Glittering a Turd: Maren Sheldon on Parenting Through Grief and Celebrating Her Twin's Life

Glittering a Turd: Maren Sheldon on Parenting Through Grief and Celebrating Her Twin's Life

Author: Giovanna Fletcher September 22, 2026 Duration: 1:08:12

Trigger warning: this episode includes discussions around bereavement and cancer. If you feel this may be a difficult listen, please choose another episode x


Giovanna is joined this week by her good friend and CoppaFeel! co-founder Maren Sheldon.


Maren opens up about navigating first-time motherhood alongside her twin sister Kris's incurable breast cancer diagnosis. and shares the honest, sometimes heartbreaking, and often unexpectedly funny realities of parenting through grief.


The new edition of Kris Hallenga's memoir Glittering a Turd, featuring new material from Maren and a foreword by Dawn French, is out 24th September. 


Head to CoppaFeel! for more helpful information and resources xx


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum Happy Baby picks up the threads of her bestselling book, creating a space where the polished facade of parenting is gently set aside. Each episode unfolds through candid, comforting conversations with well-known mothers and fathers, though the focus is less on their fame and more on their shared, human experience. Giovanna, or Gi as she’s often known, guides these discussions through every facet of raising children-the unexpected joys, the exhausting lows, the personal challenges, and the quiet rewards. The core idea that resonates throughout this podcast is the liberating notion that perfection is a myth; everyone is simply navigating parenthood as best they can. Listening feels like being part of a supportive, honest chat among friends who understand that the journey is messy and beautiful in equal measure. You’ll hear real stories that validate your own, offering both solace and a much-needed laugh. It’s a warm, inclusive audio journal that celebrates the collective reality of family life, making it a deeply relatable listen for anyone in the thick of it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Happy Mum
Podcast Episodes
A Midwife's Own Survival Story | Life of a Midwife Ep. 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:47
In this episode of Life of a Midwife, Giovanna shares the extraordinary journey of one midwife who turned her own hardships into a lifelong calling. From an orphaned child to an abandoned mother of triplets, to becoming…
Trust Your Gut | Life of a Midwife Ep. 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:26
"If my gut is telling me something is wrong, something is wrong."This week we hear from two midwives who know the power of following their instincts.If you're interested in being part of the next series of Life of a Midw…
Delivering Triplets in a War Zone | Life of a Midwife Ep. 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:27
Trigger warning: this episode incudes challenging experiences relating to baby loss. If you feel this may be a difficult listen please consider choosing another episode 💜This week on Life of a Midwife we hear more of Ann…
Mollie King on Becoming a Mum While Losing Her Dad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:19
This week, Giovanna sits down with singer, presenter and all-round ray of sunshine Mollie King !Mollie chats to Gi about life with her two young daughters, the realities of motherhood (no sleep), and her exciting new ven…
Why Am I here? | Life of a Midwife Ep. 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:41
Trigger warning: this episode contains descriptions related to childbirth that may be distressing or upsetting to some listeners.Purpose isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it takes you somewhere extraordinary.This week…
Baby's First Breath | Life of a Midwife Ep. 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:33
What does it feel like to hold a life for the first time?In this episode of Life of a Midwife, three midwives tell us what it feels like to catch a baby!If you’re interested in being part of the next series of Life of a…