Help! I Have A Teenager

It may have been a little while since you’ve heard co-host Ginni Mansberg’s voice in your ears. If you didn’t know, Ginni is also one of the hosts of our Gen X podcast, Unleashed, where women come together for a laugh, a chat and, occasionally, some of life’s harder conversations.
Ginni recently shared something incredibly personal with the Unleashed listeners, the story of her mum’s decision to choose voluntary assisted dying.
If you have a teenager, or a child who is now an adult, you may find yourself in a similar stage of life to Ginni: watching your parents age and beginning to face the realities of serious illness, difficult decisions and what it means to care for the people who once cared for you.
This is part one of a three-part series following Ginni and her family through the before, the moment itself and what comes after.
You can listen to part two and part three here.
If this conversation brought up hard feelings and you need some help, please call Lifeline here.
In your ears today is Cath Mahoney, Bruna Papandrea and Ginni Mansberg
Check out our Unleashed music playlist for some feel good throwbacks!
The End Bits:Follow us on Instagram, DM us thoughts, feelings and questions @unleashed.show
Love the show? Hit follow on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Gen X women find us.
Executive Producer Grace RouvraySenior Producer and Audio Editor is Tina MatolovSocial Media Producer is Annaliese Todd
Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here!
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This summer we've curated your Help I Have A Teenager playlist with a healthy dose of culture-savvy conversation parents actually want - Parenting Out Loud.
Parenting can involve big ideas, public debates and the odd festive guilt trip - and this week, we’re tackling all three.
The man who created Adolescence has a new idea for how dads can connect with their sons - it’s beautiful, but one of us hates it.
Plus, Amelia dives into the kids party photo that’s divided Australia: can you really “bags” a park table?
And finally, it’s Elf O’Clock. Monz realises she’s the last mum on earth without a tiny spy living in her house, and wonders aloud if there are some traditions that should just be left alone.
Our recommendations:
💄Stacey recommends you treat yourself to a $150 Mecca makeup lesson (redeemable on product) where you learn game-changing tips.
❤️‍🩹 Monz wants you to check out A Year of Healing by Lucy Ormonde on Substack, a brilliant guide to showing up for a friend going through cancer.
⏰ Amelia is recommending Dr Dan Shapiro’s idea of time-ins: five minutes of phone-free, one-on-one time fully led by your child.
Support independent women's media
Want more Parenting Out Loud? Click here.
WHAT TO READ:
So your friend's been diagnosed with breast cancer. Here's how you can help.
No Elf on the Shelf or Santa photos: The 6 Christmas traditions I'm cancelling this year.
'My daughter found out the Elf on the Shelf isn't real because of an article I wrote.'
There's one question we're all asking since watching Adolescence. An expert just answered it.
'As a mum of teen boys, Adolescence was a sobering watch.'
'I had breast cancer and I'd love for my story to scare the s**t out of you.'
THE END BITS:
Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family
CREDITS:
Hosts: Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks & Amelia Lester
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Senior/Audio Producer: Leah Porges
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Help I Have A Teenager playlist with a healthy dose of culture-savvy conversation parents actually want - Parenting Out Loud.
Spooky season is just about to hit and we’re asking: what’s the point of Halloween, anyway? And are Australians missing one crucial trick about it that could change... everything? Monz unpacks.
Then, Amelia makes a bold claim — some nepo babies are better than others. But why do some rise while others flop, even within the same famous family?
And in a twist no one saw coming, Hailey Bieber just became our accidental parenting guru. Yep, that wasn't on our bingo card for 2025 either. Stacey has feelings. Big feelings.

Grab your headphones and join the conversation.
Our recommendations:
🎨 Stacey is a fan of the Hey Doodle drawing mats for the creative kiddos AND the podcast She Built That.
🌌 Amelia loves the app Stellarium, for all your stargazing needs.
📕 And Monz wants you to read 'the best children's book ever'. Hunwick's Egg by Mem Fox.
Support independent women's media
Want more Parenting Out Loud? Click here.
WHAT TO READ:
From Double Nepo to Semi-Nepo: The nepo baby universe has expanded.
The rise of the nepo babies 2.0.
Victoria Beckham shared her makeup 'rules' for Harper. Here's what 7 mums had to say about theirs.
13 whimsical and spooky Halloween movies for cowards.
The Hailey Bieber 'documentary' everyone’s talking about, and everything that happened since.
THE END BITS:
Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family
CREDITS:
Hosts: Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks & Amelia Lester
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Senior/Audio Producer: Leah Porges
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Help I Have A Teenager playlist with a healthy dose of culture-savvy conversation parents actually want - Parenting Out Loud.
Are you feeling ‘The Squeeze’? The daily chaos of modern parenting is real. We unpack why you’re feeling maxed out and overwhelmed and talk about whether there’s actually anything you can do about it.
Plus, are you raising readers or just scrollers? And in today’s digital world, is it even important? We discuss whether it’s possible to get over your scrolling addiction and get you (and your kids) back into books.
And, the dads are in their feelings this week, and we’re here for it. George Clooney reflects on the sacrifices he’s made for success, while Prince William reveals how even Royal dads can feel overwhelmed when it comes to raising tiny humans.
Our recommendations:
💄 Stacey is recommending the Nyx Fat Oil Lip Drip in the shade Newsfeed to achieve her iconic lip look.
🪨 Amelia is recommending Rock Painting, and now we all know what we're getting in the office Kris Kringle this year.
🎧 And Monz wants you to listen to the Paul Field episode of the podcast Conversations, for his deeply moving, heartfelt story. A trigger warning for anyone who has experienced the loss of a child.
Support independent women's media
Want more Parenting Out Loud? Click here.
WHAT TO READ:
Prince William just gave his most candid interview. One comment lands like a message to his brother.
'My life changed.' A look into George Clooney's family life with 7-year-old twins.
'I'm a new mum who read 60 books last year. This is how I actually did it.'
'I was reading bedtime stories with a glass of wine. A question from my son stopped me in my tracks.'
'No one is reading bedtime stories to their kids anymore and I know exactly why.'
THE END BITS:
Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family
CREDITS:
Hosts: Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks & Amelia Lester
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Senior/Audio Producer: Leah Porges
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Help I Have A Teenager playlist with a healthy dose of culture-savvy conversation parents actually want - Parenting Out Loud.
The kids are at home, the holiday activities are seemingly endless and you probably need a break. So welcome back to the podcast that's not just any parenting podcast.
On the show today:
You're officially excused from ever attending your child's sport practice. Don't believe us? Just ask the professional soccer player Abby Wambach.
Plus, are you an eldest daughter? Well, so is Taylor Swift and the birth order theory might explain a lot.
And, magicians are having a moment. But this time it's not just for the kids. So get the girls over, put the kids to bed and enjoy some whimsy.
And our recommendations:
🗞️ Stacey wants you to check out this great opinion piece on the Australian divorce story to end all Australian divorce stories.
📺 Amelia is recommending The Assembly on ABC IVIEW.
🎄 And Monz (in true eldest daughter fashion) is recommending the Christmas Mums Facebook page for Chrissy inspiration, wholesomeness and some early planning.
Support independent women's media
Want more Parenting Out Loud? Click here.
WHAT TO READ:
OPINION: 'Everyone's saying the same thing about Nicole and Keith's divorce. They're wrong.'
Forget attachment styles, Birth Order Theory is the new personality reading trend.
Someone check on the eldest daughters this Christmas.
'As the eldest daughter, I felt the most pressure.'
'I have a sibling age gap of almost 5 years. Here's why it's so much better.'
THE END BITS:
Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family
CREDITS:
Hosts: Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks & Amelia Lester
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Senior/Audio Producer: Leah Porges
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.