My hands-down favourite breastfeeding podcasts

Written By Annie Seymour

There are some phenomenally helpful podcasts out there, but there are also thousands to wade through. Some of the best are getting buried beneath the relentless churn of new content, so I wanted to hang a shingle here for the best breastfeeding podcasts, those that are my go-to’s.

Any of their episodes are worth a listen, but I’ve picked three episodes per show as entry points to help get you started.

For parents

The Milk Minute Podcast

My absolute favourite, which got me through my own lonnnng long days and nights of nursing. I feel like hosts Heather and Maureen are my BFFs, and just hearing their theme tune immediately puts me in my happy place. You get to know them, they make you laugh, they’re so down to earth and friendly but with such incredibly helpful and accessible information that an episode felt like the adult conversation I was craving in those newborn weeks.

Love them.

There’s never been a bum episode in my opinion. But three I’ve listened to several times are:

New Little Life Podcast

Host Allison Tolman is such a sweetheart: fabulous at what she does, and generous with all she puts out to us. I wish her well in whatever she takes on. Her show covers a wide range of breastfeeding experiences and niches. She’s become especially known for her work with pumping families, but some of my favourite episodes are from earlier, when she interviewed some spectacular mums whose experiences taught me so much.

Three of my favourite episodes:

Makes Milk with Emma Pickett

This is really solid and evidence-based, but also such a good listen, and it gives me all the feels. Living in Thailand, I often miss the Brits and our delightfully idiosyncratic way with the language . Emma’s podcast is like a cup of tea and a hobnob.

I love listening to her, to her insights, how she frames the topics she discusses, but moreover I love how she listens. She has such a knack of listening to her guests in a way that makes lactation challenges feel manageable and teases out aspects of their experience relevant to any family.  

Three of my favourites:

  • Danielle's story - an IGT journey: Most women have potential to make enough milk for their baby, but some don’t. This is from a mum with ‘Insufficient Glandular Tissue’.

  • Abby's story - inverted nipples and disappointing support: This interview shares such helpful experience from a mum who went through the mill with her nipple inversion.

  • Q&A on weaning: Emma’s particular niche is weaning, and all of her weaning content is good. I especially like the Q&As as they include those really relatable experiences of so many ‘weaning’ kiddoes who laugh at the advice their mum found online and demand milk.

For LCs

Being able to up with research and hear from leading experts whilst chopping the veg for dinner is a godsend. If you’re an LC (or a parent who has started wonking out on lactation), here are my favourite go-tos.

Behind the Latch

Margaret Salty was my mentor on my Pathway 2 programme, and if you ever get the chance to learn from that lady, go learn from that lady. She’s extraordinary. And she does a phenomenal amount to support budding IBCLCs, including this podcast which alternates between breaking down research and interviewing leaders and pioneers from the sector. This one will keep you sharp.

  • The High Lipase Myth: What’s Really Happening to Stored Breastmilk: Suuuuper interesting episode for anyone working with a family whose baby is rejecting frozen milk.

  • Breastfeeding Late Preterm Infants: Late preemies look like a fully developed baby and often drop off the radar for LC support. By the time their feeding issues are taken seriously, the family may already be facing challenges that are heartbreakingly hard to walk back. This episode helps you get ahead of them.

  • Rethinking Flange Fit: Flange sizing has been flipped around by recent findings. From a sceptical starting point, Margaret discusses her experiences of applying this new thinking, and discusses the research with one of the leading professors on this topic.

Breastfeeding Medicine Podcast

For people who really wonk out on this stuff, hosted by doctors who bring deep clinical knowledge to lactation science. A mix of short reviews of research and deeper dives into meaty topics, all presented with evidence, deep experience and gravitas. Incredibly helpful.

Breastfeeding Outside the Box

After deciding to adopt and inducing a full supply for her daughter, induction became the specialty of host Alyssa Schnell. But she’s branched out into supporting any families who might feel like a square peg in the round holes of the lactation health system. The series is a treasure trove for any LCs working with families whose breastfeeding journeys aren’t in the core textbooks, with insights not otherwise readily available.

Looking for a podcast on a breastfeeding topic close to your heart? Reach out – I’m happy to recommend from those on my radar.

Annie Seymour