To think Parenting Hell (the podcast) has become really unrelatable?

[DonningMyHardHat]

When it started back in lockdown and we were all struggling with working from home with kids, dealing with toddler tantrums, and navigating the stress and anxiety of unprecedented events; it was great.

However, in recent months I feel like it’s just not relatable to the average parent anymore. Hearing about ‘man of the people’ Rob Beckett’s 28th holiday this year, numerous concerts, trips and PR events for the kids, Josh’s second home in Cornwall etc. is all a bit grating now.

Don’t get me wrong, I fully appreciate that if I took umbrage with every piece of media created by someone more well off than myself, I’d be left with very little. (And we aren’t on the breadline by any means). But in a cost of living crisis it’s all starting to look a bit tone deaf. Two blokes complaining about how hard their lives are when the literally have nannies/very supportive families/don’t work 9-5s, and seemingly endless budgets… give me a break.

They seem like lovely blokes and I’m sure they’ve worked exceptionally hard for success, and that’s great. I just don’t necessarily want to hear about it when I’m driving to my 9-5 in my shit secondhand car.

Yes I know, ‘If you don’t like it, don’t listen’. But I can’t be the only one who used to really enjoy it who just feels a bit ‘meh’ now.

It always seemed to me that it was two men who probably didn't do that much parenting and were out the house a lot. Then lockdown happened and they were literally forced to spend time with their children and they couldn't believe how hard it was. Yet it was the day to day reality for many women. I could never be arsed with it for that reason.

Your middle paragraph sums up exactly how I feel about it. Used to listen to every ep but have barely bothered in the last couple of months. Rob’s become too full of himself, thinks he’s right about everything and talks down to Josh, who is actually a lot more interesting, funny and intelligent. Rob needs to understand that some of us can’t think of much worse than Disney every year and somewhere a bit more cultured like Puglia is a lot more attractive as a holiday!

It works because they are different though. Like if it was teo people going on about Puglia it would be boring.

You can tell when Josh has had enough of Rob though.

It’s not balanced though. It used to be, but now it’s just Rob dominating. Josh might mention his holiday was in Puglia then move on, whereas Rob goes on and on about Disney - as well as dissing Josh’s choice. (The holiday thing is just an example of the dynamic).

I also agree. It’s hard to listen to someone talk about how hard parenting is - when they eternally seem to have help. Even when they go on holiday, both always seem to always take extra adults, whether that’s grandparents or friends. Their kids always seem to be somewhere else other than home too (the excessive number of clubs). It seems to be a parenting podcast by two families who appear to try their best to palm off parenting on other people

Yes this is kind of what I was referring to in my PP...

I agree it takes all kinds of people, and we wouldn't just want two of the same chattering away each week. But it is dominated by RB.

E.g., there have now been multiple episodes dedicated to RB telling us all about his far too many Orlando/Disney trips. Whereas Josh only managed to give a short overview of his trip to Italy/Cornwall etc. before its railroaded by RB mocking him about it. It's all in jest I know, and I love that they take the piss out of each other (its what friends do in real life!) but it just goes on and on too much for me.

Another example of RB going OTT..... the porridge gobbler stuff. Josh has mentioned many times he doesn't really eat it! Yet RB goes on and on about Josh being the porridge gobbler and making it a massive deal! Why?! That's not actually funny, so move on please!

I'm still dipping in and out of SMA .... but agree with other posters that its lost some of its originality. I feel like Rosie used to be genuinely funny and down-to-earth but due to the success of their podcast that's been lost somewhat (which is sad, but I guess inevitable). Chris has always got on my nerves a bit, but I've liked hearing about his anxiety etc. in the past.

PH is actually one of the only podcasts I still listen to most weeks (though I now often miss a few weeks and maybe do a binge listen when cleaning, whereas before I was looking forward to the next Tues edition!)

and moving house!

If you don't already listen - Wolf and Owl is my new go to. I started from the beginning a few months ago and I absolutely love it

Rob does try to dominate the conversation but Josh is also terrible for interrupting (maybe trying to get a word in?)

I agree they are not the most hands on parents although potentially more so than some career dads.

Josh seems like a really nice guy who inspite of his success can lack confidence in himself. Rob is quite arrogant I've always assumed it's an insecurity thing due to his upbringing (in comparison to most comedians )

Love it, went to see them live last week, so funny.

Oh defo another favourite! Love them both, so funny individually and hilarious together, I've been listening to them from lockdown ❤️

Anyone heard today's ep? I thought of this thread as it's genuinely uncomfortable for most of the episode hearing RB chip away at JW about the kitchen and the Airbnb.

Yeah it was relentless! Quite an uncomfortable listen

Listened to it when cleaning the kitchen this morning. I know people mean about Rob but to be fair to him Josh is quite hard work, so he has to ask him a lot of questions to keep things flowing and it can sound relentless. Josh doesn’t ask Rob many questions, for someone that does a podcast and craves fame I don’t think he is much of a talker. I still enjoy it anyway!

Have only listened to half of it, but it wasn't very fun listeneing! Josh was obviously absolutely knackered and fed up with the extension etc and Rob kept poking at it. I think Josh had enough and cut Rob off at one point.

Josh was too tired really to do the pod at all and was generally just not up to it so he wasn't adding much humour to it all either!

Yes it’s in Cornwall. They bought my friend’s friend’s house (a painter who died) in Mullion. The interiors look ghastly now but helped Josh’s wife launch her business.

I went to one of the arena shows and thought Josh looked tired and didn’t add much value. Rob saved the show.

Yes they do

Totally agree, and is there the need for so much swearing. I've removed their podcast now, shame as I really enjoyed it previously, plus too many adverts

I was wondering how people feel about this now that Josh has a second home in Cornwall and has recently sold his £2.5 mill house in Hackney to buy what looks like a £3 mill house in Exeter? I mean it's not that I'm jealous (note: OF COURSE I AM JEALOUS! 😀) But, really, their lives are so very different from most other peoples, which is fine, and I don't expect them to be relatable in every sense. But to complain about difficulties relating to childcare and other forms of work/life related stress just seem a bit ridiculous when they can very obviously buy themselves out of most of them. I know the difficulties of bringing up children and balancing work/life are not just about money - but on the other hand, money helps a lot! In my own experience, my life was transformed when we could afford an au pair and a cleaner, and I would suggest Josh and Rob can afford a lot more than that. I also felt a bit uncomfortable when they essentially seemed to be suggesting that people only bring up kids in London when they have no other choice. I live in London and that's not how I feel at all. I think there are great things about bringing up kids in the country but also some downsides - and great things about bringing up kids in London, but also downsides. Any thoughts?!

I haven’t listened to Parenting Hell, but I listen to another one which sounds similar, and has followed the same trajectory.

What I find most difficult about it is the hosts are now often saying that anyone who dares to question to their newfound wealth and privilege as anti-feminist.

I still listen, but I don’t know why I want to torture myself with their tales of privileged woe.

I listened to the latest one and reflected that big house moves with kids are a lot easier when you're using private schools... I also think, unless it was a deliberate misdirect, that Josh has now shared his address and his kids' school with the world.

Lockdown was a real leveller, wasn't it? I guess it's inevitable that millionaires with jobs they mostly love and a level of fame will otherwise feel unrelatable. I don't think it's new. The day Josh couldn't cope with getting his shopping delivered while he was busy was ages ago and I remember thinking then that this really was in the foothills of life challenges.

Yes. I mean some of these challenges are funny but most are just ... yeah, whatevs. I guess I'm interested in what people like them do when they have built a business model on being just like their listeners with all the same struggles but that business model is sufficiently successful that quite soon they are not. And agreed, Josh has made absolutely clear where he has moved to and the private school his kids will attend. I know they must keep a lot back but they also give a lot away. Tricky territory to navigate on behalf of their kids.

I still like it- I find them bouncing off each other very funny, and I actually prefer their mundane chats about the kids and the dog etc., to the guests tbh. I love some of the correspondence stuff and their laughter about the stories sent in really cheer me up. Also, Josh makes me feel like I'm actually quite an organised person!