Ready or Not

Julia Chiera is one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met. If you listened to my interview with sisters Lucy and Emma Race, you’ll know I recently worked with the Outer Sanctum podcast crew, and alongside the Race sisters, I was lucky enough to witness Julia interrogate feminism and inclusion through the lens of pop culture and sport. When she’s not working on the Outer Sanctum, she’s the head of AFLW at the AFL Players Association. With a background in social work, what I quickly learned about Julia is that everything she does focuses on helping and giving voice to others, particularly those in the outer.She and her partner didn’t really consider parenthood until a decade spent together, and when they embarked on their conception journey – which being a same sex couple, meant not making a baby the fun way, as Julia puts it – they wouldn’t even know the half of what was ahead of them. In amongst the joy and fear that comes with navigating early parenthood, at 14 months postpartum, a huge cancerous mass was found on the right side of Julia’s pelvis. All of a sudden, she was faced with multiple hospital stays, a body that was quickly thrust into postmenopause, and the terrifying question of whether she would be there to watch her boy grow up.She would get through it, her partner would carry their next baby, and here, we learn all about her experience being both the birthing and non birthing mother, how self preservation, a sense anarchy, and the want for an unconventional life intersected with the idea of parenthood, and how she’s navigated the highs and lows of her journey to date.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood. Today on the show:When will we stop judging the mums? Lu has seen so much unsolicited judgement on Instagram lately and she has some questions.The hidden bias in job applications: why women are being turned off by the questions we don’t ask men.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday. Today, Loz is talking about one of the most emotionally charged milestones for any working mum: returning to work after maternity leave. From the joy of rediscovering your professional self to the guilt of leaving your little one, the highs and lows can feel overwhelming. In this episode, she'll share practical strategies for managing those emotions and tips to find your groove faster. Whether you’re returning full-time, part-time, or still planning your comeback, this episode is for you.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Estelle Griepink has one of those jobs that I can't help but admire, because I can't figure out how she switches from mum mode - that is food stained pants and wakeful nights and negotiating with a baby - to work mode, where no two days are the same and she has to somehow show up as an articulate, well-presented TV journalist covering court cases for Channel 7 News. And so, I had to get her on to find out.She always wanted to be a mum, but conception didn't come easily and before her baby would become a reality, she went through months of heartbreak, an autoimmune disease diagnosis and unexplained infertility. But as much as she longed to be a mum, she was also scared about pregnancy and motherhood would mean for her career. She saw it as a sort of signpost in her life that would ultimately hurt her future opportunities and progression.After fighting so hard for her baby, once her baby was in her arms she was struck by the guilt that so many who've experienced fertility challenges and loss know - the question of why am I finding this hard at times when this is all I've ever wanted?Here, we talk about breastfeeding pressures and nap schedule fixations and what it meant for Estelle when she was able to gave herself permission to breathe and find more joy, the imposter syndrome that she experienced more so as a mother and less so as a journalist, and how she navigated the guilt that came with her recent work trip to Fiji.I'm Lucinda, this is Ready or Not, and here is the kind and and keen-eyed Estelle Griepink.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show:What were you told you weren't good at as a kid? Did you believe it? A social media post about mums working from home and/or running their own business that shocked Loz.To freelance again or job hunt? That is the question on Lu's lips and here, she asks Loz all her burning questions.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday. Today, we're answering a listener question: 'My work friend is now my manager. I’m nervous. How do I handle this?' Transitioning back to work is challenging enough without the added layer of shifting relationships. In this episode, we’ll explore strategies to navigate this new dynamic, maintain professionalism, and preserve your friendship.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It comes as absolutely no surprise to me that Claire Andrews is a big sister. She has that rare ability to talk about and validate hard feelings in a way that feels soft and comforting. She’s intelligent, she’s reflective, and she’s incredibly open in sharing the highs and lows in her journey of motherhood and career. In fact, she’s not too proud to admit that for her, early parenthood was more about surviving and less about thriving. From a life-threatening birth complication and the postnatal depression that followed to the grief she felt when she shut that laptop for maternity leave and what she’s learned about the way we silence women at the beginning of their motherhood experiences, this is a profound conversation full of light, shade, and learnings. Here, we talk about how that “just get through it in silence” mindset manifested for Claire from pregnancy through to parenting, what she’s learned about support from her own experience, and how her career has changed along the way.Find Claire on Instagram here: @safehandsparenting--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show:Pregnant woman sparks fierce parenting debate with list of things she will NOT be doing for her baby and does your office need more “masculine energy”? Mark Zuckerberg seems to think so.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday. Today, Loz is diving into how to confidently answer the age-old job interview question: “What are your salary expectations?” Loz is sharing tactical advice for working mums navigating interviews on broken sleep, from setting up your environment for success to tackling conversations when the salary range isn’t listed. Whether you’re fresh into job hunting or ready to negotiate like a pro, this episode is packed with hacks, resources, and mindset shifts to help you own the conversation—even when mum brain is in full swing.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perhaps one of the scariest and most jarring things about moving through something traumatic is that - much to our disbelief - the world keeps spinning. You look around and you realise that no one else can see your pain.While the world kept spinning around her, Kristy Brown lost her baby boy Parker. Her world stopped. There was no baby in her arms, and yet she had to recover from pregnancy, from birth, from meeting her baby without seeing the rise and fall of his chest or hearing his newborn screams. And eventually, she had to return to work after the parental leave she didn't plan.In this incredibly moving and inspiring conversation, Kristy talks us through her darkest days of grief, how she navigated the multiple pregnancy losses that would follow her son's stillbirth, and after all of that heartbreak, what it was like to feel her breathing baby girl placed on her chest.From the way grief manifested both for herself and her partner, to the education piece she lead at work after living through baby loss, to feeling guilty for not enjoying every moment as a mum after fighting so hard to become one, this is essential listening, because sadly, we all know someone that has lost a baby at some stage of the journey.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Whether you're in your first or your second week back at work after holidays, let's be real: this is not the easiest time of year. Getting back into the swing of things when your brain is still on beach mode or stuck in that weird post Christmas haze can feel impossible.So today we're talking about two big things: how to rethink productivity with less hustle and more impact and how to ease back into work mode when you really cannot be assed. --Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday. Today, we’re tackling a big one: how to juggle job hunting while on maternity leave. It’s all about balancing recruiter calls, networking, and even interviews—all while managing life with a little one. Loz is sharing practical tips on how to stay professional (even when you’ve got a baby babbling in the background), how to prioritise your time, and whether you should focus on volume or only go after dream roles. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of job searching while navigating mum life, this episode’s got you covered with actionable advice.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a young professional, interior designer Stephanie Ferrara was lucky to be surrounded by good role models when it came to mixing family with business. But, it didn't mean that she could quiet the inner monologue that so many hopeful mothers play on repeat inside of their minds: how is this going to affect my career? How on earth am I going to tell my boss I'm pregnant? Like me and so many others, she felt apologetic, stressed, just thinking about it.Fast forward to when she became pregnant, and, something clicked. While it wouldn't always look as beautiful as the spaces that she designs, she knew she could find a way to navigate life in business and in motherhood.From employee to employer, from mother of one to mother of two, from an international work trip at eight weeks' postpartum to learning to delegate so that the team could succeed without her, she's been making things click ever since. And she's learned a lot about how best to navigate her business baby with her real life babies along the way.Here, we talk about how Steph has set up her team and her business so that she can do both, the importance of the village and how she found it in both expected and unexpected places, and why becoming a mum has made Steph the best version of herself.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour - the conversation between two cousins and mums on what's exciting, delighting, intriguing and frustrating us when it comes to making work, work alongside parenthood. Given many of us are still in holiday mode, we're keeping today short and sweet: our new years resolutions, workplace trends for 2025 and a bit of a deep dive into Posie’s first year and Loz’s first trimester.--Lu's postpartum series mentioned in this episode:Part 1Part 2Part 3--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and today, Loz is sharing how to plan your work calendar to get the most out of public holidays. Whether it’s maximizing long weekends, booking leave strategically, or balancing work and family commitments, she’s got the hacks to help you make the most of Australia’s public holiday calendar. Get ready to work smarter, not harder.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show: We’re on the brink of the new year and we thought we’d take the opportunity to re-introduce ourselves, give a little explainer on the why behind Ready or Not and reflect on our highs and lows of the year and what to expect in 2025. --Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Loz's favourite Ready or Not episodes:Nell Frizzell on journeying through the panic years, the tracksuit years and the partial eclipseJade Huggins on navigating life, work, pregnancy and motherhood after lossNatasha Heger on being made redundant on parental leave and why putting ourselves last diminishes our place in the family---Lu's favourite Witching Hour episodes:That sock is the end of usAsk Loz for motherhood and career advice, just don't ask her to meditateZoe Foster Blake: "when you say no to them, you're saying yes to you"---Lu's mini series on her postpartum experience with Posie:Part 1Part 2Part 3---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and today, Loz is talking about setting New Year’s resolutions you’ll actually stick to as a working mum. Forget unrealistic goals and overwhelming to-do lists—this is all about creating intentions that fit your life, feel achievable, and actually make a difference. From prioritising self-care to carving out family time, Loz will help you set yourself up for a year that works for you.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show:To wean or not to wean…that is the question.Tokyo government to introduce four-day workweek for its employeesBest and worst christmas presents you’ve ever received.---This episode is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is sharing everything you need to know about starting a new business as a mum. From navigating the costs and admin to finding time and maintaining your sanity, she’ll share the lessons she’s learned and the advice she wishes she had from the start. If you’ve got a business idea brewing or you’re already in the thick of it, this one’s packed with practical tips on all the 'how-to's'. ---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bec and Zoe have been best friends for over 20 years. In that time, they’ve ridden the waves of womanhood and motherhood together. And while they’ve lived parallel lives when it comes to navigating motherhood and career, over the years, they’ve regularly found themselves coming back to the same conclusion: that it’s exhausting to try and be it all. To have it all. To be a superwoman, whatever that means.And so they brought their unique minds and journeys together – through Not Super. Woman – a podcast that explores the pressure to be super.And journeys, they have been on. Bec lost her mum to a six year battle with cancer when she was just twelve years old, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that it entirely influenced the way she wanted to show up as a mum. She was desperate to fill the void that she so deeply missed, and in her own words, she took on the martyr role, left her work in television, and felt that pressure to be super.Zoe on the other hand, felt a little more ambivalent towards motherhood. But, as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours and after loosely discussing trying to conceive with her partner, Zoe became pregnant just as she started a new job. But there wasn’t just one baby in there. There were two, and while navigating pregnancy with trying to put her best foot forward in her new role, it was at 24 weeks pregnant that Zoe was put on bed rest in hospital. She wouldn’t leave that hospital for another 10 weeks, when her twin girls came into the world. She wrote out rosters from the hospital bed, she felt like she was letting everyone around her down and after what felt like a lifetime, she was navigating life as a twin mum while desperately longing to return to paid work.Here, we hear about the best friends’ journeys and relationships with paid work after children, why women need to take their creative and professional projects more seriously, and why we all need to rethink what it means to be super.---This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show:Loz went to HK and for the first time, she left her kids with a babysitter instead of family. So, how did it go and how did she prepare? Plus, from the Washington Post: Please stop with party dress codes. Your friends have bills to pay,And lastly, Christmas is just eight days away, so how are we all feeling?---This episode is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is tackling a big one: why feeling like you’re failing in motherhood and career might actually be a sign you’re on the right track. She’ll unpack why these feelings are so common, what they might mean about your growth, and how to reframe the guilt and self-doubt into confidence and clarity. If you’ve ever felt like you’re dropping the ball, this one’s for you!---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I recently put a call out to interview mums working in more corporate fields, Bec O'Brien's email caught my attention. Her subject line read: 'corporate mum who loves to yap' and instantly I knew that we'd get along.This story is full of so many fantastic twists and unique plot lines. There's embarking on the journey to freeze her eggs just six months before falling surprisingly pregnant. There's the younger boyfriend, and the fact that she broke the news of the pregnancy to him in the bedroom of his share house. There's being the primary breadwinner, earning significantly more than her partner, and watching him effortlessly step into the primary carer role once she returned to work at roughly three months postpartum. There's a plane trip to Mexico for a big promotion just as she returned to work, and all the things she's learned about working full time alongside motherhood through it all.Here, we talk pros and cons lists and why they don't always make sense when it comes to motherhood, Bec's unexpected fixation on breastfeeding and what her experience with it was like, and why returning to work actually brought more balance to Bec's mothering, not less.---This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show:I’m starting to think you guys don’t really want a “village” (Slate)Put down the vacuum: Americans need to get off the tidiness treadmill. (The Atlantic)And off the back of last week’s episode where we discussed The Atlantic piece titled ‘Dear James, I used to have friends, then they had kids.’, we asked you for your thoughts and experiences on navigating friendship in motherhood.This episode is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s advice-based podcast, landing in your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz dives into the common mistakes many of us make after returning from maternity leave. From taking on too much too soon, to underestimating the emotional and logistical shifts, she’ll unpack the pitfalls and share actionable tips on how to ease back in, communicate your boundaries, and set yourself up for success both at work and at home.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alena Darcy may have worked on campaigns with Karlie Kloss, negotiated deals for Troye Sivan to perform, managed a red carpet with Natalie Portman, and organised too many fashion runways to count, but if you were to ask her which The Devil Wears Prada character she would've been in the former part of her career, she would've told you she was more Anne Hathaway and less Meryl "that's all" Steep.After building up a PR career working for some of the biggest Australian and international brands, Alena, like so many others, found herself newly pregnant, and made redundant as the world grappled with this little thing called COVID.Fast forward to today, and the mother of two's career and return to work journey has taken different shades. She's worked for herself, she's studied a post grad in psychology, she's now The Iconic's PR manager and she's learned a thing or two about the highs and lows of making work, work along the way.Here, we talk the whiplash of working in a fast paced industry and the vulnerability that comes with trying to stay relevant, the ways in which motherhood has enriched her leadership skills, and how she's navigated working for herself, working for a company that moves at the speed of culture and studying alongside motherhood.---This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour - the show by cousins (well, by marriage) Loz and Lu that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing and frustrating us when it comes to making work, work as a mum.Here's what we're talking about today:"Dear James, I used to have friends, then they had kids": Every Tuesday, The Atlantic’s James Parker tackles a reader's existential worry and this one caught Lu's attention.Work from home will be dead in three years, according to results of a KPMG survey of CEOs.Plus a short community segment today Lozzy, off the back of our failure talk last week – I’ve got a few quick poll questions for you to answer all about failing.Looking for the Annika Hanne x Bobby Clark interview? Click here for a brilliant episode about friendship, fertility journeys, creativity and motherhood.This episode is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is here to share shortcuts and hacks to simplify Christmas—because let’s be honest, most of it falls on mum. From streamlining gift shopping and meal prep to getting the whole family involved and outsourcing where it counts, Loz has got your back with practical, time-saving tips to help you stress less and actually enjoy the festive season.Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clare Stephens is a writer, editor, podcaster, and soon to be published author. She's smart, she's funny, she's accomplished, and she has that unique skill of being both ridiculously intelligent and talented, and entirely approachable and relatable.For all of her credentials though, Clare learned like so many of us, that while putting in the work usually leads to achievement in our careers, motherhood doesn't exactly follow the same set of rules. In fact, motherhood doesn't really follow any rule book, and I think it's fair to say we all have some thoughts on that. Clare is open about how a traumatic birth and breastfeeding challenges impacted her early motherhood journey, and she shares what she's learned with the beauty of space and hindsight.Here, we talk about the tension that exists between wanting to be present with your child and wanting to write down that idea or send that email, how after birth challenges impacted her experience of early motherhood, and why she's trying her best to give herself some grace.This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins (and mums of two) banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show, we're talking why you should fail 16% of the time, why the term 'empty nester' needs a re-brand, and the Dolly Alderton live show report Lu didn't expect to be giving.This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. TToday, Loz talks about how to manage the mental load of Christmas. How to divide and conquer gift shopping, delegating tasks to your partner, kids and family and setting boundaries around what Christmas traditions work for you. ---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a famous saying that you might've heard: that old habits die hard, and when it comes to the roles that we expect women to play, we haven't made much progress. This is particularly true when it comes to motherhood. So natural at motherhood women are, we say, that society makes it out as though not having children is the choice. Why don't you have kids? They ask those women without children. Why did you choose to have children? They rarely - if ever - ask those that are mothers.And for a long time now, I've wanted to interview a woman without children. I wanted to know, what does the juggle look like when there's aging parents and siblings and nephews and nieces and self care and a demanding job? What forms does mothering take for someone that's not a mother in the technical term?Cue Helen Lyon - the founder of Qiara Probiotics - the product that helps over 40,000 mums each year. While Helen has not had children of her own, she is entrenched in the work of motherhood on both a personal and professional level. Her family is everything, her work is all encompassing, so how, does she do it all? And how do mothers and non-mothers better support one another?Here, we talk the many shades that mothering can take, what the juggle looks like when you're a sister, daughter, auntie, friend and business owner, and the business advice that's made Qiara into the brand it is today.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood. There's a bit going on at the top of this episode. Ray is being mean to Posie, Posie's finally PROPERLY talking a bottle, Loz actually does watch some movies and shares her favourites, and then, we finally get to the day's discussion points.Today on the show:What is a gentle parent anyway? On parenting labels and why I hate them.'Quiet vacationing' is the latest workplace trend that sees Gen Zs tapping out.And a poll on all things productivity in making work, work as mums.Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz answers a listener question about how to assert yourself: how to do it in a workplace environment, when to do it and different ways you can get your point across without all the fluff (and thinking you're seeming like a pain in the butt!).---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Minna Dubin wrote about mum rage for The New York Times, her words went viral.In opening the article, she writes: 'the rage lives in my hands, rolls down my fingers clenching to fists. I want to hurt someone. I am tears and fury and violence. I want to scream and rip open pillows, toss chairs and punch walls. I want to see my destruction — feathers floating, overturned furniture, ragged holes in drywall.'Even recording this, I'm nervous to admit that I resonated with this so deeply that it nearly moved me to tears. It feels somewhat unsafe to confess that motherhood can drive me to a type of fury I've never known until now. But, that's the entire point. Was she nervous about putting her name to something that many would describe as volatile, negative...even violent, yes? But, she did it anyway, and when she did, the stories came pouring in.Here, we talk the universality of mum rage, the shame attached to it, how she's made work, work as a mother of two, and why we all need to take our mum rage out to tea.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Ready or Not! This week, we've released our Ready or Not Go To Guides. We've created three beautiful, practical and comprehensive guides in consultation with the experts in their fields, starting with Breastfeeding and Returning to Work, Postpartum and Return to Work Planning and Childcare 101.Shop the Go To Guides here: readyornot.au---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show:Five ways workplaces are failing new mothers - and how we can flip the narrative.Plus, because Lu is still in holiday mode, we're talking travelling, camping, caravanning and road tripping with kids.Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This mini series was created in partnership with Homb, the postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. Across three episodes, together with Homb founder Larissa Leone and the Ready or Not community, we interrogate what it means to navigate motherhood and matrescence in modern Australia. While this series is brought to you by Homb, the experiences and views about my time in their care are entirely my own.Before we get into it, I want to send my love to every mother out there, from the one who’s struggling just a bit – in the very mundane way that so many mothers do and like I did, to the one who’s struggling a lot. While this series sets to open up the conversation of what the everyday mother goes through, if you think that you might be struggling more than that, there’s help available at https://www.cope.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This mini series was created in partnership with Homb, the postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. Across three episodes, together with Homb founder Larissa Leone and the Ready or Not community, we interrogate what it means to navigate motherhood and matrescence in modern Australia. While this series is brought to you by Homb, the experiences and views about my time in their care are entirely my own.Before we get into it, I want to send my love to every mother out there, from the one who’s struggling just a bit – in the very mundane way that so many mothers do and like I did, to the one who’s struggling a lot. While this series sets to open up the conversation of what the everyday mother goes through, if you think that you might be struggling more than that, there’s help available at https://www.cope.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This mini series was created in partnership with Homb, the postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. Across three episodes, together with Homb founder Larissa Leone and the Ready or Not community, we interrogate what it means to navigate motherhood and matrescence in modern Australia. While this series is brought to you by Homb, the experiences and views about my time in their care are entirely my own.Before we get into it, I want to send my love to every mother out there, from the one who’s struggling just a bit – in the very mundane way that so many mothers do and like I did, to the one who’s struggling a lot. While this series sets to open up the conversation of what the everyday mother goes through, if you think that you might be struggling more than that, there’s help available at https://www.cope.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz talks about how to set boundaries at work with examples, sample scripts and ways to politely and respectfully say no (even if you're a people pleaser).---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I was trying to conceive for the first time, and basically for the 10 years leading up to it, the constant question swirling around my brain was how? HOW do mothers and primary caregivers be the mum they want to be while pursuing the career of their dreams, too? I wanted to know how mums did it on a practical, granular level. Give me times, give me dates, give me formulas. And not the milk kind, but how the heck do I get my baby to take that, too?And it's not all that surprising to me now that a lot of the conversations that have come out of this podcast have focussed more on how we feel about motherhood, career, about finding the balance... but I often think about the pregnant version of me and the sort of content she was looking for, and today's episode really hits the mark. Pardon the pun.Deja Marc founder Rosie Collins is incredibly passionate about building a life by design. And while she admits that might sound a bit corny, it's far from it. She's purposeful and deliberate with every decision she makes in business and in motherhood, and our conversation had me pondering how often I really stop and think about how I approach my work and my life.Here, we talk about the toolkit she's developed that helps her navigate a successful business alongside motherhood, how she started Deja Marc (including learning to do everything in the business herself before growing her team), and how she moved from feeling scared about how she'd navigate it all, to feeling empowered.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work Planning---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is sharing her best tips on what to do if you're made redundant on maternity leave.LINKS:Listen to our episode - Resumes: Do I include my parental leave? - here.Listen to our episode - Why applying for full-time roles might be your secret hack to landing the perfect part-time role - here.CourseraLinkedIn LearningUdemy---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like many of us, Genevieve Day grew up with the mindset that when you put in the hard work, you get rewarded. And as the founder of Day Management and Next of Kin Management, she's done just that.And so, as a successful business owner embarking on motherhood for the first time, Gen wanted to keep up appearances. She wasn't letting anyone think that a baby was going to slow her down, so she pressed on the only way she knew how: with hard work.But what Gen soon realised is that hard work doesn't always equate to success in motherhood, and not in finding the perfect balance as a working mum, either. She's candid about what she'd do differently with hindsight - from allowing herself more time immersed in the baby bubble to how she'd navigate managing her team. But more than that, she opens up about her stressful breastfeeding struggles and how she moved through these as an over achiever.Here, she talks about the first time she felt like her baby really chose her, what she's learned about navigating motherhood and career with the beauty of hindsight, and the painful chapters that she was tempted to edit out of her new book, The Juggle.--This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Homb, Melbourne’s first of its kind postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. To learn more about the Homb trust – a registered charity that exists to provide financially supported stays to families in need, who don’t have the financial capacity to pay for a stay independently – and to book your stay at this special place, visit www.homb.com.au---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show:There’s a lot of talk about supporting mothers, but where’s the action? Loz is taking us through a very interesting study to prove this point.And, how to bring Homb – that’s home with a b - into to your own home. Lozzy, a listener wrote in saying she was really keen to understand how they can incorporate some of the practices of Homb into their home with an E life, so I ask the team and I’ll share what they said.Plus, just a light and quick poll today – we’ve talked a lot about the dark side of sleep deprivation, but now we’re having a laugh instead. Today, we’re sharing some of yours and our more ridiculous moments of forgetfulness and brain fog when we’ve felt totally sleep deprived.This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Homb, Melbourne’s first of its kind postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. To learn more about the Homb trust – a registered charity that exists to provide financially supported stays to families in need, who don’t have the financial capacity to pay for a stay independently – and to book your stay at this special place, visit www.homb.com.au---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not, formally known as Tits & Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based episode, and the new name means that we can bring a wider range of advice to this episode, including your career conundrums and more! Today, Loz takes you through the five interview questions that may just help you land your dream job!---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:•Breastfeeding and Returning to Work•Childcare 101•Postpartum and Return to Work Planning•You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently I had the distinct pleasure of working with sisters Lucy and Emma Race on The Outer Sanctum podcast. In an eight-part series, they brought back their incredible show that looks at life through the lens of sport and welcomes all people, particularly those that are non binary, women, or have always felt like the outer either in sport or in life.I was disarmed by their intelligence, their ability to break down complex topics into simple forms and discussion points. And also by their humour - they are incredibly funny, as funny as they are wise - and so as soon as I met these warm and incredible women, I knew I wanted to have them on the show.As the youngest with three older brothers, I'm fascinated by sisterhood. And so today we look at sisterhood through the lens of motherhood, working together on The Outer Sanctum podcast and Making the Call, and what it's like to move through life together from pre-motherhood up until now, where the pair's children range from tweens to adults.They've each had their own challenges in the postpartum and in real time, we get a sense of what it's like for this incredibly close pair to delve deeper into each other's trials and tribulations as new mothers.There's so much to learn in this episode, from what they went through in the early days of parenting to how they reflect on it now and what it's like to make work, work as a mother today. This is a special episode with two people that I really love.--This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Homb, Melbourne’s first of its kind postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. To learn more about the Homb trust – a registered charity that exists to provide financially supported stays to families in need, who don’t have the financial capacity to pay for a stay independently – and to book your stay at this special place, visit www.homb.com.au---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.Today on the show:Young Aussies quitting in droves over bleak new workplace trend,Your workplace discrimination stories that were sparked by a DM we received about one listener’s experience.Plus, 10 things Lu is bringing home with her from Homb.This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Homb, Melbourne’s first of its kind postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. To learn more about the Homb trust – a registered charity that exists to provide financially supported stays to families in need, who don’t have the financial capacity to pay for a stay independently – and to book your stay at this special place, visit www.homb.com.au---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz talks about why you shouldn't discount applying for full time roles even if you're after part-time work or non full time hours.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before listening, please note that today's episode discusses suicidal ideation, self harm and postnatal depression. Before you press play, please consider if this conversation feels right for you.When I emailed Emma Molloy to ask her for some more information about her journey, she reflected on some of her darkest days. And at the bottom of the email, there was a list of 10 things she's learned along the way.So instead of trying to describe who Emma is, instead, I'm going to read my favourite bits from her list (see the Insta post I refer to here).She writes: but it's not all bad. Here's a list of the lessons I've learned:Pancake batter can be cooked as a cake, if you can’t be bothered to make the pancakes.The washing is still done even if its sitting clean in the basket.I am a person not a robot. Children are not robots either.Sometimes you have to give up the idea of being perfect in order to find perfect moments. An example would be my son's last cricket game last year. My husband was away, and my son was upset because he didn’t get a chance to bat, normally I would try to get home for dinner. We stayed back I bowled until the sun went down. The smile on that kid’s face is burned into my memory forever.You are allowed to miss your old life.This is such a powerful conversation. It's the story of how one mother emerged from her darkest and loneliest moments to find the light.Here, we talk what it's like to be a defence spouse, how she overcame some of her lowest moments, and how she makes work, work today.--This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Homb, Melbourne’s first of its kind postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. To learn more about the Homb trust – a registered charity that exists to provide financially supported stays to families in need, who don’t have the financial capacity to pay for a stay independently – and to book your stay at this special place, visit www.homb.com.au---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week was our most listened to Witching Hour episode to date. Our DMs were full of similar stories of when a lack of sleep has led you to feel sad, helpless or anxious, and we couldn't wait to get back in your ears again today to continue the raw and honest conversations about some of those parenting moments that we're often too ashamed to talk about.Plus, Lu is back from Homb, the postpartum hotel that she couldn't stop banging on about all week on Instagram, and it's fair to say she's at least a bit less on the edge than last week. Today on the show:We need to talk about how hard relationships are post baby, Just like Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury, Rebecca Cope's relationship ended soon after having a baby.Lu shares her experience staying at the delightful postpartum hotel that is Homb, Plus, we have an update on Posie's sleep.Lastly, we share a few of the DMs you sent us since last week’s episode, all about those middle of the night sleep deprived moments of rage and the things we've regrettably said and done when we're hopelessly tired and at our wit's end. --This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Homb, Melbourne’s first of its kind postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. To learn more about the Homb trust – a registered charity that exists to provide financially supported stays to families in need, who don’t have the financial capacity to pay for a stay independently – and to book your stay at this special place, visit www.homb.com.au---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.