Parents Who Think

Eldra Jackson doesn’t soften the truth. And he doesn’t offer redemption stories tied up in a bow. In this conversation, he speaks openly about the crimes that led to his 24-year prison sentence and the deeper inner work that began long after the bars closed behind him.

Danusia Malina-Derben, host of Parents Who Think, joins Eldra to explore what happens when men are taught that power depends on domination—...

When Suzy Walker began a mindfulness course, she didn’t expect it to unearth a lifetime of suppressed grief. But in conversation with Danusia Malina-Derben, host of Parents Who Think, what unfolds is a raw, honest reflection on what happens when we stop running, and start listening.

Danusia and Suzy explore the seductive trap of busyness, the spiritual disorientation of stillness, and the hidden grief we m...

What does real equality look like when you're parenting solo? In this moving conversation, Danusia interviews Michael Ray, a father who’s raising his daughter on his own after her mother stepped away from their lives. What might sound like a tough beginning becomes a powerful dialogue on parenting, presence, and the messy realities of gendered expectations.

Michael shares what it means to parent with depth...

If you think menopause is just hot flashes and mood swings, Meg Mathews is here to set you straight. In this unfiltered episode, Meg opens up about how menopause knocked her sideways—crippling anxiety, misdiagnosis, zero libido—and how it took years before anyone mentioned hormones. That journey led to Meg’s Menopause, a platform busting taboos and pushing for real education, access, and self-respect.

We c...

What does it really mean to be a good dad in a world that’s (finally) rethinking power, privilege, and gender? Jordan Shapiro offers a fresh framework—one that demands more than just ‘helping out’ or being ‘the fun one.’ In this episode, we talk about radical inclusivity, critical consciousness, and why patriarchal manliness needs a total rethink. Jordan doesn’t dodge the difficult stuff—he names the creepy undercurren...

We’re told to be selfless. To give everything for our children. To die to ourselves for the sake of being a “good” mother and parent. But what if that’s not the answer at all?

In this fierce, funny, and deeply real conversation, Danusia is joined by Meredith Masony —a woman who came back from a health crisis with one loud, clear truth: she was done putting herself last. They talk about the myth of the perf...

This episode, I speak with Simon Squibb, founder of HelpBnk and author of What’s Your Dream? We dive into cultivating luck (hint: it’s not random), why desperation can be a creative superpower, and how his mother kicking him out of the house became the very thing that made him.

Simon shares his raw take on privilege, failure, and the myth of the A-grade life. We talk resilience, drive, and what it means to...

In this episode I sit down with Eve Rodsky, author of the groundbreaking book Fair Play, to discuss the often invisible and unequal labour dynamics that play out in our homes. We get into why women frequently become the "she-fault" parent, shouldering the brunt of domestic responsibilities and emotional labour, often at the expense of their own well-being and careers.  

Eve doesn't just identify the proble...

In this episode of Parents Who Think, Danusia gets into into a juicy conversation with Hollie McNish—award-winning poet, author, and performer. The focus? Female masturbation, sexuality, and shedding the centuries of shame surrounding women’s pleasure. One of Hollie’s books, Slug and Other Things I’ve Been Told to Hate, serves as the jumping-off point for this honest chat.

Danusia and Hollie...

What happens when a woman is the breadwinner and her husband takes the lead at home? Apparently, a lot of raised eyebrows, unsolicited opinions, and a bizarre mix of pity and praise. Entrepreneur and mother Priscilla McKinney joins me to talk about flipping the script on traditional gender roles, how she and her husband Steve made the switch, and what it really means to thrive in a setup that works for them—not society...

Sex toys: ancient history, cultural icon, and—if Sarah Forbes has anything to say about it—essential to our understanding of sexuality. This week, Danusia sits down with the anthropologist and former curator of the Museum of Sex in New York to talk about the rise (and rise) of sex toys, the deep-rooted taboos around pleasure, and why we need to stop acting like vibrators were invented last week.

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