In this episode we speak with Samuel Eddy - an executive coach with Parents At Work who works with men to support them transition to parenthood alongside a thrive career so that they can better manage work and family responsibilities. In addition to his experience as a counsellor Sam has led and coached teams in some of the largest organisations in the UK and Australia. He has a wealth of corporate experience and has a passion for wellbeing so really understands the demands and pressures placed on men today.

Some of the topics Sam and I cover in this podcast include:

• Facing fears as you start your caring journey as a man

• Dropping expectations and the ‘Superman’ syndrome

• Confidence in caring – as a man

• Taking the lead to claim your values and honour your personal needs – both in the workplace and at home

Samuel says he’s pleased to see men are starting to get more involved on a practical level with caring.

“Men are starting to get their head around that they have the opportunity to care, there has been that real mindset shift”

In the podcast, Samuel discusses the main challenges he sees in men who are taking time to care, mainly “the fear of doing something different, and the fear of what people will think” which are still entrenched in people’s minds.

The typical image for men, as it is for women, is “what will happen to my career?”, says Samuel. 

Samuel also talks about the huge benefits for men in talking to a coach about figuring out the practicalities of taking on a caring role. “It’s around confidence, to help them make the decisions they really want and figure out what’s important to them.”

The podcast talks about where men can find support, and practical examples of how men can make their caring role a sustainable reality for them.

Episode 1: The Case for Supporting Carers in the Workplace - How can employers support?

In this episode, we talk to Danielle Robertson – a recognised leader in carer support for organisations and carers alike.

Danielle has worked in the caring industry for over 3 decades. She was the CEO of Dial-An-Angel – leading company supporting families with Home, Aged, Child and Family care. In 2016 Danielle became Chairman of the NSW/ACT Chapter of Family Business Australia and is a national board member of the Association.

Some of the topics we will cover with Danielle include:

• The business case for supporting employees

• The reality of what it’s like to be carer today

• Challenges faced by carers who are balancing their caring responsibilities with work responsibilities

• Practical examples of how organisations can bring ‘the caring conversation’ out into the open

• Policies and benefits that support employees who are carers

Getting a Good Night's Sleep - For Working Parents of Children Young & Old

- How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Do you need caffeine to get you started?

- Are you staying up late just to have time with yourself but know you should be getting to bed?

- How do you deal with outside interruptions to sleep?

According to the Great British Sleep Survey (2015): “The worst effect of sleep isn’t how it affects us at night it is how it affects us during the day, on a physical level and emotionally.” Any parent can attest this to be true. Sleep deprivation is one of the biggest challenges new parents face. And for some, this can carry on into the toddler years and beyond. Add a busy career in the mix and any relationship or health issues and you have the perfect set up for insomnia or simply just poor-quality sleep.

The common mistake many people make when it comes to sleep is focusing on whether they are getting enough. What really matters is the quality. It is absolutely possible to have four hours of quality sleep and feel better for it afterwards. In this podcast Katie and Sam take a deep dive into how parents can improve the quality of sleep including looking at how what you do in your day effects your evening sleep.

Parenting from the Inside Out - Looking after you when caring for another

There is nothing selfish about putting yourself at the top of the priority list. In fact, it's taking responsibility. Think about the emergency procedure on a flight - you are instructed to put the oxygen mask on yourself before helping another, right?

However, what tends to happen as parents is that we adjust ourselves to fit in with our family rather than listening to what we need. This is usually due to a picture we have of how we 'should parent' and it unfortunately puts us further down the list when it comes to treating ourselves with as much consideration and care as we do for others? This podcast Katie and Sam take a look at what we truly need to look after ourselves as a parent and the effect this can have on everyone around us.

INS Career Management is an impressive trailblazer for family friendly small businesses! The company provide a free on-site crèche, flexible working, daily yoga, boxing, walking clubs and more.

This month, Parents At Work CEO, Emma Walsh, interviews Sophia Symeou, CEO and co-founder, and Adam Aaron, Learning and Development Manager of the Sydney company leading by example.

There aren't many small or medium size businesses that can claim to be as family friendly as INS. Emma Walsh, says "the fact is that often they feel like they don't have the resources and funding required to offer generous paid parental leave and wonderful flexible work arrangements."

But this small Aussie company has been compared to Google - except, as Adam Aaroon puts it, "We're Google without the hammocks. We're Google with the cots."

In an inspiring news.com article, Sophia says "creating workforces for the future is about creating flexibility in the workforce, and if you want Mums and Dads to be able to work equally, you need to provide the basic structure for them to do that".

In this podcast interview, Emma finds out exactly what they're doing, and how they're making their family friendly workplace a reality for their business.

Most of us know that in order to be productive and make a valuable contribution to our work we need to be healthy and enjoy what we do. Even though we know this, often it isn’t the case as many people feel increasingly stressed and overwhelmed with the business of life. Self-care at work is equally as important as self-care anywhere else in life as each part has an effect on all the others.

Supporting your body in your work environment is a great place to start when it comes to self-care at work. Katie and Sam look at some practical ways that can support you through your day to reduce stress levels, stay steadier and be more in the moment amidst the many tasks and issues that arise. They will also discuss examples that may sway you from caring for yourself at work – be that stressed out colleagues, expectations from or of others, high task load etc.

Is it possible to have a thriving career AND be the dad you want to be?

In recent years there has been a lot of discussion about women who take an extended period of leave from the workforce to care for their young family however we don't often hear about men doing it. And rarely do we hear about how having children may impact a man's career. Some argue that having a family boosts a males career but is that the reality for every dad, especially the modern dad who often spends equal time to his partner with caring and domestic responsibilities?

Join Alex Laguna from Better Dads, Samuel Eddy, counsellor and Emma Walsh, CEO and Executive Coach, as they explore:

- The positive impact raising a family can have on a man's career

- The challenges of balancing caring responsibilities with a busy career

- Barriers to evolving the conversation around men and caring responsibilities

- How to continue a thriving career (and life) and be the dad you want to be

Partner of International Law Firm, Norton Rose Fulbright, Belinda Harvey shares her insights on how to parent whilst in a leadership position... as a single mum from the start doing it solo - with the support from an employer who sets strong foundations that supports parents with parent's guilt, logistics, flexibly working and managing work responsibilities.

Belinda talks to us about her journey from high school marks and air hostess dreams to parenting as a single mother and becoming a lawyer - from the self-doubt, the doubt of others, the challenges of being a woman in law and balancing this with parenthood and how to do what you want to do anyway.

"Finding it within you is your way forward. Finding that strength is going to take you where you want to go on life's journey."

Global Head of Strategy and Diversity, and former chair, of Norton Rose Fulbright Sally Macindoe talks to CEO of Parents At Work Emma Walsh on how law firms can support working parents to manage work and family life.

Sally discusses:

- Her personal story of raising her child and becoming a partner with her 2nd child

- The importance of leadership in supporting women to return to work - The business case for gender equality, diversity and inclusion

- How organisations can increase the representation of women in firms

- How working parents can be open and communicate with clients, team and staff to make it work for everyone

- Programs and strategies to take the next step

In today's busy lifestyle, the core of life design is working out what you want, and "really blending your career and your personal life, so it's optimal for you."

Hear our CEO, Emma Walsh, interview Gill McLaren, author of Think, Plan, Live; a step- by- step workbook and coaching guide to defining and designing your best life.