Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20240302 | 20240303 (WS) | Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere Back with Season Two! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? | ||
| 20240309 | 20240310 (WS) | Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere Back with Season Two! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? | ||
| 20251025 |  Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo | |||
| A Public Apology From A Besotted Mother | 20240427 | Malini has a lot of regrets about her parenting - but her daughter Raji remembers things differently. Malini raised her family in a big multigenerational household in India, with relatives coming and going and little privacy for anyone. She and her mother-in-law were both strong personalities, and sometimes her daughter was caught in the crossfire. Malini writes a letter to Raji about her regrets over the past. Was she too strict? Was she too possessive? Did Raji decide to move away to get away from the civil war at home? But Raji responds with a letter of her own. Letter writers: Malini and Raji Namulanta Kombo and parents build a “handbook to life ?. Sharing your parenting advice, personal stories, and letters to your daughters. What will you tell your children? If you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. Get in touch and let us know what you think on social media - #DearDaughter And please leave ratings and reviews. You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.BBC.co.uk/programmes/articles/3ZFHNV8v7qgTm1zbKbkwsvR/dear-daughter-privacy-notice Malini has lots of regrets about her parenting. Her daughter remembers things differently Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? | ||
| Adjoa Andoh: Bridgerton, Bodies, And Bizarre Pregnancy Cravings | 20250228 | 20250323 (WS) 20250324 (WS) |  Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh joins Namulanta in the studio to share the letter she's written to her three children. She tells them the importance of trusting their bodies and following their instincts - a life philosophy which has sometimes led her into some unexpected situations, especially while pregnant - Plus, filming for season 4 of Bridgerton is underway and Adjoa is back as Lady Danbury. She talks about how the show's diversity has resonated with audiences around the world. Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.BBC.co.uk/programmes/articles/3ZFHNV8v7qgTm1zbKbkwsvR/dear-daughter-privacy-notice What advice does Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh want to share with her children? Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh (AKA Lady Danbury) shares the letter she's written to her children on why they should always follow their instincts. | |
| Advice For Partying | 20250516 | 20250809 (WS) 20250810 (WS) |  Every year Norwegian high school graduates paint the town red for “russefeiring ?. It's a month long period of intense partying to celebrate the end of high school – students buy party buses, wear matching overalls and dare each other to stay up all night or kiss a policeman. And it all happens right before they take their exams - Anja's daughter went through russ last year. Anja didn't sleep much during that month, because she was worried that her daughter might drink too much or get into trouble. But when she looks back at her own russ experience, she remembers how much fun she had. She made friends for life, and it was an important milestone on the way to adulthood. How can Anja help her daughter balance being responsible with having fun? Letter writer: Anja Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter It's teen party season in Norway. Should Anja tell her daughter to be safe or have fun? Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo It's party season for Norwegian teenagers. How can Anja help her daughter balance being responsible with having fun? | |
| Audrey Akande: The Receipts And Becoming A 'girl Mum' | 20250314 | 20250405 (WS) 20250406 (WS) |  Audrey Akande is best known for being one half of The Receipts podcast. She joins Namulanta in the studio to share the letter she's written for her daughter. Audrey talks about the balance as a parent between protecting your child's innocence but also helping them learn to face the world. How can you teach independence while keeping them safe? Audrey has given unfiltered advice and life stories on The Receipts podcast since its launch in 2016. She discusses the challenges of being both an oversharer and a mum. Plus, she talks friendship break-ups and navigating The Receipts split in the public eye. Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.BBC.co.uk/programmes/articles/3ZFHNV8v7qgTm1zbKbkwsvR/dear-daughter-privacy-notice Audrey from The Receipts shares the letter she's written for her daughter Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Audrey Akande, best known for being one half of The Receipts podcast, shares the letter she's written for her daughter. | |
| Being A Girl Dad | 20260306 | 20260321 (WS) 20260322 (WS) |  Ajit, a dad from India, tells Namulanta about realising just how tough the world can be for his daughters as they grow up in a male dominated society. He's funny, honest and totally unfiltered as he talks about being on a huge learning curve as a ‘girl dad', and admits that parenting is far harder than any management job he's ever had. And the conversation ends with a very emotional moment, as Ajit reveals how he discovered what truly matters in his life. To find out more about Dear Daughter, to take part, or read our privacy notice, please go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. Or you can contact the team via WhatsApp on +44 800 030 4404. Ajit from India talks about how tough it is for his daughters in a male dominated society Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Ajit from India reflects on the moment he realised just how challenging it is for his daughters to grow up in a male-dominated society. | |
| Being Superwoman | 20240308 | 20240309 (WS) 20240310 (WS) | Juggling your responsibilities to your work and your children – it's the eternal battle for working parents. Solene in London tells Namulanta about mum guilt, sticky doors, and the moment at the school gates that made her realise she'd got her priorities wrong. Letter writer: Solene Please send Namulanta your letter. Email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. #DearDaughter Mum guilt and the endless juggle between work and parenthood Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? | |
| Blending Families | 20240504 | Rehman becomes a widower with three children after the sudden death of his wife. Over a year later, he remarries a woman with three children of her own. Now Rehman has three children from his previous marriage and three new stepchildren. Blending the two families together is Rehman's dream. He wants his family to accept this new reality, but it's not all smooth sailing. Letter writer: Rehman Namulanta Kombo is creating a 'handbook to life' for her daughter with letters of advice and stories to help her navigate her life ahead. If you've got something you'd like to share with your daughter or daughters everywhere, please send Namulanta your letter: email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ? Rehman remarries after his wife dies. How will he make sure his two families get along? Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Rehman remarries after his wife dies suddenly. With three children from his previous marriage, three new stepchildren and a new wife, how will Rehman make sure they all get along? Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? | ||
| Bombs Overhead | 20250523 | 20250816 (WS) 20250817 (WS) |  Firyal and her daughter were asleep when the Yemeni civil war reached their town in 2014. They woke up to the sound of bombs overhead – Firyal was terrified, but her daughter was looking at her for reassurance. What should she say? Together, they fled their home. It was the start of a long journey, moving from place to place in search of safety and new opportunities. And Firyal is a single parent – the responsibility is all on her shoulders. Firyal tells Namulanta about their new life in Malaysia, about the challenges of single motherhood in different places, and what she hopes for her daughter's future. Letter writer: Firyal Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Firyal wakes to the sound of bombing. How can she reassure her three-year-old daughter? Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Firyal and her daughter flee the Yemeni civil war, and set up a new life together in Malaysia. After such upheaval, what advice does Firyal have for her child? | |
| Choosing To Be Child Free | 20240608 | Yvonne was on a bus on a trip to Europe when she had a realisation. There's more to life than having kids, she thought – I could travel the world. She made that decision at twenty, and now she's 64 she's never doubted her choice. She tells Namulanta about her relief at missing out on some of the challenges of parenting, why things are harder now her friends are having grandchildren, and how she'd advise other people who are wondering whether to have kids or not. Letter writer: Yvonne If you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a WhatsApp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. Get in touch and let us know what you think on social media - #DearDaughter And please leave ratings and reviews. You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.BBC.co.uk/programmes/articles/3ZFHNV8v7qgTm1zbKbkwsvR/dear-daughter-privacy-notice Yvonne in Australia writes a letter to a daughter she never had Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Yvonne had a realisation when she was 20. There's more to life than having kids, she thought – I could travel the world. She's now 64, and has never doubted her choice. Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere | ||
| Dear Son | 20230605 | 20250426 (WS) 20250427 (WS) |  “Fly the plane ?, volunteer and keep asking why. Andy is an airline pilot from Northern Ireland. He tells his son to avoid being thrown off course by life's many distractions, volunteer for everything, and keep asking questions. The final golden rule? Always stand up to inappropriate locker room banter. Plus, Namulanta has a letter for her son too. Letter writer: Andy Please send Namulanta your letter. Go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on Send us your letters. Fly the plane, volunteer, and keep asking why Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo “Fly the plane ?, volunteer, and keep asking why. #DearDaughter | |
| Diagnosed, By A Stranger, With Ria Lina | 20240518 | Comedian Ria Lina finds out she is autistic after an audience member picks up on it at one of her shows. What does being autistic mean for her? She tells Namulanta that being a woman with autism is like being a chameleon: you wear lots of different masks to suit the occasion, but sometimes all you want to do is go to a quiet dark place and crash. Ria tells Namulanta all about autism so the next generation can feel more prepared than she did. Letter writer: Ria Lina If you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. Get in touch and let us know what you think on social media - #DearDaughter And please leave ratings and reviews. You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.BBC.co.uk/programmes/articles/3ZFHNV8v7qgTm1zbKbkwsvR/dear-daughter-privacy-notice (Ria Lina image credit: Arabella Itani) A conversation with an audience member leads a comedian to discover she is autistic Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere | ||
| Divorce Is Not A Dirty Word | 20250509 | 20250802 (WS) 20250803 (WS) |  When Vandana's marriage ended in divorce, she felt stigmatised and outcast. After a long and turbulent legal process, she ended up retraining as a divorce lawyer and setting up a group for others who felt unable to talk about the breakdown of their marriages. In the process, she found out what was really happening inside the marriages of many Indian women. She's since remarried and has twin sons but she wants to tell the daughters of India that they have choices, and that no-one needs to stay in a bad marriage. Letter writer: Vandana Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a WhatsApp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Vandana wants the daughters of India to know that marriage is a choice Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Vandana suffered a terrible marriage – she then qualified as a divorce lawyer. Her message is for all the daughters of India to know they have a choice when it comes to marriage. | |
| Don't Fear Menopause | 20250620 | 20251108 (WS) 20251109 (WS) |  Annice Mukherjee is a hormone expert – she's spent her career helping women deal with menopause. But when she develops breast cancer at 41, she becomes a patient rather than a doctor. Annice writes a letter to her daughter about how her professional experience helped her deal with her personal health challenge, and about how her daughter can take control of her own hormone health. She tells Namulanta that there's more conversation around menopause than ever before - thanks to social media - but not all the information out there is reliable. Annice has practical advice for women on how to manage their hormone related symptoms, and tells her daughter's generation not to fear menopause. Letter writer: Annice Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Annice wants to empower her daughter to take control of her hormone health Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Annice knows all about menopause – but how will things be different when she goes from being a doctor to being a patient? | |
| Dr Rae Wynn-grant: Surviving Bears, Jaguars, And Motherhood | 20250307 | 20250330 (WS) |  Wildlife ecologist and nature presenter Dr Rae Wynn-Grant joins Namulanta to share the letter she's written for her daughters about how to overcome self-doubt. Rae was the first Black woman to host a wildlife show on US network television and she talks about the importance of diverse representation on and off screen. She tells Namulanta about the challenges of juggling work and parenthood – including the time she took her two year old daughter to the rainforest in search of jaguars. Plus, she offers some very practical advice on surviving encounters with bears - including how she escaped a bear chase, and the time she gave the kiss of life to a bear! Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.BBC.co.uk/programmes/articles/3ZFHNV8v7qgTm1zbKbkwsvR/dear-daughter-privacy-notice Wildlife presenter Rae Wynn-Grant on self-doubt and close encounters with bears Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Wildlife presenter Dr Rae Wynn-Grant on overcoming self-doubt and surviving close encounters with bears. | |
| Elbows Out With Nadiya Hussain | 20240301 | 20240302 (WS) 20240303 (WS) | Nadiya Hussain, TV chef and winner of The Great British Bake Off, writes a letter to her 13-year-old daughter about how to make space for herself wherever she goes. When Nadiya was a teenager she had big ambitions – but it felt like the world around her kept trying to hold her back. She tells her daughter to keep her elbows out and not let anyone squash her dreams. Plus, Nadiya gives Namulanta advice on raising teenagers, talks about how her relationship with her own mother changed after having children – and tells the story of the time her husband tried to boil an egg. Letter writer: Nadiya Hussain Namulanta Kombo is creating a 'handbook to life' for her daughter with letters of advice and stories to help her navigate her life ahead. If you've got something you'd like to share with your daughter or daughters everywhere, please send Namulanta your letter: email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. #DearDaughter The Great British Bake Off star on raising teenagers and taking up space Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? Nadiya Hussain of the Great British Bake Off on raising teenagers and taking up space. | |
| Generation Gap | 20230424 | 20240817 (WS) | How to give advice people will actually listen to. When Anna in Switzerland was younger, her grandmothers used to give her advice – but she dismissed it. She thought they were old-fashioned and didn't understand her life. Now she's a grandmother herself, and when she looks at her granddaughter she can't imagine what the world she will live in will be like. How can she pass on what she's learned about life? Anna and Namulanta discuss how to connect across the generational divide. Letter writer: Anna Please send Namulanta your letter. Go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters How to give advice people will actually listen to. #DearDaughter | |
| Grieving You | 20250627 | 20251115 (WS) 20251116 (WS) |  Paola's daughter Camilla was beautiful, with curly hair and big eyes like her mother. She loved bath time and eating mangoes. But she also had a severe mental and physical disability, and died aged 15 after nearly two years of palliative care. Paola listened to Dear Daughter while she was in the hospital with Cami – and now she writes a letter of her own. She tells Namulanta about the joy her daughter brought into her life, and how she's dealing with her grief. Letter writer: Paola Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a WhatsApp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Paola writes a letter to her daughter, who died aged 15 Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Paola's daughter Cami died aged 15. How can Paola grieve while also remembering the joy Cami brought to their lives? | |
| Growing Up Polygamous | 20240601 | Farida grew up with 19 siblings in a polygamous family in Kenya. She's been married five times, and four of those times have been to men who have other wives. In a letter she writes to her daughter, Farida describes some of the pros of a polygamous relationship, such as growing up with a large extended family and never feeling alone. But along with the pros there are also some cons, such as what it feels like for your husband to take another wife. Farida tells Namulanta all about the ups and downs of being polygamous, and gives tips on how to have a happy marriage. Letter writer: Farida If you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. Get in touch and let us know what you think on social media - #DearDaughter And please leave ratings and reviews. You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.BBC.co.uk/programmes/articles/3ZFHNV8v7qgTm1zbKbkwsvR/dear-daughter-privacy-notice Farida tells us the pros and cons of polygamy Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Farida grew up in a polygamous family with 19 siblings. She's been married five times, and four of those times have been to men who have other wives. Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere | ||
| Healing Letters | 20230306 | 20240803 (WS) | The 'Queen of Letters', Isabel Allende, on writing, processing grief and a full garage. The best-selling author wrote to her late daughter, Paula, when she was in a coma. She then turned the letters into a book. She says writing “allowed me to understand what had happened and deal with it ?. Isabel has a garage full of her daily correspondence with her own mother. Her novels include The House of the Spirits, City of the Beasts and Eva Luna. Letter writer: Isabel Allende Isabel is reading an extract from her book Paula. Please send Namulanta your letter. Go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters | |
| It's Just Hair, With Joy Kendi | 20240420 | Joy Kendi doesn't want her hair to define her – so she shaves her head. Joy is an influencer in Kenya who's known for her personal style – sometimes she has tight curls, sometimes long braids or a perfect afro. But she wasn't always so confident in her appearance. Growing up in the US, she wanted to look like the other girls around her, and didn't know how to take care of her natural hair. She joins Namulanta in the studio to talk about all things black hair – the salon experience, the surprising history of cornrows, and why showering with a bald head is the most liberating feeling on the planet. Namulanta Kombo is creating a 'handbook to life' for her daughter, with letters of advice and stories to help her navigate her life ahead. If you've got something you'd like to share with your daughter or daughters everywhere, please send Namulanta your letter: email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. Joy doesn't want her hair to define her - so she shaves her head Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Joy Kendi doesn't want her hair to define her – so she shaves her head. The Kenyan influencer joins Namulanta in the studio to talk all things black hair. Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? | ||
| Kalki Koechlin: Bollywood And Beauty Standards | 20250321 | 20250412 (WS) 20250413 (WS) |  What should you do when your daughter tells you she doesn't feel pretty? Kalki Koechlin has acted in blockbuster Bollywood films, written and produced for stage, and penned a book about pregnancy and motherhood called The Elephant In The Womb. She is also the host of the BBC World Service podcast My Indian Life. Kalki joins Namulanta to share the letter she wrote for her young daughter after she admitted that she didn't feel pretty. She discusses the expectations on women to conform to a certain beauty standard, particularly as they age, and the pressures she has faced in her acting career to appear youthful. What advice can she give her daughter for navigating a world obsessed with appearance? Kalki also shares her fears for the impact of social media on body image. How can parents teach their children that not all of what they see online is real? Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.BBC.co.uk/programmes/articles/3ZFHNV8v7qgTm1zbKbkwsvR/dear-daughter-privacy-notice Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Bollywood star Kalki Koechlin writes a letter about the unrealistic beauty standards women face, after her daughter tells her she doesn't feel pretty. | |
| Leaving For College | 20250704 | 20251122 (WS) 20251123 (WS) |  Shelley's daughter leaves for college – it's a thrilling moment for everyone, but at the same time there's a sense of loss. What will happen to their family when one piece of it is missing? So Shelley writes her daughter a letter with all the advice and memories she wants her to take as she heads off on her new adventure. She hides it in her daughter's suitcase to find when she gets there. And then she shares it with Dear Daughter! She tells Namulanta about keeping in touch, staying connected – and the surprising upsides of your child leaving home. Plus Namulanta and her daughter Koko reflect on what it'll be like when Koko leaves home one day. Letter writer: Shelley Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a WhatsApp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Shelley hides a letter in her daughter's suitcase as she heads for college Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo When her daughter heads for college, Shelley realises she has some advice to pass on – so she writes a letter and hides it in her suitcase. | |
| Making Amends | 20240316 | 20240317 (WS) | Namulanta's father Musikari Kombo is a politician – he's an anti-corruption campaigner in Kenya, and before that he was a successful businessman. But what that meant for his children was that when they were growing up, he wasn't around much, because he was so busy. Now he comes into the studio to read Namulanta a letter about family values, the importance of friendship - and how he's making up for lost time with his grandchildren. Letter writer: Musikari Kombo Namulanta Kombo is creating a 'handbook to life' for her daughter, with letters of advice and stories to help her navigate her life ahead. If you've got something you'd like to share with your daughter or daughters everywhere, please send Namulanta your letter: email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. Namulanta gets a letter from her dad Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? Family values and time spent - Namulanta gets a letter from her dad. Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere Back with Season Two! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? Musikari risks his life fighting corruption in Kenya, but at what cost to his family? Namulanta's father is a political, an anti-corruption campaigner and a successful businessman. He's busy, so he's not around much for his children. They miss him. They don't understand. Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters | |
| Mama Seebz: Social Media Fame And Dealing With Haters | 20250328 | 20250419 (WS) 20250420 (WS) |  TikTokker Mama Seebz on how she reacted when her daughter Aya (@notjustaya) told her she wanted to be a famous content creator. Seba got frustrated with her daughter Aya during lockdown – she was always scrolling on her phone. But then Aya and her brother suggested she join them, and she realised it was an opportunity to connect with her children on their terms. They started filming videos together: dances, cultural celebrations, and the “Arabic word challenge ?, where Seba tests her children on their Arabic vocabulary. Now their videos get millions of views on social media, and Aya has moved to Sydney to work as a content creator full time. Mama Seebz shares a letter to Aya telling her to take pride in what she's achieved. She tells host Namulanta Kombo about her own journey to New Zealand from Iraq, how they know which videos are going to be a hit, and how they deal with online hate. Plus, she has some advice for other parents on how to react when their kids say they want a career as a content creator. Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. In the current season, Dear Daughter: Stars, Namulanta hears from parents who are all ‘stars' in their field. Why did TikTokker Mama Seebz go from telling her children to stop scrolling to becoming a content creator herself? What can The Receipts podcaster Audrey Akande teach her daughter about friendship break-ups? And why exactly did Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh lurk around building sites while pregnant? For more episodes like this one, search for ‘Dear Daughter' wherever you get your BBC podcasts or go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. TikTok star Mama Seebz on how social media helped her connect with her daughter Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo TikTokker Mama Seebz shares a letter to daughter Aya about dancing together in lockdown, celebrating their Arabic heritage, and dealing with online hate. | |
| Moving On | 20240413 | Mary receives a menacing message and decides to leave her home. Mary has lived in Florida ever since her university days. It's where she fell in love, met her Taiwanese husband, and had two children. With hopes of her children growing up and going to college in Florida, Mary thinks she'll live there for the rest of her life. But that all changes when, at 40 years old, Mary receives a menacing message that makes her move her Asian-American family 2,000 miles across the country. Race, neighbours and starting a new life at 40 – what happens when you no longer feel welcome in your home town? Letter writer: Mary Namulanta Kombo is creating a 'handbook to life' for her daughter with letters of advice and stories to help her navigate her life ahead. If you've got something you'd like to share with your daughter or daughters everywhere, please send Namulanta your letter: email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ? Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Race, neighbours and starting a new life at 40 - Mary tells Namulanta why she moved her Asian-American family to the other side of the country after receiving a menacing message. Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? | ||
| My Daughter, Who I Thought Was My Son | 20240511 | Gretchen's daughter is transgender. When she first told her parents, it came as a shock – but Gretchen wants to tell her daughter she'll always be on her side. But she worries that the outside world might be hostile. How can she protect her daughter, while also helping her grow? Letter writer: Gretchen Namulanta Kombo is creating a 'handbook to life' for her daughter with letters of advice and stories to help her navigate her life ahead. If you've got something you'd like to share with your daughter or daughters everywhere, please send Namulanta your letter: email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. #DearDaughter Get in touch and let us know what you think on social media - #DearDaughter And please leave ratings and reviews. Gretchen's daughter is transgender. How can she protect her, while helping her grow? Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere | ||
| Prison And Parenthood | 20250502 | 20250726 (WS) 20250727 (WS) |  Rahab went to prison when her children were little. She'd been taking part in carjackings and armed robberies. Once she got caught, she spent six years at Langata women's prison in Nairobi, Kenya. While she was in prison, she managed to turn her life around – but how can she rebuild her relationship with her three children, and make up for the time she missed? Namulanta visits Langata to meet Rahab and finds out what life is like for current inmates who have children. Letter writer: Rahab Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a WhatsApp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Audio for this episode was updated on 20 May 2025. Rahab was in prison when her children were growing up. How can she make up for lost time? Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Rahab missed a lot of her children's young lives because she was in prison. How can she make up for lost time? | |
| The Bra Fashion Show | 20250425 | 20250719 (WS) 20250720 (WS) |  When Mahynour's daughter gets her first bra, it's Mahynour who is the most excited – her little girl is a young lady now. But it also brings Mahynour's memories of her own teenage years flooding back. She remembers not wanting to wear a bra – she felt ashamed of the changes in her body, and she didn't know who to talk to. How can she make sure her daughter has a better experience? Luckily, her female relatives are on hand to help out - Letter writer: Mahynour Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a WhatsApp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Audio for this episode was updated on 1 May 2025. Mahynour's daughter gets her first bra - a milestone for both mother and daughter Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo When Mahynour's daughter gets her first bra, it's a milestone for both mother and daughter. | |
| The Dating To-do List | 20240406 | Dating is nerve-racking for anyone, let alone a teenage girl who is thinking about it for the first time. Wen in Hong Kong tells Namulanta about the dating advice she wants to give her daughter – hug every day, dress in a way that pleases you and fart whenever and wherever. But at the same time, she feels a bit like Grandma telling Little Red Riding Hood about the wolf; she wants her to meet good people, but be aware that there's danger out there too. Also, why it's important go to your mum for advice about sex if you can – there's only so much you can learn from the biology section of the library. Letter writer: Wen Namulanta Kombo is creating a 'handbook to life' for her daughter with letters of advice and stories to help her navigate her life ahead. If you've got something you'd like to share with your daughter or daughters everywhere, please send Namulanta your letter: email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ? What advice would you give a teenage daughter who's thinking about dating? Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? Hug every day, dress in a way that pleases you and fart whenever and wherever – advice for a teenage daughter thinking about dating. Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere Wen is raised believing sex is taboo but knows she must change for her daughter's sake. Her grandmother was ashamed to talk about it. Her mum and dad had to visit the biology section of the library to find out how to do it. Wen wants to create a safe space at home to talk more openly with her daughter. Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters | ||
| The Gift Of Life | 20260227 | 20260314 (WS) 20260315 (WS) | Brenda, a Canadian mother living with chronic kidney disease, was facing a long and uncertain wait for a transplant, until 2013 when her daughter Kielah stepped forward with an extraordinary act of love. Kielah volunteered to donate a kidney, but when tests revealed she wasn't a match, she refused to give up. Instead, she entered Canada's paired exchange programme, donating her kidney to a stranger so that Brenda could receive a compatible one in return. In a poignant letter for Dear Daughter, Brenda reflects on the “ticking clock ? of living with a transplant and her daily gratitude for the daughter whose selflessness saved her life. Now a mother herself, Kielah tells Namulanta Kombo about watching her mum's decline and why, despite the risks, she didn't hesitate to give up a kidney to save her mum. To find out more about Dear Daughter, to take part, or read our privacy notice, please go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. Or you can contact the team via WhatsApp on +44 800 030 4404. Brenda's daughter donated a kidney so that her mother could receive a transplant Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Brenda's daughter, Kielah, donated a kidney to a stranger so that her mother could receive a transplant. | |
| The Little Girl With Trauma | 20240525 | Regina had a difficult childhood. Her parents both struggled with addiction, and she developed substance abuse problems of her own. She thought she'd never know how to be a mother. But now she's using her experiences to help other children heal – trying to be the person that she needed when she was a child. She tells Namulanta about the joy she finds in parenting her two daughters, the many women who have mothered her, and the training programme she's developed in Zimbabwe to help communities support traumatised children. Letter writer: Regina If you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter. Get in touch and let us know what you think on social media - #DearDaughter And please leave ratings and reviews. You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.BBC.co.uk/programmes/articles/3ZFHNV8v7qgTm1zbKbkwsvR/dear-daughter-privacy-notice Regina had a difficult childhood - will she know how to be a mother? Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere | ||
| The Nappy Braai | 20250613 | 20250823 (WS) 20250824 (WS) 20251101 (WS) 20251102 (WS) |  Azola's friends welcomed him to fatherhood with a surprise baby shower, called a nappy braai. Instead of the chilled Saturday barbecue he was expecting, they handed him a beer and an adult nappy and told him to suit up. Azola thinks it's important to mark milestones. When he was born in South Africa in 1990, the country was just emerging from apartheid. Families didn't talk openly about their hopes and dreams because life was so uncertain, so he wants to be intentional about celebrating big moments in his children's lives. He tells Namulanta how he founded an organisation called Black Dads Unplugged – with the motto “active fatherhood is the new black ?. They are part of a new generation of South African dads trying to do things differently. Letter writer: Azola Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a Whatsapp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Azola's friends throw him a baby shower - featuring an adult nappy Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Azola's friends throw him a baby shower ahead of his daughter's birth – featuring an adult nappy - | |
| The People-making Business With Janine Harouni | 20240330 | New mum Janine Harouni is anxious and lonely, so why do the other mums online look so happy? She was performing stand-up comedy while 40 weeks pregnant, but now there's a whole other set of challenges. On social media, she sees pictures of pregnant models who don't appear to gain weight. Nobody seems to talk about the gross parts or the difficult parts. She's exhausted and full of worry. Then a surprise family DNA test changes her perspective on motherhood. Letter writer: Janine Harouni Namulanta Kombo is creating a 'handbook to life' for her daughter with letters of advice and stories to help her navigate her life ahead. If you've got something you'd like to share with your daughter or daughters everywhere, please send Namulanta your letter: email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. #DearDaughter (Janine Harouni image credit: Matt Stronge) New mum Janine is anxious and lonely, so why do the other mums online look so happy? Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Janine Harouni on what nobody tells you about pregnancy and motherhood. She was doing stand-up comedy at 40 weeks pregnant; now the baby's here, there's a new set of challenges. Comedian Janine Harouni was performing standup at 40 weeks pregnant, but now the baby's here, there's a whole new set of challenges. She tells Namulanta why it's so important to talk about the gross and difficult parts of pregnancy and newborn parenting – and the surprise family DNA test which changed her perspective on motherhood. Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere | ||
| The Perfect Trap | 20240323 | 20240324 (WS) | Body image and unattainable beauty standards – Anna spent half her life dealing with an eating disorder until she was finally diagnosed and treated. Now that she is working on getting better, she is able to appreciate the joys in life again, and has regained the spark she felt she had lost. She writes a letter to her future daughter about how to avoid the “perfect trap ? in which she found herself. Letter writer: Anna Namulanta Kombo is creating a 'handbook to life' for her daughter with letters of advice and stories to help her navigate her life ahead. If you've got something you'd like to share with your daughter or daughters everywhere, please send Namulanta your letter: email us at deardaughter@BBC.co.uk, send us a Whatsapp on +44 800 030 4404, or go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. #DearDaughter Body image and unattainable beauty standards - Anna shares her eating disorder story Back with season three! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? Anna fights her eating disorder, knowing she needs to be healthy if she wants to be a mum. She spent half her life dealing with the condition, until she was finally diagnosed and treated. Now she is working on getting better, trying to appreciate the joys in life again, and regain the spark she feels she lost. She writes a letter to her future daughter about how to avoid the “perfect trap ? in which she found herself. Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Namulanta Kombo returns with a third season of stories and advice for daughters everywhere Back with Season Two! Your letters to your daughters. What do you want them to know? | |
| The Sexy Novel At Christmas Brunch | 20250530 | 20250823 (WS) 20250824 (WS) |  Malaka's written her first book – it's a romance novel with a lot of sex scenes. How will her family react? Malaka Grant published her first romance novel in 2013 – she'd been writing about sex and romance under a pseudonym for years, but she'd decided to come out of the shadows. She writes a letter to her daughters about what happened when her father in law brought her book out at Christmas brunch. Malaka runs a blog and podcast called Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women with Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah. It's a space for Africa women to write about their experiences of sex and sexuality. She shares some advice for aspiring writers on staying true to their own voice. But Malaka's husband is a pastor. She tells Namulanta how they balance their different approaches to life while staying on the same path. Letter writer: Malaka This episode contains adult themes. Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a WhatsApp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Malaka's written a romance novel with lots of sex scenes. How will her family react? Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Malaka's written her first book – it's a romance novel with a lot of sex. What happens when her father-in-law brings it out at Christmas brunch? | |
| Trying To Conceive | 20230522 | 20241012 (WS) | A letter to a daughter who doesn't exist yet. Lucia has been trying to get pregnant for three years. She tells Namulanta that she was inspired to be “less discreet ? about what she's been going through after listening to a past episode of Dear Daughter – and that since she started talking about it, she's discovered a whole world of other people going through similar experiences. Plus, the one thing you should never say to someone struggling with infertility. Letter writer: Lucia Please send Namulanta your letter. Go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. Audio for this episode was updated on 22 May 2023. Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters A letter to a daughter who doesn't exist yet. #DearDaughter | |
| Walk Away The First Time | 20250606 | 20251025 (WS) 20251026 (WS) |  Listener Julia writes a letter to her future daughter with some advice from her own life: if a man ever hits you, walk away the first time. When her ex-boyfriend slapped her in the face, he said he was sorry and he would never do it again. But then things started getting worse. She tells Namulanta how she finally got out of her abusive relationship and rebuilt her life – and what she wants other people in similar situations to know. Plus, she advises other people on what they can do if they suspect someone they love is experiencing domestic violence. Letter writer: Julia Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters. Share your letter! What do you want to say to your kids? Or the next generation? Do you have thoughts on motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood to share? Whether you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son or just want to write a letter, send us a WhatsApp message on +44 800 030 4404 or visit https://www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter Julia's boyfriend slapped her in the face - but that was only the beginning Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo When Julia's boyfriend slapped her in the face, it was only the beginning. She writes a letter advising her future daughter what to do if she ever faces domestic violence. | |
| Without Mum | 20230417 | 20240810 (WS) | The challenges of parenting as a widower. When Ani's daughter was just two years old, his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Her illness dominated their daughter's early years, and she died when the child was six. Ani explains how he's trying to teach his daughter what her mother was like before she became ill. Plus, how a Joe Wicks workout helped the family manage their grief. Letter writer: Ani Please send Namulanta your letter. Go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters The challenges of parenting as a widower. #DearDaughter | |
| You Are Wanted | 20230529 | 20241019 (WS) | It's a girl! Bucking the trend of wanting a son. Shakti was keen to have a daughter, but explains that in India there's a lot of cultural pressure to have a son. When she was growing up, people were always asking her parents if they were going to try for a boy - making her feel unwanted. Now, Shakti writes to her daughter explaining just how much she is loved. Letter writer: Shakti Please send Namulanta your letter. Go to www.BBCworldservice.com/deardaughter and click on “Send us your letters ?. Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters It's a girl! Bucking the trend of wanting a son. #DearDaughter | |
| 06 | 20250101 | 20250405 (WS) 20250406 (WS) 20250412 (WS) 20250426 (WS) 20250427 (WS) |  Namulanta is back with more letters from parents to their children. But this time there's a celebrity guest list! We'll hear personal stories of family, love, and parenting in the spotlight from guests who are all ‘stars' in their field. In this episode, Bollywood star Kalki tells Namulanta how she reacted when her daughter told her “mum, I'm not pretty ?. Dear Daughter is an award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life' for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world. Each episode, a guest reads a letter they've written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they'd like to pass on. Join us weekly as a podcast from February 28th, or from March 22nd on World Service radio. Follow or subscribe wherever you get your BBC podcasts to never miss an episode. Building a handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo Building a “handbook to life' with parenting advice, stories and letters for daughters In this episode, Audrey Akande of the Receipts podcast reads a letter to her daughter telling her not to let anyone dim her shine. She tells Namulanta how motherhood has changed her, and how she tries to protect her daughter and her private life from the outside world. |