Parental Control

Kelly Somers is one of the most recognisable faces in football broadcasting, working across BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, Channel 4, Amazon Prime Video and the Premier League. But behind her successful career is a deeply personal story of navigating women's health issues, fertility fears and the realities of becoming a working mum. In this episode of Parental Control, Kelly joins us to talk about her journey to motherhood, including years of painful, irregular periods, an initial endometriosis diagnosis and the eventual discovery that she had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We discuss the frustration of not feeling listened to when seeking medical answers, the uncertainty surrounding fertility and the fear that becoming a mother might never happen. Kelly also opens up about building a career in the male-dominated world of football broadcasting, balancing motherhood with a demanding work schedule and navigating the inevitable mum guilt that comes with being away from home. From taking her two-year-old daughter to the World Cup in America to interviewing England captain Harry Kane, Kelly shares some of the extraordinary experiences that have shaped her career and family life. And with baby number two on the way, we talk about pregnancy, parenting and why better conversations around women's health are so desperately needed. It's a fascinating conversation about ambition, resilience, motherhood and the importance of advocating for your own health.

How can parents recognise the signs of dyslexia in children, and what should they do if they're concerned? This week on Parental Control, we're joined by Kate Griggs, founder of Made By Dyslexia, to discuss how we can better understand and support dyslexic children. Kate has spent more than 20 years challenging traditional ideas about intelligence and championing the strengths of dyslexic minds. She's worked with global organisations including Microsoft and Goldman Sachs and is the bestselling author of This Is Dyslexia and Xtraordinary People. Recognising Dyslexia In Children Dyslexia isn't always easy to spot. While some children struggle with reading, writing or spelling, others are bright, articulate and seemingly doing well at school, making their difficulties much harder to recognise. We talk to Kate about the early signs parents should look out for, why some children become experts at masking their difficulties, and when to push for an assessment or additional support. We also discuss what parents should be asking their child's school, how dyslexia can affect confidence and self-esteem, and why homework can become such a battleground for families. Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Show Notes & Useful Links Made By Dyslexia Website: https://www.madebydyslexia.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madebydyslexia/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madebydyslexia/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madebydyslexia/ What Is Dyslexia? – Watch The Film Watch Made By Dyslexia's animated short film, featuring Jeremy Irons and Liv Tyler, and help support its mission to reach 100 million screens worldwide. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQYrXm8W8X4 Official film website: https://www.whatisdyslexia.org/ Resources For Parents & Children Advice and resources for parents: https://www.madebydyslexia.org/parents/ Resources for children: https://www.madebydyslexia.org/kids/ Kate Griggs' Books This Is Dyslexia Xtraordinary People Follow Made By Dyslexia on Instagram @madebydyslexia for more information, resources and updates on the campaign. What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

Who were you before you became a mother? And how much of that person do you recognise now? Motherhood changes us in ways we can never fully anticipate. But what happens when the identity you've spent years building suddenly feels completely at odds with the life you're living? In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson joins entrepreneur and RESTOREHer founder Lina Perez for an honest conversation about motherhood, ambition, maternal mental health and the pressure women face to bounce back after having a baby. Following the birth of her son in 2025, Lina experienced postpartum anxiety, a frightening period that also triggered a profound crisis of identity. Together, Ellie and Lina explore the grief of losing the woman you once were, the guilt that can accompany motherhood, and the loneliness of appearing capable on the outside while struggling internally. They also discuss what recovery really looks like, why returning to your old self isn't always the answer, and the importance of recognising mothers as people with emotional and physical needs of their own. Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes RestoreHer Instagram: @restoreher_retreats What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

Are we making parenting harder than it needs to be? With endless advice, conflicting opinions, parenting experts and products promising to make family life easier, it can sometimes feel as though raising children has become more complicated than ever. In this episode of Parental Control, My Baba's Ellie Thompson is joined by TV presenter, dad and founder of Dadvengers Nigel Clarke, alongside educational psychologist and fellow My Baba Awards judge Sasha Hall, for a refreshingly candid conversation about what parenting actually looks like behind closed doors. From the expectations they had before becoming parents to the battles they've learnt to let go, parenting fails, questionable advice and the things their children have taught them along the way, Nigel and Sasha share the lessons that only really come from doing the job. They also tackle whether knowing too much about child development can make parenting harder, what children genuinely need from us and whether today's parents are drowning in information. Qs for Nigel and Sasha Plus, as judges of the My Baba Awards 2026, they turn their attention to the products that really make family life easier, what modern parents actually want from brands and what it takes for a product to genuinely stand out. Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes We'd love you to join us at The Baby Show Olympia London, sponsored by Pampers from 23-25 October. Even better, we've been given a code to save you over 35%* on tickets! Secure yours now for just £18*, saving you £10* on the on-the-door price (ticket price includes a £2 transaction fee, applied per order). Simply quote PTMYBABASOC when booking. Click here. *T&Cs apply. Ticket price includes a £2 transaction fee, which is applied per order. What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

What happens when we die? It's a question most of us will ask at some point, but for Parental Control host Ellie Thompson, it became impossible to stop asking after losing her little boy, Billy. In this deeply personal episode, Ellie is joined by Dr Eben Alexander, neurosurgeon and bestselling author of Proof of Heaven. For much of his medical career, Eben believed that consciousness was dependent on the brain. Then, in 2008, a severe brain infection left him in a week-long coma — and what he says he experienced during that time completely transformed his worldview. Since Billy died, Ellie has found herself searching for answers in places she might never previously have considered — exploring science, consciousness, near-death experiences and the possibility that the people we love might somehow still be with us. Eben's work has become an important part of that journey. In this episode, Ellie and Eben explore his extraordinary experience, the nature of consciousness, what near-death experiences might tell us about death, signs and connections with those we've lost, and whether science could ever help us understand what happens when we die. It's a very different episode of Parental Control, and one of Ellie's most personal conversations yet. Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Dr Eben Alexander — official website — his books, work on consciousness, talks and resources. Sacred Acoustics — the brainwave-entrainment audio and meditation work associated with Eben and Karen Newell. Their site also has free training resources. Inner Sanctum Center — Eben and Karen's community and courses exploring consciousness, including monthly online sessions. Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies — research organisation focused on evidence concerning survival of consciousness after physical death and the nature of an afterlife. Laura Lynne Jackson — official website — psychic medium and author whose work you discuss in the episode. What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/