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Working Mumma

Working Mumma

Carina O’Brien 206 Episodes Jul 1, 2026

Working Mumma is a podcast that redefines building a career after having children. Hosted by Carina O’Brien, it covers the emotional journey of returning to work, identity shifts, confidence rebuilding, pay, flexibility, and redesigning work to match new life priorities. Each episode features relatable stories, expert interviews, and practical strategies for juggling career and motherhood.

Episodes

Wondering If You Should Increase Your Work Days? 5 Signs It's Time Jul 1, 2026 971 Most conversations about returning to work after maternity leave focus on the return itself: the first day back, childcare drop-off, the mental load of becoming "mum and professional" again overnight. But what about six or twelve months later, when the arrangement you came back on stops fitting the life you're actually living? In this episode, Carina shares her experience moving from three to four
Have You Lost Yourself Since Becoming a Mum? How to Rebuild Your Identity While Still Being a Great Mother Jun 24, 2026 3309 Have you ever returned to work after parental leave and found yourself saying: “I should just be grateful I have my job back” even when the role doesn’t fit your life anymore? That feeling has a name. It’s good girl conditioning. And it’s one of the most quietly powerful forces shaping the lives of working mothers. In this episode, Carina sits down with Caitlin Judd, a business consultant, coach,
Missing Your Baby at Work? How to Find Your Rhythm After Maternity Leave Jun 17, 2026 1249 Missing your baby at work? Feeling like your heart is in two places at once? You’re not alone, and more importantly, there is nothing wrong with you. In this episode, Carina talk's about one of the most common (yet rarely spoken about) parts of returning to work after maternity leave: that quiet ache of missing your baby, the constant mental juggling, and the guilt that seems to follow you everywh
You're Not Less Ambitious. The World Around You Just Hasn't Caught Up Yet With Kat Francis Jun 10, 2026 2713 Since going back to work after maternity leave, has anyone - a manager, a colleague, a well-meaning relative - implied that you've changed? That you're not quite as driven as you used to be? Maybe your focus has shifted? Because here's the truth: you haven't changed. Not in the way they think. Your ambition is still there, it's just evolved into something sharper, more purposeful, and more powerf
Going Back to Work Pregnant? How to Tell Your Employer Without the Guilt or the Panic Jun 3, 2026 844 Returning to work after parental leave is already a huge transition. But what if you're going back and you are pregnant? This week's episode comes straight from a listener DM, and it's one of the most relatable, raw, and important questions we've ever received on the show. In this episode, host Carina O'Brien tackles the fear, the guilt, and the very real practical questions that come with going b
Why Don't I Feel Like Me Anymore? Matrescence, Identity & Returning to Work with Amanda Jackson May 27, 2026 2701 If you've ever returned to work after parental leave and thought, "I'm not the same person I was before I went on parental leave", you are not imagining it. And there's actually a word for what you're going through. In this episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, I sit down with Amanda Jackson, founder of Motherhood and Matrescence and author of the book by the same name, to explore the concept of m
Why the Mental Load Gets Bigger When Your Kids Start School (And What to Do About It) May 20, 2026 810 When you're in the thick of the baby and toddler years, it can feel like that's the hardest it will ever be. But what nobody tells you is that the challenge doesn't disappear as your kids get older - it just changes shape. In this solo episode, I'm getting real about a phase of working motherhood I didn't see coming: the school-age years. From navigating school hours that don't align with work ho
Feeling Lost Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? How to Rebuild Your Career Confidence with Natalie McDonald May 13, 2026 3175 What happens when you return to work after maternity leave… only to be made redundant six weeks later? In this honest and deeply relatable episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, I’m joined by Natalie McDonald, founder of Working@It, former LinkedIn editor, journalist, content strategist, and mum of two. Natalie opens up about: Returning to work after maternity leave Being made redundant during the
Are You the Mum You Want to Be? A Simple Values Framework to Help Close the Gap Apr 29, 2026 1624 Have you ever felt like everything in your life looks fine on paper… but something still feels off? In this solo episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina explores the hidden tension so many working mums experience, the gap between the mother you are today and the mother you want to be. This episode isn’t about productivity hacks or doing more. It’s about alignment. Carina shares a practical an
How to drop perfection in motherhood without dropping your standards with Lisa Taylor Apr 22, 2026 3031 Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming, even when you’re doing everything “right”? In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Lisa Taylor, author of The Perfect Parent Trap, about the invisible pressure modern mothers are carrying and why so many working mums feel like they’re constantly falling short. From unrealistic expectations to the mental load, Lisa unpacks how the idea of
Is the system set up for working mums to fail? What we can do about it (without burning out) Apr 15, 2026 1927 If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly behind… like you’re failing at work, at home, or both…here is an episode for you. Because here’s the truth: You are not the problem. The expectations of you are. In this episode, I unpack why so many working mums feel overwhelmed, stretched, and stuck in a cycle of “trying harder”, and why it’s not about better time management or being more organised. I c
Are You the Default Parent? How to Rebalance the Load with Michael Ray Apr 8, 2026 3550 When we talk about working parents, we often focus on mums. But what if one of the biggest missing pieces in the conversation is dads? In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina speaks with fatherhood advocate Michael Ray about why working mums cannot carry the load alone, and why fathers need to be seen, supported and expected to be equal parents from the beginning. Michael shares his o

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