Wiggle Talk - A Podcast For Parents

The last time Jessie Stephens came into Wiggle Talk, she was very pregnant with twins. What none of us knew was that she was already in the early stages of labour.

Her waters broke that night. Three days later, Margot and Harry arrived.

Now, six months on, the writer, author and Mamamia Out Loud co-host is back - and we’re taking her back to some of the things she told us before she had any idea what was coming.

So, how ...

Over the years, The Wiggles have welcomed some very famous faces into their world - sometimes for a song, sometimes on stage, and sometimes simply because their kids were huge fans.

Anthony joins Simon and Lachy to look back at some of the most memorable encounters and collaborations, from Kylie Minogue and Shaquille O’Neal to Coldplay, Steve Irwin, Metallica and more - and the stories behind how those moments actually came a...

Screens are part of everyday family life - but what might they be crowding out?

One of Australia’s best-known parenting authors and educators, Maggie Dent, joins Simon and Lachy to unpack what screen use can mean for play, movement, attention and connection, and why a handheld device isn’t quite the same as putting on the TV.

You can find all of Maggie Dent’s books including Digital Freedom at https://www.mag...

Girls learn to perform perfection. Boys learn to perform toughness. But where do those messages come from - and what can parents do differently?

Clinical psychologist, New York Times bestselling author and founder of the Conscious Parenting movement Dr Shefali returns to Wiggle Talk to unpack the pressures facing boys and girls today - from screens and algorithms to vulnerability, body image, independence and belonging - and w...

Birthday parties seem to come with a whole new set of rules - how much do you spend, what do you buy for a child you barely know, and what happens when the presents start piling up?

Simon and Lachy talk birthday gift pressure, $5 parties and whether “no presents” is ever the answer. Then Simon shares a more personal side of raising an only child - the questions he and Lauren have wrestled with, the assumptions other peo...

Grandparents can be one of the best parts of family life. They can also bring different rules, different ideas about discipline, and occasionally a few more treats than you had in mind.

Maggie Dent joins Simon and Lachy to talk about finding the balance between parents and grandparents, setting boundaries without creating tension, and why the small moments with grandparents can become some of the memories kids hold onto most.

HOST...

That throwaway comment about needing to work off dessert, hating a photo of yourself or wishing your body looked different? Your children may be listening more closely than you realise.

2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt and body image researcher Dr Zali Yager from The Embrace Collective join Simon and Lachy to unpack how children learn to think about their bodies, often long before the teenage years. They talk about the la...

A broken peg has become one toddler’s most treasured possession. Simon and Lachy get into the weird little obsessions children develop - before a listener asks a question that hits a little closer to home: do you ever miss your pre-kid weekends?

From spontaneous plans to finding five minutes to yourself, it’s a very familiar look at just how much family life changes everything.

To submit a question for the ‘Dear W...

When Lachy met Dana, he wasn’t just beginning a new relationship. He was also stepping into the life of her three-year-old son and working out what his place in their family might become.

Dana joins Lachy and Simon for a deeply personal conversation about how their blended family came together, the moments that shaped it and what they’ve learned as their family has grown.

HOSTS
Simon Pryce
Lachlan Gillespie

GUES...

You’re tired, busy and usually being climbed on by a small child - so where exactly is exercise supposed to fit?

Big Strong John joins Simon and Lachy to share how becoming a dad changed his routine, why a workout doesn’t need to take an hour and the small changes that can make moving more achievable. He also puts the boys through a five-minute workout you can try at home - no gym or equipment required.

HOSTS
Simon ...

They only want to help. So how have you ended up refolding the washing, rewiping the bench and cleaning flour off the floor?

Simon, Lachy, Caterina and John compare notes on toddlers who want in on absolutely everything - and how they keep them involved without completely losing the plot.

To submit a question for the ‘Dear Wiggles’ segment, email us at podcast@thewiggles.com.au or send us a DM on Instagram.

HOSTS<...

The idea of a family pet is lovely. The reality depends very much on the pet, the timing and the family bringing it home.

Veterinarian, TV presenter and much-loved pet expert Dr Katrina Warren joins Simon and Lachy, with her border collie Chilli, to unpack what life with pets and young children can really look like - including the things families often don’t consider until the animal is already part of the household.

HOSTS

Few things test a parent quite like hearing those dreaded words: “My tummy hurts.” So how do you prepare for a bug you cannot entirely prevent?

When your child’s speech is difficult to understand or seems behind other children their age, it can be hard to know whether to give it time or seek support. Speech pathologist and occupational therapist Kate Broderick joins Simon and Lachy to unpack the milestones parents should know, the signs worth paying attention to and why early support can make such a difference.

Alfie loves musical theatre - but being one of the only boys in the room is starting to get to him.

Lachy walks into the studio with an idea, and Simon is trying to work out whether it’s brilliant, ridiculous, or a bit of both.

What happens when your toddler is falling apart, your partner is away, and you’re the only parent in the room?

Watching our kids struggle can bring out every protective instinct we have.

Fitness looks a little different once kids come along.