Join the ultimate 12 month rollercoaster as your friendly host Samantha Hannah (stand-up comedian and traditionally what's known as a "career gal") documents 36...
Day five of parental leave, and things take a dramatic turn—the baby is here! Or, more specifically, the baby is delivered by C-section while your host is under the influence of some rather effective drugs. Luckily, Toby was taking notes (or at least paying more attention than I was), so he joins me to piece together the details of what actually happened.From golden-hour cuddles and ice blocks to stolen wheelchairs and questionable post-op decision-making, this episode covers the whirlwind of birth. We also discover that antenatal classes do not prepare you for the unexpected, particularly when you missed one of the classes to go to Sydney. Tune in for the full, slightly hazy, but utterly unforgettable story!
--------
25:42
Day 3 & 4: A funny mix-up or subtle foreshadowing?
I'm documenting 365 days of maternity leave, from late pregnancy to birth right through to returning to work. Here, I cast my mind back to what happened on Days 3 and 4.A hospital mix-up leaves me amused but teases what was about to happen next and keep listening for an outro that shows why starting a podcast alongside becoming a new parent was potentially not the best idea.
--------
26:27
Day 2: Bath bombshells and broken plans
There were high hopes for the beginning of My Maternity Leave. Sorting the house, preparing for birth and of course, creating that elusive Hot Air Balloon model for the nursery. But first, it felt like a bath was in order.But what exactly did that bath lead to? Did it become the route cause of what was to happen next? I (your faithful host, Samantha Hannah) cast my mind back to day two of parental leave and the spanner in the works that thwarted all my best laid plans.Tune in for all the latest maternity goss!
--------
20:12
Day 1: Let's start at the very beginning
Myternity Leave is the ultimate 12 month rollercoaster as I, a stand-up comedian and marketing girl, swap the spotlight for an egg-shaped night light and stand-up gigs for sit-down feeds. And then document it. All 365 days of parental leave. Think of it as a diary in podcast form. Like a Bridget Jones reboot—only it’s about fumbling through the end of pregnancy, preparing for parenthood, and discovering if comedy can prep you for the world’s toughest crowd: a newborn.But this isn’t a “how-to” on motherhood. There’ll be no gentle-parenting advice or swaddling tips. It’s about identity—how it shifts, and flips as life changes.From quoting “Shall I be mother?” to becoming one, or the feeling you're falling behind in your career, we’ll explore the unexpected life lessons that come with expecting and beyond.In this first episode, which I have recorded and failed to put out five times now, I cast my mind back to my very first day of Maternity Leave where I chat about my last date day with my partner (without a child in the mix), my grand plans for my maternity leave, and get over excited about the concept of really good brie.
Join the ultimate 12 month rollercoaster as your friendly host Samantha Hannah (stand-up comedian and traditionally what's known as a "career gal") documents 365 days of parental leave.
A maternity leave diary in podcast form—about fumbling through the end of pregnancy, preparing for parenthood, and discovering if comedy can prep you for the world’s toughest crowd: a newborn.
But this isn’t a “how-to” on motherhood. This is not a parenting podcast. It's *for* the parents. And about identity—how it shifts and flips as your life faces one of its biggest changes yet.
New Zealand