OH, we are so back! An honour to be back in this space for 2026, an even bigger honour for my first guest to be the gorgeous Kahurangi (Kahu) Carter (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui). Kahu is the Greens Party MP for Christchurch Central. Not only that, she is a mum of two. She had her first, Freddy (great name), and then 14 months later had Waiata! They are now 18 and 17. We cover so much in this episode, but we do get a lot into the nitty gritty of politics and how the current government is affecting the every day tangible difficulties that parents are facing. I am really proud of this platform, and being able to provide the opportunity for parents to hear who the parents are that are working hard to make this country better for us and our kids. Kahu is one of those people, and I hope you love this episode. You can find Kahu on instagram here and TikTok here.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Kristy McGuire

Aidan Kyrke-Smith

Serra Clark

7 Promises Petition

My Nail Artist (in case you heard Kahu complimenting my nails and want in on the best nail artist in Tāmaki)

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Parenting is political - and navigating baby sleep advice is a big part of it!

Dr Heather Johnston of Cradled is one of the most qualified people in Aotearoa to help us deconstruct some of the messages that have dominated the world of baby sleep for the last century - and more!

Heather brings to this kōrero her years of training and experience as a medical doctor, an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and sleep qualifications from the Possums program specialising in Neuroprotective Developmental Care and from Lyndsey Hookway’s Holistic Sleep Coaching Program.

In this episode guest host Sophie Moskowitz (@imperfectparents.nz) dives deep into the subject of baby sleep with Heather, exploring Heather’s own personal parenting and professional journeys. They look at the pressure on parents to sleep train and the social, cultural and political systems that have created an environment where so many parents are feeling more confused and overwhelmed than ever.

We hope you find value, comfort and reassurance in this episode and come away remembering that there is no “one right way” of doing things.

You can work with Heather 1:1 with online appointments, or access sleep workshops for various ages on her website. She also sells merch and a few feeding products. You can access Heather's work via her website here and her instagram here.

If you’re in Auckland and want access to in-person support where we bust myths and normalise parenting experiences, you can join an Imperfect Parents antenatal course, postnatal support group or playgroup. Sophie’s Imperfect Parents website is here her instagram is here and her tiktok is here.

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Ho, ho, ho MEEEEERRY CHRISTMAS! What better way to celebrate than to reflect on motherhood, the mental load, and ways that modern motherhood has been made more difficult by a few cultural events.

We'd like to thank Maintenance Phase for their beautiful format of podcast episode. We are big, big fans!

If you would like to keep up with Charlotte and the cool things she's doing her instagram is here. Check the link in her bio for access to some amazing lectures on motherhood! I have devoured them this year.

Modern motherhood is wild, y'all. If you're a mum and you're reading this, we're right there with ya and we love ya.

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WELL, I'M ALREADY FEELING A PRE-EMPTIVE VULNERABILITY HANGOVER. Be kind with me. Hold me gently. I'm giving you my feelings here, look after them.

I hope that this episode is one you are interested in, let me know if it is and you'd like more!

If you are in the early days of parenthood, I see you, you're great, and I'm rooting for you! Take some time to be proud of yourself.

We have one more bonus episode coming out pre-Chrissy, but this is the last main episode for the year! Feel free to go back and BINGE over the break teeeheeee.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Werry Workforce Online Training
• Somatic Body Worker Claire Eccleston

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As per usual, I ask that you share this episode around. Or share the reels/clips on your socials! The algorithm pushes out content that is being engaged with, otherwise we float away into the ether.

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DECEMBER! DECK THE HALLS! LISTEN TO THIS GEM OF A HUMAN BEING! Lydia Tuaiti (@ifoundlydia) is the coolest. She's fun, she's a girls girl, she is reflective, and self-aware, and all-round just the coolest. I am so honoured that she was happy to sit down with me and talk about her experience of parenthood (including stepparenthood). This is a perspective I have wanted to share on the podcast for a long time, but I wanted to make sure I was being careful with all parties involved. Lydia is the most respectful, caring, considered lady and I love the way she talks about her role in her family. You can find her instagram here and her tiktok here! She is one of my favourite follows on the internet, so please go show her some love! Tell her we sent you!

There will be one more main episode, and probably one more Parenting is Political episode, before the end of the year. The rest will be funnnnnny/silly/solo/a bit about me episodes! I hope that you like those episodes too. I guess we'll find out!

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As per usual, I ask that you share this episode around. Or share the reels/clips on your socials! The algorithm pushes out content that is being engaged with, otherwise we float away into the ether.

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In this Parenting is Political episode, Sophie sits down to kōrero with Dr George Parker (they/them) for a conversation about why representation and inclusion matter in healthcare and social services - for all whānau but especially for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

George talks us through their journey from midwifery, to advocacy mahi with Women's Health Action, and then into academic research as they discovered gaps in the available data. We discuss the difference that safe, inclusive, whānau-centred care can make on people's wellbeing.

George shares their knowledge and experience so generously and, in our opinion, this should be essential listening for anyone working in the perinatal health and support space.

George also mentions the publishing house Flamingo Rampant, who published their children's book "Bell's Knock Knock Birthday".

If you are a parent of a child aged 18 and under, and identify as LGBTQIA+, please consider filling our the Inclusion Through Difference survey here.

Where to find Sophie/her work:

• Instagram
• Website
• TikTok

• Follow me on socials, buy my merch, or koha my work!

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And so the tradition of having wonderful conversations with wonderful people continues! Di McHardy (who you probably already follow @_mamas_meals) is just the kindest, coolest, most easy-going lady. I will never get sick of speaking to parents who have seen the need for a new resource and created it themselves. Di has done that this year by self-publishing her cookbook 'Family Cooking'. You can see Di's work at her website, here! Family Cooking would be such a great Christmas present if you're looking for one for someone in your life. I say it in the episode, but I am cooking adverse, and I have loved looking through this book and have done a shop to try out some recipes (watch this space - I'll keep you updated).

This episode was actually just lovely to record. I felt like I was talking to someone I have known for years and years! I am so lucky that this is (kind of) my job. Thank you for your ongoing support.

PLEASE VOTE FOR US FOR LISTENER'S CHOICE AWARD AT THE NZ PODCAST AWARDS 2025!!! Click here!

Join the Why Do You Chat Like That FB group here! (Don't forget to answer the membership questions or your request will be declined!!)

As per usual, I ask that you share this episode around. Or share the reels/clips on your socials! The algorithm pushes out content that is being engaged with, otherwise we float away into the ether.

Follow me on socials, buy my merch, or koha my work!

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Nope, I cannot believe it. This simply cannot be real life. The Marama Davidson sat down on this lil old pod to speak with me about her parenting journey.

As much as I want to shower Marama with praise and adoration, Marama is the first person to point out that she is as human as the rest of us. So I will suppress my natural instinct to rattle off compliments and instead opt to thank her so much for the vulnerability, generosity, and humanness that she imbued into our conversation.

We know her as the badass co-leader of the Greens, but she is also a mum and a Grandmother and those are two roles that she cares so much about. I loved hearing her humanness.

PLEASE VOTE FOR US FOR LISTENER'S CHOICE AWARD AT THE NZ PODCAST AWARDS 2025!!! Click here!

As per usual, I ask that you share this episode around. Or share the reels/clips on your socials! The algorithm pushes out content that is being engaged with, otherwise we float away into the ether.

Follow me on socials, or koha my work!

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If you have a story you reckon would be interesting to hear on the pod, flick me an email at whydoyouparentlikethatpodcast@gmail.com

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.