Quickie: The hamster died

Quite the episode. We interrupt usual service of interviewing incredible women for a DMP special on Anna’s engagement to Olly. From love post-divorce to looking back at one of the toughest junctures of her life, this is maybe not the Disney happily ever after but it is, indeed, very happy.

As hot flushes land and brain fog descends, Anna and Polly question their symptoms and open-up about navigating the next biological female chapter. Pre-warning: there’s a lot of justified, although slightly off-the-wall rage.

Whether newborn exhaustion or pure insomnia, Dr Sophie explains the impact of sleeplessness on our minds, bodies and parental souls. From sleep disorders to effective sleep routines, this is 45 minutes of sleepiness in podcast form.

Shouldn’t laugh but this week your stories on how your kid’s pets came to an end is something else. From fish jumping into toasters to sinister Siamese cats unravelling your parental mind, this is one of the darkest, funniest chats to date.

The CEO of The World Happiness Index certainly knows a thing or two about finding joy. In this open-hearted chat Anna and Polly ask Karen how she started smiling again against the grieving odds. Funny, sad, uplifting and ultimately a happy ending.

Pets and grief is quite the juggernaut to navigate with kids. Anna has to handle the death for the family pet hamster Ziggy. Is lying ever ok to protect your kids? How do you navigate a rodent funeral? And was buying two guinea pigs really a good idea in the wake of all this? Expect tea-through-nose laughter and solemnity. A tale of two sides.

You asked for it and we’re giving it. You wanted more of us - Polly and Anna - so here we delve into Pol’s ADHD diagnosis in an emotional, informative rollercoaster of a podcast episode that leaves no ADHD stone unturned. While Polly isn’t an expert, she’s read The Whole Internet since being diagnosed and this could be an initial stepping stone if you wonder if you - or your child - might have ADHD.

Following a stat that it’s cringe to be in a club over 40, Polly and Anna recount their clubbing days and question if they really are too old to get down with the kids…

From being bulldozed in meetings by men to being underestimated at every turn, this episode questions why women have to work twice as hard to get anywhere in the boardroom. Three words: The Invisible Load. With some powerful tips on how to make it your own way. Without stepping into a man’s shoes but paving your own path.

From the viral video of a toddler using the F bomb to more and more parents losing their sh*t in front of the kids, this episode tackles swearing and the impact on kids. Is it funny or is it concerning? You decide.