Breaking the taboo Podcast By Theo Clarke cover art

Breaking the taboo

Breaking the taboo

By: Theo Clarke
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About this listen

 'Breaking the Taboo' is my new podcast on women’s health. In series one, I’ll be looking at the issue of birth trauma by speaking to affected mothers, families, healthcare professionals and campaigners for practical advice.

Like many women - my daughter's birth was not straightforward and this led me to chairing the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry as an MP in Parliament. So listen in and let’s break the taboo!

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell. Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • S2 Ep3: Pregnancy and Group B Strep

    S2 Ep3: Pregnancy and Group B Strep
    Jun 12 2025
    This week our host Theo Clarke is joined by Jane Plumb, founder of Group B Strep Support, and an affected mother to discuss this infection that can affect pregnant mothers and their babies.
    Topics that we discuss on the show include: what is Group B strep; impact of GBS infection on babies; how to get tested as a pregnant mum; symptoms to look out for; and support for impacted families.

    Jane Plumb co-founded Group B Strep Support with her husband Robert in 1996 after their middle child died from group B Strep infection, and is its Chief Executive. Jane is also the RCOG’s Women’s Voices Lead, Europe Representative on the Council for the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations and a Meningitis Research Foundation trustee. She is also an advisor to the Board of the Fertility Alliance. Jane is involved in many group B Strep research projects, co-leading PPI for the GBS3 trial. Jane was awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to child health, Fellowship of the RSA in 2020, and Fellowship Honoris Causa by the RCOG in 2021.

    Preya Vaja is a mother of two who, with her daughter Uma, survived a serious Group B Strep infection. She advocates for Group B Strep awareness and maternal mental health, drawing on her experience as a South Asian parent. Preya has worked with GBSS on campaigns and fundraising, including running the London Marathon. She lives with her husband Birj and their daughters.

    Don't suffer in silence! Listen in and let's break the final taboo in women's health #breakingthetaboo.

    Group B Strep Support – https://gbss.org.uk/

    Group B Strep and pregnancy - https://gbss.org.uk/info-support/about-group-b-strep/what-is-group-b-strep/

    Signs of group B Strep infection in babies - https://gbss.org.uk/info-support/group-b-strep-infection/group-b-strep-infection-in-babies-know-the-symptoms/

    Group B Strep FAQs - https://gbss.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions/

    Where to get a group B Strep test - https://gbss.org.uk/info-support/group-b-strep-testing/ecm-test-where-how/

    This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

    DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice please seek advice from a GP or Doctor.

    Website: http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

    Instagram: @theoclarkemp

    Breaking The Taboo production team:

    Producer: Natasha Feroze

    Researcher: Max Austin and Elliott Malik

    Designer: Emily Ryder

    Social media: Bella Carter

    Studio manager: Adam Woodward

    Studio: Studio 55 part of Wolfe Power Club
    Show more Show less
    44 mins
  • S2 Ep2: Saying Goodbye: Dealing with Baby Loss

    S2 Ep2: Saying Goodbye: Dealing with Baby Loss
    Jun 5 2025
    This week our host Theo Clarke is joined by former MP Cherilyn Mackrory and Zoe Clark-Coates MBE to discuss baby loss, the impact on mothers and provide some practical advice for affected families.
    Topics that we discuss on the show include: living with the loss of a baby; support for affected mothers; bereavement counselling; pregnancy loss certificates; campaigning to improve maternity safety and the impact on fathers and other children.

    Cherilyn Mackrory is the former Member of Parliament for Truro & Falmouth. Whilst in Parliament, Cherilyn chaired the APPGs for Baby Loss and for Women’s Health where she was able to advocate for better and safer maternity services. Her aim was to ensure all women were able to make informed choices, as well as to help develop policy that support families after the loss of a baby. She was also a Vice Chair for Theo’s Parliamentary Birth Trauma Inquiry. Cherilyn is now Managing Director for Made for Life Organics in Cornwall, hand blending 100% organic skincare and pursuing access to nurturing touch therapy for everyone, especially those living with Cancer.

    Zoe Clark-Coates MBE is a globally recognized grief specialist, bestselling author, broadcaster, and campaigner. Following the devastating loss of five babies, she dedicated her career to transforming support for those experiencing pregnancy and baby loss. Drawing on her counseling expertise and two decades of leadership in the business and charity sectors, she co-founded Mariposa International—widely known for its primary support division, Saying Goodbye—with her husband, Andy. Today, the charity is one of the world’s leading bereavement support organizations, reaching over 50,000 people weekly. In 2018, Zoe was appointed by the UK Secretary of State for Health as co-chair and lead author of the Pregnancy Loss Review, a landmark initiative examining baby loss care across England. Published in Parliament in 2023, its 73 recommendations—accepted in full by the Prime Minister. Zoe also spearheaded the campaign to introduce an official Certificate of Loss, ensuring formal recognition for all babies who die before 24 weeks of gestation, a milestone achieved in 2024. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Zoe was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2021 for services to the bereaved. She is the author of five bestselling books on grief and pregnancy after loss, including Saying Goodbye, and is a sought-after media voice, appearing on television and radio 3–5 times per week. She also hosts the TV talk show Soul Tears and the podcast Life & Soul with Zoe Clark-Coates. Beyond her media and advocacy work, Zoe chairs the Global Baby Loss Alliance, collaborating with leaders, NGOs, and medical professionals to drive systemic change in bereavement care worldwide.

    Don't suffer in silence! Listen in and let's break the final taboo in women's health #breakingthetaboo.

    Saying Goodbye: https://www.sayinggoodbye.org/
    Sands: https://www.sands.org.uk/
    Baby loss certificates: https://www.gov.uk/request-baby-loss-certificate

    Follow Zoe on Instagram: @Zoeadelle.
    Follow Cherilyn on X: @thisischerilyn

    This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

    DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice please seek advice from a GP or Doctor.

    Website: http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

    Instagram: @theoclarkemp

    Breaking The Taboo production team:

    Producer: Natasha Feroze

    Researcher: Max Austin and Elliott Malik

    Designer: Emily Ryder

    Social media: Bella Carter

    Studio manager: Adam Woodward

    Studio: Studio 55 part of Wolfe Power Club
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 13 mins
  • S2 Ep1: Breaking the Taboo: Why we need to talk about birth trauma

    S2 Ep1: Breaking the Taboo: Why we need to talk about birth trauma
    May 29 2025
    This week our regular host Theo Clarke is interviewed by broadcaster and journalist Belle Donati to share the story of her traumatic birth, talk about her campaign to improve maternity care and share lessons from her new book 'Breaking the Taboo: Why we need to talk about birth trauma'.

    Topics that we discuss on the show include: what is birth trauma; birth injuries; maternal mental health; going back to work; wider impact on fathers and family; resources to help families with recovery from birth trauma; the Birth Trauma Inquiry in Parliament; improving maternity care in the UK and globally.

    Belle Donati is a broadcaster and journalist. She has anchored international breaking news for Sky News, NBC-Euronews and France 24, and has a background at the BBC, ITV and Al Jazeera English. She has interviewed guests from Nigel Farage and Humza Yousaf to Brian Cox and Isabel Allende. She hosts podcasts and discussions with The How To Academy on culture and politics. After the birth of her second child, she became an advocate for early intervention in at-risk babies. She is a part of the Ei SMART Foundation team and sits on the Lived Experience Advisory Panel for charity RareMinds. She is chair of the board of trustees of The Lovington Foundation.

    Theo Clarke was the Member of Parliament for Stafford. She chaired the first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in British history and previously set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma in the House of Commons. Theo has served as parliamentary private secretary at the Departments for Education, Business and Trade and HM Treasury, in addition to being trade envoy for the Prime Minister. She won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and was included in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Westminster list in 2025 and 2024. Theo hosts the hit podcast 'Breaking the Taboo' which ranks in the Top 5 most listened to shows in the UK for alternative health. She has also published a memoir 'Breaking the Taboo: why we need to talk about birth trauma'. Prior to being elected, Theo was the Chief Executive of the Coalition for Global Prosperity, backed by the Gates Foundation. She currently sits on the Board of the United Nations Association UK as their Vice Chair.

    Don't suffer in silence! Listen in and let's break the final taboo in women's health #breakingthetaboo.

    'Breaking the Taboo' by Theo Clarke: https://www.waterstones.com/book/breaking-the-taboo/theo-clarke//9781785909351
    Global Birth Trauma Alliance: https://www.globalbirthtraumaalliance.com/
    Birth Trauma Association: https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/
    MASIC: https://masic.org.uk/

    This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

    DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice please seek advice from a GP or Doctor.

    Website: http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

    Instagram: @theoclarkemp

    Breaking The Taboo production team:

    Producer: Natasha Feroze

    Researcher: Max Austin and Elliott Malik

    Designer: Emily Ryder

    Social media: Bella Carter

    Studio manager: Adam Woodward

    Studio: Studio 55 part of Wolfe Power Club
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 4 mins
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