Episode 9: Tiny Humans & Emotional Damage (Part 2)

Nobody is a perfect parent, despite what social media might have us believe.

In Part 2 of Tiny Humans & Emotional Damage, Chris and Mari continue their honest conversation about the realities of parenting, co-parenting, mental health, and the emotional weight that comes with raising children in today's world.

We explore parenting guilt, separation and divorce, breaking generational cycles, childhood trauma, and the pressure many parents feel to get everything right. From custody arrangements and co-parenting challenges to the constant mental load carried by mums and dads, this episode shines a light on the struggles that often happen behind closed doors.

Mari shares her experiences of mental health, therapy, and learning to parent differently from previous generations, while Chris discusses the challenges of co-parenting, navigating judgement, and staying focused on what matters most: your child's wellbeing.

We also talk about self-care, emotional resilience, and why looking after yourself isn't selfish—it's one of the most important things you can do for your children.

Whether you're a parent, step-parent, grandparent, co-parent, or simply someone trying to break unhealthy patterns from the past, this episode is a reminder that struggling doesn't make you a bad parent. It makes you human.

Topics discussed:
• Parenting and mental health
• Co-parenting after separation
• Divorce and family life
• Parenting guilt
• Single parenthood
• Breaking generational trauma
• Childhood experiences and parenting styles
• Self-care for parents
• Emotional resilience
• Raising happy, healthy children

Episode 8: Tiny Humans & Emotional Damage (Part 1)

Nobody tells you that parenting can be the most rewarding thing you'll ever do... and also the thing that leaves you questioning your sanity because someone cried when you opened their banana.

In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, Chris and Mari get brutally honest about the realities of parenthood that social media rarely shows.

We discuss parenting stress, sleep deprivation, parental burnout, co-parenting after separation, raising autistic children, parenting twins, losing your identity, and the constant pressure to be the "perfect" parent.

From emotional overload and relationship challenges to the guilt that seems to come with every parenting decision, this is a raw, funny, and relatable conversation about the chaos of raising tiny humans while trying to protect your own mental health.

If you've ever hidden in the kitchen for five minutes of peace, Googled whether you're doing this parenting thing right, or wondered why silence suddenly feels suspicious, this episode is for you.

Because parenting is magical... and occasionally emotional damage.

Topics discussed:
• Parenting and mental health
• Parental burnout
• Sleep deprivation
• Co-parenting after divorce
• Single parenthood
• Raising autistic children
• Parenting twins
• Family life and relationships
• Emotional wellbeing
• The realities of modern parenting

Episode 7: Why People Use Weed

Why do people use cannabis?

For some, it's about relaxation. For others, it's sleep, anxiety, chronic stress, overstimulation, pain management, or simply finding a way to switch off after a difficult day.

In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, we have an honest and balanced conversation about cannabis, mental health, neurodiversity, and the reasons so many people turn to weed as a coping tool.

We explore the relationship between cannabis and anxiety, ADHD, autism, stress, emotional regulation, and sleep, discussing both the potential benefits and the risks. Drawing from personal experiences and current research, we examine the difficult questions many people face when using cannabis regularly:

Is this helping me heal, or helping me avoid?

Where is the line between relief and dependence? Between self-care and self-medication? Between switching off and escaping?

This isn't a debate about whether cannabis is good or bad. It's an open conversation about why people use it, what role it plays in their lives, and how we can make informed choices without shame or judgement.

Topics discussed:
• Cannabis and mental health
• Weed and anxiety
• ADHD and cannabis use
• Autism and sensory overwhelm
• Cannabis and sleep
• Stress management
• Emotional regulation
• Self-medication and coping mechanisms
• Dependence vs relief
• Neurodiversity and mental wellbeing