Starting Secondary School: How To Help Your Child Feel Confident And Ready
Release Date: 06/04/2026
Children's Phobias: What Every Parent Needs To Know
Parental Control
Fear is a normal part of childhood. From monsters under the bed to spiders, needles and the dark, most children will experience fears as they grow. But when does a fear become a phobia? And what can parents do to help? In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by leading Harley Street phobia expert and Face Your Fears author . Having overcome his own debilitating phobias, Christopher has spent more than 20 years helping people around the world—including Hollywood actors, musicians and celebrities—break free from fears that once controlled their lives. Together, they...
info_outline
The GCSE Problem Nobody Is Talking About
Parental Control
Every year in England, thousands of bright, capable kids sit down to take their GCSE English and maths exams — and fail. Not because they don't know the material. Not because they haven't worked hard. But because the exam itself only tests one narrow way of showing what you know. My guest today has lived this. She watched her own dyslexic son work harder than anyone, understand the material, and still miss the pass mark — again and again — by the smallest of margins. And she watched what that did to him. So she did something about it. She founded Fairer Exams, a parent-led campaign...
info_outline
Body Image After 30: Why Are We Still So Hard On Ourselves?
Parental Control
Why do so many women reach their 30s and 40s feeling more critical of their bodies than ever before? In this honest and thought-provoking episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson sits down with eating disorder specialist and author to explore the complex relationship women have with food, body image and self-worth. From the pressures of social media and the rise of weight-loss injections to perimenopause, ageing and the unrealistic expectations placed on women, this conversation unpacks why so many of us still feel we're never quite enough—and, more importantly, how we can begin to...
info_outline
Can We Change The Future of DIPG? A Conversation With Dr Ashley Vardon
Parental Control
What is it like to dedicate your career to finding a cure for one of the deadliest childhood cancers? In this deeply personal episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson sits down with , an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, whose pioneering research into diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is being part-funded by Billy's Battalion. Together, they explore what life is like on "the other side of the room"—the side where doctors and researchers must deliver devastating diagnoses while working tirelessly to change the future. From the latest breakthroughs in...
info_outline
Mum Rage: You Are Not Bad For Getting Mad
Parental Control
If you've ever found yourself shouting over something small, only to be overwhelmed with guilt moments later, you're far from alone. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by award-winning journalist and author to explore one of motherhood's least talked about realities: mum rage. Lauren has spent more than two decades reporting on family life, child safety and social issues, and after becoming a mother herself during the Covid-19 pandemic, she turned her attention to the hidden pressures facing modern mums. In her book Meltdown, she explores what really sits beneath...
info_outline
Relationships, Sex & Intimacy After Having Kids
Parental Control
Becoming parents changes everything, including your relationship. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by relationship and sex therapist to discuss what really happens to intimacy, communication and connection after children. Why do so many couples end up feeling more like colleagues than lovers? Is it normal for sex to disappear after kids? How much conflict comes down to the mental load? And how do you know the difference between a rough patch and a relationship that's genuinely in trouble? Together, they explore the biggest communication mistakes couples make,...
info_outline
Why Are Children Worrying About Their Bodies So Young?
Parental Control
Body image worries are starting younger. Diet culture may have changed its clothes, but it certainly hasn’t gone away — it’s simply rebranded as wellness, self-improvement and “health optimisation,” all while our children scroll through TikTok, influencers and impossible appearance standards in real time. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by , eating disorder expert, coach, author of the upcoming book Food Freedom, and someone whose own struggles with body image and disordered eating began at just 10 years old. Together, they explore the early warning...
info_outline
Starting Secondary School: How To Help Your Child Feel Confident And Ready
Parental Control
Starting secondary school is one of the biggest milestones in childhood, and, if we’re honest, often one of the most emotionally charged for parents, too. From agonising over school choices and friendship groups to worrying about long commutes, organisation, bullying, overwhelm and whether your child is actually ready for such a huge leap, the move to Year 7 can feel daunting for the whole family. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined once again by education expert Katharine Radice to discuss how parents can support children through the transition to secondary school...
info_outline
SATs, GCSEs And Exam Pressure: Are We Expecting Too Much From Our Kids?
Parental Control
Exam season can bring stress to the entire household. From slammed bedroom doors and sleepless nights to younger children already feeling the pressure of assessment before secondary school is even on the horizon. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by education expert , author of , to unpack what exam pressure is really doing to our children, and to us as parents. Are SATs putting too much pressure on children far too young? How do anxiety, ADHD, autism and perfectionism change the way exam stress shows up? And how can parents support revision without becoming the...
info_outline
Andy Day On Dinosaurs, Dad Life & Rock ’n’ Roll
Parental Control
Andy Day is one of the UK’s most recognisable faces in children’s television, best known for sparking curiosity through his hugely popular Andy’s Adventures series. But beyond the dinosaurs, safari trips and underwater explorations, Andy is also a musician, author, performer and all-round creative force. On this episode of the My Baba Podcast, Ellie chats to Andy about life beyond the screen — from favourite films and bands to his real-life pop band Andy and the Odd Socks, writing bestselling children’s books, and the brand new adventures currently in the works. If your family loves...
info_outlineStarting secondary school is one of the biggest milestones in childhood, and, if we’re honest, often one of the most emotionally charged for parents, too.
From agonising over school choices and friendship groups to worrying about long commutes, organisation, bullying, overwhelm and whether your child is actually ready for such a huge leap, the move to Year 7 can feel daunting for the whole family.
In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined once again by education expert Katharine Radice to discuss how parents can support children through the transition to secondary school with confidence.
Together, they explore how to choose the right school without becoming consumed by league tables and pressure, why the “best” school isn’t always the best fit, how to build independence before September, what to expect emotionally in those early weeks and how transitions can feel different for children with ADHD, autism, anxiety or additional needs.
A practical, reassuring listen for any parent preparing to wave goodbye at the Year 7 gates.
Email us at info@mybaba.com
Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram
Show notes
The Parent's Guide to Exam Stress is a new release and available via all usual booksellers.
Website: katharineradice.co.uk
To join Katharine's mailing list for a fortnightly conversation piece about supporting children through school, it's https://katharineradice.
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/