The straight-talking parenting podcast in which we shine a light on the particular highs and lows of raising disabled children, acknowledge our triumphs and our mistakes and embrace all of our beautiful differences.
Because really, what the f**k is normal anyway?!
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F**king normal live April ‘24
Our first live show was recorded at the Parcel Yard, London Kings Cross at the end of April 2024. We were absolutely overwhelmed by the love, warmth and connection in the room. More to come! Thank you so much to everyone who was able to join us. For those who weren’t, you can share in the experience with this episode and we hope to have news of more events for the community to join very soon.
During this live event, the incredible Polly Hazelwood stepped in last minute to host a Q&A with Lauren and Rina. Audience members also had their chance to both answer and ask questions of the panel. The conversation was honest, emotional, supportive and often f**king joyous.
EPISODE 23 - Conversation with a dad with kevin troy
On this week’s episode, Rina and Lauren sat down with dad Kevin Troy to talk about his journey to fatherhood. Having previously worked in fast paced, male dominated environments, centred around the ‘work hard, play hard’ philosophy, Kevin’s world has slowed down significantly since his daughter Coraline was born in 2018. Diagnosed with Downs Syndrome, Coraline not only made Kevin a dad, but inspired him to create an organic skincare brand named after her.
EPISODE 22 - transition to adulthood with Julia Marsan
In this episode, Rina and Lauren talk with Julia Marsan about her experience in supporting her disabled daughter Nicole in the transition to adulthood. Julia shares how she fought to find the right solutions to both enable Nicole to live as independently as possible outside of the care of her parents into supported living where she now lives "the best life, in her own way", as well as the way to maintain balance in her and her husband's own lives.
EPISODE 21 - Learning and unlearning with Suzanne McManus
In this episode, Lauren and Rina talk with mother, advocate and BBC commissioning editor Suzanne McManus on her neurodivergent family, the parenting approach she has learnt to adopt for her two autistic children and her mission to create positive change in her industry.
EPISODE 20 - ‘I am because we are’ with juliet diener
In this episode, Lauren and Rina talk with dance movement psychotherapist and mother Juliet Diener on building an inclusive community and working with disabled children and their families. Juliet shares her passion for what she does with her charity organisation icandance and how her personal family story has influenced the empathy and understanding she brings to the disabled young people she works with and their parent carer families.
EPISODE 19 - Uprooting and rerouting with camilla cook
In this episode, Lauren and Rina talk with teacher and mum Camilla Cook on how she left her home, job and life behind her during the COVID pandemic at the same time as coming to terms with the fact that her youngest daughter Sylva, had a yet undiagnosed genetic condition.
EPISODE 18 - working 9 to 5 with Leisa millar
In this episode, Rina and Lauren talk with journalist and fellow podcaster Leisa Millar on the world of work as parent carers. Leisa is host of the SEN Mums’ Career Club podcast where she speaks with women in fascinating and diverse roles who are also parent carers and finds out how they make paid work work for them.
EPISODE 17 - Sandwich caring with Rachel Pears
This week, Rina and Lauren talk with Rachel Pears about her experience as a 'sandwich carer'. Rachel describes the challenges of her diagnosis journey for her daughter (who has a rare genetic condition) while simultaneously caring for both her parents. As Rachel herself put it, she felt like she was competing in the “caring olympics”, but without any time for the training!
EPISODE 16 - Wellbeing with Nicole Stephens
In the first episode of Series 3, Rina and Lauren talk with nutritionist, health professional and SEND mum Nicole Stephens. Nicole candidly shares how, despite her professional knowledge, she neglected to look after her own health and wellbeing in the early days before and after her daughter was diagnosed.
EPISODE 15 - conversation with a therapist with charlotte fox weber
In the final episode of series 2 Lauren and Rina take to the couch for a different kind of conversation with psychotherapist Charlotte Fox Weber. The discussion covers some of the emotional themes that come up again and again with parents of disabled children and Charlotte answers questions submitted by listeners.
Charlotte shares her professional and candid insight on topics like: the pressure to cope; the sneaky emotion that is guilt; asking for help; and how to deal with ongoing trauma. It is an illuminating conversation, peppered with vulnerability, wisdom and laughter.