Ready or Not

Bec and Zoe have been best friends for over 20 years. In that time, they’ve ridden the waves of womanhood and motherhood together. And while they’ve lived parallel lives when it comes to navigating motherhood and career, over the years, they’ve regularly found themselves coming back to the same conclusion: that it’s exhausting to try and be it all. To have it all. To be a superwoman, whatever that means.

And so they brought their unique minds and journeys together – through Not Super. Woman – a podcast that explores the pressure to be super.

And journeys, they have been on. Bec lost her mum to a six year battle with cancer when she was just twelve years old, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that it entirely influenced the way she wanted to show up as a mum. She was desperate to fill the void that she so deeply missed, and in her own words, she took on the martyr role, left her work in television, and felt that pressure to be super.

Zoe on the other hand, felt a little more ambivalent towards motherhood. But, as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours and after loosely discussing trying to conceive with her partner, Zoe became pregnant just as she started a new job. But there wasn’t just one baby in there. There were two, and while navigating pregnancy with trying to put her best foot forward in her new role, it was at 24 weeks pregnant that Zoe was put on bed rest in hospital. She wouldn’t leave that hospital for another 10 weeks, when her twin girls came into the world. She wrote out rosters from the hospital bed, she felt like she was letting everyone around her down and after what felt like a lifetime, she was navigating life as a twin mum while desperately longing to return to paid work.

Here, we hear about the best friends’ journeys and relationships with paid work after children, why women need to take their creative and professional projects more seriously, and why we all need to rethink what it means to be super.

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This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.

Today on the show:

• Loz went to HK and for the first time, she left her kids with a babysitter instead of family. So, how did it go and how did she prepare?
• Plus, from the Washington Post: Please stop with party dress codes. Your friends have bills to pay,
• And lastly, Christmas is just eight days away, so how are we all feeling?

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This episode is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not. It’s our bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is tackling a big one: why feeling like you’re failing in motherhood and career might actually be a sign you’re on the right track. She’ll unpack why these feelings are so common, what they might mean about your growth, and how to reframe the guilt and self-doubt into confidence and clarity. If you’ve ever felt like you’re dropping the ball, this one’s for you!

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I recently put a call out to interview mums working in more corporate fields, Bec O'Brien's email caught my attention. Her subject line read: 'corporate mum who loves to yap' and instantly I knew that we'd get along.

This story is full of so many fantastic twists and unique plot lines. There's embarking on the journey to freeze her eggs just six months before falling surprisingly pregnant. There's the younger boyfriend, and the fact that she broke the news of the pregnancy to him in the bedroom of his share house. There's being the primary breadwinner, earning significantly more than her partner, and watching him effortlessly step into the primary carer role once she returned to work at roughly three months postpartum. There's a plane trip to Mexico for a big promotion just as she returned to work, and all the things she's learned about working full time alongside motherhood through it all.

Here, we talk pros and cons lists and why they don't always make sense when it comes to motherhood, Bec's unexpected fixation on breastfeeding and what her experience with it was like, and why returning to work actually brought more balance to Bec's mothering, not less.

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This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to another episode of Witching Hour, the show where two cousins and mums of two banter all things making work, work alongside motherhood.

Today on the show:

• I’m starting to think you guys don’t really want a “village” (Slate)
• Put down the vacuum: Americans need to get off the tidiness treadmill. (The Atlantic)
• And off the back of last week’s episode where we discussed The Atlantic piece titled ‘Dear James, I used to have friends, then they had kids.’, we asked you for your thoughts and experiences on navigating friendship in motherhood.

This episode is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

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Thanks for listening to Witching Hour! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s advice-based podcast, landing in your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz dives into the common mistakes many of us make after returning from maternity leave. From taking on too much too soon, to underestimating the emotional and logistical shifts, she’ll unpack the pitfalls and share actionable tips on how to ease back in, communicate your boundaries, and set yourself up for success both at work and at home.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

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Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alena Darcy may have worked on campaigns with Karlie Kloss, negotiated deals for Troye Sivan to perform, managed a red carpet with Natalie Portman, and organised too many fashion runways to count, but if you were to ask her which The Devil Wears Prada character she would've been in the former part of her career, she would've told you she was more Anne Hathaway and less Meryl "that's all" Steep.

After building up a PR career working for some of the biggest Australian and international brands, Alena, like so many others, found herself newly pregnant, and made redundant as the world grappled with this little thing called COVID.

Fast forward to today, and the mother of two's career and return to work journey has taken different shades. She's worked for herself, she's studied a post grad in psychology, she's now The Iconic's PR manager and she's learned a thing or two about the highs and lows of making work, work along the way.

Here, we talk the whiplash of working in a fast paced industry and the vulnerability that comes with trying to stay relevant, the ways in which motherhood has enriched her leadership skills, and how she's navigated working for herself, working for a company that moves at the speed of culture and studying alongside motherhood.

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This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to Witching Hour - the show by cousins (well, by marriage) Loz and Lu that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing and frustrating us when it comes to making work, work as a mum.

Here's what we're talking about today:

• "Dear James, I used to have friends, then they had kids": Every Tuesday, The Atlantic’s James Parker tackles a reader's existential worry and this one caught Lu's attention.
• Work from home will be dead in three years, according to results of a KPMG survey of CEOs.
• Plus a short community segment today Lozzy, off the back of our failure talk last week – I’ve got a few quick poll questions for you to answer all about failing.
• Looking for the Annika Hanne x Bobby Clark interview? Click here for a brilliant episode about friendship, fertility journeys, creativity and motherhood.

This episode is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to Ask Ready or Not! It’s Ready or Not’s tip-based episode, landing in your ears every Thursday. Today, Loz is here to share shortcuts and hacks to simplify Christmas—because let’s be honest, most of it falls on mum. From streamlining gift shopping and meal prep to getting the whole family involved and outsourcing where it counts, Loz has got your back with practical, time-saving tips to help you stress less and actually enjoy the festive season.

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning
• You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

---

Thanks for listening to Ask Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clare Stephens is a writer, editor, podcaster, and soon to be published author. She's smart, she's funny, she's accomplished, and she has that unique skill of being both ridiculously intelligent and talented, and entirely approachable and relatable.

For all of her credentials though, Clare learned like so many of us, that while putting in the work usually leads to achievement in our careers, motherhood doesn't exactly follow the same set of rules. In fact, motherhood doesn't really follow any rule book, and I think it's fair to say we all have some thoughts on that. Clare is open about how a traumatic birth and breastfeeding challenges impacted her early motherhood journey, and she shares what she's learned with the beauty of space and hindsight.

Here, we talk about the tension that exists between wanting to be present with your child and wanting to write down that idea or send that email, how after birth challenges impacted her experience of early motherhood, and why she's trying her best to give herself some grace.

This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by Floraly—fresh flowers (and the cutest tiny Christmas trees!) with same-day delivery, perfect for any occasion. Plus, every order helps feed someone in need through OzHarvest. Head to floraly.com.au and use the code READYORNOT for 15% off.

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Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.