Ready or Not

Justine Cullen is the editor in chief of InStyle. If, like me, you’ve been a devoted consumer of Australian magazines some time over the past three decades, there’s a good chance you’ve pored over some of her stories, for the likes of Girlfriend, Marie Claire, Dolly, Shop Til You Drop, and Elle.

Her formative magazine years were during those heady days of long lunches, fabulous parties, and luxurious travel, and she’s seen it all; the move to digital, the closure of countless iconic titles, and the ever shrinking budgets.

If you think Justine’s professional life sounds colourful, her personal life makes her story kaleidoscopic.

Four sons, three dads and bouts of single parenting all while navigating big jobs, international fashion shows, and becoming a published author.

Her youngest is four, her oldest is 18, and her life is full.

Here, she takes us back to the start – from falling pregnant at 27 and thinking her career was over, to putting Chilli Healer on the cover of a magazine - and all of the ebbs and flows that came in between.

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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 I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I 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.

We planned to release a special episode with InStyle editor Justine Cullen today, but daycare sickness had other plans. From gastro under two weeks ago, to fresh colds for my son and I this week, we are a bit behind and this low production episode is the best we can do for this Tuesday's release.

My favourite part of this episode is a tip from a very good friend of mine. It's made my day much more enjoyable after the guilt of cancelling two meetings and developing a cold overnight myself, and I highly recommend listening for that hot tip to re-frame your mind and re-shift your gears if you're at home with a sick baby, instead of working.

Plus, I share a preview of the fascinating story of Justine Cullen, which is coming to your ears next Tuesday.

I feel really lucky to be able to send my son to daycare, and I want to acknowledge that not everyone - as Anna Commons discusses in Episode 16 of Ready or Not - has this privilege.

While we absolutely deserve to talk about how challenging it is, this mindset gives me some perspective. So as with the first edition of daycare diaries, in this episode, I've tried to deliver the facts without the complaints.

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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 I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

I 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.

Max Jahufer is the founder of creative agency, Future Studio. He’s also a proud trans father who will make his film debut in an upcoming comedy drama about a trans woman returning home for Christmas, and all the tension, secrets and lies that come with it.

Having always felt like the different kid, Max is open about the extra layer of what it means to bring up a child in a family that is perceived as different, and as the first dad on this show, I learn what it’s like returning to work just two weeks after your baby is born.

Here, we talk navigating work and parenting as the secondary caregiver, moving the family up to Queensland to be part of the film, and the importance of being surrounded by people with open minds.

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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.

Follow Max and Paris's journey here.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I 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.

[Warning: I swore in this episode] A bonus episode looking at the first month of daycare. I slapped this together very quickly, so expect absolutely no production brilliance or good advice, because I am figuring out the whole daycare thing as I go. This is simply how the first month or so of daycare played out for us so you can feel a little less alone or a little more prepared.

Spoiler alert: daycare sickness really is a thing.

I feel really lucky to be able to send my son to daycare, and I want to acknowledge that not everyone - as Anna Commons discusses in Episode 16 of Ready or Not - has this privilege. While we absolutely deserve to talk about how challenging it is, this mindset gives me some perspective. So, in this episode, I've tried to deliver the facts without the complaints.

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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 I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I 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.

Anna Commons is the founder of The Autism Collective and mother of two delightful boys, Jackson, who has nonverbal autism, and Hunter. Her life has been one of incredible experiences and serious growth.

Her career began in marketing, then somewhere in the middle she waited tables, and now, she's a motherhood mentor and coach who also works with families navigating the NDIS.

In this episode, Anna shares her journey, from Jackson's diagnosis to what autism means in his day-to-day life. And we also talk about the importance of charging what you’re worth, why over giving leads to resentment and how she created work that feeds her passions as well as her family.

If you're a parent who has received a fresh diagnosis and is looking for comfort, I think you'll find it in this episode. Anna accounts the facts of Jackson's diagnosis and what this means day to day in a really pragmatic way here, so if you're needing to protect yourself from emotional content at the moment, know that this really isn't it (in my opinion). There were no tears shed and I left this chat feeling empowered and hopeful.

I know firsthand that it can be hard when someone you love receives a seemingly "scary" diagnosis, and both Anna and I are open to a chat in our DMs on Instagram. And the very last thing Anna says in this chat is true: you won't always feel this way and you're not alone.

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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.

You can find Anna on Instagram here.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I 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.

Lael Stone is a Parenting Educator, TEDx speaker, author, and the co-creator of Woodline Primary and The Aware Parenting Podcast.

She has a son and two daughters ranging from their late teens to early adulthood, and in many ways, her career trajectory has mirrored her parenting journey.

Now I don’t know if it’s that soothing voice or the way she holds space for those around her, but either way, an hour of conversation with Lael is much like a therapy session. I felt lighter after this chat, and I think you will, too.

Here, we talk knowing when to walk away even when the party’s humming, how we can help our children without solving their problems for them, and the moment she did a Ted talk in front of her adoring kids.

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

You can check out Lael's work online here.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which I''m lucky enough to raise my son always was and always will be Aboriginal land. I 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.

[CW: Episode discusses pregnancy loss, cancer and postpartum depression]

Ambika Gautam Pai is the Chief Strategy Officer at Mekanism. She lives in Chicago with her two children and husband, and when she’s not splitting herself between her equally busy paid and unpaid roles, she’s writing about the intersection of motherhood, mental health, equity and business (read her newsletter here).

As much as I love each and every guest that has come on the show, I’ve never had such a hard time picking those audio grabs that play at the top of the episode, because so much of what Ambika says is so relatable.

Here, we talk navigating miscarriages while holding down big roles, her different experiences with postpartum depression after the birth of both of her children, and the extra load that comes with leading people at work and taking on their mental load.

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

In acknowledging the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, each episode, I’ll be doing a shout out to an indigenous business or charity doing great things.

This week, it’s Young Aunties Haus, a creative space for First Nations women & LGBTQI+ mob to access mentoring and development opportunities across the creative industries.

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: we swear in this episode!}

Jessica Prescott and Vaughne Geary are the founders of Mama Goodness, a business dedicated to nourishing and nurturing mothers. They’re also the authors of Life After Birth, a new postpartum bible published by Hardie Grant.

Having launched Mama Goodness just before the pandemic, they learned about the intensity of small business fast. Working so closely together, the pair are like sisters, and I cannot believe they haven’t known each other since kinder. They’re that tight.

Here, we talk running a business through a pandemic, writing a book together, and what they’ve learned from each other along the way, both as business owners and friends.

Jess also shares her different experiences as both the primary and secondary caregiver, and Vaughne, who does not yet have any children herself, talks about the importance of a village and of breaking down the barriers between mothers and maidens.

(Full disclosure: this is a day late due to losing my voice after my son's first daycare sickness that got us both - working parenting, hey?!)

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

In acknowledging the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, each episode, I’ll be doing a shout out to an indigenous business or charity doing great things.

This week, it’s Laundry Gallery, a multidisciplinary creative hub located in Darwin, Australia.

Housed in a reimagined iconic 70’s era laundromat, it represents modern iterations of Indigenous art and culture, providing an accessible pathway for age-old stories to co-exist with the modern world.

You can check out their beautiful art here or in person in Darwin.

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 former first lady Michelle Obama was on a book tour for Becoming, she famously swore in a candid, off the cuff moment. She caught herself off guard, but the crowd went wild as she shared a sentiment so many of us feel so deeply.

Now I won’t deliver this as coolly as Obama, but this is what she said (and be warned, I do swear in the episode):

“I tell women, that whole ‘you can have it all’ — nope, not at the same time; that’s a lie, and it’s not always enough to lean in because that s--- doesn’t work.”

It’s a sentiment that Chief Commercial Officer Danika Johnston agrees with.

With over 25 years’ experience in the media industry, working for the likes of Channel 10, Nova Entertainment, Mamamia, SBS, Tik Tok and now WeAre8, the mother of three has had her fair share of experiences when it comes to navigating having it all. She’s also in her mid-forties, and her parenting journey began 12 years ago when mothers mostly felt like they couldn’t even talk about the challenges of making work, work.

Here, we talk the regret of going back to work earlier than she would’ve liked in the days of zero flexibility, why nobody has it all and why you have to make all parts of your life work together, not with friction.

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

In acknowledging the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, each episode, I’ll be doing a shout out to an indigenous business or charity doing great things.

This week, it's Aboriginal Art Co. Check them out on Instagram 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.

Phoebe Simmonds is the co-founder of The Memo and the founder of The Blow. She’s worked for some of the biggest beauty brands in the world, has lived in London, Singapore and Sydney, and now works and lives in Melbourne with her partner Shaun, Shaun’s son Tyler, and their son Remy.

Shaun lost his former partner, Tyler’s mother, many years before he and Phoebe came to be, so her introduction to parenting is quite unique. Phoebe’s pregnancy was also not without its stressors, with the diagnosis of cervical insufficiency, a condition in which the cervix opens too early, and therefore running a risk of a pre-term birth.

I love Phoebe’s positive attitude to life and the way she uses the term paid work, because as we all know, you might not get paid to parent, but it is hard work.

Here, we talk launching her businesses, navigating becoming a parent figure early in a relationship, the challenge of remaining present, and why she wants to see less of an emphasis placed on breastfeeding.

CW: this episode discusses loss and high risk pregnancies.

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

In acknowledging the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, each episode, I’ll be doing a shout out to an indigenous business or charity doing great things.

This week, it's Aboriginal Art Co. Check them out on Instagram 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.