Episode
"How do I parent a teenager with a long-term health condition?" Ali Isaac: Imperfect Bodies, motherhood and self-discovery
- Podcast
- Dial Emma
- Published
- Jan 19, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2720
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://dial-emma.captivate.fm
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Summary
Welcome back to Dial Emma! Each week, I'll be answering your dilemmas with honesty, empathy, and a few therapeutic truth bombs to help you make sense of life's stickiest moments. If you've ever wished you had a therapist in your back pocket, Dial Emma is here to help. This week, I'm joined by Ali Isaac, author of Imperfect Bodies (available to pre-order now), a powerful memoir that explores motherhood, identity and the female body through the lens of Ali's experiences raising her daughter, Carys, who lives with a rare genetic disorder. Our dilemma comes from a mother of a 15-year-old daughter with cystic fibrosis, who feels overwhelmed with guilt and fear around making the transition from managing her daughter's health needs as a child, to allowing her more independence as a teenager. We talk about the challenges of parenting a child with a long-term health condition, the responsibility and guilt that often comes with it, and the importance of maintaining a strong parent-child bond. Ali also reflects on the power of open communication and finding personal fulfilment outside of caregiving, sharing her own journey of self-discovery through education and writing. If you have a dilemma for Emma, please fill out this form. --- Dial Emma is hosted by Emma Reed Turrell, produced by Lauren Brook. --- Social media: Emma Reed Turrell @emmareedturrell Dial Emma @dialemmapodcast Email: [email protected]