Ready or Not

Welcome back to Dear Ready or Not, our weekly Q&A where you send us your questions on work, motherhood and everything in between, and we answer them honestly.This week you're asking us: Help! I need some advice for looking for a job on maternity leave. How to cope when you're let down by the support in your family (in this case my mum) gives us. How do I position a pay rise after returning from mat leave? I've been back for four months and our performance pay review is coming up. Got a question? Submit it anonymously here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ready or Not, the show where Loz and Lu try to figure out how to make work, work alongside motherhood. Today on the show:Is AI quietly becoming the new parenting village?And, are you grieving a stage of motherhood that hasn't even ended yet? Us too. Let's talk about it. (Read Jodi Wilson's piece here)—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Dear Ready or Not, our weekly Q&A where you send us your questions on work, motherhood and everything in between, and we answer them honestly.This week you're asking us: What's one motherhood and one work/career hack that you swear by at the moment?How have mums felt about their career after having a child? I don't want to be a stay at home mum but I also don't feel 100% driven at work either.How do I be part of a team culture that revolves around drinks and lunch?— Got a question? Submit it anonymously here! Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're bringing you a bonus episode, all about childcare. In this chat, we've teamed up with Care for Kids to cover:What the three-day guarantee actually means and who it impacts.Why waitlists are more competitive than you think, especially for under twos.The truth about daily fees and what you'll pay out of pocket.How the childcare subsidy works for second children and school-aged kids.The most common Centrelink mistake parents make.What to look for on a childcare tour beyond the obvious checklist.How to handle drop-offs and separation anxiety.What's changing nationally when it comes to childcare safety and quality standards.— Starting the childcare search? Join 3 million parents who choose Care for Kids to find the right care.Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ready or Not, the show where Loz and Lu try to figure out how to make work, work alongside motherhood. Today on the show:In the age of social media and constant hot takes, is the definition of the “good mother” constantly changing, or does society still favour one version of motherhood above all?And, as promised, Loz and Lu go more in depth about what their week to week logistics look like, including what the start of kindergarten and primary school is actually like. Got a question for Dear Ready or Not? Submit it anonymously here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Dear Ready or Not, our weekly Q&A where you send us your questions on work, motherhood and everything in between, and we answer them honestly.This week you're asking us: When should you ask for flexible work arrangements, now or closer to your return?Compressed work weeks are being removed from my workplace. What do I say to management to advocate for myself and those who currently have it?Job hunting while pregnant: when and how do you tell a potential employer?Got a question? Submit it anonymously here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chantella Perera was familiar with the juggle before motherhood ever entered the picture. Before motherhood, she was working two jobs as a professional athlete playing WNBL and AFLW, because women's sport alone would never cut it as a pay check. And then, when becoming a mum, it became the double shift – navigating the paid work alongside what society dubs the world's biggest job. And here, we talk all about it: the push pull and guilt that comes with being both the primary earner and the mother, how Chantella went from someone that went from hiding her motherhood journey at work to now being open about it, and how her relationship with feminism has changed over time.Chantella is also incredibly vulnerable in reflecting on what it's like to become a mum after losing your own, and she's really open about the fact that while she adores her kids and would never regret them, she's not sure if she ever really considered what motherhood actually entailed before she became a mum herself. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ready or Not, the show where Loz and Lu try to figure out how to make work, work alongside motherhood. Today on the show:How early is too early to put your name on a childcare waitlist? And then, Flexibility for mums is great, but can we start talking about flexibility for dads, too?Plus, here's the Rana Hussain article that Lu referred to—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Dear Ready or Not, our weekly Q&A where you send us your questions on work, motherhood and everything in between, and we answer them honestly.This week, you're asking us:Should you stick it out in a job you don't love if you're planning to have another baby.How to let go of perfectionism when you're already stretched and thinking about another baby.And how to actually prepare for starting kindergarten, particularly when it comes to lunchboxes.Got a question? Submit it anonymously here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ready or Not, the show where Loz and Lu try to figure out how to make work, work alongside motherhood. Today on the show:What does seeing me work all the time do to my kids? We go deep on that piece on The Cut that's gone viral. Then:“I've lost my ambition, and I'm okay with it…”: Amil Niazi is the author of a new book called Life After Ambition: A Good Enough Memoir, and she recently shared an excerpt of it on Chatelaine that had led us on a meandering conversation of what ambition means and where we're at with it. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Dear Ready or Not, our weekly Q&A where you send us your questions on work, motherhood and everything in between, and we answer them honestly.This week you're asking us: How to do a full-time job in four days.How long to take off for baby number two without derailing your career.What to do when work wants you in the office more, even though it clearly makes life harder, not better.Got a question? Submit it anonymously here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ready or Not, the show where Loz and Lu try to figure out how to make work, work alongside motherhood. Today on the show:Loz goes deep on the fascinating research that tells us how mums start the new year, and just a hint, it's not “new year new me” and,How to go back to work at a job that makes you feel hollow. This is a brilliant post I stumbled upon on Instagram, and for those of us sitting at our desks feeling a little despondent, I thought this might be the pep in the step that we all need. And particularly today but also everyday, it feels particularly important to acknowledge that 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.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. This week on Witching Hour, we flipped the script and answered your questions, the ones flooding our DMs every week about career, parenting, and everything in between. Some of the questions we chat about include:Can you get promoted part-time?How do I handle work guilt when my child is sick?How much parental leave should I take if I run my own business?How do I switch from work mode to mum mode?Is a boring but flexible job worth it?How do I deal with pass-ag colleagues when it comes to judgement on working within school hours?When can I “lean back in” after having kids?How do I make a career pivot on mat leave? This episode is a re-run, we have fresh content coming to your ears next week!—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophie Cachia is coming into her own in her mid thirties, and she's been on quite the journey to get there. She had her first baby at 23, at a time when her career wasn't certain and people assumed that pregnancy and motherhood would mean the end of it, and just last year, as a successful businesswoman in her mid thirties, her youngest baby entered her family – a family that, as Sophie will tell you herself, didn't look exactly as she would've anticipated at the age of 20.In between all of that, there's been separating with her older children's dad, building her business, the online trolling that came with her growing success, and finding love again. Here, we talk about the petrifying feeling of knowing how quickly it'll all pass and how that informs her mothering, why the fire in her belly is still aflame but burns differently now, what those OG mummy blogger days were like – from the good bits to the nastier side – and what it's been like to build her multimillion dollar sweepwear label, Cachia.—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:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Today on the show:Australia's most toxic companies Why are we still acting like flexibility for working mums is a favour? —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! We've got some big things happening in 2026 and a few changes as requested by you. You can expect a little bit more of Loz and Lu this year - we hope you're as excited as we are!—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort-of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Today on the show:We look back at last year's New Year's resolutions and give ourselves a very honest report card. We unpack what stuck, what didn't, and what we actually learned.Loz and Lu also set their intentions for the year ahead… let's see what actually sticks!In this episode we cover: default parent syndrome, saying no, mum guilt, post-partum self care, identity shifts, relationship reconnection, mental load pressure, kinder transitions and what resolutions look like when you're raising small humans.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Except for today, where Loz answers a whole heap of questions with producer Kitch! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.This week, Loz is talking about feeling stuck at work after maternity leave. A listener who returned to work three years ago has written in, she's feeling underpaid, overwhelmed by job hunting, and unsure of her next move. In this episode, Loz shares a step-by-step plan to get clear on what's keeping you stuck, explore internal opportunities, tackle pay gaps, and job hunt in a way that feels manageable. If you're wondering whether to stay or go, this episode will help you figure it out. — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Except for today, where Lu answers a whole heap of your listener questions with producer Kitch! Next week, you'll hear from Loz. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.This week, Loz is talking about how to negotiate a more flexible working situation that works for you.— Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frances Bilbao founded Mums Matter Psychology when her oldest child was just three months old, and now, alongside raising three children her practice has grown into a social enterprise supporting more than 4,000 families each year with over 120 clinicians nationwide. So, as you might've guessed, she's learned a lot of what parents need. And I love hearing from parents that are also psychologists, because they just get it, from both the professional and personal point of view.Here, we hear all about building her business alongside raising children, why we need to take sleep deprivation more seriously (which if you've listened to this show for a while, you'll know is a hill I'd die on), how society is letting down families and why we need to stop gaslighting mums into thinking the struggle comes from within them. This episode is a warm hug, and while you'll still hear Loz and I chat each week, this is the perfect way to finish off our interviews for 2025 before our schedule changes a little next year. But more on that in the new year. For now, let's hear from Frances. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour, the show where two mums and sort-of cousins figure out how to make work work. This week, we answer your biggest Christmas and end-of-year questions, including:• Are we all doing Christmas Day wrong by visiting multiple houses• What's the actual etiquette for daycare and teacher gifts when budgets are tight• How to survive working through school holidays without drowning in mum guilt• What to say when your family expects long-distance Christmas travel with overstimulated kids• How to shut down parenting comments without causing a festive feud• Whether you're entitled to return part-time after maternity leave• If it's bad to ditch your mother's group when the chat is only sleep schedules• And the spicy one: is accepting less responsibility for the same pay a feminist failure… or the smartest decision a working mum can make—In this episode we cover: Christmas family politics, emotional labour in motherhood, school holiday stress for working parents, teacher and educator gift etiquette, overstimulation in young kids, parenting boundaries with relatives, flexible work after maternity leave, Fair Work return-to-work entitlements in Australia, breastfeeding and pumping at work, inadequate corporate parents rooms, mother's group expectations, maternal mental load, burnout in working mothers, identity shifts after returning to work, workplace discrimination and flexible work negotiations, and feminist debates around choosing balance versus ambition.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.Find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent, and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.This week, Loz shares her best tips on what to do if you're made redundant on maternity leave.— Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephanie Vizard has thought and written a lot about parenting, relationships, and work. Her first novel, The Love Contract, was directly inspired by maternity leave and in her most recent release, A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances, Steph explores the dynamics between mothers and daughters, and how their relationship is impacted by really different attitudes to work, ambition, and parenting.But when she's not writing, she works as a lawyer. And here, we hear all about navigating both the corporate and creative sides of her career as a mum who wants to be as successful as her dad has been and as good to her kids as her mum has been to her. Here, we talk about drowning under the weight of it all even when on paper all your dreams have come true, starting a new job when you're also newly pregnant, and what it feels like when your body starts to feel like yours again after years of sharing it with your children. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort-of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Today on the show:We unpack All Her Fault - the film, the mindset, and the moment that made us rage. Is it really all her fault, or just the default?Loz and Lu reflect on some of the moments that they're proud of and surprised by in both motherhood and career this year. —In this episode we cover: default parent syndrome, Christmas burnout, maternal identity loss, the mental load, gendered time inequality, stay-at-home vs working parent expectations, unpaid labour, household dynamics. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.Find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent, and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Apologies for some dodgy bits of audio in this episode, unfortunately we couldn't come up with a solution that we could get to in time because our batteries are low but we still love you and thank you for listening anyway] Welcome back to the third and final part of The Low Battery Book Club, where we consume way too much culture and talk way too much trash. If you need to play catch up on the first episode of this series, you can find it here. The second episode, where we unpacked cancel culture and Clare Stephens' new book, The Worst Thing I've Ever Done, can be found here.On the show today:We share our favourite recs of the month (something old, something new, something high, something low)We deep dive Chosen Family by Madeleine Gray We talk about the business of book covers.AND! Charley gives you a whole lot of recs based off what you've been loving reading. And here's our ‘something old, something new, something high, something low' for December…Charley:Old favourite: Midnight's Children by Salman RushdieNew: Mushroom Tapes!! High: The Fashion Neurosis podcast with Bella Freud and The Rachel Incident filming underway!Lowbrow but loving: Great British Bake OffLu:Old: Heartburn by Nora EphronNew: One Battle After Another on Apple TVHigh: Sophie Gilbert interview on the Wheeler Centre podcast Low: That the Lily Allen album came out just before we recorded our last episode.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.This week, Loz is sharing everything you need to know about starting a new business as a mum. From navigating the costs and admin to finding time and maintaining your sanity, she'll share the lessons she's learned and the advice she wishes she had from the start. If you've got a business idea brewing or you're already in the thick of it, this one's packed with practical tips on all the how-to's.— Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the overnight fame that came with winning Miss Universe Australia in 2010, model, presenter, and now co-owner of  bioactive honey company Honey for Life Jesinta Franklin has always done things differently. From the get-go, she was never going to let her public and private lives get too close, and she's a unique example of what straddling both worlds can look like. For example, she may have protected her kids' privacy well before the conversation entered the zeitgeist, but she's always been open about the fertility struggles and pregnancy losses she had to wade through to get her firstborn. She's always been interested in business, but she wanted to make sure the thing she was contributing to actually meant something to her. And here, she spares no detail in reflecting on her motherhood and career journey. We talk about the challenging path she walked to become a mum, how that journey only made her becoming pregnant with her second child at just three months postpartum all the more surprising, what it was like to navigate early motherhood while her husband Lance (aka Buddy) Franklin was in quarantine hubs for the AFL season, the shame she felt around breastfeeding challenges, and what she's excited about now that she waits to become a mum for the third time. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: being a young mum, going from one to two, solo parenting, recurrent miscarriage, pregnancy loss, business, honey, Jesinta Franklin, Lance Franklin, third time pregnancy, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, modelling, bounce back culture, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Today on the show:The great school holiday juggle: Who's actually getting a break? (spoiler alert - it's not mums)Australia's unpaid labour is worth $688 billion and women are doing most of it.—In this episode we cover: school holidays and the mental load, invisible labour and emotional burnout, working motherhood, overstimulation, default parent culture, the cost of school holiday activities, juggling work and care, mum guilt and overwhelm, why women absorb the planning and prep, and how families can actually survive the holiday juggle without losing their minds.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.Find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent, and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.This week, Loz takes you through the five interview questions that may just help you land your dream job.— Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jodi Wilson has led an unconventional life. She became pregnant with her first of four children at 22, she's always worked as a freelancer and was even one of the OG mummy bloggers, she lives in a rural part of Tasmania, and she's deeply interested in researching and writing about both motherhood and what our brains and bodies need to live well. So, while Jodi's experience with making work, work as a mum might not represent the average, there's so much wisdom to be learned from her life's work, and from what the science shows us about motherhood, our brains, and what we actually need to live well and navigate the chaos.Here, we talk about the reason motherhood is so hard, what she thought would happen to her career after becoming pregnant at 22, the indigenous economic concept of enoughness, and how we teach our children to be more human in an increasingly AI world. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: being a young mum, writing books, working as a freelancer, living a slow life, mental health, navigating AI with children, raising teenagers, motherhood, parenting, writing, career and so much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Today on the show:Should you show your kids' faces online, or not? What started as a simple privacy decision has become a full-blown cultural divide.Plus, we chat about women's rights that are more recent than you thought.—In this episode we cover: kids' privacy online, share-enting and digital footprints, mum-shaming and judgment culture, posting children on social media, online safety for kids, consent and parenting, influencer culture and family content, children's rights and online boundaries, plus how modern motherhood shapes our digital identity and the pressure mums feel to get it right in every direction.—This episode contains a branded segment from Ergopouch! If you'd like to shop their upcoming Black Friday sale, here's all the T's & C's:Shop here: https://shorturl.at/JnSGz T&Cs30% OFF sitewide on our pouches, layers and bedding, PLUS 20% OFF Drift Home Baby Monitor and Smart TOG Guide, and Free delivery across our Lyra and Skye Cots, prices as marked. Promotion runs from 9am 20th November until 11:59 AET 1st December 2025. The offer excludes online Lyra Cot, Skye Cot, Deluxe Mattress, Gift Cards, Multi Buys, Bundle Packs and Sale Products, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or promotion__Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.Find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent, and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.This week, 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.— Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last time I interviewed Clare Stephens for Ready or Not (and just as a side note… if you haven't listened, I highly recommend you go back and listen to that one before this, which is here) she was just under a year into motherhood, she was working at Mamamia, and she'd just completed the manuscript for her now-published book, The Worst Thing I've Ever Done, which through the lens of fiction, examines what it means to be both at the bottom and at the top of a social media pile on. Two key themes emerged from that vulnerable and relatable episode for me: the idea of untangling shame that can come in motherhood, which, for Clare, particularly showed up in birth trauma and breastfeeding challenges, and the deep desire to give herself more grace.Now, her daughter's nearly two, she no longer works at Mamamia, she's a published author, and she's here to tell us all about the journey she's been on; with motherhood, her book, her podcast, and more. From what still lingers when she thinks about some of the challenges she faced in birth and postpartum to her decision to leave Mamamia to what's often at the heart of a social media pile on, here, Clare Stephens is back to be every bit as reflective and vulnerable as she was when I first met her here a year ago. —This episode contains a branded segment from Ergopouch! If you'd like to shop their upcoming Black Friday sale, here's all the T's & C's: Shop here: https://shorturl.at/JnSGz T&Cs30% OFF sitewide on our pouches, layers and bedding, PLUS 20% OFF Drift Home Baby Monitor and Smart TOG Guide, and Free delivery across our Lyra and Skye Cots, prices as marked. Promotion runs from 9am 20th November until 11:59 AET 1st December 2025. The offer excludes online Lyra Cot, Skye Cot, Deluxe Mattress, Gift Cards, Multi Buys, Bundle Packs and Sale Products, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or promotion__ Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: breastfeeding, writing a book, Mamamia, Clare Stephens, The Worst Thing I've Ever Done, motherhood, quitting your job, freelancing, Substack, The Pile On podcast, birth trauma, navigating toddlers, press tours, the publishing world, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour, the show where two mums and sort-of cousins figure out how to make work work. This week, we talk about:• What really hits harder: going from one to two kids or zero to one • How to prepare emotionally and practically for two under two • The fear of telling work you're pregnant again • Whether your promotion dreams are still alive after maternity leave • How to study, pivot or completely reinvent your career with young kids • Why women need to stop apologising for taking up space • The identity crisis that comes with working less (or more) • And the big one: is anyone actually handling both motherhood and work… or are we all just pretending?—In this episode we cover: Motherhood and career overwhelm, returning to work after babies, going from one to two kids, preparing for two under two, maternal mental load, emotional labour in parenting, sleep deprivation and identity shifts, workplace discrimination in pregnancy, parental leave entitlements in Australia, confidence and communication at work, promotions after maternity leave.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.Find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent, and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.This week, Loz talks about work life ‘balance' and if there's such a thing. She also candidly chats about her own experience and what she's doing to make work, and life, that little bit smoother. — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Pound is a force. She's a mum of three, she's currently writing her third cookbook, she has a range in Australia's leading supermarkets and one million people follow her on Instagram for her simple and healthyish approach to cooking. And while she doesn't have any whimsy stories of cooking with her nonna from the age she could walk, she did always dream of writing a cook book one day, so here, from primary school teaching to catering to the Wholesome by Sarah brand blowing up, she tells us all about it how she got to where she is today.Here, we talk about finding the thing that makes you happy, why she won't apologise for being proud of herself, the stress that comes with breastfeeding challenges, and how she's found the transition going from two to three children.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: breastfeeding, cooking, newborns, going from two to three children, being a business owner, being a working mum, small business, catering, writing, cook books, recipe ideas, cooking for young families, motherhood and parenting.—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.#sarahpound #wholesomebysarah #smallbusiness #entrepeneur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Today on the show:The new wave of women selling money manifestation and abundance mindset courses - is it empowerment or exploitation? Plus, new research shows young Australian women are becoming more supportive of traditional gender roles than they were 14 years ago. What's driving it, and what does it mean for the next generation?—In this episode we cover: manifestation culture, money and motherhood, female empowerment, influencer marketing, abundance mindset myths, gender roles and relationships, feminism and financial literacy, the rise of trad wives, preventing violence against women, and how social media shapes young women's attitudes about power, privilege, and equality.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.Find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent, and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.Today, Loz chats with psychologist, author and mum Jacquie Ward about raising sensitive kids - the ones who feel things deeply, notice everything and can get overwhelmed by the big emotions that come with everyday life.Jacqui breaks down what sensitivity actually is (spoiler: it's a biological trait, not a parenting style), how to handle meltdowns without making things worse, and why sensitive kids often grow into the most empathetic and creative adults.They also unpack the overlap between sensitivity and ADHD, how to support boys to express emotion, and why parents shouldn't try to toughen up sensitive kids. Find Jacqui on Instagram at @jacquie_ward_ or visit https://www.jacquieward.com.au/ for her resources and book.— Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —In this episode, we cover: sensitive kids, emotional regulation, parenting strategies, ADHD and emotional reactivity, raising boys, empathy and resilience, classroom support, and practical ways to create calm at home.—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Using Gen's full name, which is Genevieve La Hunt feels a bit weird, and it's not just because she's a good friend of Loz's, my Witching Hour co-host, of course, and the host of Ask Ready or Not. It's because when I jumped off this recording, I felt like I had just chatted with a friend myself. Gen is the founder of Sunday Agency. She works in publicity and PR she's had a really interesting career.But what was more interesting about her was just how real she is. You will not meet anyone who talks as straight as Gen. She really resented owning a business, particularly in the early days of motherhood. She resents that she worked from the hospital. She resents that she sent emails while she was in labor. She doesn't think this girl boss thing really applies when she talks about how she's had to navigate paid work and motherhood Instead, here, she offers something really real. With all that in mind, you could then be expecting a negative piece of conversation, but that's not what you're going to get today. You're going to get a really realistic look into what it's like to navigate business as the mum, as the boss. You're going to hear about her corporate experiences and what the difference between really good management and really terrible management looks like, especially when it comes to her really challenging fertility journey and a traumatic miscarriage,And you're going to learn about what it's taught her, about being a leader and being in business as a parent and with a family today. There's lots of swearing, there's lots of fun. There is so much honesty. It really is one of my favorite conversations to date.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: publicity, pregnancy loss, miscarriage, fertility, trying to conceive, leadership skills, publicity, public relations, being a mum in business, founder story, working mum, working motherhood and more.—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Today on the show:When she earns more: what Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce reveal about modern relationships, power, and money. Are we as progressive as we think, or do we still quietly expect men to earn more?And are mums more worried about dads enjoying parenthood than dads are about mums surviving it?—In this episode we cover: female breadwinners, money and marriage, gender roles in relationships, ambition and motherhood, career identity after kids, emotional labour and equality at home, stay-at-home dads, the mental load, modern partnerships, feminism in relationships, financial power dynamics, and what Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship says about changing gender norms.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.Find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent, and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to The Low Battery Book Club, a bonus monthly three-parter in collaboration with Charley from Book Smut, where we consume way too much culture and talk way too much trash. If you need to play catch up on the first episode of this series, you can find it here.On the show today:We share our favourite recs of the month (something old, something new, something high, something low)We deep dive The Worst Thing I've Ever Done by Clare Stephens, talking pile-ons, cancel culture, phone addictions and the tension between our private and public lives.Plus, we talk all things smutty, horny reading – Charley gives us the stats on the rise of the dragon porn genre and what to read next if you need more libido stirring reads. We pick our December book club pick and land on the extra books we promise to read before we meet again.And here's our ‘something old, something new, something high, something low' for November…Charley:Old favourite: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid New: CANNOT WAIT for The Mushroom Tapes (Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, Sarah Krasnostein) and If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (Nov 13, Rose Byrne, Conan O'Brien)High: Ghost Cities by Siang LuLowbrow but loving: Love is Blind Lu:Old: Re-watched The Family Stone in honour of Diane Keaton. Grab a tissue box and do yourselves a favour.New (for her, anyway): Nymphet Alumni podcast. (Fave episodes: Magazine Girl & Fashion and Psychoanalysis w Dr Valerie Steele) High(s): In Vogue: The 90s – Disney, six episodes. Sentimental Garbage's episode on Diane Keaton, especially the excerpt at the end from her book ‘Then Again.' The Pitt on HBO Max, finally watching and loving. Low: Losing Jane Goodall AND Diane Keaton since we last recorded. RIP icons.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@book_smut @lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: Clare Stephens, internet pile-ons, cancel culture, Diane Keaton, Jane Goodall books, book club, new movies, pop culture, sentimental garbage, Caroline O'Donoghue.— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.If your hormones have felt completely out of whack since having kids, think mood swings, brain fog, low energy or irregular cycles, this one's for you. Loz chats with Mel, founder of The Seed Cycle, about the science behind seed cycling and why this ancient ‘woo woo' practice actually works.Mel breaks down how specific seeds can help balance estrogen and progesterone, what to do if your period's irregular after birth, and why syncing with the moon can help when your cycle's still finding its rhythm. She also shares the real signs your hormones might be out of balance, the role stress plays, and how small nutrition tweaks can make a big difference to your mood and energy.Find Mel's products and resources at theseedcycle.com.au or follow her on Instagram at @theseedcycle.— Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —In this episode: hormone health, seed cycling, postpartum hormones, nutrition for women, stress and cortisol, cycle syncing, and working mum wellbeing.—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Because my Witching Hour co-host and the host of Ask Ready or Not Loz is the yin to my yang, she always thinks of things that I don't. Take, the other week, for example. My entire family had been sick for over a month and it had left me completely dry of new interviews. When I was fretting about this, Loz said, Lu, there's so many old brilliant episodes that so many of our listeners have never heard. Play one of those. And one person came straight to mind: the queen of magazines and mother to four boys, Justine Cullen. I cringed through listening back to my original intro back in March 2023 in the 18th ever Ready or Not episode, and I want to play a bit for you so we can firstly laugh together and secondly, remind ourselves how far we've all come, because we'll all have an example of this. Here, we talk about why we all love Chilli Heeler, what life looks like when you're parenting both young kids and grown men, and the identity crisis that changed Justine's approach to work. If you want to get up to speed on what Justine is up to now, you can look her up on Instagram, but for now, please enjoy learning from and laughing with someone that I will always think of as iconic. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: the magazine industry, separation, single parenting, the publishing industry, writing a book, journalism, New York fashion week, pumping, breastfeeding, identity, ambition, career changes, media. —This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Today on the show:Why mums hide their ambition: are we still expected to apologise for loving our jobs, or has ambition become the new taboo for mothers?The trad wife trend: why a growing corner of social media is telling women to ditch their friends and find everything they need at home.—In this episode, we cover: ambition and motherhood, guilt and identity in working mums, feminist relationships, the value of female friendship, the mental load, loneliness and community, and the ongoing battle between caring and carrying.—Thanks for listening!If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.Find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent, and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.This week, Loz chats with Nicole Gleeman, emergency nurse and founder of Rhythm First Aid and Bumpies, about what to actually do when your child gets sick, injured, or starts solids.Nicole has spent over a decade in emergency departments, and she's on a mission to make parents feel calm and confident when the chaos hits. She shares what's normal when it comes to constant daycare bugs, when to go to the doctor or emergency, and the signs of dehydration you should never ignore.You'll hear her myth-busting takes on fevers, choking, croup, and burns plus the truth about probiotics, Panadol, and what to actually keep in your first-aid kit.Find Nicole online at @rhythmfirstaid and @bumpies_— Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover what to do when your child gets sick or injured, how to handle fevers and gastro at home, when to go to the GP or emergency, spotting dehydration, starting solids safely, understanding allergic reactions, treating burns, croup and choking basics, and building confidence with first aid as a parent.— This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs has learnt a lot about life; as a boss, a mum, and a daughter. She's someone that worked hard to build a career for herself. That work led her to London and from The Rolling Stones to the Royal Wedding to the Olympics, it's fair to say it was a heady time of big adventures and a fast pace. But, while her early career was characterised by being the first to her desk and the last to leave, she's since been on a path of interrogating her relationship with success. This hard work eventually led to burnout, which collided with navigating pregnancy and the loss of her dad, and here, Rebecca tells us all about this time and what it's taught her.Here, we talk about how to find joy in work, what it felt like to send her son to childcare on what society would deem the early side of the scale, and the toxic societal narratives about where exactly a woman should be, and what it is that she should be doing.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: Losing a parent, redefining success, being the boss and the mum, starting childcare, daycare, working full time alongside motherhood, the juggle of being a working mum, business advice, being a boss.—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour – the show where two mums and sort of cousins figure out how to make work, work. Today on the show:Parents fined $11,000 for school refusal: why the system is punishing families instead of supporting them and why it's always mums who cop the blame.Alex Cooper's viral “stop mothering your partner” take: where's the line between caring and carrying the mental load?—In this episode, we cover: school refusal and parental fines, gender inequality in parenting, emotional and mental load, feminist relationships, communication in partnerships, working motherhood, systemic pressures on families, and the daily juggle of career and care.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover practical money advice for mothers, financial wellbeing and advocacy, budgeting through maternity leave, how to manage childcare costs, ways to start investing with small amounts, realistic savings tips for working mums, navigating financial inequality and superannuation after kids, how to talk to your partner about money, creating long-term financial security, and building financial confidence while juggling motherhood and career.—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It's Ready or Not's tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.This week, Loz chats with Frances Cook, financial journalist, author, and host of New Zealand's number one business podcast, Making Sense, about practical money hacks that actually work for busy mums.Frances breaks down how to budget through maternity leave, what the 50-30-20 rule really looks like when you've got kids, and the biggest financial traps new mums fall into. She shares her honest take on joint accounts, childcare costs, and why starting small with investing can be your smartest move.Find Frances online at @francescooknz — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—In this episode, we cover practical money advice for mothers, financial wellbeing and advocacy, budgeting through maternity leave, how to manage childcare costs, ways to start investing with small amounts, realistic savings tips for working mums, navigating financial inequality and superannuation after kids, how to talk to your partner about money, creating long-term financial security, and building financial confidence while juggling motherhood and career.—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung 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.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whenever we work with a brand that we love, I immediately want to know the founder's story. And when our manager relayed Poonami founder Ella Salera's motherhood and career journey back to me, I knew we had to interview her, because in so many ways, her story captures so many of the common challenges and experiences that our listeners face: working corporate while launching a side project, redundancy, two wildly different postpartum journeys, wondering if your postpartum symptoms are normal or something more, and the many challenges that come with starting a business. Here, we talk about the weight gain and symptoms that led to the diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease after her first baby, delivering her second baby six weeks early just after launching her business, unpacking the pressure to be perfect, and the gap that still exists between being a mum and a business owner. —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: Postpartum anxiety, premature birth, weight gain postpartum, hashimoto's disease, launching a business before giving birth, redundancy after maternity leave, returning to work, juggling motherhood and career, launching a business, small business, childcare sickness, identity and more.—This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.