Back at Work After Maternity Leave? How to Avoid the “Prove Yourself” Trap with Rachel Debeck

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1. 

   E187 · 14 Apr 2026 · 32 min

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

   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…

2. 

   E186 · 7 Apr 2026 · 59 min

   Carrying Most of the Mental Load? How to Get More Support at Home with Michael Ray

   When we talk about working parents, we often focus on mums. But what if one of the biggest missing pieces in the conversation is dads? In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina speaks with fatherhood advocate Michael Ray about why working mums cannot carry the load alone, and why fathers need to be seen, supported and expected to be equal parents from the beginning. Michael shares his own story of becoming a father at 49 and then unexpectedly becoming a solo dad to his daughter Charlie. From being banned from backstage at his daughter’s ballet concert because “no males were…

3. 

   E185 · 31 Mar 2026 · 17 min

   The 90 Days Nobody Prepares You For: Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

   If you're about to go back to work after maternity leave, or you're already back and wondering why it feels so much harder than expected, this episode is for you. The truth is, no one really prepares you for the emotional reality of the return. The guilt. The overwhelm. The strange feeling of being expected to show up as the same person you were before, when you are fundamentally, beautifully different. In this episode, I'm walking you through what the first 90 days of returning to work after parental leave actually looks like - the messy, the hard, and what genuinely helps. Episode…

4. 

   E184 · 24 Mar 2026 · 50 min

   How to Reclaim Your Career Identity & Confidence After Maternity Leave with Rebecca Houghton

   You came back from parental leave a different person - more resilient, more decisive, less tolerant of nonsense, and more capable. The question isn't whether you can do your role. It's whether you will give yourself permission to show up as the upgraded version of yourself. This week on the Working Mumma Podcast, I chat with Rebecca Houghton, founder of Bold HR and author of More Impact, More Easily — a book that started as a guide for middle managers and turned out to be essential reading for every working mum navigating her way back after maternity leave. Rebecca has over 20 years of…

5. 

   E183 · 17 Mar 2026 · 46 min

   Made Redundant on Maternity Leave: Rebuilding Career, Confidence & Direction with Karis Dorrigan

   What happens when the job you thought you were returning to after parental leave no longer exists? In this episode, I speak with executive leader and solo mum Karis Dorrigan, who shares her experience of being made redundant while on maternity leave during COVID, and how that moment became a turning point in redefining her career, ambition, and life. This is an honest and powerful conversation about the realities many women face but rarely talk about - redundancies whilst on parental leave, job insecurity, lack of support from employer, navigating the return to work, and the pressure to “be…

6. 

   E181 · 24 Feb 2026 · 34 min

   What Working Mums Need to Know About Sharing Their Kids Online - with Zsofi Paterson

   Have you ever posted your child’s name, birth date or kinder photo online? Most of us have. And we did it with love. But in 2026, the digital landscape has changed. In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast Carina speaks with Zsofi Paterson, CEO of Tinybeans , about the growing conversation around “sharenting” and why parents of young children need to be more aware than ever. Following a recent Australian Federal Police warning and a 41% rise in online child exploitation, this episode explores: What sharenting actually means When and how your child’s digital footprint begins The risks of…

7. 

   E180 · 20 Jan 2026 · 13 min

   Reflect: My Job No Longer Fit Me: Navigating Career Shifts After Motherhood”

   Returning to work after having a baby isn’t just about logistics, childcare, or flexible hours , a big part of it is about identity. In this Reflect Summer Series episode, Carina revisits a powerful conversation with Laura Stewart, who shares her deeply honest experience of the identity shift that came with motherhood, and how it ultimately led her to redefine success, leadership, personal values, and meaningful work. While on maternity leave, Laura made the bold decision not to return to her executive role. Not because she lacked ambition, but because the role no longer aligned with who she…

8. 

   E179 · 13 Jan 2026 · 16 min

   Reflect: Tips to help you manage the mental load with Leah Ruppanner

   The mental load is exhausting, and a big issue for many working mothers. In this Reflect summer series special episode, I speak with Professor Leah Ruppaner. We delve into the complexities of the mental load for working mums, and explore strategies to help you manage it that works for you. Leah shares the emotional and cognitive aspects of the mental load, the societal expectations placed on mothers, and the importance of creating supportive systems for both parents. If you liked this Reflect episode, listen to the full episode " Lighten Your Mental Load, Ditch the Mum Guilt, and Rethink…

9. 

   E178 · 12 Nov 2025 · 49 min

   How to Ask for Flexibility at Work - And Actually Get It - with Dr. Ellen Ford

   You’ve proven you can do your job — and do it well — while working flexibly. But now that your employer wants more office time, how do you ask for what you need without feeling guilty or being seen as “less committed”? In this episode Carina O’Brien speaks with Dr. Ellen Ford, leadership expert and author of #WorkSchoolHours , about the art of negotiating flexibility at work. Together, they explore how working mums can confidently start the conversation, use data and outcomes to back up their case, and find a win-win that works for both you and your employer. You’ll learn: How to have a…

10. 

    E177 · 5 Nov 2025 · 43 min

    How to Co-Parent After Separation Navigating Divorce, Work, and Motherhood with Dignity

    When a relationship ends, it’s not just the romantic partnership that dissolves - it’s the version of the life you imagined. For working mums, that loss can feel even heavier. You’re juggling career responsibilities, managing the daily needs of your children, and trying to make sense of an entirely new identity. In this honest and practical conversation I chat with family lawyer, author, and co-parent Gabriella Pomare to talk about how working mums can navigate separation, divorce, and co-parenting with grace and clarity. Gabriella shares her personal story of rebuilding life after…