Leading UK psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBE joins Ellie Thompson to talk about child loss and the lifelong impact of grief. Julia is one of the most trusted voices in the UK on bereavement, trauma and healing, and has spent decades supporting families through the unimaginable. Her work has shaped how we understand grief, not as something to "get over", but as something we learn to live alongside.

As many listeners will know, Ellie lost her son Billy, aka Billy the Brave, to DIPG, and grief has since become woven into everyday life in ways she could never have imagined. Like so many bereaved parents, she has learned that we don't move on from our children; we move forward carrying them with us.

In this conversation, Julia brings compassion, clarity and deep insight as we explore what it truly means to live with grief: how it shows up in relationships, how siblings experience loss, and how parents can find moments of meaning and hope again — while continuing to hold the profound love we have for the children no longer in our arms.

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Show notes

Child Bereavement UK - Child Bereavement UK helps children and young people (up to the age of 25), parents and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

• Therapy Works — Julia's main podcast
• Grief Works
• A Living Loss

Grief Works – A compassionate guide to understanding grief and how it affects us.
This Too Shall Pass – On surviving life's challenges and finding strength through adversity.
Every Family Has a Story – Exploring family relationships, trauma and healing.

Grief Works App - A supportive grief app offering tools, reflections and guidance for those living with loss.

Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe
X (Twitter): @juliasamuelmbe

juliasamuel.co.uk — for therapy work, writing, speaking and resources

What is My Baba?

My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting.

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The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions, please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

Ellie welcomes world-renowned fitness trainer Ryan Shanahan, best known globally as The Kettlebell King. With over 35 years of experience coaching everyone from elite athletes to absolute beginners, Ryan is famous for making fitness fun, fast and completely achievable.

Ellie has trained with Ryan online since 2010, so she knows firsthand how his unique approach transforms not only bodies, but mindsets. In this episode, Ryan shares the philosophy behind his hugely popular training method, his early rise to global fame, and the insights from his two new books: Issues in Your Tissues and Muscles of the Mind: The Ripitude Method.

Together, Ellie and Ryan explore sustainable fitness, movement for longevity, motivation that actually lasts, and why your mindset may be the most important muscle you ever train.

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Show notes

• Youtube & Book Link: https://linktr.ee/ryanraw88
• Follow Ryan on Instagram @ryanraw88
• Signs, Laura Lynn Jackson
• Regan Hillyer

What is My Baba?

My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting.

Visit mybaba.com

The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

Welcome to Part 2 with Valerie Millington.

In this episode, we dive deeper into safety within the aesthetics industry, what a truly effective at-home skincare routine should look like, and the real science behind hair and hair removal — including the big question: should you pluck, shave or laser?

Ellie has known Val for years and, like so many of her loyal clients, trusts her implicitly. Val is known for her honesty, integrity and her unwavering commitment to natural, healthy skin. Her approach is rooted in education, skin health and treatments that support — not disguise — the skin.

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Show notes

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, COSRX

Instagram: @vee_aesthetics_cobham/

What is My Baba?

My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting.

Visit mybaba.com

The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

Ellie Thompson sits down with a dear friend and go-to skin expert, Valerie Millington this week to discuss everything from fillers, botox, fat dissolvers, laser hair removal and more.

Ellie has known Val for years, and like so many of her loyal clients, she trusts her completely. Val is known for her honesty, her integrity, and her deep commitment to natural, healthy skin. Val focuses on education, skin health, and treatments that truly support the skin rather than mask it.

In this episode, Val and Ellie dive into all things skin: what actually works, what's a waste of money, the biggest mistakes people make, how to care for skin at every age, and why healthy skin never needs overdoing.

Welcome to part one of a warm, honest, myth-busting episode with a woman who has devoted her career to understanding skin, and isn't afraid to tell the truth about what really works.

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Show notes

Valerie Millington's website: https://www.veeaesthetics.com/

Valerie Millington's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vee_aesthetics_cobham/

What is My Baba?

My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting.

Visit mybaba.com

The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

Today's episode is one that sits incredibly close to Ellie's heart, as she discusses coping with Christmas after child loss. As many listeners will know, Ellie lost her beautiful boy Billy to DIPG, and this is her second Christmas without him. The festive season can bring a complex mix of emotions for bereaved parents, the memories, the empty space, and the pressure to appear "festive" when the heart is somewhere else entirely.

In this episode, Ellie is joined by Bereavement Support Service Lead Rachel Tegg from Child Bereavement UK for an open, gentle and honest conversation about what it means to face Christmas after losing a child. Whether someone is in their first year, their fifth year or anywhere in between, this discussion offers comfort, understanding and the reminder that no parent walks this path alone.

This episode includes discussion around the death of a child, grief and the emotional challenges of Christmas. Listeners are encouraged to take care of themselves while listening and to step away at any time if needed.

Email us at info@mybaba.com

Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram

Show notes

Helpline Number: 0800 02 888 40. Normal Opening Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

Christmas Opening Hours:

• Friday 24th December, 9.00 am – 1.30 pm
• Saturday 25th December - Tuesday 28th December, Closed
• Wednesday 29th December - Friday 31st December, 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
• Monday 3rd January, Closed
• Tuesday 4th January onwards, Normal hours 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Email: helpline@childbereavementuk.org.uk

Website: www.childbereavementuk.org (Live Chat support and other resources can be found here)

Managing Christmas Resource: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/managing-special-occasions

What is My Baba?

My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting.

Visit mybaba.com

The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/