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Blended

Blended

By: Kate Ferdinand
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Hosted by Kate Ferdinand and co-host Priscilla Kessie and Nathalie Holmes - Lewis. This podcast is a celebration of blended families - exploring the stories of relationships bound by love, no matter what their circumstances are. Covering subjects such as second marriages, divorce, parenting, life after loss, step kids, co-parenting, fostering and (not-so-wicked!) stepmothers,

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

Blended 2025
Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Blending Teenagers of Different Genders: Mindful or Overthinking?
    May 27 2026

    In this week’s episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie to discuss a topic that feels uniquely blended.


    The first dilemma comes from a mum whose 11 year old daughter becomes giddy and excited when her partner’s teenage son comes around. They have only met a handful of times but it has made her think about the future and dynamics she had never really considered before.


    The second dilemma is from a mum with a 15 year old daughter who is thinking about moving in with her partner full time. He has two teenage sons. She has noticed how they talk about girls and about women and it has made her pause. Her daughter’s dad has also raised concerns. Is she overthinking normal teenage behaviour or should boundaries be set before blending fully?


    The panel have a strong and honest debate. Kate feels that not every interaction needs to be treated as a warning sign and that excitement can simply be part of growing up. Nathalie feels more firmly that teenage attraction and energy should never be ignored and that boundaries need to be clear from the start. They explore whether parents can sometimes be naive when they are focused on love and blending.

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

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    35 mins
  • When A Mum’s Affair Breaks The Family: Can It Be Fixed?
    May 20 2026

    On a previous episode, Travis Jay made a bold comment. You always know your dad’s dirt, but you never know your mum’s. So the ladies decided to look into it.


    In this episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie as they unpack two dilemmas that flip the narrative and explore women who cheat.


    In the first, a married woman admits to having an affair. She broke it off and says it was a mistake. Her husband found out and is devastated, but instead of separating fully, they are living under the same roof for the sake of the children. She wants to know if reconciliation is possible while sharing a home, or if the damage is already done.


    In the second dilemma, things are even more complicated. A woman has been sleeping with both her ex and her current partner. She is now pregnant and does not know who the father is. Her ex has a hold on her but she wants a future with her current partner. She is trying to navigate the situation without destroying multiple lives.

    The panel does not hold back.


    Cilla is clear on consequences. Kate questions whether we judge women differently. Nathalie shows sympathy in the first dilemma, especially where remorse is genuine, but asks whether the reaction would be the same if it were a man.


    Rio drops in to give his honest opinion on the second dilemma.


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

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    52 mins
  • A High Conflict Ex and Emotional Cheating: How Much Is Too Much?
    May 13 2026

    How much is one person supposed to handle?


    In this episode, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Nathalie Holmes-Lewis and Cilla Kessie to unpack one layered and emotionally heavy dilemma from a stepmum who feels like she is drowning.


    She is navigating a high conflict ex who tells the children that their parents would still be happy if she was not around, even though she had nothing to do with the breakup. At the same time, she has discovered emotional cheating in her own marriage, messages, pictures and behaviour that have left her questioning how far it really went.

    Between solicitor emails, blended family pressures and constant tension, she feels like she is carrying more than one person should.


    The ladies do not hold back. They discuss whether emotional cheating can sometimes cut deeper than physical betrayal, how much damage a high conflict ex can really do to a relationship and whether love is enough when trust keeps being shaken.


    They believe you should do everything you can to protect your marriage, but the panel also ask a hard question. Where is the line? At what point does staying become self sacrifice?


    This episode is honest, uncomfortable and full of the realities many blended families face behind closed doors.

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

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    53 mins
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