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Working Mumma

Carina O’Brien
Working Mumma
Latest episode

200 episodes

  • Working Mumma

    Why the Mental Load Gets Bigger When Your Kids Start School (And What to Do About It)

    19/05/2026 | 13 mins.
    When you're in the thick of the baby and toddler years, it can feel like that's the hardest it will ever be. But what nobody tells you is that the challenge doesn't disappear as your kids get older - it just changes shape.

    In this solo episode, I'm getting real about a phase of working motherhood I didn't see coming: the school-age years. From navigating school hours that don't align with work hours, to managing a never-ending rotation of sports trainings, WhatsApp groups, Compass and Storypark alerts, school events, and the invisible mental load of coordinating everyone else's lives - this one's for the mums in the thick of it.

    I talk about:

    Why the transition from childcare to school can actually increase the mental load for working mums

    The concept of cognitive labour (as described by Professor Leah Ruppanner) and why it still falls disproportionately on mothers

    The hidden logistics of school-age sport, and why I wouldn't have it any other way

    The beautiful moments hiding inside the chaos (yes, they're there)

    A few honest things that are helping me survive this season without losing my mind

    This episode isn't about complaining. It's about naming something that so many of us are quietly carrying, and reminding you that you are absolutely not alone.

    Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 

    Follow on Instagram 

    Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram

    Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to the newsletter
  • Working Mumma

    Feeling Lost Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? How to Rebuild Your Career Confidence with Natalie McDonald

    12/05/2026 | 52 mins.
    What happens when you return to work after maternity leave… only to be made redundant six weeks later?

    In this honest and deeply relatable episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, I’m joined by Natalie McDonald, founder of Working@It, former LinkedIn editor, journalist, content strategist, and mum of two.

    Natalie opens up about:

    Returning to work after maternity leave

    Being made redundant during the AI transformation in tech

    The emotional impact of redundancy as a mother

    Identity shifts after motherhood

    Building confidence after career setbacks

    Starting a business after redundancy

    Why working mums need community more than ever

    The importance of personal branding and networking

    The reality of balancing work, ambition and caregiving

     

    This episode is for any woman who has ever questioned:
    “Am I still valuable after becoming a mum?”
    “Could this happen to me?”
    “How do I rebuild confidence and a career after being made redundant?”

    Natalie’s story is raw, empowering, practical, and incredibly validating for working mothers navigating change, uncertainty and the pressure to “hold it all together.”

    If you’re navigating maternity leave, returning to work, redundancy, burnout, or career transition, this conversation will make you feel seen.

     

    Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming, even when you’re doing everything “right”?

    In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Lisa Taylor, author of The Perfect Parent Trap, about the invisible pressure modern mothers are carrying and why so many working mums feel like they’re constantly falling short.

    From unrealistic expectations to the mental load, Lisa unpacks how the idea of “perfect parenting” has quietly shaped how we work, parent, and judge ourselves. We explore why this pressure is hitting working mothers especially hard, and what needs to change.

    This is an honest, validating conversation for any mum who has ever felt:

    Like she’s failing at work or at home
    Overwhelmed by the mental load
    Guilty for not being “present enough”
    Exhausted from trying to do it all

    In this episode, we chat about:

    What the “perfect parent trap” actually is

    Why working mums are set up to feel like they’re failing

    The role of societal expectations and systemic pressures

    How perfectionism shows up in motherhood

    Practical ways to let go of unrealistic standards

    A new way to think about being a “good enough” parent

    If you’ve ever wondered “why does motherhood feel so hard?” - this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone.

    Connect with Lisa: 

    Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn

    Find out more via Natalie's website

    Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 

    Follow on Instagram 

    Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram

    Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to the newsletter
  • Working Mumma

    Are You the Mum You Want to Be? A Simple Values Framework to Help Close the Gap

    28/04/2026 | 27 mins.
    Have you ever felt like everything in your life looks fine on paper… but something still feels off?

    In this solo episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina explores the hidden tension so many working mums experience, the gap between the mother you are today and the mother you want to be.

    This episode isn’t about productivity hacks or doing more. It’s about alignment.

    Carina shares a practical and deeply reflective framework to help you:

    Define your version of motherhood (not society’s)

    Identify your core values and where you’re out of alignment

    Understand why guilt, burnout, and frustration show up

    Set boundaries that actually protect what matters most

    Take small, realistic steps toward a version of motherhood that feels right for you

    Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 

    Follow on Instagram 

    Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram

    Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to the newsletter
  • Working Mumma

    How to drop perfection in motherhood without dropping your standards with Lisa Taylor

    21/04/2026 | 50 mins.
    Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming, even when you’re doing everything “right”?

    In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Lisa Taylor, author of The Perfect Parent Trap, about the invisible pressure modern mothers are carrying and why so many working mums feel like they’re constantly falling short.

    From unrealistic expectations to the mental load, Lisa unpacks how the idea of “perfect parenting” has quietly shaped how we work, parent, and judge ourselves. We explore why this pressure is hitting working mothers especially hard, and what needs to change.

    This is an honest, validating conversation for any mum who has ever felt:

    Like she’s failing at work or at home
    Overwhelmed by the mental load
    Guilty for not being “present enough”
    Exhausted from trying to do it all

    In this episode, we chat about:

    What the “perfect parent trap” actually is

    Why working mums are set up to feel like they’re failing

    The role of societal expectations and systemic pressures

    How perfectionism shows up in motherhood

    Practical ways to let go of unrealistic standards

    A new way to think about being a “good enough” parent

    If you’ve ever wondered “why does motherhood feel so hard?” - this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone.

    Connect with Lisa: 

    Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn

    Buy The Perfect Parent book

    Check out Lisa's website 

    Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 

    Follow on Instagram 

    Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram

    Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to the newsletter
  • Working Mumma

    Is the system set up for working mums to fail? What we can do about it (without burning out)

    14/04/2026 | 32 mins.
    If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly behind…
    like you’re failing at work, at home, or both…here is an episode for you.

    Because here’s the truth: You are not the problem. The expectations of you are.

    In this episode, I unpack why so many working mums feel overwhelmed, stretched, and stuck in a cycle of “trying harder”, and why it’s not about better time management or being more organised.

    I chat about: 

    The viral ABC post "Working mums. The maths ain't mathing" and why it resonated so deeply

    The pressure of the “juggle” and why it’s actually a trap

    The mental load and invisible labour working mums carry every day

    The motherhood penalty and how it impacts careers, pay, and confidence

    Why workplaces, systems, and society haven’t caught up with modern families

    Breaking down what needs to change into 4 key areas and micro actions you can take today to create change

    This episode reframes “mum guilt” as something much bigger: a system that was never designed to support working parents.

    Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 

    Follow on Instagram 

    Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram

    Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to the newsletter
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About Working Mumma
Working Mumma is the podcast redefining what it means to build and have a career after having children. From the emotional rollercoaster of returning to work, to navigating identity shifts, rebuilding confidence, pay, flexibility and redesigning work to match your new life, where real stories and practical strategies meet. Because motherhood doesn’t end ambition - it reshapes it. Hosted by Carina O’Brien, mum of 2 boys, businesswoman, and founder of Working Mumma, each episode delivers relatable stories, expert interviews, and practical strategies to help you. You will hear from experts, leaders, and women like you who are juggling career and motherhood. You’re not alone in this. Tune in weekly to feel supported, empowered, and reminded that you’re doing a great job.
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