The Mothering Project

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Ever get that feeling that something needs to change — but you don't know where to begin? In this solo episode, I cut through the overwhelm and shares five honest, practical tips for anyone considering a career change or side hustle. Whether you're burned out, curious, or just quietly knowing there's more for you — this one's for you.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why burnout is a signal, not a reason to quit — and what to do instead
• How to follow your passion and intuitive pulls without throwing caution to the wind
• The smart way to test your ideas before you make any big leaps
• How to build a financial and emotional safety net that actually supports your transition
• Why community and mentorship are the most underrated tools in a career pivot

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Our lovely guest is back — and this conversation feels even more needed the second time around.

In this heartfelt follow-up episode, I sit down again with Fionnuala Wylie to talk about the transitions that quietly reshape us — motherhood, moving countries, identity shifts, burnout, business evolution, and learning to trust yourself through it all.

After spending nine years abroad, Fionnuala shares what it has really felt like returning home to Ireland, navigating change as a mother and business owner, and honouring the version of herself she’s becoming in this next season.

This episode is for the women in-between.
 The women evolving.
 The women questioning what they want now.

And maybe needing the reminder that growth doesn’t always look loud — sometimes it looks like slowing down, recalibrating, and choosing differently.

In this episode:

•  Why returning home after years abroad brought unexpected emotional shifts 
•  The identity changes that come with motherhood and business growth 
• The Irish weather chat ;) 
•  Learning to celebrate small wins instead of constantly chasing the next thing 
•  How support systems, routines, and community can hold you through change 
•  The importance of adapting your business and energy for different seasons of life 
•  Trusting uncertainty instead of fighting it 
•  Why the “in-between” seasons often shape us the most

I hope you enjoy this one :) 

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Are you sitting on a dream, wondering if it’s too late or too big?

Ciara Gallagher’s story is the reminder you didn’t know you needed. From traffic control to building a thriving beauty business, this conversation is all about bold moves, backing yourself, and learning as you go — not before you start.

We dive into the real journey behind the highlight reel — the pivots, the burnout, the risks, and the little moments that quietly changed everything.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to do something more, this episode will meet you right there.

In This Episode

•  Ciara’s unexpected leap from traffic control into beauty entrepreneurship 
•  How spotting trends (before they explode) can change everything 
•  The role of self-awareness in leadership and building a team 
•  What it really takes to develop products from scratch 
•  Why mentorship and connections aren’t optional — they’re essential 
•  Burnout, boundaries, and building a business that doesn’t break you 
•  The mindset shifts needed to grow and scale sustainably 
•  Trusting your intuition (even when it doesn’t make logical sense) 

Resources & Links

• Brow Era Products — Ciara’s brow product range https://browera.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopjd2mt3wtV-a2ipafR1XxjEfXBFhS0D2DFYxq92up0h7p8ecuf

Connect with Ciara

•  Instagram — follow her journey, business insights & behind-the-scenes - Instagram
•  Browera - https://www.instagram.com/browera/

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Sometimes life still looks completely normal on the outside… but internally something has shifted.

In this solo episode, I’m talking about the quieter signs that often appear before a change in career, pace, identity, or priorities — the things many women feel before they fully understand what is happening.

This isn’t about dramatic reinvention.
 It’s about recognising what keeps returning, what feels heavier than it used to, and why uncertainty often shows up before clarity does.

If you’ve been questioning things quietly, this episode may feel very familiar.

In this episode:

•  The subtle signs life may be asking you to change 
•  Why certainty rarely comes first 
•  How heaviness can be useful information 
•  Why small moves often matter more than big plans 
•  The truth about identity wobble during growth 
•  Why pace change can matter more than career change 
•  How to trust what keeps returning

00:00 Why change often starts quietly
00:24 The subtle signs many women overlook
01:10 Why questioning your life matters
01:36 Sign one: don’t wait for certainty
02:34 When heaviness is information
03:55 Starting before confidence arrives
04:48 Why quiet building matters
05:41 Let values lead before titles
07:42 Identity wobble is normal
08:32 Small experiments create movement
09:29 Sometimes it’s pace, not career
10:37 Most people feel less certain than they look
11:49 Trust what keeps returning
13:10 Why your next chapter may already be beginning

My website : https://www.christina-byrne.com/

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This week on The Mothering Project, I’m joined by Thy Nguyen /Monzo for a really honest conversation about identity, motherhood, and what happens when life asks you to begin again in a different way than you expected.

Thy shares her journey from running a yoga studio to stepping into work that looked very different, navigating motherhood, the pressure of business ownership, and the emotional reality of closing something she had once poured so much of herself into.

We talk about what COVID shifted — practically and personally — and the way motherhood can bring both clarity and conflict: what matters, what no longer fits, and how hard it can be to hear your own voice underneath the noise of everyday life.

There’s also a powerful conversation around mental load, self-awareness, and the invisible work women often carry — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.

What I loved most in this conversation is Thy’s honesty: about not getting it right all the time, about learning through change, and about giving yourself permission to evolve without guilt.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt themselves changing and wondered what to hold onto — and what they may need to let go of 💛🎙️

Thy - Yoga  https://www.instagram.com/yogawiththy/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVhzv0ICVaR/?igsh=eWRtZGpoNnVoc2Uy

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Some conversations stay with you because they hold both strength and softness at the same time — and this is one of them.

In this episode, Carla shares the story behind leaving corporate life, backing herself, and building a Pilates business that reflects not just ambition, but who she was becoming underneath it all.

We talk about the courage it takes to begin again — professionally, personally, and emotionally — and how life can ask us to keep evolving even when we would rather stay certain.

Carla speaks openly about opening a studio during COVID, navigating pressure, motherhood, relationships, leadership, and the quieter inner shifts that often happen alongside visible success.

There is something deeply relatable in this conversation for any woman who has ever questioned whether she is allowed to want more, change direction, or rebuild parts of her life without apology.

It is a conversation about resilience, yes — but also identity, self-trust, and learning that growth often asks us to let old versions of ourselves soften.

In this episode we explore:

•  Leaving corporate life and backing yourself 
•  Building a business through uncertainty 
•  Motherhood and ambition sitting side by side 
•  Divorce, relationships, and personal evolution 
•  Leadership and holding space for others 
•  Why self-care often looks simple, not perfect 
•  Creating a business that feels aligned with who you are now 

A few moments that stayed:

Connect with Carla:

Carla Instagram - Instagram

Hiit Pilates - Instagram

HIIT Pilates Studio | Reformer Pilates Sydney

And in case any of you listening want a change of life or career, See this amazing Pilates Reformer Course. 

Reformer Pilates Teacher Training | HIIT Pilates Academy (Online & In-Studio) — HIIT Pilates Studio

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Sometimes life can look completely normal on the outside… while internally, something is quietly shifting.

In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on that kind of season — the one where change is happening, but not always in ways other people can see yet.

I share a little of what this season has felt like for me: building the podcast, growing my work, getting clearer on what I want to create, and learning to trust what is forming even when there is not yet obvious proof.

Because not every meaningful shift arrives with dramatics. 

Sometimes the strongest change happens quietly — in ordinary weeks, small decisions, and moments where you begin to trust yourself differently.

If you are in a season where something feels like it is moving, even if life still looks the same, this episode is for you.

Key Topics 

• what quiet change can feel like before anything looks different externally
• building something before you fully know what it will become
• trusting your own timing
• the role values play when life feels uncertain
• allowing identity to evolve without forcing it

Takeaways

• Change often begins long before it becomes visible
• You do not always get proof straight away that something is working
• Internal clarity matters just as much as external progress
• Quiet seasons can still be deeply productive

I would really like if you haven't already if you liked and shared with anyone who you think would enjoy it! 

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Before you read the show notes, I wanted to say a HAPPY St Patricks Day to all! 

In this thoughtful and honest conversation, I sit with Julie Parker — founder of Beautiful You Coaching Academy — to explore the many transitions women navigate across motherhood, work, identity, and wellbeing.

Julie shares her own journey from social work into life coaching, reflecting on what led her to build a successful coaching academy and the values that have shaped both her business and life along the way.

Together, we discuss the realities of balancing motherhood with ambition, the often-overlooked intersection of menopause and modern womanhood, and why support systems matter so deeply when women are building something meaningful.

This episode also explores the power of coaching as a space for accountability, reflection, and growth — particularly during seasons of change — and the importance of understanding your core values when making decisions about work, family, and the life you want to create.

A grounded and generous conversation about growth, freedom, and the reminder that you do not have to do it alone.

In this episode:

• Julie’s path from social work into coaching
• Building a coaching business through trust and relationships
• Motherhood, menopause, and identity shifts
• Why core values matter in life and business
• Daily wellbeing and personal rituals
• Support, partnership, and sustainable ambition

A few standout moments:

✨ “It’s all about relationship building.”
 ✨ “Find out your core life values.”
 ✨ “You don’t have to do it alone.”

Beautiful You - Instagram 

Website: Home - Beautiful You Coaching Academy 

Linked in - Julie - Julie Parker | LinkedIn 

 Chapters 

00:00 Introduction and Personal Connection

 02:53 Navigating Womanhood: 

Menopause and Motherhood 06:06 

The Journey to Life Coaching 08:57 Building a Coaching Academy 11:54

 The Evolution of Coaching and Client Relationships 14:56 The Importance of Authenticity in Coaching 17:48

Finding Balance and Freedom in Life 20:55 

Self-Care Practices and Wellbeing 28:26 

Morning Rituals and Spiritual Practices 33:58 

Balancing Motherhood and Business 40:01 

The Importance of Support Systems 43:36 Chasing Dreams and Core Values 

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In this episode I explore something that sits quietly underneath so many of the things we want to do in life — the fear of being seen.

It’s not always the fear of failure that stops us. Often it’s the fear of judgement. The moment we put an idea, a project or our voice out into the world and wonder what people might think.

I share some reflections on what this has looked like for me while starting this podcast — the internal conversations, the courage it takes to press publish, and why visibility can feel so uncomfortable.

My whole career has been centred around people — understanding the human side of leadership, work and life — and this podcast is really an extension of that curiosity.

This episode is an honest conversation about visibility, authenticity, and what it takes to move forward even when the fear is still there.

Keywords

fear of being seen, visibility, podcasting, authenticity, personal growth, courage, overcoming fear, self-expression, leadership, motherhood, becoming

Key Topics

• The fear of being seen and judged
 • Why visibility can feel uncomfortable
 • What actually goes into starting a podcast
 • Pressing publish and embracing vulnerability
 • Authenticity and the human side of growth
 • Practical ways to move through visibility fears

Takeaways

• The fear of being seen is often about vulnerability rather than failure.
 • Starting something visible requires courage.
 • Remembering your deeper purpose can help you move through self-doubt.
 • Not everyone will understand what you're building — and that’s OK.
 • Taking small steps builds confidence over time.
 • Pressing “publish” is often the hardest step, but it’s also where growth begins.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction — The quiet fear of visibility
 00:40 Why being seen can feel uncomfortable
 01:55 A moment where I felt that fear
 03:20 Why I started this podcast
 06:20 What it really takes to start a podcast
 08:40 The courage it takes to press publish
 10:10 What I’ve loved about creating the podcast
 12:10 How I move through the fear of being seen
 15:20 Becoming comfortable with visibility
 16:45 Final reflection

My Website - Home | The Human Project

Instagram : (1) Instagram

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In this episode, I sit down with Sorcha Hunter, founder of Hunter Labour Hire, a successful business operating in the construction and labour hire industry — a space traditionally dominated by men.

Sorcha shares the real, behind-the-scenes experience of building and running a business in a demanding industry. From managing staff and navigating client expectations to handling the inevitable curveballs that come with business, she speaks openly about the moments that once caused stress and overwhelm.

As a female founder in a male-dominated field, Sorcha has worked hard to establish credibility, stay ahead of industry demands, and continually adapt. We talk about the practical things she has done to keep up — developing strong problem-solving skills, learning to stay calm under pressure, and building strong relationships in her industry.

Alongside running Hunter Labour Hire, Sorcha is also the founder of SOS Mentors, a mentoring initiative that supports start-ups and emerging business owners by sharing practical knowledge and guidance drawn from her own business journey.

Sorcha is also a mother, navigating the unpredictability that comes with raising a family while running a company. That experience brings a different kind of perspective to leadership — one grounded in patience, adaptability, and resilience.

A big part of Sorcha’s ability to stay steady is how she looks after herself. She shares how prioritising self-care through yoga and  gym training helps her regulate stress, maintain energy, and stay clear-headed when challenges arise.

Over time, the moments that once caused “freak-outs” have become opportunities to pause, learn, and respond with calm and confidence.

This conversation explores how resilience is built — not through perfection, but through experience, self-awareness, and the willingness to keep showing up.

About Sorcha

Sorcha Hunter is the founder of Hunter Labour Hire, a thriving labour hire business operating within the construction industry.

As a female founder in a male-dominated sector, Sorcha has built a reputation for strong leadership, practical problem solving, and resilience in the face of business challenges.

She is also the founder of SOS Mentors, where she supports start-ups and early-stage business owners through mentoring and guidance based on real-world experience.

Alongside her business ventures, Sorcha is a mother and prioritises self-care through practices such as yoga and regular gym training, helping her maintain balance, perspective, and resilience in both business and life.

What We Talk About

• Building a business in a male-dominated industry
 • Managing staff and team dynamics
 • Navigating client challenges and setbacks
 • Balancing motherhood and leadership
 • The mindset needed to stay calm in business
 • Supporting new entrepreneurs through SOS Mentors
• The role of self-care, yoga, and fitness in sustaining resilience

You can find Sorcha    HLH- Instagram   SOS Mentors - Instagram

Linked in : Sorcha Hunter | LinkedIn ; HLH Group | Hunter Labour Hire: Posts | LinkedIn

Website : Labour Hire & Construction Recruitment Agency Sydney