Raising Children in a Broken World - with Siobhan Strode

In this episode, I'm joined by Siobhan Strode - writer, campaigner, business owner, and mother of three - for a raw, wide-ranging conversation about the evolving nature of mum guilt and what it means to raise children in a world that can feel increasingly fractured.

Together we explore:

• How guilt shifts across the seasons of motherhood - from toddler tantrums and TV time to teenage independence and phone boundaries.
• The transition from employment to self-employment, and how freedom and flexibility can both ease and amplify maternal guilt.
• Why guilt isn’t a personal flaw but a systemic issue rooted in patriarchal expectations and the undervaluing of care.
• The challenge of mothering in a broken world - climate crisis, global conflict, and social injustice - and the deeper “existential guilt” that many parents feel.
• Raising socially conscious, compassionate children through honest conversations, empathy, and action.
• Finding hope by nurturing imagination, community, and collective change.

This is an honest, moving, and ultimately hopeful dialogue about guilt, grief, privilege, and purpose - and how mothers can model both empathy and agency for the next generation.

Connect with Siobhan Strode
👉 siobhanstrode.com
👉 Instagram @siobhan.strode

Work with Belinda Jane Batt
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