Miriam O’Callaghan: ‘I’m lucky to have eight children after suffering secondary infertility’
Miriam O’Callaghan says she understands that having eight children is a source of fascination for people. And where once she might have been bothered by the double standards (i.e. how male broadcasters don’t seem to be defined by their parental status), she is now as happy to talk about her brood as she is about her TV career. The current affairs presenter has just released her memoir “Miriam: life, work, everything” and she delves into all of the above in this enthralling conversation with Jen Hogan. Miriam reveals she had secondary infertility after the birth of her first child, and how her last pregnancy almost had a tragic outcome. She also speaks about her blended family and how close she remains to her former stepdaughter. Miriam also explains how a period of disordered eating in her teens motivated her to build up her daughters’ confidence before they entered the tricky teen years. And she speaks about the devastating loss of her sister Anne, who she closely shared her early years of mothering with.Presented by Jen Hogan. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.Brought to you in association with Avonmore Super Milk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sophie Ellis-Bextor: ‘We were going out six weeks when we found out I was pregnant’
Sophie Ellis-Bextor wasn’t expecting to have a baby so soon into her relationship with her now husband, but she says there was a part of her that felt really good about it. This was in the early 2000s when it was not the done thing for a female pop star to start a family. 21 years and five boys later she’s managing to juggle family life with a successful singing career, having just released her eighth studio album, Perimenopop. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. In this episode Sophie speaks about her first-born’s shaky start after a premature birth, raising five boys and embracing the wisdom that comes with getting older.Presented by Jen Hogan. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.Brought to you in association with Avonmore Super Milk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Chris Hadfield: 'I have an Irish granddaughter and I couldn't be more delighted'
Chris Hadfield has a granddaughter in China and, as of earlier this year, another granddaughter here in Ireland. But despite the distance, the retired astronaut says they are very much in each others lives. And after all, "I've been around the world in 90 minutes, it's just a little place," he jokes. In this episode, the world's most famous living astronaut sits down with Jen Hogan to talk about how he's managed to juggle such a successful career with parenting. Chris discusses his own upbringing and how it influenced his parenting, how his best intentions may not always have come to pass, and how his now adult children coped with the pressure of having such a famous dad when they were growing up. Plus he discusses his latest career pivot that that of bestselling author. His new book "Final Orbit" is available now in all good bookshops.Presented by Jen Hogan. Produced by Aideen Finnegan,Brought you in association with Avonmore Super Milk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin: 'My mum was mortified I was breastfeeding in a restaurant'
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin says she and her husband would have had a fourth child, but for her debilitating pregnancies. The scientist and broadcaster says her births went without a hitch, but she was chronically ill with hyperemesis gravidarum on each of her three pregnancies - a complication that causes persistent and extreme vomiting. Her third child, her daughter Doireann, was born at home; something she says she will never forget. Aoibhinn breastfed all three, though she found each experience difficult in their own way. One of her sons was born with a tooth making the process very painful. In this episode, the DCU professor also shares how having children gave her a new perspective on her experience of workplace harassment, and deepened her resolve to advocate for nature restoration. Please note this episode has one or two moments of strong language. Presented by Jen Hogan. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Brought to you in association with Avonmore Super Milk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Ciara Kelly: ‘A consultant shamed me for being an unmarried, pregnant junior doctor’
Ciara Kelly was on in a bar on a sun holiday when she found out she was pregnant. 1999 was a time when Ireland was becoming more liberal, but being an unmarried mum "wasn't without some stigma," and no allowances were made on the gruelling 60-hour shifts that were common for junior doctors then. Though motherhood came early she took to it so well that she ended up having a family of four. In 2017 she swapped her medical career for a full-time job in radio. The primetime slot on Newstalk Breakfast means she often gives her take on the events of the day, sometimes drawing opprobrium on social media. "I saw some of the things being said online and realised some of the comments sticking up for me were my son." In this episode, Ciara speaks to host Jen Hogan about managing the backlash, teaching her kids to brush it off and why respecting their agency is so important to her.Presented by Jen Hogan. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.Brought to you in association with Avonmore Super Milk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
SEASON TWO COMING SOON! Conversations with Parents is a podcast from The Irish Times. Host Jen Hogan talks to interesting people about being parents. What are the hardest parts? What have they learned about raising kids? What are their parenting strategies - or are they making it up as they go along?Produced in association with Avonmore Super Milk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
UK