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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based epsiode, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz talks about how to choose the right child care scenario for your family - perhaps it's daycare, a nanny or a combo and considerations for each type of care including cost, flexibility and consistency.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

We've had a whole lot of sickness in our house these past three weeks. Posie has had adenovirus and rhinovirus and then 10 days later, one by one, Hayds, Ray and I were struck with the worst type of gastro we've ever had.And so unsurprisingly, that's meant very little childcare these past three weeks and plenty of cancelled and postponed Ready or Not interviews. And so, for the sake of transparency and showing what it actually takes to make work, work as a mum, we're digging into the archives while we rebuild our library of interviews.If you've been around these parts from the very beginning, you may have heard this interview with one of Australia's favourite parents. And if you're newer to the show, you mightn't even be aware that the magnificent Lael Stone has even graced this podcast. Whether you fall into the former or the latter camps. I cannot recommend listening to the wise words within this episode enough.This episode was originally published over 18 months ago, and while I'd like to think my recording equipment and line of questioning has improved, Lael is a forever class act and I learned as much listening back to this episode as I did at the time. So let's get into it.See you back here with something new next week.---Lael Stone is a Parenting Educator, TEDx speaker, author, and the co-creator of Woodline Primary and The Aware Parenting Podcast.She has a son and two daughters ranging from their late teens to early adulthood, and in many ways, her career trajectory has mirrored her parenting journey.Now I don’t know if it’s that soothing voice or the way she holds space for those around her, but either way, an hour of conversation with Lael is much like a therapy session. I felt lighter after this chat, and I think you will, too.Here, we talk knowing when to walk away even when the party’s humming, how we can help our children without solving their problems for them, and the moment she did a Ted talk in front of her adoring kids.---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or leave a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.You can check out Lael's work online here.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Our friends, there's plenty of laughs and just a few tears today, so buckle in.Today on Witching Hour:'What Zoë Foster Blake taught me about how to say no, and why it matters.' This is a brilliant piece by upcoming Ready or Not guest Clare Stephens and we think it’s fair to say that every single mother could be better at saying no in some capacity.And, are we REALLY being honest about how we’re feeling? What’s too negative? What feels out of touch and ungrateful? What is relatable? Recently, Loz shared a story with Lu about how she felt when Xave wasn’t sleeping, so we wanted to open up about our struggles when we've been in the trenches.And we unpack one of our hottest polls to date – all about breastfeeding!Extended show notes: 22 anonymous mothers share their breastfeeding challenges.--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.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based epsiode, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz talks about how to smoothly transition into daylight savings with kids, what to do in the days leading up and how to ensure everyone gets some sleep.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Since 2019, Jayde Couldwell and Sophie Pearce have been opening up the conversation on modern motherhood. I don't think either of them could've anticipated the success of Beyond the Bump at the time, but through their podcast, they found something special, with their listeners, with their guests, and with each other.So when they interviewed father of two Chi Lo some six months ago to talk about his role as a stay at home dad, it might come as no surprise that the conversation stirred something inside of them: they wanted to bring to dads what they'd been bringing to mums: open, honest, raw conversation that invites more space for vulnerability and openness in fatherhood.Here, we talk about what it's like to be a dad in 2024, what Jayde and Chi are learning from their guests and from each other, and Chi's experience going from working in big jobs to becoming a stay at home dad to now dipping his toes back into paid work.This was such an interesting conversation that reminded me of the importance of giving space for dads to open up.--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.

Welcome back to Witching Hour, where cousins look at what’s exciting, delighting. intriguing and frustrating us as two mums trying to make work, work.Today:Are we really supporting mums to do what's best for them when it comes to breastfeeding? By the looks of the comments on this post, so many parents are still struggling silently with the pressure to breastfeed.Sally Rooney thinks career growth is overrated.And, has parenting really become too hard? Experts certainly believe so.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10: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.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz shares all her hot tips for surviving working from home when your kids are on holidays.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Tom Cruise. John Travolta. When I tell you that today's guest has interviewed the stars, we're not talking about any old bit player from Home and Away. And while that may sound like a pretty spectacular way to spend your time, Renee Bargh would've given it all up for the one thing that she wanted her entire life: a baby. After spending a decade from her mid twenties to her mid thirties working in tv in LA, the pandemic was the final push she needed to come home to Australian shores. Fast forward to today, and the award winning tv host is preparing to bring her second baby into the world.Here, we talk her glittery television career in LA, returning to work and a red carpet at three months postpartum, the ways in which motherhood was harder than she expected when she thought she was the most prepared person for the job, and how she's navigated hyperemesis as someone whose job it is to look and act presentable at work.From LA to back home, from a robe to a red carpet with Tom Cruise, from presenting on air to trying not to throw up backstage, Renee brings the human element to a world that we often paint as shiny.--This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Mumma Milla – the modern leakproof nursing brand that has quickly become a wardrobe staple in my postpartum and return to paid work journey. In fact, wardrobe staple doesn’t even cut it. You can shop the collection now at mumma-milla.com---Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.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.

Do you find it hard to let go of control as the mother or primary caregiver? Have you ever been called too emotional, too assertive or too blunt in the workplace? Today, we unpack Loz's story about some cupcakes and find out why businesses should hire the diva. Plus, you share your stories on letting your partner make their own mistakes (or at least trying to) and when you've been told you're too much at work.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10: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.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is talking about getting out the door and to work on time, which is basically an Olympic sport as a parent.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

If you've listened to Ready or Not for a while, you might know that this is the second time that Liv Brown has been on the show. Last time we heard about her journey pre kids and then coming into motherhood as a mother of one thinking that stay at home motherhood would be for her, to slowly but surely discovering her creativity, discovering her niche.And that is Rattle Style. She's a stylist for mums. She works across a variety of creative projects, and just as her bump was growing with her second baby, so too was her business. In our first chat, we discuss all of that and more. But in today's episode, I wanted to find out how navigating going from one to two has been for her.And as someone that didn't quite stop work in my second postpartum, I wanted to know how Liv had tackled all of that and more. As you'll hear, she had some really stressful weeks with sickness and hospital stays with both of her babies when she brought her second baby Otis into the world and through all of that, she had to somehow navigate her paid work and her growing community, too.Here we talk about the DMs and the messages that might be well meaning but sometimes aren't all that helpful when you're trying to navigate so much as a mum and a worker, and all of the ways in which she's found going from one to two easy and... not so easy. If this intro sounds incredibly off the cuff, that's because I'm bloody anxious. I have so much to do today. But it is also because this conversation IS off the cuff and casual. That's the way I try to keep it when someone is returning to the show for the second time. So hopefully this feels like chatting amongst friends as opposed to an interview.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10: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.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WITCHES! Somehow, it's officially been one year of Witching Hour and these pretend cousins want to thank you for being here with some more yapping. So, how's Loz's meditation challenge going? What about the run club she's joined? Why does dinner time coming around so quickly and what's worse - food shopping and cooking, or thinking about food shopping and cooking? Plus, when in a job interview should you discuss flexible working arrangements? We discuss all this and then some in our 52nd episode of Witching Hour.--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.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is talking about how to answer those RIDICULOUS questions you might face when you return to paid work.---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

For some mothers, the idea of leaving their baby - particularly in those first few months or even years - feels excruciating, irreconcilable, even. For others, having space to engage in pursuits outside of mothering feels important, perhaps even necessary.Both feelings are valid and on this particular subject, I'm a chameleon. Every day, my wants and needs as a mother and a professional turn a new shade - my feelings are never stagnant, they're ever-changing.I've often said that if there was a way to simultaneously strap my babies to my chest and have them 10 kilometres away from me at all times, I'd be content. So deep is the tension that exists between wanting both, so deep is the paradox that is modern motherhood. And perhaps there is nothing that quite magnifies that tension as much as navigating the murky waters of motherhood and career.It's something that today's guest knows all about. Lauren Perrett had a panic attack during a meeting in New Zealand when returning to paid work, and I don't think it's a stretch to say it changed everything for the mother of two. And eventually, she'd go on to launch BubbaDesk - the co-working service with onsite childcare that is quite literally changing lives.Here, we talk finding meaning in paid work, how that meeting in New Zealand would go on to change her path, and why mothers and parents need more choice when it comes to childcare.--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.

WOWEE we are taking you places today, our friends. From Loz's kid-free trip to Bali with her husband and Lu feeling like she and her husband are getting through the hardest part of two under two, to why George Clooney should take a leaf out of Gourmet Traveller's book (we're looking at you Brad Pitt) and Jane Fonda's reflections on her parenting, this episode covers a LOT. Plus, Loz shares what she fears most as her kids need her less and a listener wrote in about feeling like a failure in business and we want to pick her the feck UP!--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10: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.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Lu is talking all things telling your boss you're pregnant. --LU'S LINKS:Here at the two episodes that discuss how to tell your boss that you're pregnant in a new job:Ask Loz for motherhood and career advice, just don't ask her to meditateBritney Spears: “If I got upset and asserted myself, I was out of control and crazy” and "HELP! I'm unexpectedly pregnant in a new job" Links for knowing your rights:Fair Work: Entitlements while pregnantHuman Rights website: A quick guide to your rights.Governement parental leave information---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

For decades, women and mothers have been hiding. We cover up our breasts as we feed our babies because since forever, our breasts have been sexualised. How dare you get those tarty things out to offer nourishment to that hungry, tired love of your life. Put them away.We hide the blood that drops between our legs because we've been told it's disgusting. And what's more repulsive, more unattractive, more intolerable, they tell us, is the mood swings that it brings. A woman on her period, they say, is crazy.And often, we hide the depths of our feelings as we navigate the throes of early motherhood, because we're meant to be grateful. We're meant to be giving. We're meant to be naturally good at it.That doesn't leave much room for comfort in motherhood, in fact it creates a feeling entirely opposite to warmth. And that is loneliness.And it was when Keshia Hutchens and Ariel Bryant were walking the streets of Melbourne with their third babies that they wondered - interrogated, even - why there wasn't a safe space for mothers to go. To think and feel and learn and question and laugh and cry. And so, they created From Day One; a space that is pulling mothers from outside of their own four walls and bringing them their village.From how the two co-founders have made work, work over the years, to the magic that they're witnessing between the mothers who are making up the village that is From Day One, this is a special conversation about loneliness and the antidote to it.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10: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.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Tuesday. In today's episode, Loz is enraged by a not so relaxing meditation session, and we answer four listener questions, all about the conundrums that mothers often face when it comes to navigating paid work.Links:Here is the previous Witching Hour episode we reference about becoming pregnant in a new role.Here is the Tits & Tricks episode we reference on all things resumes. --Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10: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.

Max Jahufer is the founder of creative agency, Future Studio. He’s also a proud trans father who will make his film debut in an upcoming comedy drama about a trans woman returning home for Christmas, and all the tension, secrets and lies that come with it.Having always felt like the different kid, Max is open about the extra layer of what it means to bring up a child in a family that is perceived as different, and as the first dad on this show, I learn what it’s like returning to work just two weeks after your baby is born.Here, we talk navigating work and parenting as the secondary caregiver, moving the family up to Queensland to be part of the film, and the importance of being surrounded by people with open minds.---Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.Follow Max and Paris's journey here.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz offers some advice on actionable items you can tick off (from pregnancy to the return to work itself) to make the transition that much smoother. ---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

As a youngest child with three older brothers, I've always been fascinated by sisters and the way I witnessed sisterhood play out among friends and family as a kid, and I think that's why I found today's guests and co-founders of The Big Sister Experience so interesting.As they're about to tell you, while their best friends, business partners, perhaps even each other's soul mate in a lot of ways, Bianca and Kritz Sciessere could not be more different in a lot of ways. Bianca longed for and dreamed of motherhood her entire life, and while I wouldn't describe Kritz as apathetic towards motherhood, it certainly didn't consume her thoughts in the same way.And so as you can imagine, this led to tensions when Bianca took her first parental leave. The training wheels were on as the two were thrown into the deep end of figuring out how to manage their booming business while Bianca was finding her feet as a first time mum, and with both sisters feeling lonely and challenged in their own unique way, it led to their first and only big fight in five years of business. And they're here to tell us all about it.But not only are the two navigating motherhood and business, through their work, they're offering a transformative journey for girls and gender-diverse students, dedicated to inspiring the next generation.So not only was I deeply interested to hear about their journey of navigating motherhood and sisterhood in business, I also wanted to learn about the youth of today - what gives them hope, what the common themes are, and what's challenging them. I learned so much that I will apply to my own children and I know that you will to.What a special chat. I hope you love it as much as I loved talking to them.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10: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.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Tuesday.In today's episode, we:Deep dive motherhood depictions in Mrs Doubtfire and Gilmore GirlsPlus, Lu asks diversity and inclusion specialist Rana Hussain all about how we can foster inclusion with our children and educate them to encourage belonging for all.--Links:Find Rana on Instagram here.Listen to Rana's Ready or Not interview here.Listen to the belonging episode (feat. Rana) of The Outer Sanctum here.Listen to Penny Moodie's Ready or Not interview here.--Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10: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.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. This week, for the first time ever, we have a special guest host and former Ready or Not interviewee Ellen Hooper. Ellen is an executive coach and a podcaster herself, and today she's talking all about imposter syndrome and how to say goodbye to it. As we learned recently, it's an experience that we're learning most mums feel when returning to paid work and Ellen has some quick tips to help you overcome and challenge the useless beast that is imposter syndrome.Ellen's Links:Read the HBR article Ellen mentions here.Listen to Ellen's Ready or Not episode here.Sign up to her free session on saying goodbye to imposter syndrome here.Follow her on Instagram here and find links to all of the other amazing work she's doing from there!---Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:Breastfeeding and Returning to WorkChildcare 101Postpartum and Return to Work PlanningYou can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod---Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.podThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

When I sat down to record this chat with my friend and the founder of Emeldo Emily Dornbusch, I warned her that I might sound a little bit more professional and a little less like me. But on listening back, it's actually the listeners that I need to warn, because this conversation is probably about as honest a depiction of making work, work alongside motherhood as you'll get. We have a baby that magically discovered a cough just as the mother of two who's pregnant with her third sat down to join us and you can only imagine the anxiety that gave me. We have a tech failure that means we're very cosily sharing the same mic, and at the start of the interview, you can hear Posie feeding.So, it's a little chaotic. There's background noise and a lot more chatter than you might be used to here, but I hope that it mirrors the sort of conversations we all have with the friends that we make through motherhood. There was so much of Emily's story that I've never heard and it was really fun to get to know the version of her that existed before kids.She founded her jewellery brand during the glory days of Instagram and has had incredible success. But, as money pressures have mounted as her family has grown, she's recently taken on another paid role on top of running her business, raising two children, and navigating her third pregnancy.Here, we talk about the sometimes harsh realities of small business, how she made the decision to seek employment outside of Emeldo, and what she's looking forward to as she gets ready to welcome her third baby.And she's actually giving our listeners 20% off her incredible collection - all you have to do is use code READY20 at emeldo.com.EMELDO DISCOUNT CODEListeners of Ready or Not can use code READY20 for 20% off Em's incredible collection of colourful jewellery and accessories, until 19th September at emeldo.com.And head to our Instagram to enter a cheeky giveaway!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.