Ready or Not

Sarah Garby is one of those people that just feels good to be around, and I think after listening to this conversation, you'll agree that it comes as no surprise that she found her passion in psychology. She's a mother of two. She's navigated very different births and like me, she found the transition from one to two far more challenging than zero to one. I was interested to know then, as someone who's found her niche in perinatal mental health, how does a psychologist move through and make sense of her own motherhood journey?What comes up for her? Does she analyse herself the way she does her clients? And what does she see as the most common challenges that mothers are facing today? Here we talk about the importance of mental maintenance, why a psychologist will often have their own psychologist, and in part two, Sarah also answers your questions around mental health and motherhood. I think I put that little question box up a little bit too late on Instagram because so many of you added questions after this recording, so immediately after this episode, jump into part two where Sarah answers another seven listener questions solo.Part two is absolutely brilliant. It's so interesting when you hear a friend of yours in their sort of smart work mode, and it's already helped my mindset immeasurably, so I know it will do the same for you. But first...part one.--This episode is brought to you by Our Pilates - physio led, on-demand pilates classes designed for new mums of all fitness levels and at any stage of their postpartum journey.We particularly love the eight week postnatal program. Designed and instructed by Han, a physiotherapist and mother of two with over 15 years of experience, this program is the perfect way to gain strength in a way that is safe, can be done within the comfort of your home, And guess what? They're giving Ready or Not listeners a month of free classes.To redeem your complimentary month of Our Pilates and access a huge library of Pilates classes, simply head to their website in our show notes (https://ourpilates.com.au) and enter the code READYORNOT when creating an account and select their monthly membership option.---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. 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 not ready”: Mum’s heartbreaking video on returning to work after maternity leave hits home.And, your job is not that important. A stark reminder from a Katie Williams that I want to unpack for you.And here is the Substack that Lu mentions in the episode.--This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Our Pilates - physio led, on-demand pilates classes designed for new mums of all fitness levels and at any stage of their postpartum journey.We particularly love the eight week postnatal program. Designed and instructed by Han, a physiotherapist and mother of two with over 15 years of experience, this program is the perfect way to gain strength in a way that is safe, can be done within the comfort of your home, And guess what? They're giving Ready or Not listeners a month of free classes.To redeem your complimentary month of Our Pilates and access a huge library of Pilates classes, simply head to their website in our show notes (https://ourpilates.com.au) and enter the code READYORNOT when creating an account and select their monthly membership option.---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 chats about what do you do when you’re clearly overqualified for a role but need the flexibility it offers. Do you downplay your experience? Will employers take you seriously? And how do you make sure you’re still growing in your career while prioritising your family? Loz has the answers. From crafting the perfect job application to negotiating for better terms, this episode is full of practical, confidence-boosting advice to help you land the right role without feeling stuck.---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.

Renee White is the first to admit that she had zero awareness when it came to what to expect in motherhood. In fact, on reflection, she wasn’t prepared for it at all. And so, her journey would take many plot twists. She went from biochemist to attorney to creating Australia’s first doula village, she went from expecting to have more than one baby to eventually making the decision to be one and done. It wasn’t an easy call to make, especially when her first motherhood experience left her feeling anxious, as though she’d messed up, and desperately wishing she could have a re-do.The trouble is, unfortunately, we don’t get a test drive before taking on the biggest role of our lives, and that re-do would never come. So instead of pouring the love and the lessons she’d learned into a new child, she combined her love of support and science and put into caring for other postpartum families, instead. Here, we talk about how postpartum anxiety — still today — doesn’t get enough airtime, how we can forgive ourselves for finding periods of parenting challenging, and how being an academic who worked in the field of science collided with the polar opposite experience of motherhood. ---This episode is brought to you by Our Pilates - physio led, on-demand pilates classes designed for new mums of all fitness levels and at any stage of their postpartum journey.I particularly love the eight week postnatal program. Designed and instructed by Han, a physiotherapist and mother of two with over 15 years of experience, this program is the perfect way to gain strength in a way that is safe, can be done within the comfort of your home, And guess what? They're giving Ready or Not listeners a month of free classes.To redeem your complimentary month of Our Pilates and access a huge library of Pilates classes, simply head to their website in our show notes (https://ourpilates.com.au) and enter the code READYORNOT when creating an account and select their monthly membership option.---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: Why do some people get sympathy and engagement for financial struggles while actual working mums are told they should have planned better? The reality behind ‘mumfluencer’ money & working motherhoodAnd how entitled could you be? A Tik Tok video on stay at home motherhood, by by UPS Driver J.R. Minton has gone viral, but it's not what you think.--This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Our Pilates - physio led, on-demand pilates classes designed for new mums of all fitness levels and at any stage of their postpartum journey.I particularly love the eight week postnatal program. Designed and instructed by Han, a physiotherapist and mother of two with over 15 years of experience, this program is the perfect way to gain strength in a way that is safe, can be done within the comfort of your home, And guess what? They're giving Ready or Not listeners a month of free classes.To redeem your complimentary month of Our Pilates and access a huge library of Pilates classes, simply head to their website in our show notes (https://ourpilates.com.au) and enter the code READYORNOT when creating an account and select their monthly membership option.--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 tackling a question that so many mums returning to work face: how do you ask for a pay rise after maternity leave—and actually get it? If you’ve been doing more for less, stepping back into the workforce with new skills (hello, time management queen!), or simply feel it’s time to be properly valued, this episode is for you. Loz will break down exactly when to ask, how to present your case, and the common mistakes to avoid. If you’ve been hesitating to negotiate, consider this your pep talk and action plan rolled into one.---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.

Sarah Blatchford has had to do a lot of hard things. She navigated a terrifying infection that had her daughter in hospital for a week just as she was returning to paid work, which set her on a path of postpartum anxiety. She and her family to moved to the tiny UK island of Guernsey to care for and spend time with her father in law who was dying from motor neurone disease, and during what would be a complex journey trying to conceive her second baby, she navigated the unique challenge and experience of terminating for medical reasons.In amongst it, a colleague innocently congratulated her for the pregnancy she no longer held. She had to pick out a tiny urn for the baby she'd never get to know. And, she had to leave a workplace she could no longer face.But, as always, there's been beauty among the pain. There's been joy and love and creativity and welcoming another living baby, too. There's been delighting in the newborn phase and creating art and all the good stuff.And some tales don't deserve my over explaining. Instead, they're better told from the person who's lived to tell them. So I'll let Sarah do that.---This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by ergoPouch. Wake up with the new Breakfast Club Collection at ergopouch.com.au. And here’s something to sweeten the deal—right now, you can get 20% off sitewide* with the code RON20! But hurry—this offer is only available until March 10th. (Excludes sale items, Lyra Convertible Cot, Deluxe Mattress, Gift Vouchers, Multibuys & Giftpacks.)---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:International Women’s Day is fast approaching, so we’re looking at the “good news” headlines vs. the reality of working as a mum in 2025And, Lu realised the other day that she's officially interviewed over 100 working mums. and she shared 10 key reflections, quotes, and takeaways over on the Ready or Not podcast Instagram that's gone somewhat viral. So, we thought we could discuss it further here with Loz's wise input. (Read the post here).---This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by ergoPouch. Wake up with the new Breakfast Club Collection at ergopouch.com.au. And here’s something to sweeten the deal—right now, you can get 20% off sitewide* with the code RON20! But hurry—this offer is only available until March 10th. (Excludes sale items, Lyra Convertible Cot, Deluxe Mattress, Gift Vouchers, Multibuys & Giftpacks.)---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 Friday. Today, Loz is tackling a topic that so many working mums can relate to: burnout. From the endless juggle of work, kids, and life admin to the emotional load of holding it all together, burnout can creep in before you even realise it. In this episode, she’ll help you recognize the signs of burnout and share practical, actionable tips to recover and prevent it from taking over again. Whether you’re feeling the strain or just want to avoid the crash, this episode is packed with insights to help you manage the juggle and thrive---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 Elke Pascoe began looking into the ingredients in popular formula brands, she was horrified at what she found. And so, as a single mum of two, Elke did what most would - understandably - find too big a hurdle to jump. She set out to make the best product that she could, and the journey that came before it and after it as she's continued to grow LittleOak has been quite extraordinary. Since then, she's added a third baby to the fold and built a global brand.She's always worked a lot, she's never taken big chunks of parental leave and in some ways, she regrets it, realising that she wasn't always present in amongst her chaotic work schedule with solo motherhood. But, would she change anything? Probably not.Here, we talk about how we wholly underestimate how much pressure we're all under, how a particularly vulnerable financial situation set a fire within her to never need to rely on anyone else for money again, and why it's the mental load and the moving parts around motherhood and career that actually make trying to do both so challenging.---This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by ergoPouch. Wake up with the new Breakfast Club Collection 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. 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:The WhatsApp trap: how school & kinder chats are eating into working mums’ time.Motherhood isn’t martyrdom – how one mum’s message is striking a nerveAnd what Loz is going to drop as she gets ready to welcome her third baby in May.--This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by ergoPouch. Wake up with the new Breakfast Club Collection 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.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 taking about feeling stuck at work after maternity leave. A listener who returned to work three years ago has written in, she's feeling underpaid, overwhelmed by job hunting, and unsure of her next move. In this episode, Loz shares a step-by-step plan to get clear on what’s keeping you stuck, explore internal opportunities, tackle pay gaps, and job hunt in a way that feels manageable. If you’re wondering whether to stay or go, this episode will help you figure it out—without the overwhelm.---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.

Porscia Lam has been on one hell of a ride. She had two babies under 14 months, at the age of two, her older child Harry was diagnosed with autism, and after years of intense therapy, Harry went from not being able to be separated from his mum or dad to becoming ready to attend school.That separation anxiety was so severe that even when he had a grandparent looking after him, if he knew that either Porscia or her husband were in the house, his entire fixation was on trying to get access his parents. Childcare as a result didn't work out, and after a period of her husband taking leave, Porscia decided to pause her career to support Harry's therapy. It was an intense time, and she felt shackled to her son and her home. But as you'll hear, slowly but surely, she emerged from some of the darkest times and is finding the light.Here, we talk about the challenges of raising a neurotypical sibling alongside an autistic child, Harry’s autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and the severe anxiety, obsessive tendencies, and restricted eating that came with it, and going from catastrophising her life and feeling like there wasn't a way out to finding perspective and celebrating the small wins.--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:Did Loz's sonographer just reveal the gender of her baby?Love on the clock: navigating workplace romances in the modern office (reference article here)What would you go back and tell your 20 year old self? Lu finally listened to that Call Her Daddy episode with her girl Jane Fonda and it had her thinking about what she'd go back and tell my 20 year old self and I’m going to ask you too.--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 a challenge all working mums face: networking. When you’re already juggling work, kids, and the never-ending to-do list, how can you find time to build meaningful career connections? The good news: you don’t need late-night events or endless coffee meetings to make progress. In this episode, she’ll share mum-friendly strategies for networking on limited time, from making LinkedIn your best friend to leveraging everyday moments like school drop-offs. Whether you’re ready to climb the ladder or just keep your options open, this episode is packed with actionable tips to fit networking into your busy life.---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 Sophie McComas became pregnant with her second baby, she wasn't the only expecting mother within her business. Her co-director and a senior staffer were both due within the same month, too. It's a situation that many female-dominated businesses have faced and along with the excitement, came shock, as the pregnant bosses navigated how to keep their business and team thriving while not one, but three, leaders went on parental leave.But, as we're about to learn, there's always a way. And if there's one thing that small business owners and mothers learn fast, it's that you have to be willing to pivot at any given moment.What I love about this conversation is that Sophie is honest about the emotional side of navigating leave and returning to work as the boss, but she's also really helpful in offering practical tips and reflections on what has worked and what hasn't so far.Here, we talk about going from wondering how you'll ever return to paid work to feeling ready, what you do when your best laid plans don't exactly go to plan, and the never ending challenge of trying to stay present when you have a half finished project and emails that need responding to. --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:Two-thirds of women feel unable to switch off from work. Here's whyAnd "just you wait" -- it's that phrase no expecting parent wants to hear, so we're putting a positive spin on it.--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 Friday. Today, Loz is diving into love languages—but not the fluffy, time-consuming kind. This is all about practical ways for busy working mums to strengthen relationships with their partners, kids, and even themselves. From quick wins like sticky notes on the fridge to setting realistic expectations for Valentine’s Day, this episode will help you show love in ways that actually resonate. ---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.

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.