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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

16:36

Returning Back to Work? You’re Not Failing, You’re...

Working Mumma ·

2026/03/31

If you're about to go back to work after maternity leave, or you're already back and wondering why it feels so much harder than expected, this episode is for you.The truth is, no one really prepares you for the emotional reality of the return. The guilt. The overwhelm. The strange feeling of being expected to show up as the same person you were before, when you are fundamentally, beautifully different. In this episode, I'm walking you through what the first 90 days of returning to work after

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50:06

You Had a Baby, Not a Lobotomy: Reclaiming Your...

Working Mumma ·

2026/03/24

You came back from parental leave a different person - more resilient, more decisive, less tolerant of nonsense, and more capable. The question isn't whether you can do your role. It's whether you will give yourself permission to show up as the upgraded version of yourself.This week on the Working Mumma Podcast, I chat with Rebecca Houghton, founder of Bold HR and author of More Impact, More Easily — a book that started as a guide for middle managers and turned out to be essential reading for every

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45:34

Made Redundant on Maternity Leave - The Story Nobody...

Working Mumma ·

2026/03/17

What happens when the job you thought you were returning to after parental leave no longer exists?In this episode, I speak with executive leader and solo mum Karis Dorrigan, who shares her experience of being made redundant while on maternity leave during COVID, and how that moment became a turning point in redefining her career, ambition, and life. This is an honest and powerful conversation about the realities many women face but rarely talk about - redundancies whilst on parental leave, job

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44:17

The “Prove Yourself” Trap After Maternity Leave (And...

Working Mumma ·

2026/03/03

Returning to work after maternity leave can come with an unspoken pressure many women don’t realise they’re carrying - the need to prove that nothing has changed.In this episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, Carina sits down with Rachel Debeck, former lawyer, tech CEO, and mum of three, to unpack the “prove yourself” trap that so many working mothers fall into when they return to work. Rachel shares her honest experience of coming back to a senior role when her first baby was just seven months old,

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33:31

Before You Post That Photo - What Every Parent Needs...

Working Mumma ·

2026/02/24

Have you ever posted your child’s name, birth date or kinder photo online?Most of us have. And we did it with love. But in 2026, the digital landscape has changed. In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast Carina speaks with Zsofi Paterson, CEO of Tinybeans, about the growing conversation around “sharenting” and why parents of young children need to be more aware than ever. Following a recent Australian Federal Police warning and a 41% rise in online child exploitation, this episode

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13:14

Reflect | My Job No Longer Fit Me: Navigating Career...

Working Mumma ·

2026/01/20

Returning to work after having a baby isn’t just about logistics, childcare, or flexible hours , a big part of it is about identity.In this Reflect Summer Series episode, Carina revisits a powerful conversation with Laura Stewart, who shares her deeply honest experience of the identity shift that came with motherhood, and how it ultimately led her to redefine success, leadership, personal values, and meaningful work. While on maternity leave, Laura made the bold decision not to return to her

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15:43

Reflect | Managing the Mental Load as a Working...

Working Mumma ·

2026/01/13

The mental load is exhausting, and a big issue for many working mothers. In this Reflect summer series special episode, I speak with Professor Leah Ruppaner. We delve into the complexities of the mental load for working mums, and explore strategies to help you manage it that works for you. Leah shares the emotional and cognitive aspects of the mental load, the societal expectations placed on mothers, and the importance of creating supportive systems for both parents. If you liked this Reflect

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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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194 results

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