Ready or Not

DEAR READY OR NOT: Is it okay to be one and done? Will extending mat leave hurt your career and are mums being unrealistic about money right now?Got a question? Submit it 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharina Simnett has been one of the biggest supporters of Ready or Not. Loz and I have shared many a conversation with her in our DMs, she's always the first to leave a comment on Substack, she often checked in at the time that she was looking for work that actually worked alongside motherhood, and, once she landed her dream role at Yoto, she brought us our most meaningful partnership to date, too. So when Yoto wanted to work with Ready or Not again, it became immediately obvious to Loz and I to get Sharina on to share her story with burnout, motherhood, how she judged mums in the workplace before she became one, and what's surprised her as someone who was career-obsessed before kids. Here, we cover how much her relationship with ambition has changed, the anxiety that came with a severe period of burnout, how she defines success now, the hack that means work life doesn't bleed too much into parenting life, and what she'd go back and tell her pre-motherhood self about the journey she has embarked on.Got a question for Dear Ready or Not? Submit it 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back!Things you thought you'd care about as a mum but you don't at all: With three kids, Loz has decided this is her year of caring less and she asked the people what they have decided to care less about and the answers do not disappoint.Ladies: tell us why “not all men” feels offensive. Lu saw a man ask this question online and it really got us thinking. Got a question? Submit it 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DEAR READY OR NOT: Will it ruin your career if you take a step back (or out) and re–enter later? What to do if you're in a senior role and the amount of travel is a nightmare and whether you should tell someone that they're being gossiped about in the office. Got a question? Submit it 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alicia Loxley is familiar with pressure. The pressure to succeed in an industry that most of her uni lecturers told her was too hard to make a career in, the pressure of what became an intense first pregnancy, ending in bed rest and potentially life threatening consequences for both her and her son, and the pressure she feels to always being doing well both as a mum and a journalist. And where she feels most pressure isn't from the job she's worked so hard in; it's in being a mum to three children. Here, we talk about why she can't understand people that don't identify as feminists, the discomfort that lies in being completely out of control when, before kids, we become accustomed to trying our best to control everything, what it's been like to navigate a public role that requires you to be sharp and presentable, when motherhood can make you feel the exact opposite, and why she now understand the cliche that to raise a teenage son is to experience the slowest breakup imaginable. I learned so much from Alicia, and if I'm honest, I wondered how open a journalist in the public eye feels she can be. I needn't have doubted her though; this is as candid a conversation as you'll hear. So let's get into it.Got a question? Submit it 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.Working mums, motherhood, parenting, feminism, returning to work.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the show! Coming up today:The state of screen time in our homes: We polled you on all things screentime and let's just say… we felt a little guilty and gobsmacked by the results. Then, Everyone is talking about that work from home grab from Emma Grede and we need to talk about it, and Joeli Brearley's reaction reel.Here's the clip we played at the top of the clip about babysitting.Got a question? Submit it 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.Working mums, motherhood, parenting, feminism, returning to work.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DEAR READY OR NOT: How do you tell your partner that works from home to get the f*ck out of the house while you're on maternity leave? Should you stay in a job you love with no flexibility? And should you be calling recruiters before applying for roles, or is that outdated advice?Got a question? Submit it 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL! Welcome back to a different episode of Ready or Not, where ahead of Mother's Day, Lu and Loz sit down with journos, mums, and best mates Estelle Griepink and Lana Murphy to reflect on what we'd go back and tell ourselves about:BirthPostpartumBreastfeedingGoing from one to twoReturning to paid workGot a question for Dear Ready or Not? Submit it 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DEAR READY OR NOT: How do you know when you're ‘done' having kids? Is more money worth less flexibility and what to do when you don't feel like having sex after you've had a baby. Got a question? Submit it 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back! Coming up today:Would you live in a world with no men? A viral street interview video seems to have created a bigger conversation, but are we really that surprised?Women have always been 50% of the population, yet only occupy around 5% of recorded history. We need to talk about 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.— In this episode, we cover: botox, school holidays, the manosphere, andrew tate, louis theroux, working mums, cosmetic procedures, facelifts, feminism, motherhood, parenting, postpartum, friendship, school. This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DEAR READY OR NOT: I covered her mat leave so why is she treating me like the problem now she's back? Do I stick it out with a moody manager while trying to get pregnant and how do I stop carrying the mental load without losing my mind. Got a question? Submit it 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back! Coming up today:We've been thinking about Botox way more than we'd like to admit. One of us has had it, the other hasn't, and we have plenty of conflicting thoughts. And then: Meet the women who lost their partners to the manosphere: that's from Bustle and yes, we're talking about the manosphere again.—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.— In this episode, we cover: botox, school holidays, the manosphere, andrew tate, louis theroux, working mums, cosmetic procedures, facelifts, feminism, motherhood, parenting, postpartum, friendship, school. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DEAR READY OR NOT: Should I extend my maternity leave if I'm not ready to go back? We're also talking about whether to take a lower-paying but more flexible job and how to grow your career without sacrificing the kind of mum you want to be.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.

Frank Body and Willow & Blake co-founder, soon-to-be published author and mum of two Bree Johnson talks motherhood, career, business, and making work, work alongside parenting.—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.— In this episode, we cover: imposter syndrome, business, writing, books, working mums, motherhood, parenting, postpartum, friendship, school. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the show where two mums Loz and Lu help you make work, work.Coming up on today's show:Why is everyone suddenly talking about 1, 2, 3, magic? Turns out it's getting Googled a lot and Loz is going to tell us why. And then, we talk all things breastfeeding: what we knew about breastfeeding before we had babies, what we wish we knew, and what we learned. Thank you to iL Tutto for sponsoring this episode! We absolutely LOVE their nursery chairs, perfect for breastfeeding mums. iL Tutto products are designed for ultimate comfort and support as new parents embark on their feeding, bonding, and sleep journey with their babies, designs their range with functionality, style, safety & support always at the forefront of mind.Both of ours are from iL Tutto's new TREND collection, the Louie Teddy and Taupe Corduroy.Use our discount code:Ready20 for 20% off full priced items available at iltutto.com.au, expires May 30, 2026. Excludes already discounted items, furniture packs and gift cards.— 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.

DEAR READY OR NOT: How do you keep your cool when your kids won't stop whinging? How to hold onto a five days in four arrangement when your workplace starts to pull back and how to future-proof your career with AI advancements. 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 the show where two mums Loz and Lu help you make work, work.Coming up on today's show:Your postcode might be shaping your career more than your job - it's becoming apparent how much of where you live dictates your day to day. I'm 42. If you're in your 30s, read this. I find myself quite pensive around my birthday and having just turned a year older, this post that I saw on Instagram stood out to me, so let's get into it together. — Thank you to iL Tutto for our beautiful nursing chairs from their new TREND range. You can use the code Ready20 for 20% off full priced items available at iltutto.com.au, expires May 30, 2026. Excludes already discounted items, furniture packs and gift cards.-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.

DEAR READY OR NOT: What's normal for paid parental leave in a small business? We're also talking about how to rebuild confidence after being fired and what to do if you have a crush at work.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:The Jeffrey Epstein Files: What the case reveals about power, sexual harassment and workplace culture. Is Gen Z already subconsciously building towards a matriarchy? One creator thinks so, and her viral post suggests she's not alone.Links for this ep: Read the Dumbo Feather piece here.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.

DEAR READY OR NOT: Should I stay in a toxic job after maternity leave? Plus how to ask for part-time work when you were previously full-time and ways to rebuild your confidence after redundancy.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.This episode is brought to you by Saily eSim! Get 15% off your eSim https://saily.com/readyornot and use our code 'readyornot' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase.Available in over 200 destinations. 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:The problem with modern parents? They fail to prioritise their children over having a good time, apparently. I Regret Having Children & Maybe Knowing Too Much About Motherhood Has Ruined Me: These two pieces come from The Cut and we simply must deep dive them. 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.This episode is brought to you by Saily eSim! Get 15% off your eSim https://saily.com/readyornot and use our code 'readyornot' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase.Available in over 200 destinations. 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 to do when one partner's career forces you to scale back yours?How do you handle a four day work week when you keep getting asked to work on your day ‘off'?I was made redundant, should I start my own business?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.This episode is brought to you by Saily eSim! Get 15% off your eSim https://saily.com/readyornot and use our code 'readyornot' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase.Available in over 200 destinations. 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:Why your newborn might be “sleeping better” than your toddler – Loz is in the trenches with sleep at the moment and no, it's not from her 9 month old, it's from her toddler who's 3. Nine things that genuinely make parenting better, from a parent educator and mum of four. Gen Muir recently shared the best tips and I want to unpack it with you and get your insights along the way. 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.This episode is brought to you by Saily eSim! Get 15% off your eSim https://saily.com/readyornot and use our code 'readyornot' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase.Available in over 200 destinations. 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: I currently work a 4 day work-week. Do I spend the day ‘off' with my toddler or put them in care and get on top of life / house work? How do you manage mum rage?Are parents moving away from gentle parenting?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.This episode is brought to you by Saily eSim! Get 15% off your eSim https://saily.com/readyornot and use our code 'readyornot' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase.Available in over 200 destinations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Carmody is someone that I've long admired from afar; for the way she's built her business and community, for the way she talks about the light and shade of parenting with so much candour and warmth, and for my now confirmed suspicion that the person you see on the internet is the exact same person that you'll meet in real life. She's just real.She's real about how much her first birth impacted the earlier days of her mothering journey. She's honest when it comes to recalling the lonely experience of being the first in the group to have a baby, and she won't gaslight you when it comes to answering the “how do you do it all?” question. Because hint: she doesn't even try to do it all. Here, we – you guessed it – get real on it all. Going from zero to one, going from one to two, more recently going from two to three, and how she's navigated her career alongside it. This felt so much like a chat between friends, and perhaps after listening, you might just feel like Amy is your friend too. So let's get into it. —Thanks for listening! Got a question? Submit it anonymously here! 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.This episode is brought to you by Saily eSim! Get 15% off your eSim https://saily.com/readyornot and use our code 'readyornot' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase.Available in over 200 destinations. 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 important are work relationships or really relationships in general? Loz was listening to a Mel Robbins podcast episode ‘called “This One Study Will Change How You Think About Your Entire Life” and it got her thinking Jemima Kirke Gives Her Most Honest Parenting Advice Yet: One of our listeners DMed this piece and we had to talk about it. 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.This episode is brought to you by Saily eSim! Get 15% off your eSim https://saily.com/readyornot and use our code 'readyornot' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase.Available in over 200 destinations. 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 do you navigate a job that's significantly more intense than the one you have now?How and when do you ask for 4 days or 3 days when the role was advertised for 5 days? Is it wrong that I'm bored on maternity leave? I'm 4 months in, absolutely obsessed with bub but bored. 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 this becoming the job no one wants? Loz's friend has noticed that children are no longer saying they want to be teachers when they grow up, so she went down a rabbit hole.And then, with International Women's Day coming up, let's talk about the hidden cost of being a woman. Find the Two Broke Chicks post 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: 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.