Ready or Not

by Ready or Not & Witching Hour

Nervous about taking maternity leave and not even pregnant yet? Us too. This is Ready or Not, a podcast for and about mothers and parents who make work, work.

We publish content all week long via our podcast, Substack, and social channels.

Every Monday, our new banter-based podcast Witching Hour will land in your ears right here, and every Wednesday, we publish our flagship interview podcast, Ready or Not.

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Podcast episodes

  • Season 1

  • "It's time I address why I have felt like I can't do this": Michelle Battersby on that pregnancy announcement and delaying motherhood for her career

    "It's time I address why I have felt like I can't do this": Michelle Battersby on that pregnancy announcement and delaying motherhood for her career

    Content warning: this episode discusses pregnancy, fertility and abortion. When Michelle Battersby announced her pregnancy to her Instagram followers, there was no pretty picture with two lines, no ultrasound, no baby bump. Instead, she shared something deeply personal. Something that, as a founder who is often looked to for career inspiration, she felt compelled to be open about. And that was that she’d previously had two abortions for her career. We know that the mental load of family planning when it comes to career can start a lot earlier for women. Is a long university course worth it if I want to have a baby at around 30? Do I go for that promotion when I’m pregnant? What are the most flexible careers for mothers? How long should I be at the one company before I start trying to conceive? The list goes on… But, Michelle’s take – that is deliberately delaying motherhood for her career – isn’t one that’s often spoken about publicly, so it’s fair to say her story and honesty caught my attention. Here, we talk the wild ride that was bringing Bumble to Australia, how she felt when she pressed post on her pregnancy announcement, navigating her business Sunroom alongside pregnancy, and how her badge of honour is changing. --- THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Witching Hour co-hosts Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101. Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe --- Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod --- This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

  • My Daily Business founder Fiona Killackey on navigating sandwich caregiving and women owning their success

    My Daily Business founder Fiona Killackey on navigating sandwich caregiving and women owning their success

    I had a business coaching session with mother and My Daily Business founder Fiona Killackey last year, and in one short hour, she rocked my world. So, I had to get her on the show. And listening back to this interview on the other side of pregnancy, she’s rocked my world all over again.  This episode has so much: losing parents as a young mum, her husband’s reflections on what the other mums thought about him at the playground, IVF, pregnancy loss, being a part of the sandwich generation – that is caring for her aging parents and young children at the same time – and a whole lot of thoughtful business advice sprinkled throughout, too.  This is a special episode and I thank Fiona for sharing her highs and lows so beautifully. --- THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by us, Witching Hour co-hosts Loz and Lu. We'll be releasing our first Ready or Not go to guides dropping on the 1st of April. We've created three practical and comprehensive guides, starting with breastfeeding and returning to work, postpartum planning for the 4th and 5th trimester and childcare 101. Sign up for here early access and a cheeky discount code: readyornot.au/subscribe --- Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod --- This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

  • Leonie Akhidenor on toxic productivity and the relationship stuff that's keeping mums and dads up at night

    Leonie Akhidenor on toxic productivity and the relationship stuff that's keeping mums and dads up at night

    Leonie Akhidenor is a property developer, relationship coach and the host of Parenthood, a podcast that explores the parenting experience from all angles. She's also a mother who has faced both pre and postnatal depression, as well as the profound identity shifts and emotional struggles that can come with motherhood. Through her podcast, Parenthood, Leonie explores the greatest challenges parents are facing today, with a focus on hearing from both sides of a relationship. Here, Leonie talks about acknowledging the need to rest after a lifetime of assigning her value to productivity, what she's learned about parenting and relationships from interviewing both mums and dads, and her greatest advice for new mums navigating career and motherhood. --- THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode is brought to you by Mrs Kevin's Photos, a mother and Melbourne based fine art film photographer, creating photos to keep forever as your visual inheritance. Mrs Kevin's Photos captures moments through 35mm film, digital and super 8 video footage so that you can look back and remember how it all felt. To celebrate this partnership, we'll be announcing a giveaway for our Melbourne-based listeners over on our Instagram @readyornot.pod.  You can head to mrskevinsphotos.com to book in an emotive, timeless and intimate photography session. --- Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod --- This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

  • "I focused more on my business and staff than setting myself up for motherhood": Good Times Pilates founder Cat Webb on what she's learned

    "I focused more on my business and staff than setting myself up for motherhood": Good Times Pilates founder Cat Webb on what she's learned

    Cat Webb wouldn't quite call herself the maternal type and motherhood wasn't exactly something that she dreamed of. But, she wanted a family, so she knew she had to go through the former to get the latter. And, I think it's fair to say that going through it is exactly how Cat would describe it. As you're about to hear, she found the first year of her son's life challenging and she took some time to find her groove in motherhood. As the founder of Good Times Pilates and with three popular studios in Melbourne's inner north, Cat put more into the business than herself when preparing for maternity leave, and here, she talks about what she's learned in hindsight, how she started Good Times Pilates, and the necessity of starting daycare on what most would class as the earlier side of things. If you adore your child but you took some time to settle into motherhood, this episode is for you, and I can't thank Cat enough for being so open and honest. I'm Lucinda, this is Ready or Not, and here is the candid and charismatic Cat Webb. --- THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by MUMMA MILLA: creators of genuinely leakproof bralettes and camis that are not only functional, but beautiful, too.  Created with aesthetics in mind, these modern pieces almost look too good to work as well as they do, but I was a paying customer before this special brand came on board as a partner, and I am here to tell you that since wearing my MUMMA MILLA pieces, no other breast pad or feeding bra cuts it.  Head to mumma-milla.com to shop the collection of highly considered products, designed by a real mum, for all the breastfeeding mothers out there. --- Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod --- This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here.

  • "I was almost paralysed by it": Midwife Lauretta Hamilton on navigating hyperemesis, identity shifts and the mental load

    "I was almost paralysed by it": Midwife Lauretta Hamilton on navigating hyperemesis, identity shifts and the mental load

    Welcome back to a regular episode of Ready or Not! Part 3 and 4 of the Postpartum Diaries will return next week, but for this week, we're taking a break to bring you a regular Ready or Not interview with a brilliant person: midwife & mother of two Lauretta Hamilton. Lauretta suffered severe HG during both of her pregnancies, to the point where she had to take time off paid work and as a midwife, she admits that she felt like a failure in early motherhood. In this episode, she talks candidly about the identity shifts that can come with motherhood, how she prepared for her second pregnancy after being so unwell during her first, and how she and her partner have worked together to share the load. --- THIS WEEK'S PARTNER This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by ergoPouch, organic, TOG rated, sleepwear and sleep solutions designed for babies and kids to sleep, naturally. Shop their new autumn/winter limited edition PouchTales collection from Thursday 22nd February at ergopouch.com.au --- Thanks for listening to Witching Hour If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod --- This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We Pay The Rent and you can too here.