Leanne's Podcast

Send us Fan MailMy next guest on the podcast is the wonderful Heidi.From the heartbreak of losing her first baby at 12 weeks, to two pregnancies blighted by severe, debilitating sickness, Heidi opens up about the physical and emotional toll pregnancy took on her. We talk about gestational diabetes, birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, breastfeeding struggles and the reality of finding yourself again after becoming a mum.But amongst the difficult moments, Heidi also shares how finding her village through her NCT mums, discovering the healing power of Mama Time and joining a local choir helped her reconnect with herself.She also opens up about the difficult decision she faces now: wanting another baby but being terrified of going through it all again.This is a conversation about loss, survival, friendship, finding your identity

Send us Fan MailToday on Motherhood, honestly I’m joined by Becky🎙️🤍At just 36 weeks pregnant, Becky went into labour expecting to meet her baby girl. Tragically, Sophia was born showing no signs of life, and despite the medical team’s efforts, they were unable to revive her.Four weeks later, Becky and her husband received devastating news about what had happened during labour, leaving them with questions and heartbreak that would stay with them for the rest of their lives.In this episode of Motherhood, Honestly, Becky bravely shares her story of losing Sophia, navigating the darkest days of grief, finding the courage to try again, and raising her two sons while carrying the loss of the daughter who will always be part of their family.Twenty-four years on, Sophia is still loved, still remembered, and still a part of Becky’s story. Today’s episode is dedicated to her, on what would have been her 24th birthday. ❤️Thank you, Becky, for trusting me with Sophia’s story. No baby should ever be forgotten, and no parent should ever feel they have to grieve in silence.⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: Baby loss. This episode discusses the death of a baby during labour and the physical changes following her death. Please take care of yourself while listening.

Send us Fan MailToday on Motherhood, Honestly, I’m joined by Lizzie, who is sharing her story of motherhood, birth trauma and postpartum depression.Lizzie had a pregnancy she loved, but after a traumatic emergency C-section, the reality of motherhood turned out to be very different from what she had imagined. From struggling with feeding and dealing with Flo’s colic, to feeling isolated, trapped and battling some incredibly dark thoughts, Lizzie opens up about the side of motherhood that so many mums experience but don’t always feel able to talk about.She also shares the impact postpartum depression had on her relationship, how she became so good at hiding how much she was struggling, and what it feels like to look back on those early years of motherhood now that Flo is a teenager.Listening to Lizzie’s story, there were so many moments that felt incredibly relatable to my own experience with postpartum depression. There were feelings and experiences that I recognised, and I think that’s such an important reminder of why sharing these stories matters. Sometimes, hearing another mum put into words exactly how you’ve felt can make you realise that you’re not alone.

Send us Fan MailMy next guest is someone you may recognise from her advocacy work online, raising awareness of neurodivergence and mental health.Wenna became a mum at just 18, and her journey has included NICU, postpartum depression, struggles with bonding and a life-threatening experience with maternal sepsis after the birth of her daughter.Today, she’s a mum to two incredible children, a passionate advocate for neurodivergence, a senior HR partner and a Psychology student working towards her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist.But alongside everything else, Wenna has also experienced the devastating loss of her dad, who sadly passed away suddenly last year. Now, she’s channeling some of that grief into something incredibly meaningful by training for the London Marathon in support of the British Heart Foundation, helping raise awareness and support vital work in heart health.If you’d like to support Wenna’s fundraising, the donation link will be shared at the end of the podcast.But Today, we’re talking honestly about postpartum depression, birth trauma, maternal sepsis, grief, neurodivergence and the highs and lows of motherhood.So grab a cuppa and settle in as this is Wenna’s story.https://www.justgiving.com/page/wenna-runs-

Send us Fan MailToday I’m joined by the lovely Vanessa, and honestly, her story is one that stayed with me.We talk about birth trauma, becoming a single mum, raising two children while working incredibly hard, ADHD and neurodivergence — but most importantly, we talk about mum guilt and learning to forgive yourself for the things you wish you’d done differently.Vanessa’s story is a really honest reminder that we’re all just doing the best we can with what we know at the time.I cannot wait for you to hear this one. ❤️

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Motherhood, Honestly, Leanne finally tells her story completely, honestly and from her side.Sitting down with her best friend of 25 years, Alice, Leanne opens up about the reality of her pregnancy, Olivia’s early arrival, the traumatic experience surrounding her birth and the depths of the post-partum depression that followed.She talks about the things she struggled to say out loud at the time,  the guilt, the fear, the intrusive thoughts, the feeling that she wasn’t the mum she was supposed to be, and the terrifying place her mental health eventually took her to.But this conversation isn’t just about how bad things became. It’s about everything that happened behind the scenes, the parts of her story that haven’t been heard before, and the journey from simply surviving motherhood to finally feeling like herself again.With Alice asking the questions, Leanne gets to speak freely, without filtering or protecting anyone else.This is her story.Her truth.Her side.

Send us Fan MailMeet Emma. I honestly don’t even know where to start with this one…This episode is absolute chaos in the best possible way. We laughed until we cried, we tackled the raw reality of postpartum, and at one point I genuinely forgot we were recording because it just felt like two mums having a chat.I fell in love with Emma instantly. She’s hilarious, brutally honest, and such an incredible advocate for women. She isn’t afraid to say the things so many mums think but are too scared to admit, and that’s exactly why this conversation is so important.From the darkest early weeks of motherhood to finding joy on the other side (with a broken leg thrown into the mix!), Emma shares her story with so much openness, humour and heart.If you’ve ever sat there thinking, “Is it just me?”, this episode is for you.Trust me… you’re going to love her as much as I do. 

Send us Fan MailToday’s episode is one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the podcast.Marija bravely shares her experience of postpartum psychosis. A severe mental health condition that can affect women after childbirth and is often misunderstood.This episode is raw, honest and incredibly powerful. It highlights just how quickly postpartum psychosis can develop, the impact it can have on mothers and families, and most importantly, that recovery is possible with the right support and treatment.A huge thank you to Marija for trusting us with her story and helping to raise awareness of a condition that needs to be talked about more.If you listen to one episode this season, make it this one.

Send us Fan MailIntroducing my next guest, CharlotteCharlotte joins me to share her honest motherhood journey, including her experience of gender disappointment during pregnancy, becoming a mum during lockdown, and the chaos of raising an energetic six-year-old boy.We also talk about an unfortunate incident involving a pound coin that resulted in a trip to hospital and surgery to remove it!This episode explores the guilt, the worry, the joy, and everything in between that comes with motherhood. It's a raw, relatable conversation that so many mums will connect with. 

Send us Fan MailThis week on Motherhood Honestly, I’m joined by Bex! Mum of two and founder of @babybexerciseuk . As she shares her honest journey through motherhood, pregnancy, birth and postpartum.Bex opens up about feeling scared and completely unprepared during her first pregnancy, admitting she didn’t fully process becoming a mum until her baby was finally in her arms. During her second pregnancy, everything changed. She felt stronger, more empowered and passionate about showing other mums the importance of staying active, not just physically, but mentally too.That passion led to the creation of Baby Bexercise.  A supportive space helping mums rebuild confidence, move their bodies and feel less alone in postpartum. After struggling with loneliness herself as the first of her friends to become a mum, she realised just how important community really is.