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.

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

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 health impacts of striving to be a Superwoman and how you can redefine this moving forward and break free from the cycle.

Renee and I chat about the critical role employers play in a mother’s return to work after parental leave. Renee highlights strategies for businesses to create a supportive environment and retain valuable talent, helping to let go of Superwoman Syndrome in this critical time. She stresses the importance of employers being proactive in discussing entitlements, flexible work opportunities, and creating a supportive culture.

This is an enlightening conversation with many tools, tips, and strategies to support you to let go of the notion of superwoman.

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Connect with Renee via Instagram @found_learningmotherhood or her website The FOUND program

Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommuity for regular inspiration and tips on working mum life or connect with Carina on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/carina-obrien.

Get your free 'How to share the mental load' checklist workingmumma.com.au/mental-load/

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 your employer. We cover what is important for you, what does returning to work look like for you, flexible work options, how to plan a phased return, your legal rights (including Keeping In Touch days and breastfeeding support), and how to approach the conversation with clarity and confidence.

Whether you're 3 months out or just weeks away from returning, this episode will help you take control of your transition, whilst also managing expectations on both sides.

👩‍💻 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What to clarify in with your manager before returning
• Flexible work: 4 types and how to request them
• How to define your non-negotiables and ideal work week
• Tips for negotiating return plans and support
• How to use Keeping in Touch (KIT) days effectively
• What to do if your company’s policies have changed
• Breastfeeding and pumping rights at work in Australia
• Building your confidence and setting boundaries early

Show links

• Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity
• Sign up for the Working Mumma newsletter
• Get your free 'How to share the mental load' checklist workingmumma.com.au/mental-load/
• Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

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 has changed.

During this episode Carina chat's about:

• Why the traditional village has disappeared in Western culture

• The emotional toll of doing it all alone as a working mum

• Real-life reflections from a recent work trip abroad

• Practical ideas for creating your own support network

• Why every village looks different — and that’s okay

• How to build a village from scratch (even when you're new in town)

Show links

• Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity
• Sign up for the Working Mumma newsletter
• Get your free 'How to share the mental load' checklist workingmumma.com.au/mental-load/
• Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

"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 internal shifts that followed. From redefining success and letting go of mum guilt, to building micro-systems to support her return-to-work life, Laura offers wisdom, vulnerability, and practical strategies for working mums navigating their own identity transformations.

We chat about:

• Why Laura chose to leave her high-level role after becoming a mum

• The concept of matrescence and the identity shift no one warns you about

• Practical systems and hacks for simplifying the mental load

• Reframing mum guilt and giving yourself permission to grow

• The importance of communication and redefining partnership

• How to make space for the new version of you

Whether you’re feeling lost, stuck in the juggle, or wondering if you’ve changed, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and not alone.

Episode links

Connect with Laura Stewart on LinkedIn

Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or LinkedIn

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 to support women.

Whether you're returning to work, navigating the cost of daycare, or just trying to stay afloat, remember: this is a season. Give yourself permission to just survive, if that’s where you are. The time for growth will come.

You don’t need to know it all. You just need to take the first step and know your numbers.

We chat about:

• Why women often avoid financial conversations
• How our upbringing, traditional gender roles, and societal norms impact our money mindset
• The emotional drivers behind financial stress and avoidance
• Practical steps to build financial confidence (even if you're not a "numbers person")
• Why understanding your "financial story" is key to making empowered decisions that can also have a positive impact on your children
• Tips for navigating money conversations with your partner
• Superannuation, contribution splitting, and what to know post-maternity leave

This is an episode with great tips and advice whether you’re returning to work, navigating childcare costs, working for a few years, or want to feel more in control of your finances to help you later in life.

Episode links

Connect with Natasha: Women with Cents or @womenwithcents

Subscribe to the Working Mumma newsletter or connect @workingmummacommunity or on LinkedIn

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 for the country.

Lisa is so well organised, built a great community around her, and she has a great approach to working mum life with so many great tips that are useful regardless if you live in the city or country.

We dive into:

• The logistical juggle of long commutes, limited childcare, and off-grid living
• How Lisa returned to full-time work with two kids under five
• Why community care and asking for help are survival strategies, not weaknesses
• The importance of good communication, systems, and flexibility in rural working motherhood

Whether you live in the city or the country, this episode will leave you with new ideas, empathy, and a reminder: working mums are stronger than we realise – especially when we stop trying to do it all alone.

Episode links

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn

Connect with Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or LinkedIn and check out the website for free resources.