Funny Mummies (Funny Mummies)

(Trigger warning )

In this short series Host Hatty Ashdown talks to guests about their birth experience, so to kick us off we  ofcourse had to hear first from  our regular guest Gemma Beagly and our host Hatty This episode is an extra long show as we manage to squeeze in three births , lots of bus trips , lots of poos,  water , hair clips, tears, mums and stitches . All held together with a water breaking sound track !

TW contains content on seizures .

The funny mummies podcast is part of the Other Woman show on Soho Radio 

In Association with Screaming with laughter the lunch time comedy club where babies can come too 

This week Hatty is excited to be back in the Soho Radio studio with funny mummy Victoria Emes (Instagram @victoriaemes). They talk boobs, bottles and being sucked dry, as well as Instagram and selecting their favourite Northern Soul tracks for the show.

This episode was recorded on 23/07/2020 (full episode broadcast on Soho Radio 20/08/2020) in association with Screaming With Laughter comedy club.

Hatty and Gemma check in with comedian, writer and actor (Edinburgh Award nominee, Live at the Apollo, Motherland and her podcast Hoovering) Jessica Fostekew. They discuss lock down eating; take aways; Jess' shares her sons magical moment; the frustration when kids wont even try stuff; what Jess has learnt from her podcast about peoples eating habits; The exhaustion of bad eating habits and how to find peace; and Jess gets stuck into out new feature 'Have you ever been in a helicopter' as she takes us on her dream child-free night out.

Recorded remotely 29th May 2020 for the Other Woman Show on Soho Radio.

In association with Screaming with laughter - lunch time comedy club for parents and babies come too - www.screamingwithlaughter.com/

BIRTH STORIES

( *TRIGGER WARNING )

Host Hatty Ashdown is delighted to be joined by the French and Fabulous single mum of one award winning comedian Arielle Souma (BBC New Comedy Award '"She is just what the comedy industry needs and should be forced upon every audience until they buckle under her spell "- Frankie Boyle. Arielle takes us back 23 years ago when Natalie Imbruglia was number 1 in the charts and Arielle was 20 and knew she wanted a baby just like her mate  . Join us for a trip down 90's birth maternity lane and making Single mum life and baby and comedy work.

* TW in this podcast it describes a baby that required resuscitation /neonatal resuscitation . 

This episode was sponsored by Careering Into Motherhood

Funny Mummies launched a 'lets lift each other' campaign to offer a free sponsorship  on our podcast to any female business - if you would like to nominate anyone or your self please get in touch vi the the website www.screamingwithlaughter.com 

or DM us on IG Funny Mummies Podcast 

You can also buy us a coffee or pay for an hour of childcare to one of our guests if you support us on Patreon . 

Funny mummies was recorded at Soho radio for the Other woman Show which is a weekly live show Thursdays  on Soho radio 2-4pm. 

Episode 15 ADVICE

Join host, Hatty, and Gemma Beagly with guest panellist Margret Cabourn-Smith (Miranda, Motherland, Do The Right Thing Podcast) in a fantastic show which was recorded live at the Bedford in Balham .

We dispel old wife’s tales true or false.

The best advice is how to take advice!

Margaret stuns us to silence with two stories, one about a huge baby and the other about some of the worst advice she was given by and old lady on a bus!

Gemma gets the “best advice “ on dog walks.

Also discussed; the advice we get from our mothers , Is it all is mind over matter? Should you tell your horror stories to pregnant women ? Should you follow help manuals ? Is Gina Ford any good? What have we learnt ? and are we looking forward to being the old lady on a bus .

Live producer Richard Hunt

Edited by Scott Kingsnorth

Recorded live at Bedford Pub Balham 1/3/2020 for The Other Woman Show & Soho Radio -

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com

Host Hatty Ashdown is happy once again to be back recording this episode at Soho radio in a lovely studio with a  real life Esther Mantio in front of her - Comedian, Writer and mum of two  (  Arab woman of the year nominee, BBC  New Comedy award winner, , Published author of 'Don't Panic I'm Islamic)   Esther has performed at our club Screaming with laughter ( lunch time comedy club where baby can come too) many times and is always a hit with our new parents for her straight talking views on parenting . So it was really nice to hear Esther positive birth stories , with ofcourse some bumps and comedy along the way . We chat along to a birthing sound track to make any baby slide out like a eel out of a purse . 

NEWS we are now on Patreon if you would like to know more about  how you can buy our mums a coffee or an hour of childcare while they come on the show see this link - once you've had a listen to the show ofcourse  https://www.patreon.com/FunnyMummiesPodcast 

You can also follow us on Instagram @FunnyMummiesPodcast for all updates and the daily fun of parenting . 

Funny Mummies Podcast was recorded at Soho Radio for the Other Woman show . 

In association with Screamingwithlaughter.com lunch time comedy club where babies can come too see website for our next live show on 30th Sept in Balham 

THE FUNNY MUMMIES SPECIAL - CHECK IN ON THE LOCK-IN

To kick off our weekly lock in specials, host Hatty Ashdown and her favourite Funny Mummy, Gemma Beagly, caught up over video call with Bafta nominated actor Kerry Howard (Him and her, Witless, Give out Girls) about being a single mum. From moving into a new home just weeks before lock down, home schooling (what the hell is a split diagrah?), the positives of the lock down, dating again, single parenting holidays, hot young widowers, reaching out for help from Dawn French, and  how to just swear at a tap to get it working.

You can follow Kerry on twitter (@THEKERRYHOWARD) and IG (@thekerryhoward) 

This Episode was recorded remotely for Soho Radio/The Other Woman show (Thursdays 3pm) & the Funny Mummies podcasts 5/5/2020.

In association with Screaming with Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies can come too - now with live shows on IG Wednesdays. The show is edited by Scott Kingsnorth.

Host Hatty Ashdown and her podcast birthing partner Gemma Beagly bring the Birth stories series to a close with their last guest in the series . Writer and Actress lizzie Bates ( Boom Jennies, Winner of the BAFTA Rocliffe sitcom competition, BBC Radio 4 sitcom Mission improbable). They talk having a baby in lockdown, IVF, trying to write comedy when your heart broken and night swimming . Plus our new feature  ' Sweet little lies ' where guests tell us the lies they tell their children or  their parents told them - lizzie shares a cracking one  !

You can keep up to date with Lizzie work via her twitter page or website 

This episode was sponsored by Luna Rose 

 Cressida of  Luna Rose is a spiritual coach and mentor who uses a mixture of healing modalities, psychology and tarot to bring spiritual insights to her clients and following. She offers courses, readings and tutorials on subjects from the metaphysical nature of time to how decluttering can impact your flow of abundance. You can find her @__lunarose and www.cressidalavinia.com

If you or you would like to nominate a business that would like a free sponsorship spot on a future episode please get in touch via our website screamingwithlaughter.com lets lift each other !

Series 2 - Check in on the lock in series special 

Hatty and funny mummy Gemma call up journalist, author and fellow podcaster Viv Groskop (How to Own the Room) to speak about her latest book Lift as You Climb: Women and the Art of Ambition.

In this week's episode, Viv talks about her inspiration for the book, what it means to push yourself forward and how to do it without stepping on other women's toes; we discuss how lockdown has sent us back to our dearest friends, that anxiety is likely the cause of so much of our unusual behaviour and whether the lack of distraction brings out what's important in our lives; the podcast is interrupted when Gemma has a slight emergency with a bin lid; Viv gives Hatty a bit of a tough-love coaching session and some  valuable social media advice; Gemma reveals the real reasons you should do a podcast; and lastly we take Viv on her dream child-free night out (it involves lots of Celine Dion).

This was recorded remotely on 3/6/2020 

Edited by Alex Holland 

In Association with Screaming with Laughter the lunch time comedy club where babies can come too (see Instagram for live shows to watch online).

The show you’ve all been waiting for. Join Hatty Ashdown and Gemma Beagly (just the two of them!) as they discuss friendship.

The struggle to find fellow female comedy friends in the old days when lineups were low on fannies. Is masturbation an icebreaker with new mum-mates? Is the mark of a good friend just someone that you don’t even have to say anything to? Are soulmate-mates more important than your romantic relationship? ‘we love our mates who don’t have kids because they have more time but we love our mates with kids because they understand we don’t have a lot of time’

Plus, watch out, Gemma may quote from Sex in the City.

Series 2 

The Funny Mummies Special Check in on the lock in . 

In this new series we check in with some of our past Funny mummies to see how they are In this pandemic and meet some new ones  : May 2020 

Episode 17 

Lucy Frederick - Holding your sh*t  in as a Step Mum 

Hatty Ashdown is joined by regular panellist Gemma Beagley and guest  Lucy Frederick ( Edinburgh show ‘Famtastic ‘, Funny Women finalist ,Resident MC at the poodle club ) . Lucy talks to us about the unexpected joys and trials of becoming part of a modern blended family after a date at South Bromley station . Our first step mum on the show, you'll be hooked and drawn into Lucy’s very honest and hilarious account. She and her partner share the kids 50-50, so two sets of everything, and being the organised one , one challenge is knowing when to step back . So is being a Step mum = step back ? . 

Follow Lucy on Facebook IG and Twitter . You can also read her guardian article about her friendship with her step kids mum.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/24/first-time-met-gut-wrenchingly-awkward-be-friends-with-your-partners-ex

This episode was recorded remotely for Soho Radio / The other woman show & the Funny Mummies podcasts 12/5/20. 

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/ Also now live on IG . 

Series Two- Chapter 2 as we come kicking out of the lock in ! 

Join Hatty and Gemma as they catch up with FM favourite Margret Cabourne-Smith (Miranda,Catastrophe, The Hustle , DTRT podcast). We chatted about clip on fringes , School swimming lessons , not being picked for net ball , the pain of watching your kid struggle at sports and does not being able to throw a shot put or run really matter?  nah couse not,

but it has  brought us some funny stories.   

Welcome to this new weekly series of the Funny Mummies Podcast, where hosts Hatty and Gemma check-in on the lock in with a different Funny Mummy each week . 

This week Hatty Ashdown and comedy chum Gemma Beagly are joined by the very articulate, down to earth writer, and stand up Jenny Laville. All this time with the same people could definitely be testing our patience, but will it make us more patient in the long run. We talk about lock down with three boys; learning difficulties, how actually its not all bad; swearing in front of the kids, words are powerful so maybe sometimes is acceptable; Lock down separation; does professional mediation work?; Jenny promises to test out a zoom date; and Gemma is gonna think about it for next time ...

Host Hatty Ashdown and Gemma Beagly dial up over zoom with Actress , writer, single mum of one Alexis Strum( ITV'S Time wasters, SK'S  Wannabe, Funny Women Survival Guide podcast) . We find out about her positive  birth experience of a relatively stress free pre planned C-Section . We also chat confidence post baby , keeping busy in the pandemic, how she handles the highs and lows of the unpredictability of the acting profession with being a mum. Its fare to say we will defo be having Alexis back, we could of chatted for hours.To follow Alexis find her on twitter for all her online shows . 

This show was guest Sponsored by Formy Books and to support their kick starter see supportformy.com Established in early 2020, Formy Books is an independent family-run publisher with a passion for own voices children’s books. Spurred on by a successful Kickstarter for Later, founding author Curtis Ackie’s debut children’s book, Formy Books is dedicated to delivering striking children’s picture books by Black creators from across the diaspora.

If you would like a Free sponsor spot on a future episode just get in touch via screamingwithlaughter.com as we would love  to support you and your business/ project  . 

You can also find Funny Mummies on Patreon  where you can buy us a coffee and thus support this Podcast and help save live comedy . 

Funny Mummies was recorded remotely for the Other Woman which goes out live on the Culture channel on SOHO RADIO Thursdays 2pm 

Welcome to Series 2- our check in on the lock in special , where we catch up with Funny mummies in the pandemic . 

Its taken a pandemic for Host Hatty Ashdown and Gemma Beagly to finally secure   the very hard working  stand up , writer and mum of three Sindhu Vee(Live at the Apollo, Sky Arts,BBC Radio 4 ) to the Funny Mummies table. Sindhu talks about  corona virus, taking pain relief in birth  and getting into  stand up as a mum of three. We discuss  finding 'what is my worth ' with raising kids and needing balance. We've never covered so many topics on this show, this episode is both therapy and lots of yes yes moments ! We are brought to actual tears of joy and warmth as Sindhu  shares her late mothers wise, and straight talking advice. And Gemma asks the all important question have you ever been in a helicopter ? 

This show was recorded remotely over zoom on ......

Edited by Alex Holland 

please follow Sindhu Vee 

This podcast is in association with Screaming with laughter the lunch time comedy club where babies can come too . 

Host Hatty Ashdown is so excited to be back in the studio again she's having party, and she's invited  regular  co-host Gemma Beagly . With the Pandemic Many a mums have breathed a sigh of relief that  atleast the pressure is off to have a  big party for your kids. We talk the benefits of  lock down birthdays, our own childhood parties , school disco out fits and slow dances. All in all not giving two flying fannies about  what others to do and the pressure we put on ourselves, when all they want is chocolate sweets and more sweets .    

Weekly series special  as we check in on our funny mummies in the lock in!

This week Hatty and her comedy partner Gemma Beagly manage to get hold of stand-up, writer, improviser and mum of one  Athena Kugblenu (BBC new comedy award finalist, BBC Radio 4 news quiz, ,loose ends, guilty feminist co-host and Keeping Athena Company Podcast ) We go through Athena's birth story and how waiting two weeks till after her due date meant she didn't have a chihuahua baby. On happiness she concludes she's a happy person in spite of herself and takes us through what her parents laid down as the vital ingredients for happiness. The chat turns to a mothers love and Athena ends up counselling Hatty! They have a very valuable chat about stand-up, competitions and Athena parts some advice on how your material will dictate where your success can lead - 'be purposefull'. A shorter then normal episode as Athena is in demand and sadly we only brush the surface of the recent  anti-racism  movement after the killing of George Floyd in America and her reaction. We chat about the need for the writers room to be diversified and how she would love to be a mentor for bringing more black women into comedy. 

Recorded remotely on 12/6/2020 for the Other Woman Show on Soho Radio . 

Edited by Alex Holland 

Hatty is joined by regular Gemma Beagly (Comedy Virgins) and first time panel guest Beattie Edmundson (BBC Josh, Disney's Patrick, Birthday Girls) and her baby Mabel. Hatty asks could she use her now redundant breast pump on a goat to express milk? They all decide nipple confusion is a myth. How our goal posts for sleep are moved, the shock of the first couple of months sleep, Mable lets one go!  baby names that old women hate. falling asleep in strange places. Sweaty auditions when your a new mum  and feature MUM'S THE WORD is back, find out what the ladies throw in! and with banging tunes.

Broadcast on The Other Woman Radio Show, Soho Radio 24/01/2020

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com

JOIN US 

We are so excited for our first live show on Sunday  1st March at the Bedford Balham  and tickets are now on sale ! its gonna be a fun early evening out  we cant wait to see you there ! see for tickets https://www.wegottickets.com/event/492685

Today, Hatty Ashdown chats with comedian Jen Brister (BBC Live at the Apollo) about her new book, The Other Mother, which charts the experience of being a mum and a non-biological gay mum of twins to boot. Not forgetting our poddy regular guest, Gemma Beagley (Comedy Virgins). Hatty, Jen and Gemma discuss comedy careers blossoming after having children, how being a parent creates a healthy level of stoicism and suddenly work doesn't seem like such a big deal. Our panel discusses the contrasts in bringing up boys and girls, the joy of co-sleeping and how babies are just helpless blobs that aren't intentionally out to destroy you. They also talk nose-picking, winkies in the wild and Hatty flashbacks to the inappropriate Ann Summers parties of her childhood.

Broadcast on The Other Woman Show, Soho Radio 17/10/19.

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

Hatty's guest funny mummies today are podcast hero and author, Catie Wilkins (Drunk Women Solving Crime), and Edinburgh Best Newcomer 2018, comedian Sarah Barron (BBC Live at the Apollo). They discuss the ins and outs of families with parents that both work in the comedy world and freelance creative industries. Uncertainty or freedom? Who is carrying the daily workload? Hatty, Catie and Sara cover potty-training, emetophobia and being home alone with the kids with no back-up. They also ask if the grass always greener out there on the road? What are respective parents missing out on? How do we work all this with our incessantly erratic schedules? Our panel talk through lots of these questions - including the big one: tea or coffee? (microwaved, obviously)

Broadcast on The Other Woman Show, Soho Radio 21/11/19.

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

It's our crimbo party... and we'll laugh if we want to! Rocking around the Christmas tree with Hatty Ashdown this month is playwright Vickie Donoghue (The Gift, Radio 4) and poddy regular Gemma Beagley (Comedy Virgins). Jingling on about organising family get togethers, picking the perfect present and who hosts who these days? Hatty. Vickie and Gemma discuss shifting roles compared to their own childhood, over-ambitious Christmas dinners and the family politics of serving it up. A bit of festive joy to get you through the next couple of weeks!

Broadcast on The Other Woman Show, Soho Radio 18/12/19.

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

Comedian Hatty Ashdown is joined by Taylor Glenn, Drunk Women Solving Crime podcast supremo and fellow funny mummy, to talk about the dreaded T-word - tantrums. They're joined by clinical psychologist Jen Wills (now forever known as Dr J) who knows a thing or two about child development and has an unpredictable ball of joy of her own.

Broadcast live on The Other Women Show, Soho Radio 21/02/19.

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

Hatty is joined by star guest - her baby Buster! Oh, and a few funny mums drop in too - the hilarious Cally Beaton (QI, Museum of Comedy) and Lheila Oberman (Aliens Ate My Schnitzel!). This month, Hatty and guests are talking about geriatic mothers, the menopause and single motherdom - trust us, there's plenty to laugh about! Along the way Marie Kondo gets dissed, Buster has a near-death experience and our sound engineer Will is introduced to classic Tina Turner. 

Broadcast live on The Other Women Show, Soho Radio 21/03/19. 

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

Hatty and guest Josie Long (BBC Radio 4, The Lefty Scum Tour) talk about getting back to work and still being funny whilst being a new mum. Hatty and Josie are not afraid to get into sharing birth stories ("a cross between MDMA and death"), family politics after a second baby and the unfailing beauty of maternity wear. Complete with a splash of Doris Day. 

Broadcast live on The Other Women Show, Soho Radio 18/04/19. 

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

Hatty welcomes Gemma Beagley (Comedy Virgins) and Margaret Cabourn-Smith (Catastrophe, Motherland) to discuss the “constant guilty headache” of childcare. Hatty, Gemma and Margaret talk about childminders, preschool and the trickiness of getting that wraparound care. If not, just leave the baby on the bus – free babysitter all day. As well as pink jobs versus blue jobs, the ongoing joy Marie Kondo is still sparking and Hatty’s regret about selling her Sindy dolls aged 12.

Broadcast live on The Other Women Show, Soho Radio 16/05/19. 

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

It would be so nice… Hatty hosts playwright Sadie Hasler (Pramkicker) and writer/performer Abigail Burdess (The Tracey Ullman Show, Fresh Meat) - along with special mini guests, Huxley and Marcie! This month, the trials and tribulations of family holidays – the complex memories at Butlins of yesteryear, norovirus and inadvertent electrocutions (more than once?!). Plus Shakira, hirsute humans and unexpected encounters with the EDL.

Broadcast on The Other Women Show, Soho Radio 27/06/19.

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

Hatty chats hedonism and motherhood with Kelly Ford (Book of Mum) and Caroline Hardie (Thomas Hardie). Of course, it wouldn't be Funny Mummies without an extra special bonus guest - the very well-behaved Tabitha. Caroline tells us all about rethinking family spaces in her venture, Peace & Riot. Hatty and Kelly discuss doing the whole mumming thing - without your own mum around. From the sublime to the ridiculous... there's also weeing in wardrobes, teatime raving and daytime raging. Lick the lid of life!

Broadcast on The Other Woman Show, Soho Radio 18/07/19.

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

This month, Hatty welcomes podcast and improv master Cariad Lloyd (Griefcast, Peep Show) and our fave regular Gemma Beagley (Comedy Virgins) to talk about keeping that sense of self in the bonkersness of being a parent. Everything changes from where you live, work and hang out - it's baby identity theft! They chat about the initial shock of the first year, not comparing yourself to you of the past and finding some escapism - whether it's flopping down the pool in your PJs or litter picking for fun. They also cover keeping your sanity through staying creative, still listening to the music you like (it's never too early for Blondie) and how easy it is (or isn't) to turn these experiences into comedy gold. Plus, our feature Mum's The Word when we get to offload about things that do our head in. Daddy day care - what the...?

Broadcast on The Other Woman Show, Soho Radio 15/08/19.

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

Hatty welcomes journalist, author and fellow podcaster Viv Groskop (How To Own The Room) and salt to Hatty's pepper, our fave Gemma Beagley (Comedy Virgins). Today, it's all about self-confidence - as both a woman and a mum. Hatty, Viv and Gemma discuss navigating new social circles when children come along - those first day of school jitters aren't just for the kids - and the inevitable class WhatsApp group. Not forgetting a healthy dose of chat about thrash metal, gender norms and Dolly Parton.

Broadcast on The Other Woman Show, Soho Radio 15/09/19.

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

We are so excited to bring you this new series titled MUMS ON TV ! 

Host Hatty Ashdown is joined by regular panellist  Gemma Beagly as they chat about some of their favourite Mums from American and British TV past and present . Why they love them , how maybe they shaped them as mums and Hatty shares a cringing anecdote about re-acting a scene from one her favourite mums in a Drama school audition . Warning those under 30 may not have a clue on some of these references , so think of it as a education in TV mum history and over produced theme tunes . We cant wait to launch into this series as we have  some amazing guests who have played mums on TV, written mums on TV or just share their memories and favourites with us. 

This show was sponsored by Peace + Riot .

Peace + Riot is a brand new concept family space where kids can be kids, and parents can be grown-ups. 

If you would like to appear as a  free sponsorship on a future episode don't be shy email us via the website screamingwithlaughter.com or maybe nominate a female business you think needs highlighting. 

If you would like to find out more info on our live comedy Show on 18th Nov   via zoom go to We got tickets 

This show was recorded remotely via Zoom 

edited by Alex Holland 

In association with Screaming with laughter the lunch time comedy club where babies can come too . Part of the Other Woman Show on Soho Radio . 

This month, comedian Hatty Ashdown is joined by Jessica Fostekew (Guilty Feminist & Hoovering), Gemma Beagly and Jodie Carris from Head Space. We find out what accident Hatty’s had with her baby, along with regular feature SORTED. Jodie gives us all tools for coping with mum guilt, comparing to others and looking after our heads!

Broadcast live on The Other Women Show, Soho Radio 24/01/19.

In association with Screaming With Laughter - the daytime comedy club where babies come along too. http://screamingwithlaughter.com/

Hatty explains to Gemma what Married At First Sight is and now Gemma is on board and then they talk about weddings - the waiting around, low-key Bridezilla and kids ruining all the fun.