In this episode, Laura interviews Julie Phillips, an award-winning author, biographer and book critic who wrote the influential book - Baby on the Fire Escape, where she explores the complex relationship between creativity and motherhood through the lives of some of the most important women artists of the 20th century.. Together, they unpick the ch…

In this episode, Laura interviews Katherine May, the bestselling author and podcaster of books such as Wintering and The Electricity of Every Living Thing. Katherine discusses the struggles she faced during her pregnancy, including depression and feeling out of place. She shares her insights as an autistic mother and the importance of finding one's…

In this episode, Laura speaks with memoirist and bestselling author, Cathy Rentzenbrink, writer of The Last Act of Love and Write it All Down. Together, they consider the power of writing for mental health, advocating for a focus on process over content. Cathy elaborates on how writing has helped her understand and manage traumatic experiences in h…

Laura and Leah Hazard both practising NHS midwives, writers and birth activists, discuss how to bring evidence-based information about midwifery, birth and women’s bodies into the public sphere in a way that’s accessible, relatable and relevant to our times. Leah’s new book, Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began, expands on the history of wo…

Artist, writer, editor, lecturer, speaker and curator Sarah Lightman discusses her graphic memoir, The Book of Sarah, which looks at her childhood, cultural history and explores her mothering experiences through text and images. She gives an introduction to graphic narrative work and cartooning, particularly the powerful history by Jewish women. Yo…

Founder of The Motherhood Group, a social enterprise that supports the Black maternal experience, Sandra Igwe discusses her advocacy for the importance of ‘radical peer support’ for Black mothers. Sandra is also a writer and poet, and author of My Black Motherhood: Mental Health, Stigma, Racism and the System. In her book, she uses her voice, and m…

Laura speaks with award-winning author, poet and activist, Jacqueline Saphra. The conversation explores love, family history, birth and relationships. Jacqueline reads two of her beautiful poems highlighting the power and resonance of poetry in processing emotions and experiences. Your host is writer, artist and midwife, Laura Godfrey-Isaacs. To fi…

In this episode, Laura sits in conversation with Nikesh Shukla, an author, editor and screenwriter. Together, they discuss Nikesh’s memoir, Brown Baby, a love letter to his daughter which interrogates race, family, home, and grief from his perspective as a father and explores how parenthood changes our perceptions of life, what it means to be a wri…

Laura is joined by award-winning writer and editor Sinéad Gleeson, who reveals her extraordinary journey of motherhood overcoming trauma, illness and disability. She discusses the power of writing and extends valuable advice to anyone struggling to put pen to paper. Your host is writer, artist and midwife, Laura Godfrey-Isaacs. To find out more, he…

Laura talks to award-winning journalist and writer Saima Mir about her feelings of obscurity and anger in the transition to motherhood. They discuss the struggle to combat conflicting stereotypes imposed on mothers and how writing and creativity can offer ways to positively affect mental health and well-being. Your host is writer, artist and midwif…

A look at the power of journaling and creativity to support mental health and well-being through parenting.Af Maternal Journal