Eat Sleep Repeat

It’s Peak & Pit time - and this week delivers a full-body birthday spiral, a daycare room glow-up that somehow feels heartbreaking, and the kind of night-weaning chaos that makes you want to file a formal complaint against your own nipples.

Kel relives Lenny’s actual birthday: the cursed Women’s Weekly-style cake mission, the absolute audacity of a partner doing the wrong job badly, and a pub celebration that ends with… yes… screaming at the cake and mum.

If you want to play along each week (and read other parents’ peaks/pits), come join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eatsleepshitrepeat/

HOSTS & PRODUCERS
Kelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kelly_mccarren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Kee Reece Searles @keereece

AUDIO PRODUCTION
Madeline Joannou - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mylk Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It starts as an innocent mum-chat and ends in a full-blown research spiral: when are you meant to send your kid to school… and why does it feel like everyone’s suddenly delaying?

This week, Kee takes the reins on the school start age debate - from cut-off dates and state-by-state chaos, to the real reasons parents are choosing “later”, and why “the studies say…” isn’t as straightforward as it sounds.

LINKS TO EVERYTHING MENTIONED
2025 Macquarie University Study - Redshirting for remediation or advantage? Which Australian families delay children's school entry and why?
2019 Early Childhood Research Quarterly - School starting age and child development in a state-wide, population-level cohort of children in their first year of school in New South Wales, Australia
School Readiness Guide

HOSTS & PRODUCERS
Kelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kelly_mccarren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Kee Reece Searles @keereece

AUDIO PRODUCTION
Madeline Joannou - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mylk Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Friday - so we’re doing our weekly peaks and pits: a proper catch-up between friends, equal parts vent and tiny victory lap. 

This week we’re coming to you from that end-of-January zone where everyone’s out of routine, the kids are a lot, and you’re trying to hold it together on vibes alone… but there are a couple of moments that save it. 

If you want to play along each week (and read other parents’ peaks/pits), come join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eatsleepshitrepeat/

LINKS TO EVERYTHING MENTIONED
The Vocabulary App
BONDS Wide Needle Rib Slouchy Suit
Cleaner Kit App
The Housemaid
Wild - Kristin Hannah
K.L Slater Audiobooks

HOSTS & PRODUCERS
Kelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kelly_mccarren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Kee Reece Searles @keereece

AUDIO PRODUCTION
Madeline Joannou - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mylk Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever walked away from a catch-up feeling worse than when you arrived? This episode is for anyone who’s been burned by mum-friend dynamics - the subtle exclusion, the “nice but not really” energy, the unspoken rules - and wondered if it’s just you… or if the vibe is actually toxic. 

Kee and Kelly unpack how these dynamics play out in mother’s group friendships, why the pressure to “make a village” can keep you in something that doesn’t feel good, and the boundaries that help when you can’t (or don’t want to) do the whole clique thing.

LINKS TO EVERYTHING MENTIONED
Breaking Up With MY Toxic Mum Group - The Cut
You're Allowed To Leave Your Mom Group - Ashley French

HOSTS & PRODUCERS
Kelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kelly_mccarren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Kee Reece Searles @keereece

AUDIO PRODUCTION
Madeline Joannou - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mylk Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re weeks late to the holiday recap… because we’re parents and time isn’t real in January.

The road trip was a win. Christmas was good - with feelings attached. New Year’s, however, was rogue - one cancelled, one derailed on the way home. That’s all we’ll say.

LINKS TO EVERYTHING MENTIONED
Overcompensating - Prime Video
Weapons - Prime Video

 
HOSTS & PRODUCERS
Kelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kelly_mccarren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Kee Reece Searles @keereece

AUDIO PRODUCTION
Madeline Joannou - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mylk Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello hello, and welcome back to Eat Sleep Repeat in 2026! We’re easing into the year the only way we know how - with big intentions, low expectations, and a very honest look at all the goals we absolutely did not achieve last year. Kee and Kelly take a hilarious trip down memory lane to revisit their 2025 goals that never stood a chance… with a few wins in there too.

Now it’s on to 2026 - and this year, we’re doing it differently: goals that actually fit real life, a little more structure, and a lot less pressure. Think small habits, monthly check-ins, and a couple of big scary goals we’re saying out loud so we can’t chicken out.

LINKS TO EVERYTHING MENTIONED
The Lazy CEO - How To Build Your Personal Brand In 2026

 
HOSTS & PRODUCERS
Kelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kelly_mccarren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Kee Reece Searles @keereece

AUDIO PRODUCTION
Madeline Joannou - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mylk Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're peeling back the curtain on one of parenting's most taboo topics: the raw, real, and often overwhelming experience of postpartum rage.  

Joining the conversation is Sh*tter Brooke, a mum who juggles the chaos of motherhood with the precision of a psychologist's lens.  Together we break the silence, embrace the anger, and remind each other that there's no shame in feeling the burn.  

FREE RESOURCES

Karitane

Panda

Sane

Mental Health Line

Gidget Foundation Australia

MENTIONS

https://drbrookedonnelly.com.au/

HOSTS & PRODUCERS

Kelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/kelly_mccarren/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Kee Reece ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/keereece/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  

AUDIO PRODUCTION

Madeline Joannou ⁠⁠www.mylkmedia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friendships can move and change so much in that first year of motherhood, and sometimes the friends you had pre-baby quickly fall to the wayside. 

Today we're chatting about the importance of having a good crew around you, how to prioritise your friendships while juggling newborns and how to know if a mothers group is right for you. Then later in the ep, Kel opens up about a recent friendship heartbreak she experienced and the toll it took on her both physically and emotionally.

HOSTS & PRODUCERS:

Kelly McCarren www.instagram.com/kelly_mccarren/ 

Kee Reece www.instagram.com/keereece/  

AUDIO PRODUCTION:

Claudia Coy https://www.instagram.com/claudia_coy/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last season we unpacked the process of sending your kid to daycare & all the fun that comes with it (the bugs, mainly the bugs) so today we're discussing the logistics of going back to work.

You already know our personal back to work stories, Kee went back after a year & then threw in the towel to freelance and Kel just took no time off at all. So today we're chatting to two glorious Sh*tters (Sandy & Lily) who have had very different experiences entering back into the workforce.

Sandy is a mum to 3 young kids, who not only juggles her own nursing career, but also supports her husband who's currently studying to become a surgeon.

Lily is a mum of one, with another on the way, whose identity completely changed after becoming a first time mum. This led to a return-to-work at four months postpartum, a career change and another (career) baby; Launch Mama, a program dedicated to helping mums navigate their transition back into the workforce.

MENTIONS

2024 Kokoda Ladies Trek - https://mhfkokodatrek.gofundraise.com.au/page/Sandy_AlishaMHFBrainCancerNurses

Launch Mama - https://www.instagram.com/launchmama_/

Flexible Unpaid Parental Leave (100 Days)https://www.fairwork.gov.au/tools-and-resources/fact-sheets/minimum-workplace-entitlements/parental-leave-and-related-entitlements#rules-taking-unpaid-leave 

HOSTS & PRODUCERS

Kelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/kelly_mccarren/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Kee Reece ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/keereece/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  

AUDIO PRODUCTION

Claudia Coy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/claudia_coy/⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thinking of jet-setting across Europe with a toddler in tow? Kee’s got some stories for you. In this episode, she shares the very real rundown of what she packed for her European adventure versus what actually ended up being useful on the road. From the essentials she couldn’t live without to the stuff that just took up space, Kee spills the tea on what traveling with a little one really looks like. If you’re planning a trip or just curious about the chaos, this episode is packed with tips, tricks, and a few hard-learned lessons.

LINKS

Bugaboo Butterfly Travel Pram

Bugaboo Butterfly Transport bag

Ergobaby Carrier

Tushbaby Hip Carrier

Sunnylife Swim Vests

Kids Travel Tray
Triangular Crayons

Belkin Mini Wireless On-Ear Headphones 

CoziGo Sleep Cover

Kathmandu Microfibre Towel

Baby First Aid Kit

Collagen Essence Hydrating Face

HOSTS & PRODUCERS

Kelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kelly_mccarren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kee Reece ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@keereece⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

AUDIO PRODUCTION

Madeline Joannou - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mylk Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.