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.
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September 2, 202611 min
The 4 Emotional Stages of Returning to Work After Maternity Leave
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. 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 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
June 23, 202655 min
The Good Girl Trap: Why So Many Working Mums Are Burnt Out, Overwhelmed and Doing Too Much
Have you ever returned to work after parental leave and found yourself saying: “I should just be grateful I have my job back” even when the role doesn’t fit your life anymore? That feeling has a name. It’s good girl conditioning. And it’s one of the most quietly powerful forces shaping the lives of working mothers. In this episode, Carina sits down with Caitlin Judd, a business consultant, coach, podcast host and author of Good Girl, for an honest, deeply relatable conversation about the inherited scripts that keep women small, silent and stuck. And what to do about it. What You’ll Learn in This Episode What good girl conditioning really is - and why it starts long before you become a mother The scripts handed to us in childhood (“be nice,” “don’t rock the boat,” “do as you’re told”) and how they show up in your workplace, your relationships and your return to work Why self-silencing and imposter syndrome are not personal flaws they’re patterns of conditioning What micro-rebellions are, and how to use them at home and at work (starting with something as simple as a Friday email) The three good girl archetypes most common in working mums: the Saint, the Lollipop Lady and the Fortress How to do a life stock-take after becoming a parent and ask yourself whether your current role actually still works for you Why Caitlin deliberately didn’t tell women what to become beyond the good girl and why that matters Connect with Caitlin Judd Instagram: @ itscaitlinjudd Book: Good Girl Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter
June 16, 202620 min
Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? How to Handle the Guilt and Separation Anxiety
Missing your baby at work? Feeling like your heart is in two places at once? You’re not alone, and more importantly, there is nothing wrong with you. In this episode, Carina talk's about one of the most common (yet rarely spoken about) parts of returning to work after maternity leave: that quiet ache of missing your baby, the constant mental juggling, and the guilt that seems to follow you everywhere. If you’ve ever sat at your desk wondering how your baby is doing, felt distracted in meetings, or questioned whether you made the right decision going back to work, this conversation is for you. You’ll learn: Why missing your baby at work is completely normal (and actually a good sign) What’s really happening during this transition into working motherhood Why the guilt and overwhelm peak early, and how it gets easier over time How to gently navigate the emotional stretch of being in “two worlds” Practical, real-world strategies to feel more present, at work and at home, without adding to your mental load This episode is not about “fixing” how you feel; it’s about helping you understand it, permit yourself to experience it, and find your rhythm again. Because you’re not failing, you’re adjusting to one of the biggest transitions of your life. Connect with Carina and Working Mumma Follow on Instagram Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter
June 9, 202645 min
You're Not Less Ambitious. The World Around You Just Hasn't Caught Up Yet With Kat Francis
Since going back to work after maternity leave, has anyone - a manager, a colleague, a well-meaning relative - implied that you've changed? That you're not quite as driven as you used to be? Maybe your focus has shifted? Because here's the truth: you haven't changed. Not in the way they think. Your ambition is still there, it's just evolved into something sharper, more purposeful, and more powerful than it's ever been. The problem isn't you. The world around you just hasn't caught up yet. This week on Working Mumma, I'm sitting down with Kat Francis, a Melbourne-based leadership coach for ambitious women, keynote speaker. Kat spent two decades climbing through creative agencies to Managing Director level, then walked away from equity and ownership to build a career that actually aligned with who she'd become. This conversation is honest, validating, and deeply practical. Whether you're fresh back from mat leave or a few years in and wondering why your career still feels like it's running in slow motion, this one is for you. In this episode we cover: The LinkedIn post about ambition after motherhood and why it struck such a raw nerve with Australian working mums Kat's own pivot: walking away from an MD role with equity on the table, and what that decision revealed about values, identity and what we actually want from work The data from The Ambition Report that's hard to hear - only 16% of mums were promoted after returning from mat leave, and only 23% received a pay rise Why your ambition didn't disappear after kids, it got sharper, and why that gets misread as "less committed" The settling trap: how so many women come back from maternity leave and quietly accept a role that's comfortable but hollow and how to stop How to advocate for yourself with outdated managers without burning bridges or losing your composure The motherhood penalty vs the fatherhood bonus, what it actually looks like in Australian workplaces right now How to have the ambition conversation with your partner and why getting on the same page about success changes everything Connect with Kat Francis Website: coachkat.com.au LinkedIn: Kat Francis 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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