The Juggling Act

While I’m not quite at this stage yet with my son, I’ve been told that one day you have a loving, sweet little boy and the next a monosyllabic sleep machine. So how do we help them – and ourselves – with the transition? Luckily the always reasonable and empathetic Maggie Dent and her latest book From Boys to Men are here to help!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turia a Pitt is an author, motivational speaker and mum to two beautiful boys – two-year-old Hakavai and Rahiti who is seven months. Last time we spoke she had a huge impact on me with her advice around handling those parenting days where you ‘just can’t’. Now she’s got a new book out called Happy (and other ridiculous aspirations) and she opens up about finding the silver linings and savouring th...

Children can put a lot of pressure on even the strongest of relationships. You're both tired, adjusting to a new world (and person) and there are a lot of additional pressures that come with raising a family. So how do you know if it's just a bump in the road and something you can work through or whether your relationships is beyond repair?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we chatted about whether it’s okay to regift presents your kids were given? We’re joined by TV host and Play School legend Noni Hazlehurst on the struggles of solo parenting and family secrets… Former Miss World Courtney Thorpe reveals the important reason why she’s so open on social media. The fabulous Sally Obermeder joins us with her wild claim that can cook all your weeknight dinner...

Every night my kids ask me to sing them the same son at bedtime. One of the songs is The Rose, and I am no Bette Midler… It’s pretty safe to say that they would much rather someone like today's podcast guest sing to them at night.  Pete Murray is a dad of three, while juggling a successful music career spanning twenty years. His new single Found My Place has a gorgeous video clip featuring his wif...

I don’t know about you guys, but every day around 3pm I have a slight panic attack. I call it the ‘what the hell am I going to make for dinner’ freak out. Well one of our fav podcast guests, Sally Obermeder, has the solution. The best-selling author and her sister Maha claim you can cook ONCE and have all your weeknight dinners done in under 2 hours. She joins us to explain how. (I'm pretty sure i...

For some families and parents, this twist that we didn’t see coming – ie. Covid – has actually been a lesson in slowing down and reconnecting with each other. One mum who is embracing this new world, is Courtney Thorpe -  former Miss World, TV Host, WaterWipes ambassador and mum to one yo Kennedy, who was 6 weeks premature, and step mum to Peyton (5) and Lara (7).  Courtney joins us to share her p...

Our next guest is WITHOUT a doubt my favourite Playschool presenter growing up. It is of course Noni Hazlehurst. I’ll wait while you argue Benita or John were better… Nope, didn’t think so... Well, she’s packed Big Ted and Jemima away (quite a while ago) and she’s now the host of the SBS Observational doco Every Family Has A Secret. Noni opens up about her own family secrets, life as a solo mum an...

When you first have a baby you can be inundated with gorgeous and generous gifts, but so often they don't get used. Then as they grow up, they usually get totally spoilt on their birthday and sometimes don't really appreciate all the gifts they receive. So is it wrong to keep some of those items aside and regift? Or even give them back to your child at a later date?   See omnystudio.com/listener f...

This week, Sarah and I discussed whether grandparents should be expected to step up and help care for our kids while we work? Author Karen Chaston joins us to talk about how to bounce back from a loss in your life – whether it’s a job or a loved one… Masterchef star Dani Venn opens up about splitting from her husband and juggling work with two small kids. PR guru Bec Brown has a new book out and s...

Our next guest gave birth to her first child in Feb this year after a two and half year-long struggle to fall pregnant. Jesinta Franklin is understandably smitten with little Tallulah, and now she’s written a children’s book with an important message for her little girl. She joins us to chat about the first six months of motherhood and how having a baby has changed her relationship with her husban...

Former MasterChef contestant Dani Venn has had quite a year. She returned to MasterChef for the third time, juggled two phases of lockdown in Victoria, all while parenting her two young kids Harlow (5) and Oscar (2) after splitting from her partner of 13 years in July. The Founder of the Wholehearted Cook website joins us to chat about leaving her kids to return to MasterChef and how she's jugglin...

Bec Brown is the founder and director of The Comms Department, a PR and crisis comms management agency, with more than 20 years working in the creative industry alongside people like Katy Perry and the Wiggles, and brands such as KISS FM and Live Nation. It’s a tough but rewarding industry, and one that she says you can totally succeed in - if you set your mind to it. So she pulled together an ess...

In July 2011, Karen Chaston’s life changed forever when her youngest child, Dan, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at her back door. She dealt with her loss by avoiding it; overworking, overeating and drinking, spiralling out of touch with herself and her life. Within 15 months, Karen resigned from her CFO role and became a beyond loss expert and co-founded her business: Live Love By Design. S...

Even though my parents live interstate, they never hesitate to help out with the kids when they can. It's something I definitely don't take for granted. I know a lot of families whose parents care for their kids on a regular basis, and some whose parents are not as involved. So should there be an expectation that our parents will step up and care for our children while we work or is that asking to...

This week, Sarah and I talked about whether you need to spend loads on your kids shoes or can you get away with the cheapies…We chat about my favourite new buzz word ‘presenteeism’ and whether that’s just a given for working parents…Parenting goddess Maggie Dent is with us to chat about raising boys (praise be) … we catch up with the Single mum running $7 million business from the AFL Bubble And H...

I'll admit it, it's pretty funny when little kids swear and they don't realise what they're saying. But it might not be as funny to the people around them if it happens out in public! So should you just ignore it or pull them up? Especially if they don't realise what they're saying.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebecca Klodinsky is the ultimate juggler. She started her swimwear label at age 24, spent years in court in a battle over the name – changing it twice - and now she’s running her $7 million business remotely from the AFL bubble with her toddler in tow. She joins us to chat about how she prioritises work and family and what lockdown in the bubble is really like.   See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Being the mum of a boy is brilliant. But with it comes a responsibility to make sure they grow into a kind, compassionate and respectful man. Parenting author Maggie Dent has recognised that challenge and her latest book 'From Boys to Men' focuses on just that. She joins us to talk about how boys are just as emotionally sensitive as girls and how we can nurture those instincts.   See omnystudio.co...

I love a buzz word, and my latest fav is Presenteeism. So what’s it mean? Presenteeism is a term that means you physically show up to work, but due to worries about the home front, poor physical or mental health, exhaustion or burnout your productivity levels and engagement are lower than usual. You are present in body but not in focus, energy or perhaps care factor. So what can we do about it? El...

When my first child starting walking, I wanted to make sure that she had the best shoes possible for her growing feet. But they were expensive! And as she grew, I realised how quickly they wear out of them and sometimes, after spending a lot on a pair, she wouldn't wear them. So is it okay to put your kids in cheap shoes?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catch up on all the episodes you missed this week! Sarah and I talked about what age you can start leaving your kids home alone and the various things you need take into consideration… We’re joined by the author of BE YOUR OWN MAN Jess Sanders to talk about raising strong, kind boys. Writer and podcast host Cath Mahoney opens up about what it’s like quitting your day job in your 40s as a mum, to f...

It is Father’s Day this weekend, a chance to celebrate the male role models in your life and your child’s life. And who better to celebrate with than one of the kings of dad jokes and pranks – co-host of KIIS 101.1 FM’s Melbourne breakfast Show 'Jase & PJ' and dad of two boys, Jase Hawkins. Jase joins us to talk lame practical jokes and the key reason why raising respectful boys comes naturally to...

Covid. It ain’t going away, and that is a hard thing to explain to kids.  Co-founder and creator of Nanogirl, Dr Michelle Dickinson, was an integral part of New Zealand's COVID response, working as an educator and advisor for the NZ Prime Minister, helping the NZ public, especially children, understand the science behind the virus and the different regulations. She joins us with some advice to hel...

Once you have kids, you start to see your career from a very different perspective. Do I love this job enough for it to keep me away from my children? Am I satisfied with this role or have I always dreamed of doing something else? Chasing your dreams becomes more complicated when you have little mouths to feed, especially if you’re a single mumma. But that’s what former publicist turned podcast ho...