Meet Ali and Frankie, the Deaf single mums keeping it real with their new podcast (BSL)

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to juggle single motherhood, dating and Deaf life, then Ali and Frankie’s new podcast might be for you.

The pair, both 38-year-old Deaf single mums from Reading, recently launched Deaf Mums, Real Life, where they chat candidly about everything from parenting and relationships to Deaf culture, mental health and the everyday chaos of life.

Friends since they met at a summer holiday club run by Reading Deaf Club when they were seven, they lost touch for several years before reconnecting after Frankie moved back to the area. They quickly realised they had something else in common too – they had both become single mums raising boys.

I caught up with them to find out more.

Hi ladies! Tell us a little about yourselves.

Ali: We’re both Deaf and communicate using a mix of British Sign Language (BSL), Sign Supported English (SSE), lipreading and speech.

When we became friends again, we’d spend hours talking about parenting, dating and Deaf life over coffee or a glass of wine. Eventually we thought, “Why not just record these conversations?”

What’s life like as a Deaf single mum?

Ali: It’s busy, exhausting and sometimes chaotic.

Like any single parent, you’re carrying the emotional, physical, practical and financial load on your own.

Being Deaf adds another layer. Everyday things that hearing parents often take for granted usually require extra planning, accessible communication and a lot of self-advocacy.

Frankie: We spend a lot of time making sure schools, hospitals and other services communicate with us properly.

Even with our own children, communication is something we navigate every day.

Ali: If you have hearing children, there can also be some hilarious misunderstandings while they’re learning the best way to communicate with you.

Why was it important to start the podcast?

Frankie: We realised there wasn’t really a Deaf podcast that felt like the female-led podcasts we enjoy listening to ourselves.

We wanted people to see Deaf single mums as ordinary women living ordinary lives. Yes, we’re Deaf, but we’re also friends, parents, professionals and women trying to figure life out.

Ali: If Deaf people—especially Deaf single mums—feel represented, and hearing people come away understanding our lives a little better, then we’ve done what we hoped to do.

What can people expect?

Ali: Everything!

We talk about single parenting, dating disasters, friendships, motherhood, mental health, Deaf culture, communication, funny stories and listener dilemmas.

Some episodes are emotional, others are completely ridiculous—but they’re always honest.

Accessibility was clearly important to you both? 

Every episode is fully captioned. We wanted Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing audiences to all feel included while still staying true to the way we naturally communicate.

Frankie: I mainly use SSE alongside spoken English.

Ali: I mostly use spoken English with the occasional SSE and gesture.

Dating seems to be a popular topic on the podcast…

(They both laugh.)

Ali: Dating is hard enough, then you add being Deaf and having children into the mix.

There’s explaining your communication preferences, introducing someone to Deaf culture if they’re hearing, but the biggest challenge is finding someone who accepts every part of your life.

Frankie: We’ve certainly collected plenty of dating stories already. It’s definitely a minefield!

So what are your biggest dating red flags?

Frankie: Consistency is everything.

Ali: If someone’s genuinely interested, their actions should match their words. Good communication, honesty and kindness matter.

Mixed signals, poor communication and making someone feel like an option instead of a priority are all huge red flags.

You’ve known each other since childhood. Has that helped?

Ali: Definitely. We’ve become each other’s biggest cheerleaders.

We celebrate the good times together, but we’re also there when life gets messy.

Frankie: Sometimes you just need someone who understands your world without you having to explain it.

Do you ever disagree when making the podcast?

(Laughs.)

Frankie: Not really. There are the occasional raised eyebrows or eye rolls, but we both want the same thing.

Healthy debate is part of any creative project.

What’s been the biggest challenge?

Frankie: Realising just how much work goes into making a podcast.

It’s not just filming. It’s editing, graphics, social media, replying to messages and constantly learning new skills.

Ali: And finding time around raising our boys.

We originally planned to release an episode every week but quickly realised that wasn’t realistic, so we now release one every two weeks.

What’s next?

The pair hope to continue growing Deaf Mums, Real Life, build a bigger online community and start inviting guests onto the podcast.

Ali: We’d love to become a recognised voice within both the Deaf community and the single parenting world.

Frankie: More than anything, we want people to feel seen, understood and entertained. We’re not experts—we’re simply sharing our own experiences.

Quick fire questions

Celebrity crush?

Ali: Hero Fiennes Tiffin.

Frankie: Jacob Elordi… oh lordy!

Dream podcast guest?

Ali: Pete Wicks. I think he’d bring plenty of banter—and dating stories.

Frankie: Katherine Ryan. I’d love to share a large glass of wine with her and have an honest, hilarious conversation about single motherhood.

You can find Deaf Mums, Real Life on YouTube and Instagram.

By Rebecca A Withey