Well a couple of weeks ago The Amazing Race Australia host Beau Ryan told us this season, set only in Australia, was the toughest one yet. He was right. It’s been hard watching the contestants battle the extreme weather conditions, and for the mums on the show, Jude and Shannon, it’s been even more difficult because their relationship was tested to the limits in the most surprising way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 02, 2021•13 min
As women, we spend so much of our lives disliking things about ourselves. Our bodies, our looks, our laugh, the list goes on… So when Mel's 8-year-old daughter started telling her the things she didn’t like about herself, she thought, 'nooooo, you’re too little! Stay innocent for longer please!' Sadly she’s not the only one. Alarming research has found that more than half of all Aussie girls between 8-9, don’t like their body. That’s just heartbreaking. Luckily today’s guests are here to help. A...
Feb 01, 2021•18 min
One of Mel's favourite reality TV shows is The Amazing Race. She loves travelling and watching how the contestants handle the stress of a foreign country. But this year, the show is going to look very different. There are no language barriers, no cultural challenges, because this year - thanks to Covid - the race will be held in Australia only. The show’s host, former rugby league player and dad of two, Beau Ryan is also back – fresh off a trip caravanning with the entire family! He joins us to ...
Jan 31, 2021•15 min
This week, Sarah and Mel talk about the things you need to think about when choosing a daycare (see we are helpful sometimes!). We’re joined by an Indonesian-American mum living in Melbourne to talk about raising culturally aware children. Teacher and author Sharon Witt shares her experience around choosing the right school for your child and urges parents to speak up if something isn’t working. Candice Warner is in the studio and opens up about how she’s going to talk to her three daughters abo...
Jan 30, 2021•1 hr
When your first child starts school, you worry about the logistical stuff - can they open their lunchbox, put their shoes back on, wipe their bottom. Second time around it's a different story. You know what's ahead of you. You know how much and how quickly they change. It feels like they go from being babies to little people overnight and that can be really, really hard to process - especially if they're your youngest! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 28, 2021•11 min
At the end of last year, we were glued to our screens watching former Ironwoman and Reading Eggs ambassador Candice Warner absolutely smash it on SAS Australia and show the country just how tough she is. Now the mum of three gorgeous girls Ivy, Indi and Isla, is back to chat with us about another testing time, back to school, how SAS Australia changed her for the better, and how she's going to talk to her girls about stories written about her in the media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
Jan 27, 2021•14 min
Choosing a school for your child can be incredibly overwhelming, especially if you live in a major city where there is so much choice. Today’s guest is the author of Starting Secondary School and Surviving High School. She’s also a secondary educator and motivational speaker to teens and their parents around the country. She joins us to share her wisdom around all things schooling. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 26, 2021•16 min
As an Indonesian American woman living in Melbourne, Via Tendon found herself in plenty of situations where she was ‘the token Asian’ and didn't fit in. Now as a mum to six-month-old Maya, she’s passionate about giving a voice to ALL children – not just the majority – and firmly believes ‘we can only be what we see’. Via started a business during Covid (yep, with a newborn) called Metta Play which make bilingual affirmation and yoga cards, designed to help kids learn cultural awareness, mindfuln...
Jan 25, 2021•11 min
It can be a very emotional time when you first leave your child at daycare, it feels very unnatural to leave your child with strangers. So you need to feel confident that you've chosen the right one for you and your family. Sarah and Mel share the things they looked for and their experience with the daycare system - good and bad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 24, 2021•11 min
This week, Sarah and Mel talk about getting your sex life after having a baby. It's not always the first thing on your mind, let’s be honest! Career expert Katrine Tully shares her tips for bouncing back after redundancy. Author Ashley Audrain shares the highs and lows of giving up your day job to become a full-time mum. We are joined by podcast host and writer Annaliese Dent who shares her theory as to why mums are so obsessed with Netflix series Bridgerton. Only one reason we are... And Sarah ...
Jan 23, 2021•49 min
It has been nearly a year since Mel and her kids have seen her parents in country Victoria, and so many other families are in the same boat. Many parents have found the border closures and restrictions so hard to explain to children, it's hard enough for us to process. Sarah and Mel talk about the challenges of these conversations - especially when children turn to us for the answers - and the heartbreak at not knowing when we're going to see loved ones again. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...
Jan 21, 2021•11 min
I texted a friend of mine recently to ask what I should watch next after I finished watching Schitt’s Creek and Fleabag. She came straight back with one word – Bridgerton. She described it as Gossip Girl meets Pride and Prejudice. I was intrigued. Four days later I had watched all 8 eps. The music, the costumes, the DUKE! Yes, it’s all about the leading man (IMO). Writer Annaliese Dent (and the aforementioned friend) joins us to explain why Bridgerton has so many mums in a good mood. See omnystu...
Jan 20, 2021•12 min
Once you have kids, you start to see your career from a very different perspective. Do I love this job enough for it to keep me away from my children? Am I satisfied with this role or have I always dreamed of doing something else? Today’s guest was at the top of her game, working as the Publicity Director at Penguin Canada, but left her job after her first child was born to become a full-time mother. When he was six months old Ashley Audrain’s son was in and out of the hospital with health issue...
Jan 19, 2021•16 min
Last year was a tough year on the jobs front with lots of people being made redundant or having their roles significantly changed. While it can be incredibly stressful and feel like you're never going to work again, it is possible for something better to come of it. If you've found yourself in that position and now on the hunt for a new role, Katrine Tully from Career Transform joins us with her tips on how to bounce back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 18, 2021•9 min
When you have a baby you can feel like your body is no longer your own. Sometimes the last thing you feel like is intimacy and sex with your partner. The longer it goes on, the harder it can become (pun intended). So how do you get your sex drive back after baby? Sarah and Mel share their experience (don't worry it's not x-rated - much) and talk about how you can stay connected after starting a family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 17, 2021•6 min
This week, Sarah talks about the power of kindness after a stranger offered to help her when she was struggling with her boys. Country music star Amber Lawrence opens up about the 'horrific' pain of her stillbirth. We’re joined by a self-promotion expert who shares the secret to getting what you want at work. Finance expert Renae Vercoe shares how you can get your partner to share the financial mental load. And Sarah and Mel discuss whether telling your kids they’re fantastic at everything helps...
Jan 16, 2021•49 min
Sometimes talking about money with your partner can be challenging, and often the responsibility for household bills and budgeting can fall to the person who hates it the least. But with that responsibility comes the stress and pressure of juggling things and making sure you’re not only providing for your family but also building a secure financial future. That’s a lot for one person to take on – and let’s be honest, quite often it's mum. Renae Vercoe - founder of Money Mode – has some great adv...
Jan 14, 2021•8 min
When our kids first start doing things for themselves it's pretty damn exciting - for them and us! Our first instinct is often to say something like 'wow, that's incredible!', but as they start to get a bit older, not everything they do is 'incredible'. So should we tell the truth so they don't develop a misplaced ego, or is it good to give them constant praise to build their confidence? Mel and Sarah chat about their experiences and share their thoughts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
Jan 13, 2021•11 min
Most people struggle with self-promotion at work. It doesn’t come naturally! But our guest today says it’s important now more than ever to know your strengths at work and to know how to self-promote ourselves effectively. Author of ‘Brag Better’, entrepreneur and life-coach Meredith Fineman joins us to share her insights on how to promote ourselves, gain the respect of others and get what we want at work (without coming across like a douche). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 12, 2021•10 min
Today’s guest is an Australian country music star with seven albums and countless awards to her name. Amber Lawrence welcomed her first child - a little boy called Ike two years ago, with her husband Marty – who she met on Tinder. Then sadly in July last year, she lost her second child halfway through her pregnancy. So how did she juggle the awfulness that was 2020, keep her music career alive and juggle a toddler? She joins us to find out… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 11, 2021•15 min
Sometimes tiny acts of kindness can completely turn your day around, especially when you have small children. We all know that even a trip to the supermarket can become a huge mission with many possible pitfalls. Tantrums, kids grabbing everything, wanting to eat everything, then trying to get everything and everyone in the car in one piece. So when someone you don't know offers to help, it's like a guardian angel has been offered up. Sarah and Mel talk about the incredible power of kindness and...
Jan 10, 2021•8 min
This week, Sarah and I have been hit by the gastro bug! We talk about the crappiness of being a parent when your kids are sick. Author Chandra Clements has written a book about Covid illustrated by her kids, and it’s gone gangbusters (even Fergie read it on her Instagram). DJ Andrew Levins opens up about the depression he suffered on returning to work after his child’s birth and why being a SAHD is the absolute best. Entertaining legend Justine Clarke joins us for a super fun chat about Play Sch...
Jan 09, 2021•1 hr 1 min
When the most recent season of The Crown was released at the end of 2020, there was a scene featuring Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip talking about whether they have a favourite child. Lizzie was shocked when Phil admitted that Anne was his, while she then tried to work out who her favourite was. It's not something most parents like to openly admit, but most days there is one child that is a little less annoying than the others! Mel and Sarah chat about whether they have a favourite, and why ...
Jan 07, 2021•11 min
We are super excited to welcome today's guest to The Juggling Act, because she’s just so damn lovely. Justine Clarke is an actress, singer, author, TV host and mum of three (she’s also the reason we have the song ‘watermelon’ constantly stuck in our heads). Now she’s back as the queen bee in the film series Maya The Bee. She joins us to talk about playing a queen, turning 50 and the prospect of her kids leaving home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 06, 2021•14 min
Andrew Levins has been a DJ since he was a teenager and a food writer for almost as long. He’s played at major music festivals all over the country, co-founded a youth music charity called Heaps Decent and in 2007 was named one of Sydney’s 100 most influential people. He then went on to have two kids, run a successful restaurant, release a cookbook and start no less than five podcasts. We are stoked to have him on our podcast today to chat about the second book in his children’s series– called N...
Jan 05, 2021•19 min
Today’s guest is a mum of two little girls whose income fell apart when covid hit. So she started writing children’s book about the pandemic – and got her four and two-year-old to illustrate them. The first book was an overnight success and became a bestseller. She has since self-published six more and even had Sarah (Fergie) Ferguson read one on her Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 04, 2021•13 min
It's so awful watching your kids fight some sort of germ - gastro, croup, a cold - you just wish you could help them more. Both Sarah and Mel's kids have been hit by the gastro bug and it was not pretty. Then there's the fear that the rest of the family are going to go down next and it will go on for weeks and weeks. But they did find one silver lining to poorly kids... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 03, 2021•8 min
This week, Sarah wonders whether she’s making her picky eater worse but just giving him what he want. Author and elite athlete Alexandra Andre has some Inspiring tips to help you achieve absolutely any goal. We chat with a mum is making princesses more relatable for our kids (glass slippers, really?!. Block legends Alisa and Lysandra join us to talk about quitting their jobs in the police force to start their own design company. And Sarah and Mel chat about whether you should stop your kids bein...
Jan 02, 2021•46 min
Remember fighting with your siblings? Punching, pushing, scratching and hair-pulling -sometimes it got really rough. But it's a right of passage, right? As parents ourselves now it's much harder to watch when our kids get rough with each other. So should you intervene or just let them fight it out and learn from their experiences? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 31, 2020•6 min
You probably remember Alisa and Lysandra Fraser, the twins who won The Block: Sky High back in 2013, for their incredible drive and stunning design aesthetic. The former police officers and mums of four boys between them, were so good, they went on to start their own design business. Now they’ve got a new project, 'al.ive' which has of course been a huge success. These girls don't do things by halves! And they say it's all thanks to their own hard-working single mum. See omnystudio.com/listener ...
Dec 30, 2020•11 min
