Ready or Not

Doctors and health professionals may have called Snuggle Hunny chief Julie Mathers geriatric on more than one occasion, but in my opinion, she's fit a hell of a lot in to a short amount of time. With her husband, she founded and sold an incredibly successful business in Flora and Fauna. She's experienced miscarriage and after trying for some time and some failed rounds of IVF, both of her sons ended up being conceived naturally, to her surprise. Her older boy Woody has Down Syndrome and a heart condition that will require surgery one day soon. He was born at 34 weeks and spent some time in the special care. She returned to work just four hours after his birth. And to their surprise, she was pregnant with her son Alfie just six months later.Now that all might sound overwhelming at best and incredibly stressful at worst, but that's not the story you're about to hear. Julie's story is magic. Her boys run their own races, that's for sure. But, she's not too phased. Woody is Woody and Alfie is Alfie.This is an incredible story regardless of whether you're navigating disability or not and we all need more of Julie and these stories in our lives.From Flora and Fauna to Snuggle Hunny, from Woody to Alfie, from her working class background collecting milk money to big business sales, this is one of the most colourful stories I'll ever bring you.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Mukti Organics, results-driven and award-winning skin care products made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.Purchase the revised and expanded second edition of Mukti’s bestselling book ‘Truth in Beauty’ for $89 via www.muktiorganics.com and retailers Amazon, Booktopia and QBD Books.---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.

Shit hit the fan for us as we were going to press publish on what was meant to be today's episode with Snuggle Hunny founder Julie Mathers. A big fat tech failure that nearly led Lu to start the whole edit again at 7.25pm last night. But, Loz reminded her of what's important, so here, she shares a quick check in instead.We'll catch you back here tomorrow for an incredible episode with Snuggle Hunny's boss, Julie Mathers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Tuesday.In today's episode, we cover:I regularly travel for work. Why do people keep asking who’s looking after my child? (SMH)Eva Mendes is glad she had kids later In life (People)And a really ridiculous poll today: it's a would you rather, but motherhood edition.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Mukti Organics, results-driven and award-winning skin care products made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.Purchase the revised and expanded second edition of Mukti’s bestselling book ‘Truth in Beauty’ for $89 via www.muktiorganics.com and retailers Amazon, Booktopia and QBD Books.---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 to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite-sized advice-based podcast, and today is all about making the return to paid work a little bit easier via simplifying our wardrobes.Look, I am no style expert. Although I love clothes, I’m not going to pretend to be your fashion correspondent. But I am a mum who needs to get dressed each day. And of all the things that bring unexpected stress in getting out of the door in the morning to get to work, a big one can be getting yourself dressed when you’re potentially trying to get little people fed, dressed, and out the door.Your body might be different, you might have shoved your office wardrobe out of sight for six months or longer, and you might just feel different about the way you want to dress.This episode is less about vanity and more about streamlining processes. It’s inspired by our Postpartum and Return to Work Planning Guide, and while that guide doesn’t cover fashion, the logistical advice we give in that guide has influenced so many areas of my life, including my work wardrobe.---YOUR RETURN TO WORK WARDROBE CHECKLISTOur full checklist referenced in the episode didn't quite fit the show notes limit, so please click here for the full checklist plus the items Lu mentioned, as well as links to some excellent return to work uniform sales happening at the moment.---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.

U-Fhern Chang was on a plane for a work trip when she had a pretty profound AHA moment. And while she didn't immediately act upon it, it would eventually lead her to completely revamp her priorities when it came to her career. Add quitting her job at a big four, four kids, and a few businesses into the mix, and it's fair to say that she's had a bit on. After her children, I think it's fair to say that her other baby, Elan House of Wellness, the business dedicated to nourishing and supporting mothers, is one of her proudest projects to date. And as a paying customer, I think it should be. Her dry sweet and savoury packs were a staple in my early postpartum pantry, and her messaging encouraging rest and valuing the transitions of motherhood are incredibly important.Here, we talk disappointing parents, postnatal depression as a pretty fair response to the way we're meant to mother in western society, and how she navigates four children and a business.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Mukti Organics, results-driven and award-winning skin care products made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.Purchase the revised and expanded second edition of Mukti’s bestselling book ‘Truth in Beauty’ for $89 via www.muktiorganics.com and retailers Amazon, Booktopia and QBD Books.---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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:Working families are more stressed than ever, a new report has found.‘Kinkeeping’ is the invisible workload that women take on—and it’s affecting the mental health, performance, commitment and bandwidth of employees, experts say. (NYT)And the Instagram community poll of the week: How do you navigate pregnancy and friendships when you're the Miranda or the Charlotte?---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Mukti Organics, results-driven and award-winning skin care products made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.Purchase the revised and expanded second edition of Mukti’s bestselling book ‘Truth in Beauty’ for $89 via www.muktiorganics.com and retailers Amazon, Booktopia and QBD Books.---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.

Since I last interviewed Phoebe Simmonds over a year ago and Ava Chandler Matthews just under a year ago, the two business owners, mothers, and friends have had just a bit going on. Ava is getting ready to launch her business Ultra Violette into the US and she's actually launching herself into second time motherhood very soon, too. So soon, I'm surprised she even let me convince her to come back on the show.As for Phoebe, The Memo is having a big year. They've just opened their Fitzroy store, and they're opening their Highpoint store in just a few weeks' time. And as you'll hear here, they have no plans to slow down from there.I wanted to get Ava and Phoebe back onto the show for many reasons. Firstly, you loved both of their episodes, which I'll link in the show notes, and secondly, they had sons at the same time as I did. They're also friends who have being co-founders in common, and as women in business who I really look up to, I wanted to know what's changed for them both as they continue to move through navigating career and motherhood.So, this episode is a bit hodge podge by design. It's less of an interview and more of a check in. I wanted you to feel as if you were part of the car talk that mum friends have on the regular as they make their way to or from the office.Here, we talk about the delight of two year olds, the things we still don't have the answers for, what Ava will grapple with until the day she dies and why Phoebe doesn't believe in imposter syndrome.ORIGINAL EPISODES:Listen to the interview with Phoebe on Apple here and Spotify here.Listen to the episode with Ava on Apple here and Spotify here.THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode is brought to you by Our Pilates – an online, physio led library of classes that you can seamlessly fit into a busy life. With prenatal and postnatal programs as well as membership options available, Our Pilates has every busy parent covered. Start your free 7-day trial now at ourpilates.com.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.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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:Research shows that those who spend more time speaking tend to emerge as the leaders of groups, regardless of their intelligence.Jessica Biel Is Done Being A “Cool Girl” About PeriodsAnd your answers to a poll I didn’t anticipate being so popular – all about that elusive and important ‘me time.’THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the mother-led brand that's dedicated to nurturing, nourishing and empowering new mothers and families. I have eaten my way through SO many of their incredibly nourishing dry food packs like the dark chocolate banana bread, golden kitchari, and blooming bites and you're in luck, because some of my favourite products are currently 20% off. Get 20% off until 30 June here: elan.house/collections/most-loved---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.

Stephanie Wescott is a feminist academic and researcher. She’s also the mother of a three year old boy, and at the moment, she’s conducting research into how extremist online influencers like Andrew Tate are shaping boys' behaviours and attitudes towards women. It’s a fascinating and important time to be raising a son and we talk about this – that we need feminists raising our boys and the fact that her partner was almost nervous – somewhat hesitant – when he found out they were having a son. She completed a PhD with very little childcare, which is no small feat, but she’s quick to tell you that she dropped out of plenty of university courses in her former studying years, too. Here, we explore how motherhood and feminism intersect with capitalism and the patriarchy, why it took some time for her to not only accept but embrace mother as being one of her titles, and what parents can do about navigating the misogynist content being served to our children online.THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the mother-led brand that's dedicated to nurturing, nourishing and empowering new mothers and families. I have eaten my way through SO many of their incredibly nourishing dry food packs like the dark chocolate banana bread, golden kitchari, and blooming bites and you're in luck, because some of my favourite products are currently 20% off. Get 20% off until 30 June here: elan.house/collections/most-loved---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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:We dive back into the Women at Work 2024 Deloitte study.Wake windows - Our thoughts and experiences on wake windows, plus, what does the research say on how long your baby should stay awake?And your answers to our questions on telling your boss that you’re pregnant.THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the mother-led brand that's dedicated to nurturing, nourishing and empowering new mothers and families. I have eaten my way through SO many of their incredibly nourishing dry food packs like the dark chocolate banana bread, golden kitchari, and blooming bites and you're in luck, because some of my favourite products are currently 20% off. Get 20% off until 30 June here: elan.house/collections/most-loved---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.

Look, I know this exactly how I open my conversation with Francesca Jewellery founder Hannah Vasicek, but it's impossible for me to paint a picture of the vibrant person that she is in any other way.When I first met Hannah at an event, she said that her mind is like a city. She said it's one of the reasons why she loves living in the quiet but creative Hobart, the city where she started small by selling her jewellery at the iconic Salamanca Markets.Fast forward to today, and alongside her sister, she leads a team of 75. And at home, along with her husband, she leads a much smaller but arguably more demanding team of two children.This is a really special episode, and there's so much to say about Hannah's journey in motherhood and career. She employs an incredible group of refugee women and is passionate about supporting the migrant community. Her daughter was born with a limb difference and she opens up about how she navigated this privately during pregnancy as a generally open person. And she naively - her words not mine - thought that motherhood would be a break. Turns out, that while she adores her little people more than anything, managing a workforce of 75 might just be easier.From the stories of survival and sacrifice from the incredible women she employs to her experience in navigating her daughter's limb difference, here, Hannah shares what she's learned professionally and personally along the way.THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the mother-led brand that's dedicated to nurturing, nourishing and empowering new mothers and families. I have eaten my way through SO many of their incredibly nourishing dry food packs like the dark chocolate banana bread, golden kitchari, and blooming bites and you're in luck, because some of my favourite products are currently 20% off. Get 20% off until 30 June here: elan.house/collections/most-loved---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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, Loz's best mate Chrissie (who works in education at The Memo) kindly steps in for Lu to cover the following:We look at Deloitte’s women at work report and the bits that we’re finding interesting. (Deloitte)Supporting your loved one to breastfeed starts by valuing it as work. (ABC)And with her background in hypnobirthing as well as her own personal experiences, Chrissy talks all things birth trauma and how to support a birthing partner.THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the mother-led brand that's dedicated to nurturing, nourishing and empowering new mothers and families. I have eaten my way through SO many of their incredibly nourishing dry food packs like the dark chocolate banana bread, golden kitchari, and blooming bites and you're in luck, because some of my favourite products are currently 20% off. Get 20% off until 30 June here: elan.house/collections/most-loved---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.

When Hande Cater made the decision to go back to working five days a week alongside her relatively new role as mum, she noticed that she was in a bit of a grey area: most mothers she knew worked part time or inside of the home and most full time workers were not parents. Or if they were, they were likely to be the secondary caregiver. And as we know, that's normally the dad. There weren’t many people around her who balanced five days of paid work with the 24 hours a day, seven days a week role of parenting and as a result, she didn’t have many places to turn to when it came to making work, work alongside motherhood. Here, we talk the loneliness and judgement that exists within this grey area, why working four days a week wasn't exactly working for her, and the anxieties mothers face when it comes to parental leave and the return to work. THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Ready or Not! 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.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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we're covering the topic we wish we didn't have to: Australia's problem with men's violence towards women, including:The feminist talk with Rosie Batty, Catharine Lumby and Fiona Jenkins and the Hedley Thomas talk Lu attended at the Sorrento Writer's Festival.Your answers to our questions around how safe you're feeling right now,Your scary and devastating stories in relation to men's towards women.Plus, your tips around how we tackle this with our children.Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningLinks:Rosie Batty's book: click hereLoz's dry shampoo recommendation: click here ---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.

Ellen Hooper is a people and culture expert. She's a a passionate speaker and media commentator and she's currently writing a parenting book. She's been interviewing a lot of dads. In fact, she's become a bit obsessed with dads and their voice and opinions in the conversation of how we rebalance the mental load of parenting.She's full to the brim with incredible advice and lived experience when it comes to career and motherhood and 50/50 parenting, and she's deeply passionate in educating mothers on doing the maths when it comes to their paid work, their superannuation, and their overall financial security.Here, we talk about the research that flies in the face of the gender norms often associated with parenting, her morbid but important advice for looking at how we view care work and housework, and what she's learned from interviewing dads.THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Ready or Not! 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.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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:A longer than usual intro on Posie's bottle refusal, Loz's new job contract and us both feeling like we're well and truly in the thick of it.Childcare benefits have up to 425% return on investment.Plus, we answer one of our listener’s workplace dilemmas.And here is the breast pump Loz mentioned Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now: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.

After bouncing between jobs that didn't quite bring the career passion and satisfaction that we're meant to chase after in our twenties, when Liv Brown was pregnant with her first baby, she thought that motherhood was going to be her thing. But while she loved her boy, she needed a creative outlet too, and so she started posting about fashion and styling on her Instagram account, Rattle style. She wasn't necessarily targeting mums, but helping mothers find their style and new uniform when it feels like everything about them has changed.And as she prepares to become a mother of two, she's experiencing the frustration and overwhelm that so many mothers face: when your career starts to pick up just as you're deep in the trenches of motherhood.Here, we talk about how she turned her creative outlet into a job, how she's feeling about becoming a mother of two, what making work, work looks like when your partner works six days a week and how to find your personal style in motherhood.THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Mukti Organics: results-driven, award-winning skincare made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.Experience gentle yet powerful results with Mukti’s anti-ageing Vitamin A serum, one of the first Australian COSMOS certified organic, 100% botanical-based retinol (not retinol) that is clinically proven to work 11 times faster than standard retinols.Unlike regular Vitamin A's, you can use this serum at any time of the day without the risk of irritation, and it’s even safe for use during pregnancy.This wonder product has launched this week and is available to purchase at www.muktiorganics.com---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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:Four Ridiculously Smart Reasons to Slow Down at Work (The Muse)How having a baby in your 20’s became the new ‘teen pregnancy’ (news.com.au)What the devastating attack in Bondi last week has made us stop and reflect on---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Mukti Organics, results-driven and award-winning skin care products made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives. They've just released an upgraded formulation of their Vital A serum which is the first Australian COSMOS certified organic and 100% botanical-based retinal (not retinol), which means it’s one of the first in the world safe to use during pregnancy, and during the day! Not only that - it’s clinically proven to work 11x faster than standard retinols.We love a female led company and this wonder product launches today, the 22nd of April, and is available for just $99 for the next 48 hours. To get yours, head to www.muktiorganics.com---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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natasha Heger had been with the company she worked at for 10 years before she went on parental leave, and just the day before she was originally due to return, she was made redundant.What followed was a longer than anticipated break from the workforce and a search for a new role, but this time, not just as Natasha, but as mum, too. Not one to settle for any old role - which is such a common experience for mothers who feel like they don't have much choice - she was set on finding a workplace that understood and valued the work of a mother. And as someone who admits to having some dark moments in motherhood, she's incredibly candid when she reflects on those early days.Here, we talk about why she wasn't sure she wanted children, what happened when she was made redundant, how she went about finding paid work, and how she - even as a mother who engages in full time paid work - finds the time to look after herself and her health.As you'll hear, this one was recorded when I was pregnant and I've learned so much listening back.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by THE INARRA, a premium online shopping and lifestyle publication tailored for pregnancy, motherhood, and beyond.Re-defining how modern mothers consume content, THE INARRA offers a diverse range of features, interviews, and fashion edits that cater to every stage of motherhood while celebrating individual style and identity. And today, we're bringing our Witching Hour listeners a special offer, as THE INARRA gets ready to launch their styling services.To claim 30% off a styling experience that can be done virtually or in-person in Sydney and is specifically tailored to those who are pregnant, postpartum or just struggling to define their style as a mother, email [email protected] and mention Ready or Not---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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:10 Impressive Questions to Ask in a Job Interview (The Cut)No Parent Can Make Home-Cooked Meals All the Time (The Atlantic)And from the Ready or Not Instagram community, your answers to our Instagram poll all about screen time and staying present---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by THE INARRA, a premium online shopping and lifestyle publication tailored for pregnancy, motherhood, and beyond. Re-defining how modern mothers consume content, THE INARRA offers a diverse range of features, interviews, and fashion edits that cater to every stage of motherhood while celebrating individual style and identity. And today, we're bringing our Witching Hour listeners a special offer, as THE INARRA gets ready to launch their styling services. To claim 30% off a styling experience that can be done virtually or in-person in Sydney and is specifically tailored to those who are pregnant, postpartum or just struggling to define their style as a mother, email [email protected] and mention Witching Hour.---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.

I often wonder to myself, what did mothers do before incredible people like Hello Darling co-founder Bridgette Gale were open enough to share their stories? Where did they find comfort? Where did they see themselves?This episode has so much, it's difficult to know where to begin - starting a business at 21, working with the likes of Em Rata, miscarriage, postnatal anxiety and depression, intrusive thoughts, returning to work after two weeks, moving across the country with a four-week turnaround after receiving a business proposition she couldn't refuse, going from swimwear to tech startup, finding the transition from one to two easier than none to one, and emerging from the dark to find the light.If you're a new mother who is struggling, this is essentially listening. As you'll hear, it got better for Bridgette, and I hope it gets better for you too.I'm Lucinda, this is Ready or Not, and here is the reflective and remarkable Bridgette Gale.---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.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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:We discuss the “let them” theory – very topical given our chat about the mental load two weeks ago and our poll today.Women say they're being routinely delayed or denied epidurals when giving birth because of "mistaken" beliefs about their impact on labour. (ABC)And your answers to our poll, all about maternal gatekeeping.Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now: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.

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.

There's no Witching Hour episode today due to the public holiday. Instead, Lu is checking in very briefly from bed to let you know that our Go To Guides are now out in the wild, and to get honest about how much longer it took us to finish them than anticipated. But, wowee are we proud of the final result!We really believe in these guides and we hope you love them: readable, beautiful, well-researched guides that tackle the sort of topics we wish we had access to, all in the name of supporting mothers in making work, work. Created in consultation with some of the best experts in their respective fields, and informed by over 60 interviews with working mothers, these are the guides that will stop you from relying solely on hindsight.Shop the Go To Guides now:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou 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.

Content warning: this episode discusses pregnancy, fertility and abortion. When Michelle Battersby announced her pregnancy to her Instagram followers, there was no pretty picture with two lines, no ultrasound, no baby bump. Instead, she shared something deeply personal. Something that, as a founder who is often looked to for career inspiration, she felt compelled to be open about. And that was that she’d previously had two abortions for her career.We know that the mental load of family planning when it comes to career can start a lot earlier for women. Is a long university course worth it if I want to have a baby at around 30? Do I go for that promotion when I’m pregnant? What are the most flexible careers for mothers? How long should I be at the one company before I start trying to conceive? The list goes on…But, Michelle’s take – that is deliberately delaying motherhood for her career – isn’t one that’s often spoken about publicly, so it’s fair to say her story and honesty caught my attention.Here, we talk the wild ride that was bringing Bumble to Australia, how she felt when she pressed post on her pregnancy announcement, navigating her business Sunroom alongside pregnancy, and how her badge of honour is changing.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Witching Hour co-hosts Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe---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 Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:At Bogota’s Care School for Men, men learn how to step up to do their share of housework and child care - from changing a diaper to styling a ponytailTo celebrate the launch of our upcoming postpartum planning guide, Lu asks Loz all about her postpartum experiences with Sienna and XaveAnd we share the stats and stories from our latest Instagram poll – all about the mental load.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by us, Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe---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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I had a business coaching session with mother and My Daily Business founder Fiona Killackey last year, and in one short hour, she rocked my world. So, I had to get her on the show. And listening back to this interview on the other side of pregnancy, she’s rocked my world all over again. This episode has so much: losing parents as a young mum, her husband’s reflections on what the other mums thought about him at the playground, IVF, pregnancy loss, being a part of the sandwich generation – that is caring for her aging parents and young children at the same time – and a whole lot of thoughtful business advice sprinkled throughout, too. This is a special episode and I thank Fiona for sharing her highs and lows so beautifully.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Witching Hour co-hosts Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe---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 Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:Why stepping away may be your best leadership move yet (read the piece here)Lily Allen shares her thoughts on career and motherhood on the Radio Times Podcast What our listeners wish they knew about breastfeeding, postpartum planning, and childcare.And the winner of our Mrs Kevin's Photos giveaway is @farrenmay! ---THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by us, Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe---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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leonie Akhidenor is a property developer, relationship coach and the host of Parenthood, a podcast that explores the parenting experience from all angles. She's also a mother who has faced both pre and postnatal depression, as well as the profound identity shifts and emotional struggles that can come with motherhood. Through her podcast, Parenthood, Leonie explores the greatest challenges parents are facing today, with a focus on hearing from both sides of a relationship. Here, Leonie talks about acknowledging the need to rest after a lifetime of assigning her value to productivity, what she's learned about parenting and relationships from interviewing both mums and dads, and her greatest advice for new mums navigating career and motherhood. ---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode is brought to you by Mrs Kevin's Photos, a mother and Melbourne based fine art film photographer, creating photos to keep forever as your visual inheritance.Mrs Kevin's Photos captures moments through 35mm film, digital and super 8 video footage so that you can look back and remember how it all felt. To celebrate this partnership, we'll be announcing a giveaway for our Melbourne-based listeners over on our Instagram @readyornot.pod. You can head to mrskevinsphotos.com to book in an emotive, timeless and intimate photography session.---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 Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday (except for today, because yesterday was a public holiday in Victoria!).In today's episode, we cover:The increasing Importance of a best friend at workThe Skim State of Women Report for 2024 comes out in a few weeks, so before it does, we’re revisiting some of 2023’s findingsAnd a HOTLY contributed to poll on the @readyornot.pod Instagram - what happens when the partner goes back to paid work?---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Mrs Kevin's Photos, a mother and Melbourne based fine art film photographer, creating photos to keep forever as your visual inheritance.Mrs Kevin's Photos captures moments through 35mm film, digital and super 8 video footage so that you can look back and remember how it all felt. To celebrate this partnership, we'll be announcing a giveaway for our Melbourne-based listeners today over on our Instagram @readyornot.pod. You can head to mrskevinsphotos.com to book in an emotive, timeless and intimate photography session.---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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cat Webb wouldn't quite call herself the maternal type and motherhood wasn't exactly something that she dreamed of. But, she wanted a family, so she knew she had to go through the former to get the latter.And, I think it's fair to say that going through it is exactly how Cat would describe it. As you're about to hear, she found the first year of her son's life challenging and she took some time to find her groove in motherhood. As the founder of Good Times Pilates and with three popular studios in Melbourne's inner north, Cat put more into the business than herself when preparing for maternity leave, and here, she talks about what she's learned in hindsight, how she started Good Times Pilates, and the necessity of starting daycare on what most would class as the earlier side of things.If you adore your child but you took some time to settle into motherhood, this episode is for you, and I can't thank Cat enough for being so open and honest.I'm Lucinda, this is Ready or Not, and here is the candid and charismatic Cat Webb.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by MUMMA MILLA: creators of genuinely leakproof bralettes and camis that are not only functional, but beautiful, too. Created with aesthetics in mind, these modern pieces almost look too good to work as well as they do, but I was a paying customer before this special brand came on board as a partner, and I am here to tell you that since wearing my MUMMA MILLA pieces, no other breast pad or feeding bra cuts it. Head to mumma-milla.com to shop the collection of highly considered products, designed by a real mum, for all the breastfeeding mothers out there.---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 Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:The Workplace Gender Equality Agency have published employer gender pay gaps for the first time, Self help vs Leadership – the way we market books to women and men And your thoughts on these damning gender pay gap reports.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by MUMMA MILLA: creators of genuinely leakproof bralettes and camis that are not only functional, but beautiful, too. Created with aesthetics in mind, these modern pieces almost look too good to work as well as they do, but Lu was a paying customer before this special brand came on board as a partner, and she is here to tell you that since wearing her MUMMA MILLA pieces, no other breast pad or feeding bra cuts it. Lu turns to her MUMMA MILLA bralettes and camis daily, and in this episode, we announce the winner of our giveaway.Head to mumma-milla.com to shop the collection of highly considered products, designed by a real mum, for all the breastfeeding mothers out there.---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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Postpartum Diaries! This week, Lucinda's doula and friend Charlotte Squires (aka The Living Doula) joins her to talk all things postpartum, going from one to two, conversations to have with your partner before postpartum and returning to work, and her best tips for caring for a new parent. Then, Charlotte becomes the interviewer and asks Lucinda all about her postpartum reflections!---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by MUMMA MILLA: creators of genuinely leakproof bralettes and camis that are not only functional, but beautiful, too. Created with aesthetics in mind, these modern pieces almost look too good to work as well as they do, but I was a paying customer before this special brand came on board as a partner, and I am here to tell you that since wearing my MUMMA MILLA pieces, no other breast pad or feeding bra cuts it. I turn to my MUMMA MILLA bralettes and camis daily, and if you head to @readyornot.pod before Monday 4th March, you can enter our giveaway to win your very own set too. Or, head to mumma-milla.com to shop the collection of highly considered products, designed by a real mum, for all the breastfeeding mothers out there.---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 Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:Sleep impacts women’s workplace ambitions more than men, research shows (Women's Agenda)Live from London: Loz on travelling without kids and returning to paid workAnd with our community's help, we answer a listener's question about returning to paid work with a challenging boss.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by MUMMA MILLA: creators of genuinely leakproof bralettes and camis that are not only functional, but beautiful, too. Created with aesthetics in mind, these modern pieces almost look too good to work as well as they do, but I was a paying customer before this special brand came on board as a partner, and I am here to tell you that since wearing my MUMMA MILLA pieces, no other breast pad or feeding bra cuts it. I turn to my MUMMA MILLA bralettes and camis daily, and if you head to @readyornot.pod before Monday 4th March, you can enter our giveaway to win your very own set too. Or, head to mumma-milla.com to shop the collection of highly considered products, designed by a real mum, for all the breastfeeding mothers out there.---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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to a regular episode of Ready or Not! Part 3 and 4 of the Postpartum Diaries will return next week, but for this week, we're taking a break to bring you a regular Ready or Not interview with a brilliant person: midwife & mother of two Lauretta Hamilton.Lauretta suffered severe HG during both of her pregnancies, to the point where she had to take time off paid work and as a midwife, she admits that she felt like a failure in early motherhood.In this episode, she talks candidly about the identity shifts that can come with motherhood, how she prepared for her second pregnancy after being so unwell during her first, and how she and her partner have worked together to share the load.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by ergoPouch, organic, TOG rated, sleepwear and sleep solutions designed for babies and kids to sleep, naturally.Shop their new autumn/winter limited edition PouchTales collection from Thursday 22nd February at ergopouch.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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:Why keeping it simple is smart in the workplace, inspired by a brilliant piece by Derek Thompson for The Atlantic.How beauty became our damaging obsession and the rise of return to school Botox among mothers, inspired by a piece in ABC's Face Value column.Our hottest Instagram poll to date: we talk vanity and our relationships with our bodies post motherhood.Plus, Lu shares the best and worst of her two under two moments this week.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by ergoPouch, organic, TOG rated, sleepwear and sleep solutions designed for babies and kids to sleep, naturally.Shop their new autumn/winter limited edition PouchTales collection from Thursday 22nd February at ergopouch.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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Postpartum Diaries! This week, we're talking all things the first four weeks, covering:What's surprised Lucinda in her second postpartumThe early days of going from one to twoThe products she's ACTUALLY neededHow things have been divided in the householdAll things recoveryAnd SO much more!We'll be back to regular Ready or Not programming next week, before we get stuck into part three and four of the Postpartum Diaries in the weeks that follow.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by New Bub Club, delicious meals for new and time poor parents. No prep, made-from-scratch, comfort food when you need it most.Head to newbubclub.com to gift or purchase home-made meals for your family or someone in need of some postpartum care. Listeners of Ready or Not will receive $20 off your first order using code READY20.---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 Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:H&M CEO Helena Helmersson abruptly steps downThat Ballerina Farm controversy and whether we deserve to be outraged by another mum’s postpartum journeyAnd mums talking money: after our money themed episodes, we ask you for your best tips on finances, super, and more.Good news: You can now exchange eligible drink containers for 10 cents in Victoria. More info here. ---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by New Bub Club, delicious meals for new and time poor parents. No prep, made-from-scratch, comfort food when you need it most.Head to newbubclub.com to gift or purchase home-made meals for your family or someone in need of some postpartum care. Listeners of Witching Hour will receive $20 off your first order using code READY20.---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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A big hello from your host Lucinda. Today, things are looking a little different around these parts as we kick off the Postpartum Diaries: a four-part series that today, will begin with my Witching Hour co-host Loz asking me all about my bizarre birth story.I'll be honest, I'm nervous about how personal this is going to get. Normally, I interview others and share little snippets of my own life at best, so this is taking things to the next level. But, as someone who has always valued the sharing of ideas and stories, I'm going there, in case anyone can relate to even 1% of what I have to say about birth, postpartum and all that comes with it.So strap yourselves in for what is a pretty weird birth story that was characterised by a few twists and turns, and really made me feel like the girl who cried birth. You might think I'm mad by the end of it, and you're probably right, but I guess that's a risk I'm willing to take.And just a note - none of this is medical advice. This is just my story.A content warning to consider if this birth story is for you:Posie needed a bit of help breathing when she was born and she came out blue and unresponsive. All ended well but we know this might be a trigger for some.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by New Bub Club, delicious meals for new and time poor parents. No prep, made-from-scratch, comfort food when you need it most.Head to newbubclub.com to gift or purchase home-made meals for your family or someone in need of some postpartum care. Listeners of Ready or Not will receive $20 off your first order using code READY20.---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 Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:Top City law firm names and shames work-from-home shirkers: Lawyers to be tracked entering and exiting the office in corporate crackdown‘Sittervising’ is the latest parenting trend because it’s freaking geniusAnd your answers to our questions on where you feel more confident – in motherhood or your career.Check out Lucy's Substack piece on the beauty of the breastfeeding trolley here.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by New Bub Club, delicious meals for new and time poor parents. No prep, made-from-scratch, comfort food when you need it most.Head to newbubclub.com to gift or purchase home-made meals for your family or someone in need of some postpartum care. Listeners of Witching Hour will receive $20 off your first order using code READY20.---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 here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a mother of two, Ana Kresina knows all too well that there are so many delightful moments in parenthood.But as a financial educator working in tech, Ana also knows that kids can be exhausting and parenthood can be financially overwhelming. Money is one of the leading causes of stress and divorce, and navigating finances can be an incredible source of pressure for single parents and carers.Cue, Kids Ain't Cheap: Ana's recently published book that helps you to plan financially for parenthood and your family's future. Here, we talk the motherhood penalty, why mothers need to think more about their super, how to remain visible when working from home, and how Ana makes work, work.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Hot Minute Hair: a no-nasties 2-in-1 hair wand with dry shampoo powder on one end and quick dry anti-frizz serum on the other.Perfect for busy mums; it works in one minute, on the go wherever you are.Head to hotminutehair.com.au and say bye to bad hair days.---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, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.---This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son 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 a new year of Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:Infant formula startup Bobbie axed all recurring meetings for 2024Saving for Retirement on Part-Time Pay: The Challenges for WomenYour reflections on holidaying with kidsAnd Loz's hot tip on what not to say to another parent---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Hot Minute Hair: a no-nasties 2-in-1 hair wand with dry shampoo powder on one end and quick dry anti-frizz serum on the other.Perfect for busy mums; it works in one minute, on the go wherever you are.Head to hotminutehair.com.au and say bye to bad hair days.---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, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.---This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son 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.

Jade Huggins is a Senior Product Manager at Portmans. She’s also a mother of three, but while her first and third born are firmly in her arms, she sadly lost her middle child, Sonny, at 32 weeks.Here, she shares her story with us: how she returned to paid work after loss and how she carried on through the worst pain of her life. She doesn’t sugar coat the impact losing Sonny has had on her, but somehow, she tells her story in a way that will leave you feeling heartbroken, yes, but also, hopeful.If you need support after loss, PANDA, SANDS and Red Nose are some resources where you might find it.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by PURE MAMA, the leading pregnancy skincare brand in Australia and New Zealand loved and trusted by over 40,000 women for pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.Shop the full PURE MAMA range including their signature Belly Oil, Scrubs, Nipple Butter and gift sets at puremama.com or online from MECCA beauty.---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, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son 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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:Perfectionism helps women stand out at work. But over-preparedness can deny them leadership positions (from Fortune)Mum’s the word: The joy and importance of holidays without kids (from SMH)Baby Posie is here! And we can't wait to share more of Lucinda's second postpartum experience next month in lieu of some Ready or Not interviews (Witching Hour will play on as usual).And part one of Lucinda's bizarre labour story.---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, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son 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.

Kathryn Millhouse has achieved a lot in her professional life, but she’ll be the first to tell you that the confidence she had to back herself in within the workplace didn’t exactly translate to motherhood, at least not overnight.Having faced fertility challenges, pregnancy loss and postpartum depression and anxiety, the journey to becoming a mother was far from those perfectly filtered photos we see on Instagram.Cue MotherUp: her business that focuses on mother-centric planning, with tools and resources to help women experience more supported and sustainable fertility, pregnancy and early motherhood journeys.From her high flying corporate career to motherhood and starting her own business, here, we talk the resentment so many of us feel when watching our partner walk out the door, the importance of planning for motherhood, and why we need to focus less on high achieving and more on good enough parenting.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by PURE MAMA, the leading pregnancy skincare brand in Australia and New Zealand loved and trusted by over 40,000 women for pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.Shop the full PURE MAMA range including their signature Belly Oil, Scrubs, Nipple Butter and gift sets at puremama.com or online from MECCA beauty.---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, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son 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 a new year and season of Ready or Not! In business and in motherhood, Eleanor Pendleton is a wise, intuitive woman. Nearly 10 years ago, she launched Australia’s premiere beauty website and digital magazine, Gritty Pretty. And just a week after launch, the magazine’s first issue received over 135,000 views.Alongside her evolving publishing business, Eleanor has been growing her own family, too. The mother of two has had some really contrasting experiences when it comes to pregnancy, motherhood, and making work, work, and here, she shares it all.From the pressures of being the boss and returning to paid work earlier than anticipated during the unpredictability of COVID, to learning to identify what she needs as a mother and what fulfils her as a person, I took a lot away from this chat and I think you will too.---THIS WEEK'S PARTNERThis episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by PURE MAMA, the leading pregnancy skincare brand in Australia and New Zealand loved and trusted by over 40,000 women for pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.Shop the full PURE MAMA range including their signature Belly Oil, Scrubs, Nipple Butter and gift sets at puremama.com or online from MECCA beauty.---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, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son 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 a new year of Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.In today's episode, we cover:The future of work: key emerging workplace trends to watch for 2024,Five parenting trends that will apparently be huge this year,What does an A type personality have to do with motherhood and failure?And our listeners share their goals for the year.And PS, Lucinda DEFINITELY does not know what double entendre means. Please bear with her.---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, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son 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.

Hello from your very pregnant and very tired host. I'm Lucinda, and this is Ready or Not's three part holiday listening series. Over the next three weeks, we'll be re-releasing some of the year's most popular episodes. I hope you have a great holiday, and I'll see you on the other side, when we're back with new episodes of Ready or Not on Wednesday the 10th January.This week, with the beginning of childcare looming for many, we're going back to our chat with childhood educator Kabba, where we ask all your burning questions on all things childcare. Good luck to all those gearing up for the beginning of childcare, and may this episode provide you with some extra comfort.---This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Get Papped, an organisation that promotes open conversations about cervical screenings and urges individuals to take responsibility for scheduling their appointment---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 I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.---PANDA’s National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline is Australia’s only free national helpline for people affected by changes to their mental health and emotional wellbeing during the perinatal period. They support people throughout pregnancy up until their baby is 12 months old.If you need some support, call the PANDA National Helpline (Monday to Saturday) 1300 726 306 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello from your very pregnant and very tired host. I'm Lucinda, and this is Ready or Not's three part holiday listening series. Over the next three weeks, we'll be re-releasing some of the year's most popular episodes. I hope you have a great holiday, and I'll see you on the other side, when we're back with new episodes of Ready or Not on Wednesday the 10th January.This week, we're taking it back to one of our most popular early episodes with The Memo co-founder Phoebe Simmonds. Phoebe and I had our sons at very similar times, so I am getting her back on the show next year for a check in, to see what's changed and how making work, work looks with a near two-year-old. I loved this chat and I know that you will too.She’s worked for some of the biggest beauty brands in the world, has lived in London, Singapore and Sydney, and now works and lives in Melbourne with her partner Shaun, Shaun’s son Tyler, and their son Remy.Shaun lost his former partner, Tyler’s mother, many years before he and Phoebe came to be, so her introduction to parenting is quite unique. Phoebe’s pregnancy was also not without its stressors, with the diagnosis of cervical insufficiency, a condition in which the cervix opens too early, and therefore running a risk of a pre-term birth.Here, we talk launching her businesses, navigating becoming a parent figure early in a relationship, the challenge of remaining present, and why she wants to see less of an emphasis placed on breastfeeding.---This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Get Papped, an organisation that promotes open conversations about cervical screenings and urges individuals to take responsibility for scheduling their appointment---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 I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello from your very pregnant and very tired host. I'm Lucinda, and this is Ready or Not's three part holiday listening series. Over the next three weeks, we'll be re-releasing some of the year's most popular episodes. I hope you have a great holiday, and I'll see you on the other side, when we're back with new episodes of Ready or Not on Wednesday the 10th January.We're kicking things off with Ultra Violette Co-Founder Ava Chandler Matthews. This was the most listened to Ready or Not episode this year, and given Ava's incredible candour, it comes as no surprise.She went back to Ultra Violette at three months postpartum, she travels a lot, and while she loves her son to no end, she's open about missing her old life and not considering herself a particularly maternal person.Here, we talk about some of the struggles she had with breastfeeding, postpartum anxiety, feeling like the business she founded didn't need her, and getting used to this new weight of responsibility. She's so generous with her honesty and she walks us through it all.---This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Get Papped, an organisation that promotes open conversations about cervical screenings and urges individuals to take responsibility for scheduling their appointment---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 I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.---PANDA’s National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline is Australia’s only free national helpline for people affected by changes to their mental health and emotional wellbeing during the perinatal period. They support people throughout pregnancy up until their baby is 12 months old.If you need some support, call the PANDA National Helpline (Monday to Saturday) 1300 726 306 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.