Blended

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Nathalie and her husband, Sayce Holmes-Lewis, Founder and CEO of Mentivity. 

The panel tackle two dilemmas that many blended families will relate to. First, a father is struggling after his son moved back home following university. While he wants to support him, his wife feels it’s time for him to leave. The extra financial pressure and the impact on their relationship have created growing tension. The panel discuss how long adult children should stay at home, balancing loyalty to your child with your partner’s needs, and what happens when those priorities clash. 

They also answer a dilemma from a mum who believes her teenage son is negatively influencing his younger stepbrother. As the boys grow closer, the younger child is staying out later, pushing boundaries and changing his behaviour, leaving the parents divided over how to handle it. 

Drawing on years of experience working with young people, Sayce shares why teenagers need guidance, structure and patience as they learn to become adults. The conversation explores the lasting impact of the pandemic on this generation, why influence is inevitable, and how parents can set healthy boundaries without pushing teenagers away.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Nathalie Holmes Lewis and Cilla Kessie for a much needed catch up.

Cilla is back and shares what she's been up to, how life has been treating her recently, and the realities of juggling studying, motherhood and co-parenting.

They then tackle a dilemma from a mum who is struggling with her ex's latest relationship. Just months after their separation, he's moving in with the woman he had an affair with while she was pregnant. After years of an on-off relationship, she worries he's making another impulsive decision . Her biggest concern is that in less than a year, he's moved house several times and she also wants to meet his new partner before the children stay there, but he's refused.

The panel discuss whether parents have a right to meet a new partner, how much say they should have over where their children stay and whether inconsistency should influence co parenting decisions. Kate shares why she'd always want to know the person caring for her children, while the ladies explore the importance of stability, trust and putting children first after a separation.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Parenting Consultant and Child Behaviour Specialist, San Kaur Mehra.

Together, they dive into one of the biggest challenges parents face, understanding children's behaviour. From tantrums and screen time to discipline, boundaries and emotional regulation, San shares practical advice to help parents navigate those everyday moments that can feel overwhelming.

Kate opens up about some of the situations she's experienced with her own children, while Nathalie reflects on how parenting styles have changed over the years. The conversation explores whether gentle parenting works for every child, how many of us are trying to parent differently from the way we were raised and why there's no one size fits all approach.

The panel also tackle a dilemma from a mum whose six year old has daily meltdowns whenever screen time comes to an end. Despite limiting her daughter's time on the iPad and trying to stay calm, she's worried she's doing something wrong. San explains why these big reactions happen, shares practical techniques to help children transition away from screens and offers advice on building healthy boundaries that actually work.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and TV and radio presenter, and founder of Clean Curls, Sarah-Jane Crawford.

Sarah-Jane shares her personal story of growing up adopted, the close relationship she had with her dad and the impact losing him at a young age had on her life. She also opens up about becoming part of a blended family herself.

The panel then discusses a dilemma from a mum who adopted her daughter with her husband. Years later, after welcoming a biological baby together, she feels something has changed. While everyone acknowledges that life naturally shifts when a new born arrives, the mum can't shake the feeling that her husband is different with their adopted daughter.

The conversation explores whether those changes are simply part of adjusting to life with a baby, or whether a mother's intuition is sometimes telling us something important. Sarah-Jane shares why she believes it's important to trust those instincts, while Kate and Nathalie discuss how families can make sure every child continues to feel equally loved, secure and seen.

It's an honest conversation about adoption, identity, intuition and what it really means to be family.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co host Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and her stepson Tate Ferdinand, who is back by popular demand after listeners loved hearing his perspective on blended family life.

Tate joins the panel to help answer two dilemmas, the first dilemma comes from a teenager whose dad and stepmum have recently split up. Her stepmum has been in her life for years and she feels like she's lost a parent, but everyone seems focused on how the adults are coping. The panel discuss whether it's normal to grieve a stepparent after a breakup and whether relationships between stepparents and stepchildren should continue, even when the adults' relationship ends. Kate shares her own feelings on what would happen if her relationship with Rio ever changed and why she believes those bonds don't simply disappear.

The second dilemma comes from a teenager who feels torn between his biological dad and his stepdad. On Father's Day, birthdays and special occasions, he never knows who to celebrate without upsetting someone. The conversation opens up into the reality of loyalty, guilt and navigating relationships in blended families, as well as the pressure children can feel to keep everyone happy.

Tate also reflects on his own blended family journey, sharing honest insights into his relationship with Kate, the challenges they faced in the early years and how their family has grown into the close unit they are today.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and special guest co-host singer, songwriter Terri Walker.

Terri opens up about growing up in Germany with her mum and stepdad, the close bond they built and the huge role he played in shaping her life.

The first dilemma comes from a heartbroken mum whose 14 year old daughter wants to stay living with her stepdad after the adults have separated. While she never imagined being apart from her daughter, she also knows her daughter sees her stepdad as a father figure and has built her life around him, her school, her friends and the home they've shared for years. Kate. The panel discuss whether teenagers should have more say in where they live and whether sometimes doing what's best for your child can be incredibly painful as a parent.

The second dilemma leaves the whole panel shocked. A mum writes in after her husband, who has helped raise her daughter since she was six years old, suddenly changes his mind about adopting her. After years of treating her like his own, he admits he loves her but not in the same way he loves his biological children. The panel tries to understand what could be behind his decision. Is it about inheritance or legal obligations? Or is it something much deeper? Most importantly, they discuss how a mother explains that rejection to a daughter who already sees him as her dad.

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This week on Blended, Kate is joined by Nathalie and special guest co host Natalie Lue, author of The Joy of Saying No and host of The Baggage Reclaim Sessions.

Today’s dilemma comes from a stepmum who had a moment that shook her. During a situation where her stepdaughter was being praised, she corrected something small and immediately felt like she had taken the shine off her. It triggered a deeper fear that she might be repeating the same subtle patterns she experienced growing up.

They discuss how old wounds can quietly show up in parenting, especially in blended families where emotions can already feel heightened. Nathalie talks about how simply acknowledging the pattern is something previous generations often never did.

Kate opens up about how she sometimes swings between overreacting and then overcompensating. She shares how easy it is to correct too quickly, then feel guilty and flip into people pleasing mode to balance it out.

Natalie Lue breaks down the “mother load” and how much emotional responsibility women carry without even realising it. She challenges the idea that every moment needs to be handled perfectly and asks what would actually happen if we didn’t overmanage everything.

It’s an honest conversation about insecurity, boundaries and the fear of passing down patterns you worked so hard to escape.

Don’t forget to rate and review, also we love hearing from you so follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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Kate is joined by Rio & Tate Ferdinand to discuss a few dilemmas and family whilst on holiday in Portugal

In the first, a 16 year old boy is struggling with his stepmum moving in and trying to set boundaries. Tate speaks candidly about how he felt when Kate first became part of his daily life and what teenagers really need when a new adult enters their space.

In the second dilemma, a stepmum shares that telling her stepchildren about a new baby didn’t go well at all. Tears, anger and even one child saying they wished the baby would “disappear.” Tate opens up about how he truly felt when Kate and Rio told him they were expecting Cree, and Kate asks Rio how he would have handled it if the children had reacted that way.

Plus, Tate does quick fire quiz revealing who’s the strictest parent, who’s the better cook and who’s secretly the boss of the house.

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In this week’s episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie to discuss a topic that feels uniquely blended.

The first dilemma comes from a mum whose 11 year old daughter becomes giddy and excited when her partner’s teenage son comes around. They have only met a handful of times but it has made her think about the future and dynamics she had never really considered before.

The second dilemma is from a mum with a 15 year old daughter who is thinking about moving in with her partner full time. He has two teenage sons. She has noticed how they talk about girls and about women and it has made her pause. Her daughter’s dad has also raised concerns. Is she overthinking normal teenage behaviour or should boundaries be set before blending fully?

The panel have a strong and honest debate. Kate feels that not every interaction needs to be treated as a warning sign and that excitement can simply be part of growing up. Nathalie feels more firmly that teenage attraction and energy should never be ignored and that boundaries need to be clear from the start. They explore whether parents can sometimes be naive when they are focused on love and blending.

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On a previous episode, Travis Jay made a bold comment. You always know your dad’s dirt, but you never know your mum’s. So the ladies decided to look into it.

In this episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie as they unpack two dilemmas that flip the narrative and explore women who cheat.

In the first, a married woman admits to having an affair. She broke it off and says it was a mistake. Her husband found out and is devastated, but instead of separating fully, they are living under the same roof for the sake of the children. She wants to know if reconciliation is possible while sharing a home, or if the damage is already done.

In the second dilemma, things are even more complicated. A woman has been sleeping with both her ex and her current partner. She is now pregnant and does not know who the father is. Her ex has a hold on her but she wants a future with her current partner. She is trying to navigate the situation without destroying multiple lives.

The panel does not hold back.

Cilla is clear on consequences. Kate questions whether we judge women differently. Nathalie shows sympathy in the first dilemma, especially where remorse is genuine, but asks whether the reaction would be the same if it were a man.

Rio drops in to give his honest opinion on the second dilemma.

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How much is one person supposed to handle?

In this episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie to unpack one layered and emotionally heavy dilemma from a stepmum who feels like she is drowning.

She is navigating a high conflict ex who tells the children that their parents would still be happy if she was not around, even though she had nothing to do with the breakup. At the same time, she has discovered emotional cheating in her own marriage, messages, pictures and behaviour that have left her questioning how far it really went.

Between solicitor emails, blended family pressures and constant tension, she feels like she is carrying more than one person should.

The ladies do not hold back. They discuss whether emotional cheating can sometimes cut deeper than physical betrayal, how much damage a high conflict ex can really do to a relationship and whether love is enough when trust keeps being shaken.

They believe you should do everything you can to protect your marriage, but the panel also ask a hard question. Where is the line? At what point does staying become self sacrifice?

This episode is honest, uncomfortable and full of the realities many blended families face behind closed doors.

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In this episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie to tackle two dilemmas that spark a strong debate around trust, loyalty and parenting boundaries.

In the first, a stepmum who has worked hard to build a close relationship with her stepdaughter discovers a secret TikTok account with content her patrtner would find inappropriate for her age. The stepdaughter begs her not to tell her dad. She does not want to betray the trust she has built, but she also does not want to betray her partner.

In the second dilemma, a biological mum finds graphic images on her son’s phone. He is deeply embarrassed and asks her not to tell his dad. She feels torn between protecting her son’s confidence and parenting as a united team.

Kate shares her view that some things can stay between you and your child, but when it comes to safety and serious issues, secrets are not protection, they are responsibility.

The ladies do not hold back. They discuss whether there are ever circumstances where keeping a secret is justified, whether the rules change between stepchildren and biological children, and where the line sits between protecting trust and undermining your partner. They have an open conversation about why is sex taboo and the dangers of young boys watching porn.

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In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Cilla Kessie and special guest co-host comedian, actor and writer Travis Jay, who’s bringing the male perspective as more and more dilemmas from dads land in the inbox.

The first dilemma is from a father whose teenage children want nothing to do with his new partner after their mum told them he had an affair. Her children have welcomed him warmly, but his own kids are cold and distant. Should children even be told about affairs? And if an affair did happen, does that change what they deserve to know?

The conversation quickly heats up. Travis argues that if he didn’t cheat, he should fight the narrative. That sparks debate about loyalty, accountability and whether kids ever really know the full truth about their parents. The panel also get into a bigger question, do women cheat as much as men, or are we just not talking about it?

The second dilemma comes from a dad struggling with his ex moving on. He insists it’s not jealousy, but he’s uncomfortable with another man spending time around his daughter and wants to meet him. His ex says it’s too soon. The panel question whether if it’s too soon to meet the dad, it’s too soon to meet the child.

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In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and special guest co-host Dr Lalitaa Suglani, an award-winning psychologist, high-functioning anxiety coach and author.

Together they unpack two dilemmas around anxiety, ADHD and the pressure to cope in blended family life. The first dilemma comes from a stepmum who lives with high functioning anxiety and depression. Every other weekend, before her stepchildren arrive, her body goes into panic mode. Racing heart, tight stomach, irritability and overwhelm. She finds herself avoiding the situation by leaving the house, but she wants to understand why this happens and how to manage it better. Nathalie challenges her perspective, while Dr Lalitaa explains what is happening and shares practical tools to regulate the nervous system, create boundaries around space, and slowly build tolerance rather than forcing herself to cope.

The second dilemma is from a mum with ADHD who feels constant guilt. She loves her child deeply but struggles with burnout, overstimulation and frustration, especially when her stepchild is there too. She worries she is failing and overcompensates out of guilt. The panel open up about ADHD, shame and executive dysfunction. Nathalie shares her own experience with ADHD, Kate reflects on parental burnout, and Dr Lalitaa breaks down how overstimulation impacts regulation, attachment and self belief.

The episode also includes simple breathing techniques to calm the nervous system and practical strategies for managing high functioning anxiety in real time.

Check Out Dr Lalitaa Suglani's book High-Functioning Anxiety

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In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla for a conversation that starts close to home.

Cilla drops a bomb about a personal family situation she’s been navigating, and the ladies rally around her, reminding her just how strong she’s been through everything. 

Blended families aren’t just about step parents and children, they include extended family too, and sometimes that’s where things get complicated.

The first dilemma centres on a sister-in-law who ignores her brother’s child because she doesn’t like his wife. The mum is worried it’s now affecting the child and doesn’t know how to handle the tension without making things worse.

The second dilemma is wedding drama. A bride feels her sister-in-law, who is also the event planner, is making the big day about herself and taking over decisions. She hasn’t said anything to her partner yet and is questioning whether she’s overreacting.

Kate, Nathalie and Cilla dive into boundaries, communication and when you have to speak up even if it feels uncomfortable. And for once, the panel don’t all agree. Cilla and Nathalie challenge Kate’s view, leading to a honest and divided conversation.

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Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions around coercive and post separation abuse.

 In this episode of Blended, Kate is joined by Nathalie and special guest co-host Legally Nik, family and child protection lawyer, who is back to help the panel unpack some of your most complex legal dilemmas.

The episode begins by revisiting the conversation from a few weeks ago with @Jessrunsforsurvivors, diving deeper into narcissistic ex-partners and coercive control. Nik explains that coercive control is illegal but incredibly difficult to prove. She breaks down what it looks like in court, how the legal system approaches it, and shares practical advice on communication tools such as yellow rocking and creating safer boundaries.

The second dilemma focuses on frustrations with the Child Maintenance Service. A listener feels it is unfair that when starting a new family, payments are only reduced by a small percentage. Nik explains why the system works as it does, why nobody is ever completely happy with it and why the law ultimately prioritises the child above all else.

The final dilemma is from a mum who wants to take her child on holiday but is being told she needs the father’s permission because they have different surnames. Nik clarifies the legal position, explaining that surnames are irrelevant and consent is still required where parental responsibility is shared.

As always, Kate and Nathalie ask the questions many blended families are thinking and Nik provides the legal clarity behind the emotions.

For more support contactLegally Nik

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In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla, who shares an update on a family situation she previously opened up about and how she handled a recent interaction with that family member. 

They tackle a tricky dilemma, a woman who separated from her husband admits she never felt fully accepted by her stepchildren. She showed up, she tried, but she remembers distance and rejection. Now, years later, her ex stepson has invited her to his wedding, describing her as a big part of his life. She is shocked. She does not remember it that way. She is asking whether she is obligated to go, and whether she needs to honour his version of the past when her experience felt so different. 

Kate, Nathalie and Cilla unpack what it means when memories do not match, why children may remember your presence differently than you do, and whether closure has to look like attendance. They explore the right to protect your peace, the power of simply showing up, and how blended relationships can leave lasting impact even when they felt strained at the time. 

This episode is about perspective, boundaries and the complicated legacy of step parenting. 

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Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions around coercive and post separation abuse.

In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand and Cilla are joined by Jess, known online as @JessRunsForSurvivors. Jess creates content around co-parenting with someone with narcissistic traits and is a patron for the charity Mums in Need, which supports women facing post separation abuse and coercive control.

Jess shares part of her own story and what life has been like navigating co parenting with someone displaying narcissistic behaviours. She explains the complexity around narcissism as a disorder, why it requires clinical diagnosis, and why obtaining that diagnosis is often difficult.

The panel then tackles two difficult listener dilemmas.

In the first, a stepmum is worried that her stepdaughter’s behaviour dramatically shifts after time spent at her dad’s house. The child returns hostile towards her stepsister and stepdad, repeating phrases that feel planted. The stepmum fears the dynamic is slowly destabilising her home and does not know how to protect her family without escalating the situation.

In the second dilemma, a woman describes how her ex presents as charming and composed publicly, yet attempts to undermine her behind the scenes. He has contacted her workplace claiming concern about her mental health and continues to interfere in subtle but damaging ways. 

Kate and Cilla admit they find parts of these stories difficult to comprehend, questioning how anyone copes with this level of manipulation. Jess offers practical tools and strategies including grey rocking, tightening communication, regulating tone, and even using tools like AI to draft neutral responses in high conflict situations. 

For more support follow @jessrunsforsurvivors and check out Mums In Need

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Mother’s Day has always meant something special to Blended. Please Note: This episode was recorded on Thursday 26th February, before the recent conflict in the Middle East. 

As mums and as a podcast that talks about family life, our hearts are with everyone affected by the devastating events that have unfolded since this recording. 

This episode is the first ever remote recording of Blended, Kate recorded from Dubai on while Nathalie and Cilla joined from London.

After putting a question box out to the Blended Instagram, the messages flooded in. One major theme was the pressure around buying gifts for the ex. Several stepmums shared that their partner expects them to organise Mother’s Day cards and presents for the bio mum, sometimes even extravagant ones. The panel discusses boundaries, emotional labour and whether managing that relationship is really the stepmum’s responsibility.

They also tackle the complex dynamic of stepping into a family where the children’s mum has passed away. What happens when you are doing the daily parenting but feel you cannot be publicly celebrated in case it upsets extended family? Kate shares her own experience and how she has navigated that delicate balance.

Alongside the dilemmas, the ladies open up about how they will be spending Mother’s Day themselves and why this date continues to matter so much to the show.

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 One stepmum feels ignored in her concerns. Another feels invisible in her relationship.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and Nathalie are joined by therapist, bestselling author, TV presenter and podcast host Anna Williamson for an honest conversation about child anxiety and what happens to intimacy when life changes overnight.

Anna speaks openly about her own mental health journey and why it led her to her training as a therapist and write the books she has. Her perspective shapes two powerful listener dilemmas.

In the first, a stepmum believes she can see clear signs of anxiety in her stepdaughter. She notices changes in behaviour, emotional withdrawal and subtle warning signs, but her partner insists she is projecting. Is she overstepping or is she the only adult paying attention? Anna breaks down what anxiety can really look like in children, the role phones and social media may play and how to raise concerns without damaging your relationship.

In the second dilemma, a stepmum admits her relationship has completely changed since the children moved in full time. What used to be spontaneous and passionate now feels interrupted and distant. She jokes that the kids have a spidy sense for knowing exactly when she and her partner are about to get it on. The panel discuss how blended life can quietly erode intimacy, why resentment builds and practical ways to protect your relationship when parenting takes over.

Don’t forget to rate and review, also we love hearing from you so follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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When you choose to stay after an affair but the affair created a child, what does moving forward really look like?

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla to unpack two deeply emotional dilemmas about families that didn’t break apart but were permanently changed.

In the first, a wife shares how she and her husband worked through his infidelity but now there is a child from the affair. At a recent BBQ she felt embarrassed, exposed and emotionally overwhelmed. She never imagined becoming a stepmum this way, yet her husband wants everyone to come together as one family. 

In the second dilemma, the extended family invites the Love child’s mother to gatherings. The panel reacts strongly as they discuss boundaries, respect and whether forgiveness of a partner automatically means full acceptance of everything that came from the betrayal.

Kate admits she finds this one hard. She and Cilla debate what forgiveness really means in practice and can you truly separate an innocent child from the pain attached to how they arrived? Nathalie questions whether forgiving without consequence risks repeating the cycle.

This episode is honest, emotional and challenging because sometimes healing isn’t about leaving, It's about learning how to live with what happened.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and special guest co-host Chuckie Online, presenter, DJ and podcast host, for a powerful conversation from the perspective we don’t hear often enough, the stepson.

Chucky opens up about growing up with both a loving dad and a loving stepdad, and how their dynamic shaped him. He reflects on the unique balance between his mum, his dad and his stepdad, and how he never even realised he was in a blended family because it simply felt normal. He also shares the emotional impact of losing his stepdad and how the family navigated that grief together.

The episode then turns to a listener dilemma. A mum is terrified that tension between her teenage son and her husband is escalating. Her son is taller now, more defiant, and when her husband raises his voice at her, her son steps in, chest puffed and ready to fight. She fears that if things ever turn physical, there will be no coming back from it.

Together, Kate, Cilla and Chuckie discuss boundaries, communication, male ego, teenage triggers and the absolute line that cannot be crossed. They unpack what teenage boys are really reacting to, how past experiences can heighten protective instincts, and why protecting the relationship before it reaches breaking point is critical.

An honest, emotional episode about loyalty, respect and what happens when power struggles threaten family stability.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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Stepparenting isn’t always easy and sometimes admitting that feels like the hardest part.

Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and special guest co host, broadcaster and podcast host Zoe Hardman, for a raw and honest conversation about stepparenting, boundaries, and relationships that don’t always come naturally.

Zoe shares her own experience of building a bond with her stepdaughter, before the panel tackles two listener dilemmas. In the first, a stepmum is at breaking point as her teenage stepdaughter repeatedly ignores house rules, inviting boys over, swearing and answering back, leaving her torn about whether she can stay in the relationship. In the second, a stepmum admits she dreads spending time with her stepdaughter altogether, and the ladies question whether her struggle is really about the child or unresolved tension with the child’s mum that may be affecting the relationship.

They also discuss the pressure stepparents feel to get it right, the reality that you don’t always like your children or stepchildren and why step relationships can feel especially fragile when they can be lost at any moment.

Don’t forget to rate and review, also we love hearing from you so follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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Season 5 starts here and a lot has changed while we were away.

After some time off, Kate Ferdinand returns with Nathalie and Cilla for a long overdue catch-up. This episode opens the new season with honesty and reflection, as the ladies share where life has taken them, both individually and as families.

There have been big changes, difficult moments, and journeys none of them expected. Nathalie opens up about navigating a major health experience and finding her way through recovery, Kate reflects on a huge family move and what it’s really like being separated from loved ones, and Cilla shares how life has shifted after becoming a mum again following a challenging birth.

It’s raw, emotional and reflective, a reminder of how quickly family life can change, and how much resilience it takes to keep going.

Don’t forget rate and review, also we love hearing from you so follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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In this Christmas special of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla as they come together for a festive catch-up, they’re excited to be back in the studio and keen to give listeners a special episode ahead of the new season next year.

They dive into what is often the most complicated and emotionally time of year for blended families, tackling three festive dilemmas sent in by listeners. From an ex crossing the line during Christmas pick-ups, to the quiet pressure and comparison around money and gifts, to a woman struggling with the reality that her partner will be spending Christmas with his ex and children.

Alongside the dilemmas, the ladies also talk about how they’ll be celebrating over the festive period themselves. Cilla confesses something she’s never actually done at Christmas before, Nathalie shares why she’s celebrates a little differently and Kate talks about who she’ll be spending Christmas with and how a busy life shapes those decisions.

This episode is about boundaries, expectations and knowing when to protect your peace, even during the most emotional time of the year. The ladies don’t sugar-coat it, offering honesty, empathy and at times, tough love.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla to unpack a dilemma that challenges the unspoken expectations of blended families.

A woman writes in about her relationship with a man who has children from a previous partner. When they first got together, he was happy to keep things separate, no pressure to step into a parenting role, and that suited her perfectly. But now, his family have started making comments, and he’s beginning to change his mind. Suddenly, the idea of becoming a stepmum feels less like a choice and more like an expectation.

The panel really respect her honesty, she laid out her boundaries from the start but they question whether being with someone who has kids means you have to take on the stepparent role eventually. Cilla argues that while you might start off playing the aunty or the cool friend, that approach doesn’t work long-term especially if you live together. The aim, she says, should be to grow.

Not everyone agrees. Kate and Nathalie discuss the emotional pressure women often face to "mother" in blended dynamics, and the fine line between respecting someone’s boundaries and avoiding the impact on the children involved.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Nathalie and TV and radio presenter Snoochie Shy for a powerful conversation about big life moments, loyalty, and how blended family dynamics can make emotional decisions even harder.

Snoochie brings a unique perspective, not as a parent but as someone who grew up with a stepdad she’s incredibly close to. Together, the panel dive into two dilemmas from listeners trying to balance love and loyalty.

In the first, a woman wants her stepdad to walk her down the aisle, but worries it will offend her biological father. In the second, a listener wants both her mum and stepmum in the room when she gives birth but fears her mum won’t take it well.

Nathalie doesn’t think anyone should put pressure on someone else’s feelings, while Kate understands why it might still hurt there are moments you naturally dream of sharing with your child. Snoochie reminds us that communication is everything, and that your wishes matter just as much as anyone else’s.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie to unpack a dilemma that’s left one stepmum torn between her child and her parents.

She writes in devastated that since having a baby with her partner, her parents have changed, they only want to look after their biological grandchild and have completely pulled away from her stepson. Before the baby arrived, they treated him like their own. Now, she’s heartbroken and questioning whether she ever imagined having to set boundaries with her own family.

Kate doesn't agree, saying that all children deserve to feel included and that if your family won’t treat them equally, it’s your job to protect the child. But Cilla challenges that view, arguing that while you may choose a blended family, others in your life aren’t always obliged to be on board even if it hurts.

Together, they explore a painful but important question: where do you draw the line when it’s your own parents showing bias?

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and her husband Rio Ferdinand, as they tackle a dilemma that a stepmum writes in concerned that her partner is a loving, present father to their child but wasn’t like that with his older children. She worries about the difference in how he shows up, and how that might affect the kids.

The group get real about what happens when parents evolve. Rio opens up about being in a different stage of life now more present and admits that in the past, he put family on the back burner while focused on his football career. It’s an honest reflection on how age, maturity, and life circumstances can shape how someone parents.

They also revisit a dilemma from a previous episode that Rio joined for a few minutes to discuss but didn’t get to break it down, a dad who is taking in his biological daughter but allowing his stepdaughter to go into care. They discuss whether biology should ever be the dividing line, and what it really means to show up for a child.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and Cilla to unpack a dilemma that touches on family loyalty, jealousy, and boundaries.

A stepmum writes in upset that her partner’s mum still has a close relationship with his ex. They spend time together, but she and her mother-in-law have no relationship at all. She admits it makes her feel jealous, insecure, and even a little pushed out of the family.

Kate argues that this is a normal reaction most people would feel the same sting but stresses that it’s important to recognise the feeling without acting on it. Cilla takes a tougher stance, saying it’s none of the stepmum’s business as long as her partner’s mum has a good relationship with her son and grandchildren.

The panel explores the wider questions: What happens when loyalties blur across old and new relationships? Is it natural to feel jealous, or does jealousy create bigger problems? And how do you navigate in-laws who still keep one foot in the past?

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and Nathalie are joined by special guest co-host, presenter and dad Rickie Haywood-Williams. Together, they tackle the dilemma of a mum whose biological son lives with his dad, while she lives with her partner, stepdaughter and their new baby. She admits she never thought she wouldn’t live with her biological child, and now she worries she can feel him pulling away as she builds a family under a different roof.

For Rickie, this hits really close to home. His oldest daughter is from a previous relationship, and now he lives with his stepdaughter and young son. He talks honestly about how he navigated that shift with his daughter, stressing how important it is to keep expressing love, carving out time just for them, and staying consistent even when teenagers seem distant. Sometimes, he says, it’s just about sending that text or making that call even if it doesn’t get a reply.

Kate reflects on her own household, where the little ones are desperate to see the older kids. Nathalie channels her inner Cilla and reminds everyone that different households can have different rules, and that’s okay what matters most is the connection and the love.

The panel also debate the role of phones. Rickie shares that if he could go back, he’d have restricted phones for longer, because while they help kids stay in touch across households, they can also pull children into isolation and take away valuable family time. The group talk about guilt, balance, and how to make sure your children feel seen and loved no matter where they call home.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Nathalie and Cilla to unpack a heartbreaking dilemma.

A mum writes in devastated after her partner refused to take in his daughter’s older sister meaning she may end up in care. She’s torn apart, not just for the child, but also because she fears what it says about her partner. If he can turn his back on his daughter’s sibling, could he one day do the same to her son?

The ladies feel very strongly that siblings should not be split up and urge the mum to fight for the girl to live with them. Cilla and Nathalie share their anger at how a child could be left behind, while Kate calls Rio to join the show to get a male perspective. Rio insists he wouldn’t let a child go into care but he’s also brutally honest that a lot of men might, when faced with financial pressure or the question of biology.

Together they explore whether “not my child” is ever a fair excuse, the painful reality of how easy some people can separate siblings, and what responsibility really looks like in blended families.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and Nathalie are joined by Jessica May, the influencer known for her cleaning hacks, parenting advice, and unfiltered honesty. Jessica opens up about one of the worst times of her life: discovering her partner’s betrayal, the devastation that followed, and the painful process of rebuilding not just her life, but her sense of self.

She doesn’t sugarcoat a thing dropping raw truths and bombshells that leave the ladies stunned. Nathalie can’t hide her frustration at the injustice Jess has faced, while Kate is in awe of the grace and strength she’s found through it all. At the heart of her story? One focus: making sure her daughters are happy, no matter what.

Together, they tackle a dilemma from a mum whose ex and his new partner keep trying to control what happens in her home. Where’s the line between co-parenting and overstepping? The ladies don’t hold back, debating how to set boundaries, when to push back, and what healthy co-parenting really looks like.

And when the conversation turns to discipline, the panel is split: Kate believes stepparents should be able to tell a child off if they live with and care for them while Jessica is clear she wouldn’t want anyone but dad stepping in with her girls.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to tackle a dilemma that cuts to the heart of step-parenting. A listener writes in about her stepson, who she’s helped raise for almost a decade after his biological mum wasn’t around. For years, she’s been the one doing the school runs, bedtime routines, and being “mum” in every way that mattered.

But now his biological mum has reappeared and everything has shifted. Her stepson’s behaviour has changed, and suddenly the stepmum feels like she’s being pushed out of a role she’s built her life around.

The ladies explore the painful truth many stepparents face: the sense that, no matter how much love and care you give, you can still be sidelined when a biological parent decides to step back in. They discuss the emotions at play from a mum’s possible shame for not being there, to a child’s natural pull towards wanting that maternal bond, to the stepmum’s fear of being discarded after years of sacrifice.

Kate and Nathalie debate whether the stepmum should hold firm in her place as the one who’s raised him, or whether blended families sometimes have to weather these painful shifts. They also talk about how to stop resentment building, the importance of reassurance for both the child and the step-parent, and why blended families need to be ready for these moments of sudden change.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and special guest co-host Joel Beya — presenter, founder of Cheeky Sport, and dad — who brings a raw and honest male perspective to the table. Together, they tackle a dilemma from a woman whose partner won’t let her meet his ex. She’s asked, he keeps avoiding it, and now she’s starting to get suspicious.

Is this a massive red flag, or just a man not ready to blend the past with the present? Joel is brutally honest about why some men hold back, admitting he’s hurt people in the past simply because he wasn’t ready or serious. Kate says she’d want to meet the ex and build a relationship for the children’s sake but Joel pushes back, arguing it’s not always that simple.

The trio debate Is it about protecting boundaries, or avoiding responsibility? and the ladies discuss why women can't settle for mixed signals instead of acting like the prize. Just when things heat up, Joel drops his belief that there’s no such thing as “one true love” — and that doesn’t sit well with Kate or Nathalie.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand, and co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie invite listeners into their group chat — the place where wild dilemmas get sent. Some never make it to the podcast because they're just too outrageous… but today, they’re tackling two viral moments that had people talking.

The first? A woman who bought food for her six biological children but not for her stepchild. Her husband asked, but she didn’t see anything wrong with it. The ladies get heated as they unpack whether this is the ultimate “wicked stepmother” behaviour, and question why the dad stood by and let it happen.

The second? A stepdad who wasn’t invited to his stepdaughter’s graduation, despite being in her life since she was four months old. Hurt, he decided to cut off financial support. The panel debates whether this was justified or damaging, asking: what role did the mother play, and is this about boundaries or bitterness?

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and is joined by co-hosts Nathalie and her husband, Sayce Holmes-Lewis, to unpack a dilemma from a stepmum who feels her partner is still doing a lot for his ex and is starting to wonder if she’s being jealous and petty, or if there’s a real cause for concern.

Nathalie believes a man should always be there for the mother of his child but Kate and Sayce disagree they think boundaries are essential, and that being an ex means you don’t get the same privileges as when you were in a relationship. So where is the line?

The trio discuss what’s “too far” when it comes to helping an ex, how to keep the focus on the child’s wellbeing, and why clear boundaries protect everyone. Sayce also shares an overlooked male perspective, how moving out of the family home and not seeing your children every day can be an emotional struggle, and why men need to prepare themselves for that shift.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to unpack a heartbreak that many stepmums quietly carry: the grief of losing their stepchildren after a breakup.

A listener writes in devastation after her relationship ended not because of the partner, but because she no longer gets to see the children she helped raise. Their mother doesn’t think it’s appropriate, and just like that, it’s like she never existed.

The panel discuss the emotional fallout stepmums can face when love isn’t “enough” to grant them long-term connection even after years of parenting. Kate opens up about how this exact scenario has always been one of her biggest fears and admits she doesn’t think she’d cope.

Cilla reflects on the reality vs. the ideal reminding us that we don’t live in a world where every bond is protected just because it’s real. And Nathalie asks the big question: what impact does it have on the children when someone who loves them simply disappears?

This is a powerful conversation about invisible grief, unspoken heartbreak, and the emotional toll of loving children you don’t legally “own.” Because when stepmums are told to love like a parent but let go like a stranger.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla along with very special guest co-host Nieki Shaw , a child protection solicitor, co-parenting mentor and the founder of Legally Nik, where she helps families navigate complex legal realities around blended families and co-parenting.

We get so many legal dilemmas on this podcast, and while we’re always here to share our experiences — this week, we brought in an expert.

Nik answers two powerful dilemmas from listeners:

One from a stepmum wondering what rights she’d have if something ever happened to her partner and whether she’d legally be able to stay in the child’s life.

And another where a stepmum posted a photo online, and the biological mum cut off all contact, raising urgent questions around parental alienation, boundaries, and protecting the child’s relationship with both parents.

Nik breaks down what parental responsibility really means, and when a Stepparent Responsibility Order might be needed. She explains the difference between “lives with” orders and “spends time with” orders, when to apply for Specific Issue Orders, and why the Welfare Checklist is at the heart of every child-based legal decision in the UK.

They also explore why there’s no such thing as “full custody” in the UK, how to prepare if you’re going to represent yourself in court including the role a McKenzie Friend can play in supporting you through the process. Nik also talks about why it’s so important to put your wishes in writing, especially when it comes to children and wills and why this is even more essential when a stepparent is involved.  

Check out Legally Nik's Website

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie for an honest conversation about one of the biggest pressures new parents face in blended families — how do you start conversations about the values, routines, and boundaries you want for your first child together… without causing offence?

A listener writes in, worried about how to bring up parenting differences with her partner. She’s about to have their first baby together and doesn’t want him assuming things will be the same as with his older kids. But how do you have that conversation without it sounding like you’re criticising his parenting?

The ladies discuss why values and routines aren’t just about control they’re about raising healthy, secure children. Nathalie argues that setting boundaries and not encouraging can make kids rebel, while Cilla believes there are times children need firm direction, even if it’s hard in the moment.

They also share tips on how to start the conversation without comparing or criticising — and why nothing should be left to chance when it comes to raising kids in a blended home.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and special guest co-host Jamelia — singer, songwriter, actress, and mum. 

Jamelia speaks openly and honestly about her own blended family experience, the heartbreak she faced, what her kids went through, and why she wouldn’t be part of a blended family again. She shares how, at times, she genuinely thought she wouldn’t make it through and why she'd now choose to keep her relationships separate.

The panel also tackles a dilemma from a mum whose daughter isn’t coping with her new blended setup; the kids just aren’t clicking, and it’s making life at home uncomfortable. Jamelia reflects on how her own daughter felt when someone moved in, and Kate asks whether you can really be happy in a relationship if the children aren’t.

Cilla shares why she believes children are allowed to feel sad about big changes and why sometimes you have to sit in the uncomfortable moments as a family.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate is joined by Cilla and Nathalie to explore a dilemma that hits hard for so many women in blended families: loving your partner, loving their children but still wanting a baby of your own.

A listener writes in to say she’s been a stepmum for five years and adores her partner’s children but she’s always imagined having her own baby too. The problem? Her partner says he’s done. No more kids. And now she’s wondering if she can really accept that… or if she’s risking a lifetime of regret.

The ladies explore what it means to compromise on something this big and whether love alone is enough when your dreams don’t align. They also reflect on how desires can shift, how long you should “wait and see" before resentment kicks in.

Cilla shares the emotional story of someone who waited, missed her window, and ended up heartbroken. They also reflect on the pressure of the biological clock, the power of honesty, and the importance of advocating for what you want before it’s too late.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and special guest co-host Rio to respond to a heartfelt dilemma from a listener asking how she can best support her brother, a single dad raising two daughters on his own.  

Rio shares his personal experiences of solo parenting after loss, opening up about the emotional guilt of leaving your children even briefly, the pressure to always “get it right,” and why having a support system matters so much. 

The conversation turns to the emotional wellbeing of single dads how men can be encouraged to look after themselves, make space to date again, and allow themselves to feel.

Kate becomes emotional as she reflects on her stepchildren’s experiences with grief and how her understanding has deepened now that she’s also a biological mum. 

Together, the trio explore how solo parents, especially fathers can be supported emotionally, practically, and socially without judgment.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to unpack a dilemma that so many stepparents silently struggle with: discipline.

A listener writes in feeling completely overridden by her partner when it comes to setting boundaries with his children. She tried to discipline calmly and respectfully but he jumped in, reversed her decision, and made her feel like she had no right to step in at all.

The trio discusses what discipline should look like in blended homes, and how stepparents can feel confident in their role without overstepping. Is discipline only for biological parents? What message does it send to children when their stepparent’s authority is constantly undermined?

They also explore how couples can get on the same page when it comes to parenting, the difference between discipline and telling off, and why real teamwork is essential

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-host Nathalie and special guest co-host Ashley John-Baptiste — , journalist, documentary-maker and now author of Looked After, his powerful memoir.

Ashley’s no stranger to the podcast and he’s back to talk about his own story growing up in the UK care system, living with five different families, and never quite feeling like he belonged. In this emotional and honest conversation, he shares how that shaped his sense of identity, his education, his relationships, and the kind of father he is today.

The trio also tackle a heartfelt dilemma from a listener who's trying to help her foster son feel welcomed into their family especially by her partner, who’s parenting for the first time. Ashley shares real insight into what children in care may be feeling in moments like this, while Nathalie opens up about her own past and how childhood trauma can lead to emotional walls and coping mechanisms.

This is a moving episode about identity, resilience, and the healing power of love and a reminder that family isn’t always where you start, but what you grow.

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This week on Blended, it’s the Father’s Day special and Kate’s handed over the mic. Rio Ferdinand takes on hosting duties, joined by Cilla’s husband Philo Appeaning and Nathalie’s husband Sayce Holmes-Lewis for a rare and honest conversation from the men’s side of the blended family dynamic.

The trio tackle a dilemma sent in by a man who didn’t tell his partner that his ex would be at a party he was taking his daughter to. When she found out, it caused serious drama but now he’s asking: should you always tell your partner the truth, even if you know it’ll cause problems?

That sparks a deeper chat about communication in relationships, how the men have evolved emotionally since their younger years, and the impact their wives have had on the way they express themselves now.

They reflect on how easy it is to slip back into old patterns, and why working on emotional growth in your home is worth the effort especially when you’re trying to break cycles.

They also open up about boundaries with exes and extended family, and share how those lines have had to shift over time to protect their wives and their peace.

Then comes the surprise: Kate hits them with some loaded questions submitted by their wives and they have to answer on the spot. Plus, they have a proud moment as they hear unexpected Father’s Day messages from their children.  

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie for a powerful and deeply personal episode. For the first time, the ladies speak not from the perspective of parents but as the children of single-parent homes.

They open up about how growing up without a father in the house shaped their understanding of love, trust, and family. From not knowing how to have a platonic relationship with a man to struggling to understand how your husband can love you without conditions they open up about the emotional impact of growing up in homes where love looked different.

Cilla gets emotional as she reflects on how certain moments from her past still leave her feeling disappointed and hurt and how that has shown up in her adult life and relationships.

The trio also discuss how they’re doing the work to break generational cycles, raising their own children differently, and learning that healing can happen at the same time as parenting.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie to unpack a dilemma that hits deep for many stepparents — feeling left out, even when you’ve been fully present. A listener shares that she wasn’t invited to her stepdaughter’s birthday party, which is being held at the mum’s house, and it's left her feeling sidelined. She’s been a part of her partner’s daughter’s life for 3 years and thought their bond meant more but now she’s questioning her place in the bigger moments.

The trio reflect on the unspoken boundaries of blended family life. Should you expect to be welcomed into someone else’s safe space, like their home? Or is it fair to suggest neutral locations or even host your own celebration?

The ladies explore whether we expect too much too soon as stepparents, or whether exclusion from big milestones like birthdays and school events says more about unresolved tensions between adults. They also dig into how confrontation gets a bad wrap especially for women and why speaking up isn’t about ego, but about protecting your peace.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to talk about one of the most emotional and overlooked issues in blended families — money.

The conversation is sparked by a dilemma from a stepmum who financially supports her partner’s children but feels completely shut out of the decision-making. With talk of private school on the table and no voice in the conversation, she’s left wondering: am I being manipulated, or is this just part of being in a blended family?

They dive into the uncomfortable but necessary questions: Should financial contribution equal a say in parenting decisions? and Where’s the line between support and exploitation?

The trio reflect on the emotional costs that go beyond finances especially when step-parents raise children they have no legal rights to. From wills and inheritance to guardianship and long-term planning, they unpack why these conversations matter so much more in blended families.

One big question the group debates: Should parents leave different amounts to different children, based on what they’re already receiving from their other biological parent? Is fairness always equal or does it depend on circumstance?

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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On this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie for a tough but necessary conversation about something many families silently struggle with the different ways love can show up for biological and stepchildren.

This honest discussion is sparked after Kate asks her stepdaughter Tia to send a voice note sharing how she feels compared to her younger siblings and opens the door to one of the biggest debates yet.

They explore a powerful question: What is love? Is it a feeling, an action or both? And if you don’t feel the same for all your children, what can you do to make sure none of them feel left out?

They discuss how factors like living arrangements, age, time, and even permission to parent can all affect how love is shown and felt. When 1 in 3 families in the UK are blended, this is not a niche issue it’s a growing reality for so many.

The trio explore what happens when you don’t feel the same bond with your stepchildren and how you can still show up for them with care and consistency. They unpack the pressure stepmums often face to “love like a mum,” while also being told not to overstep.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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In this week’s episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie for one of the trickiest dilemmas they’ve tackled yet. A listener shares her story of planning to separate from her husband after years of being together but they’ve decided to carry on living under the same roof until their children turn 18.

Why? Because she’s terrified her son might choose to stay with his stepdad instead of her. It’s a heartbreaking situation that raises a huge question: can you separate without shattering your family?

The ladies explore the emotional weight of “staying for the kids,” and debate whether that decision protects children or simply delays the damage.

They reflect on research that shows children thrive in two-parent households and dig into how breakups affect kids no matter which parent leaves, highlighting that mothers can also be the ones who disrupt the home, not just the dads.

The trio share how they’d feel about having a stepparent now, as grown women, and the impact childhood trauma can have on how we move through relationships as adults and reflect on how their own upbringings in single-parent homes shaped their views.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to dive deep into what really happens when kids are raised across two homes with different sets of rules.

Cilla explains the real difference between co-parenting and parallel parenting, and why understanding the difference can save families a lot of conflict.

Kate, Cilla, and Nathalie each open up about their own parenting styles, how they set rules, maintain structure, and handle boundaries in their homes.

The trio also explore whether softer or stricter parenting styles actually get better reactions, and whether having different rules really confuses children long-term or if kids are more adaptable than we give them credit for. They also reflects on how children sometimes adapt their behaviour depending on which parent they're talking to and how kids can even learn to play parents off against each other when the rules aren't aligned .

If you’ve ever struggled with mixed messages, different expectations, or feeling like you're parenting in two completely different worlds, this episode is a must-listen.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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In this special episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by her husband Rio and co-host Cilla to explore what it’s like to navigate blended family life from a male point of view. 

This week’s listener's dilemma asks: “Do I have to end my marriage if he won’t accept my child?” — sparking a deep and emotional conversation about loyalty, love, and the hard choices many blended families face.

The trio also tackle adult children moving back home, how it affects family dynamics, and what happens when one partner struggles with a stepchild returning to the household.

Rio shares his honest take on fatherhood, why men sometimes struggle to express how they feel, and why “firsts” in blended families can hit differently for men.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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Being a stepmum without your own children? People have opinions.

Choosing not to have kids? Even more.

And if you want to be a mum but life has other plans? That’s a whole different kind of heartbreak.

In this episode of Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Priscilla Appeaning and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis for a powerful and honest conversation about the pressure on women to sacrifice their bodies and mental health for motherhood, what it means to step-parent without biological children of your own, and how motherhood expectations shape emotional identity in blended families.

Cilla explains the difference between being childfree and childless. Kate reflects on her experience entering a blended family without children of her own and Nathalie opens up about her health journey and her decision around motherhood.

They also explore how “ours babies” , a term used in the blended family space to describe a child shared by both partners, can impact identity, connection, and emotional roles for women who aren’t biological mums.

Follow @blendedon Instagram to share your story.

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Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Priscilla Appeaning and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis for another real, raw and relatable episode of Blended. This one’s all about family drama, blurred boundaries—and one photo that caused major tension.

In this episode, they dive into a dilemma that had the group chat on fire: A mother-in-law gifts a photo of a child’s half-sibling... and the stepmum and partner throw it away. Was it about protecting the child—or shutting down the in-laws? Is the mother-in-law just trying to stay involved—or fully stirring the pot? 

They get into the messy middle of extended family politics, Christmas card awkwardness, and where photos live within the household.

If you’ve ever dealt with overstepping in-laws, silent partners, or hard decisions to do with your stepchildren —this one’s for you.

If you’ve got a dilemma of your own within a blended family, we’d love to hear from you.

Send it to us via Instagram@blended.

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Blended is back—but with a difference. Kate Ferdinand is joined by her brand new co-hosts Priscilla Appeaning, stepmum and blended life coach, and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis, step-mum and businesswoman. This season, they plan to have more honest and deeper conversations that help blended families feel supported and understood.

Introducing a new partner to your children is a significant and sometimes stressful moment in blended families. Hear from Kate, Priscilla, and Nathalie as they chat about the timing and challenges of this introduction.

They address common worries, including fear, resistance from children or the opinions of ex-partners, and whether delaying the introduction is beneficial. We learn about the importance of making sure the children feel part of the conversation and how building the introduction slowly can benefit everyone.

We also hear from a listener with a dilemma:

“I’ve been seeing someone great for four months and I’m feeling ready to meet the kids. They’re aged 7 and 11 but my ex says it’s too soon and that I’m not thinking about the kids’ feelings. Should my ex’s opinion affect my timing or is this decision mine alone?”

This sparks conversations around how to navigate the role of the ex-partner and how to keep the communication amicable. If you've ever felt unsure about the big introduction, this episode reminds you that there's no right or wrong way—just what works for your unique family.

To become part of the Blended family, follow @blended on Instagram.

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We’re beyond excited to announce that the blended podcast is back!

This season, Kate is joined by two incredible Step-mums, Cilla & Nathalie, each with their own unique family setup. We’re here to offer different perspectives on the step-parenting experience, and we hope you’ll feel seen and understood as we share our stories and answer your questions each week.

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Hey Guys! Well, it's been quite a journey since the last time we chatted, and I've stepped out of my little bubble to share a special life update... Shae's here!

In today's mini update, I'll take you on a journey through what it's been like getting to know my gorgeous little girl and adapting to life with not just a newborn, but a toddler and teenagers! You know, trying to find our new rhythm and establish a fresh routine. But let me tell you, it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows. Shae made quite the entrance into this world, being born with congenital pneumonia, and I'll be sharing that rollercoaster of an experience today.

So, thank you for joining me on this incredible journey. Your support means the world to me.

If you haven't already, become part of the Blended community by following and interacting with us @Blended on Instagram.

Thanks for listening, and I can't wait to share more with you all!

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Hey Guys! This is the last time you’ll hear from me for a little while, because when this episode comes out I’ll be 37 weeks pregnant and officially on maternity leave! To be honest I've been on maternity leave unofficially for a week or so because the tiredness has hit me SO hard.

Before I go, I want to leave you with some final bits to round off this amazing series of Blended. You’ll hear my final preparations for pregnancy, an interesting update from team Blended and I’ve selected some of my favourite moments from the season for you to enjoy, one of the clips I've chosen does contains reference to miscarriage and baby loss so please take care while listening.

I hope you’ve found this season of Blended as enjoyable and comforting as I have, thank you so so much for your support and community, it genuinely means the world and I can’t wait to share more with you guys on the other side!

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today on Blended, we are speaking to a guest that so many of you have been asking for! Former Queen of the Jungle, podcaster and author Vicky Pattison!

Although Vicky herself isn’t part of a Blended family, hearing her journey to potential parenthood is very in keeping with the family stories we love to hear on Blended. Earlier this year she took the decision to freeze her eggs and start an IVF journey, but it hasn’t gone completely to plan. During a scan in January, the doctors discovered that Vicky had an ovarian cyst, meaning she couldn’t start treatment, luckily after a rocky few months, Vicky has been given the all clear and has started the IVF process.

Vicky has been so open on social media in documenting her journey and showing both the physical and mental challenges that come with IVF. On today’s episode Vicky details the last few months of her IVF journey alongside sharing why she doesn’t yet feel ready for pregnancy and the scrutiny she’s faced because of this.

It was such a pleasure to chat about her alternative route to motherhood, as always with Vicky this chat is open, hilarious and more than a little sweary!

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram

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TW: This discussion covers displacement through war, and descriptions of death and violence so please be kind to yourself when listening.

Next week marks Refugee Week here in the UK, and we’re honoured to be joined on Blended by the inspiring Waad Al-Kateab. Waad is a Syrian journalist, filmmaker, and activist. Her documentary, For Sama, was nominated for four BAFTA’s, winning Best Documentary, and it was also nominated for Best Documentary Feature at The Oscars.

‘For Sama’ is a love letter from Waad to her daughter, Sama. The film tells the story of her life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while conflict rises around her.

Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival, as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice – whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life. Waad has since settled in the UK with her husband Hamza and their young two daughters Sama and Taima.

We chat about the resilience being a mum provides you, how war & conflict cause you to build families beyond blood, the impossible scenario of having to leave your newborn child in a different country and starting again in the UK for the safety of your family.

Waad is an absolute inspiration, the challenges herself and her family have been through couldn’t be tougher, so to come out on the other side and speak with so much strength optimises the Blended story.

Check out Waad’s incredible film For Sama, as well as her new film We Dare To Dream and please do follow @actionforsama

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram

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Hey Guys! As you’ll hear in today’s episode, life has been busy over the last few weeks! So it feels like a good time to fill you in on what I’ve been up to, book launches, birthdays and my ever growing bump!

Thank you so much for all your questions that came in from my Instagram Q&A, I do my best to answer all the things you want to know!

We’ve got such an exciting last few weeks on this series of Blended so please stick around and I’m hoping to do another one of these before going off to have the baby!

Please click here if you’d like to (pre) order a copy of my brand new blended children’s book ‘The Family Tree’

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram

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Nevine Coutry is the founder of the UK’s first dating app for single parents, ‘Playdate’. After divorcing her ex-husband in 2016, Nevine found herself as a single parent to her 3 year old son. Nevine tried all the mainstream dating apps looking for a new partner but would often get ghosted after mentioning her son or her divorce.

It wasn’t until a couple years later at a friends’ birthday party that Nevine met a single dad, and they hit it off immediately. They joined family units and Nevine became a step-mum. Although their relationship didn’t work out, the experience left Nevine feeling so enriched by the Blended experience that she decided to create her dating app.

Nevine’s story is a chance to hear what happens when Blended families don’t quite work out as planned, as Nevine says in the episode, it’s bittersweet but she would do it all over again.

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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TW: Mentions of self-harm and suicide

Today we welcome the wonderful Louis Weinstock to Blended. Louis is a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and coach who has 20 years experience in guiding adults and children through some of the toughest challenges life can throw at us: loss, trauma, divorce, burnout and breakdowns.

Louis is also a published author, his book ‘How The World Is Making Our Children Mad and What To Do About It’ gives children the tools they need to look after their mental health in an increasingly turbulent world of climate change, social media and war.

Today's chat is all about finding the balance of using social media in between different households and how we can help our children deal with trauma by helping ourselves first.

Louis has such a calm, warm energy and has such an easy way of opening up deep topics, which hopefully makes it feel relevant and you can take some tips that can help you and your family.

To find out more about Louis’s book ‘How The World Is Making Our Children Mad and What To Do About It’ ‘click here

To find out more about Louis’s charity ‘Apart of Me’ click here

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram. My book How To Build A Family is available now, and you can pre-order The Family Tree here: https://bio.to/KateFerdinand

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Hey guys! Loads of you have been getting in touch with questions about Rio and I so it only felt right that I got him back on the podcast.We set the record straight on how we met, and as you’ll hear he didn’t make the best first impression…

We also chat about how we’ve blended our lifestyles, how we resolve arguments (sort of) and there’s a bit of banter too.

Safe to say Rio left the studio feeling like I’d taken the mick out of him but we do actually answer these questions honestly and we hope you find them interesting!

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram. My book How To Build A Family is available now, and you can pre-order The Family Tree here: https://bio.to/KateFerdinand

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Here’s something very special for all the Blended listeners. A few weeks back, I did a live show with the amazing host of the Motherkind podcast, Zoe Blaskey.

If you haven’t heard of the Motherkind podcast before, it’s basically a show where wellbeing experts help you find your calm, happy place in the madness of modern mum life.

So today we’re sharing an episode of Motherkind where Zoe chatted to Reshma Saujani.

Resham spent the last 10 years telling girls to lean in and fight to get to the top; however, after her experience parenting and working during the pandemic her message has changed. Find out what she now has to say during this powerful episode.

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram and you can pre-order my book How To Build A Family here https://lnk.to/HowToBuildAFamily

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Hi guys, I’ve got something very exciting to share with you today, it’s been a long time in the making, but I’m so excited to say that my brand new book ‘How To Build a Family’ is out tomorrow - I can’t quite believe it!

How to Build a Family is a nurturing handbook that I wish I’d been given when I started out my journey in a fully blended family. As well as my experiences, and those of other blended families, it has advice and tips from experts you’ve heard on the show like Julia Samuel and Lisa Doodson. My goal in writing this book is to encourage, inspire and support families everywhere.

In today’s podcast I also talk about my other new book ‘The Family Tree’ which will be coming out on the 8th of June (quite the author I know). The Family Tree is a reassuring picture-book adventure that will help blended families feel seen and celebrated, offering gentle conversation starters for the youngest readers.

I hope you find these books refreshing and useful, as always thanks for your amazing love and support, I can’t wait to hear what you think of them!You can pre-order both books by clicking on the link here: https://bio.to/KateFerdinand

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today’s episode of Blended is with content creator, author, mother and in her words survivor, Grace Victory.

In December 2020, Grace was seven months pregnant when she was diagnosed with a severe case of Covid. Grace was taken into emergency care and their son Cyprus was delivered via C-section. Hours after giving birth on Christmas Eve, Grace was put in a voluntary coma to treat her Covid. Months passed and Grace’s condition declined, Doctors only gave her a 5% chance to live.

Remarkably though Grace has made a full recovery.

Grace talks about re-learning how to live after a coma, missing your son’s first few months of life and being kind to yourself in the aftermath of traumatic events.

Grace’s story is one of trauma, adversity and pain but also one of hope, defying the odds and getting a second chance at life.

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram and you can pre-order my book How To Build A Family here https://lnk.to/HowToBuildAFamily

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Hey guys, I thought now might be a good time to update you with what’s been going on in my world because believe me it’s been chaotic. The headlines are holidays, hospitals and a whole lot of baby brain.

I’ve also been getting loads of questions from you guys about how we’re getting on with potty training Cree and as you’ll hear, it’s been an interesting experience…

I love checking in with you guys and just letting you know what I’ve been up to, I hope it’s relatable or at the very least you can have a laugh at my expense!


If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram and you can pre-order my book How To Build A Family here https://lnk.to/HowToBuildAFamily

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Raising kids is no small feat and I think most people listening in will be able to relate. Whether you are part of a Blended family or not, this messy, yet beautiful, chapter we call childhood is FULL of questions, worries and concerns and sometimes all you want is a bit of support so that you can feel more comfortable supporting your kids in return.

With the new baby on the way, I’ve been encountering a lot more questions so I thought why not go back to parenting expert Dr Martha Deiros Collado who has got such a refreshing, calm, and empathetic way of tackling big subjects for some advice.


And that's what I did, so today I’ve got 3 of my favourite bits from Dr Martha. This advice is actually from her podcast - Taking Sense - which provides a thought provoking lens on child behaviour that all parents witness and see every day and find ideas to support you and your child.

It's honestly so great, and a little bit like Blended, it helps bring you closer to other parents who have similar concerns.

The advice discussed on today's episode are from the following episodes of Talking Sense, which you can listen to here:

How do I prepare my child for a new sibling?

When can we expect our children’s big outbursts to stop?

How to deal with others' judgement of our parenting?

I hope you find this mini-episode as useful as I have! If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today on Blended, we’re joined by the lovely reality TV star, Lydia Bright.

For pretty much all of Lydia’s life she’s been part of a Blended family. Her Mum Debbie and Dad Dave fostered over 250 children across 27 years, as well as having 3 biological children of their own meaning the Bright household was always a busy place to be!

Lydia’s now a single mother herself, raising her three year old daughter Loretta.
This chat focuses on both the Blended sides of Lydia’s life, the amazing and challenging experiences of growing up with foster siblings and becoming a single mother during a pandemic.

If you're a single parent or considering fostering, the experiences and advice Lydia shares in today’s episode is just invaluable.

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today’s episode of Blended is all about positive co-parenting and the process of blending two families with the hilarious Rickie Haywood Williams and Natalie Harman.

You may know Rickie from TV and Radio, he currently presents a Radio 1 show alongside Melvin Odoom and Charlie Hedges, but chances are you haven’t heard of his partner Natalie who remains out of the spotlight, this was her first time doing a podcast but you’d never know!

Rickie and Natalie met three years ago and after a successful period of dating they decided to combine their families. Both Rickie and Natalie have daughters of a similar age from previous relationships, and the four of them have Blended in the last couple of years. Last August Rickie and Natalie added to their family and had baby Cruz, their first child together.

Rickie and Natalie discuss all the topics that so often come up in parenting: How to navigate discipline and how to make sure you carve out time with your partner.

They also give some great advice on maturity to make co-parenting a harmonious process.

This episode is full of laughs, it’s a really heartwarming story that shows Blended families can bring so much joy!

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today we have a very familiar face on Blended in the name of ex-footballer and more importantly my husband, Rio Ferdinand.

Rio finally comes on the podcast for a full episode to talk about how the family has changed from his perspective over the years.

Rio also discusses growing up in a blended family, both of his parents finding new partners and how his upbringing impacts the decisions he makes as a parent himself today.

There’s also a lot of banter in this episode, you can say what you want about Rio but he holds his hands up when he’s in the wrong and there’s a lot of laughs because of it!

This conversation also shows a side to Rio you may not have seen before and gives a real look in to the inner workings of our family - both the happy times and challenging!

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Something we place a lot of importance on in the Blended community is being really open and honest with our feelings and that’s exactly what we are in today’s episode with grief expert, loss author and CEO of the charity The Mariposa Trust (widely known by its primary support division ’Saying Goodbye’,) Zoe Clark-Coates MBE.

As you may remember from her last episode on Blended, Zoe has lost five babies, but her ability to take the positives and honour life from these experiences is so inspiring.

Zoe shares some great advice and tips from her book 'Pregnancy After Loss', including how to prepare for scans, coping mechanisms for stress and managing the joy and the fear of being pregnant after loss.

Click here for more information on Zoe’s Charity ’Saying Goodbye’ https://www.sayinggoodbye.org/ and find her on Instagram at @Zoeadelle.

If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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This week on Blended we have an inspiring conversation on single parenthood with author of the book ‘Liv’s Alone: Amateur Adventures in Solo Motherhood’, Liv Thorne. When Liv Thorne was in her twenties, and single, she would joke to friends that if ‘Mr Right’ didn't come along she'd have to take matters into her own hands and have a child on her own. When she was still single in her thirties, it stopped being a joke and she started researching sperm banks and fertility clinics. Having chosen donor sperm from a bank in Denmark, her first three attempts to conceive via natural IUI failed. Liv had said to herself that she would try 4 rounds of IUI before she would undergo the more invasive (& expensive) route of IVF. Happily, and somewhat surprisingly, it was her 4th round of IUI that resulted in a successful pregnancy. Liv gave birth to her son on her Dad's birthday who sadly died when she was 12. Her Dad had always called her Little Herbert, which is why her longed for son is called Herb. Liv gives us a really honest account of what it's taken to create her family through sperm donation, the financial burden, and how you need to be especially kind to yourself if you decide to start a family solo. As always, these conversations show that there’s no ‘normal’ way to raise a child, the main thing is to show them support and love. If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today’s episode of Blended is all about Mother’s Day, an event which can mean so many things to different people. That’s why for today’s episode I really wanted you to hear my husband Rio’s perspective on this day. Rio and I talk about how our family has changed over the years and how our emotions of grief evolve around Mother's Day as time goes on. Rio will describe himself as not having massive highs and lows in his emotions but he’s really getting better at voicing his feelings especially around grief, and our takeaway message as a family is do what feels right to you. We decided not to put this episode out on Mother’s Day so you can listen in the build up, afterwards or whenever feels right for you. If you're struggling this Mother's Day, please be easy on yourself, the greatest bit of advice I've got was from Julia Samuel, just turn your phone off and try to enjoy the day. If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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After her advice went down so well with you guys at Christmas, we decided to invite child psychotherapist and co-host of the ’Therapy Works’ podcast Emily Samuel back to Blended to answer your questions. It can be really easy to get caught up in our emotions and everything can seem a little bit overwhelming in parenthood, but Emily gives simple and actionable advice to use. We cover a range of topics including: dealing with grief, divorce, and how we can best support neurodiverse children (and for any parents currently experiencing the terrible two’s, I ask Emily how to deal with those tantrums too!) If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today on Blended we welcome author Lisa Timoney. Lisa has written 3 novels, including ‘Her Daughter’s Secret’ and ‘Her Mother’s Lies’, stories that are centred around Blended family setups. Lisa was adopted at a young age alongside her elder adopted sister owing to her adopted parents’ fertility problems. Lisa’s adopted parents are now divorced, putting her in the unique position of having 3 sets of parents, although she’s not reconnected with her biological parents who had her as teenagers. Lisa is passionate about changing the stigma around adoption and this episode reflects Lisa’s really positive outlook on being adopted, detailing a life filled with love and nurture. Lisa’s story is a really encouraging one, and the main takeaway should be that everybody’s normal is different, which is the epitome of coming from a blended family. If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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I have a very special guest today on Blended… finally my husband Rio has agreed to join me! This is because we’re so excited to announce the gender of our baby with you all. It was great to sit down with Rio and relive the chaotic way we found out for ourselves. As Rio says “it was a typical Ferdinand household gender reveal, it went wrong!” as you’ll hear for yourself… Rio and I laughed so much making this, we hope you enjoy listening to our little family update as much as we enjoyed recording it! If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today’s episode of Blended is all about celebrating and understanding different ethnicities within Blended families and discussing how we can become the most authentic version of ourselves. Adrienne Herbert’s life centres around positivity and motivation. She’s the host of the Power Hour podcast, a TedTalk speaker and one of the UK’s leading wellness professionals, but her story hasn’t always been easy. She grew up one of four siblings in a single parent household and being one of the elders, she helped her mum raise her younger siblings which meant she had to grow up pretty quickly. Growing up Adrienne’s father was distant, the only member on her Dad’s side was her Grandma but she lived a few hours away meaning she never had the chance to understand her Jamaican heritage. Living in a predominantly white northern town with a white mother with little knowledge on black hair or culture left Adrienne often feeling like an outsider. This all changed when Adrienne moved to London age 16 where she began the journey to better understand herself. She now has her own blended family, her son Jude is interracial and Adrienne has made sure he has the education about his heritage that she never had. Today’s chat is all about embracing your true self, educating and celebrating our cultural differences and advice for parents raising interracial children, enjoy! To become part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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TW: This episode covers matters related to drug abuse and eating conditions. So please be kind to yourself if that feels too close to home. Today’s episode is for anyone who may be considering the option of fostering, has already taken the leap and needs some advice or simply wants to learn more about the processes and experiences of fostering a child. Our guests are mother and step-daughter duo Caroline ‘Caz’ Bullivant & Britney Coole. Caz welcomed Britney into her home when she was 12, and despite a rocky start, these two are now thick as thieves, so much so that Britney, now a mum herself, says Caz was the person who truly showed her how to be a mum. Caz, talks us through the reality of being a foster mum and shares some really inspiring nuggets of wisdom around the ‘best’ way to create a connection with your foster children. On the other side of the coin, Britney shares her experiences growing up and explains the emotional journey of foster care. This conversation is an example of both the heartening and challenging aspects of fostering. If you would like more information on the requirements and processes of fostering, check out the links below. To become part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram. Information on Fostering: At the end of 2022, there were more than 80,000 children in care in the UK. It's expected that this number will rise to more than 100,000 over the next three years, which means more foster parents are desperately needed to provide children with love, nurture and support. Anyone can be a foster parent - you just need to have love to give, and a spare bedroom at home. Foster parents are provided with a fostering allowance to enable them to financially support the young people in their care, plus ongoing training and support, enabling them to provide the best care possible. Fostering People have been supporting vulnerable children since 2000, in Scotland, the north east, north west, West Midlands, east of England and Yorkshire. You can find out more about becoming a foster parent with Fostering People here: https://www.fosteringpeople.co.uk/ You can read more about Caz and Brit's story here: https://www.fosteringpeople.co.uk/resources/fostering-stories/foster-parent-stories/cazs-fostering-story/ For more information on fostering and its importance, the UK's leading foster care charity The Fostering Network has lots of information: https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/ The government provides information on fostering too: https://www.gov.uk/becoming-foster-parent

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Trigger Warning: Themes of addiction are discussed in this episode. Today on Blended we have the brilliant author, self development coach and queen of manifestation, Roxie Nafousi and today's episode is all about building positive co-parenting relationships. Roxie and Wade are no longer together, but are passionately committed to staying great friends and being the best co-parents they possibly can be. They’ve gone against the status-quo and written their own rules on how to co-parent which includes holidaying together and a new approach to splitting the time they share with their son, Wolfe. Roxie has also navigated a tricky past, struggling with various addictions, self-worth insecurities and post-natal depression, but discusses how her life completely turned around after she had her son Wolfe, who is her bundle of joy. This chat is packed with honesty and so much great insight and advice on how to create a positive co-parenting relationship that prioritises your children's happiness. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Writer and Broadcaster Emily Dean is the author of the hit book ‘Everybody Died, So I Got a Dog’ and subsequently the hugely successful Times podcast ‘Walking the Dog’. Emily’s life turned completely on its head when she lost all of her close family in a 3 year period. First her older sister Rachael to cancer, closely followed by both her parents, leaving her as the key female figure to Rachael’s children and an orphan at age 45. This sudden change left Emily no choice but to clobber together her own Blended family consisting of her nieces, close friends and adorable Shih-tzu, Raymond. This is an emotional episode, a story of unconditional love, resilience and a tale of how loss forces you to step outside your comfort zone. I hope hearing Emily’s story inspires and gives you confidence for all of life’s unexpected challenges.

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Hey everyone! I know I’ve been a bit quiet on social media lately, but I’ve received so many messages asking for an update on what’s been going on. Well… I have some big news to share with you all - I’m expecting another baby! I couldn’t be more excited, and I’m so glad I get to talk about this journey with all of you on these mini-episodes of the podcast. Sometimes when you share big news on social media, it doesn’t quite have the same impact as talking about it in person. That’s why I wanted to jump on here and share my thoughts and feelings with all of you. I’m really looking forward to the season ahead and continuing to share my journey with you all in these mini-episodes. If you’re excited to be a part of the Blended community, make sure to follow @Blended on Instagram. Thanks for listening and I can’t wait to share more updates with you all!

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Welcome to a brand new season of Blended! In this episode, Kate speaks with Dr Martha Deiros Collado - a clinical psychologist specialising in science of childhood. Her mission is to make the science of psychology accessible to everyone which she does this so well on her Instagram and podcast Talking Sense. Dr Martha has such a refreshing, calm, and empathetic way of tackling big subjects - from how to manage anxiety to navigating tricky co parenting situations, as well how we as step parents deal with imposter syndrome and alienation. Dr Martha also answers the brilliant questions submitted from the blended community, and it's all just so helpful. Today's episode is all about actionable advice you can apply in everyday life with your family. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Wow there are just 4 sleeps until Christmas! To wrap up our mini-episodes I wanted to come on by myself to share with you all what my first Christmas was like coming into a Blended family and how our family has developed since. I share some of the new traditions we have created together and I’ve also got some quick practical tips which I found have helped me at times where things have got a little stressful, to help me enjoy the moment. This is a short and sweet episode which I hope leaves you feeling calm and ready for the days ahead. Thank you to each one of you for being part of the Blended community this year, together we are helping the world know that Blended families are beautiful. I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful Christmas and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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In the last of our Christmas minisodes, I sit down with a wonderful Emily Samuel, she's a child psychotherapist as she answers some of the questions you sent in that relate to your children's experiences of Christmas. We cover expectations of Christmas, managing children's behaviour, presents, and mental health around the Christmas period. These episodes are really short and sweet, but they're packed full of advice. Emily co-hosts the wonderful Therapy Works podcast with her psychotherapist mum (Julia Samuel) and sister (Sophie Samuel) - you can listen to Therapy Works here As always, we'd love to hear from you, so please do get back to me with your thoughts and feelings. So here it is, our blended minisode with Emily Samuel. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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On Blended today we have a very special guest, Alex Willumsen who’s story is one that so many people have been in touch about, and that’s being a childless stepmum.Alex Willumsen is a parent/step-parent of 11 years to two boys down in Brighton. We hear all about Alex's step parenting journey but also about her and her husband’s attempts to grow their family themselves. Alex is an amazing women and she feels that being a childless step mum is a unique and often overlooked experience and because of this, she started a support group called “Step by Step”- a group for supporting step family/blended life - some who have their own children and some who don’t. To keep up with Alex and her Step By Step group please see the website: Step by step - supporting step family life Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/435013954196017/?ref=share Sign up to the step by step newsletter by Contact email: stepbystepbrighton@gmail.com Information and support around womb cancer: https://peachestrust.org/ Meet others in the childless community: https://gateway-women.com/ To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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It’s nearly Christmas, a time filled with joy and excitement, but also a time that can be difficult for anyone dealing with the absence of a loved one. A few weeks ago, I reached out to you on the Blended socials and asked if you had any questions around Christmas. We were inundated with your questions, so I decided to host a short series of minisodes to offer advice to anyone struggling at this time of year. Ann has worked in bereavement for over 30 years and is the CEO of Child Bereavement UK, a charity of which I am proud to be a patron. In this minisode, Ann answers some of your questions about how to help children and young people deal with bereavement and loss throughout the festive season. These episodes are short and sweet and packed full of advice. Ann gives amazing and digestible guidance to families navigating loss at this time of year. You can also find a wealth of resources to help young people navigate grief at the Child Bereavement UK website. Link: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/ To become a part of the Blended community follow @blended on Instagram.

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Today’s guest on Blended is comedian, actor, writer and I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! star, Babatunde Aléshé. Baba joins me to talk about life growing up in a single parent home, and how his childhood was one of his biggest drivers in shaping his own parenting style. Baba’s Nigerian heritage and religion comes up too as it was a big pillar in his life overall which prompts a conversation about how to blend cultures in the family home. We also talk about strictness in the home which we have a good laugh about! It’s a conversation that takes so many great twists and turns. I just loved how much love and respect he has for his mum, and how he and his wife balance their culture in his home.

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It’s nearly Christmas, a time which can bring so much excitement but also so much stress, especially if you’re part of a blended family. I reached out to you on the Blended socials and asked if you had any questions around Christmas: Be that grief, how to share the kids or anything else that’s causing you stress, and we were inundated with your questions. Today we welcome Professor Lisa Doodson back to Blended. She's an author and psychologist specialising in step-family dynamics. Today she answers some of your questions around splitting time over Christmas, making new traditions and the balancing act between bio and step families. These episodes are short and sweet and packed full of advice. As always Lisa gives some great tips and I hope it eases up the stress in the run up to Christmas. To become a part of the Blended community follow @blended on Instagram.

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Today on Blended I’m joined by star of Teen Mom UK, Chloe Patton. We had such a lovely chat about Chloe finding out she was pregnant at just 16 years old, starting a family as a teen, navigating rocky times with her partner Jordan and also being a part of a beautiful blended family.  Chloe's faced some really hard times along the way which were played out on the TV - going through postnatal depression and losing her nan and grandad - but has been so amazing in dealing with it all. Her outlook on life is so impressive - she is just so wise, strong and inspiring. Coming from a beautiful blended family herself, Chloe shares just how families come in so many different shapes and sizes - a message I couldn't agree with more. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today on Blended, I’m chatting to the phenomenal Brian Dowling - the Irish TV presenter who rose to fame after winning Big Brother in 2001 and Ultimate Big Brother in 2010. Brian has a beautiful new baby girl Blake with his husband Arthur and their journey to welcoming her to the world is a fascinating one. Brian’s sister Aoife was their surrogate - and Brian talks us through all of the expected, and unexpected highs and lows of surrogacy with your sister. This is such an entertaining but also informative, and emotional episode. Brian is so open about this complicated and beautiful topic and also about the traumatic sudden loss of his mother. This is a story of love, sacrifice and family. Brian says “Who you are is who your family are” - and you can really feel that today. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today on Blended, I’m chatting to the Amazing Fearne Cotton. Fearne is a well-known broadcaster, presenter, and host of the wildly popular podcast ‘Happy Place’. Today though, we are talking about Fearne’s role as a Mum. We talk about the huge shift that occurs when you become a parent, step or otherwise and how confidence really does come in waves, especially with being a step-parent. Fearne openly shares her thoughts on imposter syndrome, parenting and mental health and gives some great advice on how to embrace it all - the good bits, the bad bits and the difficult bits. It’s really a touching conversation, I can’t wait for you to hear it! To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today on Blended we are joined by TV and sports presenter Lynsey Hipgrave. Lynsey’s blended journey began when she met her now husband Dan Hipgrave 16 years ago who already had a daughter from his previous marriage. Together we spoke about what it’s like coming into a blended family, the transition between part-time and full time parenting. We discuss the importance of creating stability and having good communication with both of the parents as well as how to shelter children from tabloid media and press when their parents are in the limelight. Lynsey’s overall message was that really you make your own family life and you do get your own routine and things get easier and better - which I think is such a nice message. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today on Blended we have the wonderful Jimmy Akingbola. Jimmy is an actor and producer that currently plays the iconic Geoffery in the new rendition of The Fresh Prince, ‘Bel-Air’. Now living in the bright lights of Los Angeles, Jimmy returns home to the UK to reflect on how his upbringing shaped him in a moving documentary called ‘Handle with Care’. Jimmy takes us on an uplifting journey through his own experience as a child raised by parents of different ethnicities in foster care, how he processed abandonment and beautifully describes his blended upbringing, the difficult times and the better times. Considering the tough circumstances he was brought up in, he has an absolutely amazing outlook on his life, saying he has been blessed with two amazing families. Jimmy is an amazing role model for anyone who is in care or considering bringing a child into care and I’m so excited to share this episode with you all. You can catch Handle With Care on ITV Player, trust me it’s a must watch! To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today’s guest on Blended is the wonderful Bodé Aboderinor as some people know him, Papa B! Bodé has recently written a book on fatherhood, called Fatherhood, that literally discusses what it means to be a father today. Bodé has a blended family himself but in today’s episode Kate hones in on the big topics, covering everything from Fatherhood and masculinity - and for parents who don't live with their children from a previous relationship, how to blend with new siblings and also how to keep that 1 on 1 connection alive and strong. It’s a calm and open chat that’s full of great, applicable advice that is so helpful to everyone really, no matter what their family set up. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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*Trigger warning: This episode involves stories of domestic violence and physical abuse.* Today on blended we're talking about something that too often gets brushed under the carpet: domestic abuse. Today's guest Phoenix Brown who has been incredibly brave talking about her experience of growing up around emotional and physical abuse. She opens up about the abusive relationship her mom was in when she was young, the effect it had on her and about how great it felt when they got out. It's something that sadly, so many people experience. Phoenix really wants to help others that may be going through similar situations. She has since gone on to work with Women's aid, a lead in charity in this space. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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Today on Blended we are talking to 3 incredible women, Carina White, Natalie Duvall, and Nana-Adwoa Mbeutcha - who, as you’ll hear between them, each have their own different experience of Blended Families. Today’s topic in question is the Black Motherhood experience here in the UK. While this might be a bit different to what you’re used to on Blended, I found this conversation to be really powerful. A lot of us are nervous to have conversations that touch on race (me included!) but it is so important to have open discussions in a supportive environment, particularly where some of our blended experiences introduce us to new cultures. I am so grateful to Carina, Natalie and Nana-Adwoa who provided a safe and supportive conversation full of guidance and encouragement. Host of their own podcast - Black Mums Upfront - Carina, Natalie and Nana-Adwoa talk candidly about their mothering experiences to share, support and empower: challenging stereotypes to make motherhood inclusive and tackle head-on issues of inequality. It’s a chat full of laughs, but also some very informed and serious discussions too. To become a part of the Blended community follow @Blended on Instagram.

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