The Family Tribe

Content note: This episode discusses stillbirth, bereavement and mental health. Please listen when it feels right for you. Irish support details are included below.“If I have a son, I’m a father.”Dylan McKenna’s son Hunter was stillborn on 15 October 2025. In this episode, released on Hunter’s first birthday and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, Dylan joins Afif and Anne to share his son’s story and what the past year has meant for him as a dad.Dylan speaks about losing his own father during Caitlín’s pregnancy, the hope Hunter brought to their lives, and the devastating experience of leaving hospital without him. He explains why recognising bereaved parents as mothers and fathers matters, and how even well-meant words can leave them feeling unseen.We explore fathers’ mental health, the exhaustion of appearing to cope at work, and the challenges of supporting each other when grief feels different for each partner. Dylan also shares his experience of counselling and his plans to connect with other bereaved fathers through Féileacáin.As Dylan and Caitlín prepare to welcome Hunter’s little brother, he describes the fear, guilt and growing joy of pregnancy after loss, and their determination that both sons will always have a place in their family.We also hear about his request for the Late Late Toy Show to light a Christmas tree blue and pink in memory of babies who have died, and why that small gesture could mean so much to families watching.A conversation about love, fatherhood, saying our children’s names and continuing to show up for grieving parents.Support in IrelandIf this conversation brings up difficult feelings, support is available:Féileacáin: Call 085 249 6464 for support following stillbirth or neonatal death. Visit feileacain.ie.Féileacáin Fathers: Connection and peer support for bereaved dads through football and social activities. Visit feileacainfathers.com or email [email protected] Little Lifetime Foundation: Bereavement support and counselling, including a dedicated dads’ group. Visit alittlelifetime.ie or email [email protected] Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support Line: Freephone 1800 80 70 77, Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm, for support with grief or concern about someone who is grieving. More information.Samaritans Ireland: Call 116 123, free, 24 hours a day, if you need someone to listen. samaritans.org.

Can having a baby later in life really help you live longer? And what do scientists actually mean when they say pregnancy changes your biological age?This week on The Family Tribe, Afif and Anne investigate the research behind the headlines linking motherhood, ageing and longevity. They explore the remarkable demands pregnancy places on the body, changes in biological ageing markers during pregnancy and after birth, and why having your first baby later is a different question from having your last baby later.Along the way, they discuss telomeres, epigenetic clocks, genetics, menopause and family size, asking whether later motherhood might reflect better underlying health rather than cause a longer life.There is also Anne’s recollection of planning her family around turning 35, a discussion of age-related pregnancy risks, and some strong feelings about the phrase “geriatric pregnancy”.With plenty of teasing and a healthy scepticism towards Instagram science, this is a conversation about understanding the evidence without turning it into another reproductive deadline. Your child’s birth certificate cannot predict your lifespan.

What happens when Anne’s lifelong best friend joins the podcast? Afif discovers just how much history he has missed, and a birth story somehow involves an offer to do the midwives’ hair. In this bonus episode, we welcome Martha Galvin, hairdresser, business owner, mother of three boys and honorary fifth Doherty sister. Martha shares the stories of her first son’s arrival and the later birth of her twins. She reflects on preparing for labour, discussing her preferences with her maternity team, choosing pain relief and understanding what might happen if plans needed to change. At the heart of her experience was feeling heard, supported and involved in the decisions being made. Martha also introduces her planned podcast, The Invisible Bag, exploring the unseen experiences and worries people carry through life. An affectionate, candid conversation about birth, friendship and the people who help us feel supported. Every birth is different, and Martha’s story reflects the choices and circumstances that were right for her. Put the kettle on, join us, and share this episode with someone who loves a good birth story.  

Would banning teenagers from social media make them safer? And what might we miss if we judge their online lives by screen time alone? This week on The Family Tribe, Afif and Anne explore teenagers, technology and the daily negotiations happening in family homes, including their own. Maggie explains why she felt she received access to social media too late, while Faisal’s experience shows how recognising a problem and asking for help can become part of learning to manage it. There is also an alarming screen-time total that turns out to involve rather more Lego than expected. Alongside these family stories, Afif and Anne discuss Irish online safety rules, research on teenage mental health, school phone restrictions and the arguments for and against blanket bans. An honest conversation about setting limits, listening to teenagers and recognising our own scrolling habits. Follow The Family Tribe, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with a parent navigating the same conversations.Content note: This episode includes discussion of self-harm and suicide.

Headlines about babies swallowing millions of plastic particles can make an ordinary bottle feed feel like a parenting mistake. So what does the research actually tell us?In this episode of Baby Tribe Shorts, Afif and Anne explore microplastics in baby bottles, silicone teats and milk storage bags. They revisit the Trinity College Dublin study behind many of the headlines, discuss why measuring particles is surprisingly complicated, and explain the distinction between detecting exposure and demonstrating harm.They also separate microplastics from BPA, consider the practical drawbacks of glass bottles, and discuss why concerns about plastic should never undermine established advice on sterilisation and formula preparation. Along the way, Afif loses patience with Instagram fearmongering, Anne recalls a toddler licking a shoe, and a disagreement over millimetres becomes surprisingly competitive.An episode about feeding choices, scientific uncertainty and helping parents make decisions without unnecessary guilt.