The Myth of the Harried Woman with Laura Vanderkam
Parents Who Think
In this episode of Parents Who Think, Danusia Malina-Derben speaks with Laura Vanderkam—author, researcher, and mother of five—about time. Not just how we spend it, but how we talk about it. Laura’s work tracks how high-achieving women actually use their hours, and what she found flies in the face of everything we’ve been told: the women she studied weren’t burned out, short-fused, or collapsing in heaps at the end of each day. Danusia and Laura get into it: why our cultural myths around ‘busy women’ persist, how remote work has reshaped everything from commutes to childcare, and...
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I Am Enough with Marisa Peer
Parents Who Think
In this episode of Parents Who Think, host Danusia Malina-Derben is joined by Marisa Peer to discuss why “I am enough” is more than a mantra, it’s a psychological reset that ripples through families. Drawing on decades of therapeutic work and her own personal evolution, Marisa unpacks how societal norms, school gate competition, and everyday self-criticism shape our belief systems. From writing affirmations on mirrors to embedding them in passwords, she offers inventive, memorable ways to anchor self-worth. They explore gendered pressure, the damage of perfection myths, and why so many...
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Jealousy and Sex with Erica Jong
Parents Who Think
What happens when a woman writes the truth the world isn’t ready to hear? In this episode of Parents Who Think, host Danusia Malina-Derben joins Erica Jong, novelist, poet, and unapologetic icon, in a conversation about the power and price of honesty. They explore how female jealousy gets buried in family and friendship, how mothers and daughters carry inherited pain, and why admitting negative emotions is still radical. Erica reflects on the terror of writing Fear of Flying, the myth of zipless fucks, and why she’s always preferred warm and cuddly sex to bodice-ripping fantasy. From...
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A Grown-Up Conversation About Manhood with Ken Mossman
Parents Who Think
In this episode of Parents Who Think, Danusia Malina-Derben joins Ken Mossman for a layered and moving conversation about modern masculinity, emotional maturity, and what it means to be an integrated man. Ken brings wit and wisdom to topics most men were never taught to face: how to play, how to feel, and how to take responsibility without shame or performance. They explore why so many men exile parts of themselves, like their inner child or rebellious adolescent, and what’s possible when those voices are finally welcomed home. Ken also shares what it looks like to meet children where they...
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Mummy was a Secret Drinker with Clare Pooley
Parents Who Think
Parents Who Think host Danusia Malina-Derben joins Clare Pooley in an unflinching conversation about motherhood, sobriety, and the silent unraveling that so often hides behind ‘wine o’clock’.” Together, Clare and Danusia speak frankly about alcohol as a socially sanctioned drug, the seductive myths around moderation, and the messy, non-linear journey of quitting. Clare offers sharp insights for those wondering if their drinking has crept too far, and shares what it means to live fully, vividly, and without blurring the edges. Discover more from us: • Join PWT community on • Follow...
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On Grief, Justice, and Legacy with Stuart Lawrence
Parents Who Think
In this episode of Parents Who Think, Danusia Malina-Derben talks with Stuart Lawrence, teacher, author, and younger brother of Stephen Lawrence, about what it means to carry grief and use it as a tool for change. Stuart reflects on stepping into a leadership role in his family after Stephen’s murder, navigating the long and painful road toward justice, and discovering his own purpose through education and public speaking. He shares intimate memories of his brother, the confusion and pain of dealing with systemic failure, and how his mother’s strength and clarity became the foundation for...
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On Home Education and Redesigning Success with Rosie Sherry
Parents Who Think
Danusia Malina-Derben talks with Rosie Sherry about what it really means to educate and parent outside the system. Rosie, a home educator and founder of a global tech community, shares the story of pulling her children out of school—not out of rebellion, but out of radical care. What followed wasn’t just a change in schooling—it was a reordering of her entire life. Together, Danusia and Rosie talk about the mismatch between modern schooling and real children, the pressure for constant peer socialising, and why introverted kids often get left behind. Rosie also reflects on building a...
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On Harm, Healing and Radical Accountability with Eldra Jackson
Parents Who Think
Eldra Jackson doesn’t soften the truth. And he doesn’t offer redemption stories tied up in a bow. In this conversation, he speaks openly about the crimes that led to his 24-year prison sentence and the deeper inner work that began long after the bars closed behind him. Danusia Malina-Derben, host of Parents Who Think, joins Eldra to explore what happens when men are taught that power depends on domination—and what unfolds when trauma goes unnamed. And what it means to take full responsibility not just for your past, but for the impact you still have on others every day. They discuss his...
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On Stillness, Grief, and Letting Life In with Suzy Walker
Parents Who Think
When Suzy Walker began a mindfulness course, she didn’t expect it to unearth a lifetime of suppressed grief. But in conversation with Danusia Malina-Derben, host of Parents Who Think, what unfolds is a raw, honest reflection on what happens when we stop running, and start listening. Danusia and Suzy explore the seductive trap of busyness, the spiritual disorientation of stillness, and the hidden grief we mask with productivity. Together, they unpack what it means to be present in a culture that values performance over peace, and why women, especially mothers, struggle with simply being. From...
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On Lone Fatherhood and Equality with Michael Ray
Parents Who Think
What does real equality look like when you're parenting solo? In this moving conversation, Danusia interviews Michael Ray, a father who’s raising his daughter on his own after her mother stepped away from their lives. What might sound like a tough beginning becomes a powerful dialogue on parenting, presence, and the messy realities of gendered expectations. Michael shares what it means to parent with depth and integrity—how he built his work life around his daughter’s needs, and why respect for her mother remains non-negotiable. We talk about how men are still applauded for showing up as...
info_outlineWhat happens when a woman writes the truth the world isn’t ready to hear? In this episode of Parents Who Think, host Danusia Malina-Derben joins Erica Jong, novelist, poet, and unapologetic icon, in a conversation about the power and price of honesty.
They explore how female jealousy gets buried in family and friendship, how mothers and daughters carry inherited pain, and why admitting negative emotions is still radical. Erica reflects on the terror of writing Fear of Flying, the myth of zipless fucks, and why she’s always preferred warm and cuddly sex to bodice-ripping fantasy.
From literary rebellion to maternal ambivalence, this episode offers rare insight into what it means to be a woman who speaks her mind, and refuses to apologise for it.
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Credits:
• Hosted by Danusia Malina-Derben
• Edited, Mixed + Mastered by Marie Cruz
• Cover art by Anthony Oram