Spoiler alert: being a working parent is tough. We want to be part of a conversation that helps change that. We're talking to all kinds of parents, doing all kinds of work, to uncover their diverse and nuanced perspectives on how to cope with – and, better still – shift the current system to one where all mums and dads feel supported and entitled to pursue both parenthood and their career with equal gusto and no stigma attached.
Welcome to our final episode of Season 1 and certainly our most musical. Kick back and enjoy the banter with Dave over his love of music and the experiences that have come with it, the trigger for getting a "real" job and how he manages to squeeze it all in with his daughter Poppy in tow. We absolutely love how passionate Dave is about fatherhood and take solace in the fact that there are loads of other dads out there willing to drop days or even quit their jobs to spend quality time with their kids. Thanks for listening and until next time, Work Like a Motherfather.Credits:Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencySound & Music: Dave Higgins
Dr. Sarah Cotton is an organisation psychologist and an absolute specialist in the life transition into working parenthood + all of the craziness that comes with it. It was brilliant to chat through the techniques and thinking that organisations and individuals can apply to one of the biggest shifts you can endure in working life - becoming a mum or dad. We talked about switching off 'automatic pilot' and being deliberate about separating work and family life to give both aspects the time of day they deserve... and much more.Credits:Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencySound & Music: Dave HigginsShow notes: Transitioning Wellhttps://transitioningwell.com.au/Perinatal Workplace Wellbeing Programwww.pwwp.org.auCentre of perinatal excellence (Dr. Nicole Highet)https://www.cope.org.au/Eve Rodsky - Fair playhttps://www.fairplaylife.com/about-the-book
Anna Oxley Rintoul has a boundless capacity for humanity. Not only has she carved out a role combining her commercial savvy with her passion for social justice in one of the big four banks, Anna has the additional challenge of raising three kids - one of whom was diagnosed with autism in prep. So, how has Anna found the emotional reserves to face an uncertain parenting world head on? Tune in to hear her raw and inspiring account of the rough and tumble, the challenges and the joys, of family life and professional life with a neurodiverse child.Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencySound & Music: Dave HigginsShow notes: Takes a Village:https://takesavillage.com.auSally Rugg – How powerful we are:https://www.booktopia.com.au/how-powerful-we-are-sally-rugg/book/9780733642227.html?dsa=s1-east&gclid=Cj0KCQjwncT1BRDhARIsAOQF9Lk0omObL_LMWDiZ-wMFm9ilTPuCZwuyMf8_eY9iApM0mSzmi6y5DG0aAm4WEALw_wcBNDIS: https://www.ndis.gov.auEmployable me:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/employable-me-australiaLove on the Spectrum:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/love-on-the-spectrumAutism in Australia:https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/autism-in-australia/contents/autism
This episode is dedicated to helping working parents negotiate what is possibly one of the most testing times of their lives. Those stretched between working from home and assuming new roles and responsibilities as teachers, child carers and parents - it's full time and it's full on. So, tune in to hear the personal and practical advice from Mark Belanti, psychologist of over 15 years and Director of Carfi - an organisation specialising in occupational rehabilitation and resolution, clinical psychology and many other areas relevant in today's climate. Enjoy the therapy.Credits:Host: Tina FunderProduction: Mother Tongue AgencySound & Music: Dave HigginsShow notes:Carfi: https://www.carfi.net.au/ABC article on domestic gender divide:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-23/coronavirus-isolation-could-strain-relationships-at-home/12068104
A lawyer by trade, Prue Gilbert founded Grace Papers in 2010 with the ambition of championing inclusion and flexibility in some of Australia's largest corporates, assisting them to support working parents from pregnancy all the way through to return to work. It has been a very successful decade. We talked to Prue about diversity and equality in the workplace and the basics of understanding your rights as a working parent.Credits:Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencyMusic: Dave HigginsShow notes:Grace Papershttps://www.gracepapers.com.auGender Equality Act:https://www.vic.gov.au/gender-equality-billPaid parental leave OECD countries:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-17/fact-check-australia-paid-parental-leave/11270456
We chatted to Stephanie and Victoria well before Covid-19 came into play and the world moved to remote working. These powerhouse founders have been blazing trails in this space for a number of years. Working with corporates to embrace flexible and remote working and designing more fulfilling roles. And they are smashing it. So, if you're looking to implement flexible working in your organisation or a working parent looking for the perfect role - listen to these ladies.Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencySound & Music: Dave Higgins
John Ferguson is one of Australia's most highly regarded journalists and has worked in the game for over 35 years. His experience is global and includes many historical events. It has been a slog to get to where he is today and he didn't have the benefit of paid parental leave when his kids were young. So, what are John's thoughts on parental leave, flexible workplaces and remote working?Credits:Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencyMusic & Sound: Dave HigginsShow notes:George Colambaris:https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/the-rise-and-steep-fall-of-george-calombaris/news-story/4308e14acc628a190ab09b2e328a0a26
For over 30 years, Marise McConaghy has been in education. In addition to being school principal at Strathcona Girls Grammar, Marise is also president of the Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia and serves as a council member for the Centre of Strategic Education - all roles that position her as a champion for future generations. I chatted to her about how she is educating the next gen of female leaders, how Covid-19 has impacted her school and families and what the future of education looks lie from here. Credits:Host: Tina FunderProduction: Mother Tongue Agency - https://www.mothertongue.agencySound & Music: Dave Higgins - https://davehiggins.com.au/pre2019/Show notes:Strathcona Girls Grammar: https://www.strathcona.vic.edu.auAlliance of Girls Schools Australiasia:https://www.agsa.org.au/en/https://www.agsa.org.au/members-of-the-executive/Centre of Strategic Education:https://www.cse.edu.au
How has Sally Capp managed to blaze a trail of firsts both in corporate and public life? We chatted to The Lord Mayor of Melbourne about diving in head first, embracing the juggle and what cities can do to support working parents. We have a massive crush on this female leader and no doubt you will too by the end of this episode.Credits:Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencySound & Music: Dave HigginsShow notes:The McKinnon Prize:http://www.susanmckinnon.org.au/gladys-berejiklian-and-sally-capp-win-the-2019-mckinnon-prize-for-political-leadership/Melbourne University – Women are the business:https://fbe.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/sally-capp-is-a-career-chameleonICC T20 Women’s final:https://www.cricket.com.au/video/t20-world-cup-final-australia-india-mcg-international-womens-day-video-highlights-recap/2020-03-08
Apologies for the sound on this one, we had to record via mobile! Dr. Anna Dunn is a respiratory physician working at a number of hospitals in Geelong. Anna was kind enough to take the time to chat about life in medicine as a working mum, the inspiring Doc to Doc initiative she is part of, and of course, the virus Australia is bracing for - Covid-19. If there's one thing you should do this weekend, it's listen to Anna's words. It will certainly make you think twice about your actions. Credits:Host: Tina FunderProduction: Mother Tongue AgencySound & Music: Dave Higgins (thanks for your patience with this one Dave!)
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, Kristen Hilton was born with a cause. By grade five she was writing diary entries about capital punishment and saving the whales and since then she hasn't looked back. She headed up PILCH homeless persons legal clinic, was Executive Director of Victorian Legal Aid and now looks after the rights of Victorians across a number of areas. We chatted to this mum of three about adjusting to working parent life, how The Commission supports working parenthood and the initiatives they have in place... plus who's getting it right in terms of motherfather equality. Credits:Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencySound & Music: Dave HIgginsShow notes:Darcey Freeman article:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-15/doctors-knew-freeman-was-violent-before-bridge-murder/6620082‘Raise It’ initiative:https://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/home/our-projects-a-initiatives/raise-itMale Champions of Change 2019 report: https://malechampionsofchange.com/male-champions-of-change-release-the-2019-combined-impact-report/
Dr. Chris Higgins contracted coronavirus a little while back and is now fit, healthy and back at work treating the Aussie public, so he's the perfect doctor to be answering the curious questions we received from Aussie kids about Covid-19. In fact, around 50 kids sent us their most pressing questions, so tune in with your kids to find out what they were and what Dr Higgins had to say. Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder, Max & MillieProduction: Mother Tongue AgencyMusic: Dave HigginsShow notes:Pictures of coronavirus: https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/coronaviruses/https://www.newscientist.com/term/coronavirus/A few great resources for kids:https://www.abc.net.au/btn/https://www.squizkids.com.auAdvice on talking to kids about coronavirus:https://www.unicef.org.au/blog/news-and-insights/march-2020/how-to-talk-to-your-children-about-coronavirushttps://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/
Jeremy MacVean is a dad on a mission to get all dads showing up and giving fatherhood a go from skin-to-skin at birth all the way through life. He is co-founder of The Father Hood - today's go-to platform for the modern dad. Or as they put it 'inspiration for the new dad generation'. Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencyMusic & Sound: Dave HigginsShow notes:The Father Hoodhttps://www.the-father-hood.com/The Father Hood - inspiration for the new dad generation:https://www.amazon.com.au/Father-Hood-Inspiration-new-generation/dp/1760524921/ref=asc_df_1760524921/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341792440235&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10754718165361002761&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9071335&hvtargid=pla-807211723579&psc=1Professor Richard Fletcher: https://www.the-father-hood.com/article/its-the-most-exciting-time-in-history-to-be-a-dad-heres-why/Alladin Jones:https://www.the-father-hood.com/article/modern-dads-are-expanding-what-it-means-to-be-a-man-the-benefits-are-insaneBluey & Joe Brumm:https://www.the-father-hood.com/article/bluey-how-a-cartoon-dog-became-your-ultimate-guide-to-fatherhood/
Anna Funder is an internationally acclaimed author and mother of three. Tina chatted to her about the new novel she has in the works, finding the space to write and how to manage the unseen mental load that comes with motherhood. Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue AgencySound & Music: Dave HigginsShownotes: Anna Funderhttps://www.annafunder.comStasilandhttps://www.penguin.com.au/books/stasiland-9780143792529All that I amhttps://www.penguin.com.au/books/all-that-i-am-9780143567516Cyril Connolly quotes: https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191826719.001.0001/q-oro-ed4-00003220
Sean Szeps is a social media guru, husband of Josh and father to twins Stella and Cooper. We chatted to him about surrogacy, life in a two-dad household and his uber popular blog 'Bringing up gaybies'.Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder & Lurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue Agency: https://www.mothertongue.agencyMusic & sound: Dave Higgins: https://davehiggins.com.auShow notes: Bringing Up Gaybies: https://bringingupgaybies.comThe Baby Bubble podcast: https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/the-baby-bubble/Letter to Andy Cohen: https://bringingupgaybies.com/2019/03/17/a-letter-to-andy-cohen/The gayest city on earth:https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2016/03/17/welcome-tel-aviv-gayest-city-earth/y9V15VazXhtSjXVSo9gT9K/story.html
Antoinette Lattouf is a multi-award winning journalist, currently a senior journalist at Network 10. She is the proud daughter of Lebanese refugees and mother of two gorgeous daughters. We chatted to her about her struggle with postnatal depression, proudly flying the flag for diversity in media and how being a mum has made her a better journalist.Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue Agency: https://www.mothertongue.agencySound & music: Dave Higgins: https://davehiggins.com.auShow notes: The Gidget Foundation: https://gidgetfoundation.org.auMedia Diversity Australia: https://www.mediadiversityaustralia.orgThe Australian Thyroid Foundation: https://thyroidfoundation.org.au
Hi, we are Tina Funder and Laurel Davis. Welcome to Work Like a Motherfather, a podcast about negotiating working parenthood one positive conversation at a time. Tune in to hear all kinds of parents, talking about all kinds of work life juggles and how they're managing it.Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue Agency: https://www.mothertongue.agencySound & music: Dave Higgins: https://davehiggins.com.au
Natalie Evans is one resilient mother. We talk to her about finding the strength to raise kids solo and the ins and outs of running child care centres in Australia.Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue Agency: https://www.mothertongue.agencySound & music: Dave Higgins: https://davehiggins.com.auShownotes:Of single families 32% are living below the poverty line:http://povertyandinequality.acoss.org.au/poverty/Mindfulness apps:Headspace: https://www.headspace.comInsight timer: https://insighttimer.com
Michael Wipfli is no stranger to the mic, having worked in the radio biz for over 15 years. We chatted to him about all things parenting, postnatal, pregnancy and... poo.Credits: Hosts: Tina Funder & Laurel DavisProduction: Mother Tongue Agency: https://www.mothertongue.agencySound & music: Dave Higgins: https://davehiggins.com.auShownotes:https://firefightaustralia.comFitzy & Wippa at FFA: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8n1ghRAoJW/Postnatal article:https://www.kidspot.com.au/parenting/parenthood/dads/in-reflection-there-were-clear-signs-it-was-only-going-to-end-up-one-way/news-story/95175fbf73b2b5398e1495b142fbd15f"Take him home and love him" article:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5975219/Radio-star-Michael-Wippa-Wipfli-reveals-single-useful-parenting-advice-nurse.html