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PODCAST

Working Mumma

Carina O’Brien

Working Mumma is the podcast redefining what it means to build and have a career after having children. From the emotional rollercoaster of returning to work, to navigating identity shifts, rebuilding confidence, pay, flexibility and redesigning work to match your new life, where real stories and practical strategies meet. Because motherhood doesn’t end ambition - it reshapes it. Hosted by Carina O’Brien, mum of 2 boys, businesswoman, and founder of Working Mumma, each episode delivers relatable

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

56:44

The Motherhood Penalty: Why Working Mums Pay the...

Working Mumma ·

2025/08/19

Motherhood changes everything - our identity, our priorities, our bodies, and our careers. But for too many women, it also brings a cost they never signed up for: the motherhood penalty.In this powerful episode, I sit down with Emma McLean, executive coach, speaker, and founder of Works for Everyone to talk about the Motherhood Penalty, the price women pay and actions we can take today to change it. We dive into: What the motherhood penalty really is – and why it costs women up to 55% of their

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33:11

How proximity of care for your child can support your...

Working Mumma ·

2025/08/12

Returning to work after having a baby can be one of the most emotional and challenging transitions in a parent’s life. Then finding the right care can be a daunting task. In this week's episode I chat with Lauren Parrot, the founder of BubbaDesk and mum of two, about her personal journey from postpartum anxiety to creating a new childcare solution for modern parents. Lauren shares her insights into why proximity care is becoming increasingly important for many parents, how the current childcare

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50:31

Lighten Your Mental Load, Ditch the Mum Guilt, and...

Working Mumma ·

2025/07/29

Are you feeling exhausted or burnt out from the mental load? In this episode, I speak with Professor Leah Ruppanner – sociologist, gender equity advocate, and founder of the Future of Work Lab at the University of Melbourne. Leah unpacks the mental load in a way you’ve never heard before - why it’s not just cognitive, but deeply emotional too. If you’ve ever felt invisible, overwhelmed, or wondered why you’re carrying so much, this conversation is for you. Leah’s insights are validating,

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42:19

It’s Never Too Late: How Donna Urquhart Chased Her...

Working Mumma ·

2025/07/22

Have you ever felt like becoming a mum meant putting your dreams on hold?You’re not alone. But what if motherhood is instead the start of something even greater? In this deeply inspiring episode, we meet Donna Urquhart, a clinical researcher, mum, and now Guinness World Record holder for running an astonishing 1,400 kilometres across Antarctica after taking up running in her 30s, post-motherhood. Donna’s story isn’t just about athletic achievement. It’s about rediscovering identity, pushing through

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56:12

THROWBACK: How to navigate unrealistic expectations...

Working Mumma ·

2025/07/15

I speak with Renee Barnes, founder of the People Paradox, and fellow working mum about Superwoman Syndrome and why it is time to let go of the notion. Renee shares invaluable insights into the challenges and growth opportunities mothers face during this transformative journey and unrealistic expectations.Renee shares what is "Superwoman Syndrome", its origins, and how societal expectations contribute to this unrealistic ideal for working mothers. We discuss the significant mental and physical

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27:05

How to Navigate Your Return-to-Work Conversation with...

Working Mumma ·

2025/07/09

Returning to work after maternity leave isn’t just about showing up on day one. The transition starts with you going through a reflective process on your new identity, and what your terms are you want to return back to the paid workforce are. Then comes one of the most important (and often nerve-wracking) steps: the conversation with your manager.In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina walks you through how to confidently and clearly prepare for your return-to-work conversation with

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14:55

Why Every Working Mum Needs a Village (Now More Than...

Working Mumma ·

2025/07/02

There’s a phrase we’ve all heard before: “It takes a village to raise a child.” But here’s something we don’t say enough, it also takes a village to raise a working mum.The “village” that used to exist, grandparents nearby, friendly neighbours, extended family, looks different for many of us. In this solo episode, Carina talks about the often-overlooked truth behind the working mum juggle: we weren’t meant to do this alone. We used to raise children in villages, but today the concept of the village

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39:12

“Who Am I Now?" The Identity Shift No One Prepares...

Working Mumma ·

2025/06/24

"Who am I now" is a question many mums have asked themselves, especially when they are navigating the transition back to work. I chat with Laura Stewart, mum, former executive leader, and founder of a social enterprise, to unpack her experiences of identity shift (matrescence) and navigating her transition back to work. Laura shares her decision to resign from a senior role while on maternity leave, the emotional process of discovering she no longer fit the career she once thrived in, and the deep

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43:41

Money, Motherhood & Mindset: How to Rewrite Your...

Working Mumma ·

2025/06/17

Why do so many women feel uncomfortable talking about money, and how can we change it? Where does this come from? How can we change this mindset?Carina speaks with behavioral money coach and founder of Women with Cents, Natasha Janssens. From escaping war-torn Yugoslavia to becoming an accountant, mortgage broker, financial planner, and now a powerful voice helping women shift their relationship with money, Natasha shares her personal journey and how it led her to focus on the psychology of money

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56:28

Navigating the Mum Juggle in the Country: How Lisa...

Working Mumma ·

2025/06/10

You think the school drop-off is tough in the city? Try doing it with two kids, 170 acres of farmland, no running water from mains, and a 90-minute commute to work. I chat with Lisa Judson, a working mum of two living in regional Western Australia. Lisa shares what life is really like juggling career, motherhood, and a farm, all without access to city conveniences like town water, rubbish collection, or nearby daycare. As Lisa comments "my parents are only an hour away" - a relative short distance

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35:01

Working Mum Life Maths: Career, Kids & the $150K...

Working Mumma ·

2025/06/02

Is childcare worth the cost when most of your paycheck goes straight to daycare fees?In this powerful episode, financial advisor and mum of two, Deline Jacovides, opens up about how much she and her husband have spent on childcare over seven years, and why, despite the eye-watering figure, she’d do it all again. We unpack the true cost of childcare in Australia, the long-term impact on women’s careers and superannuation, and the often-overlooked benefits, like career progression, independence, and

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31:59

From Redundancy to Global Business: How Beatrice...

Working Mumma ·

2025/05/26

In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina O’Brien chats with Beatrice Toh, mother of 3 and founder of Hey Doodle.Beatrice shares how a career pivot during COVID turned redundancy into opportunity, sharing very openly her experiences of building a global business from her kitchen table, and what it’s really like managing the juggle of entrepreneurship with three young kids. Beatrice opens up about the raw realities of business and motherhood, between nap times, during night shifts, the

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48:05

Navigating a Toxic Return to Work: Elise’s Story of...

Working Mumma ·

2025/05/19

Returning to work after maternity leave is a major life transition, and for many women, it’s a moment of hope that quickly turns into disillusionment with their manager and/or employer.For Elise Slavin, her return came with rigid demands, unrealistic expectations, and emotional burnout. Despite clear communication with her employer, she was expected to ramp up to full-time hours, 5 days a week within three months of returning after parental leave, secure extra childcare in an impossible timeframe,

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36:59

What to Wear When Returning to Work:...

Working Mumma ·

2025/05/12

Returning to work after maternity leave is a huge transition, physically and emotionally.Your body has changed, your lifestyle has shifted, and your wardrobe? It probably doesn’t reflect the confident, capable woman you are becoming. In this episode, Carina chats with personal stylist Lisa Stockman about how clothes can influence your confidence, how to rebuild your wardrobe without breaking the bank, and the mindset shift mums need when rediscovering their personal style. Packed with actionable

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08:53

Stop Doing It All: How to Share the Mental Load and...

Working Mumma ·

2025/05/08

Let’s be real, you're not just juggling work and motherhood. You're carrying the mental load too: remembering school events, buying birthday presents, packing lunches, and keeping everything (and everyone) running smoothly.It’s invisible. It’s exhausting. And it’s not sustainable. From the silent stress to the constant remembering, planning, and doing, it’s no wonder we feel like we’re running on empty. In this podcast I cover: What the mental load really is, and how it quietly burns us out The

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36:27

Ash Polland's Story of Identify Loss and the Raw...

Working Mumma ·

2025/05/05

From the spotlight of reality TV to the chaos of raising two young girls, Ash Pollard opens up about how motherhood shook her to the core. In this honest and emotional conversation, Ash shares her journey of identity loss, the pressure to keep performing, and how she’s navigating the raw realities of being a mum.You’ll hear: How Ash landed her first role in TV and why it’s not as glamorous as it seems What shocked her most about early motherhood and the identity crisis that followed Her struggle

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06:50

Permission to Say No: Setting Boundaries & Reclaiming...

Working Mumma ·

2025/05/01

Feel like you’re saying “yes” to everything and losing yourself in the process? You’re not alone.This Juggle Tip episode gives you permission to say no without feeling guilty and gives you strategies to say no with confidence. From work requests to weekend bake sales, I share how to set boundaries so you can reclaim your time and energy and do the things you enjoy. This episode is your go-to guide for setting boundaries that work for you. When you start saying no to the right things, you create

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29:10

Hatien’s story - Losing My Job While Pregnant and...

Working Mumma ·

2025/04/28

The early years of motherhood aren’t just hard; they completely shake and in many ways change your identity. In this real and raw conversation, Hatien Van shares her journey through pregnancy during a pandemic, losing her job, experiencing postnatal depression, rebuilding her life and career. If you've ever wondered why the early years feel so overwhelming, or questioned if you’re doing enough, this episode will feel like a warm, honest conversation with a friend who truly gets it. In this

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36:25

Laetitia Andrac on burnout, ADHD, and leaving...

Working Mumma ·

2025/04/15

Laetitia Andrac is a mother of two, former corporate strategist, business owner, and passionate advocate for neurodiversity. When her daughter Zoe began showing signs of being neurodivergent, Laetitia found herself navigating a complex, exhausting system while trying to hold down a senior management role in one of Australia's largest organisations. What followed was a personal journey of burnout, late ADHD diagnosis, and ultimately, a complete career shift.Laetitia opens up about the emotional toll

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29:30

The questions my pre-mum self would ask me today

Working Mumma ·

2025/04/08

Have you ever paused and reflected on the woman you were before becoming a mum? In this special solo episode, I open up about the questions my pre-mum self might ask me today. From navigating identity shifts to managing relationships, careers, and the mental load – this is the episode I would give to my younger self, full of truth, insight, and a dose a reality.From career ambitions and the mental load to the myth of balance and the messy beauty of mum life, I reflect on what I have learned and

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197 results

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