Working Mumma

When you're in the thick of the baby and toddler years, it can feel like that's the hardest it will ever be. But what nobody tells you is that the challenge doesn't disappear as your kids get older - it just changes shape.

In this solo episode, I'm getting real about a phase of working motherhood I didn't see coming: the school-age years. From navigating school hours that don't align with work hours, to managing a never-ending rotation of sports trainings, WhatsApp groups, Compass and Storypark alerts, school events, and the invisible mental load of coordinating everyone else's lives - this one's for the mums in the thick of it.

I talk about:

Why the transition from childcare to school can actually increase the mental load for working mums

The concept of cognitive labour (as described by Professor Leah Ruppanner) and why it still falls disproportionately on mothers

The hidden logistics of school-age sport, and why I wouldn't have it any other way

The beautiful moments hiding inside the chaos (yes, they're there)

A few honest things that are helping me survive this season without losing my mind

This episode isn't about complaining. It's about naming something that so many of us are quietly carrying, and reminding you that you are absolutely not alone.

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What happens when you return to work after maternity leave… only to be made redundant six weeks later?

In this honest and deeply relatable episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, I’m joined by Natalie McDonald, founder of Working@It, former LinkedIn editor, journalist, content strategist, and mum of two.

Natalie opens up about:

Returning to work after maternity leave

Being made redundant during the AI transformation in tech

The emotional impact of redundancy as a mother

Identity shifts after motherhood

Building confidence after career setbacks

Starting a business after redundancy

Why working mums need community more than ever

The importance of personal branding and networking

The reality of balancing work, ambition and caregiving

 

This episode is for any woman who has ever questioned:
“Am I still valuable after becoming a mum?”
“Could this happen to me?”
“How do I rebuild confidence and a career after being made redundant?”

Natalie’s story is raw, empowering, practical, and incredibly validating for working mothers navigating change, uncertainty and the pressure to “hold it all together.”

If you’re navigating maternity leave, returning to work, redundancy, burnout, or career transition, this conversation will make you feel seen.

 

Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming, even when you’re doing everything “right”?

In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Lisa Taylor, author of The Perfect Parent Trap, about the invisible pressure modern mothers are carrying and why so many working mums feel like they’re constantly falling short.

From unrealistic expectations to the mental load, Lisa unpacks how the idea of “perfect parenting” has quietly shaped how we work, parent, and judge ourselves. We explore why this pressure is hitting working mothers especially hard, and what needs to change.

This is an honest, validating conversation for any mum who has ever felt:

Like she’s failing at work or at home
Overwhelmed by the mental load
Guilty for not being “present enough”
Exhausted from trying to do it all

In this episode, we chat about:

What the “perfect parent trap” actually is

Why working mums are set up to feel like they’re failing

The role of societal expectations and systemic pressures

How perfectionism shows up in motherhood

Practical ways to let go of unrealistic standards

A new way to think about being a “good enough” parent

If you’ve ever wondered “why does motherhood feel so hard?” - this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Connect with Lisa: 

Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn

Find out more via Natalie's website

Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 

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Have you ever felt like everything in your life looks fine on paper… but something still feels off?

In this solo episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina explores the hidden tension so many working mums experience, the gap between the mother you are today and the mother you want to be.

This episode isn’t about productivity hacks or doing more. It’s about alignment.

Carina shares a practical and deeply reflective framework to help you:

Define your version of motherhood (not society’s)

Identify your core values and where you’re out of alignment

Understand why guilt, burnout, and frustration show up

Set boundaries that actually protect what matters most

Take small, realistic steps toward a version of motherhood that feels right for you

Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 

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Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming, even when you’re doing everything “right”?

In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Lisa Taylor, author of The Perfect Parent Trap, about the invisible pressure modern mothers are carrying and why so many working mums feel like they’re constantly falling short.

From unrealistic expectations to the mental load, Lisa unpacks how the idea of “perfect parenting” has quietly shaped how we work, parent, and judge ourselves. We explore why this pressure is hitting working mothers especially hard, and what needs to change.

This is an honest, validating conversation for any mum who has ever felt:

Like she’s failing at work or at home
Overwhelmed by the mental load
Guilty for not being “present enough”
Exhausted from trying to do it all

In this episode, we chat about:

What the “perfect parent trap” actually is

Why working mums are set up to feel like they’re failing

The role of societal expectations and systemic pressures

How perfectionism shows up in motherhood

Practical ways to let go of unrealistic standards

A new way to think about being a “good enough” parent

If you’ve ever wondered “why does motherhood feel so hard?” - this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Connect with Lisa: 

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn

Buy The Perfect Parent book

Check out Lisa's website 

Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 

Follow on Instagram 

Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram

Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the newsletter

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly behind…
like you’re failing at work, at home, or both…here is an episode for you.

Because here’s the truth: You are not the problem. The expectations of you are.

In this episode, I unpack why so many working mums feel overwhelmed, stretched, and stuck in a cycle of “trying harder”, and why it’s not about better time management or being more organised.

I chat about: 

The viral ABC post "Working mums. The maths ain't mathing" and why it resonated so deeply

The pressure of the “juggle” and why it’s actually a trap

The mental load and invisible labour working mums carry every day

The motherhood penalty and how it impacts careers, pay, and confidence

Why workplaces, systems, and society haven’t caught up with modern families

Breaking down what needs to change into 4 key areas and micro actions you can take today to create change

This episode reframes “mum guilt” as something much bigger: a system that was never designed to support working parents.

Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 

Follow on Instagram 

Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram

Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the newsletter