Show Notes
This week we’re joined by the brilliant Ashley James. TV presenter, DJ, author of Bimbo, mum of two and a fierce advocate for women rewriting the rules.
From lockdown love stories to parenting reality checks, this episode is packed with honesty, humour and a few very relatable fails.
Ashley takes us back to meeting her partner on Hinge, moving in just before the world shut down, and finding herself pregnant only months into a new relationship. She opens up about becoming a mum when she wasn’t even sure she liked kids and the resentment that crept in when her partner went back to work.
We get into the double standards that follow women everywhere. The labels like nag, ball buster and frigid. The pressure to shrink yourself to be liked. The way dads get praised for changing a nappy while mums carry the mental load without applause. Ashley explains why she refuses to accept mum guilt until there’s a collective term for dad guilt.
The conversation also dives into body image. From her Made in Chelsea days and chasing perfection, to battling adult acne, quitting Photoshop and the Victoria’s Secret show moment that changed everything. It’s a powerful reminder of how deeply women are conditioned to hate their bodies, and what it takes to unlearn that.
Of course, there’s plenty of chaos too.
Pregnancy bloating confessions. Breastfeeding myths that are not true. Postpartum sex realities. Finger puppets during lockdown when you used to be DJing festivals. School detention drama involving a pen running out and an accidental ChatGPT email fail. Playground slide mishaps. WhatsApp group disasters. Sparkly tutu outfits for nursery. The everyday madness of raising small humans.
Ashley shares how she’s parenting differently, raising her children without outdated stereotypes, and learning to be calmer with milestones the second time around. It’s warm, witty and completely unfiltered.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, judged, exhausted, resentful, in love, proud and slightly feral all in the same day, this one is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from No Parental Guidance
🎙️ Baby Loss Awareness Special | Hope, Healing & Unfiltered Truths | Jorgie Porter, Alex Bowen, Danae MercerWelcome back to a very special, and deeply personal, episode of No Parental Guidance.This week, we are stepping away from our usual unhinged antics to hold space for an important conversation dedicated to Baby Loss Awareness. Baby loss and pregnancy trauma is something 1 in 2 of us experience, yet so few feel empowered to speak about openly. Louise and Hannah have both experienced the deep heartbreak of baby loss, and while this episode is close to our hearts, our aim is simple: to shine a gentle light into the dark days and help anyone listening feel a little less alone.If this episode feels like too much for you right now, please take care of yourself—our usual chaotic episodes are just a click away in - can I recommend Sara Pascoe’s recent episode for unhinged parenting hacks that work a treat!And if you’re joining us today, welcome, we are honored to share three incredibly honest, moving, and uplifting conversations with our wonderful guests:💖 Jorgie Porter opens up about her extraordinary journey of naturally conceiving quadruplets, the overwhelming shock of her diagnosis, navigating a silent/missed loss, and how going through extreme grief together brought her and her partner Ollie closer than ever.💙 Alex Bowen brings a vital father’s perspective to the table. He reflects on his journey from Love Island to fatherhood, and candidly shares what it felt like to navigate Vanishing Twin Syndrome with Olivia—reminding us why men’s mental health and emotional openness matter just as much during baby loss.✨ Danae Mercer joins us to discuss the heartbreak of missed miscarriages and chemical pregnancies, the silent obsession with early pregnancy tests, and why we need to strip away the stigma and talk about just how common early loss really is.Thank you for being part of our community. Together, let's break the silence. 🤍📍 Episode Chapters00:00 - Baby Loss Awareness Introduction01:57 - Jorgie Porter Quadruplet Pregnancy Scan07:00 - Jorgie Porter Quadruplet Miscarriage Grief11:55 - Men's Mental Health After Miscarriage13:09 - Alex Bowen Love Island Journey18:48 - Alex Bowen Vanishing Twin Loss28:15 - Danny Mercer Missed Miscarriage Diagnosis30:26 - Chemical Pregnancy and Fertility Testing33:38 - Baby Loss Certificates and Support 💙 Support & ResourcesIf you or someone you know has been affected by baby loss, pregnancy loss, or fertility struggles, please know that support is always available:Tommy's (Pregnancy & Baby Loss Charity): tommys.orgSands (Stillbirth & Neonatal Loss Charity): sands.org.ukMariposa International (Saying Goodbye) (Comprehensive Global bereavement support, remembrance services, and resources supporting miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal, and infant loss) sayinggoodbye.org4Louis (Baby Loss Charity providing support, memory boxes and in hospital care) 4Louis.co.ukThank you to Aldi and their Mamia Range for supporting this special episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Relatable parenting? 💬 Unfiltered birth stories? 💖
This week, we are joined by the absolute goddess herself, Lauren Cowell! 💕
This week, we are joined by the absolutely iconic comedian, author, and mum of two, Sara Pascoe!
🎙️ JORGIE PORTER | "Good Cop/Bad Cop" Parenting, Postpartum Survival Guide & The Ultimate Mum Hair Hack! 💇♀️✨