Parenting Hell Podcast #5

[Clarision]

Oh my God, I've always liked both Rob and Josh but I'm probably more understanding of Josh's way of life however I've just watched Rob & Rom vs Hip Hop and I have to say Rob just comes across as just a really nice guy.
He's so funny and able to laugh at himself. What really stood out to me was how willing to put himself in a really uncomfortable position and maybe look a bit foolish just so his friend could succeed. It was really good Christmas television but also made me really like Rob and see a bit more why he's always so 'on', it's just him and when I see it on television as opposed to hearing it just it makes me see how endearing he is.
I've just read this back and I sound a bit drunk and gushing but I haven't even had a drink

 

[DrMeredithGrey]

Rob being a knobhead about the very people who provide him with the need to be at the airport in the first place.

 

[DrMeredithGrey]

I'm so glad it isn't just me struggling with Rob atm. I think Lou is massively opinionated about everything especially behind closed doors and thinks her way is THE way and it has rubbed off onto Rob. You can hear Lou coming out in what he says more and more.

But guys….she’s the DEFAULT PARENT!!!!! Poor woman. We should do a whip round for her.

 

[BugglyWuggly]

I will forever think that book was tone deaf.

 

[Katienana]

That's disappointing to be honest that they'd accept that.
You know how Rob always said he feels like Lou is more posh and middle class than he is, does anyone else feel like she really isn't?

 

[MissTeddy]

If my husband had a job that meant he was away half the year, earning a salary so I could parent our children at home… If he hated a particularly holiday destination I certainly wouldn’t insist on going there 2 or 3 times a year…. Feels rather selfish.

 

[MissTeddy]

Has anyone seen Josh and Rose’s house in the times style guide - there is a video floating around. It is incredible!! Fair play to him. Rob’s horror at him leaving London is ridiculous when you see what he’s swapped it for.

That is their holiday home in Cornwall - amazing isn't it.
They are now renovating their family home in Exeter. Rose's interior style isn't to my personal taste but she i find it fascinating to see her creativity.

 

[squeeze1]

Every day it seems like she’s on a new podcast too.

Honestly got nothing against her I just don’t really get it & this whole PR tour where they are both away from the kids is deeply ironic.

 

[MrsD33]

I think posting this on both Rob and Lou’s public profiles is bang out of order.

They both keep their kids faces private, which I think is a good thing BUT it’s fine to plaster a stranger and her childs face on their stories

 

[Trufflepuff]

I love that Rob slipped in that he and Lou were approached to do a reality tv show about themselves…like what?! I can’t get my head around why?! I often feel like Rob talks as if he’s far more famous than I think he is. It may be because I’d never heard of him before the podcast but I don’t consider him to be a massive celeb, and definitely not to the extent he seems to think he is (not being able to go anywhere without being recognised etc). Maybe I’m just not his audience though as I actually don’t think I’ve ever watched him on TV.

 

[Katienana]

No I think it comes from a good place. And it might make people think twice about being mean to Josh. That's Robs job!!!!

 

[PoorPatrol]

Can anyone bare to listen? Can’t stand Giovanna at the best of times, will this just be a cocktail of insufferable twee whinging mixed with superior entitled whinging?

 

[Aussie]

Well he beat the likes of Rylan & Zoe Ball so he must of smashed the interview process

 

[N-NewGirl]

Just listened. Rob could have had a bit more empathy Josh is obviously really sad about it. Kept interrupting him too while he was trying to talk about it.

I couldn’t help but laugh when Rob explained the deaths in the family he had as a child and Josh said “can I ask, do you think the problem might be you” after Rob asked the same about the cats. Brilliant

 

[ByTheWay]

It's very lads lads lads today, and I say that as someone who grew up in a house full of brothers and sports.

I was slightly surprised that Josh asked Rob to explain Talksport to "the mums listening". Also when he was talking about his daughters, he said he was "lucky" that they're not caking their faces in makeup and wearing mini skirts, and then the whole thing about shaking womens' hands. It felt a bit 1950s at times.

 

[disneys]

After my son was born , I decided I didn’t want to go back to work as I hated my job , couldn’t face the commute to London anymore , the cost of nursery was looking like it would be more than my monthly wages anyway and so my husband and I agreed that I would not go back to work and be a full time mum .

I did this for almost 4 years and didn’t return to work in a traditional sense until 2023 when my daughter (who was born in 2022) was one . My husband earned significantly higher than me and we were very lucky we could survive on one income for a while .

during that time , parenting and looking after our home was my full time job . Yes I was the default parent but that was my choice , I’d asked for this . So yes I was always the one who knew when it was non uniform day at school , or organised the kids doctors and dentists appointments , and know all their friends by name . And that’s been Lou’s reality too . Ok granted Rob is away more than my husband was but he earns probably fifty times what my husband does so that surely sweetens is somehow … I guess I felt if I wasn’t the default parent , what would I be doing lol

When I returned to work in 2023 was when my husband and I had to sit down a reevaluate responsibilities . He picked up more of the slack , became more abreast of their calendars and needs , and now we’re in a pretty good rhythm . But I didn’t really feel the burden of being a default parent until I had to mix working a 9-5 into it as well .

guess what I’m trying to say is that I understand Lou’s gripes but surely it was her choice to give up work and be a full time mum … what was she expecting when she did that ?

 

[Tatvam]

I NEED to know what really happened at the Beckham wedding

Haven’t listened for a while but Rob started annoying me immediately on the one I’m listening to, by being so defensive about how brilliant it was to do three shows in one day or something. Josh was trying to have a laugh about it but Rob wasn’t having it. He can dish it out but he can’t take it!
Also, I don’t know if it’s been mentioned before but it really annoys me how Rob feels like it’s obligatory to make a joke about disabilities. Josh can’t say anything about the Last Leg without Rob’s boring jokes. Like he thinks the whole idea of disabilities is funny. We’re not in the 80s anymore Rob.
On a positive note, still love Josh’s children. The way his daughter designed that app and was asking Josh about it was too cute.

I remember a time when I preferred Rob to Josh, don’t know what I was thinking!

Definitely! I always think how theres no way Rob would take all the sarky comments about his children and wife the way Josh does from Rob. The other week when Rob joked about how passive aggressive Josh's daughter had worded something.. can you imagine if Josh said that about one of his little darlings?! And then when he was talking and showing the pictures of the Squishmallow App, you could tell Rob had completely checked out, he went on his phone. If one of his daughters had asked him to show it it would have been a whole dedicated episode!!
Oh and I also think Rob seems petrified of Lou!!

 

[DrMeredithGrey]

Part way through watching it…sorry, I know this is a ‘rave’ thread but Rob is an absolute prick. No interest in listening to what Josh says, unless it’s something he can shit on.
I’m not sure if it’s because he’s generally in a flat mood, or if it’s because we can see it, but it’s so obvious now.
On the plus side, I’m loving Josh’s new pod so I’ll still be able to listen to him.

 

[disneys]

I find joking about the cats dying really distasteful . Clearly Rob isn’t an animal guy and has a bit of disdain for his dogs but as a cat lover like Josh , him making fun of Beryl and Fluffball’s demises was really not on .

I also thought it was clear the only reason Josh didn’t want to talk about Fluffball’s passing was because of Ron’s reaction and he just didn’t want to deal with that yet . When your grief is still raw, having your friend mock it sucks .

I’ve lost a young cat on the road before . It is truly awful and you feel so guilty and like it’s your fault . I imagine as Josh was away as well , all of those feelings of what if I’d been there , I could’ve stopped it , etc feelings were amplified . Imagine feeling all of that and then having you’re so-called friend make fun of you

 

[Tatvam]

Do you know, it’s never really bothered me. I think it’s shit, but I’ve always been like ‘ah well, it’s advertising. Doesn’t work for me, but it must work for some’
BUT the last couple of years where it’s been shoved down our throats with the big music events that they’ve (and by they, I mean celebs/influencers in general) been able to attend because of connections they have, and not just because it’s something they can afford, it’s really started gripping my shit.
Take the fact that Rob’s children were able to see Taylor Swift not once, but TWICE! And it wasn’t because him or Lou were lucky when they were in a queue on Ticketmaster for hours, it’s because Rob’s able to call his manager and she’s able to go down routes that aren’t available for all.
I spent hours trying to get tickets for my daughter, just like thousands of other people. Same with Oasis.
it would be easier to swallow if it was because of a friendship or connection with the artist, but when it’s just a perk of being well known (as if the money and the fact you are doing a job you love wasn’t enough) it really winds me up!

Exactly this!! And then god forbid anyone dare ask him for a photo!!!