The Sandwich Generation: Juggling Kids, Aging Parents & Yourself with Casey Beros
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 children, the lessons she learned about navigating the healthcare system, and how to advocate for those you love. She shares the honest truth about burnout, guilt, grief, and why self-care often feels impossible, but is vital.
Whether you’re already in the thick of caregiving or want to prepare for the road ahead, this episode will leave you with practical strategies and heartfelt wisdom.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
What it really means to be part of the “sandwich generation”
The two essential skills for caregiving: advocacy & system navigation
How to juggle emotional, physical, and financial pressures of care
Ways to look after yourself when you feel there’s nothing left to give
How to support friends and family going through the caring role
Why preparation before a crisis is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself
Connect with Casey
Instagram @caseyberos
Check out her new book 'Next of Kind' nextofkinbook
Connect with Carina and Working Mumma
Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
LinkedIn: Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien
Sign up to the Working Mumma newsletter
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The Motherhood Penalty and The Impact on your Career with Emma McLean
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 earnings
Why flexible work is sometimes a trap rather than a solution
How school holidays reveal the hidden gender divide in caregiving
The confidence and overwhelm crisis so many working mums silently battle
Why dads need to step up at home if women are to step up at work
The simple strategies you can use to reclaim your inner compass and shift the load
Whether you’re returning to work, managing the juggle, or just tired of the system keeping mothers stuck, this conversation will inspire you to think differently and take action.
Connect with Emma:
Instagram: @worksforeveryone
LinkedIn: Emma McLean
Podcast: How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty
Connect with Carina and Working Mumma
Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
LinkedIn: Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien
Sign up to the Working Mumma newsletter
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How proximity of care for your child can support your return to work after maternity leave with Lauren from BubbaDesk
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 system is failing to meet the needs of working families, and the benefits this model brings for both parents and employers. We also discuss the challenges facing parents in 2025, the future of childcare innovation, and the role policy makers and businesses can play in supporting working mums and dads.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
What proximity childcare is and why it matters
Lauren’s personal postpartum and return-to-work experience that sparked BubbaDesk
The gaps in Australia’s childcare system and why it needs urgent innovation
How BubbaDesk is partnering with employers to support working parents
The mental health benefits of being close to your baby during work hours
MORE LINKS
Connect with Lauren on Instagram @bubbadesk or website bubbadesk.com
Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity and the website www.workingmumma.com.au or connect with Carina on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/carina-obrien/
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment ot subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more working mums who need this resource to help them navigate the juggle of career and motherhood. Thanks for tuning in and see you next week.
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Lighten Your Mental Load, Ditch the Mum Guilt, and Rethink Care with Professor Leah Ruppanner
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, refreshing, and might just change the way you move through motherhood and work.
From gendered expectations and the invisible labor women carry, to the societal norms that fuel mum guilt, Leah shares evidence-based insights and practical ways to help you begin to lighten the load.
You will hear about:
- The true definition of the mental load (spoiler: it’s more emotional than you think)
- Why some mental load solutions don’t work (and what might)
- How gender norms are holding us back at home and at work
- The real reason mum guilt exists and how to release it
- How workplaces can (and must) better support caregiving
- What the research says about dads, mental load, and the desire to be more present
- Leah’s vision for structural change and redefining care as essential infrastructure
MORE LINKS
Connect with Leah via her website www.leahruppanner.com or on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/leah-ruppanner-1657a417/
Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity and the website www.workingmumma.com.au or connect with Carina on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/carina-obrien/
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment ot subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more working mums who need this resource to help them navigate the juggle of career and motherhood. Thanks for tuning in and see you next week.
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How Donna Urquhart Chased Her Dream After Motherhood and Ran 1400km across Antarctica
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 imposter syndrome, and chasing a dream most people would consider impossible - all while juggling family, work, and training in freezing conditions.
She shares how motherhood reshaped her ambition, the systems she put in place to make time for her passions, and how she reframed “sacrifice” as values-aligned decision-making.
If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re too late to start something new, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and inspired.
We chat about:
Why Donna started running after becoming a mum to help her own mental health
Why motherhood doesn’t mean the end of your personal dreams
The emotional and physical challenge of breaking a world record
Balancing work, family, and extreme training
How values, not sacrifices, guided her decisions
The power of community, support, and believing in yourself
Real tips for taking the first step toward your next dream
This is your reminder: it’s never too late. Motherhood might just be your launchpad.
Show links
Follow Donna on Instagram @runantarctica and check out more of Donna's story via her website runantarctica.com
Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity
Sign up for the Working Mumma newsletter
Connect with Carina on LinkedIn
Working Mumma is the go-to podcast for women navigating the juggle of motherhood and career, especially during the return-to-work period after maternity leave. Whether you’re preparing to head back to work, already in the thick of the transition, or in the first few years of rediscovering your professional self, this podcast is your toolkit for clarity, confidence, and connection.Hosted by Carina O’Brien, mum of 2 boys, businesswoman, and founder of Working Mumma, each episode delivers relatable stories, expert interviews, and practical strategies to help you. You will hear from experts, leaders, and women like you who are juggling career and motherhood. You’re not alone in this. Tune in weekly to feel supported, empowered, and reminded that you’re doing a great job.
New Zealand