Have It All

Emily Parks
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  • PARENTING
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

Welcome to Have It All, the podcast that says the quiet part out loud about motherhood, career, ambition and the chaos in between. I’m Emily Parks. Mum of two, marketer, and someone who’s learned that doing it all often means doing too much. Every second week, I chat with women navigating the juggle of working motherhood, identity and ambition. These are honest, thoughtful and uplifting conversations about what it really looks like to balance career, family and self. Because having it all doesn’t mean doing it all. And you’re not meant to figure it out alone.

  1. 28 APR

    The 4am wake up with Charlotte from Rose Studio

    Most conversations about “having it all” skip over the reality of what it actually takes. In this episode, I’m joined by Charlotte, founder of Rose Studio – a boutique design studio based in Auckland, New Zealand helping bold, passionate business owners to bring their vision to life with strategic and intentional design. Charlotte built her business while raising three young kids, including a high-needs autistic child, navigating life across countries, and spending long stretches solo parenting when her husband was overseas for his professional football career. We talk about what it really looked like behind the scenes – from waking at 4am to carve out quiet time for work, to rebuilding her confidence as a mum returning to the workforce. We cover: The reality of solo parenting and navigating motherhood without your usual support systemsHow Charlotte built her business around her life (not the other way around)The confidence shift that came from studying again as a mumWhat motherhood has taught her about leadership, resilience and capacityThe challenges of raising a high-needs child alongside career ambitionWhy “having it all” looks different for every woman — and why that matters Follow @haveitall.podcast on Instagram NEW episodes every second week.

    34 min

  2. 09/12/2025

    Making time for play with Zazi | mum of two, speech & language therapist and founder of Zazi Plays

    What happens when motherhood, identity, and a creative spark collide? In this episode, I sit down with Zazi Henderson — speech and language therapist, mum of two, and the creator behind Zazi Plays, the parenting community loved by thousands across Aotearoa. Zazi shares the beautiful chaos of raising young children while running a business, but also the deeply human moments behind it all — like the realisation that so many parents struggle with something as simple as play. As she says in the episode: “It is just really hard. We no longer know how to play and it feels really clunky and strange. We’re adults now — it doesn’t come naturally to us. So you’re not alone in finding it hard. I don’t just find it easy.” We talk about the emotional weight of returning to work as a first-time mum — the inadequacy she felt at the time, and the compassion she now has for her younger self. She reflects on how much more confident she wishes she’d been, and how common those feelings truly are. Zazi also opens up about her business turning five years old, and what it’s taken behind the scenes: the partnership, the family dynamics, and the moments of guilt when choosing her own wellbeing. She shares how she started to carve out time for herself — even if that meant missing dinner for a gym class — and how she reframed exercise as something that teaches her kids what self-care looks like. If you love Zazi Plays, or you're navigating parenting, identity, business, or mental health right now, this conversation will feel like a deep breath out.

    55 min

  3. 12/11/2025

    When you plan to return to work, but don't with Charlotte | mum of two, business owner & Starship PICU nurse

    What happens when the return-to-work plan changes? In this episode, I sit down with Charlotte — paediatric ICU nurse and founder of And Breathe First Aid. When we first recorded together, she was preparing to return to Starship after maternity leave. Six months later, everything looks different. Charlotte made the decision to extend her leave and pour her energy into growing her first aid education business. We talk about how becoming a parent reshapes your perspective on work, why mums who work from home or run their own businesses often face judgement for using childcare, and the messy, honest juggle of raising young children while keeping a business afloat. Charlotte shares how her nursing lens has shifted since becoming a mum, the emotional weight of caring for families in crisis, and why parental advocacy in healthcare matters more than ever.

    1 hr

  4. 14/10/2025

    Cramming a 9–5 into school hours with Arti | mum of two, nutritionist & HR contractor

    In this episode of Have It All, I sit down with Arti – mum of two, Nutritionist, and Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant – to talk about the juggle of working two jobs during school hours, raising a young family, and navigating big life transitions along the way. Before motherhood, Arti was in a high-pressure recruitment role, working across nine retirement villages and managing a busy team. But becoming a mother shifted everything – from fertility struggles and the grief of losing her dad during her first maternity leave, to making the tough decision to step back in her career for the sake of balance. We talk about what it’s really like to cram a full-time workload into school-hour days, the motherhood penalty she’s seen play out in her years as a recruiter, and the confidence gap many women experience when returning to work after having kids. Arti shares the realities of imposter syndrome while building her own business, the importance of negotiating terms upfront (because if you don’t ask, you don’t get), and why support systems – from family to girlfriends who “get it” – make all the difference. This is such an honest conversation about the trade-offs, the sacrifices, and the strength it takes to build a career while raising a family. And it’s also a reminder that “having it all” doesn’t look the same for every woman, or every season of life. Make sure to follow Have It All to keep up to date with new fortnightly episodes. And give this episode a like… if you like! LINKS Follow Have It All on IG @haveitall.podcastFollow Arti on IG @nourishmemama.nz or visit her website https://www.nourishmemama.nz/

    1hr 4min

  5. 30/09/2025

    The truth about mum guilt with Francie | mum of two & mindset coach for mums

    Mum guilt. We all feel it — but what if it’s not actually guilt at all? This week I’m joined by Francie, a mindset coach for mums and mum of two, to dig into the invisible load of motherhood, the “perfect mother” myth, and the subconscious patterns that sit underneath what we call guilt. Spoiler: many of us are really carrying shame or grief. We talk about:✨ Why the invisible load of motherhood is so exhausting — and often goes unseen ✨ How the “perfect mum” myth sets us up to fail ✨ The self-abandoning patterns that lead to burnout and resentment ✨ Why emotional regulation is essential for both mothers and kids ✨ Generational shifts in parenting (and why our mums’ experience still lingers in us) ✨ Practical tools to manage the cognitive load and release pressure ✨ Why asking for help is a strength, not a weakness Francie’s perspective is both practical and compassionate — reminding us that taking care of ourselves isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing, constantly battling that inner critic, or weighed down by mum guilt, this conversation will give you new language, fresh perspective, and real tools to lighten the load. Make sure to follow Have It All to keep up to date with fortnightly episodes. And give this episode a like...if you like! LINKS Sophie Brock for a deeper dive into mum guilt https://drsophiebrock.com/ Francie's offerings https://www.flourishandfree.com/ Pam app https://www.mypam.co/ Fair Play game https://www.fairplaylife.com/the-cards

    1 hr

  6. 16/09/2025

    Where do all the women go? with Julia | mum of four & freelance creative director & copywriter

    My guest this week is Julia – a freelance creative director, copywriter, and mum of four. Julia and I dive into what happens when women try to build a career in an industry that was never designed with mothers in mind. From being a burnt-out agency copywriter, to navigating the confusion of returning from maternity leave, Julia shares honestly about what it feels like to step off the “ladder” and rethink ambition on her own terms. We talk about: The lack of support for women returning to advertising after having kids Why part-time work still feels like career suicide The quiet exodus of mothers from creative departments What sparked the Mums in Ads campaign The emotional toll of juggling four kids with freelance life – and the moments of perspective that come with it. As Julia put it: “I’ll see something with my kids and think, I remember this. You forget that what you’re experiencing in the moment, they’re on the other side of you experiencing it in the moment.” And the question we always circle back to: can women really have it all? Julia puts into words what so many of us feel but rarely say. Let me know what parts of this episode stood out for you.

    58 min

  7. 18/08/2025

    Redefining ambition with Sargam | mum of two & Senior Brand Champion at Tracksuit

    Sargam's story is unlike any I’ve heard on Have It All so far. What was meant to be a six-week trip to India in early 2020 turned into an eight-month stay when COVID-19 changed the world overnight. Suddenly, she found herself navigating early motherhood, distance from home, and the uncertainty of a global pandemic all at once. In this conversation, Sargam shares what that time looked like: the mental health challenges of being far from her support system, the small daily practices of gratitude that kept her grounded, and how that season reshaped her perspective on work, family, and ambition. What stands out most is the way Sargam talks about ambition. For her, being ambitious doesn’t have to mean climbing the corporate ladder or chasing the next big role. Instead, it’s about creating a life that works for both her and her family, supported by workplaces that truly value parents. We also talk about what supportive systems at work can look like, how communication around parenting needs can shift culture, and why the conversation about the “motherhood penalty” urgently needs to evolve. Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also follow @haveitall.podcast on IG

    49 min

  8. 06/08/2025

    Acting is my first love with Jaz | mum of two, actress, hairdresser, make-up artist, marketing coordinator

    In this episode of Have It All, I sit down with Jaz – a hairdresser, makeup artist, actress, content creator, marketing coordinator, AND mum of two – for a conversation about what it really means to juggle a creative career, parenting, ambition, and identity in today’s world. From early morning drop-offs to late-night auditions, Jaz shares the realities of building a multifaceted life while raising kids and navigating a world that often makes ambitious mothers feel like they’re asking for too much. She opens up about the unpredictability of the acting industry, how she and her husband manage the juggle with their shifting schedules, and why support systems and community matter more than ever. We also unpack the tension many women feel between career and caregiving, the role of social media in shaping (and warping) our expectations, and the question we keep circling back to: can you really have it all – or is it more about having what matters most? We talk about: The reality of work-life balance in creative industriesAmbition and the quiet judgement mothers still faceWhy support systems matter (and how to build them)Social media, identity, and showing up as your real selfSelf-kindness in the chaos of early motherhood Follow Jaz and her beautiful fam on IG @jazmynearia Follow Have It All on IG @haveitall.podcast Let me know what you thought of this episode!

    40 min
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About

Welcome to Have It All, the podcast that says the quiet part out loud about motherhood, career, ambition and the chaos in between. I’m Emily Parks. Mum of two, marketer, and someone who’s learned that doing it all often means doing too much. Every second week, I chat with women navigating the juggle of working motherhood, identity and ambition. These are honest, thoughtful and uplifting conversations about what it really looks like to balance career, family and self. Because having it all doesn’t mean doing it all. And you’re not meant to figure it out alone.

Information

  • Creator
    Emily Parks
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Emily Parks
  • Show Website
    Have It All

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