If someone had told me a year ago that I would be running my own podcast whilst raising two beautifully chaotic little humans, I probably would have laughed, poured another cup of cold coffee and carried on stepping over a sea of toys.
And yet, here we are.
Storme Diaries was born out of late night thoughts, voice notes to my best friends and a real desire to create a space where women could feel seen, heard and a little less alone. What I didn't quite prepare myself for was the absolute madness of trying to bring that vision to life whilst also being a mum to two small people who genuinely believe the second I sit down with a microphone is the perfect moment to ask for a snack, a wee or a very urgent cuddle.
The reality of recording with little ones in the house
There is no glamorous version of this. I wish there was.
The truth is, most of my recording days start with a mental countdown. Nap times become sacred. Snacks are prepared like I am stocking a small bunker. The iPad gets a starring role. And my husband becomes a one man support system, taking the kids on long walks, park trips and anywhere with a swing set just so I can have a quiet hour to actually press record.
Even with all of that planning, something will always happen.
A toddler will burst through the door mid sentence.
Someone will need a wee at the exact moment my guest is sharing the most emotional part of their story.
The baby monitor will crackle to life right as we hit a beautiful flow.
And honestly, I have learned to laugh about it. Because if you cannot laugh about the chaos of motherhood, you will absolutely cry into your lukewarm tea.
“Behind every podcast episode is a mum who has bribed her children with biscuits, hidden in a quiet room and prayed for an uninterrupted hour.
The fun, the mess and everything in between
What I love most about doing all of this whilst being mum to two is that my kids are growing up watching me build something I genuinely care about. They see me set up the equipment. They watch me prep my notes. They ask why mummy keeps talking to her computer.
It is messy and it is far from perfect, but it is real. And I think that is what makes Storme Diaries what it is.
I record around school runs, soft play meltdowns, teething nights, surprise illnesses, washing piles that never end and the kind of tiredness that lives behind your eyes. And yet, every single time I sit down to interview a guest, something shifts. The noise quiets. The to do list fades. And I get to be fully present in a conversation that often changes me a little.
The conversations that have stayed with me
Every guest who has sat across from me has left a little imprint on my heart.
Lisa opened the very first episode with such honesty about IVF, ectopic pregnancy and motherhood that I cried after we stopped recording. Her strength reminded me how much women quietly carry whilst still showing up for everyone around them.
Jaye shared her story of grief, family and losing her mum to cancer just before welcoming her fifth child. Her perspective on holding loved ones close stayed with me for weeks.
Frilly brought this beautiful warmth into a conversation about hypnobirthing, pregnancy and the importance of finding your village. She reminded me that no mum was ever meant to do this alone.
Kat made me laugh, made me think and made me feel completely inspired with her honesty around IVF, becoming a mum at 39, building a business and choosing the right partner.
Every single one of them has gifted me a lesson I did not know I needed.
The lessons I have learned along the way
Doing this podcast has changed me. Truly.
✨ It has taught me that vulnerability is not weakness. It is the most magnetic thing a woman can offer.
✨ It has reminded me that we are all walking around carrying invisible stories, and the moment we share them, we set someone else free.
✨ It has shown me that motherhood does not pause your ambition. If anything, it sharpens it. Becoming a mum lit a fire under me I never expected.
✨ It has reinforced how powerful women are when they sit in a room together and just talk honestly. No filters, no performance, no pretending.
✨ And it has reminded me that you can absolutely build something meaningful whilst also being covered in toddler snot and rocking a postnatal bun.
The version of me my kids get to see
One day, when my two are old enough to understand what mummy was doing during those hectic, beautiful, sometimes overwhelming early years, I hope they look back and feel proud.
Proud that I built something whilst loving them fiercely.
Proud that I made space for women's voices to be heard.
Proud that I did not wait for the perfect moment, the perfect setup or the perfect amount of sleep.
Because the truth is, there is no perfect moment. There is just this one. Messy, loud, full of love and full of possibility.
To anyone juggling a dream and little ones
If you are reading this whilst hiding in your bathroom for five minutes of peace, this is your reminder that you are doing more than enough.
You can chase the thing that lights you up.
You can build, create, dream and grow.
You can do it all whilst raising tiny humans who think you are their entire world.
It will not always look pretty. It will not always go to plan. But it will be yours.
And honestly, that is the most beautiful part of the whole thing.
Storme x