Hearts and Handlebars

Talking to Kids About War on the School Run (Blossoms, Big News and Being Early)

On this bright, frosty school run in The Hague, Hearts and Handlebars dives into how to talk to kids about war, scary news and the US–Israel strikes on Iran—without crushing their sense of safety. From cherry blossom, new fringes and favourite flowers to forgotten mouthguards and school‑newspaper book reviews, journalist‑mum Anna Holligan uses a real‑time cargo‑bike ride with her nine‑year‑old to explain why Iran is in the headlines, what bombing and “international justice” mean, and how families can answer big geopolitical questions in age‑appropriate language. If you’re a parent juggling school runs, hockey sticks and heavy headlines, this episode offers a grounded, honest example of talking about conflict, safety and kids’ emotions on an ordinary school morning in the Netherlands.

Parenting a Dyslexic Child on the School Run | Dead Mouse & Big Feelings

A real‑time school‑run parenting conversation from our Dutch cargo bike in The Hague about dyslexia, neurodiversity and keeping your own creative dreams alive between lunch boxes and laundry.
A dead mouse, a Pringles‑box funeral plan and a drizzly dash through The Hague set the scene, as we end up in a surprisingly big chat about difference, doubt and doing the thing anyway. On the bike, Z calls me out on my unfinished book and unknowingly gives me the push I need to finally get words on the page, while we talk honestly about what it means to model follow‑through to our kids when life already feels full.
Z also shares her experience of dyslexia in her own words – from the early days when books made her want to curl up on the sofa, to now reading in the bakfiets – and how the same neurodivergent brain that finds decoding text harder seems wired for people skills, problem‑solving and resilience. If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, suspect your kid might be dyslexic, or you’re just trying to keep a creative project alive alongside parenting, this kids & family school‑run episode is for you.
This week we’re asking:
What special talents have you developed out of your own difference or diversity?
Do you have any neurodiversities, and if you do, what are they?
Jump on, hit follow, and come join the conversation on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars.

Gentle Parenting vs FAFO on the School Run | Consequences & Safety Nets

A misty, freezing school‑run parenting chat from our Dutch cargo bike in The Hague, all about gentle parenting, FAFO consequences and how kids actually experience our parenting styles.
Missing gloves and damp curls kick off a conversation about the latest parenting “trend”: F‑around‑and‑find‑out parenting – the backlash to gentle parenting that says kids should simply suffer the consequences of their mistakes. From forgotten jumpers and smashed iPads to cold heads and hidden hats, we try out a softer version – “gentle FAFO” – where children still learn from their choices, but parents quietly keep a safety net. There are seagulls, mirror‑like canal water, surprisingly quiet roads and a very independent Zena, who has strong views on which parenting style really works.
Zena’s question for kids this week: what kind of parenting do you think your parents do – super gentle, gentle FAFO, or full “sit on your blisters”? There’s even a special guest cameo from one of her favourite friends.
🎧 Tap follow, share with a friend who’s into real‑life kids & family chats about consequences and care, and come say hi on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars.

Real School‑Run Parenting in The Hague | Truth‑Telling Nine‑Year‑Old

A wet, freezing school‑run parenting chat from our Dutch cargo bike in The Hague – the exact opposite of those 5am green‑juice, perfect‑parenting reels – with a hidden dog, toilet emergencies and a nine‑year‑old “truth pixie” calling me out.
On this real‑time ride we talk about parenting without babysitters, relying on bike lanes and other parents, and what kids actually love about life in the Netherlands (spoiler: cycling and cheese). We get into gender roles, gym fails, why talking to everyone the same – from head teacher to security guard – quietly teaches values, plus “papa days,” single parenting and why showing up exactly as you are is more than enough.
If your mornings are more chaos than curated and you want a kids & family podcast that sounds like your real life, this one’s for you.
🎧 Tap follow, share with a friend who gets it, and come say hi on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars.

Kids’ Independence vs Safety in a Snowstorm | “Beast from the East”

A freezing school‑run parenting chat from our Dutch cargo bike in The Hague, all about kids’ independence, safety and anxious parenting during the “Beast from the East” snow.
It’s snowing, it’s brutally cold, and on this real‑time ride we’re talking about the complicated dance between letting your kid be independent and keeping them safe. We cover rule‑breaker parent vs rule‑follower kid (how do kids end up the opposite of us?), asking once not ten times, and why repeating yourself can actually train children to stop listening. There’s the guilt of always being there versus the skills they build when you’re not, and how on earth you know where that balance should sit.
Along the way: granny soup in a flask, leg warmers, hats you absolutely should wear even if you refuse, and the live radio interview that made me realise my anxious parenting might actually be working. We finish with independence vs security, and why this mum still won’t leave her daughter alone at home – plus some very Dutch parenting moves that feel foreign if you didn’t grow up here.
If you’re wondering whether you’re getting the balance right between hovering and letting go, and you want a honest kids & family school‑run snapshot of Dutch parenting, this one’s for you.
🎧 Tap follow, share with a friend who gets it, and come say hi on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars.

Kids’ Friendship Drama & Dutch Cycling Culture | Freezing School Run

A freezing cold school‑run parenting chat from our Dutch cargo bike in The Hague, about kids’ friendship drama, Dutch cycling culture and what your job as a parent looks like when the weather – and the social dynamics – are freezing.
It’s zero degrees, pouring with rain, and Marley the dog has snuck into the cargo bike again because Zena feels bad for him. On this real‑time ride we talk about what to do when your kid’s friendship falls out but their parents stay awkward (do you message or stay out of it?), why good cycling infrastructure makes all the difference (Scotland vs The Hague in the rain), and why being soaked to the bone on a bike can actually beat sitting in traffic. We also get into control in a car vs a bike, Zena’s favourite school subjects (DART, robotics, poetry in court cases), ear‑piercing in the cold, coffee intake, hyperactivity and the chaos of layers in freezing weather.
If you’ve ever wondered why Dutch parents still cycle in weather that would keep most people indoors, or how to navigate the minefield of kids’ friendship fallouts without making things worse, this kids & family school‑run episode is for you.
🎧 Tap follow, share with a friend who gets it, and come say hi on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars.

When Your Kid Refuses to Talk on the School Run | Real Parenting Conflict

This is the episode where Hearts and Handlebars gets real in ways we didn't plan.
Zena wakes up angry. She tells me straight: "I don't want to talk to you today." And she means it. What follows is a raw, unfiltered argument about rudeness, hypocrisy, and why she refuses to pretend everything's fine just because we're recording.
The conversation gets uncomfortable:
When a parent is rude and doesn't realize it
How perfectionism can kill authenticity (even on a "real" podcast)
The moment a nine-year-old calls out her mum for asking her to soften the edges
Why "just be yourself" can sound like code for "be yourself, but only the happy parts"
Forgiveness, journaling club, and the decision to try again
But here's the thing – this is exactly why Hearts and Handlebars exists. Because Zena was right: if we only shared the good moments, we'd just be another perfectly curated podcast. And she refused to let that happen.
By the end of the ride, we're okay. But we earned it.
🎧 Tap follow, share with a friend who gets that mornings are messy, and come say hi on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars.

Kids, Celebrity Drama & a School Newspaper | Mum Journalist & Daughter

It's 8am on the bike, and Zena is practicing her script about Scottish haggis for a class presentation – while we're having a surprisingly clever conversation about what a school newspaper should actually cover.
We dive into:
The Brooklyn Beckham Instagram drama: when celebrity family conflicts become a cautionary tale about brand, boundaries, and "inappropriate dancing"
What stories would actually interest a school community (spoiler: not just news)
Why a newspaper needs pets of the month, book reviews, puzzles, and feel-good pieces – not just hard news
How to format a student newspaper so different readers find something that captures them
Scripted vs. freestyle: why my daughter refuses to read from a script, and why she's probably right
Scottish facts that even confuse the Scots: which way do haggis really run?
The mum who can't dance appropriately (according to her nine-year-old)
If you're thinking about launching a school newspaper, or you just want to hear how a real journalist approaches storytelling with her daughter, this episode is for you.
🎧 Tap follow, share with a friend, and come say hi on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars.

Real‑Time School‑Run Chaos | Stolen Rain Cover & Toothbrush Meltdowns

Real-time school run on the bike with a journalist and her daughter — toothbrush meltdowns, missing hairbands, a stolen rain cover and a cold, wet dash to school.
Zena answer kids’ questions, debates Dutch theme-park choices, while Anna recalls an encounter with a kind stranger offering to help with recycling, and reminds you that showing up exactly as you are is more than enough. Hit follow and join the ride.

School‑Run Parenting Podcast Trailer | Hearts and Handlebars

Hearts and Handlebars is a school‑run parenting podcast recorded in real time on a Dutch cargo bike. BBC foreign correspondent and mum Anna Holligan and her nine‑year‑old daughter Zena share unscripted, honest conversations on the way to school – about parenting, work–life balance, kids’ emotions and everyday family life in The Hague.
No studio, no scripts: just curious, real‑time, relatable and often messy chats from the bike lane. Follow @heartsandhandlebars for a ride‑along reminder that showing up exactly as you are is already enough.
.