Parenting Out Loud

This week, Monz, Amelia and Stacey explore the ‘performance’ of public parenting, inspired by Elin Strong’s viral article. So, are you actually parenting for the other people at the park? If the answer is yes, you might be a popcorn mum.
The swaddling fail by TV’s favourite doctor has ignited a firestorm amongst fans of medical drama The Pitt and we have thoughts. Also, we discuss Schitt’s Creek actor Dan Levy’s controversial take on planes and babies, and why even most parents are onboard.
Plus, Prince Harry and Hamish Blake are opening up about men’s mental health postpartum. It has us asking, who’s looking after the dads?
Also, Amelia has a new slang term for us that you’ll ‘low-kenuinely’ love. And, Stacey shows us what’s inside her smug ‘analogue bag’.
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Reccos:
Stacey has an ‘anti-recco’. Stop doing your nails. Reclaim your time and money by embracing the nude nail flex.
Amelia recommends: Secrets of The Bees on Disney+. A stunning, intergenerational documentary featuring smart bees and 'family-friendly soft swinging'. (It's not what you think).
Monique recommends: Jettproof Sensory Socks. A total game-changer for kids who struggle with seams. Also, don't forget to bake some of Monz's famous Anzac Biscuits this weekend.
Support independent women's media
What To Listen To Next:
Don't miss an episode of Parenting Out Loud
The Lunchbox Theory & Our Complicated Feelings About YouTube
The 3-Hour Mum & The Viral 'Jessica' Hack
Golden Retriever Dads & The ‘You Come Last’ Rule
The Celebrity Who Loves Bad Kids & The Sibling Effect
The Bad Habit That's Back & The Politics Of ‘Bagsing’
New Twin Dad Luca Enters The Chat & Divorce Just Got A Rebrand
Empty Weekend Parenting & The Viral Rocking Chair Test
Wait, Did We Just Witness The Ultimate Co-Parenting Sin?
The Problem With Being The 'Easy Kid'
Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts
What to read:
Check out Monz's ANZAC biscuit recipe: How to bake the best (and easiest) ANZAC biscuits known to humankind.
'My phone addiction was genuinely taking over my life. This is the only thing that fixed it.'
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected]
Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family
CREDITS:
Hosts: Monique Bowley, Amelia Lester & Stacey Hicks
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Content Manager: Talissa Bazaz
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Monique, Amelia, and Stacey are discussing the ‘Jessica’ hack gone slightly awry. We talked about it. Our listeners tried it, and some of the results were…spooky. So, why has even Jessica Biel weighed in on this viral trend?
Also, we unpack the YouTube-ification of Netflix and why Danny Goh and Miss Rachel are suddenly taking over our Netflix profiles. We dive into the ‘Wild West’ of YouTube and why it’s banned in Monz’s house after a Peppa Pig incident.
Plus, we talk about the list of things you must be able to perform to be considered a fully-fledged ‘Supreme Adult’. From public speaking to calling the doctor yourself, what exactly is a normal sleep pattern when you have small humans anyway?
And, we discuss ‘The Lunchbox Theory’ and why we collectively need to lower the bar and become ‘underachieving’ parents.
The Recommendations
Stacey: The Swan Princess (1994) – Now on Netflix! It features a French frog voiced by John Cleese and a princess who demands more than just 'you're pretty'.
Amelia: Taco Goat Cheese Pizza – A $15 card game that actually makes teenagers laugh.
Monique: Biozet Attack – The supermarket laundry detergent with the magic enzyme that actually gets the 'funk' out of bed-wetting accidents.
Support independent women's media
What To Listen To Next:
Don't miss an episode of Parenting Out Loud
The 3-Hour Mum & The Viral 'Jessica' Hack
Golden Retriever Dads & The ‘You Come Last’ Rule
The Celebrity Who Loves Bad Kids & The Sibling Effect
The Bad Habit That's Back & The Politics Of ‘Bagsing’
New Twin Dad Luca Enters The Chat & Divorce Just Got A Rebrand
Empty Weekend Parenting & The Viral Rocking Chair Test
Wait, Did We Just Witness The Ultimate Co-Parenting Sin?
The Problem With Being The 'Easy Kid'
Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts
What to read:
'I'm the breadwinner, and my husband stays home. Stop asking this one question.'
'I thought training for a marathon meant weeks of mum guilt. This one moment changed everything.'
'I thought I was raising my son right. Then he made one comment.'
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected]
Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family
CREDITS:
Hosts: Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester & Monique Bowley
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Content Manager: Talissa Bazaz
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks and Amelia Lester unpack the 'max 3-hour mum' theory. That’s how long Skims co-founder and Kardashian-adjacent CEO Emma Grede thinks women should spend with their kids each day on weekends. We discuss whetther the mother of four's ‘quality over quantity’ approach is genius - or missing the point.
Also, is kids’ sport officially broken? From private strength sessions for 8-year-olds to parents getting red-carded on the sidelines, we ask when sport stopped being about 'having a go' and started being a ‘gateway to success’.
Plus, what exactly is the 'Jessica' hack? We discuss the viral TikTok trick that could snap your child out of a spiral.
And, in our modern screen age, is there any merit to the old-school rule that children should be ‘seen and not heard’?
RECCOMMENDATIONS:
Monz recommends: The Art Gallery (it’s free!), beach patrol (also free!) and the ultimate school holiday hack - a trip to Bunnings.
Amelia recommends: The Brinkley Yearbooks Series by Sarah Sax
Stacey recommends: Age of Attraction on Netflix and Harry Styles’ YouTube cover of ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’.
Support independent women's media
What To Listen To Next:
Don't miss an episode of Parenting Out Loud
Golden Retriever Dads & The ‘You Come Last’ Rule
The Celebrity Who Loves Bad Kids & The Sibling Effect
The Bad Habit That's Back & The Politics Of ‘Bagsing’
New Twin Dad Luca Enters The Chat & Divorce Just Got A Rebrand
Empty Weekend Parenting & The Viral Rocking Chair Test
Wait, Did We Just Witness The Ultimate Co-Parenting Sin?
The Problem With Being The 'Easy Kid'
FFS, Just Invite People Over To Your Messy House
Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts
What to read:
'I'm the breadwinner, and my husband stays home. Stop asking this one question.'
'I thought training for a marathon meant weeks of mum guilt. This one moment changed everything.'
'I thought I was raising my son right. Then he made one comment.'
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected]
Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family
CREDITS:
Hosts: Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester & Monique Bowley
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Content Manager: Talissa Bazaz
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re unpacking the 'parenting rule' that blew up the comments section this week: While the kids are awake, you come last. The Internet had thoughts and so do Monique Bowley, Clare Stephens and Amelia Lester. So, does putting yourself first actually make you a better parent?
Plus, we look at the the Barbie Dream Fest — or as the internet is calling it, Fyre Festival for toddlers. Imagine paying $190 USD for an ‘immersive experience’ only to find a warehouse, a concrete floor and a cardboard box with a pink blanket.
Also, Parks and Recreation actor Chris Pratt's wife Katherine Schwarzenegger has paid tribute to him on social media, calling him a 'Golden Retriever Husband', after he built their daughters a doll house. So why is the Internet still so annoyed with him over an Instagram caption from 2021 about opening a jar of pickles?
And, we explore why a Sydney school’s experiment to ditch school uniforms was ulimately an epic fail.
Our Recommendations:
🏀 Monz is loving the Noisy by Nature podcast on the ABC Kids Listen app — think David Attenborough meets The Wiggles.
📖 Clare recommends the Houdini Stop from Big W to stop your toddler’s great car seat escape.
🧴 Amelia is loving Brain Quest Smart Cards for screen-free fun at cafes
Support independent women's media
What To Listen To Next:
Don't miss an episode of Parenting Out Loud
The Celebrity Who Loves Bad Kids & The Sibling Effect
The Bad Habit That's Back & The Politics Of ‘Bagsing’
New Twin Dad Luca Enters The Chat & Divorce Just Got A Rebrand
Empty Weekend Parenting & The Viral Rocking Chair Test
Wait, Did We Just Witness The Ultimate Co-Parenting Sin?
The Problem With Being The 'Easy Kid'
FFS, Just Invite People Over To Your Messy House
Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected]
Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family
CREDITS:
Hosts: Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester & Monique Bowley
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Content Manager: Talissa Bazaz
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever seen a video online that made you feel like you were failing at a job you didn't even apply for? Welcome to parenting in 2026.
This week, Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks and special guest, Clare Stephens, are diving into a viral trend romanticising the bond between young siblings—and it's left some only-child parents feeling a little judged.
Plus, we discuss the basketball coach who went viral for screaming in a player's face. Was it ‘toxic’ or exactly the kind of high-stakes motivation our ‘gentle parenting’ era is missing?
And, if your child throws a tantrum in the middle of a busy shopping centre or sticks their fingers in someone else's birthday cake, they may have a fan in award-winning actress Viola Davis. We explain why.
Our Recommendations:
🏀 Monz is loving this Amazon Lock Phone Box.
📖 Clare recommends midwife Jen on Instagram @_jen_hamilton_
🧴 Stacey is loving the COSRX Snail mucin power essence.
SUBSCRIBE here to get 25% off an $89 annual subscription PLUS 25% off Nala. Your Mamamia discount will be applied at checkout. Then find your Nala code in the Subscriber Hub immediately after joining. Ends 1st April.
Support independent women's media
What To Listen To Next:
Don't miss an episode of Parenting Out Loud
The Bad Habit That's Back & The Politics Of ‘Bagsing’
New Twin Dad Luca Enters The Chat & Divorce Just Got A Rebrand
Empty Weekend Parenting & The Viral Rocking Chair Test
Wait, Did We Just Witness The Ultimate Co-Parenting Sin?
The Problem With Being The 'Easy Kid'
FFS, Just Invite People Over To Your Messy House
So, Yeah. Turns Out THIS Is The Very Last Parenting Taboo
Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts
What to read:
'My mum and dad had 8 kids. Here's the most important lesson I learned growing up in a big family.'
OPINION: 'You're not gentle parenting, you're Instagram parenting.'
"I'm 34 with three kids. My expectations of friendship have completely changed."
'My best friends ghosted me after I had a baby. It taught me a lesson I didn't expect.'
Flakiness is out of control at the moment.
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected]
Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family
CREDITS:
Hosts: Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester & Monique Bowley
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.