Hearts and Handlebars

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.
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Chaotic School‑Run Morning | Sweaty Working Mum & Injured Kid

Zena limps to school. Mum skips shower to save time. Join the morning chaos, hit follow, and ride along for imperfect routines, parenting moments, and everyday observations from the bike lane.

Term‑Time Holidays on the School Run | Cheaper Flights vs Mum Guilt

A frantic Dutch school run, a mum with 47% battery, and a daughter who turns a damp December bike ride into a conversation about fireworks bans, conscience and the pink‑and‑blue winter sky. In this pilot episode of Hearts and Handlebars, journalist Anna and her Year 5 co‑host Zena race to make the gates on time, talk about kids leaving early for cheaper flights, and wonder what it means to “do the right thing” when term‑time rules and real life collide.​
You’ll hear real‑time faff — ugly caps, wobbly bike locks, dog wrangling and bakery FOMO — alongside big feelings about growing up, seasonal school parties and that strange in‑between stage of being not‑quite‑primary, not‑quite‑secondary. If your own mornings feel more chaos than green‑juice‑at‑5am, this is your invite to ride along and remember that showing up exactly as you are is more than enough.​

Birth Story on the School Run | Juggling Work, Parenting & Tiny Miracles

In this episode Anna prepares to visit a newborn to report on Dutch kraamzorg for the BBC, reflects on Zena's dramatic birth and reveals how a tragic air disaster still touches their lives — a reminder that imperfect routines and showing up are more than enough.