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Breaking the Taboo with Theo Clarke

Theo Clarke
Birth Trauma
Maternity Care
United Kingdom
Perinatal Mental Health
NHS
Mental Health
Breastfeeding
Pelvic Health
PTSD
Postnatal Care
Stillbirth
Group B Strep
Postnatal PTSD
Birth Trauma Association
IVF
Black Maternal Health
Gestational Diabetes
National Maternity and Neonatal Services Investigation
MAMA Academy
Birth Trauma Inquiry

Breaking the Taboo with Theo Clarke is a leading UK women’s health podcast exploring the issues that shape women’s lives before, during and after motherhood. Hosted by former MP and birth trauma campaigner Theo Clarke, the series combines powerful personal stories with expert insight and national policy conversations. Now entering its fifth series, the podcast has evolved from a groundbreaking ini... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes52Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessKids & FamilyParenting

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Artwork for Breaking the Taboo

Latest Episodes

This week our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by paediatric neurologist Professor Sam Amin and Emma Rush, Partner at Irwin Mitchell, to discuss baby brain injury and the practical advice and support available to parents and families.

Topics discussed o... more

This week our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by author, health journalist and long-term patient Penny Parkes, whose new book How to Talk So Your Doctor Will Listen draws on the lessons she has learned from navigating the healthcare system while living ... more

This week our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by Debra Kroll, a community midwife with 44 years’ experience, and Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, to discuss preparing for pregnancy and birth and the wider state of maternity... more

This week our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by Dame Lesley Regan, England’s first Women’s Health Ambassador, to discuss the UK Government’s Women’s Health Strategy, tackling the gender health gap, and improving healthcare for women throughout every st... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sam Amin
Medical expert discussing neonatal brain injury
Medical expert
Episode: S5, E10: Baby Brain Injury: Advice and Support for Parents and Families
Emma Rush
From Irwin Mitchell, discussing family impact and legal support
Irwin Mitchell
Episode: S5, E10: Baby Brain Injury: Advice and Support for Parents and Families
Penny Parkes
Author, health journalist, long-term patient with multiple rare conditions
Author of How to Talk So Your Doctor Will Listen
Episode: S5, E9: How to Talk to Your Doctor: Self-Advocacy, Women's Health and Getting the Care You Need
Debra Kroll
Community midwife with 44 years of experience
Independent midwifery practice (UK)
Episode: S5, E8: Preparing for Pregnancy and Birth: What to Expect From Your Midwife
Jill Walton
Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives
Royal College of Midwives
Episode: S5, E8: Preparing for Pregnancy and Birth: What to Expect From Your Midwife
Dame Lesley Regan
Former President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; Women's Health Ambassador for England; Chair of Wellbeing of Women
Wellbeing of Women; Imperial College London; NHS/UK government
Episode: S5, E7: Closing the Gender Health Gap: Dame Lesley Regan on the Future of Women's Health
Jo Senior
Specialist obstetrics and gynaecology doctor, antenatal educator
Unspecified/Various UK hospitals
Episode: S5, E6: Understanding High-Risk Pregnancy: Induction, Assisted Birth and Caesarean Sections Explained
Ranee Thakar
Renowned expert on birth injuries and perineal trauma, former president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
Episode: S5, E5: What Every Mum Should Know: Prevention, Treatment & Recovery from Birth Injuries
Michelle Kennedy
Founder and CEO of Peanuts; author of It Takes a Village
Peanuts; Penguin Books
Episode: S5, E4: You’re Not Alone: Finding Support as a New Mum with Michelle Kennedy

Host

Theo Clarke
Host of Breaking the Taboo; former MP and birth trauma campaigner

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 73 ratings
  • Every woman should listen to this!

    Thank you Theo for this podcast, as one of your guests in one of the episodes says, when you were searching for podcasts for mothers, the only one you could find was ‘Happy mother , Happy baby’ and she says that she was not happy! This is exactly how I felt too!

    Thank you for your interesting and informative podcast with a range of subjects in each episode , I especially like the structure of each episode.

    I too unfortunately suffered birth trauma and PTSD after having my son after a long lab... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kayleigh 74
    France8 months ago
  • A critical conversation finally happening

    As a future father and brother of someone who’s gone through a traumatic birth, these podcasts have been fascinating and important listening for me. I can’t recommend highly enough

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rory FG
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Excellent - words that need to be spoken

    Words that need to be spoken from voices that need to be heard. I have taken so much solace from the stories being told, information from the professionals being interviewed and advice on the practical signposting in the episodes. I have felt empowered to take action in my own recovery journey. Thank you for creating a community shining a light on an area that needs improvement.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Larajjjj
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Review

    Highly informative, thought provoking and so completely essential to raise awareness of these topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WSOMS
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • For anyone whose journey wasn’t a fairytale!

    Such a fantastic show, accessible, personable and informative. Not everyone has an easy journey getting pregnant, staying pregnant or starting their life as a parent and Theo brings experts and real life stories together beautifully.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    zads124
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are described as credible and diverse, offering both clinical and lived-experience insights.
Listeners praise practical, compassionate coverage of birth trauma and policy gaps.
The show is seen as a vital, empowering resource that highlights underrepresented issues in maternity care.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S5, E10: Baby Brain Injury: Advice and Support for Parents and Families
Q: What support is available for families, and how can they access it?
Support includes health visitors, GPs, community pediatric services, neurodisability specialists, psychologists, and charities; families are encouraged to advocate for early specialist involvement and to seek value-based private or charitable support when needed.
S5, E10: Baby Brain Injury: Advice and Support for Parents and Families
Q: How can prognosis be approached given the uncertainty?
Prognosis is hard to predict reliably due to ongoing brain development, but clinicians use MRI, EEG, developmental milestones, and follow-up to guide monitoring and early intervention to improve outcomes.
S5, E10: Baby Brain Injury: Advice and Support for Parents and Families
Q: What should parents expect in the first days and weeks after birth?
The presentation can vary widely depending on the injury, with some babies showing early signs of distress or feeding problems, while others may seem fine initially but later exhibit developmental or cognitive difficulties; close monitoring and early investigations help tailor care.
S5, E10: Baby Brain Injury: Advice and Support for Parents and Families
Q: What does brain injury mean in babies, and what causes it?
Brain injury in babies means the brain is affected in a way that can interfere with function or development, caused by factors like hypoxia (lack of oxygen), ischemia (reduced blood flow), infection, trauma, or other insults.
S5, E4: You’re Not Alone: Finding Support as a New Mum with Michelle Kennedy
Q: What policy changes would you like to see to improve maternity care if the Prime Minister or Health Secretary were listening today?
Michelle Kennedy advocates for more joined-up NHS policies to reduce the postcode lottery in maternity care, a central point of contact across trusts, and continued support for initiatives that normalize and fund matrescence research and resources.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Breaking the Taboo

What is Breaking the Taboo about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A UK-focused health podcast examining women's health across pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal journey, with a strong emphasis on policy, system reform, and patient-centered care. Across episodes, conversations cover national strategies, NHS maternity services, birth trauma, perinatal mental health, fatherhood, and practical advocacy for safer, more compassionate care pathways. Noteworthy is the consistent pairing of clinical expertise with first-hand experiences, and a campaign-like approach that pushes for accountability, funding, and structural changes such as a maternity commissioner and integrated care hubs. The show also leans into actionable guidance for listeners navigating pregnancy and parenthood, while spotlighting under-discuss... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Breaking the Taboo?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Breaking the Taboo:

1. Happy Mum
2. Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

How many episodes of Breaking the Taboo are there?

Breaking the Taboo launched 2 years ago and published 52 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Breaking the Taboo?

Recent guests on Breaking the Taboo include:

1. Sam Amin
2. Emma Rush
3. Penny Parkes
4. Debra Kroll
5. Jill Walton
6. Dame Lesley Regan
7. Jo Senior
8. Ranee Thakar

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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