Blended
Hosted by Kate Ferdinand, this podcast celebrates blended families by exploring stories of relationships bound by love, regardless of circumstances. It covers subjects such as second marriages, divorce, parenting, life after loss, step kids, co-parenting, fostering, and stepmothers.
Episodes
Natalie Lue: People Pleasing, Projection and Breaking the Cycle
This week on Blended, Kate is joined by Nathalie and special guest co host Natalie Lue, author of The Joy of Saying No and host of The Baggage Reclaim Sessions.Today’s dilemma comes from a stepmum who had a moment that shook her. During a situation where her stepdaughter was being praised, she corrected something small and immediately felt like she had taken the shine off her. It triggered a deepe
Rio & Tate Ferdinard: Family Takeover
Kate is joined by Rio & Tate Ferdinand to discuss a few dilemmas and family whilst on holiday in Portugal In the first, a 16 year old boy is struggling with his stepmum moving in and trying to set boundaries. Tate speaks candidly about how he felt when Kate first became part of his daily life and what teenagers really need when a new adult enters their space.In the second dilemma, a stepmum s
Blending Teenagers of Different Genders: Mindful or Overthinking?
In this week’s episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie to discuss a topic that feels uniquely blended.The first dilemma comes from a mum whose 11 year old daughter becomes giddy and excited when her partner’s teenage son comes around. They have only met a handful of times but it has made her think about the future and dynamics she had never really considered bef
When A Mum’s Affair Breaks The Family: Can It Be Fixed?
On a previous episode, Travis Jay made a bold comment. You always know your dad’s dirt, but you never know your mum’s. So the ladies decided to look into it.In this episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie as they unpack two dilemmas that flip the narrative and explore women who cheat.In the first, a married woman admits to having an affair. She broke it off and
A High Conflict Ex and Emotional Cheating: How Much Is Too Much?
How much is one person supposed to handle?In this episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie to unpack one layered and emotionally heavy dilemma from a stepmum who feels like she is drowning.She is navigating a high conflict ex who tells the children that their parents would still be happy if she was not around, even though she had nothing to do with the b
Keeping Secrets from Your Partner for the Kids: Betrayal or Protection?
In this episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie to tackle two dilemmas that spark a strong debate around trust, loyalty and parenting boundaries.In the first, a stepmum who has worked hard to build a close relationship with her stepdaughter discovers a secret TikTok account with content her patrtner would find inappropriate for her age. The stepdaughter
Travis Jay: Girl Dads and Exes Controlling The Narrative
In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Cilla Kessie and special guest co-host comedian, actor and writer Travis Jay, who’s bringing the male perspective as more and more dilemmas from dads land in the inbox.The first dilemma is from a father whose teenage children want nothing to do with his new partner after their mum told them he had an affair. Her children have welcomed
Dr Lalitaa Suglani: High Functioning Anxiety, ADHD And Blended Burnout
In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and special guest co-host Dr Lalitaa Suglani, an award-winning psychologist, high-functioning anxiety coach and author.Together they unpack two dilemmas around anxiety, ADHD and the pressure to cope in blended family life. The first dilemma comes from a stepmum who lives with high functioning anxiety and depression. Every other weeke
Extended Family Drama: Should You Call Out Your Sister-in-Law?
In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla for a conversation that starts close to home.Cilla drops a bomb about a personal family situation she’s been navigating, and the ladies rally around her, reminding her just how strong she’s been through everything. Blended families aren’t just about step parents and children, they include extended family too, and somet
Legally Nik Is Back: Narcissists, Child Maintenance and Holidays
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions around coercive and post separation abuse. In this episode of Blended, Kate is joined by Nathalie and special guest co-host Legally Nik, family and child protection lawyer, who is back to help the panel unpack some of your most complex legal dilemmas.The episode begins by revisiting the conversation from a few weeks ago with @Jessrunsforsurvi
Our Memories Don’t Match: Should I Show Up For My Ex-Stepson?
In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla, who shares an update on a family situation she previously opened up about and how she handled a recent interaction with that family member. They tackle a tricky dilemma, a woman who separated from her husband admits she never felt fully accepted by her stepchildren. She showed up, she tried, but she remembers distance
@Jessrunsforsurvivors: Co-Parenting With A Narcissist
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions around coercive and post separation abuse.In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand and Cilla are joined by Jess, known online as @JessRunsForSurvivors. Jess creates content around co-parenting with someone with narcissistic traits and is a patron for the charity Mums in Need, which supports women facing post separation abuse and coercive control
Mother’s Day Special: Gifts, Grief And Being Seen
Mother’s Day has always meant something special to Blended. Please Note: This episode was recorded on Thursday 26th February, before the recent conflict in the Middle East. As mums and as a podcast that talks about family life, our hearts are with everyone affected by the devastating events that have unfolded since this recording. This episode is the first ever remote recording of B
Anna Williamson: Child Anxiety And Relationship Advice
One stepmum feels ignored in her concerns. Another feels invisible in her relationship. This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and Nathalie are joined by therapist, bestselling author, TV presenter and podcast host Anna Williamson for an honest conversation about child anxiety and what happens to intimacy when life changes overnight.Anna speaks openly about her own mental health journey a
When A Child Enters The Family Through Betrayal
When you choose to stay after an affair but the affair created a child, what does moving forward really look like?This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla to unpack two deeply emotional dilemmas about families that didn’t break apart but were permanently changed.In the first, a wife shares how she and her husband worked through his infidelity but now there is a child fr
Chuckie Online: What Happens When Son and Stepdad Clash?
Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and special guest co-host Chuckie Online, presenter, DJ and podcast host, for a powerful conversation from the perspective we don’t hear often enough, the stepson.Chucky opens up about growing up with both a loving dad and a loving stepdad, and how their dynamic shaped him. He reflects on the unique balance between his mum, his dad and his stepdad, and how he neve
Zoe Hardman: Teen Stepkids, Hormones and Marriage Tips
Stepparenting isn’t always easy and sometimes admitting that feels like the hardest part.Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and special guest co host, broadcaster and podcast host Zoe Hardman, for a raw and honest conversation about stepparenting, boundaries, and relationships that don’t always come naturally.Zoe shares her own experience of building a bond with her stepdaughter, be
Blended Returns With Season 5: Major Surgery, Birth Trauma & Big Moves
Season 5 starts here and a lot has changed while we were away.After some time off, Kate Ferdinand returns with Nathalie and Cilla for a long overdue catch-up. This episode opens the new season with honesty and reflection, as the ladies share where life has taken them, both individually and as families.There have been big changes, difficult moments, and journeys none of them expected. Nathalie open
Christmas Special: How Do You Manage Exes, Money and Boundaries?
In this Christmas special of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla as they come together for a festive catch-up, they’re excited to be back in the studio and keen to give listeners a special episode ahead of the new season next year.They dive into what is often the most complicated and emotionally time of year for blended families, tackling three festive dilemmas sent i
When You’re With Someone With Kids: Do You Have to Be a Stepparent?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla to unpack a dilemma that challenges the unspoken expectations of blended families.A woman writes in about her relationship with a man who has children from a previous partner. When they first got together, he was happy to keep things separate, no pressure to step into a parenting role, and that suited her perfectly. But now, his
Snoochie Shy: Can You Involve Step-Parents Without Causing Tension?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Nathalie and TV and radio presenter Snoochie Shy for a powerful conversation about big life moments, loyalty, and how blended family dynamics can make emotional decisions even harder. Snoochie brings a unique perspective, not as a parent but as someone who grew up with a stepdad she’s incredibly close to. Together, the panel dive into
When Your Parents Reject Your Stepkid: Should You Set Boundaries With Family?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie to unpack a dilemma that’s left one stepmum torn between her child and her parents.She writes in devastated that since having a baby with her partner, her parents have changed, they only want to look after their biological grandchild and have completely pulled away from her stepson. Before the baby arrived, they treated him like
Rio Ferdinand Is Back! How Will His Older Kids Feel?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and her husband Rio Ferdinand, as they tackle a dilemma that a stepmum writes in concerned that her partner is a loving, present father to their child but wasn’t like that with his older children. She worries about the difference in how he shows up, and how that might affect the kids.The group get real about what happens when parents evolv
When His Mum Still Sees the Ex: Is It Jealousy or Just Reality?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla to unpack a dilemma that touches on family loyalty, jealousy, and boundaries.A stepmum writes in upset that her partner’s mum still has a close relationship with his ex. They spend time together, but she and her mother-in-law have no relationship at all. She admits it makes her feel jealous, insecure, and even a little pushed out
Rickie Haywood-Williams: How Do You Cope When You Don't Live With Your Child?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and Nathalie are joined by special guest co-host, presenter and dad Rickie Haywood-Williams. Together, they tackle the dilemma of a mum whose biological son lives with his dad, while she lives with her partner, stepdaughter and their new baby. She admits she never thought she wouldn’t live with her biological child, and now she worries she can feel him pulling
When He Won’t Take In His Daughter’s Sister: Would You Let a Child Go Into Care?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Nathalie and Cilla to unpack a heartbreaking dilemma.A mum writes in devastated after her partner refused to take in his daughter’s older sister meaning she may end up in care. She’s torn apart, not just for the child, but also because she fears what it says about her partner. If he can turn his back on his daughter’s sibling, could he one
Jessica May: Life After Betrayal, Co-Parenting and Boundaries
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and Nathalie are joined by Jessica May, the influencer known for her cleaning hacks, parenting advice, and unfiltered honesty. Jessica opens up about one of the worst times of her life: discovering her partner’s betrayal, the devastation that followed, and the painful process of rebuilding not just her life, but her sense of self.She doesn’t sugarcoat a thing d
When Mum Comes Back: Why Is My Stepson Changing Towards Me?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to tackle a dilemma that cuts to the heart of step-parenting. A listener writes in about her stepson, who she’s helped raise for almost a decade after his biological mum wasn’t around. For years, she’s been the one doing the school runs, bedtime routines, and being “mum” in every way that mattered.But now his biolog
Joel Beya: He Won’t Let Me Meet the Ex — Is It a Red Flag?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and special guest co-host Joel Beya — presenter, founder of Cheeky Sport, and dad — who brings a raw and honest male perspective to the table. Together, they tackle a dilemma from a woman whose partner won’t let her meet his ex. She’s asked, he keeps avoiding it, and now she’s starting to get suspicious.Is this a massive red flag, or
Inside the Blended Podcast Group Chat: Outrage, Viral Moments & Heated Debates
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand, and co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie invite listeners into their group chat — the place where wild dilemmas get sent. Some never make it to the podcast because they're just too outrageous… but today, they’re tackling two viral moments that had people talking.The first? A woman who bought food for her six biological children but not for her stepchild. Her husband as
Sayce Holmes-Lewis: Why Does His Ex Still Get So Much of Him?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and is joined by co-hosts Nathalie and her husband, Sayce Holmes-Lewis, to unpack a dilemma from a stepmum who feels her partner is still doing a lot for his ex and is starting to wonder if she’s being jealous and petty, or if there’s a real cause for concern.Nathalie believes a man should always be there for the mother of his child but Kate and
Losing Them Too: Why Breakups Can Feel Like Bereavement for Step-Parents
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to unpack a heartbreak that many stepmums quietly carry: the grief of losing their stepchildren after a breakup.A listener writes in devastation after her relationship ended not because of the partner, but because she no longer gets to see the children she helped raise. Their mother doesn’t think it’s appropriate, a
Nieki Shaw Breaks Down The Law: What Legal Rights Do Stepparents Really Have?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla along with very special guest co-host Nieki Shaw , a child protection solicitor, co-parenting mentor and the founder of Legally Nik, where she helps families navigate complex legal realities around blended families and co-parenting. We get so many legal dilemmas on this podcast, and while we’re always here to share our expe
Setting Values Without Setting Off Your Partner: Can You Really Avoid Offence?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie for an honest conversation about one of the biggest pressures new parents face in blended families — how do you start conversations about the values, routines, and boundaries you want for your first child together… without causing offence?A listener writes in, worried about how to bring up parenting differences with her part
Jamelia Joins Blended: Can You Be Happy If the Kids Don’t Click?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and special guest co-host Jamelia — singer, songwriter, actress, and mum. Jamelia speaks openly and honestly about her own blended family experience, the heartbreak she faced, what her kids went through, and why she wouldn’t be part of a blended family again. She shares how, at times, she genuinely thought she wouldn’t make it t
I Love Being a Stepmum: But I Still Want My Own Baby
This week on Blended, Kate is joined by Cilla and Nathalie to explore a dilemma that hits hard for so many women in blended families: loving your partner, loving their children but still wanting a baby of your own.A listener writes in to say she’s been a stepmum for five years and adores her partner’s children but she’s always imagined having her own baby too. The problem? Her partner says he’s do
Rio Ferdinand Is Back: How Do You Support A Solo Parent?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and special guest co-host Rio to respond to a heartfelt dilemma from a listener asking how she can best support her brother, a single dad raising two daughters on his own. Rio shares his personal experiences of solo parenting after loss, opening up about the emotional guilt of leaving your children even briefly, the pressure t
Discipline Disagreements: Should Stepparents Have a Say?
This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to unpack a dilemma that so many stepparents silently struggle with: discipline.A listener writes in feeling completely overridden by her partner when it comes to setting boundaries with his children. She tried to discipline calmly and respectfully but he jumped in, reversed her decision, and made her feel like she
Ashley John-Baptiste: From Foster Care to Fatherhood
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
The Father’s Day Special: The Husbands Takeover
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
Growing Up Without Dad: How Our Childhoods Still Shape Us
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 rel
Left Out Of The Big Moments: How Do You Handle Being Excluded?
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 year
Money, Power & Blended Families: Are You Paying Without a Say?
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,
Loving Bio Kids and Step Kids the Same: Is It Possible?
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
Staying Together After the Break-Up: Can You Separate Without Shattering the Family?
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 step
Different Homes, Different Rules: Does It Confuse the Kids?
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 par
Rio Ferdinand Brings a Male Perspective: My Child or My Marriage?
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 famili
Stepmum Pressure: Parenting Without Biological Kids
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 me
Photo Fallout: Did the Stepmum Go Too Far Or Was the Mother-in-Law Stirring The Pot?
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
The Big Introduction: Should My Ex’s Opinion Affect My Timing?
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 str
The Blended podcast is back!
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
A Look Into My World: Welcome Home, Baby Shae!
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 e
A Look Into My World: My Final Baby Prep and My Favourite Blended Moments
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 fina
The Realities of IVF with Vicky Pattison
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 jou
Becoming Blended Through Displacement with Waad Al-Kateab
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
A Look Into My World: Busy Weeks, Baby Prep and Answering Your Questions!
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
What To Do If Your Blended Family Doesn’t Work Out With Nevine Coutry
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 tha
Social Media For Children & Managing Trauma with Psychotherapist Louis Weinstock
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
A Look Into My World: Q&A with Rio
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 feelin
Introducing… The Motherkind Podcast
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
A Look Into My World: Releasing my Blended Books!
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 blen
Learning to Parent in Your ’Second Life’ With Grace Victory
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
A Look Into My World: Holidays, Hospitals & Baby Brain
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
Advice from Dr Martha's Talking Sense Podcast
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 encount
Growing Up with Foster Siblings and Becoming a Single Mother with Lydia Bright
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 daug
Blending Families Harmoniously and Co-Parenting with Rickie Haywood-Williams & Natalie Harman
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 d
Blending a Family from Rio Ferdinand's Perspective
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
Leaning Into Joy While Managing the Fear, Navigating Pregnancy After Loss
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 ba
Planning Solo Parenthood with Liv Thorne
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
A Look into My World: Rio and I Reflect On Mother’s Day
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 massiv
Taking Time for Yourself to Benefit Your Family; Advice from Emily Samuel
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 t
Why Everybody’s 'Normal' is Different with Lisa Timoney
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
A Look into My World: Rio and I Reveal our Baby’s Gender
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
The Importance of Embracing Heritage with Adrienne Herbert
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 bee
The Rewarding Reality of Fostering with Caz and Britney
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
Roxie Nafousi Opens Up on How To Form a Positive Co-Parenting Relationship
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
How Loss Shaped My Blended Family with Emily Dean
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
A Look into My World: A Personal Update
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 soc
How to Effectively Engage With Your Children with Dr Martha Deiros Collado
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 h
BONUS: How I've Created New Traditions in a Blended Family
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 littl
