Chatter Matters

Ep 20. “Mum, Can We Talk About Menopause?”

After a sunny afternoon planning episodes, a casual comment from Mum sparked a realisation that we’ve never actually talked about menopause.  So this episode I ask Mum to share her experience which ranged from hot flushes and hormone patches to dry vaginas (yes, we went there) and the quiet resilience many women carry through this transition. We unravel the complexities of hormonal shifts which affect both women and men, the gap in education and understanding, and the vital importance of discussing menopause openly—not just for women, but for anyone who supports them.   Here are the areas we covered: * What menopause actually is * Perimenopause, HRT, and what no one really told us * How it affects everything from sleep to sex to cognitive function * The surprising ripple effects on work, relationships, and identity * How generational silence has shaped the menopause experience — and why that’s finally changing * And, crucially, how we can show up better for the women in our lives going through it This episode isn’t just for women. It’s for partners, sons, daughters, and friends who want to understand and support. It’s an open conversation on something we don’t normally chat about.  ✨ As always, we wrap up with thoughts on how to start this conversation in your own life — because a simple “how are you doing?” might mean more than you think. 👂  A huge thank you to everyone who sent in questions. Your curiosity and honesty continue to shape these chats in the most beautiful ways. 🔗 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok @chattermatterspod — we’d love to hear your stories, especially from our listeners around the world. Is menopause talked about where you live? Let us know. 🌞 Summer Break Announcement! 🌞 After 20 wonderful episodes, we’re taking a little break for the summer.  Thanks for coming along with us so far — we’ve loved every minute 💛 In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you — if there are any topics you'd like us to chat about when we return, please let us know! Drop us a message on Instagram @chattermatterspod or pop a comment wherever you’re listening. Have a lovely summer, and we’ll see you soon! Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2498247/open_sms] If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave us a review, share it with a friend, and tag us on Instagram or TikTok @chattermatterspod 💖 Your support helps us grow and reach more amazing listeners like you! 🎙 Chatter Matters is a heartwarming mother-daughter podcast hosted by Sue & Amy. Every Thursday, we dive into stories that make you smile, moments that make you think, and laughs that bring generations together. Join us for the journey!

Ep 19. “Gender roles feel like a win-lose” - How Can it be a Conversation, Not a Competition

In this episode, we sit down to actually talk about the thing everyone seems to be yelling about: gender roles. Are men lost? Has feminism gone too far? Or are we just having the wrong kind of conversation? 🤔 We explore the shifting dynamics between men and women—not through data and headlines, but through real, lived experience. From suffragettes to self-discovery, gender fluidity to financial independence, this is an honest and curious chat around one of society’s spiciest topics 🌶️ We cover: * The evolution of gender roles across generations, where young women are earning more than men for the first time 📈  * The division of household tasks into traditional "pink jobs" and "blue jobs” and our views on this 🧹🛠️ We share our own experience of the challenges and dynamics of navigating conversations about gender roles and feminism within a family setting 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, and offer some tips on how to initiate this conversation 💬 Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2498247/open_sms] If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave us a review, share it with a friend, and tag us on Instagram or TikTok @chattermatterspod 💖 Your support helps us grow and reach more amazing listeners like you! 🎙 Chatter Matters is a heartwarming mother-daughter podcast hosted by Sue & Amy. Every Thursday, we dive into stories that make you smile, moments that make you think, and laughs that bring generations together. Join us for the journey!

Ep 18. "Look for the awe and wonder" - how our holidays have evolved from children to adults

Pack your bags — this week we’re going on holiday… down memory lane 🧳☀️ In this feel-good episode, we’re chatting all things family vacations — the good, the chaotic, the nostalgic, and the hilariously unfiltered. From sun-soaked trips to Greece and narrowboat adventures to rainy caravan holidays that somehow became treasured memories, we’re revisiting the way holidays shape our families (and test our patience 😅). We share what it was like growing up on these trips, how the vibe totally shifts when teenagers enter the mix, and what happens when you try to plan a holiday that makes everyone happy (spoiler: it involves a lot of snacks and space!). Whether it’s barge holidays with grandparents, city breaks with teens, or juggling 6 opinions in one Airbnb, we talk about the beauty and the realities of evolving family holidays — and how compromise, humour, and a shared playlist can make all the difference. 💭 Expect laughs, heartfelt reflections, and a few tips for making your next group trip feel less like a military operation and more like… well, a holiday. As always, we’d love to hear from you — what were your most memorable (or disastrous) family getaways? Pop into our DMs on Instagram or drop us a line. We love hearing your stories 💌 Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2498247/open_sms] If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave us a review, share it with a friend, and tag us on Instagram or TikTok @chattermatterspod 💖 Your support helps us grow and reach more amazing listeners like you! 🎙 Chatter Matters is a heartwarming mother-daughter podcast hosted by Sue & Amy. Every Thursday, we dive into stories that make you smile, moments that make you think, and laughs that bring generations together. Join us for the journey!

Ep 17. "I didn't feel safe with my Mum" - From Unsafe Childhood to Safe Conversations

This week we’re getting real about trust — how to build it, how to protect it, and how to not totally lose it over dinner table debates (yes, even Brexit came up 😅). Join us as we unpack what “psychological safety” really means (don’t worry, it’s not as clinical as it sounds!) and how it shows up in the everyday — whether you're chatting with your kids, your partner, or that one relative who always has thoughts at family gatherings 😬 We break it down into four relatable levels:  👥 Inclusion  🧠 Learning  🤝 Contribution  💪 Challenge  ...and how to not derail a convo when things get tricky. Sue opens up about a time she missed a big milestone in her son’s life — a moment that sparks a beautifully honest chat about reliability, presence, and that tricky balance between being everything for everyone. Along the way, we laugh, we reflect, and we share the real-life stuff that makes relationships work — or wobble. It’s heartfelt, a little raw, and totally relatable. So grab a cuppa, pull up a chair, and let’s get into it. Because trust isn’t built in a day — but it does start with a good chat 💗🫖 Chapters Building Safety and Trust in Conversations (00:01) Creating safe spaces and building trust in conversations, emphasizing conscious effort and structured frameworks. Creating Psychological Safety in Relationships (03:15) Psychological safety is crucial for inclusion, learning, contribution, and challenge in both organizational and personal relationships. Parenting and Teaching Respectful Conversations (07:00) Brexit as a focal point for discussing political differences within families, emphasizing creating a safe environment for open communication and nurturing children's differing opinions. Fostering Trust and Psychological Safety (13:00) Active listening is crucial in difficult conversations, promoting safety and respect, and building trust in relationships. Building Credibility Through Parenthood (24:26) Balancing parenting and work, reliability and credibility, sharing personal experiences, research and adaptability for effective parenting. Building Trust and Psychological Safety (28:00) Balancing disclosure and vulnerability builds trust in relationships, especially in parent-child friendships. Safe spaces are crucial for trust to develop over time. Nurturing Psychological Safety in Relationships (38:18) Trust and psychological safety are crucial for open and honest conversations, emphasizing independence and mutual support. Keywords Trust, Psychological Safety, Conversations, Effective Communication, Connection, Growth, Inclusion, Learning, Contribution, Challenge, Relationships, Family Dynamics, Parenting, Respectful Conversations, Active Listening, Vulnerability, Disclosure, Reliability, Credibility, Boundaries Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2498247/open_sms] If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave us a review, share it with a friend, and tag us on Instagram or TikTok @chattermatterspod 💖 Your support helps us grow and reach more amazing listeners like you! 🎙 Chatter Matters is a heartwarming mother-daughter podcast hosted by Sue & Amy. Every Thursday, we dive into stories that make you smile, moments that make you think, and laughs that bring generations together. Join us for the journey!

Ep 16 - Chatting about our school experiences, reunions and social anxiety

We open up our living room again as we debrief Amy’s school reunion. This episode unpacks old feelings that resurfaced on the ‘need to belong whilst not standing out’ We talk about the scars and wisdom school leaves behind and with the beauty of hindsight how might you have different conversations as a parent with your child 💬Whether you're a parent, a student, or someone still carrying echoes of your own school days, this episode offers connection, perspective, and hopefully some insight on what a tricky time in our life school can be 🎒If you liked this episode please leave a review, drop a comment and follow us in Instagram and TikTok (@chattermatterspod) ❤️Chatter Matters is a mother-daughter podcast hosted by Amy & Sue where we talk about everything under the sun. Every Thursday we will be sharing heart-warming stories, laugh out loud moments, intergenerational wisdom and life lessons. Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2498247/open_sms] If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave us a review, share it with a friend, and tag us on Instagram or TikTok @chattermatterspod 💖 Your support helps us grow and reach more amazing listeners like you! 🎙 Chatter Matters is a heartwarming mother-daughter podcast hosted by Sue & Amy. Every Thursday, we dive into stories that make you smile, moments that make you think, and laughs that bring generations together. Join us for the journey!