The Juggling Act

This week, Sarah and Mel talk about getting your sex life after having a baby. It's not always the first thing on your mind, let’s be honest! Career expert Katrine Tully shares her tips for bouncing back after redundancy. Author Ashley Audrain shares the highs and lows of giving up your day job to become a full-time mum. We are joined by podcast host and writer Annaliese Dent who shares her theory as to why mums are so obsessed with Netflix series Bridgerton. Only one reason we are... And Sarah and Mel talk about the struggle of explaining border closures to kids and why we can’t see family whenever we want.

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It has been nearly a year since Mel and her kids have seen her parents in country Victoria, and so many other families are in the same boat. Many parents have found the border closures and restrictions so hard to explain to children, it's hard enough for us to process. Sarah and Mel talk about the challenges of these conversations - especially when children turn to us for the answers - and the heartbreak at not knowing when we're going to see loved ones again.

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I texted a friend of mine recently to ask what I should watch next after I finished watching Schitt’s Creek and Fleabag. She came straight back with one word – Bridgerton. She described it as Gossip Girl meets Pride and Prejudice. I was intrigued. Four days later I had watched all 8 eps. The music, the costumes, the DUKE! Yes, it’s all about the leading man (IMO). Writer Annaliese Dent (and the aforementioned friend) joins us to explain why Bridgerton has so many mums in a good mood.

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Once you have kids, you start to see your career from a very different perspective. Do I love this job enough for it to keep me away from my children? Am I satisfied with this role or have I always dreamed of doing something else? Today’s guest was at the top of her game, working as the Publicity Director at Penguin Canada, but left her job after her first child was born to become a full-time mother. When he was six months old Ashley Audrain’s son was in and out of the hospital with health issues, which led her to follow her dreams and start writing her first novel The Push, about the expectations of motherhood.

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Last year was a tough year on the jobs front with lots of people being made redundant or having their roles significantly changed. While it can be incredibly stressful and feel like you're never going to work again, it is possible for something better to come of it. If you've found yourself in that position and now on the hunt for a new role, Katrine Tully from Career Transform joins us with her tips on how to bounce back.

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When you have a baby you can feel like your body is no longer your own. Sometimes the last thing you feel like is intimacy and sex with your partner. The longer it goes on, the harder it can become (pun intended). So how do you get your sex drive back after baby? Sarah and Mel share their experience (don't worry it's not x-rated - much) and talk about how you can stay connected after starting a family.

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This week, Sarah talks about the power of kindness after a stranger offered to help her when she was struggling with her boys. Country music star Amber Lawrence opens up about the 'horrific' pain of her stillbirth. We’re joined by a self-promotion expert who shares the secret to getting what you want at work. Finance expert Renae Vercoe shares how you can get your partner to share the financial mental load. And Sarah and Mel discuss whether telling your kids they’re fantastic at everything helps them to build their confidence or gives them a misplaced ego

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Sometimes talking about money with your partner can be challenging, and often the responsibility for household bills and budgeting can fall to the person who hates it the least. But with that responsibility comes the stress and pressure of juggling things and making sure you’re not only providing for your family but also building a secure financial future. That’s a lot for one person to take on – and let’s be honest, quite often it's mum. Renae Vercoe - founder of Money Mode – has some great advice for getting your partner to share the financial mental load.

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When our kids first start doing things for themselves it's pretty damn exciting - for them and us! Our first instinct is often to say something like 'wow, that's incredible!', but as they start to get a bit older, not everything they do is 'incredible'. So should we tell the truth so they don't develop a misplaced ego, or is it good to give them constant praise to build their confidence? Mel and Sarah chat about their experiences and share their thoughts.

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Most people struggle with self-promotion at work. It doesn’t come naturally! But our guest today says it’s important now more than ever to know your strengths at work and to know how to self-promote ourselves effectively. Author of ‘Brag Better’, entrepreneur and life-coach Meredith Fineman joins us to share her insights on how to promote ourselves, gain the respect of others and get what we want at work (without coming across like a douche).

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