The Juggling Act

It has been nearly a year since Mel and her kids have seen her parents in country Victoria, and so many other families are in the same boat. Many parents have found the border closures and restrictions so hard to explain to children, it's hard enough for us to process. Sarah and Mel talk about the challenges of these conversations - especially when children turn to us for the answers - and the heartbreak at not knowing when we're going to see loved ones again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I texted a friend of mine recently to ask what I should watch next after I finished watching Schitt’s Creek and Fleabag. She came straight back with one word – Bridgerton. She described it as Gossip Girl meets Pride and Prejudice. I was intrigued. Four days later I had watched all 8 eps. The music, the costumes, the DUKE! Yes, it’s all about the leading man (IMO). Writer Annaliese Dent (and the aforementioned friend) joins us to explain why Bridgerton has so many mums in a good mood.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once you have kids, you start to see your career from a very different perspective. Do I love this job enough for it to keep me away from my children? Am I satisfied with this role or have I always dreamed of doing something else? Today’s guest was at the top of her game, working as the Publicity Director at Penguin Canada, but left her job after her first child was born to become a full-time mother. When he was six months old Ashley Audrain’s son was in and out of the hospital with health issues, which led her to follow her dreams and start writing her first novel The Push, about the expectations of motherhood.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year was a tough year on the jobs front with lots of people being made redundant or having their roles significantly changed. While it can be incredibly stressful and feel like you're never going to work again, it is possible for something better to come of it. If you've found yourself in that position and now on the hunt for a new role, Katrine Tully from Career Transform joins us with her tips on how to bounce back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you have a baby you can feel like your body is no longer your own. Sometimes the last thing you feel like is intimacy and sex with your partner. The longer it goes on, the harder it can become (pun intended). So how do you get your sex drive back after baby? Sarah and Mel share their experience (don't worry it's not x-rated - much) and talk about how you can stay connected after starting a family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah talks about the power of kindness after a stranger offered to help her when she was struggling with her boys. Country music star Amber Lawrence opens up about the 'horrific' pain of her stillbirth. We’re joined by a self-promotion expert who shares the secret to getting what you want at work. Finance expert Renae Vercoe shares how you can get your partner to share the financial mental load. And Sarah and Mel discuss whether telling your kids they’re fantastic at everything helps them to build their confidence or gives them a misplaced egoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes talking about money with your partner can be challenging, and often the responsibility for household bills and budgeting can fall to the person who hates it the least. But with that responsibility comes the stress and pressure of juggling things and making sure you’re not only providing for your family but also building a secure financial future. That’s a lot for one person to take on – and let’s be honest, quite often it's mum. Renae Vercoe - founder of Money Mode – has some great advice for getting your partner to share the financial mental load.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When our kids first start doing things for themselves it's pretty damn exciting - for them and us! Our first instinct is often to say something like 'wow, that's incredible!', but as they start to get a bit older, not everything they do is 'incredible'. So should we tell the truth so they don't develop a misplaced ego, or is it good to give them constant praise to build their confidence? Mel and Sarah chat about their experiences and share their thoughts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people struggle with self-promotion at work. It doesn’t come naturally! But our guest today says it’s important now more than ever to know your strengths at work and to know how to self-promote ourselves effectively. Author of ‘Brag Better’, entrepreneur and life-coach Meredith Fineman joins us to share her insights on how to promote ourselves, gain the respect of others and get what we want at work (without coming across like a douche).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is an Australian country music star with seven albums and countless awards to her name. Amber Lawrence welcomed her first child - a little boy called Ike two years ago, with her husband Marty – who she met on Tinder. Then sadly in July last year, she lost her second child halfway through her pregnancy. So how did she juggle the awfulness that was 2020, keep her music career alive and juggle a toddler? She joins us to find out…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes tiny acts of kindness can completely turn your day around, especially when you have small children. We all know that even a trip to the supermarket can become a huge mission with many possible pitfalls. Tantrums, kids grabbing everything, wanting to eat everything, then trying to get everything and everyone in the car in one piece. So when someone you don't know offers to help, it's like a guardian angel has been offered up. Sarah and Mel talk about the incredible power of kindness and how much it means as a parent. For more great parenting stories head to kidspot.com.au. Follow us on FB @kidspotaustralia and IG @kidspot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah and I have been hit by the gastro bug! We talk about the crappiness of being a parent when your kids are sick. Author Chandra Clements has written a book about Covid illustrated by her kids, and it’s gone gangbusters (even Fergie read it on her Instagram). DJ Andrew Levins opens up about the depression he suffered on returning to work after his child’s birth and why being a SAHD is the absolute best. Entertaining legend Justine Clarke joins us for a super fun chat about Play School, turning 50 and why voice over work is the best gig around. And Sarah and Mel chat about whether or not they have a favourite child and why parents don't admit it if they do. For more great parenting content head to kidspot.com.au Follow us on FB @kidspotaustralia and IG @kidspot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the most recent season of The Crown was released at the end of 2020, there was a scene featuring Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip talking about whether they have a favourite child. Lizzie was shocked when Phil admitted that Anne was his, while she then tried to work out who her favourite was. It's not something most parents like to openly admit, but most days there is one child that is a little less annoying than the others! Mel and Sarah chat about whether they have a favourite, and why people don't like to talk about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are super excited to welcome today's guest to The Juggling Act, because she’s just so damn lovely. Justine Clarke is an actress, singer, author, TV host and mum of three (she’s also the reason we have the song ‘watermelon’ constantly stuck in our heads). Now she’s back as the queen bee in the film series Maya The Bee. She joins us to talk about playing a queen, turning 50 and the prospect of her kids leaving home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Levins has been a DJ since he was a teenager and a food writer for almost as long. He’s played at major music festivals all over the country, co-founded a youth music charity called Heaps Decent and in 2007 was named one of Sydney’s 100 most influential people. He then went on to have two kids, run a successful restaurant, release a cookbook and start no less than five podcasts. We are stoked to have him on our podcast today to chat about the second book in his children’s series– called Nelson - Broccoli and spies, his trick to getting kids to eat veggies, and how quitting the restaurant business to work from home saved his mental health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is a mum of two little girls whose income fell apart when covid hit. So she started writing children’s book about the pandemic – and got her four and two-year-old to illustrate them. The first book was an overnight success and became a bestseller. She has since self-published six more and even had Sarah (Fergie) Ferguson read one on her Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's so awful watching your kids fight some sort of germ - gastro, croup, a cold - you just wish you could help them more. Both Sarah and Mel's kids have been hit by the gastro bug and it was not pretty. Then there's the fear that the rest of the family are going to go down next and it will go on for weeks and weeks. But they did find one silver lining to poorly kids...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah wonders whether she’s making her picky eater worse but just giving him what he want. Author and elite athlete Alexandra Andre has some Inspiring tips to help you achieve absolutely any goal. We chat with a mum is making princesses more relatable for our kids (glass slippers, really?!. Block legends Alisa and Lysandra join us to talk about quitting their jobs in the police force to start their own design company. And Sarah and Mel chat about whether you should stop your kids being too physical with each other (or is it just part of growing up?) For more great parenting advice head to kidspot.com.au. Follow us on FB @kidspotaustralia and IG @kidspot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember fighting with your siblings? Punching, pushing, scratching and hair-pulling -sometimes it got really rough. But it's a right of passage, right? As parents ourselves now it's much harder to watch when our kids get rough with each other. So should you intervene or just let them fight it out and learn from their experiences?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You probably remember Alisa and Lysandra Fraser, the twins who won The Block: Sky High back in 2013, for their incredible drive and stunning design aesthetic. The former police officers and mums of four boys between them, were so good, they went on to start their own design business. Now they’ve got a new project, 'al.ive' which has of course been a huge success. These girls don't do things by halves! And they say it's all thanks to their own hard-working single mum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The traditional fairytale we read as kids is so outdated. I sometimes struggle with the messaging it’s sending out kids – not just our daughters. Today’s guest is a writer and mum who wants to change the way we approach these stories, and the narrative around princesses. Angela Buckingham wrote 'Powerful Princesses' as an example of some kick-arse women throughout history to try and reboot princesses for our kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is a speaker, author and life-coach, who endured one injury after the next for nearly 5 years before signing up to the toughest one-day sporting event in the world. After completing the event, Alexandra Andre got up the courage to become a solo mum, giving birth to a beautiful boy with the help of IVF and the kindness of a donor. It shifted her perception of 'what's possible', so she decided to write a book called 'The Power of Possibility' to share her journey and tips to help others achieve any goal they want (yup, ANYTHING!).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fussy eaters are pretty standard with small kids, and it can be stressful as a parent trying to encourage them to try new things and make sure they're getting a balanced diet. We've all had nights where we don't have any fight left, and just given them what they want (usually white food)! Sarah's three-year-old son is a picky eater and she asks whether she's making it worse by giving in too often.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah asks whether it’s okay to tell family and friends to donate to a charity instead of buying gifts. Journalist Jacinta Tynan opens up about finding strong role models for your kids – especially as a solo parent. Author Vanessa McCausland shares her insights into the complexities of mum friendships and whether it’s ever a good idea to travel with other families. Dad Chris Hills shares his terrifying melanoma survival story. While, it's been a Christmas we won't forget anytime soon. Mel and Sarah share the heartbreak of being away from children and loved ones.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a Christmas day we won’t forget anytime soon… the borders slammed shut again and many families have been cut off from loved ones they were going to see for the first time in months. Mel is in isolation until Dec 31 without her children after coming into 'close contact' with someone during a Christmas lunch in Sydney, while Sarah managed to fly into Melbourne the day the Victorian borders closed. They share the heartbreak of being away from loved ones this year and how they're trying to find a silver lining.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re anything like me, you grew up in the sun often with no hat and sunscreen. Now I’m adamant about getting my skin checked every year. I use my freckly arms as a warning to my kids! Dad Chris Hills had a similar upbringing, and three years ago he heard the words he never expected – ‘it’s a melanoma’. The surgeon then went on to say that if he’d waited another six months he wouldn’t be here. Chris joins us to share his terrifying story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going away with other mums can be the best. You’ve got multiple sets of eyes to watch the kids, share the meal prep with and also enjoy a vino or two. But sometimes those trips can go pear-shaped. Author Vanessa McCausland explores the complexities of mum friendships in her new novel The Valley of Lost Stories and opens up about writing from home and how she made her book deal dream come true.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most parents don’t have the village support our parents had. Many live away from family and we are not as close to our neighbours as we were growing up. So it can be hard to make sure they’re surrounded by strong role models and getting the mentorship they need. That’s where Raise comes in - the foundation runs early intervention youth mentoring programs in schools. Jacinta Tynan, journalist and Raise ambassador, joins us to chat about raising boys and how to find a good role model for them as a solo parent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids accumulate a lot of stuff. Endless bits of plastic and toys that are often played with briefly before they move onto the next fad. So with Christmas quickly approaching, Sarah wonders if it's okay to suggest that family and friends donate to charity instead of buying gifts?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah and I talk about the epic struggle that is juggling the summer holidays, work and children. The numbers just don’t add up… We meet an incredible mum who has rocket scientist, medical scientist and author on her CV. Now she’s helping families become zero waste – in just thirty days. We’re joined by the co-founder of Palm Beach collection who quit her job as a fashion buyer to start the business with her brother – then found out she was pregnant the very next day. Sarah opens up about losing two pregnancies this year and wonders why she felt like she didn’t deserve to grieve. And we discuss teacher’s gifts – how much should you spend and what on earth should you get them?!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's that time of year, the last-minute scramble to organise a thank you gift for your child's school or daycare teacher. It's been made even harder this year with the restrictions around not gifting food. So what should you get and how much should you spend? Should it be a group gift? Does each carer need a gift? Sarah and Mel talk about how they manage the end of year gift and share some of their gift ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year as Covid hit, Sarah McGilvray had a traumatic miscarriage. But with two small children and a high-profile job, she didn't feel like she could take time off. Seven months later she was told that her baby didn't have a heartbeat. At the time she didn't feel like telling people - not even her family and friends - because both experiences had left her feeling numb. With two gorgeous children already, did she deserve to feel sad? Was there something wrong with her for not feeling anything? Now she's sharing her story to reassure others who may have experienced the same feelingsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quitting your job to start a business, is a huge decision. Today's guest decided to walk away from her job as a buyer for General Pants, to start a candle business with a brother. The timing all seemed perfect until Kirsten Walker found out she was pregnant the next day. Ten years on and Palm Beach collection is a thriving business, and Kirsten joins us to talk about the challenges of juggling a new baby and a new business, and why it's the best decision she ever madeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our local council in Sydney has just introduced a food waste bin, and even provided a small bin for the bench with biodegradable bags – I am so here for it, it’s such a fantastic idea. It’s also been a great way to talk to the kids about waste, recycling and where our rubbish goes (anyone else’s kids obsessed with garbage trucks?). Today's guest has taken that a step further and written a book about how families can reduce their waste by up to 80%. She also happens to be a qualified rocket and medical scientist, plus mum of one. Seriously. Anita Vandyke’s new book A Zero Waste Family also includes a thirty-day guide to making a zero waste life easier.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School and daycare are about to wrap up - if it hasn't already - and the looooong summer holidays are looming. As working parents, how on earth do you juggle all that time off? With four weeks annual leave the numbers just don't add up. Sarah and Mel talk about how they manage and the stress that comes with juggling work, leave and childcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, former Bachelor star Tara Pavlovic opens up about her postponed wedding and surprise baby! We meet an incredible mum who describes how fleeing from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake led to a children's book series about resilience. Nikki Webster gets real about why dance mums get such a bad rap and exactly where she keeps the infamous pink hero dress. Adam Liaw has some seriously simple tips to take the stress out of Christmas lunch and make it extra special this year. And Sarah and Mel ask how much you should spend on your child’s Christmas gifts… man that amount can creep up on you quickly!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas is an expensive time of year, and there's often the temptation to go overboard when it comes to presents for your children. So how much is too much? Some people stick to one main present and a couple of small ones, some use the 'something to wear, something to read, something they want, something they need' rule, while some parents love completely spoiling their kids! Sarah and Mel chat about how much they spend and how they (try) to keep things under control.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is a former Masterchef winner, TV presenter, author and dad of three. Adam Liaw joins us to share his tips on making Christmas lunch extra special with our families this year, and some hacks to keeping things simple. Plus he opens up about managing the juggle with kids and work, and how becoming a dad has changed him for the better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikki Webster shot to fame at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as 'Hero Girl' when she was just 13 years old. Fast forward twenty years and she's now a single mum of two and runs three dance studios. She joins us to chat about Australia's Biggest Trolls Dance party, why dance mums get such a bad rap and where she keeps that infamous pink dress!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine fleeing with your children in the middle of the night as an earthquake shook your home around you? That’s what happened to today’s guest, and the aftermath of that experience gave her the inspiration for a series of kids’ books called My Big Moments. In November 2016, journalist and writer Hannah Davison and her two children had to flee from their crumbling home in the middle of the night, as a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked New Zealand. They were just 10km from the epicentre. As Hannah guided her children through the trauma afterwards, she realised that the children’s book series idea she had with her friend and fellow mother Flicka Williams, could provide a lifeline to parents like herself, during challenging times. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Bachie & Paradise star, Tara Pavlovic (now, Tara Shepherdson!) has had a very eventful year (haven’t we all!). But for Tara – and her new husband Nick - it has been one of the most exciting years of their lives – getting married and preparing to welcome a beautiful little boy in May next year. Tara joins us to talk about the type of mum she thinks she'll be and eating Maccas at her wedding!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah asks whether it’s a big deal if you’re kids end up watching adult TV shows with you, if they don’t really understand what’s going on. Mel catches up with three incredible country mums, who started a business together despite never having met! We met the unlikely dad teaching our kids about resilience. Hollywood legend Jane Seymour opens up about having twins at 44 through IVF. And we meet a mum who is ‘blind’ in her mind – such a fascinating chat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation, you swear you never could have predicted? A situation so far from the ordinary that even remembering it feels surreal? Season 2 of I Swear I Never is publishing now, you'll hear from Peter, an ex homicide detective haunted by his past, Tina, a mum who hit rock bottom after a prescription drug addiction and Amber, a pregnant woman who went out to dinner during a pandemic and got more than what she ordered. Search I Swear I Never wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine not being able to visualise a scenario or playback memories in your head... its called Aphantasia – the inability to form mental images of real or imaginary people, places, and things. Nina Young is the mum of one and co-host of a fascinating podcast series called 'I Swear I Never', which has just launched Season 2. Nina joins us to talk about what it’s like being ‘blind’ in your mind, and some of the other incredible stories they discovered while making their podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I absolutely love heading to the movies with the kids, so I’m so glad we’re now able to head back into the cinema – especially when there’s a film on that the kids and adults will enjoy. 'War with Grandpa' stars Robert DeNiro who moves in with his family and takes his grandson’s most prized possession – his bedroom. The rest of the cast is just as impressive - Uma Thurman, Christopher Walkin, and the fabulous Jane Seymour. Jane joins us to talk about juggling four children and a career in Hollywood, and opens up about having children 13 years apart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mixed martial arts champion Alexander Volkanovski is the current UFC World Featherweight Champion for mixed martial arts (MMA), and now he’s added another notch to his belt – children’s book creator. Alex has launched 'Alexander The Great' aimed at kids aged three and up, and it's filled with messages of positivity and resilience for kids. He joins us to talk about the crucial life skills martial arts can provide our kids, and why family ALWAYS comes first for him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three country mums have designed a way for Aussies to buy from small rural businesses without trawling the web, scrolling social media, or travelling hundreds of kilometres. Sarah, Lauren and Jenn, came up with the idea for Spend With Us - a central marketplace and directory for country businesses, which is now helping us all support small businesses easily online. Lauren is a clinical psychologist from rural Victoria, while Sarah is a web designer from the Central Coast of NSW and Jenn is a Riverina-based marketer, and what's most surprising is - they've never met.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you can be watching something on TV, might even just be the news, and your kids walk in the room and plonk on the couch next to you. Before you know it, they've inadvertently seen some hot and steamy scene on The Bachelor or Greys Anatomy (yes, that's still running). Sarah and Mel share their thoughts on whether you should switch it off straight away, or whether it matters that much if they don't really understand what they're watchingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Mel caught up with the divine Grant and Chezzi Denyer about having their third baby in their 40s, the backlash they’ve faced, and the moment Grant knew Chezzi was ‘the one’. Sarah and Mel talk about whether you start to like your kids more as they get older and more self-sufficient. Author Danielle Dobson claims working mums can ditch the pressure (really)… and the idea is all thanks to her son. Jamila Rizvi reveals what she learnt about herself and her son after eight months in lockdown, and the resulting children’s book she wrote. And Mel reveals how her kids won't stop bickering and it's slowly driving her mad...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parenting is challenging, but when you've got kids fighting on top if it, it can be enough to drive you absolutely bonkers. Sometimes it feels like it never stops, and it can be very difficult to know how to handle it without losing your cool. Sarah and Mel share their experiences and how they (try) to approach it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.