Ready or Not

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• 10 Impressive Questions to Ask in a Job Interview (The Cut)
• No Parent Can Make Home-Cooked Meals All the Time (The Atlantic)
• And from the Ready or Not Instagram community, your answers to our Instagram poll all about screen time and staying present

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by THE INARRA, a premium online shopping and lifestyle publication tailored for pregnancy, motherhood, and beyond.

Re-defining how modern mothers consume content, THE INARRA offers a diverse range of features, interviews, and fashion edits that cater to every stage of motherhood while celebrating individual style and identity. And today, we're bringing our Witching Hour listeners a special offer, as THE INARRA gets ready to launch their styling services.

To claim 30% off a styling experience that can be done virtually or in-person in Sydney and is specifically tailored to those who are pregnant, postpartum or just struggling to define their style as a mother, email [email protected] and mention Witching Hour.

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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.

I often wonder to myself, what did mothers do before incredible people like Hello Darling co-founder Bridgette Gale were open enough to share their stories? Where did they find comfort? Where did they see themselves?

This episode has so much, it's difficult to know where to begin - starting a business at 21, working with the likes of Em Rata, miscarriage, postnatal anxiety and depression, intrusive thoughts, returning to work after two weeks, moving across the country with a four-week turnaround after receiving a business proposition she couldn't refuse, going from swimwear to tech startup, finding the transition from one to two easier than none to one, and emerging from the dark to find the light.

If you're a new mother who is struggling, this is essentially listening. As you'll hear, it got better for Bridgette, and I hope it gets better for you too.

I'm Lucinda, this is Ready or Not, and here is the reflective and remarkable Bridgette Gale.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Ready or Not! This week, we've released our Ready or Not Go To Guides. We've created three beautiful, practical and comprehensive guides in consultation with the experts in their fields, starting with Breastfeeding and Returning to Work, Postpartum and Return to Work Planning and Childcare 101.

Shop the Go To Guides here: readyornot.au

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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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• We discuss the “let them” theory – very topical given our chat about the mental load two weeks ago and our poll today.
• Women say they're being routinely delayed or denied epidurals when giving birth because of "mistaken" beliefs about their impact on labour. (ABC)
• And your answers to our poll, all about maternal gatekeeping.

Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now:

• 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 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.

When Minna Dubin wrote about mum rage for The New York Times, her words went viral.

In opening the article, she writes: 'the rage lives in my hands, rolls down my fingers clenching to fists. I want to hurt someone. I am tears and fury and violence. I want to scream and rip open pillows, toss chairs and punch walls. I want to see my destruction — feathers floating, overturned furniture, ragged holes in drywall.'

Even recording this, I'm nervous to admit that I resonated with this so deeply that it nearly moved me to tears. It feels somewhat unsafe to confess that motherhood can drive me to a type of fury I've never known until now. But, that's the entire point. Was she nervous about putting her name to something that many would describe as volatile, negative...even violent, yes? But, she did it anyway, and when she did, the stories came pouring in.

Here, we talk the universality of mum rage, the shame attached to it, how she's made work, work as a mother of two, and why we all need to take our mum rage out to tea.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Ready or Not! This week, we've released our Ready or Not Go To Guides. We've created three beautiful, practical and comprehensive guides in consultation with the experts in their fields, starting with Breastfeeding and Returning to Work, Postpartum and Return to Work Planning and Childcare 101.

Shop the Go To Guides here: readyornot.au

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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.

There's no Witching Hour episode today due to the public holiday. Instead, Lu is checking in very briefly from bed to let you know that our Go To Guides are now out in the wild, and to get honest about how much longer it took us to finish them than anticipated. But, wowee are we proud of the final result!

We really believe in these guides and we hope you love them: readable, beautiful, well-researched guides that tackle the sort of topics we wish we had access to, all in the name of supporting mothers in making work, work.

Created in consultation with some of the best experts in their respective fields, and informed by over 60 interviews with working mothers, these are the guides that will stop you from relying solely on hindsight.

Shop the Go To Guides now:

• 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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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.

Content warning: this episode discusses pregnancy, fertility and abortion.

When Michelle Battersby announced her pregnancy to her Instagram followers, there was no pretty picture with two lines, no ultrasound, no baby bump. Instead, she shared something deeply personal. Something that, as a founder who is often looked to for career inspiration, she felt compelled to be open about. And that was that she’d previously had two abortions for her career.

We know that the mental load of family planning when it comes to career can start a lot earlier for women. Is a long university course worth it if I want to have a baby at around 30? Do I go for that promotion when I’m pregnant? What are the most flexible careers for mothers? How long should I be at the one company before I start trying to conceive? The list goes on…

But, Michelle’s take – that is deliberately delaying motherhood for her career – isn’t one that’s often spoken about publicly, so it’s fair to say her story and honesty caught my attention.

Here, we talk the wild ride that was bringing Bumble to Australia, how she felt when she pressed post on her pregnancy announcement, navigating her business Sunroom alongside pregnancy, and how her badge of honour is changing.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Witching Hour co-hosts Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.

Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe

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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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• At Bogota’s Care School for Men, men learn how to step up to do their share of housework and child care - from changing a diaper to styling a ponytail
• To celebrate the launch of our upcoming postpartum planning guide, Lu asks Loz all about her postpartum experiences with Sienna and Xave
• And we share the stats and stories from our latest Instagram poll – all about the mental load.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by us, Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.

Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe

---

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.

I had a business coaching session with mother and My Daily Business founder Fiona Killackey last year, and in one short hour, she rocked my world. So, I had to get her on the show. And listening back to this interview on the other side of pregnancy, she’s rocked my world all over again.

This episode has so much: losing parents as a young mum, her husband’s reflections on what the other mums thought about him at the playground, IVF, pregnancy loss, being a part of the sandwich generation – that is caring for her aging parents and young children at the same time – and a whole lot of thoughtful business advice sprinkled throughout, too.

This is a special episode and I thank Fiona for sharing her highs and lows so beautifully.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Witching Hour co-hosts Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.

Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe

---

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 that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Why stepping away may be your best leadership move yet (read the piece here)
• Lily Allen shares her thoughts on career and motherhood on the Radio Times Podcast 
• What our listeners wish they knew about breastfeeding, postpartum planning, and childcare.
• And the winner of our Mrs Kevin's Photos giveaway is @farrenmay!

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

 This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by us, Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101.

Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe

---

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.

Leonie Akhidenor is a property developer, relationship coach and the host of Parenthood, a podcast that explores the parenting experience from all angles. She's also a mother who has faced both pre and postnatal depression, as well as the profound identity shifts and emotional struggles that can come with motherhood. Through her podcast, Parenthood, Leonie explores the greatest challenges parents are facing today, with a focus on hearing from both sides of a relationship.

Here, Leonie talks about acknowledging the need to rest after a lifetime of assigning her value to productivity, what she's learned about parenting and relationships from interviewing both mums and dads, and her greatest advice for new mums navigating career and motherhood.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Mrs Kevin's Photos, a mother and Melbourne based fine art film photographer, creating photos to keep forever as your visual inheritance.

Mrs Kevin's Photos captures moments through 35mm film, digital and super 8 video footage so that you can look back and remember how it all felt. To celebrate this partnership, we'll be announcing a giveaway for our Melbourne-based listeners over on our Instagram @readyornot.pod.

You can head to mrskevinsphotos.com to book in an emotive, timeless and intimate photography session.

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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.