Ready or Not (Lucinda McKimm & Lauren Treweek)

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is sharing 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'.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Why keeping it simple is smart in the workplace, inspired by a brilliant piece by Derek Thompson for The Atlantic.
• How beauty became our damaging obsession and the rise of return to school Botox among mothers, inspired by a piece in ABC's Face Value column.
• Our hottest Instagram poll to date: we talk vanity and our relationships with our bodies post motherhood.
• Plus, Lu shares the best and worst of her two under two moments this week.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by ergoPouch, organic, TOG rated, sleepwear and sleep solutions designed for babies and kids to sleep, naturally.

Shop their new autumn/winter limited edition PouchTales collection from Thursday 22nd February at ergopouch.com.au

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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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.

When former first lady Michelle Obama was on a book tour for Becoming, she famously swore in a candid, off the cuff moment. She caught herself off guard, but the crowd went wild as she shared a sentiment so many of us feel so deeply.

Now I won’t deliver this as coolly as Obama, but this is what she said (and be warned, I do swear in the episode):

“I tell women, that whole ‘you can have it all’ — nope, not at the same time; that’s a lie, and it’s not always enough to lean in because that s--- doesn’t work.”

It’s a sentiment that Chief Commercial Officer Danika Johnston agrees with.

With over 25 years’ experience in the media industry, working for the likes of Channel 10, Nova Entertainment, Mamamia, SBS, Tik Tok and now WeAre8, the mother of three has had her fair share of experiences when it comes to navigating having it all. She’s also in her mid-forties, and her parenting journey began 12 years ago when mothers mostly felt like they couldn’t even talk about the challenges of making work, work.

Here, we talk the regret of going back to work earlier than she would’ve liked in the days of zero flexibility, why nobody has it all and why you have to make all parts of your life work together, not with friction.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or leave a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

In acknowledging the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, each episode, I’ll be doing a shout out to an indigenous business or charity doing great things.

This week, it's Aboriginal Art Co. Check them out on Instagram here.

Sally Branson doesn't believe in balance when you have young kids, and as I write and record this at 8pm on a Monday night ahead of inevitable overnight feeds, before a day of having both kids tomorrow, and making sure I pump enough to get to the city for paid work the following day while my husband has our five month old while he tries to get as much work done as he can, I can't help but think that she might be right.

She's worked as the Press Secretary to the PM, she's run a political party and she's held high diplomatic positions with the US. And in continuing the theme of taking on big roles, she had her two boys in quick succession, too. In her own words, she's one of the older school mums, and for a long time, she wasn't sure that motherhood would be her reality, even though she always ached for it.

Here, we talk the new and different pressures that mums face today, the conversations we should actually be having about the reality of motherhood, and why whatever works for you is okay.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Second Scout, home of the original magnetic timber daily Routine Helper & Little Agenda weekly planner, designed to make life easier for busy families.

With easy visuals, their routine helpers, weekly planners and home organisation solutions speak a language the whole family can understand (even the non-readers).

Kids get to rock their day with confidence and predictability, while us parents get to save a little sanity. Once a task is completed kids get to flip the tile over to reveal a star which gives them a sense of achievement, encourages responsibility and provides positive reinforcement.

Head to www.secondscout.com.au and say hello to smoother days.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

[CW: Episode discusses pregnancy loss, cancer and postpartum depression]

Ambika Gautam Pai is the Chief Strategy Officer at Mekanism. She lives in Chicago with her two children and husband, and when she’s not splitting herself between her equally busy paid and unpaid roles, she’s writing about the intersection of motherhood, mental health, equity and business (read her newsletter here).

As much as I love each and every guest that has come on the show, I’ve never had such a hard time picking those audio grabs that play at the top of the episode, because so much of what Ambika says is so relatable.

Here, we talk navigating miscarriages while holding down big roles, her different experiences with postpartum depression after the birth of both of her children, and the extra load that comes with leading people at work and taking on their mental load.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or leave a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

In acknowledging the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, each episode, I’ll be doing a shout out to an indigenous business or charity doing great things.

This week, it’s Young Aunties Haus, a creative space for First Nations women & LGBTQI+ mob to access mentoring and development opportunities across the creative industries.

Welcome back to Postpartum Diaries! This week, Lucinda's doula and friend Charlotte Squires (aka The Living Doula) joins her to talk all things postpartum, going from one to two, conversations to have with your partner before postpartum and returning to work, and her best tips for caring for a new parent.

Then, Charlotte becomes the interviewer and asks Lucinda all about her postpartum reflections!

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by MUMMA MILLA: creators of genuinely leakproof bralettes and camis that are not only functional, but beautiful, too. 

Created with aesthetics in mind, these modern pieces almost look too good to work as well as they do, but I was a paying customer before this special brand came on board as a partner, and I am here to tell you that since wearing my MUMMA MILLA pieces, no other breast pad or feeding bra cuts it. 

I turn to my MUMMA MILLA bralettes and camis daily, and if you head to @readyornot.pod before Monday 4th March, you can enter our giveaway to win your very own set too. 

Or, head to mumma-milla.com to shop the collection of highly considered products, designed by a real mum, for all the breastfeeding mothers out there.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s advice-based podcast, landing in your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz dives into the common mistakes many of us make after returning from maternity leave. From taking on too much too soon, to underestimating the emotional and logistical shifts, she’ll unpack the pitfalls and share actionable tips on how to ease back in, communicate your boundaries, and set yourself up for success both at work and at home.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• The Workplace Gender Equality Agency have published employer gender pay gaps for the first time, 
• Self help vs Leadership – the way we market books to women and men 
• And your thoughts on these damning gender pay gap reports.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by MUMMA MILLA: creators of genuinely leakproof bralettes and camis that are not only functional, but beautiful, too. 

Created with aesthetics in mind, these modern pieces almost look too good to work as well as they do, but Lu was a paying customer before this special brand came on board as a partner, and she is here to tell you that since wearing her MUMMA MILLA pieces, no other breast pad or feeding bra cuts it. 

Lu turns to her MUMMA MILLA bralettes and camis daily, and in this episode, we announce the winner of our giveaway.

Head to mumma-milla.com to shop the collection of highly considered products, designed by a real mum, for all the breastfeeding mothers out there.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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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.

WOWEE we are taking you places today, our friends. From Loz's kid-free trip to Bali with her husband and Lu feeling like she and her husband are getting through the hardest part of two under two, to why George Clooney should take a leaf out of Gourmet Traveller's book (we're looking at you Brad Pitt) and Jane Fonda's reflections on her parenting, this episode covers a LOT. Plus, Loz shares what she fears most as her kids need her less and a listener wrote in about feeling like a failure in business and we want to pick her the feck UP!

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This mini series was created in partnership with Homb, the postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. Across three episodes, together with Homb founder Larissa Leone and the Ready or Not community, we interrogate what it means to navigate motherhood and matrescence in modern Australia. While this series is brought to you by Homb, the experiences and views about my time in their care are entirely my own.

Before we get into it, I want to send my love to every mother out there, from the one who’s struggling just a bit – in the very mundane way that so many mothers do and like I did, to the one who’s struggling a lot. While this series sets to open up the conversation of what the everyday mother goes through, if you think that you might be struggling more than that, there’s help available at https://www.cope.org.au/

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• We dive back into the Women at Work 2024 Deloitte study.
• Wake windows - Our thoughts and experiences on wake windows, plus, what does the research say on how long your baby should stay awake?
• And your answers to our questions on telling your boss that you’re pregnant.

THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the mother-led brand that's dedicated to nurturing, nourishing and empowering new mothers and families. I have eaten my way through SO many of their incredibly nourishing dry food packs like the dark chocolate banana bread, golden kitchari, and blooming bites and you're in luck, because some of my favourite products are currently 20% off. Get 20% off until 30 June here: elan.house/collections/most-loved

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

It might be easy to pin Sophie Pearce and Jayde Couldwell as two mothers that are living the dream when it comes to parenting and paid work, but that would be to miss the point entirely. Six and a half million downloads, partnerships with some of the country's biggest brands, and over 200 episodes later, the pair have been incredibly influential when it comes to opening the flood gates for genuinely honest parenting dialogue.

Here, the mothers share why making work, work isn't quite working at the moment, the ways in which motherhood can light you up and break you down, and what they've learned about navigating it all along the way.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the ultimate destination for postpartum care supporting mothers with food, education, self-care tools and gifts.

Listeners of Ready or Not will receive 10% off using code POSTPARTUMREADY at elan.house.

This offer has no expiration date but excludes 28 Day Postpartum Packages and Gift Certificates.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Tuesday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Is workplace culture all it’s cracked up to be?
• And Margot Robbie Is Pregnant, But We Didn't Hear It From Her: Do celebrities owe us pregnancy announcements?

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Tuesday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Mothers going for gold at the Paris Games and why Loz Is loving Raygun’s breakdancing performance
• And an honest look at the first three months of motherhood inspired by this Michelle Battersby post.

Join us in Melbourne:

• Buy your ticket to Careers Night for the Mums, here.

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Shit hit the fan for us as we were going to press publish on what was meant to be today's episode with Snuggle Hunny founder Julie Mathers. A big fat tech failure that nearly led Lu to start the whole edit again at 7.25pm last night. But, Loz reminded her of what's important, so here, she shares a quick check in instead.

We'll catch you back here tomorrow for an incredible episode with Snuggle Hunny's boss, Julie Mathers.

20 years old, day one of her university degree, and a positive pregnancy test. And a few years later, twins, a separation, and a period of solo motherhood. If that sounds like enough to push university and starting your own business to the side, that's because it is. But nothing was going to stop The Natal Naturopath founder Melanie Nolan.

Here, she shares her incredible story. From finishing a university degree as a single mother of three to building her business. From hoping to sell her first shipment in the first two years to selling out in just three months. From moments of loneliness to incredible strength.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Bio Bod, intuitive, supportive skincare that restores the foundations of happy skin. Listeners of Ready or Not will receive 20% off using code READY20 at biobod.com.au.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.

Today on the show:

• Did Loz's sonographer just reveal the gender of her baby?
• Love on the clock: navigating workplace romances in the modern office (reference article here)

• What would you go back and tell your 20 year old self? Lu finally listened to that Call Her Daddy episode with her girl Jane Fonda and it had her thinking about what she'd go back and tell my 20 year old self and I’m going to ask you too.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This mini series was created in partnership with Homb, the postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. Across three episodes, together with Homb founder Larissa Leone and the Ready or Not community, we interrogate what it means to navigate motherhood and matrescence in modern Australia. While this series is brought to you by Homb, the experiences and views about my time in their care are entirely my own.

Before we get into it, I want to send my love to every mother out there, from the one who’s struggling just a bit – in the very mundane way that so many mothers do and like I did, to the one who’s struggling a lot. While this series sets to open up the conversation of what the everyday mother goes through, if you think that you might be struggling more than that, there’s help available at https://www.cope.org.au/

When I was trying to conceive for the first time, and basically for the 10 years leading up to it, the constant question swirling around my brain was how? HOW do mothers and primary caregivers be the mum they want to be while pursuing the career of their dreams, too? I wanted to know how mums did it on a practical, granular level. Give me times, give me dates, give me formulas. And not the milk kind, but how the heck do I get my baby to take that, too?

And it's not all that surprising to me now that a lot of the conversations that have come out of this podcast have focussed more on how we feel about motherhood, career, about finding the balance... but I often think about the pregnant version of me and the sort of content she was looking for, and today's episode really hits the mark. Pardon the pun.

Deja Marc founder Rosie Collins is incredibly passionate about building a life by design. And while she admits that might sound a bit corny, it's far from it. She's purposeful and deliberate with every decision she makes in business and in motherhood, and our conversation had me pondering how often I really stop and think about how I approach my work and my life.

Here, we talk about the toolkit she's developed that helps her navigate a successful business alongside motherhood, how she started Deja Marc (including learning to do everything in the business herself before growing her team), and how she moved from feeling scared about how she'd navigate it all, to feeling empowered.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.

Today on the show:

• Five ways workplaces are failing new mothers - and how we can flip the narrative.
• Plus, because Lu is still in holiday mode, we're talking travelling, camping, caravanning and road tripping with kids.

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Vomiting 30 times a day while trying to run a shop. No parental leave after the birth of her son Remy. Owning a retail business in Melbourne during a pandemic. Navigating her husband’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.

And then, after falling pregnant with the baby that the doctors said would be nearly impossible to conceive without assistance, a pregnancy loss.

Navigating motherhood and career for Think Thornbury owner Maggie May Moshe has not been linear.

Here, she walks us through it all: from navigating managing the shop alongside hyperemesis in pregnancy and later a four-month-old while her husband was on tour to how they adapted during lockdowns, a cancer diagnosis and a pregnancy loss.

We laugh and we cry, and we could’ve talked for hours.

Maggie May has generously offered a 15% Think Thornbury discount code for all Ready or Not listeners. Simply use Readyornot15 at checkout.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• 10 Impressive Questions to Ask in a Job Interview (The Cut)
• No Parent Can Make Home-Cooked Meals All the Time (The Atlantic)
• And from the Ready or Not Instagram community, your answers to our Instagram poll all about screen time and staying present

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by THE INARRA, a premium online shopping and lifestyle publication tailored for pregnancy, motherhood, and beyond.

Re-defining how modern mothers consume content, THE INARRA offers a diverse range of features, interviews, and fashion edits that cater to every stage of motherhood while celebrating individual style and identity. And today, we're bringing our Witching Hour listeners a special offer, as THE INARRA gets ready to launch their styling services.

To claim 30% off a styling experience that can be done virtually or in-person in Sydney and is specifically tailored to those who are pregnant, postpartum or just struggling to define their style as a mother, email hello@theinarra.com and mention Witching Hour.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

[Just a heads up, there's a few swear words in this ep] Welcome to the first episode of Witching Hour, coming to your ears every Friday.

Think of Witching Hour as Ready or Not's loose little sister: a place to share what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us in the world of parenting and career.

She might be Lucinda on Ready or Not, but she's probably more likely to be Lu or Luce here, because on this podcast, we have a new co-host: Lucy's cousin who feels more like her sister, Loz.

We're both obsessed with how mothers and all parents make work, work, and each week, we'll be dissecting all things career, motherhood, feminism, identity, and more.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Loz's experience being made redundant while on maternity leave,
• Charlotte York Goldenblatt finally becomes somewhat relatable, and creates some boundaries with her children in And Just Like That, and Lisa Todd Wexley deals with her career-pregnancy crisis while her husband Herbert seemingly sleeps soundly through the night,
• The role that grandparents play in caregiving, and Loz's unique position in the granddad being the regular caregiver in her family, (Read Lucy's Substack piece here),
• Our Instagram followers answer this week's Instagram community questions: how do you approach pay rises and promotions when you're secretly pregnant or thinking about trying to conceive?
• And lastly, we have a few tips for sharing the mental load, and it's not just about sharing it with your partners. If you're the sister or daughter who wears the mental load for their family, this one's for you.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. TToday, Loz talks about how to manage the mental load of Christmas. How to divide and conquer gift shopping, delegating tasks to your partner, kids and family and setting boundaries around what Christmas traditions work for you.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

When Hande Cater made the decision to go back to working five days a week alongside her relatively new role as mum, she noticed that she was in a bit of a grey area: most mothers she knew worked part time or inside of the home and most full time workers were not parents. Or if they were, they were likely to be the secondary caregiver. And as we know, that's normally the dad.

There weren’t many people around her who balanced five days of paid work with the 24 hours a day, seven days a week role of parenting and as a result, she didn’t have many places to turn to when it came to making work, work alongside motherhood.

Here, we talk the loneliness and judgement that exists within this grey area, why working four days a week wasn't exactly working for her, and the anxieties mothers face when it comes to parental leave and the return to work.

THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Ready or Not! We've created three beautiful, practical and comprehensive guides in consultation with the experts in their fields, starting with Breastfeeding and Returning to Work, Postpartum and Return to Work Planning and Childcare 101.

Shop the Go To Guides here: readyornot.au

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Lael Stone is a Parenting Educator, TEDx speaker, author, and the co-creator of Woodline Primary and The Aware Parenting Podcast.

She has a son and two daughters ranging from their late teens to early adulthood, and in many ways, her career trajectory has mirrored her parenting journey.

Now I don’t know if it’s that soothing voice or the way she holds space for those around her, but either way, an hour of conversation with Lael is much like a therapy session. I felt lighter after this chat, and I think you will, too.

Here, we talk knowing when to walk away even when the party’s humming, how we can help our children without solving their problems for them, and the moment she did a Ted talk in front of her adoring kids.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or leave a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

You can check out Lael's work online here.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

Just a note that today's episode discusses sexual assault, eating disorders, and stresses that can come up in pregnancy.

In today's episode, we cover:

• ANZ links bonuses to office attendance and we have plenty of thoughts.
• Apparently kids will pay the price in push for universal childcare and our response to that viral "daycare is bad" reel that has been doing the rounds (we don't really want to give it any more airtime than we already have, but the reel is here if you want to watch it. Maybe don't though?).
• And women won’t shut up in meetings according to men, but the studies tell us otherwise.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Bio Bod, intuitive, supportive skincare that restores the foundations of happy skin. Listeners of Witching Hour will receive 20% off using code READY20 at biobod.com.au.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. This week, Loz is talking all thing resume writing and parental leave.

Loz's links:

• Resume Genius
• Canva
• Chat GPT
• Resume.co

Handy resources:

• Non chronological resumes
• Cover letter examples
• Resume templates

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.

Today on the show:

• Loz is sick of hearing from child attachment ‘experts’ and here's why.

• And, why has adjusting to my post-baby body been harder the second time around? Lu shares a brilliant piece published to UK Vogue by Nell Frizzell.

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This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Our Pilates - physio led, on-demand pilates classes designed for new mums of all fitness levels and at any stage of their postpartum journey.

We particularly love the eight week postnatal program. Designed and instructed by Han, a physiotherapist and mother of two with over 15 years of experience, this program is the perfect way to gain strength in a way that is safe, can be done within the comfort of your home, And guess what? They're giving Ready or Not listeners a month of free classes.

To redeem your complimentary month of Our Pilates and access a huge library of Pilates classes, simply head to their website in our show notes (https://ourpilates.com.au) and enter the code READYORNOT when creating an account and select their monthly membership option.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

When Minna Dubin wrote about mum rage for The New York Times, her words went viral.

In opening the article, she writes: 'the rage lives in my hands, rolls down my fingers clenching to fists. I want to hurt someone. I am tears and fury and violence. I want to scream and rip open pillows, toss chairs and punch walls. I want to see my destruction — feathers floating, overturned furniture, ragged holes in drywall.'

Even recording this, I'm nervous to admit that I resonated with this so deeply that it nearly moved me to tears. It feels somewhat unsafe to confess that motherhood can drive me to a type of fury I've never known until now. But, that's the entire point. Was she nervous about putting her name to something that many would describe as volatile, negative...even violent, yes? But, she did it anyway, and when she did, the stories came pouring in.

Here, we talk the universality of mum rage, the shame attached to it, how she's made work, work as a mother of two, and why we all need to take our mum rage out to tea.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Ready or Not! This week, we've released our Ready or Not Go To Guides. We've created three beautiful, practical and comprehensive guides in consultation with the experts in their fields, starting with Breastfeeding and Returning to Work, Postpartum and Return to Work Planning and Childcare 101.

Shop the Go To Guides here: readyornot.au

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

You might not find a more honest conversation on motherhood and career than the one you're about to hear.

Ava Chandler Matthews is a mother and the co-founder of Ultra Violette, a skincare brand stocked at some of the biggest retailers in the world.

She went back to Ultra Violette at three months postpartum, she travels a lot, and while she loves her son to no end, she's open about missing her old life and not considering herself a particularly maternal person.

Here, we talk about some of the struggles she had with breastfeeding, postpartum anxiety, feeling like the business she founded didn't need her, and getting used to this new weight of responsibility.

While it never got to the stage where she genuinely thought she might harm herself, one night, her thoughts did lead her to wishing she had sustained a small injury just so she could spend one night alone in hospital.

She's so generous with her honesty and she walks us through it all.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

PANDA’s National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline is Australia’s only free national helpline for people affected by changes to their mental health and emotional wellbeing during the perinatal period. They support people throughout pregnancy up until their baby is 12 months old.

If you need some support, call the PANDA National Helpline (Monday to Saturday) 1300 726 306

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday.Today, Loz is diving into a challenge all working mums face: networking. When you’re already juggling work, kids, and the never-ending to-do list, how can you find time to build meaningful career connections? The good news: you don’t need late-night events or endless coffee meetings to make progress. In this episode, she’ll share mum-friendly strategies for networking on limited time, from making LinkedIn your best friend to leveraging everyday moments like school drop-offs. Whether you’re ready to climb the ladder or just keep your options open, this episode is packed with actionable tips to fit networking into your busy life.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Our first ever Ready or Not guest - author, doula, and small business owner Gabrielle Nancarrow - is back!

Nearly 10 years ago, when her first daughter was just a little baby, Gabrielle Nancarrow was working 60 to 70 hour weeks in New York City.

Today, she’s a mother of three, an author, a birth doula, and a small business owner. And in her newly released book, The Motherhood Space, Gabrielle weaves an incredible collection of diverse motherhood stories with her own reflections and expert insights on terms she didn’t even have ten years ago: the mental load, mum rage, matricentric feminism, the value of caregiving, and so much more.

Here, we cover it all: how maternal rage has shown up for her, her grandmother’s act of defiance way back when, why motherhood needn’t be a dirty word for feminism, and why it’s important that we respect a woman’s choice, if she’s privileged enough to have one.

It was such a joy to have my first ever guest back on the podcast, and I know you’ll love Gabrielle’s take on motherhood today.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the ultimate destination for postpartum care supporting mothers with food, education, self-care tools and gifts.

Listeners of Ready or Not will receive 10% off using code POSTPARTUMREADY at elan.house.

This offer has no expiration date but excludes 28 Day Postpartum Packages and Gift Certificates.

---

Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

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Listen to our first ever episode of Ready or Not with Gabrielle Nancarrow here.

Alexandra Collier is a writer, mother, and the author of Inconceivable: a newly released memoir about her journey into solo parenthood.

In a former life, she lived in a light-filled Brooklyn brownstone in New York with the man she loved. But when she woke up to a ravenous hunger to have a baby that her partner didn't share, her life took a sharp turn.

She found herself back home in Melbourne at 37, single, heartbroken and living with her parents. Her reproductive timeline was rapidly outpacing her romantic life, and after a period of dating like it was a sport, she began to explore a controversial option: conceiving a baby with donor sperm.

Here, she shares this journey. From Brooklyn to Melbourne. From shacked up to single. From maiden to mother.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Picture this: you're a mother of one, you're newly pregnant and you're at your dating scan. The sonographer goes a little quiet. There's not one baby in your tummy, there's not even just the two. You're pregnant with triplets.

This is what happened to now mother of four and litigation lawyer Silje Andersen-Cooke.

I can physically feel the shock and worry of it all: wondering what this means for your babies, what this means for your body, what recovery might look like, and how on earth you return to work after triplets.

Here, Silje walks us through it all: the delightful and the demanding, the exhausting and exhilarating life that is raising triplets while making work, work.

Please note that this is Silje's story and that this episode is not to be taken as medical advice.

Follow Silje on Instagram here.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Friday. Today, Loz is tackling a topic that so many working mums can relate to: burnout. From the endless juggle of work, kids, and life admin to the emotional load of holding it all together, burnout can creep in before you even realise it. In this episode, she’ll help you recognize the signs of burnout and share practical, actionable tips to recover and prevent it from taking over again. Whether you’re feeling the strain or just want to avoid the crash, this episode is packed with insights to help you manage the juggle and thrive

---

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Four Ridiculously Smart Reasons to Slow Down at Work (The Muse)
• How having a baby in your 20’s became the new ‘teen pregnancy’ (news.com.au)
• What the devastating attack in Bondi last week has made us stop and reflect on

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Mukti Organics, results-driven and award-winning skin care products made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.

They've just released an upgraded formulation of their Vital A serum which is the first Australian COSMOS certified organic and 100% botanical-based retinal (not retinol), which means it’s one of the first in the world safe to use during pregnancy, and during the day! Not only that - it’s clinically proven to work 11x faster than standard retinols.

We love a female led company and this wonder product launches today, the 22nd of April, and is available for just $99 for the next 48 hours. To get yours, head to www.muktiorganics.com

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Content warning: this episode discusses pregnancy, fertility and abortion.

When Michelle Battersby announced her pregnancy to her Instagram followers, there was no pretty picture with two lines, no ultrasound, no baby bump. Instead, she shared something deeply personal. Something that, as a founder who is often looked to for career inspiration, she felt compelled to be open about. And that was that she’d previously had two abortions for her career.

We know that the mental load of family planning when it comes to career can start a lot earlier for women. Is a long university course worth it if I want to have a baby at around 30? Do I go for that promotion when I’m pregnant? What are the most flexible careers for mothers? How long should I be at the one company before I start trying to conceive? The list goes on…

But, Michelle’s take – that is deliberately delaying motherhood for her career – isn’t one that’s often spoken about publicly, so it’s fair to say her story and honesty caught my attention.

Here, we talk the wild ride that was bringing Bumble to Australia, how she felt when she pressed post on her pregnancy announcement, navigating her business Sunroom alongside pregnancy, and how her badge of honour is changing.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Witching Hour co-hosts Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.

Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe

---

Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Leonie Akhidenor is a property developer, relationship coach and the host of Parenthood, a podcast that explores the parenting experience from all angles. She's also a mother who has faced both pre and postnatal depression, as well as the profound identity shifts and emotional struggles that can come with motherhood. Through her podcast, Parenthood, Leonie explores the greatest challenges parents are facing today, with a focus on hearing from both sides of a relationship.

Here, Leonie talks about acknowledging the need to rest after a lifetime of assigning her value to productivity, what she's learned about parenting and relationships from interviewing both mums and dads, and her greatest advice for new mums navigating career and motherhood.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Mrs Kevin's Photos, a mother and Melbourne based fine art film photographer, creating photos to keep forever as your visual inheritance.

Mrs Kevin's Photos captures moments through 35mm film, digital and super 8 video footage so that you can look back and remember how it all felt. To celebrate this partnership, we'll be announcing a giveaway for our Melbourne-based listeners over on our Instagram @readyornot.pod.

You can head to mrskevinsphotos.com to book in an emotive, timeless and intimate photography session.

---

Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday (except for today, because yesterday was a public holiday in Victoria!).

In today's episode, we cover:

• The increasing Importance of a best friend at work
• The Skim State of Women Report for 2024 comes out in a few weeks, so before it does, we’re revisiting some of 2023’s findings
• And a HOTLY contributed to poll on the @readyornot.pod Instagram - what happens when the partner goes back to paid work?

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Mrs Kevin's Photos, a mother and Melbourne based fine art film photographer, creating photos to keep forever as your visual inheritance.

Mrs Kevin's Photos captures moments through 35mm film, digital and super 8 video footage so that you can look back and remember how it all felt. To celebrate this partnership, we'll be announcing a giveaway for our Melbourne-based listeners today over on our Instagram @readyornot.pod. 

You can head to mrskevinsphotos.com to book in an emotive, timeless and intimate photography session.

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

After bouncing between jobs that didn't quite bring the career passion and satisfaction that we're meant to chase after in our twenties, when Liv Brown was pregnant with her first baby, she thought that motherhood was going to be her thing. But while she loved her boy, she needed a creative outlet too, and so she started posting about fashion and styling on her Instagram account, Rattle style. She wasn't necessarily targeting mums, but helping mothers find their style and new uniform when it feels like everything about them has changed.

And as she prepares to become a mother of two, she's experiencing the frustration and overwhelm that so many mothers face: when your career starts to pick up just as you're deep in the trenches of motherhood.

Here, we talk about how she turned her creative outlet into a job, how she's feeling about becoming a mother of two, what making work, work looks like when your partner works six days a week and how to find your personal style in motherhood.

THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Mukti Organics: results-driven, award-winning skincare made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.

Experience gentle yet powerful results with Mukti’s anti-ageing Vitamin A serum, one of the first Australian COSMOS certified organic, 100% botanical-based retinol (not retinol) that is clinically proven to work 11 times faster than standard retinols.

Unlike regular Vitamin A's, you can use this serum at any time of the day without the risk of irritation, and it’s even safe for use during pregnancy.

This wonder product has launched this week and is available to purchase at www.muktiorganics.com

---

Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Friday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• The kindness that actually pays off at work (and it's not what you think) and how to give and receive feedback.
• The UK women over 65 combatting loneliness at New Ground Village and the trend that we hope to see continue to rise.
• What workplace perks parents want.
• Ambition is not your schooling, your title, or your salary: getting comfortable with the ebbs and flows of ambition alongside motherhood and why we needn't always chase ambition.
• Why we're not falling for tiara syndrome and what we're reading.

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.

Today on the show:

• What were you told you weren't good at as a kid? Did you believe it?
• A social media post about mums working from home and/or running their own business that shocked Loz.
• To freelance again or job hunt? That is the question on Lu's lips and here, she asks Loz all her burning questions.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Beers and Braids is the best thing we've ever heard of.
• What does sport have to do with career success for women?
• “As a mother”: the worst three words in the English language by Bibi Lynch for The Independent.
• I’m in My 40s, Child-Free and Happy. Why Won’t Anyone Believe Me? By Glynnis MacNicol for the New York Times
• And your answers to our questions about friendships between parent and non-parent friends (and why, as Nell Frizzell puts it, a woman in her thirties is painfully defined as either a mother or non-mother).
• Plus, so much more (beers and braids, anyone).

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This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Blys - the app that makes prioritising self care easier than ever.

With Blys you can book an in-home massage, beauty or wellness treatment with a qualified and trusted professional that comes to you.Blys brings you self-care, your way, on your schedule.

Go to getblys.com.au and use the code “RON15” to save $15.

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour!

If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation.

The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz answers a listener question about how to assert yourself: how to do it in a workplace environment, when to do it and different ways you can get your point across without all the fluff (and thinking you're seeming like a pain in the butt!).

---

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Like many of us, Genevieve Day grew up with the mindset that when you put in the hard work, you get rewarded. And as the founder of Day Management and Next of Kin Management, she's done just that.

And so, as a successful business owner embarking on motherhood for the first time, Gen wanted to keep up appearances. She wasn't letting anyone think that a baby was going to slow her down, so she pressed on the only way she knew how: with hard work.

But what Gen soon realised is that hard work doesn't always equate to success in motherhood, and not in finding the perfect balance as a working mum, either. She's candid about what she'd do differently with hindsight - from allowing herself more time immersed in the baby bubble to how she'd navigate managing her team. But more than that, she opens up about her stressful breastfeeding struggles and how she moved through these as an over achiever.

Here, she talks about the first time she felt like her baby really chose her, what she's learned about navigating motherhood and career with the beauty of hindsight, and the painful chapters that she was tempted to edit out of her new book, The Juggle.

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This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Homb, Melbourne’s first of its kind postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. To learn more about the Homb trust – a registered charity that exists to provide financially supported stays to families in need, who don’t have the financial capacity to pay for a stay independently – and to book your stay at this special place, visit www.homb.com.au

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz shares all her hot tips for surviving working from home when your kids are on holidays.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Sophie Walker is the host of hit podcast, Australian Birth Stories. She's also a published author, the creator of the birth class, and a mother of three boys.

It was Sophie's traumatic first birth that inspired the podcast, which at the time of the interview had over 11 million downloads, but at the time of publishing, she's up to 12 million. That's nearly half of Australia.

The expansion of her business has led to some really exciting projects such as her new book, and it's also led to her becoming the key breadwinner at home, bringing with it an extra layer of pressure.

Here, she takes us back to the start: through her varied and colourful career, how she built Australian Birth Stories to be the brand it is today, the birth that inspired it all, and what her husband is learning from being at home with the kids.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Listen to Australian Birth Stories or buy the amazing new book here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Tuesday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Millennial moms don't have it all, they just do it all (Huff Post)
• Serena Williams and Rihanna take us behind the scenes of what happens to the body in the postpartum.
• And these two superstars inspire the week’s poll: all about our version of the denim skirt, whether or not it's helpful to talk about the arguably superficial parts of postpartum recovery, and what wasn't on the pamphlet for you when it comes to motherhood and the postpartum.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

In this episode of Witching Hour we are excited to partner with Youha, trusted and loved for premium breast pumps since 2010. Their portable and wearable designs provide comfort and convenience. They empower you to pump effortlessly anywhere, keeping you connected to what matters most.

Discover the complete collection of Youha Australia’s premium breast pumps and handy accessories and use the code READY15 during the month of July for 15% off the Embody pump here.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

[Warning: I swore in this episode] A bonus episode looking at the first month of daycare. I slapped this together very quickly, so expect absolutely no production brilliance or good advice, because I am figuring out the whole daycare thing as I go. This is simply how the first month or so of daycare played out for us so you can feel a little less alone or a little more prepared.

Spoiler alert: daycare sickness really is a thing.

I feel really lucky to be able to send my son to daycare, and I want to acknowledge that not everyone - as Anna Commons discusses in Episode 16 of Ready or Not - has this privilege. While we absolutely deserve to talk about how challenging it is, this mindset gives me some perspective. So, in this episode, I've tried to deliver the facts without the complaints.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. This week, for the first time ever, we have a special guest host and former Ready or Not interviewee Ellen Hooper. Ellen is an executive coach and a podcaster herself, and today she's talking all about imposter syndrome and how to say goodbye to it. As we learned recently, it's an experience that we're learning most mums feel when returning to paid work and Ellen has some quick tips to help you overcome and challenge the useless beast that is imposter syndrome.

Ellen's Links:

• Read the HBR article Ellen mentions here.
• Listen to Ellen's Ready or Not episode here.
• Sign up to her free session on saying goodbye to imposter syndrome here.
• Follow her on Instagram here and find links to all of the other amazing work she's doing from there!

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

I had a business coaching session with mother and My Daily Business founder Fiona Killackey last year, and in one short hour, she rocked my world. So, I had to get her on the show. And listening back to this interview on the other side of pregnancy, she’s rocked my world all over again.

This episode has so much: losing parents as a young mum, her husband’s reflections on what the other mums thought about him at the playground, IVF, pregnancy loss, being a part of the sandwich generation – that is caring for her aging parents and young children at the same time – and a whole lot of thoughtful business advice sprinkled throughout, too.

This is a special episode and I thank Fiona for sharing her highs and lows so beautifully.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Witching Hour co-hosts Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.

Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood. There's a bit going on at the top of this episode. Ray is being mean to Posie, Posie's finally PROPERLY talking a bottle, Loz actually does watch some movies and shares her favourites, and then, we finally get to the day's discussion points.

Today on the show:

• What is a gentle parent anyway? On parenting labels and why I hate them.
• 'Quiet vacationing' is the latest workplace trend that sees Gen Zs tapping out.
• And a poll on all things productivity in making work, work as mums.

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Sleep impacts women’s workplace ambitions more than men, research shows (Women's Agenda)
• Live from London: Loz on travelling without kids and returning to paid work
• And with our community's help, we answer a listener's question about returning to paid work with a challenging boss.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by MUMMA MILLA: creators of genuinely leakproof bralettes and camis that are not only functional, but beautiful, too. 

Created with aesthetics in mind, these modern pieces almost look too good to work as well as they do, but I was a paying customer before this special brand came on board as a partner, and I am here to tell you that since wearing my MUMMA MILLA pieces, no other breast pad or feeding bra cuts it. 

I turn to my MUMMA MILLA bralettes and camis daily, and if you head to @readyornot.pod before Monday 4th March, you can enter our giveaway to win your very own set too. 

Or, head to mumma-milla.com to shop the collection of highly considered products, designed by a real mum, for all the breastfeeding mothers out there.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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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 mini series was created in partnership with Homb, the postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. Across three episodes, together with Homb founder Larissa Leone and the Ready or Not community, we interrogate what it means to navigate motherhood and matrescence in modern Australia. While this series is brought to you by Homb, the experiences and views about my time in their care are entirely my own.

Before we get into it, I want to send my love to every mother out there, from the one who’s struggling just a bit – in the very mundane way that so many mothers do and like I did, to the one who’s struggling a lot. While this series sets to open up the conversation of what the everyday mother goes through, if you think that you might be struggling more than that, there’s help available at https://www.cope.org.au/

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, Loz's best mate Chrissie (who works in education at The Memo) kindly steps in for Lu to cover the following:

• We look at Deloitte’s women at work report and the bits that we’re finding interesting. (Deloitte)
• Supporting your loved one to breastfeed starts by valuing it as work. (ABC)
• And with her background in hypnobirthing as well as her own personal experiences, Chrissy talks all things birth trauma and how to support a birthing partner.

THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the mother-led brand that's dedicated to nurturing, nourishing and empowering new mothers and families. I have eaten my way through SO many of their incredibly nourishing dry food packs like the dark chocolate banana bread, golden kitchari, and blooming bites and you're in luck, because some of my favourite products are currently 20% off. Get 20% off until 30 June here: elan.house/collections/most-loved

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Georgie Dent is a busy woman. She’s a journalist, author, speaker, advocate, former lawyer, and a mother of three. She’s also the executive director of The Parenthood, a not-for-profit advocacy group on a mission to make Australia the best place in the world to be a parent. And, she’s a longtime contributor at Women’s Agenda.

Now the person I have just described might sound perfect, but Georgie has not coasted through life without her challenges and in her best-selling memoir, Breaking Badly, Georgie documents her decline towards a total breakdown that saw her admitted to a psychiatric hospital at age 24.

Here, we talk the balancing act that is being a working mother, writing and living Breaking Badly and her work as a passionate advocate for working parents.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

In acknowledging the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, each episode, I’ll be doing a shout out to an indigenous business or charity doing great things.

This week, it’s Mabu Mabu, a restaurant in the heart of Melbourne. Mabu Mabu is a saying in the Torres Strait that means help yourself, and at Mabu Mabu, the food culture is all about sharing.

Nornie Bero is the head chef and business owner of Mabu Mabu. Originally from Mer Island in the Torres Strait, Nornie has been a professional chef for over 20 years. Nornie is on a mission to put Indigenous ingredients in kitchens across Australia. They want people to be using, eating and celebrating Indigenous ingredients every day.

I’ve eaten at their wonderful Federation Square restaurant in Naarm or Melbourne, and I highly recommend you do next time you find yourself there.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Why stepping away may be your best leadership move yet (read the piece here)
• Lily Allen shares her thoughts on career and motherhood on the Radio Times Podcast 
• What our listeners wish they knew about breastfeeding, postpartum planning, and childcare.
• And the winner of our Mrs Kevin's Photos giveaway is @farrenmay!

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by us, Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.

Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Working families are more stressed than ever, a new report has found.
• ‘Kinkeeping’ is the invisible workload that women take on—and it’s affecting the mental health, performance, commitment and bandwidth of employees, experts say. (NYT)
• And the Instagram community poll of the week: How do you navigate pregnancy and friendships when you're the Miranda or the Charlotte?

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Mukti Organics, results-driven and award-winning skin care products made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.

Purchase the revised and expanded second edition of Mukti’s bestselling book ‘Truth in Beauty’ for $89 via www.muktiorganics.com and retailers Amazon, Booktopia and QBD Books.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Lu is talking all things telling your boss you're pregnant.

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LU'S LINKS:

Here at the two episodes that discuss how to tell your boss that you're pregnant in a new job:

• Ask Loz for motherhood and career advice, just don't ask her to meditate
• Britney Spears: “If I got upset and asserted myself, I was out of control and crazy” and "HELP! I'm unexpectedly pregnant in a new job"

Links for knowing your rights:

• Fair Work: Entitlements while pregnant
• Human Rights website: A quick guide to your rights.
• Governement parental leave information

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Our friends, there's plenty of laughs and just a few tears today, so buckle in.

Today on Witching Hour:

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

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and today, Loz is talking about setting New Year’s resolutions you’ll actually stick to as a working mum. Forget unrealistic goals and overwhelming to-do lists—this is all about creating intentions that fit your life, feel achievable, and actually make a difference. From prioritising self-care to carving out family time, Loz will help you set yourself up for a year that works for you.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

As a mother of two, Ana Kresina knows all too well that there are so many delightful moments in parenthood.

But as a financial educator working in tech, Ana also knows that kids can be exhausting and parenthood can be financially overwhelming. Money is one of the leading causes of stress and divorce, and navigating finances can be an incredible source of pressure for single parents and carers.

Cue, Kids Ain't Cheap: Ana's recently published book that helps you to plan financially for parenthood and your family's future. Here, we talk the motherhood penalty, why mothers need to think more about their super, how to remain visible when working from home, and how Ana makes work, work.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Hot Minute Hair: a no-nasties 2-in-1 hair wand with dry shampoo powder on one end and quick dry anti-frizz serum on the other.

Perfect for busy mums; it works in one minute, on the go wherever you are.

Head to hotminutehair.com.au and say bye to bad hair days.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.

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This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is talking about getting out the door and to work on time, which is basically an Olympic sport as a parent.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour - the conversation between two cousins and mums on what's exciting, delighting, intriguing and frustrating us when it comes to making work, work alongside parenthood. Given many of us are still in holiday mode, we're keeping today short and sweet: our new years resolutions, workplace trends for 2025 and a bit of a deep dive into Posie’s first year and Loz’s first trimester.

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Lu's postpartum series mentioned in this episode:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Clare Stephens is a writer, editor, podcaster, and soon to be published author. She's smart, she's funny, she's accomplished, and she has that unique skill of being both ridiculously intelligent and talented, and entirely approachable and relatable.

For all of her credentials though, Clare learned like so many of us, that while putting in the work usually leads to achievement in our careers, motherhood doesn't exactly follow the same set of rules. In fact, motherhood doesn't really follow any rule book, and I think it's fair to say we all have some thoughts on that. Clare is open about how a traumatic birth and breastfeeding challenges impacted her early motherhood journey, and she shares what she's learned with the beauty of space and hindsight.

Here, we talk about the tension that exists between wanting to be present with your child and wanting to write down that idea or send that email, how after birth challenges impacted her experience of early motherhood, and why she's trying her best to give herself some grace.

This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Anna Commons is the founder of The Autism Collective and mother of two delightful boys, Jackson, who has nonverbal autism, and Hunter. Her life has been one of incredible experiences and serious growth.

Her career began in marketing, then somewhere in the middle she waited tables, and now, she's a motherhood mentor and coach who also works with families navigating the NDIS.

In this episode, Anna shares her journey, from Jackson's diagnosis to what autism means in his day-to-day life. And we also talk about the importance of charging what you’re worth, why over giving leads to resentment and how she created work that feeds her passions as well as her family.

If you're a parent who has received a fresh diagnosis and is looking for comfort, I think you'll find it in this episode. Anna accounts the facts of Jackson's diagnosis and what this means day to day in a really pragmatic way here, so if you're needing to protect yourself from emotional content at the moment, know that this really isn't it (in my opinion). There were no tears shed and I left this chat feeling empowered and hopeful.

I know firsthand that it can be hard when someone you love receives a seemingly "scary" diagnosis, and both Anna and I are open to a chat in our DMs on Instagram. And the very last thing Anna says in this chat is true: you won't always feel this way and you're not alone.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

You can find Anna on Instagram here.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday. Today, Loz is taking 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—without the overwhelm.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Picture yourself living the good life in Bali. You pee on a stick thinking you'll quickly quash any fears that you might be pregnant, but those two lines appear. The test is positive and you're keeping the baby. Only, you're doing it solo.

You work for yourself, you don't tell your clients that you're pregnant for fear of losing the work and the much needed income, and maternity leave isn't a thing.

But you make it work, and every day, your beautiful boy serves as a reminder of everything you've done.

This is the incredible story of mother and marketing strategist Rachel Maksimovic.

It's warts and all, it's real, and it's beautiful. (And while I have you, there may be a few swear words!)

______

Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Listen to Mothering on My Own here.

In part 2 of our conversation with Sarah Garby, she jumps on the mic solo to answer your listener questions:

1. How do I cope with my two and a half year old? The emotions are intense.

2. How do I overcome mum rage and better communicate with my partner?

3. Tips for how to cope with mess, loud noises, and minimal alone time to regulate.

4. Tips for mums with adhd -- how can I regulate with no spare time? (Similar to the above so feel free to call that out and maybe there's something more adhd specific to add here?)

5. How do you suggest feeling paralysed by loneliness?

6. How do I deal with the anxiety side of feeling bad and stressed out about people looking after my baby?

7. What's the line between PND & just being tired and frazzled? How do I tell the difference?

8. It's obviously so important for us mums to do the work and I think we are really good at being proactive about getting help so we don't pass our stuff onto our children. But how do we get dads to do the same? So many of our partners are passing their shit down to their kids but are so much more reluctant to look within as the source. Please help!

9. How do we better support each other without projecting our own motherhood stories on each other?

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday. Today, Loz is diving into all things working from home with a toddler. Forget the Instagram version where everything looks effortless—this episode is all about what actually works. From realistic routines to toddler-friendly distractions and boundary-setting tips, Loz shares strategies that help you get work done without a full-time nanny (or losing your sanity). If you’ve ever tried to send an email while your child climbs the furniture, this one’s for you.

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Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram:

@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 here.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.

Today on the show:

• To wean or not to wean…that is the question.
• Tokyo government to introduce four-day workweek for its employees
• Best and worst christmas presents you’ve ever received.

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This episode is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

--

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

[RE-RELEASE] There's a good chance you haven't listened to today's episode, but you may have heard Loz and Lu bang on about it a million times. It was originally published in November 2023 when Lu/Lucinda was pregnant with Posie, and it's one of our favourite episodes of all time. We're re-releasing this episode today because not only is Lu currently in talks with Nell to get her back on the show after the birth of her second baby, Lu is also on the last week of her van trip and let's just say there was a little bit of mismanagement on her end with some edits. So today, a BRILLIANT re-release that's worth a re-listen. And if it's your first time, you're in for an absolute treat. Lu is back home and back to business next week.

Nell Frizzell might just be one of the wisest and funniest people I've ever had the pleasure of speaking to. She's a journalist, an author, and a mother, and she writes with the sort of candour and kind sense of authority that makes you trust her immediately.

My dog-eared copies of her books - The Panic Years and Holding the Baby - are completely battered and bruised, such is the wisdom and comfort that her words bring to exploring gender, motherhood, politics, and culture.

Here, we talk about the flattened female identity of motherhood, why mothers feel the need to hide their children in order to be taken seriously, and her experiences moving through the flux, the panic years, the tracksuit years and the partial eclipse.

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This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Our Pilates - physio led, on-demand pilates classes designed for new mums of all fitness levels and at any stage of their postpartum journey.

We particularly love the eight week postnatal program. Designed and instructed by Han, a physiotherapist and mother of two with over 15 years of experience, this program is the perfect way to gain strength in a way that is safe, can be done within the comfort of your home, And guess what? They're giving Ready or Not listeners a month of free classes.

To redeem your complimentary month of Our Pilates and access a huge library of Pilates classes, simply head to their website in our show notes (https://ourpilates.com.au) and enter the code READYORNOT when creating an account and select their monthly membership option.

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Nine pregnancies, two living babies and three businesses: Keira Rumble, the founder behind Krumbled Foods, Habitual Beauty, and Mini and Me, has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. And as her many Instagram followers will know, she keeps it incredibly real. I think that's why her story is so compelling; why she's so loved and admired by mothers and business owners across the country.

She's navigated IVF, hyperemesis, both perinatal and postnatal anxiety and depression. She's had the sort of rage that has scared her, received an ADHD diagnosis, and she's done it all while navigating three growing businesses.

And while her businesses might look glossy on the outside, it has not been without its trials and tribulations. Sending emails from the floor of your bathroom while just trying to get through another day of pregnancy meant that her businesses sometimes were hurting as she was.

So, she's not exactly sure how she got through it all, but luckily for us, she's here to tell her incredible tale.

Here, we talk about how each brand came to be, how she's navigated tumultuous conception and pregnancy journeys alongside business, and what she's most proud of now, as she begins to process it all.

And just to note, this episode discusses pregnancy loss and suicidal thoughts. So, please take care when listening.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

In this episode of Ready or Not, we are excited to partner with Youha, trusted and loved for premium breast pumps since 2010. Their portable and wearable designs provide comfort and convenience. They empower you to pump effortlessly anywhere, keeping you connected to what matters most.

Discover the complete collection of Youha Australia’s premium breast pumps and handy accessories and use the code READY15 during the month of July for 15% off the Embody pump here.

---

Thanks for listening to Ready or Not If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

If you're an avid consumer of lifestyle and travel media in Australia, there's a fair chance you've pored over the intelligent words of Caroline Clements.

As one of the first editorial leaders in the very early days of Broadsheet, Caroline helped shape the publication into the authority on Australian city culture that it is today.

Since then, she's worked in editorial and production roles with some of the country's biggest magazines and brands, before taking her passion for storytelling to a new subject: swimming and its place in Australian culture.

Together with her partner Dillon, the author has published the wildly popular Places We Swim and Places We Swim Sydney, and has just handed in the manuscript for Places We Swim California.

Here, we talk working and parenting from a motorhome on the wide open roads of California, how she makes freelance life with studying work, and the couple's approach to 50/50 parenting.

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This episode is sponsored by Our Pilates, an online platform with over 150 physio-led Pilates classes. Keep listening to learn how you can receive a free month of access to Our Pilates.

To redeem your complimentary month of Our Pilates, simply head to their website and enter the code READYORNOT when you create an account and select their monthly membership option.

Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday. Today, Loz chats about what do you do when you’re clearly overqualified for a role but need the flexibility it offers. Do you downplay your experience? Will employers take you seriously? And how do you make sure you’re still growing in your career while prioritising your family? Loz has the answers. From crafting the perfect job application to negotiating for better terms, this episode is full of practical, confidence-boosting advice to help you land the right role without feeling stuck.

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Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Manon Pietra is a diversity, equity and inclusion partner at Canva.

She's also the "other mum" as she puts it. That is, the non-birthing person in a two-mum family.

What I love most about this conversation is the reflections around what we assume to be a gendered experience, because while Manon and her wife may be similar when it comes to biology, that doesn't mean that Manon would go on to understand what her wife would go through in pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Here, we talk about what she's learned about being the non-birthing mum, what to start and stop asking same sex parents, the importance of robust paid parental leave, and why we still return to work as though nothing has changed.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. This week, Loz takes you through some simple hacks to make packing those lunchboxes that little bit easier.

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Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is sharing her best tips on what to do if you're made redundant on maternity leave.

LINKS:

• Listen to our episode - Resumes: Do I include my parental leave? - here.
• Listen to our episode - Why applying for full-time roles might be your secret hack to landing the perfect part-time role - here.
• Coursera
• LinkedIn Learning
• Udemy

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Before listening, please note that today's episode discusses suicidal ideation, self harm and postnatal depression. Before you press play, please consider if this conversation feels right for you.

When I emailed Emma Molloy to ask her for some more information about her journey, she reflected on some of her darkest days. And at the bottom of the email, there was a list of 10 things she's learned along the way.

So instead of trying to describe who Emma is, instead, I'm going to read my favourite bits from her list (see the Insta post I refer to here).

She writes: but it's not all bad. Here's a list of the lessons I've learned:

• Pancake batter can be cooked as a cake, if you can’t be bothered to make the pancakes.
• The washing is still done even if its sitting clean in the basket.
• I am a person not a robot. Children are not robots either.
• Sometimes you have to give up the idea of being perfect in order to find perfect moments. An example would be my son's last cricket game last year. My husband was away, and my son was upset because he didn’t get a chance to bat, normally I would try to get home for dinner. We stayed back I bowled until the sun went down. The smile on that kid’s face is burned into my memory forever.
• You are allowed to miss your old life.

This is such a powerful conversation. It's the story of how one mother emerged from her darkest and loneliest moments to find the light.

Here, we talk what it's like to be a defence spouse, how she overcame some of her lowest moments, and how she makes work, work today.

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This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Homb, Melbourne’s first of its kind postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. To learn more about the Homb trust – a registered charity that exists to provide financially supported stays to families in need, who don’t have the financial capacity to pay for a stay independently – and to book your stay at this special place, visit www.homb.com.au

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not, formally known as Tits & Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based episode, and the new name means that we can bring a wider range of advice to this episode, including your career conundrums and more! Today, Loz takes you through the five interview questions that may just help you land your dream job!

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work

• Childcare 101

• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Last week was our most listened to Witching Hour episode to date. Our DMs were full of similar stories of when a lack of sleep has led you to feel sad, helpless or anxious, and we couldn't wait to get back in your ears again today to continue the raw and honest conversations about some of those parenting moments that we're often too ashamed to talk about.

Plus, Lu is back from Homb, the postpartum hotel that she couldn't stop banging on about all week on Instagram, and it's fair to say she's at least a bit less on the edge than last week.

Today on the show:

• We need to talk about how hard relationships are post baby, Just like Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury, Rebecca Cope's relationship ended soon after having a baby.
• Lu shares her experience staying at the delightful postpartum hotel that is Homb, Plus, we have an update on Posie's sleep.
• Lastly, we share a few of the DMs you sent us since last week’s episode, all about those middle of the night sleep deprived moments of rage and the things we've regrettably said and done when we're hopelessly tired and at our wit's end.

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This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Homb, Melbourne’s first of its kind postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. To learn more about the Homb trust – a registered charity that exists to provide financially supported stays to families in need, who don’t have the financial capacity to pay for a stay independently – and to book your stay at this special place, visit www.homb.com.au

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

If you've listened to Ready or Not for a while, you might know that this is the second time that Liv Brown has been on the show. Last time we heard about her journey pre kids and then coming into motherhood as a mother of one thinking that stay at home motherhood would be for her, to slowly but surely discovering her creativity, discovering her niche.

And that is Rattle Style. She's a stylist for mums. She works across a variety of creative projects, and just as her bump was growing with her second baby, so too was her business. In our first chat, we discuss all of that and more. But in today's episode, I wanted to find out how navigating going from one to two has been for her.

And as someone that didn't quite stop work in my second postpartum, I wanted to know how Liv had tackled all of that and more. As you'll hear, she had some really stressful weeks with sickness and hospital stays with both of her babies when she brought her second baby Otis into the world and through all of that, she had to somehow navigate her paid work and her growing community, too.

Here we talk about the DMs and the messages that might be well meaning but sometimes aren't all that helpful when you're trying to navigate so much as a mum and a worker, and all of the ways in which she's found going from one to two easy and... not so easy. If this intro sounds incredibly off the cuff, that's because I'm bloody anxious. I have so much to do today.

But it is also because this conversation IS off the cuff and casual. That's the way I try to keep it when someone is returning to the show for the second time. So hopefully this feels like chatting amongst friends as opposed to an interview.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• I am not my kids playmate: the Instagram post that had mothers feeling seen the world over
• Apparently Taylor Swift – as an unmarried 34 year old – isn’t a good role model. I have some thoughts.
• And on the note of ageism and motherhood, this week’s poll is all around that small window that Lozzy and I have talked about, and that is the acceptable age to become a mum and have your babies.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

In this episode of Witching Hour we are excited to partner with Youha, trusted and loved for premium breast pumps since 2010. Their portable and wearable designs provide comfort and convenience. They empower you to pump effortlessly anywhere, keeping you connected to what matters most.

Discover the complete collection of Youha Australia’s premium breast pumps and handy accessories and use the code READY15 during the month of July for 15% off the Embody pump here.

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

When Penny Moodie appeared on her husband Hugh Van Cuylenburg's podcast to talk about the mental load of parenting, the response was huge.

Penny shared an experience that so many mothers can relate to: the rage and frustration that comes with feeling like everything at home is falling on you.

And on the other side of the coin, Hugh - the founder of the Resilience Project - shared an experience that many fathers will relate to: feeling like he was doing everything that he could and that it still wasn't enough.

That was, until he started to realise just how much his wife was taking on, thanks to Eve Rodksy's Fair Play book and deck of cards.

Penny is more than just Hugh's wife and a regular guest on his podcast though. She's a published author, an OCD advocate, a mum of three and a social work student.

Here, we talk about going through those Fair Play cards and making the invisible load at home visible, her experience with OCD and how that's shown up in motherhood, and how she went about writing her newly released book The Joy Thief.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by The Tenth Co, creators of science-backed supplements created for mothers, by a mother.

You can shop The Tenth Co’s top-rated product Flow State and learn all about the burnout that led to the creation of this incredible product by visiting thetenthco.com

Listeners of Ready or Not will receive $15 off using code FEELMOREREADYTHANNOT at checkout.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• H&M CEO Helena Helmersson abruptly steps down
• That Ballerina Farm controversy and whether we deserve to be outraged by another mum’s postpartum journey
• And mums talking money: after our money themed episodes, we ask you for your best tips on finances, super, and more.
• Good news: You can now exchange eligible drink containers for 10 cents in Victoria. More info here.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by New Bub Club, delicious meals for new and time poor parents. No prep, made-from-scratch, comfort food when you need it most.

Head to newbubclub.com to gift or purchase home-made meals for your family or someone in need of some postpartum care. Listeners of Witching Hour will receive $20 off your first order using code READY20.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Doctors and health professionals may have called Snuggle Hunny chief Julie Mathers geriatric on more than one occasion, but in my opinion, she's fit a hell of a lot in to a short amount of time. With her husband, she founded and sold an incredibly successful business in Flora and Fauna. She's experienced miscarriage and after trying for some time and some failed rounds of IVF, both of her sons ended up being conceived naturally, to her surprise. Her older boy Woody has Down Syndrome and a heart condition that will require surgery one day soon. He was born at 34 weeks and spent some time in the special care. She returned to work just four hours after his birth. And to their surprise, she was pregnant with her son Alfie just six months later.

Now that all might sound overwhelming at best and incredibly stressful at worst, but that's not the story you're about to hear. Julie's story is magic. Her boys run their own races, that's for sure. But, she's not too phased. Woody is Woody and Alfie is Alfie.

This is an incredible story regardless of whether you're navigating disability or not and we all need more of Julie and these stories in our lives.

From Flora and Fauna to Snuggle Hunny, from Woody to Alfie, from her working class background collecting milk money to big business sales, this is one of the most colourful stories I'll ever bring you.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Mukti Organics, results-driven and award-winning skin care products made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.

Purchase the revised and expanded second edition of Mukti’s bestselling book ‘Truth in Beauty’ for $89 via www.muktiorganics.com and retailers Amazon, Booktopia and QBD Books.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Do you find it hard to let go of control as the mother or primary caregiver? Have you ever been called too emotional, too assertive or too blunt in the workplace? Today, we unpack Loz's story about some cupcakes and find out why businesses should hire the diva. Plus, you share your stories on letting your partner make their own mistakes (or at least trying to) and when you've been told you're too much at work.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

---

Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins (and mums of two) banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.

Today on the show, we're talking why you should fail 16% of the time, why the term 'empty nester' needs a re-brand, and the Dolly Alderton live show report Lu didn't expect to be giving.

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Max Jahufer is the founder of creative agency, Future Studio. He’s also a proud trans father who will make his film debut in an upcoming comedy drama about a trans woman returning home for Christmas, and all the tension, secrets and lies that come with it.

Having always felt like the different kid, Max is open about the extra layer of what it means to bring up a child in a family that is perceived as different, and as the first dad on this show, I learn what it’s like returning to work just two weeks after your baby is born.

Here, we talk navigating work and parenting as the secondary caregiver, moving the family up to Queensland to be part of the film, and the importance of being surrounded by people with open minds.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

Follow Max and Paris's journey here.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

I often wonder to myself, what did mothers do before incredible people like Hello Darling co-founder Bridgette Gale were open enough to share their stories? Where did they find comfort? Where did they see themselves?

This episode has so much, it's difficult to know where to begin - starting a business at 21, working with the likes of Em Rata, miscarriage, postnatal anxiety and depression, intrusive thoughts, returning to work after two weeks, moving across the country with a four-week turnaround after receiving a business proposition she couldn't refuse, going from swimwear to tech startup, finding the transition from one to two easier than none to one, and emerging from the dark to find the light.

If you're a new mother who is struggling, this is essentially listening. As you'll hear, it got better for Bridgette, and I hope it gets better for you too.

I'm Lucinda, this is Ready or Not, and here is the reflective and remarkable Bridgette Gale.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Ready or Not! This week, we've released our Ready or Not Go To Guides. We've created three beautiful, practical and comprehensive guides in consultation with the experts in their fields, starting with Breastfeeding and Returning to Work, Postpartum and Return to Work Planning and Childcare 101.

Shop the Go To Guides here: readyornot.au

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Medibank are preparing to trial a four-day work week
• Shameless Media's Michelle Andrews and KIC's Laura Henshaw open up about whether they’re ready to have children or not
• Iceland’s prime minister joins thousands of women on strike
• Your advice on going from one to two kids
• Why you need to be specific in setting your career progression goals

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the ultimate destination for postpartum care supporting mothers with food, education, self-care tools and gifts. Listeners of Witching Hour will receive 10% off using code POSTPARTUMREADY at elan.house.

This offer has no expiration date but excludes 28 Day Postpartum Packages and Gift Certificates.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.

You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod, where we've shared a link and some resources to support the devastating conflict occurring in Gaza right now.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• We discuss the “let them” theory – very topical given our chat about the mental load two weeks ago and our poll today.
• Women say they're being routinely delayed or denied epidurals when giving birth because of "mistaken" beliefs about their impact on labour. (ABC)
• And your answers to our poll, all about maternal gatekeeping.

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Porscia Lam has been on one hell of a ride. She had two babies under 14 months, at the age of two, her older child Harry was diagnosed with autism, and after years of intense therapy, Harry went from not being able to be separated from his mum or dad to becoming ready to attend school.

That separation anxiety was so severe that even when he had a grandparent looking after him, if he knew that either Porscia or her husband were in the house, his entire fixation was on trying to get access his parents. Childcare as a result didn't work out, and after a period of her husband taking leave, Porscia decided to pause her career to support Harry's therapy. It was an intense time, and she felt shackled to her son and her home. But as you'll hear, slowly but surely, she emerged from some of the darkest times and is finding the light.

Here, we talk about the challenges of raising a neurotypical sibling alongside an autistic child, Harry’s autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and the severe anxiety, obsessive tendencies, and restricted eating that came with it, and going from catastrophising her life and feeling like there wasn't a way out to finding perspective and celebrating the small wins.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Hello from your very pregnant and very tired host. I'm Lucinda, and this is Ready or Not's three part holiday listening series. Over the next three weeks, we'll be re-releasing some of the year's most popular episodes. I hope you have a great holiday, and I'll see you on the other side, when we're back with new episodes of Ready or Not on Wednesday the 10th January.

This week, we're taking it back to one of our most popular early episodes with The Memo co-founder Phoebe Simmonds. Phoebe and I had our sons at very similar times, so I am getting her back on the show next year for a check in, to see what's changed and how making work, work looks with a near two-year-old. I loved this chat and I know that you will too.

She’s worked for some of the biggest beauty brands in the world, has lived in London, Singapore and Sydney, and now works and lives in Melbourne with her partner Shaun, Shaun’s son Tyler, and their son Remy.

Shaun lost his former partner, Tyler’s mother, many years before he and Phoebe came to be, so her introduction to parenting is quite unique. Phoebe’s pregnancy was also not without its stressors, with the diagnosis of cervical insufficiency, a condition in which the cervix opens too early, and therefore running a risk of a pre-term birth.

Here, we talk launching her businesses, navigating becoming a parent figure early in a relationship, the challenge of remaining present, and why she wants to see less of an emphasis placed on breastfeeding.

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This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Get Papped, an organisation that promotes open conversations about cervical screenings and urges individuals to take responsibility for scheduling their appointment

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we're covering the topic we wish we didn't have to: Australia's problem with men's violence towards women, including:

• The feminist talk with Rosie Batty, Catharine Lumby and Fiona Jenkins and the Hedley Thomas talk Lu attended at the Sorrento Writer's Festival.
• Your answers to our questions around how safe you're feeling right now,
• Your scary and devastating stories in relation to men's towards women.
• Plus, your tips around how we tackle this with our children.

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

Links:

• Rosie Batty's book: click here
• Loz's dry shampoo recommendation: click here

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

When Neha Ruch decided to take a career pause for family life, the mothers that she met weren’t exactly the image that society had painted of them. These mothers weren’t baby-obsessed, one dimensional people without a clever thought and they weren’t people that didn’t know how to do anything outside of changing a nappy.

These were smart women with thoughts and passions and ideas. They were choosing to shift gears. Ambition was not left at the threshold that they crossed when they entered the door marked motherhood, in fact, dedicating themselves to motherhood was able to coexist with their ambition, despite what the world had told them.

Cue Mother Untitled, Neha Ruch’s business that has been on a mission to update the perception of stay-at-home motherhood in America since 2017. Neha has become an absolute champion for the grey area of motherhood, because as she knows well, we’re not just working mums or stay at home mums. There’s so much space in between.

Here, we talk about the problem with aligning our value to our titles and our productivity, the outdated stereotypes that mothers face, and how to return to paid work after a career pause.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

In this episode of Ready or Not, we are excited to partner with Youha, trusted and loved for premium breast pumps since 2010. Their portable and wearable designs provide comfort and convenience. They empower you to pump effortlessly anywhere, keeping you connected to what matters most.

Discover the complete collection of Youha Australia’s premium breast pumps and handy accessories and use the code READY15 during the month of July for 15% off the Embody pump here.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Friday. Today, Loz is talking about one of the most emotionally charged milestones for any working mum: returning to work after maternity leave. From the joy of rediscovering your professional self to the guilt of leaving your little one, the highs and lows can feel overwhelming. In this episode, she'll share practical strategies for managing those emotions and tips to find your groove faster. Whether you’re returning full-time, part-time, or still planning your comeback, this episode is for you.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

There’s a lot to love about mother, Self-Practice founder, creative director, and consultant, Lauren Trend.

She’s incredibly relatable, but as a queer mother, she has a lot to teach us about inclusive language and what it’s like to navigate a system that’s not entirely built for you.

Here, we talk the constant whiplash of navigating working and parenthood, surrendering to being at the whim of a tiny person’s schedule, navigating a patriarchal system as a queer mother, and all the good bits, because as you’ll hear, she’s had plenty of those, too.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by The Tenth Co, creators of science-backed supplements created for mothers, by a mother.

You can shop The Tenth Co’s top-rated product Flow State and learn all about the burnout that led to the creation of this incredible product by visiting thetenthco.com

Listeners of Ready or Not will receive $15 off using code FEELMOREREADYTHANNOT at checkout.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Tuesday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Where to start when you don’t know what career you want
• And we have to talk about THAT The Bear episode, Ice Chips, that depicts perhaps the most profound labour scene I’ve ever seen.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by La La Noon, a children’s store founded by two mothers offering a range of local, sustainable brands with a focus on well made, timeless and stylish clothing, toys and gifts.

From brands like Olli Ella to The Wholesome store to Lenn Label, you’ll find one of a kind quality pieces that can be played with and worn again and again and then passed on to loved ones. Shop their thoughtful edit now at lalanoon.com.au.

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.