About
Melissa Hogenboom is a multi award-winning film-maker and leader at the BBC. Her first book, The Motherhood Complex, was released in May 2021 by Piatkus, Little, Brown (Hachette). Her second book Breadwinners will be published by Canongate in summer 2025.
She has written hundreds of articles, made short and long-form films for broadcast and digital, and has reported for radio and TV. She is the presenter of ‘Health Decoded‘ a new BBC health explainer video series, and has launched the BBC’s first newsletter course: ‘Six Steps To Calm‘.
Selected work
How I rewired my brain in six weeks + Brain Hacks (TV doc – global link)
The strange idea that we are not in control of our minds
The part of my dad that dementia can’t take
How did the last Neanderthals live?
Latest News
I am writing a new book: Breadwinners. Read all about it here. Pre order your copy here (or on all book shops).
I have launched a new digital health series: Health Decoded
My latest TV doc Brain Hacks is live now
My team has won several industry awards, including best video team from the Drum Awards and Six Telly Awards, including Gold for my documentary series: Do we have free will? A Mother’s Brain is now double Webby award winning
Split at birth is now Webby nominated and won an ABSW award for ‘best video’.
Check out my latest films:
-How identical twins reveal the truth about our nature
–A two part series on the science of happiness
-The physics of the end of the world
–How can we truly understand what’s real?
Book
Breadwinners will be published this August (2025) by Canongate. The pre order link is now live.
The Motherhood Complex is published by Piatkus, Little, Brown (Hachette) in the UK.
The Dutch translation of my book is out now – have a peek here.
I have launched an evidence-based newsletter – sign up here.
“If this is the kind of eccentric cultural mini-doc BBC Reel is hoping to specialise in, it should be applauded.“
The Times (writing about ‘The Beautiful Dead’)
“A welcome, refreshing and clear-eyed look at the twenty-first century expectations of motherhood .”
Gina Ripon – author of The Gendered Brain
Get in Touch
I am represented by Catherine Cho at Paper Literacy.
For personal queries contact me here.
Melissa Hogenboom 