12: Navigating parenthood: Tips, tales, and toddler tantrums with Steph McGovern

The Netmums Podcast

This episode of The Netmums Podcast features broadcaster, journalist and debut novelist Steph McGovern. Join Wendy and Alison for a chat about motherhood, family life, and finding balance between career and parenting. Steph shares her insights on keeping her daughter’s life private, being a same-sex parent, and how her experience of broadcasting during lockdown helped shape her debut thriller Deadline.
Key topics include:
Parenting Privacy: Steph explains why she’s chosen not to share photos or details of her daughter publicly — and the importance of letting kids grow up without the scrutiny of fame.
Same-Sex Parenting: Stories, funny anecdotes and Steph’s thoughts on how attitudes have shifted, including a moving moment of unexpected kindness from strangers.
Parenting Style: Steph talks about good cop/bad cop dynamics, teaching independence, and balancing encouragement with the perils of ‘over-correcting’
Money Matters: As host of The Rest Is Money, Steph shares practical advice on budgeting, earning points, and how to teach kids about money — even in a tap-and-go world.
Her Debut Novel, Deadline: Hear how Steph turned lockdown hours into a murder mystery, set in a money-printing factory and inspired by her days on BBC Breakfast.
Magic Breakfast Campaign: Steph supports Magic Radio’s Fuel for Success campaign, providing schoolchildren with the food they need to start the day right.
Stay connected with Netmums for more parenting tips, community support, engaging content: Website: netmums.com / Instagram: @netmums
Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative