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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

48:38

THROWBACK: How to Ask for Flexibility at Work (and...

Working Mumma ·

2025/11/12

You’ve proven you can do your job — and do it well — while working flexibly. But now that your employer wants more office time, how do you ask for what you need without feeling guilty or being seen as “less committed”?In this episode Carina O’Brien speaks with Dr. Ellen Ford, leadership expert and author of #WorkSchoolHours, about the art of negotiating flexibility at work. Together, they explore how working mums can confidently start the conversation, use data and outcomes to back up their case,

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43:26

How to Co-Parent After Separation Navigating Divorce,...

Working Mumma ·

2025/11/05

When a relationship ends, it’s not just the romantic partnership that dissolves - it’s the version of the life you imagined. For working mums, that loss can feel even heavier. You’re juggling career responsibilities, managing the daily needs of your children, and trying to make sense of an entirely new identity.In this honest and practical conversation I chat with family lawyer, author, and co-parent Gabriella Pomare to talk about how working mums can navigate separation, divorce, and co-parenting

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13:22

Stop Should-ing Yourself: Why “Should” Is the Real...

Working Mumma ·

2025/10/28

Are you caught in a constant loop of “I should be doing more”? In this reflective episode, Carina unpacks why the word "should" has become the secret source of guilt for working mums and how to replace it with kinder, more empowering language.Carina explores how should sneaks into our day through social expectations, “good girl” conditioning, and the mental load and shares a simple mindset strategies to help reframe and let go of guilt and reclaim control of your choices. You’ll walk away feeling

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43:36

Balancing IVF and a Career - How do you keep it all...

Working Mumma ·

2025/10/21

What happens when you’re managing a busy job or running a business and quietly going through IVF at the same time?In this powerful episode, Carina sits down with Marianne Marchesi, founder and Managing Director of Legalite, to talk about the emotional and practical realities of balancing fertility treatment and career. Marianne shares what it was really like to lead a growing law firm while navigating IVF during COVID - from countless appointments, injections, and heartbreak, to showing up at work

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51:19

The Hidden Conditioning That’s Burning Women Out with...

Working Mumma ·

2025/10/14

Have you ever caught yourself saying “I’ll just do it,” or “I don’t want to upset anyone,” or you’re simply tired of trying to do it all perfectly? This episode is your permission slip to stop being the good girl, and start being YOU. Dr Michelle McQuaid joins Carina to unpack Good Girl Conditioning, the pressure women feel to perform perfectly, please everyone, and protect others at their own expense. Drawing on her new research across 1,000 Australian women, Michelle reveals the hidden costs of

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61:28

You’re Not Lazy, You're Overloaded: Healing the...

Working Mumma ·

2025/10/07

Are you tired of feeling tired? You get through your workday, juggle drop-offs, dinner, and the endless to-do list - yet your mind never switches off.You’re not broken, lazy, or failing. You’re just overloaded. In this powerful conversation, clinical psychologist Dr. Kaitlin Harkess explains what’s really happening in your body when you feel burnt out, anxious, and stretched too thin. She shares the neuroscience behind why so many mums feel “wired but tired” with practical, evidence-based tools to

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49:43

How to Reclaim Your Identity in Motherhood When...

Working Mumma ·

2025/09/16

Returning to work after maternity leave can feel like stepping into a whole new world - one where your values, identity, and confidence may feel completely different from before you left. You may look the same on the outside, but on the inside, you feel like a new person. I chat with Sarah Gibbins, a leadership coach, HR expert, and mum of four, to explore the unspoken truths of navigating career, identity shift, mum guilt, and motherhood. We dive into: The identity shift women experience after

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34:30

Why are there no part time roles and how can we...

Working Mumma ·

2025/09/10

Why are there no senior part-time roles? What started as a reel with recent guest Emma McLean exploded online with hundreds of comments from working parents sharing frustrations, missed opportunities, and moments of hope about part time roles. What really struck me was how much emotion and old-school thinking remains towards part time work. For so many working mums, the lack of senior part-time roles isn’t just about jobs. It’s about identity, family, equality, and opportunity. The main barrier to

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19:52

The Transition Back to Work After Parental Leave:...

Working Mumma ·

2025/09/02

Returning to work after maternity leave isn’t just a date on the calendar, it’s a transition that unfolds over many months. In this episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, I share my tips and experiences of navigating the messy, emotional, and transformative season of going back to work after parental leave. You’ll hear about: Why treating your return as a transition, not a snap back, changes everything How to set clear boundaries at work and at home (and stick to them) Why “good enough” parenting

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01:10:45

The Sandwich Generation: Juggling Kids, Aging Parents...

Working Mumma ·

2025/08/26

What happens when you’re caring for small children and aging parents at the same time? This is the reality for millions of women, now called the “sandwich generation.”In this heartfelt episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina O’Brien speaks with author, health journalist, and carer Casey Beros about the emotional, physical, and financial toll of caregiving, and the unexpected personal growth that can come with it. Casey opens up about her journey caring for her dad while raising two young

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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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187 results

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