Raising with the village
Raising with the Village
Because it really does take a village to raise a child — and most of us don’t have one anymore.
Raising with the Village is a podcast about the real stories of parenthood — from pregnancy to the early school years and everything in between. Each episode shares an honest, unfiltered conversation with a parent who’s been there: through the highs, the lows, the unexpected turns and the moments that change everything.
No experts. No judgement. Just real people sharing their experiences — because when we talk openly about what we’ve been through, we help someone else feel less alone.
Whether you’re preparing for your first baby, navigating the chaos of toddlerhood, or simply figuring it out one day at a time, this is your virtual village — a place to listen, relate, and remind yourself that you’re doing better than you think.
🎧 Hosted by Maeva,
Parent, storyteller, and believer that there’s power — and comfort — in sharing our stories.
Episodes
18 episodes
#16 - Hollie - Raising a Child When You Work Nights, Weekends and Opposite Schedules
What happens when both parents work when everyone else is at home?In this episode of Raising with the Village, I’m joined by Hollie to talk about the reality of raising a child while working nights, weekends, and opposite shifts i...
#15 - Siobhan - Unexpected Birth Abroad: Navigating Premature Birth & New Motherhood (Part 2)
What would you do if your baby arrived early… while you were on holiday, in a country where you don’t speak the language?In this powerful two-part story, Siobhan shares her experience of going into labour at just 32 weeks while abroad in...
#14 - Siobhan - Unexpected Birth Abroad: Navigating Premature Birth & New Motherhood (Part 1)
What would you do if your baby arrived early… while you were on holiday, in a country where you don’t speak the language?In this powerful two-part story, Siobhan shares her experience of going into labour at just 32 weeks while abroad in...
#13 - Elliott - Single Dad, Divorce & Starting Over: One Man’s Journey Through Fatherhood
What does it really look like to become a father before you feel ready — and then be given the chance to grow into that role over time?In this episode, Elliott shares his deeply personal journey through fatherhood, divorce, and starting ...
#12 - Liz - Choosing IVF Alone: A Raw and Honest Story of Lone Parenthood (Part 3)
What is it really like to give birth and step into motherhood as a solo mum by choice?In this powerful final episode, Liz shares her birth story, the emotional end of her pregnancy, and the reality of becoming a single mother ...
#11 - Liz - Choosing IVF Alone: A Raw and Honest Story of Lone Parenthood (Part 2)
In this second part of Liz’s journey, we continue her story following IVF treatment and move into the first three months of pregnancy as a lone parent.This is a deeply honest and emotionally rich conversation. Liz speaks with extraordina...
#10 - Liz - Choosing IVF Alone: A Raw and Honest Story of Lone Parenthood (Part 1)
In this episode of Raising with the Village, Liz shares her deeply personal journey to becoming a parent through IVF as a lone parent.Liz takes us back to the moment she began considering IVF on her own, and the life circumstanc...
#9 - Liam - When Birth Doesn’t Go to Plan: A Father’s NICU Story and Co-Parent Experience
In this episode of Raising with the Village, we hear from Liam, the first father to join the podcast and share his unique journey into parenthood.Liam’s daughter arrived in the world in an unexpected and urgent situation ...
#8 - Sarah - Premature Birth at 32 Weeks: A Mother’s NICU Journey
In this episode of Raising with the Village, we hear from Sarah, whose baby arrived much earlier than expected — born at just 32 weeks after what began as a routine check-in following unexpected bleeding around 30 weeks.<...
Holiday Message: Thank You, What’s Next & More Parenting Stories Coming Soon
A short holiday message from Raising with the Village. In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on the first season of the podcast, thanking the parents who bravely shared their stories, and looking ahead to what’s coming next — including ...
#7 - Anita - From Emergency to Elective: What Two C-Sections Taught Me
Emergency vs Elective C-Section: Two Very Different Births with AnitaIn this episode of Raising with the Village, we sit down with Anita, a mum of two, to talk candidly about her experiences of both an emergency C...
#6 - Candida -Two Boys, A Newborn, And A Cold Cup Of Soup
In this episode, Candida shares her journey from being a child who adored babies to becoming a mother of three — and discovering how motherhood can be both everything she dreamed of and nothing like she expected.She reflects on the years...
#5- Melissa - Three babies, three water births
In this powerful episode, Melissa walks us through her three water births — two of which resulted in rare “mermaid babies,” born entirely in their amniotic sac. She also shares how she discovered she had a heart-shaped uterus, her anxi...
#4- Grace - When your child stops growing
In this episode, Grace shares her family’s journey through discovering that both of her young children have growth hormone deficiency — from spotting early signs, to seeking answers when her instincts told her something wasn’t right, to navigat...
#3- Louisa - First Pregnancy After 40: IVF, Unexpected Challenges and a NICU Baby - Part 2
In part two of Louisa’s story, she faces the reality of her baby’s possible medical complications and the uncertainty that follows. A powerful story of courage, resilience, and the unexpected strength that comes with motherhood.💬 In t...
#2- Louisa - First Pregnancy After 40: IVF, Unexpected Challenges and a NICU Baby - Part 1
In this two-part episode, Louisa shares her experience of becoming a first-time mum in her forties — from waiting to feel “ready,” to navigating IVF, and facing an unexpected diagnosis during pregnancy. It’s a story about time, choice,...