The Juggling Act

Kids are excellent at turning on the waterworks, like seriously Oscar-worthy some days. Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish the difference between crocodile tears and valid emotional responses. We all want to help our kids develop a high EQ, so how do you know when to acknowledge how they're feeling or to teach them more resilience? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is one of Australia’s most inspiring motivational speakers, author, athlete and mum of two boys, she’s also one of our favourite guests on this podcast. Turia Pitt has now tapped into the running trend that started sweeping the country during Covid (hey, we all needed a reason to get out of the house!), and has created a new online running program designed specifically for Mums. See...

27-year-old Natasha Giannetti was working in retail and customer service when she decided to start her own subscription business selling office snack boxes. But then just a few months later, COVID hit and offices closed. Unsure whether to put the business into hibernation or to pivot, she talked to her customers and came up with a unique idea to keep the company moving. She’s now on track to make...

When author Scott Stuart's son was bullied for wearing an Elsa dress, the resulting story led to him publish his latest book, My Shadow Is Pink. The bestselling writer, speaker and LGBTIQ activist joins us to talk about teaching our kids the importance of gender identity, self-acceptance, equality and diversity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mel's kids were born four days apart. Terrible planning (or lack thereof). While she initially thought it would be easier because they could have parties together and she'd get both out of the way in one go, it hasn't worked out that way. Every year there's the double present, double party, double cake stress - plus the financial burden.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Mel's daughter saw porn at a friend’s house and please send help! Business woman Fleur Madden shares her strong opinion around why the term ‘mumpreneur’ has to go. We speak with a woman who created a travel specialisation business for people with autism during Covid. Magazine editor and mum of four boys Justine Cullen gets real about ‘the mother f**king juggle’. And Sarah wants to know...

Having a family pet is such a wonderful experience for children. It teaches them so many life lessons. But when that pet dies, you're faced with one of the biggest conversations you'll have with your child - death. So how should you approach it? Sarah and Mel share their experiences while growing up and now as family pet owner's themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justine Cullen loves fashion and women. She’s spent her whole career writing about both as the editor-in-chief of Shop Til You Drop and Elle Australia. Oh, and she’s got 4 boys, all while writing her new book ‘Semi-Gloss’. Justine joins us to talk turning 40, co-parenting and ‘the mother f**king juggle’… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When mum-of-two Kristy Moore stopped to think about whether she still loved her job, she realised it wasn’t what she really wanted to do. Taking a walk down memory lane, she opened her high school year back, and written on the pages was her dream to have her own travel agency. So she bit the bullet and made that dream a reality. Then just six weeks later, COVID hit. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

More and more mums are starting small businesses or working as consultants, and while the buzzword ‘mumpreneur’ has been around for a while now, it turns out most women don’t use it to describe themselves. ‘Freelancing Gems’ CEO Fleur Madden feels pretty strongly about why the term has to go, and she joins us to explain why, and talks about how and why she got her business off the ground. See omny...

It's a frightening thought, but our kids have a world of graphic material at their fingertips, and it is finding them at an increasingly young age. The latest research shows they are first exposed to online porn between the ages of eight and nine, on average. We can protect them at home, but it can be difficult to control what they're seeing elsewhere. Mel opens up about a distressing incident wit...

This week, Sarah and I have a random one for you – do you ever feel like you’re watching yourself parent from the outside?! We meet a mum whose high-pressure job had her burnt out, so she quit. Sex education expert Michelle Mitchell joins us to talk about whether it’s ever too early to start talking to your kids about sex. TV host Sarah Harris is in the studio and reveals that she got so rundown s...

We are sure we're not alone in admitting that sometimes ABC Kids helps raise our kids. We've all needed a break and plonked them down in front of Peppa Pig or Fireman Sam. Regularly. Sarah admits that her son has become so obsessed with the firefighters in Wales, that he's developed an English accent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are super excited to welcome today's guest back into the studio, The Juggling Act's former co-host, Sarah Harris! The host of Studio TEN, mum of two boys and Blackmores ambassador, opens up about her need for a blood transfusion after running herself into the ground and how she's managing after separating from her husband. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mum recently shared on Kidspot that her 8yo daughter has been asking about sex and now she’s become scared that it will hurt. So when and how should we talk to our kids about these things? Is 8 too early? We’re joined by educator and author of A Girls and Boys guide to Puberty, Michelle Mitchell with some brilliant and must-listen to advice! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few years ago, Peta Sitcheff had a successful career in medical device sales. From the outside, she looked like she had it all – and had it all together. But as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend, she was suffering burnout. So she did something about it, and while it wasn’t easy, it saved her life. Peta has shared her story in her debut book My Beautiful Mess, and joins us to share her...

So stick with us here, but ever feel like you're sometimes watching yourself parent from the outside? Like, 'man, I nailed it today, look at me go, I'm mum of the year!'. Or, more frequently, 'that was not my best moment...'. Sarah and Mel talk about their (out of body) experiences and why sometimes we just need to give ourselves a bloody big pat on the back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

This week, Sarah and Mel ask whether 7 is the sweet age. We’re joined by author Tori Hashka to talk about the rise of the 'mum-une'. The author of 'Chicken soup for the soul', Jack Canfield has a kid's book out to teach our children to turn 'can't' into 'can'. We meet a mum who started a new career at 40 and made her first million in four years. And Sarah asks if it’s ok for family to discipline y...

No one likes telling off their kids, but it can be even harder to listen to other people doing it - even family. So is it ever okay for people to discipline your child, especially in front of you? Sarah and Mel share their experiences and how you handle the situation if it upsets you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cathy Baker was working as an interior designer, but after almost losing everything – including the family home – she decided to try something new. Aged 40, the mum of two boys decided to give real estate a go after a school mum suggested it could be a way to make some quick cash. She went on to make her first million within four years and is now Principal of Belle Central Coast in NSW, selling th...

Nearly 30 years ago, the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was released, and the series went on to be a worldwide phenomenon. Now the creator, Jack Canfield has joined forces with children’s book author Miriam Laundry to produce the powerful new children’s book, I CAN Believe in Myself – to help kids turn their thoughts from "I Can't" to "I Can!". Jack joins us to talk about the tools parents c...

Life as a working parent is hard. News flash. But what if you had other working mum friends to help share the load of chores, drop offs, pick ups, cooking, life admin? Sounds heaven, right? Today’s guest is an author, food writer and mum of two who decided to explore this idea of modern motherhood in her totally relatable debut novel Grace Under Pressure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

There is a lot of research around the importance of the first seven years of a child's life. There are also theories that age 7 is the sweet spot. They're no longer as dependant on you and have really developed their own personality, but they haven't yet hit the tween age when things get more complicated. Sarah and Mel talk about the various ages and their benefits and / or challenges and try to w...

This week, Sarah and Mel ask whether it's wrong to make your kids pick a favourite parent. We meet a mum who has been battling a chronic rare non-curable autoimmune disease and breast cancer for the past ten years. Masterchef contestant Jess Hodge is in the studio to chat about just how tough the show is and the difficulty of being away from her 3-year-old twin boys. Matty J and Laura Byrne met on...

The BBC and Apple TV joined forces last year to create a gorgeous new comedy series called ‘Trying’. It’s British, so you know it’s good (self-confessed anglophile). It stars Esther Smith and Rafe Spall as Nikki and Jason, a couple who after being told they can’t have a child, decide to explore adoption. Rafe joins us on the phone from the UK to chat about raising boys, homeschooling for a year an...