In this episode of What They Don’t Tell You, Matt and Emily Norris sit down with Zak Marks, founder of Kitt Medical, to talk about the reality of living with severe allergies, both as someone who has them, and as parents raising a child with one.
Zak shares how his own experience with a life-threatening nut allergy inspired him to create Kitt Medical, a company on a mission to make schools and public spaces safer and better prepared for allergy emergencies.
Together, they dive into the everyday fears that come with allergies, from navigating school lunches and birthday parties to managing anxiety and helping kids gain independence.
Matt and Emily also open up about their son’s allergy journey, while Zak explains how Kitt Medical is changing the landscape of allergy preparedness and saving lives along the way.
This is an honest, hopeful, and empowering conversation for any parent navigating allergies, or anyone who wants to understand just how serious, and misunderstood, they can be.
🎧 What They Don’t Tell You - Real conversations about parenting, marriage, and everything in between.
Speak to Kitt Medical:
https://kittmedical.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kittmedical
https://www.tiktok.com/@kittmedical
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43:23
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43:23
What They Don’t Tell You… About Being 9 Years Old (interviewing our son)
This week’s episode of What They Don’t Tell You is extra special, we’re joined by our 9-year-old son, Jackson. He has requested to make this episode for some time!
We ask him everything from the best thing about being nine to what food he’d eat forever, and his answers are just as funny and surprising as you’d expect. We also chat about what school should be like, the “totally unfair” rules at home, and what he thinks we get up to when he’s not around.
Along the way, we talk about sibling love, big future dreams, and even what law Jackson would make if he ruled the world. And of course, we finish with a rapid-fire round to find out if he’s team dogs or cats, pizza or tacos, and whether he’d rather fly or be invisible.
It’s a lighthearted, heartwarming, and laugh-out-loud episode that gives you a glimpse into family life, from Jackson’s point of view.
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16:29
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16:29
Parenting, Pressure & Addictions: The Honest Conversation (with Cat Sims)
This week on What They Don’t Tell You, we sit down with writer, podcaster, and queen of parenting honesty Cat Sims (@notsosmugnow) for a conversation that’s as funny as it is heartfelt.
From the hilarious chaos of parenting fails to the surprising lessons that come with raising kids, Cat opens up about the highs and lows of family life.
She chats with us about how social media can be both a lifeline and a pressure cooker for parents, and shares her own approach to keeping her marriage strong while juggling kids, work, and everything in between.
We also dive into how to talk about anxiety and mental health with children, and what it really takes to keep the spark alive when you’re knee-deep in family life.
If you’ve ever laughed through a parenting fail, felt the weight of comparison online, or wondered how other couples make it work, this episode is a must-listen.
Follow Cat and order her books https://notsosmugnow.komi.io/
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57:46
Making Learning & School Feel Easier (for Kids & Parents) with Sophie David aka LitttleHappyLearners
Back to School with Sophie David (Happy Little Learners)
Back-to-school season can stir up a mix of emotions - excitement, nerves, and even a bit of Sunday-night dread, for both kids and parents.
In this episode, Emily and Matt sit down with Sophie David, founder of Happy Little Learners, to explore the unspoken pressures families face as September rolls around.
From big transitions like starting school for the first time or moving up to secondary, to supporting kids through worry and building motivation for learning, Sophie shares practical, play-based strategies to make the school journey smoother.
We talk about:
- Signs a child might be struggling with school changes
- How to support anxious children without overreacting
- Practical ways to beat the Sunday-night worry
- Making learning playful (and avoiding power struggles!)
- The surprising things parents overthink when it comes to school prep
Whether your child is eager to get back into the classroom or dragging their heels, this conversation is packed with tips to help you—and them—navigate the new term with confidence.
Follow Sophie https://www.instagram.com/littlehappylearners/
Visit her website https://www.littlehappylearners.co.uk/
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1:01:45
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1:01:45
The Truth About Ultra-Processed Food & Family Eating Habits
This week on What They Don’t Tell You, Emily and Matt sit down with dietitian and author Nichola Ludlam-Raine to unpack the hot topic of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). From sneaky “healthy” products that are more processed than you’d think, to the everyday guilt parents feel about feeding their kids, Nichola breaks down the science in a relatable, real-world way.
They chat about how to make peace with UPFs without cutting everything out, the swaps that actually work for busy families, and why balance matters more than perfection. Plus, Nichola shares how writing her book changed the way she feeds her own family, and gives her top one small change tip for anyone feeling overwhelmed.
It’s a refreshing, guilt-free conversation about food, family, and the reality of modern life.
Follow Nichola https://www.instagram.com/nicsnutrition
Visit her website https://nicsnutrition.com/
Grab her book https://amzn.eu/d/3VZ9Uvw
Join Emily and Matt Norris as they pull back the curtain on real-life parenting, the highs and lows of marriage, and everything in between.
With 20 years together, three kids, a dog, and a home renovation under their belts, Emily brings her signature positivity and practical tips, while Matt keeps things grounded with his honest, often humorous, dad’s-eye view. Expect raw and relatable chats, lessons learned (and mistakes made), and the advice they wish they had heard sooner.
Whether you’re in the thick of parenting or just love a good family chat, What They Don’t Tell You (but we will!) is here to tell you what no one else does – with warmth, wit, and a touch of British moaning. Parenting, marriage, and family life – no one hands you a manual, but we’re here to share what we’ve learned along the way.
New episodes every Monday
Österreich