Dear Daughter

115

Extraordinary letters written from parents to their children with Namulanta Kombo. Sharing parenting advice, family stories and life lessons.

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 unbelievable 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

The bra fashion show
Apr 25, 2025 – 28:14
Coming soon: Season 5
Apr 18, 2025 – 02:26
Encore: The dating to-do list
Apr 11, 2025 – 23:29
Encore: Without mum
Apr 4, 2025 – 27:42
Mama Seebz: Social media fame and dealing with haters
Mar 28, 2025 – 26:48
Kalki Koechlin: Bollywood and beauty standards
Mar 21, 2025 – 29:13
Audrey Akande: The Receipts and becoming a ‘girl mum’
Mar 14, 2025 – 27:23
Dr Rae Wynn-Grant: Surviving bears, jaguars, and motherhood
Mar 7, 2025 – 28:01
Adjoa Andoh: Bridgerton, bodies, and bizarre pregnancy cravings
Feb 28, 2025 – 27:22
Dear Daughter: Stars is coming soon!
Feb 14, 2025 – 02:48
Choosing to be child free
Jun 7, 2024 – 25:28
Growing up polygamous
May 31, 2024 – 27:57
The little girl with trauma
May 24, 2024 – 28:48
Diagnosed by a stranger, with Ria Lina
May 17, 2024 – 24:46
My daughter, who I thought was my son
May 10, 2024 – 27:08
Blending families
May 3, 2024 – 27:07
A public apology from a besotted mother
Apr 26, 2024 – 26:58
It’s just hair, with Joy Kendi
Apr 19, 2024 – 27:55
Moving on
Apr 12, 2024 – 22:11
The dating to-do list
Apr 5, 2024 – 22:50
The people-making business with Janine Harouni
Mar 29, 2024 – 28:14
The perfect trap
Mar 22, 2024 – 24:02
Making amends
Mar 15, 2024 – 29:10
Being Superwoman
Mar 8, 2024 – 25:17
Elbows out with Nadiya Hussain
Mar 1, 2024 – 29:07
Coming soon: Season 3
Feb 22, 2024 – 02:36
Bonus: The Documentary
Nov 9, 2023 – 50:14
Holding on to love: Dear Daughter live
Jun 18, 2023 – 28:26
Finding love: Dear Daughter live in Nairobi
Jun 11, 2023 – 27:57
Dear son
Jun 4, 2023 – 27:27
You are wanted
May 28, 2023 – 22:11
Trying to conceive
May 21, 2023 – 23:44
Keep growing, always change
May 14, 2023 – 20:46
On apples and trees
May 7, 2023 – 24:56
Making friends
Apr 30, 2023 – 21:18
Generation gap
Apr 23, 2023 – 22:49
Without mum
Apr 16, 2023 – 26:30
Grandma’s gift
Apr 9, 2023 – 27:18
Spend some, save some
Apr 2, 2023 – 23:44
I’m not fine
Mar 26, 2023 – 24:19
Kindness: My superpower
Mar 20, 2023 – 26:14
Kids? No pressure
Mar 13, 2023 – 25:42
Healing letters
Mar 6, 2023 – 27:12
Your dad, my dad
Feb 27, 2023 – 27:14
Coming soon: Season 2
Feb 14, 2023 – 03:53
Growing pains
Mar 21, 2022 – 22:32
I left for you
Mar 14, 2022 – 25:43
Birds and bees
Mar 7, 2022 – 23:16
Empty arms
Feb 28, 2022 – 30:09
The confidence of a cockroach
Feb 21, 2022 – 26:08

Recent Reviews

wideruled composition

Wonderful

Thank you.
iamthemeems

Absolutely inspiring and brilliant

Finding this podcast has brought me such joy! The content is thoughtful, inspiring and brilliant. Listening, I feel connected to each story and I learn so much. Even though we are not from the same country or background we all have similar feelings. Thank you!
ryder7788

New idea

You should do one for daughters to their mothers too.
Mantis79

Not interesting.

Slow and somewhat boring, not sure why it won the award.
Sueva1

WONDERFUL!

ABDOLUTELY WONDERFUL! So insightful for mothers and daughters at any stage of life! SO touching, SO wise.
kforsgren

10 stars - truly!

There are just so many podcasts “out there” now, it can be hard to find the right ones that really connect to your heart and mind. This does both, in addition to connecting to the spirit. Such a simple yet clever way of sharing deep and funny insights with all of the daughters out there, and everyone related to them! I have shared a few with my two sons as well, as it is so important for men to listen to these honest perspectives and thereby learn how to truly empathize with the girls and women in their lives. I cannot wait to hear more in Season 2. And perhaps send one of my letters in, if I find the courage. Namulanta, thank you so much for your essential work!
narabs1

This episode just made me so emotional

Honestly, I want to have these conversations with mum too and I want to do same for my daughters and my nieces. This is a great podcast that encourages us to just love our kids and not be scared to show them. Thank you
whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy 😡😡

Inspirational

It’s so inspiring to others and I like how u add other people so they can share there stories to inspire others and that’s nice I give it five stars ✨ it inspires me and helped me through my hard time so thx u so much I love your show so thx ☺️ if I ever have a kid I’ll listen to this podcast with them thx u for all u did 😘😘😘
fclark42

More episodes please and thank you

I was truly blessed to stumble upon this podcast! As the mother of 2 daughters, I could relate to every letter. Mothers across the world have the same feelings as me. Praying there is a season 2, I haven’t wrote my letter yet😊
RachelSews

Relatable

There’s something every episode that anyone can relate to. Whether you’re a parent or a daughter, whether you want to have children or aren’t sure, this program has something for you.
southoxford

I write letters to my daughter and this podcast speaks to me

I came across this podcast and it struck me instantly that the letters I wrote to my daughter touch on common themes, although we live in America.
snowkid3

What a podcast!

I am really enjoying this show. The guests and their stories are wonderful and each episode makes me think and teaches me something. I’d recommend this podcast for anyone, not just daughters :) I also love the mission of the show to build a library of letters and life lessons. I wish the show all the best!
ayokrista

So emotional

This podcast has me so emotional just on episode 1. I have a 4 year old and I’ve always been a writer and have always been the type of person who expresses themselves through writing letters or texts.. this really inspired me to start journaling again for my children ❤️
ZZLDK

Must-listen for dads

Great range of stories on all aspects/ages of being a parent and being a child … there is so much love and care and reminiscing here. Consider listening with your teenager and/or your spouse. Amazing food for thought. Thanks to the host (and to her mum) for this podcast, and kudos to the BBC for choosing it.
teshii26

Personal and Captivating

A must listen for both old and young. Makes you think…. what if all daughters had a letter from their mothers? Great Job Lanta and Mum!
MelBou69

Inspirational

Thank you Namulanta for creating such a meaningful and hopeful piece. I look forward to hearing so much more and hope that others will share. This is strength and empowerment. Our words and our love and wisdom as mothers is so essential right now.
KMPentwater

Starts my day with joy

I can’t wait for more episodes. This podcast warms My heart!
PA-KC

Inspiring and important

What do we want or daughters to know or wish we knew growing up? What’s the important stuff? This podcast inspires us to ask these questions and many more, and perhaps bring more intention to our lives and the lives of our daughters.