Working Mumma

Hosted by Carina O’Brien

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Episodes

215

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 13, 202630 min

Why Is Working Motherhood So Hard? And What Can We Actually Change?

The system needs to change. Childcare, workplaces, flexibility: we know it. Government policy and organisational cultures don't change overnight. While we wait for policy to catch up, how do we make working motherhood work for us now without accepting that the current system is good enough? In this honest solo episode, Carina explores why there is no single formula for combining motherhood and a career, how our needs and priorities evolve as our children grow, and why the responsibility for making it work cannot rest on mothers alone. From the realities of family life and childcare to flexible work, employer expectations and the often-overlooked transition back after parental leave, this is a conversation about finding more agency without accepting that the system should stay as it is. Because we need change at home, at work and across society. Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

October 6, 202650 min

Overcompensating After Work? How Working Mum Guilt Turns Into Over-Parenting, with Family Therapist Jenny Brown

Have you ever walked in the door after work and gone into overdrive? Extra cuddles, extra stories, saying yes to everything, because you feel like you need to make up for the hours you weren't there? You're not alone. And according to family therapist Jenny Brown, it might be part of what's making parenting feel so hard. Jenny has worked in family therapy and child mental health since the 1980s. Her new book, The Parenting Paradox , looks at why parents today have more information than ever but feel more anxious and overwhelmed. In this episode, she isn't offering a list of parenting hacks. Instead, she invites us to look at our own part in the patterns we fall into with our kids and our partners, and to take some of the pressure off. In this episode, we talk about: Why parenting feels so intense right now, and how it became a "project" Why hearing other parents' stories can help more than expert advice How working mum guilt can lead to over-parenting, and what that does to our kids' confidence The difference between relating to our children and reacting to them What to say when your child says "I don't want to go to daycare" (or school) The over/under responsibility pattern in families and relationships, and how to share the load without taking over How to spot a pattern that isn't working and start to change it Why kids need both limits and connection, not a perfect parenting style Connect with Jenny Check out her new book The Parenting Paradox Find out more Parent Hope Project Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

September 15, 202638 min

Lost Your Confidence After Becoming a Mum? How to Find It Again at Work

Have you recently said to yourself "I used to be really good at this before I had kids"? Returning to work after parental leave can bring a mix of emotions. You may have years of experience behind you, but suddenly you’re questioning yourself, worrying about how others perceive you, and questioning if you can still perform at the level you did before. And often it’s not that you’ve lost your capability, your confidence has taken a hit. In this episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, I chat with confidence and visibility expert Bec Sands about why women often hold themselves back at work, why confidence can feel particularly difficult after becoming a mum, and what you can actually do to rebuild it. In this episode we chat about: Returning to work after maternity leave when your confidence is already starting from zero How Bec's IVF journey reshaped her relationship with confidence Why "confidence comes from action," not the other way around The truth about the 8-hour workday and debunking myths Practical, low-time strategies for building visibility at work when you have none to spare How to catch and reframe the limiting self-talk that's running the show What self-efficacy actually means, and how to build it one hard thing at a time Connect with Bec Sands Instagram: @becsands Website & book: cameheretocreate.com LinkedIn: Bec Sands Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

September 2, 202611 min

Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? The Emotions Nobody Prepares You For.

Are you dreading the morning you go back to work after parental leave more than you're letting yourself admit? In this episode, Carina breaks down the four emotional waves that hit when you're returning to work after maternity leave. Because going back to work isn’t one single emotion, and it certainly isn’t a straight line. If you're currently in the thick of pre-return anxiety, or you're back at work and still cycling through hard days, this one's for you. Enjoyed this shorter episode? Send me a DM as I'd love your thoughts. Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

August 25, 202633 min

Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? Here's What I Wish Every Mum Knew

You're back at your desk, but half your brain is still at daycare. You said yes to the meeting, forgot to eat lunch, and you're already dreading tomorrow's drop-off. If that's your version of returning to work after maternity leave, this episode is for you. In this episode, Carina goes solo to unpack what it actually feels like to return to work after maternity leave — not just the logistics, but the identity shift, the mental load, and the quiet pressure to prove yourself all over again. Drawing on her own two returns to work (10 months off with her first son, 13 months with her second) plus everything she's learned from guests on the show, this one's part personal story, part practical playbook. If you're heading back to work soon, already back and wondering why it still feels hard, or supporting someone who is — this episode is 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

August 18, 202616 min

Running on Empty as a Working Mum? Why Taking a Break Might Be the Most Productive Thing You Do

Have you ever come back from a holiday feeling like you need another holiday? Or realised, only after you've stopped, just how exhausted you really were? That's exactly what happened to Carina. After a busy period of balancing her corporate role, work travel, Working Mumma, two young boys and the mental load of running a household, Carina headed away for a week's holiday with her family. Carina talks about: The difference between taking time off and actually mentally detaching from work What Carina noticed when her own brain finally started to quieten The real cost of ignoring your exhaustion and the hidden dangers of running on empty Practical strategies for practicing psychological detachment, even when you can’t take an extended break. What chronic cortisol is doing to your brain, sleep and focus, and why it's a loop, not a one-off Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

August 4, 202645 min

Lost Yourself in Motherhood? How to Reclaim Who You Are Beyond Being Mum

Is it possible to absolutely love being a mum... and still feel like something is missing? For so many women, motherhood brings immense joy—but it can also bring an unexpected sense of loss. The loss of confidence, identity, ambition or simply remembering who you were before everyone needed a piece of you. In this deeply honest conversation, I sit down with author, speaker and coach Benita Bensch to talk about the parts of motherhood we don't often say out loud. Benita shares her journey through raising four boys on the land, experiencing two significant periods of burnout she describes as "the black hole," and the long road back to reconnecting with herself. Together, we explore why so many mothers feel invisible, how our inner stories can keep us stuck, and why asking for what you need isn't selfish—it's essential. If you've ever wondered, "Who am I outside of being Mum?" this episode is for you. In this episode we discuss: Why it's possible to love motherhood and still crave more for yourself Feeling invisible after becoming a mum The identity shift that comes with motherhood Benita's experience of burnout, anxiety and finding herself again Why reconnecting with your creativity matters Letting go of guilt around wanting something for yourself The power of boundaries, self-awareness and asking for help Practical ways to reconnect with yourself when life feels overwhelming If this conversation resonated with you, I'd love for you to share it with another mum who needs to hear that she's not alone. Connect with Benita Bensch Instagram: @benitabensch Website: benitabensch.com Book: Seen Again: Light on Matrescence Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

July 29, 202619 min

Feeling Lost Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? How to Find Your New Rhythm

Returning to work after maternity leave is often portrayed as the final hurdle for new mothers, but what if it's actually just the beginning of a much more complex journey? In this eye-opening episode, Carina challenges the common narrative and reveals why the hardest part of motherhood may not be the leave itself, but the transition back to work. You'll discover the concept of "matrescence," a term that captures the transformative process of becoming a mother and how it impacts your confidence and career trajectory. Carina dives into the real struggles many working mothers face, from the anxiety of returning to a workplace that has changed in their absence, to the guilt of wanting to excel at both parenting and career. We break down essential strategies for rebuilding confidence, understanding your new identity, and setting healthy boundaries at work. Carina emphasizes the importance of recognizing that your value isn’t tied to your availability but to the impact you create. She also offers practical advice on how to find your rhythm and prioritize what truly matters in your life. This episode is a must-listen for any working mother feeling lost in the transition back to work. Understand that you are not alone in this journey; many women experience similar doubts and struggles. Instead of trying to revert to your old self, Carina encourages you to embrace the strengths and new perspectives motherhood has given you. Perfect for working mothers, this episode empowers you to redefine what success looks like for you and your family. Tune in for a conversation that not only validates your experiences but also equips you with the tools to thrive in both your personal and professional life.

July 14, 202647 min

Why does "ambitious mother" feel like a contradiction? How to reclaim your ambition after kids, with Dr. Anne Welsh

Do you feel like you have to choose between being a good mum and having a meaningful career? Carina speaks with clinical psychologist and executive coach Dr. Anne Welsh, a mum of four who specialises in maternal mental health and works with women in leadership and working mothers navigating exactly this tension. We talk about why the "escalation of modern motherhood" means today's mums are being asked to do more, emotionally, logistically, and professionally, than any generation before them, and why that's not a personal failing, it's a systemic shift. Anne shares the research behind why quality time with your kids matters more than quantity, why the mental load is so much heavier than a to-do list, and a simple exercise to help you work out who you are now that you're a mother - not just who you were told to be. If you've ever felt the ground shift under your identity after having kids, or wondered whether ambition and motherhood can actually coexist, this episode is your permission slip to stop choosing and start figuring out what you actually want. In this episode we cover: Why ambition and motherhood have historically been treated as opposites The "escalation of modern motherhood" and why the mental load keeps growing The research on quality vs. quantity of time with your kids A simple exercise to reconnect with your identity after becoming a mum Why naming what you want is one of the most powerful things you can do How to give yourself permission to focus on what matters to you, not what you "should" be doing Connect with Dr Anne Welsh LinkedIn: Dr Anne Welsh Website: drannewelsh.com Book: Ambitious Mother Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter

July 1, 202616 min

Wondering If You Should Increase Your Work Days? 5 Signs It's Time

Most conversations about returning to work after maternity leave focus on the return itself: the first day back, childcare drop-off, the mental load of becoming "mum and professional" again overnight. But what about six or twelve months later, when the arrangement you came back on stops fitting the life you're actually living? In this episode, Carina shares her experience moving from three to four days at work after her second maternity leave and the slow realisation it wasn't sustainable, the guilt that showed up, the conversations she had with her husband, her friends, and eventually her manager, and why increasing her days actually made her a more present, less stretched mum, not a less involved one. You'll learn: The five signals that it might be time to increase your work days Why "the arrangement doesn't fit anymore" is a capacity problem, not a time management problem How to have the conversation with your partner before you have it with your manager A practical script for approaching your manager with a clear ask, not an open question Why quality time can increase even as your work days do Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter