Working Mumma

Carina O’Brien
  • 4.8 (25)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

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 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.

  1. 3 days ago

    Why Don't I Feel Like Me Anymore? Matrescence, Identity & Returning to Work with Amanda Jackson

    If you've ever returned to work after parental leave and thought, "I'm not the same person I was before I went on parental leave", you are not imagining it. And there's actually a word for what you're going through. In this episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, I sit down with Amanda Jackson, founder of Motherhood and Matrescence and author of the book by the same name, to explore the concept of matrescence, the process of becoming a mother, and why understanding it is one of the most powerful tools a working mum can have. In this episode we chat about: • What matrescence is — and why you've probably never heard of it (even though the word was coined in 1973) • The 3 stages of matrescence: separation, liminality, and integration • Why so many women feel like they've lost themselves after having children • The invisible load: why the work of mothering goes unseen and how that affects our identity • What really happens to your brain when you become a mum (it's NOT "mummy brain" - it's a neurological upgrade) • How matrescence affects your return to work and what employers and women themselves can do differently • Parenting for the audience vs. parenting for your family: how to block out the noise • Patressence: do dads go through it too? • Practical rituals and reflections to help you reconnect with who you are • The powerful questions to ask yourself (and your kids) to understand your matrescence journey   Connect with Amanda Jackson Website: motherhoodandmatrescence.com Instagram: @motherhood_and_matrescence LinkedIn: Amanda Jackson Connect with Carina and Working Mumma  Follow on Instagram  Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

    45 min

  2. 19 May

    Why the Mental Load Gets Bigger When Your Kids Start School (And What to Do About It)

    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. Connect with Carina and Working Mumma  Follow on Instagram  Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

    14 min

  3. 12 May

    Feeling Lost Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? How to Rebuild Your Career Confidence with Natalie McDonald

    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  Follow on Instagram  Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

    53 min

  4. 28 Apr

    Are You the Mum You Want to Be? A Simple Values Framework to Help Close the Gap

    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  Follow on Instagram  Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

    27 min

  5. 21 Apr

    How to drop perfection in motherhood without dropping your standards with Lisa Taylor

    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

    51 min

  6. 14 Apr

    Is the system set up for working mums to fail? What we can do about it (without burning out)

    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

    32 min

  7. 7 Apr

    Are You the Default Parent? How to Rebalance the Load with Michael Ray

    When we talk about working parents, we often focus on mums. But what if one of the biggest missing pieces in the conversation is dads? In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina speaks with fatherhood advocate Michael Ray about why working mums cannot carry the load alone, and why fathers need to be seen, supported and expected to be equal parents from the beginning. Michael shares his own story of becoming a father at 49 and then unexpectedly becoming a solo dad to his daughter Charlie. From being banned from backstage at his daughter’s ballet concert because “no males were allowed”, to speaking out about the lack of change tables in men’s bathrooms and the stigma dads face when asking for flexible work, Michael opens up about the systems that still assume mums are the default parent. In this episode, you will learn: - Why working mums burn out when fathers are treated as “optional” parents - The hidden “fatherhood forfeit” and what dads miss when work comes first - Why men are more likely to have flexible work requests denied - How unequal parenting starts in the newborn stage - Why fathers need more parental leave and support - How workplaces can better support dads and working families - Why sharing the mental load at home is critical for gender equality If you are a new mum, returning to work after maternity leave, or feeling like you are carrying too much at home, this episode will make you feel seen, and remind you that you were never meant to do it all alone.   Connect with Michael: Connect with Michael on LinkedIn  Check out Michael'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

    59 min

  8. 31 Mar

    The 90 Days Nobody Prepares You For: Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

    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 parental leave actually looks like - the messy, the hard, and what genuinely helps.   Episode resources and links  Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or LinkedIn Podcast ep https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lighten-your-mental-load-ditch-the-mum-guilt-and/id1495282250?i=1000719634108

    17 min
See All (191)

4.8
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

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 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Carina O’Brien
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    191
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Carina O’Brien
  • Show Website
    Working Mumma

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