Maternity and Paternity Problems

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of the Then and Now podcast. Leonie and Baba tackle a topic they’ve never fully explored before: maternity and paternity leave, both from a personal and cultural lens. The conversation dives deep into:

🍼 How family and community supported childcare “back in the day”🧾 The realities of statutory maternity and paternity leave in the UK🔄 The emotional and financial pressures that parents face returning to work too early👶🏾 The disparities between countries like Sweden, Japan, the USA, and the UK in parental leave policy💬 A candid and funny look at fatherhood, responsibilities, and bonding time🧠 Mental health and the cultural stigma around fathers taking leave💔 Why many parents feel unsupported by the system – and why that might be leading to fewer children

Throughout, Leonie and Baba share personal stories – from growing up in multigenerational households to wild moments like a four-year-old Bubba sneaking out to find his mum – and open up about how different things were when they had their son vs their daughter.