The Juggling Act

It’s been a Christmas day we won’t forget anytime soon… the borders slammed shut again and many families have been cut off from loved ones they were going to see for the first time in months. Mel is in isolation until Dec 31 without her children after coming into 'close contact' with someone during a Christmas lunch in Sydney, while Sarah managed to fly into Melbourne the day the Victorian borders...

If you’re anything like me, you grew up in the sun often with no hat and sunscreen. Now I’m adamant about getting my skin checked every year. I use my freckly arms as a warning to my kids! Dad Chris Hills had a similar upbringing, and three years ago he heard the words he never expected – ‘it’s a melanoma’. The surgeon then went on to say that if he’d waited another six months he wouldn’t be here....

Going away with other mums can be the best. You’ve got multiple sets of eyes to watch the kids, share the meal prep with and also enjoy a vino or two. But sometimes those trips can go pear-shaped. Author Vanessa McCausland explores the complexities of mum friendships in her new novel The Valley of Lost Stories and opens up about writing from home and how she made her book deal dream come true. See...

Most parents don’t have the village support our parents had. Many live away from family and we are not as close to our neighbours as we were growing up. So it can be hard to make sure they’re surrounded by strong role models and getting the mentorship they need. That’s where Raise comes in - the foundation runs early intervention youth mentoring programs in schools.  Jacinta Tynan, journalist and...

Kids accumulate a lot of stuff. Endless bits of plastic and toys that are often played with briefly before they move onto the next fad. So with Christmas quickly approaching, Sarah wonders if it's okay to suggest that family and friends donate to charity instead of buying gifts? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah and I talk about the epic struggle that is juggling the summer holidays, work and children. The numbers just don’t add up… We meet an incredible mum who has rocket scientist, medical scientist and author on her CV. Now she’s helping families become zero waste – in just thirty days. We’re joined by the co-founder of Palm Beach collection who quit her job as a fashion buyer to start...

It's that time of year, the last-minute scramble to organise a thank you gift for your child's school or daycare teacher. It's been made even harder this year with the restrictions around not gifting food. So what should you get and how much should you spend? Should it be a group gift? Does each carer need a gift? Sarah and Mel talk about how they manage the end of year gift and share some of thei...

Earlier this year as Covid hit, Sarah McGilvray had a traumatic miscarriage. But with two small children and a high-profile job, she didn't feel like she could take time off. Seven months later she was told that her baby didn't have a heartbeat. At the time she didn't feel like telling people - not even her family and friends - because both experiences had left her feeling numb. With two gorgeous...

Quitting your job to start a business, is a huge decision. Today's guest decided to walk away from her job as a buyer for General Pants, to start a candle business with a brother. The timing all seemed perfect until Kirsten Walker found out she was pregnant the next day. Ten years on and Palm Beach collection is a thriving business, and Kirsten joins us to talk about the challenges of juggling a n...

Our local council in Sydney has just introduced a food waste bin, and even provided a small bin for the bench with biodegradable bags – I am so here for it, it’s such a fantastic idea. It’s also been a great way to talk to the kids about waste, recycling and where our rubbish goes (anyone else’s kids obsessed with garbage trucks?). Today's guest has taken that a step further and written a book abo...

School and daycare are about to wrap up - if it hasn't already - and the looooong summer holidays are looming. As working parents, how on earth do you juggle all that time off? With four weeks annual leave the numbers just don't add up. Sarah and Mel talk about how they manage and the stress that comes with juggling work, leave and childcare. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, former Bachelor star Tara Pavlovic opens up about her postponed wedding and surprise baby! We meet an incredible mum who describes how fleeing from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake led to a children's book series about resilience. Nikki Webster gets real about why dance mums get such a bad rap and exactly where she keeps the infamous pink hero dress. Adam Liaw has some seriously simple tips t...

Christmas is an expensive time of year, and there's often the temptation to go overboard when it comes to presents for your children. So how much is too much? Some people stick to one main present and a couple of small ones, some use the 'something to wear, something to read, something they want, something they need' rule, while some parents love completely spoiling their kids! Sarah and Mel chat...

Today’s guest is a former Masterchef winner, TV presenter, author and dad of three.   Adam Liaw joins us to share his tips on making Christmas lunch extra special with our families this year, and some hacks to keeping things simple.  Plus he opens up about managing the juggle with kids and work, and how becoming a dad has changed him for the better. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Nikki Webster shot to fame at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as 'Hero Girl' when she was just 13 years old. Fast forward twenty years and she's now a single mum of two and runs three dance studios. She joins us to chat about Australia's Biggest Trolls Dance party, why dance mums get such a bad rap and where she keeps that infamous pink dress! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine fleeing with your children in the middle of the night as an earthquake shook your home around you? That’s what happened to today’s guest, and the aftermath of that experience gave her the inspiration for a series of kids’ books called My Big Moments. In November 2016, journalist and writer Hannah Davison and her two children had to flee from their crumbling home in the middle of the night,...

Former Bachie & Paradise star, Tara Pavlovic (now, Tara Shepherdson!) has had a very eventful year (haven’t we all!). But for Tara – and her new husband Nick - it has been one of the most exciting years of their lives – getting married and preparing to welcome a beautiful little boy in May next year. Tara joins us to talk about the type of mum she thinks she'll be and eating Maccas at her wedding!...

This week, Sarah asks whether it’s a big deal if you’re kids end up watching adult TV shows with you, if they don’t really understand what’s going on. Mel catches up with three incredible country mums, who started a business together despite never having met! We met the unlikely dad teaching our kids about resilience. Hollywood legend Jane Seymour opens up about having twins at 44 through IVF. And...

Have you ever found yourself in a situation, you swear you never could have predicted? A situation so far from the ordinary that even remembering it feels surreal? Season 2 of I Swear I Never is publishing now, you'll hear from Peter, an ex homicide detective haunted by his past, Tina, a mum who hit rock bottom after a prescription drug addiction and Amber, a pregnant woman who went out to dinner...

Imagine not being able to visualise a scenario or playback memories in your head... its called Aphantasia – the inability to form mental images of real or imaginary people, places, and things. Nina Young is the mum of one and co-host of a fascinating podcast series called 'I Swear I Never', which has just launched Season 2. Nina joins us to talk about what it’s like being ‘blind’ in your mind, and...

I absolutely love heading to the movies with the kids, so I’m so glad we’re now able to head back into the cinema – especially when there’s a film on that the kids and adults will enjoy. 'War with Grandpa' stars Robert DeNiro who moves in with his family and takes his grandson’s most prized possession – his bedroom. The rest of the cast is just as impressive - Uma Thurman, Christopher Walkin, and...

Mixed martial arts champion Alexander Volkanovski is the current UFC World Featherweight Champion for mixed martial arts (MMA), and now he’s added another notch to his belt – children’s book creator. Alex has launched 'Alexander The Great' aimed at kids aged three and up, and it's filled with messages of positivity and resilience for kids.  He joins us to talk about the crucial life skills martial...

Three country mums have designed a way for Aussies to buy from small rural businesses without trawling the web, scrolling social media, or travelling hundreds of kilometres. Sarah, Lauren and Jenn, came up with the idea for Spend With Us - a central marketplace and directory for country businesses, which is now helping us all support small businesses easily online. Lauren is a clinical psychologis...

Sometimes you can be watching something on TV, might even just be the news, and your kids walk in the room and plonk on the couch next to you. Before you know it, they've inadvertently seen some hot and steamy scene on The Bachelor or Greys Anatomy (yes, that's still running). Sarah and Mel share their thoughts on whether you should switch it off straight away, or whether it matters that much if t...

This week, Mel caught up with the divine Grant and Chezzi Denyer about having their third baby in their 40s, the backlash they’ve faced, and the moment Grant knew Chezzi was ‘the one’. Sarah and Mel talk about whether you start to like your kids more as they get older and more self-sufficient. Author Danielle Dobson claims working mums can ditch the pressure (really)… and the idea is all thanks to...