Battling Expectations, Love and Breakups with Laura Whitmore
In this episode, Hannah is joined by Laura Whitmore, who is a broadcaster, presenter, and now author of her new book No One Can Change Your Life Except for You. Laura discusses being taught sex ed by a nun in Catholic school, the stories they were told, and the pressure around what you should be doing with your sex life, pregnancy, and parenting styles. She and Hannah talk about being pregnant in lockdown as well as relationships, break-ups, and break-up songs. Finally, Hannah and Laura answer some of your questions from Instagram!
Read the episode transcript here!
SHOW NOTES
What we chat about…
Why Laura titled her book No One Can Change Your Life Except for You
The song "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips
Coming to the conclusion that you have agency in your own life
Taking control over little things when you feel like you can't control anything in the wider world
Disney films
Break-up songs
What's Laura's favourite break-up song?
Laura being taught sex ed by nuns - what was it like? Is that still happening in Ireland?
Embarrassment about asking questions
Sex ed not teaching how difficult it can actually be to get pregnant
Look Who's Talking
Being pregnant in lockdown
People having opinions on what you should do when you're pregnant
Everyone having imposter syndrome
The pressure to seem like you know what you're doing in romantic and sexual relationships
Learning about sex and relationships from TV and movies
The pressure to have had not too much and not too little sex
Women having to be a perfect medium at everything
The scrutiny of being a woman in the public eye
People thinking public figures are public property
People assuming they can touch pregnant people they don't know
Social media changing conversations
Different kinds of love
Knowing what you need in a relationship
Your partner being your best friend
Excitement and novelty in long-term relationships
Keeping a long-term relationship exciting in lockdown
What advice would you give 20 year old Laura? (31:54)
Is it possible to be friends with an ex? Can you be friends with somebody while you're getting over them? (33:18)
Has social media created unrealistic relationship expectations? (36:10)
Is it unhealthy to not feel mournful for the end of a long-term relationship? (40:54)
USEFUL LINKS
No One Can Change Your Life Except for You* by Laura Whitmore
Love Warrior* by Glennon Doyle
MORE ABOUT LAURA WHITMORE
Laura Whitmore (she/her) is an established and highly experienced TV presenter and radio broadcaster, known for her roles hosting Love Island, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here Now!, MTV and much more, as well as her own BBC Radio 5 Live series, The Laura Whitmore Show. She hosts Castaway - the podcast about podcasts - and recently wrote and starred in the award winning short film, Sabhdh.
With a degree in Journalism, Laura has always regarded writing as her first love. In 2018 her article expressing her views on Upskirting and the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns went viral after publication on The Huffington Post, being shared millions of times around the world. And she has written features on topics ranging from abortion to the effects of social media, for Grazia Magazine, Hot Press, Elle and Glamour. Her poem for International Women's Day, She, was shared all over social media in March 2020.
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*affiliate links