to stay with his stepdad instead of her. It's a heartbreaking situation that raises a huge question: can you separate without shattering your family?The ladies explore the emotional weight of “staying for the kids,” and debate whether that decision protects children or simply delays the damage.They reflect on research that shows children thrive in two-parent households and dig into how breakups affect kids no matter which parent leaves, highlighting that mothers can also be the ones who disrupt the home, not just the dads.The trio share how they'd feel about having a stepparent now, as grown women, and the impact childhood trauma can have on how we move through relationships as adults and reflect on how their own upbringings in single-parent homes shaped their views.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to dive deep into what really happens when kids are raised across two homes with different sets of rules.Cilla explains the real difference between co-parenting and parallel parenting, and why understanding the difference can save families a lot of conflict.Kate, Cilla, and Nathalie each open up about their own parenting styles, how they set rules, maintain structure, and handle boundaries in their homes.The trio also explore whether softer or stricter parenting styles actually get better reactions, and whether having different rules really confuses children long-term or if kids are more adaptable than we give them credit for. They also reflects on how children sometimes adapt their behaviour depending on which parent they're talking to and how kids can even learn to play parents off against each other when the rules aren't aligned .If you've ever struggled with mixed messages, different expectations, or feeling like you're parenting in two completely different worlds, this episode is a must-listen.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by her husband Rio and co-host Cilla to explore what it's like to navigate blended family life from a male point of view. This week's listener's dilemma asks: “Do I have to end my marriage if he won't accept my child?” — sparking a deep and emotional conversation about loyalty, love, and the hard choices many blended families face.The trio also tackle adult children moving back home, how it affects family dynamics, and what happens when one partner struggles with a stepchild returning to the household.Rio shares his honest take on fatherhood, why men sometimes struggle to express how they feel, and why “firsts” in blended families can hit differently for men.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a stepmum without your own children? People have opinions.Choosing not to have kids? Even more.And if you want to be a mum but life has other plans? That's a whole different kind of heartbreak.In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Priscilla Appeaning and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis for a powerful and honest conversation about the pressure on women to sacrifice their bodies and mental health for motherhood, what it means to step-parent without biological children of your own, and how motherhood expectations shape emotional identity in blended families.Cilla explains the difference between being childfree and childless. Kate reflects on her experience entering a blended family without children of her own and Nathalie opens up about her health journey and her decision around motherhood.They also explore how “ours babies” , a term used in the blended family space to describe a child shared by both partners, can impact identity, connection, and emotional roles for women who aren't biological mums.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Priscilla Appeaning and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis for another real, raw and relatable episode of Blended. This one's all about family drama, blurred boundaries—and one photo that caused major tension.In this episode, they dive into a dilemma that had the group chat on fire: A mother-in-law gifts a photo of a child's half-sibling... and the stepmum and partner throw it away. Was it about protecting the child—or shutting down the in-laws? Is the mother-in-law just trying to stay involved—or fully stirring the pot? They get into the messy middle of extended family politics, Christmas card awkwardness, and where photos live within the household.If you've ever dealt with overstepping in-laws, silent partners, or hard decisions to do with your stepchildren —this one's for you.If you've got a dilemma of your own within a blended family, we'd love to hear from you.Send it to us via Instagram @blended. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blended is back—but with a difference. Kate Ferdinand is joined by her brand new co-hosts Priscilla Appeaning, stepmum and blended life coach, and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis, step-mum and businesswoman. This season, they plan to have more honest and deeper conversations that help blended families feel supported and understood.Introducing a new partner to your children is a significant and sometimes stressful moment in blended families. Hear from Kate, Priscilla, and Nathalie as they chat about the timing and challenges of this introduction.They address common worries, including fear, resistance from children or the opinions of ex-partners, and whether delaying the introduction is beneficial. We learn about the importance of making sure the children feel part of the conversation and how building the introduction slowly can benefit everyone.We also hear from a listener with a dilemma:“I've been seeing someone great for four months and I'm feeling ready to meet the kids. They're aged 7 and 11 but my ex says it's too soon and that I'm not thinking about the kids' feelings. Should my ex's opinion affect my timing or is this decision mine alone?”This sparks conversations around how to navigate the role of the ex-partner and how to keep the communication amicable. If you've ever felt unsure about the big introduction, this episode reminds you that there's no right or wrong way—just what works for your unique family.To become part of the Blended family, follow @blended on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're beyond excited to announce that the blended podcast is back! This season, Kate is joined by two incredible Step-mums, Cilla & Nathalie, each with their own unique family setup. We're here to offer different perspectives on the step-parenting experience, and we hope you'll feel seen and understood as we share our stories and answer your questions each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey Guys! Well, it's been quite a journey since the last time we chatted, and I've stepped out of my little bubble to share a special life update... Shae's here!In today's mini update, I'll take you on a journey through what it's been like getting to know my gorgeous little girl and adapting to life with not just a newborn, but a toddler and teenagers! You know, trying to find our new rhythm and establish a fresh routine. But let me tell you, it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows. Shae made quite the entrance into this world, being born with congenital pneumonia, and I'll be sharing that rollercoaster of an experience today.So, thank you for joining me on this incredible journey. Your support means the world to me.If you haven't already, become part of the Blended community by following and interacting with us @Blended on Instagram.Thanks for listening, and I can't wait to share more with you all!

Hey Guys! This is the last time you'll hear from me for a little while, because when this episode comes out I'll be 37 weeks pregnant and officially on maternity leave! To be honest I've been on maternity leave unofficially for a week or so because the tiredness has hit me SO hard.Before I go, I want to leave you with some final bits to round off this amazing series of Blended. You'll hear my final preparations for pregnancy, an interesting update from team Blended and I've selected some of my favourite moments from the season for you to enjoy, one of the clips I've chosen does contains reference to miscarriage and baby loss so please take care while listening.I hope you've found this season of Blended as enjoyable and comforting as I have, thank you so so much for your support and community, it genuinely means the world and I can't wait to share more with you guys on the other side!If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

Today on Blended, we are speaking to a guest that so many of you have been asking for! Former Queen of the Jungle, podcaster and author Vicky Pattison!Although Vicky herself isn't part of a Blended family, hearing her journey to potential parenthood is very in keeping with the family stories we love to hear on Blended. Earlier this year she took the decision to freeze her eggs and start an IVF journey, but it hasn't gone completely to plan. During a scan in January, the doctors discovered that Vicky had an ovarian cyst, meaning she couldn't start treatment, luckily after a rocky few months, Vicky has been given the all clear and has started the IVF process.Vicky has been so open on social media in documenting her journey and showing both the physical and mental challenges that come with IVF. On today's episode Vicky details the last few months of her IVF journey alongside sharing why she doesn't yet feel ready for pregnancy and the scrutiny she's faced because of this.It was such a pleasure to chat about her alternative route to motherhood, as always with Vicky this chat is open, hilarious and more than a little sweary!If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram

TW: This discussion covers displacement through war, and descriptions of death and violence so please be kind to yourself when listening.Next week marks Refugee Week here in the UK, and we're honoured to be joined on Blended by the inspiring Waad Al-Kateab. Waad is a Syrian journalist, filmmaker, and activist. Her documentary, For Sama, was nominated for four BAFTA's, winning Best Documentary, and it was also nominated for Best Documentary Feature at The Oscars.‘For Sama' is a love letter from Waad to her daughter, Sama. The film tells the story of her life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while conflict rises around her.Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival, as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice – whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter's life. Waad has since settled in the UK with her husband Hamza and their young two daughters Sama and Taima.We chat about the resilience being a mum provides you, how war & conflict cause you to build families beyond blood, the impossible scenario of having to leave your newborn child in a different country and starting again in the UK for the safety of your family.Waad is an absolute inspiration, the challenges herself and her family have been through couldn't be tougher, so to come out on the other side and speak with so much strength optimises the Blended story.Check out Waad's incredible film For Sama, as well as her new film We Dare To Dream and please do follow @actionforsamaIf you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram

Hey Guys! As you'll hear in today's episode, life has been busy over the last few weeks! So it feels like a good time to fill you in on what I've been up to, book launches, birthdays and my ever growing bump!Thank you so much for all your questions that came in from my Instagram Q&A, I do my best to answer all the things you want to know!We've got such an exciting last few weeks on this series of Blended so please stick around and I'm hoping to do another one of these before going off to have the baby!Please click here if you'd like to (pre) order a copy of my brand new blended children's book ‘The Family Tree'If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram

Nevine Coutry is the founder of the UK's first dating app for single parents, ‘Playdate'. After divorcing her ex-husband in 2016, Nevine found herself as a single parent to her 3 year old son. Nevine tried all the mainstream dating apps looking for a new partner but would often get ghosted after mentioning her son or her divorce.It wasn't until a couple years later at a friends' birthday party that Nevine met a single dad, and they hit it off immediately. They joined family units and Nevine became a step-mum. Although their relationship didn't work out, the experience left Nevine feeling so enriched by the Blended experience that she decided to create her dating app.Nevine's story is a chance to hear what happens when Blended families don't quite work out as planned, as Nevine says in the episode, it's bittersweet but she would do it all over again.If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

TW: Mentions of self-harm and suicideToday we welcome the wonderful Louis Weinstock to Blended. Louis is a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and coach who has 20 years experience in guiding adults and children through some of the toughest challenges life can throw at us: loss, trauma, divorce, burnout and breakdowns.Louis is also a published author, his book ‘How The World Is Making Our Children Mad and What To Do About It' gives children the tools they need to look after their mental health in an increasingly turbulent world of climate change, social media and war. Today's chat is all about finding the balance of using social media in between different households and how we can help our children deal with trauma by helping ourselves first.Louis has such a calm, warm energy and has such an easy way of opening up deep topics, which hopefully makes it feel relevant and you can take some tips that can help you and your family. To find out more about Louis's book ‘How The World Is Making Our Children Mad and What To Do About It' ‘click hereTo find out more about Louis's charity ‘Apart of Me' click hereIf you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram. My book How To Build A Family is available now, and you can pre-order The Family Tree here: https://bio.to/KateFerdinand

Hey guys! Loads of you have been getting in touch with questions about Rio and I so it only felt right that I got him back on the podcast.We set the record straight on how we met, and as you'll hear he didn't make the best first impression… We also chat about how we've blended our lifestyles, how we resolve arguments (sort of) and there's a bit of banter too. Safe to say Rio left the studio feeling like I'd taken the mick out of him but we do actually answer these questions honestly and we hope you find them interesting! If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram. My book How To Build A Family is available now, and you can pre-order The Family Tree here: https://bio.to/KateFerdinand

Here's something very special for all the Blended listeners. A few weeks back, I did a live show with the amazing host of the Motherkind podcast, Zoe Blaskey. If you haven't heard of the Motherkind podcast before, it's basically a show where wellbeing experts help you find your calm, happy place in the madness of modern mum life.So today we're sharing an episode of Motherkind where Zoe chatted to Reshma Saujani. Resham spent the last 10 years telling girls to lean in and fight to get to the top; however, after her experience parenting and working during the pandemic her message has changed. Find out what she now has to say during this powerful episode.If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram and you can pre-order my book How To Build A Family here https://lnk.to/HowToBuildAFamily

Hi guys, I've got something very exciting to share with you today, it's been a long time in the making, but I'm so excited to say that my brand new book ‘How To Build a Family' is out tomorrow - I can't quite believe it!How to Build a Family is a nurturing handbook that I wish I'd been given when I started out my journey in a fully blended family. As well as my experiences, and those of other blended families, it has advice and tips from experts you've heard on the show like Julia Samuel and Lisa Doodson. My goal in writing this book is to encourage, inspire and support families everywhere.In today's podcast I also talk about my other new book ‘The Family Tree' which will be coming out on the 8th of June (quite the author I know). The Family Tree is a reassuring picture-book adventure that will help blended families feel seen and celebrated, offering gentle conversation starters for the youngest readers.I hope you find these books refreshing and useful, as always thanks for your amazing love and support, I can't wait to hear what you think of them!You can pre-order both books by clicking on the link here: https://bio.to/KateFerdinandIf you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

Today's episode of Blended is with content creator, author, mother and in her words survivor, Grace Victory. In December 2020, Grace was seven months pregnant when she was diagnosed with a severe case of Covid. Grace was taken into emergency care and their son Cyprus was delivered via C-section. Hours after giving birth on Christmas Eve, Grace was put in a voluntary coma to treat her Covid. Months passed and Grace's condition declined, Doctors only gave her a 5% chance to live. Remarkably though Grace has made a full recovery.Grace talks about re-learning how to live after a coma, missing your son's first few months of life and being kind to yourself in the aftermath of traumatic events.Grace's story is one of trauma, adversity and pain but also one of hope, defying the odds and getting a second chance at life. If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram and you can pre-order my book How To Build A Family here https://lnk.to/HowToBuildAFamily

Hey guys, I thought now might be a good time to update you with what's been going on in my world because believe me it's been chaotic. The headlines are holidays, hospitals and a whole lot of baby brain.I've also been getting loads of questions from you guys about how we're getting on with potty training Cree and as you'll hear, it's been an interesting experience…I love checking in with you guys and just letting you know what I've been up to, I hope it's relatable or at the very least you can have a laugh at my expense!If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram and you can pre-order my book How To Build A Family here https://lnk.to/HowToBuildAFamily

Raising kids is no small feat and I think most people listening in will be able to relate. Whether you are part of a Blended family or not, this messy, yet beautiful, chapter we call childhood is FULL of questions, worries and concerns and sometimes all you want is a bit of support so that you can feel more comfortable supporting your kids in return. With the new baby on the way, I've been encountering a lot more questions so I thought why not go back to parenting expert Dr Martha Deiros Collado who has got such a refreshing, calm, and empathetic way of tackling big subjects for some advice.And that's what I did, so today I've got 3 of my favourite bits from Dr Martha. This advice is actually from her podcast - Taking Sense - which provides a thought provoking lens on child behaviour that all parents witness and see every day and find ideas to support you and your child. It's honestly so great, and a little bit like Blended, it helps bring you closer to other parents who have similar concerns.The advice discussed on today's episode are from the following episodes of Talking Sense, which you can listen to here:How do I prepare my child for a new sibling?When can we expect our children's big outbursts to stop?How to deal with others' judgement of our parenting?I hope you find this mini-episode as useful as I have! If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

Today on Blended, we're joined by the lovely reality TV star, Lydia Bright.For pretty much all of Lydia's life she's been part of a Blended family. Her Mum Debbie and Dad Dave fostered over 250 children across 27 years, as well as having 3 biological children of their own meaning the Bright household was always a busy place to be!Lydia's now a single mother herself, raising her three year old daughter Loretta.This chat focuses on both the Blended sides of Lydia's life, the amazing and challenging experiences of growing up with foster siblings and becoming a single mother during a pandemic.If you're a single parent or considering fostering, the experiences and advice Lydia shares in today's episode is just invaluable.If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

Today's episode of Blended is all about positive co-parenting and the process of blending two families with the hilarious Rickie Haywood Williams and Natalie Harman.You may know Rickie from TV and Radio, he currently presents a Radio 1 show alongside Melvin Odoom and Charlie Hedges, but chances are you haven't heard of his partner Natalie who remains out of the spotlight, this was her first time doing a podcast but you'd never know!Rickie and Natalie met three years ago and after a successful period of dating they decided to combine their families. Both Rickie and Natalie have daughters of a similar age from previous relationships, and the four of them have Blended in the last couple of years. Last August Rickie and Natalie added to their family and had baby Cruz, their first child together.Rickie and Natalie discuss all the topics that so often come up in parenting: How to navigate discipline and how to make sure you carve out time with your partner. They also give some great advice on maturity to make co-parenting a harmonious process.This episode is full of laughs, it's a really heartwarming story that shows Blended families can bring so much joy!If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

Today we have a very familiar face on Blended in the name of ex-footballer and more importantly my husband, Rio Ferdinand.Rio finally comes on the podcast for a full episode to talk about how the family has changed from his perspective over the years.Rio also discusses growing up in a blended family, both of his parents finding new partners and how his upbringing impacts the decisions he makes as a parent himself today.There's also a lot of banter in this episode, you can say what you want about Rio but he holds his hands up when he's in the wrong and there's a lot of laughs because of it!This conversation also shows a side to Rio you may not have seen before and gives a real look in to the inner workings of our family - both the happy times and challenging!If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

Something we place a lot of importance on in the Blended community is being really open and honest with our feelings and that's exactly what we are in today's episode with grief expert, loss author and CEO of the charity The Mariposa Trust (widely known by its primary support division 'Saying Goodbye',) Zoe Clark-Coates MBE.As you may remember from her last episode on Blended, Zoe has lost five babies, but her ability to take the positives and honour life from these experiences is so inspiring.Zoe shares some great advice and tips from her book 'Pregnancy After Loss', including how to prepare for scans, coping mechanisms for stress and managing the joy and the fear of being pregnant after loss.Click here for more information on Zoe's Charity 'Saying Goodbye' https://www.sayinggoodbye.org/ and find her on Instagram at @Zoeadelle.If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

This week on Blended we have an inspiring conversation on single parenthood with author of the book ‘Liv's Alone: Amateur Adventures in Solo Motherhood', Liv Thorne. When Liv Thorne was in her twenties, and single, she would joke to friends that if ‘Mr Right' didn't come along she'd have to take matters into her own hands and have a child on her own. When she was still single in her thirties, it stopped being a joke and she started researching sperm banks and fertility clinics. Having chosen donor sperm from a bank in Denmark, her first three attempts to conceive via natural IUI failed. Liv had said to herself that she would try 4 rounds of IUI before she would undergo the more invasive (& expensive) route of IVF. Happily, and somewhat surprisingly, it was her 4th round of IUI that resulted in a successful pregnancy. Liv gave birth to her son on her Dad's birthday who sadly died when she was 12. Her Dad had always called her Little Herbert, which is why her longed for son is called Herb. Liv gives us a really honest account of what it's taken to create her family through sperm donation, the financial burden, and how you need to be especially kind to yourself if you decide to start a family solo. As always, these conversations show that there's no ‘normal' way to raise a child, the main thing is to show them support and love. If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

Today's episode of Blended is all about Mother's Day, an event which can mean so many things to different people. That's why for today's episode I really wanted you to hear my husband Rio's perspective on this day. Rio and I talk about how our family has changed over the years and how our emotions of grief evolve around Mother's Day as time goes on. Rio will describe himself as not having massive highs and lows in his emotions but he's really getting better at voicing his feelings especially around grief, and our takeaway message as a family is do what feels right to you. We decided not to put this episode out on Mother's Day so you can listen in the build up, afterwards or whenever feels right for you. If you're struggling this Mother's Day, please be easy on yourself, the greatest bit of advice I've got was from Julia Samuel, just turn your phone off and try to enjoy the day. If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

After her advice went down so well with you guys at Christmas, we decided to invite child psychotherapist and co-host of the 'Therapy Works' podcast Emily Samuel back to Blended to answer your questions. It can be really easy to get caught up in our emotions and everything can seem a little bit overwhelming in parenthood, but Emily gives simple and actionable advice to use. We cover a range of topics including: dealing with grief, divorce, and how we can best support neurodiverse children (and for any parents currently experiencing the terrible two's, I ask Emily how to deal with those tantrums too!) If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

Today on Blended we welcome author Lisa Timoney. Lisa has written 3 novels, including ‘Her Daughter's Secret' and ‘Her Mother's Lies', stories that are centred around Blended family setups. Lisa was adopted at a young age alongside her elder adopted sister owing to her adopted parents' fertility problems. Lisa's adopted parents are now divorced, putting her in the unique position of having 3 sets of parents, although she's not reconnected with her biological parents who had her as teenagers. Lisa is passionate about changing the stigma around adoption and this episode reflects Lisa's really positive outlook on being adopted, detailing a life filled with love and nurture. Lisa's story is a really encouraging one, and the main takeaway should be that everybody's normal is different, which is the epitome of coming from a blended family. If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

I have a very special guest today on Blended… finally my husband Rio has agreed to join me! This is because we're so excited to announce the gender of our baby with you all. It was great to sit down with Rio and relive the chaotic way we found out for ourselves. As Rio says “it was a typical Ferdinand household gender reveal, it went wrong!” as you'll hear for yourself… Rio and I laughed so much making this, we hope you enjoy listening to our little family update as much as we enjoyed recording it! If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

Today's episode of Blended is all about celebrating and understanding different ethnicities within Blended families and discussing how we can become the most authentic version of ourselves. Adrienne Herbert's life centres around positivity and motivation. She's the host of the Power Hour podcast, a TedTalk speaker and one of the UK's leading wellness professionals, but her story hasn't always been easy. She grew up one of four siblings in a single parent household and being one of the elders, she helped her mum raise her younger siblings which meant she had to grow up pretty quickly. Growing up Adrienne's father was distant, the only member on her Dad's side was her Grandma but she lived a few hours away meaning she never had the chance to understand her Jamaican heritage. Living in a predominantly white northern town with a white mother with little knowledge on black hair or culture left Adrienne often feeling like an outsider. This all changed when Adrienne moved to London age 16 where she began the journey to better understand herself. She now has her own blended family, her son Jude is interracial and Adrienne has made sure he has the education about his heritage that she never had. Today's chat is all about embracing your true self, educating and celebrating our cultural differences and advice for parents raising interracial children, enjoy! To become part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

TW: This episode covers matters related to drug abuse and eating conditions. So please be kind to yourself if that feels too close to home. Today's episode is for anyone who may be considering the option of fostering, has already taken the leap and needs some advice or simply wants to learn more about the processes and experiences of fostering a child. Our guests are mother and step-daughter duo Caroline ‘Caz' Bullivant & Britney Coole. Caz welcomed Britney into her home when she was 12, and despite a rocky start, these two are now thick as thieves, so much so that Britney, now a mum herself, says Caz was the person who truly showed her how to be a mum. Caz, talks us through the reality of being a foster mum and shares some really inspiring nuggets of wisdom around the ‘best' way to create a connection with your foster children. On the other side of the coin, Britney shares her experiences growing up and explains the emotional journey of foster care. This conversation is an example of both the heartening and challenging aspects of fostering. If you would like more information on the requirements and processes of fostering, check out the links below. To become part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram. Information on Fostering: At the end of 2022, there were more than 80,000 children in care in the UK. It's expected that this number will rise to more than 100,000 over the next three years, which means more foster parents are desperately needed to provide children with love, nurture and support. Anyone can be a foster parent - you just need to have love to give, and a spare bedroom at home. Foster parents are provided with a fostering allowance to enable them to financially support the young people in their care, plus ongoing training and support, enabling them to provide the best care possible. Fostering People have been supporting vulnerable children since 2000, in Scotland, the north east, north west, West Midlands, east of England and Yorkshire. You can find out more about becoming a foster parent with Fostering People here: https://www.fosteringpeople.co.uk/ You can read more about Caz and Brit's story here: https://www.fosteringpeople.co.uk/resources/fostering-stories/foster-parent-stories/cazs-fostering-story/ For more information on fostering and its importance, the UK's leading foster care charity The Fostering Network has lots of information: https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/ The government provides information on fostering too: https://www.gov.uk/becoming-foster-parent

Trigger Warning: Themes of addiction are discussed in this episode. Today on Blended we have the brilliant author, self development coach and queen of manifestation, Roxie Nafousi and today's episode is all about building positive co-parenting relationships. Roxie and Wade are no longer together, but are passionately committed to staying great friends and being the best co-parents they possibly can be. They've gone against the status-quo and written their own rules on how to co-parent which includes holidaying together and a new approach to splitting the time they share with their son, Wolfe. Roxie has also navigated a tricky past, struggling with various addictions, self-worth insecurities and post-natal depression, but discusses how her life completely turned around after she had her son Wolfe, who is her bundle of joy. This chat is packed with honesty and so much great insight and advice on how to create a positive co-parenting relationship that prioritises your children's happiness. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

Writer and Broadcaster Emily Dean is the author of the hit book ‘Everybody Died, So I Got a Dog' and subsequently the hugely successful Times podcast ‘Walking the Dog'. Emily's life turned completely on its head when she lost all of her close family in a 3 year period. First her older sister Rachael to cancer, closely followed by both her parents, leaving her as the key female figure to Rachael's children and an orphan at age 45. This sudden change left Emily no choice but to clobber together her own Blended family consisting of her nieces, close friends and adorable Shih-tzu, Raymond. This is an emotional episode, a story of unconditional love, resilience and a tale of how loss forces you to step outside your comfort zone. I hope hearing Emily's story inspires and gives you confidence for all of life's unexpected challenges.

Hey everyone! I know I've been a bit quiet on social media lately, but I've received so many messages asking for an update on what's been going on. Well… I have some big news to share with you all - I'm expecting another baby! I couldn't be more excited, and I'm so glad I get to talk about this journey with all of you on these mini-episodes of the podcast. Sometimes when you share big news on social media, it doesn't quite have the same impact as talking about it in person. That's why I wanted to jump on here and share my thoughts and feelings with all of you. I'm really looking forward to the season ahead and continuing to share my journey with you all in these mini-episodes. If you're excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram. Thanks for listening and I can't wait to share more updates with you all!

Welcome to a brand new season of Blended! In this episode, Kate speaks with Dr Martha Deiros Collado - a clinical psychologist specialising in science of childhood. Her mission is to make the science of psychology accessible to everyone which she does this so well on her Instagram and podcast Talking Sense. Dr Martha has such a refreshing, calm, and empathetic way of tackling big subjects - from how to manage anxiety to navigating tricky co parenting situations, as well how we as step parents deal with imposter syndrome and alienation. Dr Martha also answers the brilliant questions submitted from the blended community, and it's all just so helpful. Today's episode is all about actionable advice you can apply in everyday life with your family. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

Wow there are just 4 sleeps until Christmas! To wrap up our mini-episodes I wanted to come on by myself to share with you all what my first Christmas was like coming into a Blended family and how our family has developed since. I share some of the new traditions we have created together and I've also got some quick practical tips which I found have helped me at times where things have got a little stressful, to help me enjoy the moment. This is a short and sweet episode which I hope leaves you feeling calm and ready for the days ahead. Thank you to each one of you for being part of the Blended community this year, together we are helping the world know that Blended families are beautiful. I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful Christmas and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last of our Christmas minisodes, I sit down with a wonderful Emily Samuel, she's a child psychotherapist as she answers some of the questions you sent in that relate to your children's experiences of Christmas. We cover expectations of Christmas, managing children's behaviour, presents, and mental health around the Christmas period. These episodes are really short and sweet, but they're packed full of advice. Emily co-hosts the wonderful Therapy Works podcast with her psychotherapist mum (Julia Samuel) and sister (Sophie Samuel) - you can listen to Therapy Works here As always, we'd love to hear from you, so please do get back to me with your thoughts and feelings. So here it is, our blended minisode with Emily Samuel. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Blended today we have a very special guest, Alex Willumsen who's story is one that so many people have been in touch about, and that's being a childless stepmum.Alex Willumsen is a parent/step-parent of 11 years to two boys down in Brighton. We hear all about Alex's step parenting journey but also about her and her husband's attempts to grow their family themselves. Alex is an amazing women and she feels that being a childless step mum is a unique and often overlooked experience and because of this, she started a support group called “Step by Step”- a group for supporting step family/blended life - some who have their own children and some who don't. To keep up with Alex and her Step By Step group please see the website: Step by step - supporting step family life Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/435013954196017/?ref=share Sign up to the step by step newsletter by Contact email: stepbystepbrighton@gmail.com Information and support around womb cancer: https://peachestrust.org/ Meet others in the childless community: https://gateway-women.com/ To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's nearly Christmas, a time filled with joy and excitement, but also a time that can be difficult for anyone dealing with the absence of a loved one. A few weeks ago, I reached out to you on the Blended socials and asked if you had any questions around Christmas. We were inundated with your questions, so I decided to host a short series of minisodes to offer advice to anyone struggling at this time of year. Ann has worked in bereavement for over 30 years and is the CEO of Child Bereavement UK, a charity of which I am proud to be a patron. In this minisode, Ann answers some of your questions about how to help children and young people deal with bereavement and loss throughout the festive season. These episodes are short and sweet and packed full of advice. Ann gives amazing and digestible guidance to families navigating loss at this time of year. You can also find a wealth of resources to help young people navigate grief at the Child Bereavement UK website. Link: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/ To become a part of the Blended community follow @blended on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest on Blended is comedian, actor, writer and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! star, Babatunde Aléshé. Baba joins me to talk about life growing up in a single parent home, and how his childhood was one of his biggest drivers in shaping his own parenting style. Baba's Nigerian heritage and religion comes up too as it was a big pillar in his life overall which prompts a conversation about how to blend cultures in the family home. We also talk about strictness in the home which we have a good laugh about! It's a conversation that takes so many great twists and turns. I just loved how much love and respect he has for his mum, and how he and his wife balance their culture in his home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's nearly Christmas, a time which can bring so much excitement but also so much stress, especially if you're part of a blended family. I reached out to you on the Blended socials and asked if you had any questions around Christmas: Be that grief, how to share the kids or anything else that's causing you stress, and we were inundated with your questions. Today we welcome Professor Lisa Doodson back to Blended. She's an author and psychologist specialising in step-family dynamics. Today she answers some of your questions around splitting time over Christmas, making new traditions and the balancing act between bio and step families. These episodes are short and sweet and packed full of advice. As always Lisa gives some great tips and I hope it eases up the stress in the run up to Christmas. To become a part of the Blended community follow @blended on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Blended I'm joined by star of Teen Mom UK, Chloe Patton. We had such a lovely chat about Chloe finding out she was pregnant at just 16 years old, starting a family as a teen, navigating rocky times with her partner Jordan and also being a part of a beautiful blended family.  Chloe's faced some really hard times along the way which were played out on the TV - going through postnatal depression and losing her nan and grandad - but has been so amazing in dealing with it all. Her outlook on life is so impressive - she is just so wise, strong and inspiring. Coming from a beautiful blended family herself, Chloe shares just how families come in so many different shapes and sizes - a message I couldn't agree with more. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Blended, I'm chatting to the phenomenal Brian Dowling - the Irish TV presenter who rose to fame after winning Big Brother in 2001 and Ultimate Big Brother in 2010. Brian has a beautiful new baby girl Blake with his husband Arthur and their journey to welcoming her to the world is a fascinating one. Brian's sister Aoife was their surrogate - and Brian talks us through all of the expected, and unexpected highs and lows of surrogacy with your sister. This is such an entertaining but also informative, and emotional episode. Brian is so open about this complicated and beautiful topic and also about the traumatic sudden loss of his mother. This is a story of love, sacrifice and family. Brian says “Who you are is who your family are” - and you can really feel that today. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Blended, I'm chatting to the Amazing Fearne Cotton. Fearne is a well-known broadcaster, presenter, and host of the wildly popular podcast ‘Happy Place'. Today though, we are talking about Fearne's role as a Mum. We talk about the huge shift that occurs when you become a parent, step or otherwise and how confidence really does come in waves, especially with being a step-parent. Fearne openly shares her thoughts on imposter syndrome, parenting and mental health and gives some great advice on how to embrace it all - the good bits, the bad bits and the difficult bits. It's really a touching conversation, I can't wait for you to hear it! To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Blended we are joined by TV and sports presenter Lynsey Hipgrave. Lynsey's blended journey began when she met her now husband Dan Hipgrave 16 years ago who already had a daughter from his previous marriage. Together we spoke about what it's like coming into a blended family, the transition between part-time and full time parenting. We discuss the importance of creating stability and having good communication with both of the parents as well as how to shelter children from tabloid media and press when their parents are in the limelight. Lynsey's overall message was that really you make your own family life and you do get your own routine and things get easier and better - which I think is such a nice message. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices