Strong Tea

Strong Tea - Episode 34 - Becoming A Parent...My Life As A Surrogate

We were first introduced to Gina Kinson by Michael Johnson-Ellis who was the guest in our first episode in the Becoming a Parent series, My Surrogacy Journey. 
 
We learnt so much about the process and experience of surrogate parents but we also had so many questions and wanted to learn more about these incredible humans who are the surrogates.
 
The wonderful Gina Kinson has had two surrogate journeys and is currently carrying her third surrogate baby, helping couples to have the families that they have always dreamed of.
 
Selfless, inspiring, and changing lives, we cannot wait for you to hear this incredible episode with this incredible woman.

Strong Tea - Episode 33 - Becoming A Parent...Through Adoption

Next up in our Becoming A Parent mini series, we delve into the world of adoption.
 
In 2022, just under 3000 children were adopted, an increase from the previous year. There are so many reasons that people look to adopt and in today’s episode, Katy Smith shares her own personal experience.
 
Katy is a wellbeing and self-development coach for parents and is an adoptive parent support specialist. 
 
She established the incredibly powerful Adoptive parent’s circle after her own experiences and seeing the hit and miss support that was out there. 
 
Katy provides space and support for adoptive parents to talk about their parenting lives, sharing tips, suggestions, and to know they are not alone.
 
You can check out Katy’s LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-smith21/ 
 
You can find her website here: https://www.katysmithcoaching.com 
 
Here’s the link for the Adoptive Parents Circle: https://katy-smith-coaching-adoptive-parents-circle.mailerpage.com 
 

Strong Tea - Episode 32 - Becoming A Parent...As A Solo Mum By Choice

In the next episode of our Becoming a Parent series, we are joined by our very special guest, Kate Draper.
Kate talks to us about her experience in becoming a solo mum by choice. Motherhood is not contingent on a romantic relationship, marriage, or partnership (even though arguably, our culture holds bias against single parenting and encourages the ‘perfect’ family) and Kate helps to demystify assumptions, preconceptions and stereotypes that can come with being a solo mum by choice.
In this episode she shares how she made the decision to become a solo mum and the subsequent rollercoaster of undergoing treatment, heartache, and the eventual arrival of her gorgeous little boy, George.
Kate’s incredible strength, independence, and drive is what makes her story so empowering. We know she will inspire others as well as providing the much needed learning about being a solo mum by choice.
Links:
https://dcnetwork.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/473506363502195/?ref=share
 
 

Special Edition Quick Brew - Episode 23 - International Women’s Day with Special Guest, Krisi Smith of Bird & Blend

Excited to bring you a special midweek podcast this week in honour of International Women’s Day! Today’s episode is a Quick Brew but with a very special guest, Krisi Smith of the awesome Bird & Blend tea!
 
Bird & Blend was founded in 2014 and has since becoming one of the greatest boutique tea brands in the UK with 14 retail stores and a significant online presence.
 
Krisi joins us today to talk all about her journey to become co-founder of this incredible brand, she talks about the challenges of being a woman in business, the gender inequality issues and why it’s so important that we raise the next generation to be soaring for success, regardless of gender.

Strong Tea - Episode 31 - Becoming A Parent...Through Surrogacy

So excited to bring you the first instalment in our Becoming A Parent series.
Today, the incredible Michael Johnson-Ellis from TwoDadsUK® joins us to talk all about his and his husband Wes’ journey to become parents using a surrogate.
Surrogacy is becoming an increasingly popular way in the UK to become a parent for a variety of different people whether there be fertility issues, LGBTQ+ people, single parents or other reasons. To put it in perspective, in 2008 there were just 67 parental order applications, in 2022 that number had jumped up to 300 applications. (A parental order application is a post-birth court order which makes the intended parents the legal parents of the child).
Michael and Wes Johnson-Ellis set up TwoDadsUK® in 2016 as a social media account to discuss their own route to parenthood through surrogacy, this later developed and grew significantly and they launched Fertility Clinic Partnerships in 2018.
Since then, TwoDadsUK® has become more than an Instagram account and is now a recognised brand within the fertility sector and LGBTQ+ parenting space. Mike and Wes are also Founders of The Modern Family Show in March 2019 and My Surrogacy Journey® which launched in February 2021. It also has a Number 1 Podcast too; My Surrogacy Journey – The Podcast.
Michael is corporate speaker for a large number of brands and has also contributed to a Number 1 Best Selling Book, released in in 2021 titled DAD. The Untold Stories.
When they aren’t busy running their empire, they are being incredible parents to their two beautiful children Talulah & Duke.

Strong Tea meets Bully This - Episode 30

Today's episode is something a little different.
 
We teamed up with the fantastic Tyler Copenhaver-Heath and Clifford Starks from the Bully This - A Hero's Journey podcast to talk all things bullying. Both of these gents have incredible stories and experiences that they share with us in this episode, along with talking about how they created the award winning Bully This podcast.
 
We discuss the many sides of bullying, the impact on its victims as well as the bullies themselves, and the power of unconditional love.
 
Bullying is a problem for people of all ages, all over the world and from all walks of life. Using our platforms, we hope to open up the conversation to make it more visible and to ensure that people who are being bullied know they are not alone.
 
Check out Tyler & Clifford's podcast here: https://www.bullythisaherosjourney.com/

Quick Brew - Episode 22 - Euthanasia

TRIGGER WARNING: discusses suicide, dying, and terminal illness.
 
The right to die. Morally, a tough debate to have, but so very important.
Imagine suffering with an incurable illness that offered an extremely limited quality of life, you’ve spent your life independent, happy and active. This illness will destroy your body and mind, it will be extremely hard on you and those around you.
 
Should you have the right to chose whether you live or die?
 
Now imagine that society is accepting of, and even helping individuals in your position to die. The pressure and the 'burden' you feel on your friends and family mean that you 'should' consider assisted dying as a viable option, even though you want to live every second you can. Should the law remain to protect those?
 
In today’s episode, Katie & Vikki open up one of the hardest but most important topics of our time - should the law change to allow us to chose when we die?

Strong Tea - Episode 29 - Living With An Incurable Disease

Katie has known Joe since she was a teeny tiny girl, their mums worked together many moons ago and are life long friends.
 
Joe is one hell of a human! Tenacious, outgoing and supremely positive, he has lived all over the world and had an array of jobs.
 
In his late 20s, during training for a half marathon, Joe noticed some changes in his body, a series of things which just didn’t feel right. After multiple trips to the GPs and physios, Joe was advised by a friend to speak to his GP again about a neurological issue rather than a physical issue. This was the start of Joe’s journey with Multiple Sclerosis.
 
Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition that affects the brain and nerves. There is no known cure and there are many symptoms.
 
Joe’s journey has been varied and difficult but his positivity is second to none.
 
This episode explores exactly what MS is, how it affects different people, how it's treated and managed and what the future holds for Joe.

Quick Brew - Episode 21 - Social Media Toxicity

Social Media. Best thing since sliced bread or a recipe for disaster? We delve into the toxic world of social media.
Deep fakes to fake news - just how toxic is social media for us?
We look at social media and freedom of speech, is everyone entitled to say and post what they think? So many questions, so little time! 
In this hour long episode we discuss statistics, stories, celebrities and topical news stories from the world of social media to highlight just how it can be toxic for our mental health, our relationships and our lives.
An interesting debate for a modern day problem!

Strong Tea - Episode 28 - Living With Addiction

We are so excited to be bringing you the first of several fantastic episodes with the very lovely Finlay Games. 
 
Finlay, also known as Finn, has a huge following online thanks to his wonderfully honest accounts of his life journey.
 
In this episode, Finn discusses his journey with drugs and alcohol and how he used these to block out feelings, emotions and parts of his life.
 
Finn attended his first AA meeting in 2010 with no intention of giving up alcohol but it ended up changing his life in more ways than one.
 
Finn is a truly wonderful human who’s honesty and openness make for a really fantastic chat.