Mamia & Me

It’s the final episode of Season 3 for Aldi’s Mamia & Me podcast and what a year it has been. We’ve had incredible conversations with an amazing lineup of guests, each bringing their own unique perspective on life, parenting, and everything in between.To sign off, Jen looks back on some of the standout moments and reflects on the wisdom our guests imparted.A massive thank you to all of our listeners from this and past seasons. We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did!

In this special live episode from Electric Picnic, Jen sits down with broadcaster, music connoisseur and fashion lover, Louise Duffy as she prepares her eldest daughter for the new school year. Best known for her popular RTÉ radio music show, Louise shares insights into her life as a mum to daughters Esmé and Elin and her relationship with (outnumbered) husband and Kerry GAA hero, Paul Galvin. She discusses her and Paul’s different parenting styles, the mental load that often falls on mothers, and her experiences balancing a busy career in radio with being a mum. Not to mention the importance of finding time to enjoy her marriage as people, not just parents. Jen also talks to Louise about her work as an ambassador for children’s charity, Barnardos. They are joined onstage by Deirdre Cahir, a team leader with Barnardos, who highlights the vital services Barnardos provide for children and families in need and the positive impact they can have. Aldi is a proud partner of both Barnardos and Electric Picnic.

In this month’s episode, Jen is joined by the multi-talented Terrie McEvoy to chat about her life and career as a nurse, content creator, fashion & beauty entrepreneur and mum to a two-year-old. Terrie has always loved travel and a spontaneous way of life and the arrival of her little girl, Sydney, certainly didn’t change this. She shares some handy travel tips for parents venturing abroad with their little ones.  Terrie chats about her and husband David’s two-year journey to finding their dream home, her career as a nurse, becoming a household name (with nearly 350,000 followers on Instagram) and entrepreneur! She also discusses the story of how she met David, how their relationship has changed since having Sydney, and the delicate balance of sharing her life online, particularly when it comes to her daughter. Finally, Jen gets the lowdown on Terrie and David’s multi-faceted business endeavours and what’s next for this woman of many talents!

This month’s episode is brought to you from Ireland’s most famous kitchen – the place where it all began for Tadhg and Derry Fleming! Ireland’s favourite father and son duo sit down for an exclusive chat with Jen, shortly after the birth of Tadhg’s baby girl. The social media stars chat about the new addition to the family, the challenges and hopes of being a new dad, and the joys of becoming a first-time grandad. There’s laughter, wisdom, and plenty of behind-the-scenes insights for fans too: how much prep goes into their videos? How often do they completely lose patience with each other? How much convincing does Derry really need to get inside a giant balloon or put on a dress?It's not easy creating regular, entertaining videos for millions of people – and managing the fame that comes with it – but the pair are up to the task. At the heart of it all is Derry’s message to never stop having a bit of craic, no matter what age you are!

Jacqui Hurley is a celebrated broadcaster, author, mum, and passionate advocate for children and women in sport. In this episode, she sits down with Jen and opens up about family life: her early childhood living in Australia, the joys of coaching her own kids, taking time with her husband - as partners and not just parents - and how she juggles her busy schedule to ensure she’s present with her children. She also speaks candidly about the tragic passing of her brother Sean and how it has influenced her approach to parenting and life in general. Away from family, Jacqui discusses her “dream” career - from presenting The Sunday Game, covering the Olympics, and meeting her sporting heroes, to the inspiration behind her bestselling series of books, Girls Play Too. With her positivity and can-do attitude illuminating the discussion, it’s not hard to tell why she’s one of Ireland’s favourite broadcasters. As Jacqui says, Seize The Day!

This month we bring you a very special episode, one of particular interest to anyone who is a parent in Ireland today. This episode was recorded live at the Museum of Literature Ireland, and host Jen Hogan was joined by comedian, podcaster, and dad Jarlath Regan; author, content creator and mum of three, Caz Mooney; and Bernie Coyne, of Coyne Research, who carried out the ALDI Mammies and Daddies Report.The ALDI Mammies and Daddies Report is the discussion point of this episode.  Our panellists share their perspectives on balancing work, childcare, health, and personal interests, as well as offering insights into the juggling act that is modern parenting. Jarlath, Caz, and Bernie are full of anecdotes to tell, ranging from the difficulties of working from home while raising a family, to the lunacy of marathon running to the beauty of doing stand-up comedy for infants!There are some hard-hitting truths about how much more men need to be doing when it comes to parenting, and around the reality of trying to live up to society’s expectations of parents.In the end, though, maybe it’s all just the kids’ fault?!

On this month’s episode Jen sits down with Irish Rugby legend and father of three, Keith Earls. Off the rugby pitch, Keith has dealt with all sorts of challenges including mental health issues, Dad guilt, starting a coffee roastery business, and writing a book. Keith chats about working with his wife, Edel, on their business, spending more time than ever with his 3 daughters, and some of the challenges around coaching kids in sport. He speaks candidly about his early life growing up in Moyross in Limerick, where rugby was a welcome distraction, and the mental health struggles he endured throughout his playing career. Jen also finds out about his passion for coffee, his hopes and dreams for the future, and even his hidden talent!

On this month’s episode Jen sits down with holistic sex educator Jenny Keane, otherwise known as the Orgasm Queen! Jenny chats about how she went from being a teenager who left the room when her parents mentioned sex, to one of Ireland’s leading sex educators, giving workshops with thousands of participants. Big changes are in sight, with Jenny expecting her first child, and she has plenty of advice for parents about sex and intimacy during and after pregnancy. Jenny talks about toys, sex positions, and ultimately how to think about sex differently. Finally, Jen finds out about Jenny’s live show at Vicar Street, what’s next for the Orgasm Queen, and gets a sneak preview of Jenny’s new fragrance: Jenny Keane No. 4!

On this month’s episode Jen sits down with author, food writer, and mother Jolene Cox, aka OneYummyMummy.  Jolene’s mission to make home cooking the new convenience food has turned what was initially a food blog into a career as a best-selling author and regular on TV with her nine year old daughter and co-chef, Lily-Mae.  Jen may have a few hangups around food (please don’t make her touch the ketchup!) but she’s determined to get plenty of advice from the expert on how to make home cooking fun. Jolene is a huge advocate of involving kids in cooking from a very young age, even if they’ll only eat beige food!  There are plenty of tips on school lunches and family meals, and Jolene chats about what it’s like having your daughter as your co-star, cooking on national TV, and what’s next for the bestselling author.

It’s that most joyous time of year…unless you’re a Turkey, of course. On this month’s episode, Dustin the Turkey asks us all to go vegan for Christmas or, at the very least, to consider sitting down to a nice, roast seagull. Sure you’ve never seen a turkey rob your chips on Dollymount strand!  First up, though, Jen sits down with comedian, impressionist, and father of two Mario Rosenstock. They chat about Mario’s childhood, growing up on a farm, and one truly awful chat-up line. He discusses his kids, his approach to parenting, and balancing life as a touring comedian with family life. And, of course, along the way there are some celebrity appearances from Leo, Paschal, Miriam, Roy, Gaybo, and many more. Mario talks about honing his craft, from talking to himself in the shower to encounters with some less-than-impressed celebrities!Finally, Dustin updates us all on what’s happening at RTÉ, and his latest ambitions as a politician (is he Poultry Before People these days, or is it Fianna Fowl?), before singing us out with a classic Dustin Christmas tune!