Parenting hell podcast

[Newpuppymummy]

I love listening to the parenting hell podcast and have listened for a couple of years now. Recently they have been referring to a guest who didn’t like their children very much and was a bit boring. I have an idea in my head of who they were talking about but wondered if anyone else had noticed this and had any ideas.

I must admit it spoils it a bit for me too. I always think how refreshing when a celeb doesn’t use private, but I had an inkling about Rob. He’s pretty flash isn’t he, all those holidays to Florida.

It’s not strange, if he can afford to send his kids to private school he doesn’t have the same struggles as most people. I know it doesn’t make your life perfect but being financial secure and being able to afford childcare, holidays etc changes your life.

I just prefer if people are up front about this rather than pretend to be relatable to build an audience. I listen to podcasts hosted by people who send their kids to private school (and say it). It’s doesn’t bother me as they aren’t pretending they don’t have a privilege.

I guessed Rob’s kids must be at private school. The class rep parent and drive through pick up gave it away.
i think the 9.30 time for school starting is very odd. I’ve never heard of a school starting after 9 am in the UK.

I agree with another poster that they are a good mix. I think individually they be annoying, Josh with his entitled moaning and Rob with his hyper over enthusiasm. They will drive me mad as husbands each for different reasons but I do enjoy listening to them. Even just to roll my eyes at times.

@Washingeverywhere I disagree a bit about Josh. I think Rob does often say how privileged he is especially when talking about the holidays. Josh less so I think when talking about jumping into cabs to go places and getting takeaways all the time. I think because he grew up in a more privileged household maybe he sees as normal

Love this podcast and just finished listening to the new book. Really good and had both their wives on it and parents. Very funny.

Yes they are both very privileged. I still like it but it’s hard not to be jealous or to see them as relatable. However I find this with most comedy podcasts I like such as SMA.

The casual mentions of holidays, takeaways and cabs show what a different world these people live in. They don’t realise as it’s normal to them. It is annoying that they build an audience on being down to earth when they are not. I scrimp to save for a holiday and don’t have takeaways ! However I do still like these podcasts but just wish they didn’t pretend to be relatable with their lifestyles.

My child goes to private school and I really struggle with being a parent. It’s a podcast on parenting struggles surely?

How should Rob/Josh announce that their kids go to private school (if they do?)? Rob acknowledges he’s very lucky to go on the holidays he does and do things like take his kids to strictly.

I reckon it was Connor Benn who they thought was rubbish. I don’t remember it being awful though.

I know state schools with a drive in/drive out drop off and class rep.

I didn’t think they should announce it. I’m just nosy and wondered.

I don't really understand how you could listen to a parenting podcast by two male millionaires and then be annoyed that they probably send their kids to private schools. What exactly do you want from them?

I'd be much more interested in hearing a podcast from their wives/girlfriends as I suspect they do 95% of the legwork anyway. I have no interest in listening to two guys who get to frequently travel all over the place for work, staying in nice hotels, and leaving their kids behind for days and weeks at a stretch.

When their partners release a podcast I'll listen to THAT.

I agree @Twilightstarbright everyone has parenting struggles. However their wealth does make them less relatable in other ways. I still like them but they do kind of pretend to be relatable in ways they aren’t. It’s the way with all these podcasts. Comedians use their down to earth personalities to build an audience but really they live in a different world to most people. It’s not wrong I just wish they would be a bit more self aware. Rob banging on about how people should buy the book because they listen for free is a bit annoying!

Didn't they start the podcast as a result of lockdown, where they were actually forced to be hands on parents? Nobody else finds that a bit... euw?

Yes, it did.

'Their podcast, Parenting Hell, began life in 2020 during the pandemic as Lockdown Parenting Hell and brought much needed, light-hearted relief for people struggling to juggle work and home life with small children (home schooling anyone...?)'

So not so much Parenting Hell as just... Parenting.

@Washingeverywhere you're right. I’m unlucky in some ways- I became very ill when DS was born which has left me disabled and unable to have more children or work, but I know I’m fortunate financially compared to many and I don’t pretend otherwise.

I guess they don’t know how to strike the right tone?

Idk about your situation but parenting got a lot harder for a lot of people during lockdown, I don’t think that implies that they weren’t parenting before.

I'm sure they thought they were, @riotlady

My god some MNers have a chip on their shoulder about ANYTHING. Rob and Josh both often say how lucky they are to have done so well, they tread the line very carefully between being “relatable” (if you know, you know) but also acknowledging the luxury their jobs allow. Ie Rob talked about his flights to Florida and acknowledged just how lucky he was to be able to rebook flights before getting the refund of the other ones.

some people might not be able to afford takeaways but that doesn’t mean no one can ever mention getting one

they don’t take freebies, which I like. and I agree that they are really balanced together.

Rob’s book was awful, no editing at all.

The Charlotte Church episode was fucking batshit. I think they have referenced it a few times, although not for the one who didn't like their kids

I often wondered if they've referenced Charlotte Church! It's quite talked about in certain internet forums that Kate Lawler doesn't always come across as enamoured with parenting.

I agree with others that Rob often talks about awareness of his privilege. He has also worked hard to get where he is, as is often discussed on the podcast and his books. He talked about refusing to turn down work because he was very aware of being self-employed, and inspired by his dad's work ethic.

I usually love the podcast but they have been rubbing me the wrong way lately. I suppose I’m more touchy lately as the cost of living crisis hits us harder. The thing that really has wound me up was the email promoting their book. Something like “come on you cheap skates get buying” or something similar. Inability to even see past the end of their nose, promo the book fine, doing so by calling your audience cheap when most of us are massively struggling … nah. Get fucked.

I absolutely love this podcast, never miss an episode! Even when it’s a guest I’m not particularly interested in.

I assumed Rob’s kids were at private school and I don’t see why anyone would expect him to send his kids to a state school in his position.

One of my favourite episodes recently was David Earl - I didn’t even know much about him before the podcast but he was the opposite of the person we’re all trying to guess - it was so clear how much he loves his kids, it reminded me of my DH and was so nice to listen to! Way back in lockdown I really enjoyed Shappi Khorsandi and her “milk tray moment”! Stephen Manghan was also very funny. But I do enjoy the ones without guests too, agree that Rob and Josh balance each other out perfectly!

If you enjoy a comedian’s work, and they then become rich because you and others listen to their podcasts and see their shows, you can’t them complain about them being “unrelatable”.

I assumed Rob’s kids were at private school and I don’t see why anyone would expect him to send his kids to a state school in his position.

Why wouldn’t he use a state school ‘in his position’, out of interest?

Because he’s very well off! Don’t most very well off people send their kids to private school?

I wouldn’t say so. State schools were good enough for Paul McCartney’s kids.