The Parent Playbook with Princess Nyah
There is no manual.
Nobody handed you an instruction guide when you became a parent. No one warned you about the invisible weight you'd carry — the mental load that never switches off, the identity you'd quietly grieve, the guilt that sits with you at 2am even when you did everything right. The ambition you're still fighting for. The version of yourself you're trying not to lose.
The Parent Playbook by Trybe is where modern parents finally get to tell the truth.
Hosted by Princess Nyah — founder, mum, and the kind of person who makes you feel safe enough to say the real thing — every episode is a deep, unfiltered conversation with parents who are living it: founders, creatives, educators, tech leaders, musicians, and community builders. All of them parents. All of them carrying something the world rarely asks about.
Each conversation is guided by what Nyah calls the Purple Print — the shared emotional patterns, invisible pressures, and survival systems that connect every parent, even when they feel completely alone.
No advice you didn't ask for. No polished parenting expertise. No perfect answers.
Just honest storytelling, lived experience, and the permission to feel fully human.
Every episode ends with the same question:
"What's one part of parenting you were never told would take up so much space in your head?"
And every now and then — Nyah's daughter Kizzy reaches into a jar and asks her own.
The Purple Print
The real patterns parents are living inside — the emotional truths, invisible pressures, and shared experiences that rarely get spoken about honestly. This is the space where they do.
Princess Nyah — founder of Trybe, mother, and host.
She approaches every guest as a person first.
The Parent Playbook with Princess Nyah
Charmaine: Building Epic Care, Raising Three, and Keeping the Flame Alive
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Charmaine joins Trybe Talks to share how she went from social worker to founder of Epic Care—a supported living service for 16–18-year-olds—built hand-in-hand with her mum. She opens up about running a 24/7 service while raising three children, and why choosing flexibility over a 9–5 became the catalyst for both her business and her parenting. From preparing “everything-in-the-bag” drop-offs to carving out pockets of self-care, Charmaine shows what it looks like to design work around family— not the other way round.
We get honest about the emotional labour of entrepreneurship: burnout, doubt, and the constant need for a strong support system—partners, family, and a reliable team. Charmaine shares the parenting values that guide her: communicate even when the truth is hard, give kids at least a focused 20 minutes a day, and never dim a child’s “flame” because that fire becomes their power. It’s a conversation about leadership at home and at work—dreaming big, staying solution-focused, and not losing yourself in the process.
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If this conversation sat with you — that's the Purple Print doing its thing.
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I'm Nyah. This is The Parent Playbook by Trybe. And I'll see you next Wednesday.
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Nyah: Welcome to Trybe Talks — the podcast for parents who are trying to do it all and stay sane in the process. I’m Princess Nyah, your host and founder of Trybe, your personal parenting assistant. Each week we dive into real conversations, parent hacks, and stories that remind you: you’re not doing this alone. Now, let’s get into it.
Nyah: Hey everyone, and welcome to another episode of Trybe Talks. I’m your host, Nyah — a.k.a. Princess Nyah, a.k.a. Kizzy’s mum — and I like to call myself the Real Housewife of Trybe. I’ll explain it later… I promise I will.
Today I’m joined by a wonderful woman who’s incredibly inspiring — not only because she has three kids, but because she’s a businesswoman building something from the ground up. Without further ado, make some noise for Charmaine! If we had a studio audience, this is where you’d hear the “wooo!”. Welcome, and thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule. When you work for yourself, every moment counts. Tell the people who you are and what you do.
Charmaine: My name is Charmaine. I’m an entrepreneur. I was a social worker until about seven years ago, then I started my journey as a director. I run a company called Epic Care — a supported living service for looked-after young people, ages 16 to 18. I built the business with the support of my mum from day one, and we’ve been going for almost seven years now. I also do consultancy and charity work — a combination of things to support vulnerable young people in the community, help them reach their goals, and become better versions of themselves.
Nyah: You just said a lot — and it’s a lot that you have to show up for, physically and mentally. How do you share yourself with so many people — encouraging young people to be their best — while also nurturing your own children at the same time?
Charmaine: Honestly, I’m on autopilot because I’m passionate about it. It doesn’t feel like a job. When you love something, getting up and doing it every day is a joy. I’ve always enjoyed working with young people, so I never felt, “How am I going to juggle kids and work?” Working for myself gives me flexibility to arrange life around my children — not the other way around.
My eldest is 15 and in secondary school, and I have two younger children, six and seven. They keep me busy — but they inspire me. After I had my last child, my son, I knew I wasn’t going back to a 9–5. Three kids, nursery runs, pickups, cooking… it wasn’t realistic. So they became my motivation. I’ve also had strong support — family who root for me, help with the kids, and their dad plays a great role too. I’ve got a great team at work and a great support network at home. It’s a 24-hour business, so you need people in your corner.
Nyah: You make it sound magical — but I know there are tough bits. What’s a hurdle you didn’t anticipate while running your own business and showing up for your kids?
Charmaine: The emotional side. It’s rewarding, but it can be emotionally draining. There are times I’ve felt burnt out and wondered how I’d do the next day. I’m a visionary and try to stay positive — I believe God doesn’t give me anything I can’t handle. There’s always a strategy and a solution. It isn’t easy — there are days you cry or worry — but there’s nowhere else I’d rather be, so I keep pushing.
Nyah: Let’s talk logistics. When you need to step away, how do you hand over what the kids need to the person caring for them?
Charmaine: I actually spend a lot of time with my kids — they’re often with me because I can control my hours. My colleagues will call and say, “Hi kids!” because they hear them in the background. When I do drop them to family, I prepare everything: food, snacks (my kids do not stop eating), clothes — the whole bag. I make it easy so I can properly switch off for a breather when I need it. Self-care matters: travel, a meal out, anything that helps me unwind. Mental health is real. I care for many kids beyond my own, so I have to look after me too.
Nyah: That’s a powerful attribute — filling your own cup so you can pour into others. What’s your go-to for wellbeing?
Charmaine: I used to love making vision boards — mapping the next six to twelve months. Lately, I’m focused on emotional wellbeing, so I’m big on podcasts. I start my mornings with something motivational to keep momentum when the day feels heavy. I love Diary of a CEO — Steven Bartlett speaks to some incredible people with powerful stories.
Nyah: Same — I love when guests drop those relentless-energy stories. As mums, there’s a relentlessness you don’t realise you have until you’re in it. There’s never a day off — even on your sickest day, you still have kids, so you show up. The job is huge, yet often downplayed. We fought for equality at work, but men didn’t fight to be equal in the house! That’s a whole other podcast…
Nyah (to mic): Excuse me — hi everyone. Kizzy, we’re recording!
Kizzy (cameo): Hi podcast people! Quick announcement: I have a free course for kids like me — it’s called Money Jars. It teaches us how to save, spend, and even invest. I’m basically a mini-millionaire in training. Parents, you can get it for free — just click the link in the description. Thanks for listening to my very important announcement. Okay Mum, you can have your podcast back now!
Nyah: Thanks, Kizzy. Right — where were we? If you could give advice to yourself just before becoming a parent — go back 15 years — what would you say?
Charmaine: Chase your dreams and be a leader, not a follower. My mum instilled that in me. Lead with what you’re passionate about and you’ll get the results you want. If you say you can, you will; if you say you can’t, you won’t. My kids pushed me further than I knew I could go. I didn’t picture myself as a director or a visionary back then. I thought: get a 9–5, buy a house, get married. Life didn’t follow that plan — it turned out better. Dream big.
Nyah: There’s also that stigma — especially for women — that kids will slow your career. But kids can be the inspiration. My daughter is like a mirror. She’s emotional — like me as a child. I was always told, “Stop crying,” so I learned not to. Now I tell her, “Let it out.” Feeling your emotions is a superpower.
Charmaine: 100%. Our kids reflect us — including the traits we struggle with. My middle daughter is like me, but extra fiery. I couldn’t handle it at first. Then I read: “If your child has a flame, don’t burn it out — they’ll need it one day.” That changed everything. I decided to protect that flame. She’ll be incredible with it.
Nyah: So many of us were raised to be “seen and not heard.” We tell kids to stop, shhh, be quiet — but we’re dimming their uniqueness because we want peace. None of us is perfect. Even with screens — I limit YouTube Shorts because she’ll watch anything from paper giraffes to pogo sticks. But I also realised my own “screen thing” is Real Housewives. Same behaviour, different packaging. It’s about balance.
Growing up, we never had a dining table — we ate on the couch with the TV on. So now, dinner is at the table: we pray, eat, and talk about our day. Maybe when Kizzy’s older she’ll do it differently, but I’m giving her what I craved.
On communication — when she came out of school and I asked, “How was your day?” I got the classic “Fine.” I had to ask better questions: “Who did you play with? What was the best thing that happened?” It opens her up, even when she doesn’t feel like talking after a long school day.
Nyah: Kizzy wanted me to ask all guests this: what’s your parenting superpower?
Charmaine: I’d like to think I’m easy to talk to — that’s the goal. Communication is key. I tell my kids: even if you think I won’t like the answer, tell me the truth. You’ll learn from it and grow. I’m not perfect at listening, but I’m intentional about it — checking in, asking how the day went. Even a focused 20 minutes makes a difference.
Nyah: You’ve been amazing today. Your story is inspiring. I feel drawn to remind you — keep carving out time for yourself. Supporting so many people can take a toll if you don’t. As mums, we sacrifice a lot. What you’re doing is beautiful.
Where can people find you?
Charmaine: Instagram: @epic_consultancy_ — that’s my consultancy page.
Nyah: Perfect. Thank you so much.
Both: Peace.
Nyah (outro): Wow — you’re still here listening! Thank you for tuning in to Trybe Talks. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with another parent who needs their tribe. Follow Trybe on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and join the conversation. Until next time — parenting takes a village, and now you’ve got one.
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