Mumma's Boys

Sanam probably says it best when she introduces herself as a survivor of war, migration, cancer and divorce. Sanam, a family services practitioner talks about her own rich lived experience of life and motherhood as well as the learning and connection she gets from others. Grounded in her faith. She talks about raising kids across cultures, and leading with her values. This reflective conversation with Sanam was a joy for us and we are pleased to have been able to squeeze it into season 1 as a BONUS!

In this episode, Charlie and Mike reflect on the podcast, what they had originally hoped to get out of it and the direction it took. If you are reading this and you have listened. Thank you!We appreciate you! Please do consider getting in touch via instagram @mummasboyspod And do keep an ear out for our BONUS Interview encore!

To mum or not to mum, that is the question. Mary Robb reflects on her pathway to becoming a mum and the 'sliding doors' moment of her early 20's.This conversation explores the idea of identity. When your role as mother defines how others see you, how do you hold space for your individuality? Mary talks about how she had to 'go her own way' to pursue a passion for social justice and raise a family. As the Associate Director of Indigenous Partnerships at The University of Melbourne and mother of three remarkable women, her own way seems to have turned out preeeetttty good. Not to mention picking up one helluva son-in-law along the way.

What is it like to have a vision of the family you hope for and to see that whittle down to something else? How do we find acceptance that this picture you had might not be for you? Believing the dark in her world adds to the light - Trudi Boatwright shares her experiences in the hope it brings some insight to the many women with similar stories. Trudi speaks with clarity, balancing vulnerability and humour as she talks us through her struggle to build a family through multiple miscarriages. An ongoing process of letting go, inviting play into her life leaning into the beauty of the 'triangle' family she has built. Trudi is speaker, a theatre maker and coach. She helps people use play in their organisations (& their lives) in search of happier, more connected communities. This conversation is a great reflection of Trudi: Play and raw soulfulness.

Joana, a self-proclaimed “Portuguese made, Aussie born, wannabe psychologist,” joins us for a thoughtful and heartfelt conversation about her complex journey to motherhood. She shares her experience of building a small family, remembering the grief of losing her parents, and how she works to keep their values alive for her son. This episode is a powerful blend of strength and vulnerability, touching on the often-silent grief of miscarriage, how it can shape a woman’s relationship with her body, and the healing that can come from opening up to community.

Charlie finally gets the chance to interview his sister-in-law, Maree Frewen, about her journey into motherhood. Maree’s deep love for her children shines through as she shares her story of navigating a controlling relationship, pursuing family court proceedings, moving interstate, and single parenting while managing the onset of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Our mums are made of tough stuff, and Maree is no exception. She leads with heart, resilience, and determination. Enjoy this authentic and inspiring chat.

Two Mums for the price of one (that price was $0—we can’t afford to pay our guests).Claire Sara and Nina McCann aren’t new to sharing their story. They’ve documented their entire IVF journey on YouTube, helping to demystify the process for so many others.In this episode, we have a fun, open, and refreshingly honest chat about IVF, postnatal anxiety, sexual identity, and building a family.We know these two will warm your hearts like they did ours.

In this powerful conversation, counsellor and family therapist Katherine Prefol shares her deeply personal journey of parenting through pain.She explores what it means to raise children while navigating the wounds of a difficult childhood — and the grief of losing not only her parents, but her daughter as well. Katherine speaks with honesty and warmth about holding space for both love and loss, and what it means to keep mothering through it all.

Our first interview features a real-life mother: Dr Rebecca Stewart. When she’s not writing her doctoral thesis on healthier masculinities through the lens of gender equality, she’s being an incredible mum — and generously chatting with us bozos about the realities of building a blended family.Bec shares what it was like stepping into a parental role for two children during the uncertainty of COVID, before getting pregnant with her own. She opens up about the challenges, the joys, and how she manages to bring it all together.

Here our Mumma’s Boys take a moment to reflect on where exactly this podcast has led. It’s a momentary reflection on what two 30-odd white guys, who’s mums died of cancer, can achieve by revisiting traumatic memories.Sounds like sunshine and rainbows, and maybe it is, some of it at least.

From one boy to the other. In this episode, Mike delves into his journey of losing his Mum. A story that put a hell of a lot of demand, expectation, and responsibility on a young man in his twenties.It’s a story of adversity, and finding the capacity to make it out the other side, if there even is such a thing.It’s also a story about tech f**king up at the worst possible time.

Mumma’s Boys is here. In episode one we dive headfirst into Charlie’s story about losing his mum, how it happened, how it impacted, and the resulting effects of that journey so far. It proves an opportunity to explore the moments, and the emotions that surround grief. And for someone with a pretty shit memory, it’s a chance for Charlie to rediscover elements of the story that otherwise might have been lost.