<![CDATA[Straitalking]]>When everyone has an opinion, Straitalking helps you work out what is actually worth listening to.

Straitalking is a podcast by Kathy Rougier, founder of Empowa, where honest conversations meet useful information.

Each season is its own distinct series, exploring a particular theme through straight-talking conversations, practical insight and lived experience.

Season One is Worth It? with Pregnant and Popped - a series for the pregnant, postpartum and parenting season of life.

It looks beyond marketing claims, trends and must-have lists to ask whether products, services and advice are genuinely worth your time, money and mental load.

Kathy speaks with professionals, founders, experts and community voices who bring experience, evidence and different perspectives to the conversation. Together, they examine what works, what does not, who something may be useful for and what people should consider before making a decision.

Future seasons will explore other areas that have shaped Kathy's work, thinking and life - from business and community to identity, changing priorities and the questions people are quietly Googling when they do not know where else to turn.

The style is exactly what the name suggests: straight talking, practical and grounded.

Straitalking is for anyone who values clear conversations, useful guidance, lived experience and introductions to people worth knowing.

]]>https://www.pregnantandpopped.com/Riverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:07:29 GMTWed, 24 Jun 2026 01:06:49 GMT60Kathy Rougier<p>When everyone has an opinion, Straitalking helps you work out what is actually worth listening to.</p><p></p><p>Straitalking is a podcast by Kathy Rougier, founder of Empowa, where honest conversations meet useful information.</p><p></p><p>Each season is its own distinct series, exploring a particular theme through straight-talking conversations, practical insight and lived experience.</p><p></p><p><b><i>Season One is Worth It? with Pregnant and Popped - a series for the pregnant, postpartum and parenting season of life.</i></b></p><p></p><p>It looks beyond marketing claims, trends and must-have lists to ask whether products, services and advice are genuinely worth your time, money and mental load.</p><p></p><p>Kathy speaks with professionals, founders, experts and community voices who bring experience, evidence and different perspectives to the conversation. Together, they examine what works, what does not, who something may be useful for and what people should consider before making a decision.</p><p></p><p>Future seasons will explore other areas that have shaped Kathy's work, thinking and life - from business and community to identity, changing priorities and the questions people are quietly Googling when they do not know where else to turn.</p><p></p><p>The style is exactly what the name suggests: straight talking, practical and grounded.</p><p></p><p>Straitalking is for anyone who values clear conversations, useful guidance, lived experience and introductions to people worth knowing.</p>episodicKathy Rougierkathy@empowa.sgno<![CDATA[WORTH IT? Trailer (Launching 25 August 2026)]]>How much of the stuff we buy for pregnancy, babies and parenting is actually worth it?

The gadgets. The clever inventions. The products everyone seems to own. The things Instagram makes look essential - and the things you had absolutely no idea existed until someone convinced you that you needed one.

In Season 1 of Straitalking, Kathy Rougier teams up with professionals at Pregnant and Popped for Worth It? - putting pregnancy, postnatal and parenting products in front of people who actually know what they’re talking about.

And there are some opinions.

From feeding, sleep, play and development to birth, recovery, safety and the everyday reality of life with children, we’re asking the questions that matter:

  • Does it actually solve a problem?
  • Will you really use it?
  • Is there evidence behind it?
  • Is there a cheaper or simpler alternative?

And, ultimately... is it worth your money, your time and your mental load?

Expect surprise product reveals, straight-talking experts, disagreements, useful advice, plenty of laughter - and more than a few products that might, or might not, get the verdict their marketing department was hoping for.

No perfect parenting. No endless list of "must-haves". No pretending you need to buy your way to being a good parent.

Just useful conversations to help you decide what deserves a place in your home - and what can stay on the shelf.

This is Worth It?

Season 1 of Straitalking with Pregnant and Popped.

Subscribe now. The first verdicts are coming. LAUNCHING 25 AUGUST 2026

]]>ae01452d-e8f4-4285-9fab-77f234b8fa89Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:31:08 GMT<p><b>How much of the stuff we buy for pregnancy, babies and parenting is actually worth it?</b></p><p></p><p>The gadgets. The clever inventions. The products everyone seems to own. The things Instagram makes look essential - and the things you had absolutely no idea existed until someone convinced you that you needed one.</p><p></p><p>In Season 1 of <b>Straitalking</b>, Kathy Rougier teams up with professionals at <b>Pregnant and Popped</b> for <b>Worth It?</b> - putting pregnancy, postnatal and parenting products in front of people who actually know what they’re talking about.</p><p></p><p>And there are some opinions.</p><p></p><p>From feeding, sleep, play and development to birth, recovery, safety and the everyday reality of life with children, we’re asking the questions that matter:</p><ul><li>Does it actually solve a problem?</li><li>Will you really use it?</li><li>Is there evidence behind it?</li><li>Is there a cheaper or simpler alternative?</li></ul><p>And, ultimately... <b>is it worth your money, your time and your mental load?</b></p><p></p><p>Expect surprise product reveals, straight-talking experts, disagreements, useful advice, plenty of laughter - and more than a few products that might, or might not, get the verdict their marketing department was hoping for.</p><p></p><p>No perfect parenting. No endless list of "must-haves". No pretending you need to buy your way to being a good parent.</p><p></p><p>Just useful conversations to help you decide what deserves a place in your home - and what can stay on the shelf.</p><p></p><p><b>This is Worth It?</b></p><p>Season 1 of Straitalking with Pregnant and Popped.</p><p></p><p>Subscribe now. The first verdicts are coming. LAUNCHING 25 AUGUST 2026</p>no00:03:101WORTH IT? Trailer (Launching 25 August 2026)trailer