Have It All

What happens when you’re on the brink of motherhood but feel like you’re standing outside a “secret club” no one talks about? In this episode, I sit down with Jordan, who is in the midst of trying to conceive and navigating the realities of family planning, career balance, and the cultural differences between the US and New Zealand. We discuss the decision she made last year to step aside rather t...

Before becoming a mum, Danny and her husband were living life to the fullest—careers they loved, a buzzing social life, friends, parties, and the kind of freedom you don’t realise you have until it’s gone. But nothing could have prepared her for the profound shift that motherhood would bring. Danny’s experience of becoming a mum was not just life-changing—it was earth-shattering. A deeply traumati...

Feeling burned out, stretched thin, or stuck in survival mode? In this episode, I chat with Lisa Walker, a qualified nutritionist, about the everyday challenges facing busy women—particularly mums—and how stress, nutrition, and self-care all play a role in reclaiming health and energy. Lisa shares practical tips for eating well as a family, the importance of postpartum recovery, and why small life...

In this episode of Have It All, Emily sits down with Erin to explore the emotional realities of becoming a parent and balancing a career. They discuss the often-overwhelming transition back to work, managing feelings of guilt, and navigating lack of family support during early parenthood. Erin opens up about the isolating experience of being the first in her friend group to have a baby. She reflec...

In this episode, I sit down with Rebekah Fraser, The Back To Work Coach , to explore the crucial steps for navigating parental leave and career breaks. We discuss key moments to plan for—starting before you're even pregnant—and how to approach conversations with your employer about taking time off. Rebekah shares her expert insights on overcoming self-doubt and negative self-talk, redefining succe...

In this heartfelt episode, Kelsey shares her journey of navigating grief after losing her dad just seven weeks into her pregnancy. She reflects on how this loss has shaped her approach to motherhood and the intentional steps she and her husband have taken to create greater equality at home, particularly around childcare and the mental load. Kelsey also opens up about the tough decision to step awa...

This week’s episode is a special one as I finally sit down with my best friend, Sharon, to talk about her journey through miscarriage and the challenges of navigating anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Sharon opens up about her experiences, including how her incredibly supportive and family-friendly workplace stood by her through these tough times. She shares how they provided opportunities...

When Steph had her daughter five years ago, even with her background as an investment banker, she came up against unexpected financial challenges. This experience inspired her to create Crayon: a startup dedicated to reducing financial stress during life's most important moments. Focused on new parents, Crayon developed New Zealand’s first-ever Parental Leave Register and Financial Baby Prep Progr...

This episode is the first in a mini series from experts and thought leaders. As a mum of four grown-up children, Helen brings wisdom from both the boardroom and the home. We dive into everything from empowering women in leadership to applying these lessons in raising confident, capable kids. I'm so grateful to Helen for her generosity in sharing not only her own 'working mum' journey, but also sni...

Former fashion buyer for the Boohoo Group, Emily never planned to become a stay-at-home parent. However, a neck injury causing chronic pain left her unable to return to full-time work. While unexpected, this shift turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing her to spend over two years at home with her daughter, Billie. Now that Billie is growing up, Emily is pursuing another career path and...

This week’s guest, Katie, is a powerhouse in the fitness world: an ex-professional dancer, Pilates instructor, and co-founder of The Method , an award-winning and internationally recognised teacher training module for fitness instructors. But this episode isn’t just about her impressive career; it’s about the personal challenges and transformations that come with starting over. Earlier this year,...

When Ivy became pregnant at 18, she faced the heavy stigma around teenage pregnancy. A comment from a colleague: “I’m not saying congratulations to her; she just ruined her life”, has stuck with her. While these words stung, they also fuelled Ivy’s drive to prove everyone wrong. In this week’s episode, Ivy opens up about what it was like watching her now-husband build his career while she stayed h...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Kaz, managing director of Bountiful (formerly Bounty ) and mum to baby Elsie and three stepchildren. We dive into the realities of balancing a business through a challenging pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the unique pressures of managing both a career and family life when you work for yourself. Kaz opens up about the financial strain caused by a difficult...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Joey: a dedicated school teacher and solo mum to her son, Casey. Joey shares how 'mum guilt' is her greatest challenge, and how she sometimes struggles to balance the demands of career and motherhood - especially with the high workload of being a NZ teacher. No, her work day doesn't end at 3pm! Let me know what you think of this episode by leaving a comment. @ha...

This week I reflect on what I've learned so far from chatting with several podcast guests. I also answer the question, "do you miss it?" and share some thoughts on the Nike intern to CEO story (hint: life isn't what it used to be!) Don't forget to follow on IG or TikTok to see video snippets from each episode @haveitall.podcast

Julia, a full-time lawyer and mum of two, shares how she and her husband have embraced what some consider “non-traditional” roles. She’s continued to build her career after having kids, while her husband took a step back to stay home with their daughters a few days a week. But the journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Julia has faced double standards, often being asked, “Is this what you rea...

"My identity is mum... and I kind of love it." This week's episode features Louise, a stay-at-home mum of three, who - despite earning a commerce degree, majoring in commercial law - chose to dedicate herself to raising her children when she became a first-time mum at age 24. Now, with three kids growing up fast, she’s busier than ever and still stands by her decision. As a "young mum", Louise ref...

In this week's episode, I sit down with my friend Hannah, a mum of three boys - with baby number four on the way! Hannah opens up about her journey back to work after her third child, the decision to return for some much-needed creative space, and how she and her husband navigate sharing the load at home. We also have an honest conversation about her miscarriage journey. Please note: we discus...

My first guest episode for Have It All features my "school-mum friend" turned friend, Kathryn. In this episode, Kathryn - head of marketing and mum of two - opens up about the challenges of balancing a high-profile career with motherhood. From the anxiety of traveling for work to the mental load of managing “laundry lane,” Kathryn reveals how home and work are deeply interconnected. We d...

Hey everyone! Wow, the feedback from episode one has been incredible. Thank you so much to everyone who tuned in - knowing it resonated with so many of you means the world 🧡 This week, I dive into all things full-time work, part-time childcare (because seriously, how does anyone make that math work?), the mental load of trying to juggle it all, and a biggie: self-acceptance. Maybe not all of us a...

Emily introduces you to the Have It All podcast, diving straight into her journey as a 'working mum', which began after having her first child in her early 20s.  Tune in for an honest and vulnerable conversation about the inspiration behind this podcast.  Follow on in Part 2 when Emily shares her experience of stepping away from a beloved full-time job to prioritise her family and personal...