The Panic Years

This week I spoke to the children’s author, illustrator and writer Laura Dockrill. Her book, What Have I Done covers her experience of post-partum psychosis, feeling suicidal and, eventually, getting well. We discuss all of these things in the episode so it carries a trigger warning: mentions of suicide, psychosis and mental illness. You can follow Laura on Twitter at @LauraDockrill https://twitter.com/LauraDockrill on Instagram at @lauraleedockrill https://www.instagram.com/lauraleedockrill/?hl=en. You can buy her book, What Have I Done here https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1117973/what-have-i-done-/9781529110210.html#:~:text=This%20heart%2Dbreaking%20and%20uplifting,and%20Laura%20started%20to%20struggle. I also interviewed NHS psychiatrist and mental health campaigner Dr Benjamin Janaway about how someone gets admitted to a psychiatric hospital and what treatment they may receive. You can follow him on Twitter at @drjanaway https://twitter.com/drjanaway.

This week I spoke to the comedian and actor, Tiffany Stevenson about work, love and being a stepmother. You can follow Tiffany on Twitter at @TiffanyStevenson https://twitter.com/tiffstevenson and on Instagram at @tiffstevensoncomic https://www.instagram.com/tiffstevensoncomic/?hl=en I also interviewed the psychologist and founder of Happy Steps, Lisa Doodson. You can find out more about Lisa’s work at the Happy Steps website https://happysteps.co.uk/ and follow her on Instagram at @happysteps_drlisa https://www.instagram.com/happysteps_drlisa/?hl=en. You can also buy her book How To Be A Happy Stepmum https://happysteps.co.uk/stepfamily-books-1

This week I spoke to the writer and events doyenne, Rose Stokes about love, lockdown, self-esteem and bad break ups. You can follow Rose on Twitter at @RoseStokes https://twitter.com/RoseStokes and on Instagram at @rosestokes https://www.instagram.com/rosestokes/?hl=en I also interviewed the relationship counsellor Simone Bose. You can follow Simone on Twitter at @simoneboseuk https://twitter.com/simoneboseuk and visit her website at https://www.simonebose.com/ You can also find out more about Relate at https://www.relate.org.uk/

This week Nell spoke to Journalist, Film Critic and writer, Caspar Salmon. Caspar spoke to Nell about changing careers, self belief, coming out and representation in the media.  Caspar's website is: https://casparsalmon.com/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/CasparSalmon  Nell also spoke to Clinical Psychologist Dr Sophie Mort, who unpicked some of the difficulties we have with change and the jigsaw puzzle of our identity.  Dr Soph's website is: https://drsoph.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_drsoph/ Details of Dr Soph's book : https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/A-Manual-for-Being-Human/Dr-Sophie-Mort/9781471197468

This week I spoke to the comedian, actor, writer and star of Ghosts and Stath Lets Flats, Katy Wix.  Katy has just published a phenomenal memoir called Delicacy which, as she puts it, is all about cake and death. It’s funny and wry and brutal and sad. In the book, Katy covers quite a bit of her panic years, from the crap jobs to the unhappy sex, moving to London, ambition and friendship so it was a pleasure to speak to her in more depth. You can follow Katy on Twitter at @WixKaty https://twitter.com/WixKaty and on Instagram at really_katywix https://www.instagram.com/really_katywix/?hl=en I also interviewed the Tom Quinn from the UK eating disorder charity Beat about disordered eating, body dysmorphia and what help is available in the UK today. You can follow Beat on Twitter at @beatED https://twitter.com/beatED or visit their website at https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ They have a helpline at 0808 801 0677

This week I spoke to the writer, Miranda Ward. Miranda's book Adrift: Field Notes From Early Motherhood covers the five years Miranda spent trying to get, and stay, pregnant. It's a funny, poignant, clever and thoughtful book, which tackles the seldom discussed topic of "almost motherhood." Find Miranda on Twitter at @MirandaWardC https://twitter.com/MirandaWardC and on Instagram at @mirandawardc https://www.instagram.com/mirandawardc/?hl=en-gb. You can buy her book at Bookshog.org https://uk.bookshop.org/books/adrift-fieldnotes-from-almost-motherhood/9781474614153 and in shops now. I also spoke to the brilliant midwife Sophie from Tommy’s - a charity that researches into miscarriage, premature birth & stillbirth and provide free pregnancy health information to parents-to-be. Follow Tommy’s on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tommys. Visit their website at Tommys.org https://www.tommys.org/ and you might find this page on supporting someone who’s had a miscarriage particularly useful: https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support/miscarriage-information-and-support/support-after-miscarriage/supporting-someone-who-has-had-miscarriage

This week I had the huge pleasure of speaking to the comedy writer, performer, broadcaster and Welsh speaker, Sian Harries. You may know her work from Man Down, The Froth, The Tourist Trap, she’s written for Never Mind the Buzzcocks and The News Quiz, she co-hosted the Rhod Gilbert show on Radio Wales. She’s done it all.  Sian and I spoke about marrying the same person repeatedly, proposals and keeping to and rejecting traditions. You can follow Sian on Twitter at @sianharries_ https://twitter.com/sianharries_ and on Instagram at @thesianharries_ https://www.instagram.com/thesianharries_/?hl=en I also spoke to Las Vegas' Mobile Minister, Roland August. Roland is a multi award winning minister who has presided over just about every kind of wedding that can be imagined, Elvis weddings, Rollercoasters, Race tracks and naked weddings in the desert.  Roland told us about some of the most notable weddings he's been involved with, just why weddings are important and what it is that most people forget on their big day. Roland's website is here:  https://themobileminister.com/ and he's also on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.mobileminister/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=The%20Mobile%20Minister%20Las%20Vegas

This week I was lucky enough to speak to the comedian, actor, screenwriter, activist and mother, Josie Long. I was desperate to get Josie on the podcast because, from Love and Adventure to Cara Josephine, to Something Better to Tender, Josie’s shows have been the very mirror to my Panic Years. We spoke about work, love, break ups, bringing chaos into your life and the decision to have a baby. Oh and nationalising childcare. Imagine. You can follow Josie on Twitter at @JosieLong https://twitter.com/JosieLong and on Instagram at @josielong https://www.instagram.com/josielong/?hl=en I also interviewed the brilliant Dr Anita Mitra about menstrual health, polycystic ovarian syndrome and, put simply, how our bodies work. You can follow Dr Anita Mitra on Twitter at @Gynaegeek https://twitter.com/GynaeGeek on Instragram at @gynaegeek https://www.instagram.com/gynaegeek/?hl=en and visit her website at https://www.gynaegeek.com/

This week I spoke to the journalist, film maker and dad who gave birth, Freddy McConnell. While we both carried our children, both gave birth in pools and both write about the experience, as a queer parent, Freddy has taught me loads about the panic years that I may never have understood on my own. I loved talking to him about being a single dad, gender and how many of us have been misinformed about fertility. You can follow Freddy on Twitter at @FreddyMcConnell https://twitter.com/freddymcconnell and on Instagram at @freddy.mcconnell https://www.instagram.com/freddy.mcconnell/?hl=en I also interviewed the CEO of Gendered Intelligence, Jay Stewart to find out more about gender, trans parenting and LGBT families. You can follow Gendered Intelligence on Twitter at @GenderedIntell https://twitter.com/Genderintell and on Instagram at @GenderedIntelligence https://www.instagram.com/genderedintelligence/?hl=en Or visit their website at http://genderedintelligence.co.uk

This week I spoke to journalist, writer, social media editor and South London amazonian, Kat Brown. During our chat, we talked about grieving for children that never were, timelines that didn't happen and what it’s like when IVF proves unsuccessful. You can follow Kat on Twitter at @KatBrown https://twitter.com/katbrown and on Instagram at @katbrownwrites https://www.instagram.com/katbrownwrites/?hl=en I also interviewed the fertility counsellor Tracey Sainsbury, author of Making Friends With Your Fertility to get her expert opinion. I asked Tracey all about why thinking about our fertility can be so sensitive and how we can best manage those feelings. You can follow Tracey Sainsbury on Twitter at @IVFcounsellor https://twitter.com/IVFcounsellor Her book Making Friends with your Fertility is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Friends-your-Fertility-reproductive/dp/0995794855/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=making+friends+with+your+fertility&qid=1616407639&sr=8-3

Hello! This week I spoke to the the comedian, actor, writer and all round beautiful man, Rob Delaney. You can watch Rob’s stand up special Jackie here https://800pgr.lnk.to/robTW and if by some miracle you don’t already follow him on social media he is on Twitter at @robdelaney and on Instagram at @robdelaney https://www.instagram.com/robdelaney/?hl=en. I was also overjoyed to interview Dr Kate Lister, the author of A Curious History of Sex and the woman behind the brilliant Whores of Yore. Kate and I dug into the history of the libido and much more besides. You can follow Kate on Twitter at @k8_lister https://twitter.com/k8_lister on Instagram at @mskatelister https://www.instagram.com/mskatelister/?hl=en and follow Whores of Yore at @WhoresofYore https://twitter.com/WhoresofYore.

Hello! This week I spoke to the author and award-winning journalist Saima Mir. Saima has written the most incredible first novel, The Khan, which is out on the first of April. Buy it here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-khan/saima-mir/9780861541416 She has also written brilliantly about her life, past relationships, faith and family. She has three sons - three! Which is a feat of human endurance I can barely quantify. I was thrilled to interview Saima all about maternal rage, why we are so scared of women talking about their anger and our own misconceptions about motherhood in our twenties. You can follow her at @SaimaMir [https://twitter.com/SaimaMir] on Twitter and @ben_raf_remy [https://www.instagram.com/ben_raf_remy/?hl=en] on Instagram. I was also very lucky to talk to interview clinical psychologist and writer Dr Emma Svanberg a.k.a The Mumologist to find out what happens in our brains when we inevitably feel rage You can follow Emma on Twitter at @themumologist https://twitter.com/Mumologist, on Instagram at mumologist https://www.instagram.com/mumologist/ and visit her website at https://mumologist.com/ where you can find her workshop "Why It's Important we can be Hated as parents" in the courses and workshops section.

Hello! This week I spoke to the author, podcaster and journalist Pandora Sykes.  I was thrilled to interview Pandora all about the flattened female identity of motherhood; how we generalise, lump together and dismiss mothers into one homogenous group and how that impacts everyone either thinking about having a baby or who has become a parent.  Pandora's book, How Do We Know That We’re Doing It Right is already a bestseller and will be out in paperback in May 2021. As well as being an author and journalist, Pandora was the co-host of the phenomenal podcast The High Low, presents podcast The Missing and has her own podcast, Doing It Right. You can follow her at @PINsykes [https://twitter.com/PINsykes] on Twitter and @pandorasykes [https://www.instagram.com/pandorasykes/?hl=en] on Instagram. I was also lucky to talk to Sarah McCullen, Director of Impact and Engagement and the National Childbirth Trust. Sarah and I discussed post-natal mental health, identity and what we can do to hold on to our sense of who we are, while growing another person. You can follow NCT on Twitter at @NCTcharity [https://twitter.com/NCTcharity] and visit their website at https://www.nct.org.uk/

This week I had a lovely time talking to the writer, screenwriter, editor, broadcaster and all-round force for good, Nikesh Shukla. Nikesh edited the best-selling essay collection The Good Immigrant, has since co-founded The Good Journal and The Good Literary Agency and is the host of the Brown Baby podcast. He has also written a beautiful book - part memoir, part manifesto - also called Brown Baby all about fatherhood, race, grief and the world as we know it (and want to change it). Nikesh talked to me all about being a dad, work, race and stress-eating crisps. Follow Nikesh on Twitter at @NikeshShulka https://twitter.com/nikeshshukla; on Instagram at  @nikeshshuklawriter https://www.instagram.com/nikeshshuklawriter/?hl=en. Subscribe to the Brown Baby podcast https://play.acast.com/s/brown-baby or visit his website http://www.nikesh-shukla.com/ I also had the pleasure of talking to the psychotherapist and life coach Dan Little about how so many of our Panic Years decisions become intertwined with our attitudes to work, career and success. As well as how to navigate this crunch time without getting completely crunched. Follow Dan Little at Trenpa Therapy:  https://trenpatherapycentre.co.uk/find-a-therapist/dan-little-psychotherapist-life-coach/

This week I had the huge pleasure of speaking to the comedian, writer, author and broadcaster Sara Pascoe. We talked weddings: why we hate them, why people keep having them, how to cope when you're at them and why Sara got married without even having one. I have been a fan and admirer of Sara for years. God she’s good. Her books Animal and Sex, Power, Money genuinely changed the way I think about the world, while her recent sitcom Out of Her Mind, is probably my favourite tv comedy from the last decade. Watch it. Immediately. Follow Sara on Twitter at @sarapascoe https://twitter.com/sarapascoe?lang=en and watch Out of Her Mind on iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08tjqzd I also was thrilled to speak to the clinical psychologist Dr Emma Hepburn. As well as working in the NHS, Emma is the author of the best selling A Toolkit for Modern Life: 53 Ways to Look After Your Mind and is known to millions for her doodles as ThePsychologyMum [https://twitter.com/emmaneuropsych?lang=en] on Instagram. Her free ebook How to stay calm in a global pandemic is here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/How-to-Stay-Calm-in-a-Global-Pandemic-Free-ebook.pdf Her book is available on amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toolkit-Modern-Life-Ways-After/dp/1529410223 or on Hive https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Dr-Emma-Hepburn/A-Toolkit-for-Modern-Life--53-Ways-to-Look-After-Your-Mind/25320103

This week I spoke to the brilliant writer, broadcaster and author, Daisy Buchanan from her home in Margate. We discussed everything from Daisy's decision to be child free to the emotional intensity of supermarkets, love, guilt, pride, family and her apparently insatiable appetite for lamb. As well as a funny, honest and open woman, Daisy is also an incredibly thoughtful and analytical writer whose work I have been enjoying for years. Her latest novel Insatiable: A love story for hungry girls, is published by Little Brown and is out now. Follow Daisy at @NotRollerGirl https://twitter.com/NotRollergirl on Twitter and @TheDaisyBee https://www.instagram.com/thedaisybee/?hl=en on Instagram. I also had the pleasure of speaking to Simone Bose; a Relationship Counsellor at Relate who is also in private practice, about how best to talk to the people you love about whether or not you want to have a baby. Relate (relate.org.uk) provides relationship counselling to couples, families and individuals. They are currently working online – by webcam, Webchat and on the phone. Via relatehub they are also offering FREE 30 minute WebChats with Relationships and Wellbeing Advisors to anyone aged 18+ who is living in England and affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out more at relate.org.uk/relatehub and follow Simone at @simoneboseuk https://twitter.com/simoneboseuk on Twitter.

This is the podcast for anyone who feels out of synch. Journalist and Author Nell Frizzell talks to some of her favourite people about The Panic Years - the period between carelessness and matching crockery, between your friends passing out on the dancefloor and those same people becoming parents; The time when we all start wondering when did everything got so serious? It talks about the big stuff, in a way that will make you feel better. A Brand New Audio Production