Now What? Podcast

When she became a single mum, Jen made a promise to herself: she was not going to live a smaller, harder life just because a relationship had ended. Years later, that promise turned into a "mommune" — a shared home in New York City with her best friend Annabelle, also a single mum, where they split rent, share dinners, divide the mental load of parenting, and raise their kids as one family unit. N...

Jemima found out she was pregnant at 39. The father made it clear from the beginning — if she continued, she was on her own. She continued. This conversation covers what nobody prepares you for when you're doing it completely alone from the start — the shame of a pregnancy you're hiding in plain sight, the identity shift that hits harder when there's no one to hand the baby to, the sleep deprivati...

Four months out of a relationship breakdown, Rachel finds herself saying something she never thought she'd say: I'm never doing this again. She gets it now. The bitterness. The wall. The absolute certainty that closing off is safer than trying again. But she also knows there's a question worth sitting with — one that's harder than it sounds: is this protection, or is this avoidance? Because they f...

Tara Pavlovic is a Gold Coast-based content creator and mum of two who recently announced her separation — and the response from women everywhere made it clear this conversation needed to happen. Rachel and Tara get into what the lead-up to leaving actually looks like from the inside. The years of therapy. The panic attacks. The couples counselling that didn't save the marriage but mattered anyway...

Rachel sits down with Kylie to talk about the parts of single motherhood and dating again that don't get said out loud enough — the fallout when a significant relationship ends and your kids are caught in it, the survival mode that masquerades as a personality, and the stories women tell themselves to excuse behaviour they should be walking away from. Kylie is five years out from her separation, h...

Catie Gett is a Melbourne-based naturopath, founder of The Staple Store, and single mum to her daughter Scout. She has spent her career making food and health accessible to people who can't afford a 20-step morning routine — and this conversation goes places neither of them expected. Rachel and Catie get into what survival mode actually costs you. Why the wellness industry has made health aspirati...

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Stephanie, the creator of The Divorce Diaries, who began documenting her divorce and court experience in real time from the US. Together they unpack what it’s really like to navigate a legal system when money, representation, and support feel out of reach, and the financial whiplash of going from being a stay-at-home mum to having to provide again almost over...

Amy didn’t set out to become a voice for single mums online. She started by sharing her running. Then she posted one honest video about single motherhood and it blew up, not because it was dramatic, but because it told the truth: stop feeling sorry for her. Her life is good. And 18 months ago, she was in the hardest place of her life. In this episode, Amy speaks candidly about the slow heartbreak...

**Melbourne IVF fertility specialist Dr Daniel Lantsberg has offered the Now What community an exclusive discount for anyone in Melbourne considering becoming a solo mum by choice. They are offering  half-price off the initial consultation  — usually $400, reduced to $200 — for those who register via the link below. The initial consult is the most important first step, even if you’re onl...

The holiday season can be beautiful — and brutal — especially when you’re a single parent. In this end-of-year episode of  Now What , Rachel speaks directly to the quiet, complicated realities that so many single mums carry through the festive period. The grief of waking up without your children on Christmas morning. The sting of moments you assumed were guaranteed. The comparison traps — to...

If you’ve ever had the quiet thought —  “Could I become a solo mum by choice?”  — this episode is a must-listen. In this powerful and deeply informative conversation, I sit down with  Dr Daniel Lansberg , Fertility Specialist at  Melbourne IVF  and one of the leading experts in fertility care (and known from the TV series  Big Miracles ). Together, we walk through the...

In this episode I’m joined by Fiona, the founder of Mama Matters, for a deeply grounding conversation about what it really means to be a good enough parent . We unpack the origins of the term, why it’s become such an important reframe for modern parents, and how releasing the pressure to be “perfect” can radically transform the way we show up for our kids — especially when we’re parenting on our o...

In this short introductory episode, Rachel shares the story behind the evolution from Mothering On My Own to Now What? . This podcast has always held space for the realities of single motherhood - the heartbreak, the rebuilding, the identity shifts, the co-parenting dynamics, the dating again, the courage it takes to start over. But as every single mother knows, the journey doesn’t really end once...

In this episode of Mothering On My Own , Rachel is joined by financial advisor and coach Rebecca Pritchard for a real and relatable chat about money—because let’s be honest, it can feel super overwhelming, especially when you’re doing life solo. Rebecca breaks down some of the biggest fears and myths around personal finance, particularly for single or separated women, and shares how shifting your...

In this episode, Rachel sit down with Julia Allen—one of Australia’s leading sexologists—for a real, down-to-earth chat about all things intimacy, relationships, and sex. Julia opens up about her own journey and shares loads of wisdom from her work helping people reconnect with themselves and each other. We talk about how easy it is to lose that spark in the thick of parenting, the biggest mistake...

In this episode, I chat with Hannah Keys about her journey from fashion creator and thrifter to navigating life as a single mum. We dive deep into co-parenting—Hannah shares how she’s learned to be okay with time away from her kids and how she’s reframed that space as something she honours, so her children get to see a thriving, happy mum. We also talk about the emotional rollercoaster of separati...

In this special episode of Mothering On My Own, we’re gifting you a moment to pause. Charlotte Terray, Calm State kinesiologist, guides us through a gentle meditation created especially for mothers—to help you come back to yourself, reconnect with your inner calm, and create space to just be. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply craving a moment of quiet, this is your invita...

In this conversation, Rachel Maksimovic and Charlotte, a trauma-informed kinesiologist, explore the transformative power of kinesiology in healing emotional and physical ailments. They discuss the importance of understanding the nervous system, the impact of trauma on the body, and how kinesiology can help individuals reconnect with their bodies and release stored stress. The conversation delves i...

In this episode of Mothering on My Own , Rachel sit down with Montana Lower to talk all things love, healing, dating, and solo motherhood. We get real about the emotional rollercoaster of finding yourself post-separation, the unexpected complexities of dating as a single mum, and the societal expectations that often leave us feeling like we can’t be sexy, desirable, or free while also being devote...

In this raw and reflective episode, I sit down with Montana Lower to unpack the emotional journey of rebuilding life after a family unit break up—especially when you’re parenting on your own. We talk about growing up without strong relationship models, the beliefs we carry into motherhood, and what it really takes to come out of the haze after heartbreak. She shares her experience of living in com...

In this solo episode, Rachel dives into one of the most common yet rarely spoken about experiences in solo motherhood — the feeling of being stuck . Whether it’s emotional, mental, financial, or just that nagging sense that you’re not where you thought you’d be, this episode offers practical, empowering guidance to help you understand and gently work through it. Rachel unpacks why feeling stuck is...

**Trigger warning, this episode does discuss leaving a DV relationship- please press pause and come back to it when you are ready. This guest also has chosen to stay anonymous for this reason. In this raw and honest conversation, this guest shares her journey of becoming a solo mother after leaving a toxic and abusive relationship. She opens up about the emotional toll of isolation, the grief and...

In this episode, Anissa Cavallo from Eda Property Group opens up about her journey from hitting financial rock bottom as a single mum to building a successful career as a property investor. We chat about why financial independence matters so much, how outdated gender roles can hold us back, and why financial literacy is a game-changer for women. Anissa shares how anyone can start planning to inves...

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Rachel sits down with Hayley to explore the layered realities of solo motherhood in Bali. Together, they unpack the cultural nuances of raising a child in a foreign country, the emotional and practical challenges of parenting alone, and the freedom and responsibility that come with carving out a life on your own terms. Hayley opens up about her journey as...

In this honest and heartfelt episode of Mothering on My Own , Rachel sits down with her friend to explore the layered experience of single motherhood—especially around emotionally loaded times like Mother’s Day. Together, they discuss the emotional toll and practical challenges of raising kids solo, the value of female friendships as a lifeline, and the often unspoken financial pressures single mu...