Wisdom For Working Mums

Why do so many loving couples start arguing after they become parents? If you've ever wondered, "Why am I carrying all the mental load?" or "Why don't they just see what needs doing?", this conversation is for you. I'm joined by couples coach, speaker and founder of Be A Happier Parent, Alex Trippier, to explore why good people in good relationships often struggle after children... and how we can...

Pregnancy loss and baby loss affect far more families than many of us realise, yet these experiences are still often surrounded by silence, misunderstanding and stigma. In this episode, I'm joined by Sands, the UK's leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, to explore the realities of loss and the impact it can have on individuals, families and working lives. Together, we discuss why pregnancy and...

Why are women so exhausted? Professor Leah Ruppanner explains the invisible mental load women carry every day - from planning and organising to worrying and responsibility-holding. We explore the eight types of mental load, why women become the default managers of family life, the impact of social judgment and gender expectations, and practical ways to reclaim energy for what matters most. A valid...

I teach leadership for a living. So when I got a phone call from school telling me my son had been suspended, I should have been able to handle it, right? Within seconds, I was unravelling. Shame flooded in before logic had a chance, my people pleaser came online and every piece of leadership work I'd ever done on myself went quiet. In this episode, I'm sharing something deeply personal with my so...

Still not feeling like yourself even though your baby is months or years old? You're not imagining it. And you're not failing. In this episode, Nicky Lowe shares her own experience of burnout and exhaustion after her first child - the years it took to get answers, and the moment she finally found the language for what had happened to her. Drawing on the work of Dr. Oscar Serrallach (The Postnatal...

Confidence isn't something you're born with; it's something you build. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Kate Hayes, one of the leading experts in performance psychology. With a PhD focused on confidence in elite sport and experience supporting world-class athletes (including the Lionesses) Kate brings both cutting-edge research and real-world insight. We explore what confidence really is, whether...

If you've ever found yourself wondering, "What is happening to me?"… you are not alone. Perimenopause can feel like a slow and disorienting shift. In this honest and empowering episode, I'm joined by Dr Charlotte Gooding, GP and BMS-accredited menopause specialist, to explore perimenopause, HRT and breast cancer risk. We unpack the symptoms many women miss, the emotional impact of hormonal change,...

Have you ever been told you need more presence, more gravitas, or more confidence at work? In this episode, I'm joined by Louisa Preston and Luisa Baldini, co-founders of Composure Media and former BBC journalists, to explore how we can communicate with more confidence, composure and impact in high-stakes moments. They share practical tools for building executive presence, managing nerves, using b...

AI is everywhere right now, yet many women are still hesitant to use it. In this episode, we explore the growing gender gap in AI adoption with Andrew Wyatt-Sames and Lucy Pitt, co-founders of Uptake AI. Together, we unpack the "good girl mindset" and the fear of cheating, and share simple, confidence-building ways to start using AI tools with care. We also tackle the big questions around ethics,...

One of the most powerful things you can do as a leader and mother is build a team around you - because it really does take a village, both in work and in life. In this episode, I'm joined by the women behind the scenes of my business for an honest, practical conversation about how we work together as a high-performing remote team. We unpack the rhythms, communication habits, and supportive systems...

If you're working harder than ever but life still feels heavy, this episode is for you. Maker, Marker, Multiplier explores why doing more eventually stops working as your responsibility grows and life changes - particularly after becoming a parent. It offers a compassionate, relatable way to understand the leadership and identity shifts many working mums experience, and how to lead differently in...

Since becoming parents, many of us find we have to work harder on our relationship than ever - not because it's wrong, but because life is full-on. In this episode, I'm joined by relationship strategist and licensed therapist Katie Rössler to explore why couples slip into "roommate mode," how resentment and the mental load build, and what genuinely helps You'll leave with practical habits you can...

What if you could borrow the psychology behind elite sporting success and use it to lead, perform, and thrive as a working mum? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Kate Hays, Head of Women's Performance Psychology at the Football Association, working closely with Serena Wiegman and the England women's national football team. Kate pulls back the curtain on what performance psychology really looks lik...

In this end-of-year reflection, I share three life lessons from 2025 and invite you to mine for the gold in your own year as you step into what's next with clarity, courage, and ease. More details:  https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/176 Connect on LinkedIn Here   Follow on Instagram Here   Love the Wisdom For Working Mums Podcast? Let's take the conversation further.  Subscribe for exclusive in...

What if the hardest moments in your life were actually clues to your purpose? In this episode, Nicky explores how we can "decode" our purpose by looking back at the meaning markers in our story - the losses, turning points and everyday moments that quietly show us what really matters.  You'll learn a simple way to reflect on your own experiences, spot the patterns in what you care about, and take...

What if elite sports performance could help you thrive as a high-achieving woman? In this episode, I chat with Gemma Jefferson, a physiotherapist with over 14 years of experience working with Paralympic athletes and elite sportspeople. Now, Gemma is bringing the same principles of peak performance to help women like you balance career and motherhood without burning out. We dive into how to tap int...

Ever had life bring you to your knees in that quiet, private way that makes you feel deeply human? I'm in that season. In this episode I share the health news I'm navigating and the leadership reset it sparked: why going back to basics isn't a setback, how to be confidently humble, and the seven foundations I'm using to rebuild in body and leadership. If you're facing uncertainty - career, health,...

In this special conversation, Nicky welcomes friends and co-founders Clare Radford and Harri Demetrios to introduce the Empow-Her Collective - a new, research-led collaboration reshaping how senior women are supported in leadership. Together, they unpack why "fixing women" misses the point, the systemic patterns that stall brilliant careers, and how psychologically safe, evidence-based development...

The mental load isn't just yours to carry - it's a leadership issue. Learn how cultures that care can ease the juggle at work and at home. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a global speaker series we delivered to our client, UKG, to explore why the mental load isn't just a personal struggle - it's a leadership issue. Together we unpack how invisible responsibilities at home and at w...

What if the most powerful negotiation skill isn't talking…but listening like a life depends on it? In this jaw-dropping episode, I speak with former hostage negotiator Nigel Taberner, who's attended over 130 high-risk incidents without a loss of life. Nigel dismantles the myths (no Jedi mind tricks here) and shows how the exact skills used in armed sieges translate to leading teams, navigating con...

If you've ever felt like you're carrying the invisible weight of running both your home and your career, you're not alone. The mental load - the relentless planning, remembering, and anticipating that keeps family life moving - falls disproportionately on women, and it's leaving many of us exhausted, resentful, and stretched too thin. In this powerful episode, I'm joined by Dr. Kate Mangino, gende...

The school gates are calling and for working parents, that means more than buying new shoes. In this episode, I share practical, research-backed strategies to ease the back-to-school juggle, plus a powerful guide for line managers on how to support parents in their teams without losing productivity. Whether you're navigating uniforms and lunchboxes or leading a team through this transition, you'll...

In this special episode, I join Jean Gomes and Scott Allender on The Evolving Leader podcast - an acclaimed show known for deep, thought-provoking conversations with global leadership experts. We explore my journey from burnout to balance, and what it truly means to thrive as a leader, mother, and woman. A powerful conversation on mindset, wellbeing, and redefining success - without the sacrifice....

This summer, leadership at home matters more than ever. In this episode,I share the real strategies keeping working parents afloat during the school holidays - not magic fixes, but practical systems that act as your sanity-saving scaffold. Discover my top 5 family SOPs (including 3 free resources you can use right now) and learn why true leadership is about supporting yourself as much as your fami...

Mind feeling full? The mental load and decision fatigue are real and they're exhausting. In this episode, I'm joined by Vicki Tan, Pinterest's Design Lead and author of Ask This Book a Question, to explore why our brains get overwhelmed and how to find clarity in the chaos. We dive into the surprising power of cognitive biases, how to work with your brain (not against it), and why asking better qu...