Podcast · Kids & Family

Full Timers Club

by Ellie Brocklehurst and Pen Langenfeld · English · Kids & Family

Full-time mum. Full-time employee. Full-time partner. Full-time friend. When you’re a full-time everything, you need allies that support you, a community that champions you and resources that help you. That’s what The Full Timers Club is here for.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 30 min
Latest: 7 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026 · 28 min

Two things can be true: Matrescence and Maternal Ambivalence

You can love your child more than you have ever loved anything in your entire life and find it really, really hard at the same time. You can not want to be apart from your baby for a single second and also be desperately counting down to bedtime. This week we are introducing two words that most mothers have never heard but that we think are going to completely change the way you see yourself. The first is matrescence which is the psychological, neurological and identity transformation of becoming a mother. A shift so significant that your brain physically rewires itself and yet somehow we…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S5 · E6 · 30 Sep 2026 · 25 min
AI hacks for families — the ones that actually work
We are not tech people. We are not AI experts. We are two full time working mums who stumbled onto a few things that have genuinely changed how we manage our lives and we could not keep them to ourselves. This week it is just the two of us, and we are getting practical. From managing the mental load to planning holidays, drafting the emails you have been putting off and building routines that actually stick, we are walking through the AI tools and tricks that have quietly become part of how we run our families and our work lives. No jargon. No tech talk. Just honest, real life hacks from two…
S5 · E4 · 23 Sep 2026 · 28 min
Are we set up to fail as modern parents? With Gen Muir, Connected Parenting
There has never been more parenting advice, more research or more content available to us than right now. And yet parents feel more lost, more overwhelmed and more judged than ever before. We are back with Gen Muir this week and we are asking the question nobody really wants to answer. Are we actually set up to fail? We get into why the information overload is quietly eroding our instincts, what good enough parenting actually means and looks like in real life, and the question that all parents need to hear, what do our children actually remember? Because it turns out the answer is not what…
S5 · E3 · 17 Sep 2026 · 29 min
Romantasy is taking over; one mum at a time
Quick heads up - this one gets spicy so pop your headphones in if little ears are around. We need to talk about romantasy. The dragons, the fae courts, the slow burn romance and yes, the spice. Because what started as a BookTok trend has quietly become a $600 million publishing phenomenon, and the people driving it? Tired, high-responsibility women. Mums. Us. This week Ellie finally converts Pen to ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses) and we get into why this genre has become so much more than a guilty pleasure for so many mothers. We talk about losing yourself after having kids, what it…
S5 · E2 · 10 Sep 2026 · 30 min
The tool every parent deserves - My Comms with Jenn Winstone
Communication is something most of us take for granted. But for so many children and families, being understood, and understanding the world around them, requires tools, support and a whole lot of patience. This week we sit down with Jenn Winstone, Speech Therapist and co-founder of MyComms, for a conversation every parent needs to hear. We talk about why communication doesn't come easily for everyone, what it looks like when a child cannot express what they need, and how MyComms is making personalised communication tools accessible to every family, not just those with the resources to seek…
S5 · E1 · 2 Sep 2026 · 31 min
Big Feelings - Theirs and Ours with Gen Muir, Connected Parenting
We have all been there; the moment your child loses it and somewhere in the chaos, you lose it too. In this episode, we sit down with Gen Muir - Parent Educator - for one of the most honest conversations we have had on the podcast. We get into what is actually happening in a child's brain during a meltdown, why our kids' big feelings so often trigger our own, and what mum rage really is and where it comes from. We also talk about how to come back from a blowout and what to say to yourself when the guilt spiral hits afterwards. This one is for every parent who has ever wondered if they are…
S4 · E10 · 24 Jun 2026 · 25 min
Mid-Year Check In | Intention and Year of Yes
Can you believe we are already halfway through 2026? 🤯 This week it's just the two of us. No guests, no agenda. Just an honest and open check in on how the first six months of the year have actually gone. The highs, the lows and everything in between. We revisit our words of the year, get real about where we have shown up and where we have fallen short, and talk about the moments that have quietly shaped us more than we expected. And then we look ahead, because there is still so much road ahead and we are absolutely not coasting to December. This episode is your permission slip to pause,…
S4 · E9 · 18 Jun 2026 · 47 min
The Identity Shift | Juggling Family & Ambition (with Lou Wilson)
Returning to work after having a baby is one of the most emotionally complex things a mother will ever do. And yet somehow, we’re expected to just get on with it. 🤍 This week we sit down with Lou Wilson from The Village for a conversation that is long overdue. We talk about what it really feels like to walk back into the workplace as a mum. The guilt, the identity shift, the juggle that never quite feels balanced. We get into what career ambition looks like when you’re also someone’s everything at home. And we discuss what really needs to change with parental leave for there to be a…
S4 · E7 · 10 Jun 2026 · 28 min
The 4th trimester post-partum care, with Tamara Gerdis
Nobody tells you that postpartum recovery isn’t linear. That it isn’t quick. And that what you see online is almost never the full picture. We sat down with Tamara Gerdis from Physio Down Under and she is here to bust every myth you’ve ever been told about bouncing back after a baby. We talk about what’s actually happening in your body after birth, what recovery really looks like, what the red flags are that you shouldn’t ignore, and why the pressure to “get your body back” is one of the most damaging narratives in motherhood. Spoiler alert! You didn’t lose your body. You grew a human in it.…
S4 · E6 · 27 May 2026 · 27 min
How much do we really know about our pelvic floor - with special guest Tamara Gerdis
Leaking when you laugh? Pain you’ve just learned to live with? Feeling like your body hasn’t quite been yours since having a baby? You are not alone and more importantly, you don’t have to just accept it. We sat down with women’s health physio Tamara from Physio Down Under for an honest, no-filter conversation about pelvic floor health. From what’s actually normal postpartum, to the signs you should never ignore, to the support and treatment options available to you. Because you deserve to feel good in your body again. 💛 Tamara was a godsend for both us during our pregnancies and postpartum…
S4 · E5 · 20 May 2026 · 33 min
Slow motherhood - a good reminder or another thing to feel guilty about?
Pinterest says "Slow Motherhood" is trending up by 310%. Our first instinct? Ehhhhh, no thanks. We’re tired. 🙄 It’s easy to look at the aesthetic - the intentional walks, the linen pants, the sourdough - and feel like it’s just another stick to beat working mums with. But what if "Slow Motherhood" isn't about perfection? What if it's actually about the death of the overscheduled kid? So this week we're getting into it. What slow motherhood actually means beyond the Instagram version. Why a generation of parents is starting to question the over-scheduled, over-optimised childhood we've been…
S4 · E4 · 13 May 2026 · 30 min
The juggle: finding calm in the chaos
The juggle isn’t just logistics, it’s emotional. It’s carrying the mental load of work, motherhood, relationships and everyday life, while constantly feeling like you could be doing more. In this episode, we talk openly about what balance actually looks like for us in this season of life, the balls that inevitably drop, and the small things helping us survive the chaos a little better. Because maybe the goal isn’t doing it all perfectly. Maybe it’s giving ourselves a little more grace, and knowing that showing up and trying your best is already enough.
S4 · E4 · 6 May 2026 · 44 min
Full Time, Her Way: Zoe Tardif
This week, we sit down with Zoe, the co-founder of longevity nutrition company, For Youth. It’s a conversation filled with laughs and a few honest truth bombs. We talk about what it really means to love what you do, the spark (and chaos) of starting something from scratch, and why success doesn’t always look the way we’ve been taught. Zoe shares her journey of backing herself, building something she’s genuinely passionate about, and redefining what “enough” looks like. It’s not about chasing more. It’s about being deeply happy with what’s already around you. If you’ve ever questioned the…
S4 · E3 · 29 Apr 2026 · 29 min
Friendship Through the Seasons - From Late Nights to Life Transitions
In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most important relationships in our lives, female friendships. From the friends who see us through every season to the ones who show up when life feels heavy, these connections can shape us in powerful ways. We chat about why friendships matter so much, especially through motherhood, marriage, and the everyday juggle of being a full-time woman. We discuss how friendships change over time, the effort it takes to maintain them, and how lucky we are to be surrounded by such incredible women. Whether it’s the quick voice note, the late-night…
S4 · E1 · 22 Apr 2026 · 35 min
Phoebe, our miracle
Hi, this is Ellie. And I want to first say thank you for your love and support. This week’s episode is a really personal one. Phoebe turns 6 months this week, and while we’re in such a different place now, those early weeks and months were some of the hardest we’ve been through. It wasn’t the start we expected, and there were moments that felt incredibly overwhelming, completely uncertain, and just really heavy. In this episode, we talk honestly about that time, how it felt, and what helped us get through. It’s a conversation about resilience, love, and the kind of strength you don’t realise…
S3 · E9 · 19 Mar 2026 · 30 min
Check yourself - the reality of health checks as a busy full timer
We’re back with Dr Biffin and breaking down the must-do medical tests for every stage of life - what matters, what doesn’t, and what you might be missing. Please know this episode touches on post-natal depression.
S3 · E8 · 11 Mar 2026 · 32 min
Full Time, Her Way with Tracey: Making a pivot after having kids
New countries, young kids, and evolving passions, because building a life rarely follows a straight line. In the very first episode of Full Time, Her Way, we speak with Tracey Roose about navigating career transitions, evolving passions, and motherhood through several international relocations. It’s an open and thoughtful conversation that reflects the beautifully imperfect reality of building both a career and a family.
S3 · E7 · 5 Mar 2026 · 29 min
Riff with Dr Biff - Contraception at All Stages of Life
Dr Biff is back and this episode is a cracker! We’re joined by Dr Laura Biffin from River Valley Doctors for a refreshingly honest, no-awkward-questions-off-limits chat about contraception. Whether you’re choosing contraception before babies, re-thinking it after babies, feeling confused about what’s changed since you were last on the pill, or even starting to think ahead for your teenage daughters - this conversation is for you. This is the contraception episode we wish we had years ago. Dr Laura Biffin’s clinic is River Valley Doctors and you can visit her website to understand more about…
S3 · E6 · 25 Feb 2026 · 30 min
Returning to Work: A Rollercoaster of Emotions
Going back to work after maternity leave can feel big with one child… let alone three. In this week’s episode, Ellie shares the very real emotions she’s sitting with as she prepares to return to full-time work next month with a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old and a baby not yet six months old. It’s a classic “two things can be true” season - excitement and anxiety, guilt and gratitude, ambition and overwhelm. We talk honestly about the mental load, the anticipation of the juggle, and what it means to step back into work while still holding so much at home. If you’re in this season or remember it…
S3 · E5 · 18 Feb 2026 · 26 min
Back To School - new year, new routines and bigger expectations on everyone
We are back in the studio for the first time in 2026, and we're bloody excited for what we have planned this year. Celebrating everything that makes up a Full Timer. For today's episode, we chat about why 2026 feels like a step up - for our kids and for us. Whether it’s increased school demands, more structured learning, or the pressure to send perfectly balanced lunchboxes every day, it can feel like a lot. If you’ve already felt the pressure creeping in, this one will make you feel seen & understood. P.S Shout out to Luca at Boob to Food for her amazing new e-book, The School of Lunchboxes…
S3 · E4 · 23 Dec 2025 · 26 min
Final Episode of the Year 🎄
We’re wrapping up the year with our final episode of 2025. In this reflective end-of-year chat, we talk through the highs and lows, how we’re preparing for Christmas, and share a simple Christmas hack to make the festive season a little easier. We also look ahead to what we want to prioritise next year, both personally and professionally. Thank you for being part of our community and supporting FTC throughout the year. We’re signing off to spend time with our families over the break, but we’ll be back in 2026 with fresh conversations, exciting guests, and plenty more to come. From ours to…
S3 · E3 · 20 Dec 2025 · 27 min
Ellie’s birth story — when life hands you lemons, how do deal with the sour reality?
Ellie has welcomed her third baby, Phoebe, into the world — but this time, the journey was nothing like her first two. What should have been a joyful, familiar transition into newborn life quickly became overwhelming. The birth itself was challenging, but the real heartbreak came after, when Ellie and her family were delivered devastating news: Phoebe was unwell. Navigating life with a newborn is hard enough — doing it while caring for a sick baby pushed Ellie to places she never expected to go. But this story isn’t only about the hard parts. Ten weeks on, the clouds are beginning to lift.…
S3 · E2 · 4 Dec 2025 · 30 min
When Plans Change - Ellie’s Third Pregnancy Surprise
Welcome to today’s episode! Ellie is currently 37 weeks into her pregnancy with her third child. Just a few weeks ago, at 34 weeks, Ellie woke up to a bleed; a terrifying situation that put the realities and dangers of pregnancy right in front of her. This took her from the hospital right to her couch, where she’s been on doctor-ordered bedrest for the rest of her pregnancy. Having experienced two natural births, Ellie was looking forward to doing it a third time. However, as with many things in life, it doesn’t always go as planned. And she is scheduled for a cesarean in a week. For someone…
S3 · E1 · 21 Nov 2025 · 28 min
Say hi to Pen, our new host!
Welcome to a new season of the Full Timers Club, now featuring Pen on the podcast! Ellie and Pen have been friends for over 20 years, sharing plenty of memories and stories along the way. In this episode, they explore what it’s like to live life as Full Timers and dive into Pen’s personal journey. This season will unpack insights and experiences as they navigate this way of life together. So enjoy this first episode of season 3!
S2 · E14 · 27 Aug 2025 · 56 min
Do Our Clothes Define Us? The Reoutfitter’s Sera on Confidence, Style, and Life’s Transitions
We're super excited to have Sera from The Reoutfitter on the podcast this week. Bec and Ellie have never been shy about how much they've struggled with what to wear as they've transitioned through the various changes in their life, from their 20's to married life and then inevitably, the biggest change they've both experienced - motherhood. In our chat with Sera, we explore the role clothes play in our lives. From shaping how we feel to influencing how others perceive us. Sera shares why style isn’t about following rules, but about tuning into your preferences, using clothes to amplify…
S2 · E13 · 23 Jun 2025 · 50 min
Dad's in the House - A Heart-to-Heart with Ellie's Biggest Fan
Hey Full Timers, we've got something special for you this week. You know how Ellie's always talking about her dad? Well, we finally got him on the mic. Ross MacDiarmid, Ellie's personal cheerleader and voice of reason, sat down with her while visiting Singapore for a conversation that's both heartwarming and eye-opening. Ever wonder how much workplaces have really changed over the decades? Ross offers some fascinating perspectives on women's evolving roles in the professional world, calling it not just a revolution but a "necessary evolution" (gotta love dad wisdom). They also get into the…
S2 · E12 · 14 Jun 2025 · 53 min
From one generation to the next: A conversation between Bec and her mum
When Bec’s mum was in town, we couldn’t help but think what a beautiful opportunity to sit down and have a chat with her - mother to daughter. From what it takes to keep the passion alive at 71 and 43 years into marriage, to reminiscing about her 18% mortgage repayments on her first flat, to the day your daughter tells you she's leaving for another country. Bec and Rhonda have a deep, poignant and heartfelt conversation that’s sure to make you want to call your mum, or better yet, wrap your babies up and never let them leave you.
S2 · E11 · 12 May 2025 · 43 min
Building The Meat Club: Amy Bell on Business, Babies & Bold Moves
This week on the show, we're so excited to welcome Amy Bell - mum to two beautiful girls, wife to a wildly successful franchise owner, and a formidable entrepreneur in her own right. Amy is the founder of The Meat Club, Singapore’s first online meat trade business, and her journey is nothing short of remarkable. In this heartfelt and deeply honest conversation with Ellie, Amy shares how being made redundant while six months pregnant became a turning point that led her away from a legal career and into the world of startups. From launching a pioneering business to navigating the chaos of…
S2 · E10 · 25 Apr 2025 · 56 min
A 5 year fertility journey - Charlotte’s story
Making the decision to have a baby is already a big life decision. But what happens when it’s not as easy as it seems? When it comes with miscarriages, fertility issues, and years of struggling to get pregnant? It’s a common reality yet prior to thinking about babies, it’s not something we’re aware of nor do we have honest conversations about it. In this episode, we talk to high performing career woman, Charlotte, who spent years on the fertility and IVF journey. She gives an honest and open point of view that’s got the benefit of hindsight - now that she’s got one and two twins on the way.…
S2 · E9 · 21 Apr 2025 · 30 min
New baby, New Job, Same old Full Timers
Ellie & Bec are back in the studio for the first time together in 2 months, with A LOT to catch up on! It has been a busy two months for the Full Timers, with Ellie navigating her first trimester whilst travelling quite a bit for work. And Bec has started an exciting new job, just now four weeks in. The girls are experiencing quite a multitude of emotions - Ellie worried about how she is going to do it all with three kids, and Bec feeling the hangover effect of her Meta redundancy that looms over her as she begins her new role. But as they always do, they hash it out together and end up both…

About Full Timers Club

Full Timers Club is a English kids & family podcast from Ellie Brocklehurst and Pen Langenfeld. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Ellie Brocklehurst and Pen Langenfeld
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 30 min
Latest episode: 7 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1793718848
Rights: Ellie Brocklehurst and Pen Langenfeld

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