Ready or Not

Episodios

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  The hardest (and most requested) conversation we’ve ever had 16.08.2026 30m

  WARNING: Today we’re discussing child sexual abuse within the childcare system, and two recent stories of male childcare educators that have flooded our DMs. It was a hard episode to record, so take care and consider if it’s right for you right now.  Get tickets to our rodeo with UKOO here: https://events.humanitix.com/one-night-off-boots-and-bubbles   Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.   You can also find us on Instagram:   @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  “I was made redundant on maternity leave. Help!” 12.08.2026 11m

  DEAR READY OR NOT: What do you do when you're made redundant on maternity leave? Should you feel guilty taking a second round of parental leave when you're still relatively new in the job? And is it time to walk away from a high-paying job that's boring? — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The mythical history of women and work with Ashley Brooks-Garrett 11.08.2026 1h 5m

  When I noticed a new follower notification pop up just a few months ago, with some 300 followers and the Instagram handle @youwanted.this, I was intrigued by the name. Immediately, I had a pretty good idea of what the content might look like, and I was right: its creator - Ashley Brooks-Garrett – was clearly passionate about exploring feminism, life, and work through the lens of motherhood and womanhood. In the short time since I first started noticing her content, she’s built a much bigger following: an audience made up of people who are either enraged or in full support of the topics she explores so thoughtfully and thoroughly, through social media, Substack, and her mental load app, Tether, too. So today, we find out more about the mother and the brains behind it all: what her career life has looked like, what her motherhood journey has entailed so far, what drove her to the work she’s doing now, and why a woman that calls it how it is, is immediately branded as negative, complaining, and as you’ll hear from Ashley herself, far worse, too.  This conversation set a fire within my brain, as we talk about so many of the issues that mothers and women face today, so I hope you like listening as much as I did. I’m Lucinda, this is Ready or Not, and here’s the clever and candid Ashley Brooks-Garrett.  — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.podSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How society uses sex, money & beauty to control mums 09.08.2026 37m

  Welcome back to the show! Coming up today: Does society have a weird sense of ownership over mothers? And if so, where does it stem from? What’s it connected to? And what does beauty, sex, and money have to do with it?  Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review, it supports the show more than you think. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Help! My kid only eats beige food or vegemite on toast 05.08.2026 14m

  DEAR READY OR NOT: What do you do when your child will only eat beige food? How to manage being a working mum without a village and should I have a third baby at 40? — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.   You can also find us on Instagram:   @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —  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 hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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   What you're really saying when you call your mum friend boring 02.08.2026 32m

  Welcome back to the show! Coming up today: What you're really saying when you call your mum friend boring: We came across this brilliant Substack by Jennie is Writing and we had to talk about it. Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  "Am I a bad mum if I don't sleep train?" 29.07.2026 13m

  DEAR READY OR NOT:  What do you do when your boss rejects your request to extend parental leave? What do you wish you'd done more of on mat leave? And should you feel pressured to sleep train before heading back to work? — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.   You can also find us on Instagram:   @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Why do we think the school years will be easier? 26.07.2026 36m

  Welcome back to the show! Coming up today: Why do we all think that the school years will be easy? Mums need to be honest about the toll of school years, as Loz draws on her first year of navigating it all.  If we could start from scratch, what would a genuinely feminist care ecosystem look like? — Episode links mentioned in the episode: For Parents segment. Ambition segment. Dads & flexibility segment. — Got a question for Dear Ready or Not? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  “How do you survive your first day back from mat leave?” 22.07.2026 16m

  DEAR READY OR NOT: How do you make it through your first day back at work when your baby's starting daycare too? How do you say no to after-hours meetings? And what's the reality of working remotely with young kids? — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.   You can also find us on Instagram:   @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The red & green flags of fatherhood 19.07.2026 39m

  Welcome back, moms! Today: Red, Green, or Just Normal? Should we be applying red and green flags to relationships and if so what are some of the ones you, our community have come up with. We deepdive a Substack piece titled ‘What I've Noticed About Moms Who Seem Less Stressed’ — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  “Heart wants another baby, head says no. HELP!” 15.07.2026 14m

  DEAR READY OR NOT: Should you have a second baby if your head says no but your heart says yes? Should you tell work you're struggling during probation? And how do you hold onto friendships when everyone seems too busy? — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_—  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Julia Busuttil Nishimura on figuring it out as she goes 14.07.2026 51m

  Julia Busuttil Nishimura may have five cookbooks, a children’s book, a career as a teacher, and three children under her belt, but as you’re about to find out, just like the rest of us, she’s still figuring out this whole motherhood and career thing as she goes. And honestly, what a relief it is, to know that one of the country’s most loved and accomplished cookbook authors is just like us underneath it all.   In fact, she had a massive freak out when she was pregnant with her third baby last year. She couldn’t see how she was going to make a new cookbook and a new baby work in amongst it all. And after her first baby, she went through an intense period of loneliness. In her own words, postpartum hit her like a tonne of bricks, and here, she tells us all about it.  From what first time motherhood looked like at 26, compared to third time motherhood a decade later. From her career as a teacher to a chance meeting at a farmer’s market that would change her life, today we’re so lucky to go on her incredible journey with her. So let’s get into it. — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  What’s ACTUALLY behind the ‘us vs them’ divide in motherhood? 12.07.2026 35m

  Welcome back to Ready or Not, the show for mums navigating paid work and unpaid work. On today’s show: SAHM vs Working Mums: Will we ever be on the one team? Mum Walk’s first Motherhood Connection Report reveals motherhood isn’t just one of the hardest jobs in the world - it’s become one of the loneliest, and we need to talk about it.  — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review. You can also find us on Instagram: @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW! homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  What your child needs most (it's not what you think) with Gen Muir 08.07.2026 28m

  RE-RUN: Today, Loz is joined by Gen Muir, obstetric social worker, parent educator and founder of Connected Parenting, to talk about the number one thing parents crave when the juggle feels impossible: connection with their kids. From public meltdowns to sibling fights, ‘giving in’ guilt, and the constant testing of boundaries, Gen shares practical tools to help you stay calm, hold limits with confidence, and reconnect even when you feel completely drained. Whether you’ve got toddlers pushing buttons, school kids giving you nothing about their day, or you just need quick connection rituals that actually work, this episode is packed with realistic hacks from someone who gets it—   Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.   You can also find us on Instagram:   @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW! homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/ — 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.   — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.   You can also find us on Instagram:   @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW! homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/ —  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Are we making motherhood harder than it needs to be? 05.07.2026 43m

  Welcome back to Ready or Not, or in this re-run, the show that used to be called Witching Hour… the show for mums navigating paid work and unpaid work. On today’s show: Loz is sick of hearing from child attachment ‘experts’ and here's why. And, why has adjusting to my post-baby body been harder the second time around? Lu shares a brilliant piece published to UK Vogue by Nell Frizzell. — Got a question? Submit it here!  — Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.   You can also find us on Instagram:   @readyornot.pod @laurentreweek_ @lucindamckimm_ And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW! homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/ —  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.     This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The lie of the girl boss with Genevieve Le Hunt 01.07.2026 55m

  Using Gen's full name, which is Genevieve La Hunt feels a bit weird, and it's not just because she's a good friend of Loz's, my co-host, of course, and the host of Ask Ready or Not. It's because when I jumped off this recording, I felt like I had just  chatted with a friend myself. Gen is the founder of Sunday Agency. She works in publicity and PR she's had a really interesting career.But what was more interesting about her was just how real she is. You will not meet anyone who talks as straight as Gen. She really resented owning a business, particularly in the early days of motherhood. She resents that she worked from the hospital. She resents that she sent emails while she was in labor. She doesn't think this girl boss thing really applies when she talks about how she's had to navigate paid work and motherhood.Instead, here, she offers something really real. With all that in mind, you could then be expecting a negative piece of conversation, but that's not what you're going to get today. You're going to get a really realistic look into what it's like to navigate business as the mum, as the boss. You're going to hear about her corporate experiences and what the difference between really good management and really terrible management looks like,  especially when it comes to her really challenging fertility journey and a traumatic miscarriage, and you're going to learn about what it's taught her, about being a leader and being in business as a parent and with a family today. There's lots of swearing, there's lots of fun. There is so much honesty. It really is one of my favorite conversations to date.—Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_— In this episode, we cover the below topics: publicity, pregnancy loss, miscarriage, fertility, trying to conceive, leadership skills, publicity, public relations, being a mum in business, founder story, working mum, working motherhood and more.—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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The internet thinks we’re doing motherhood wrong 28.06.2026 29m

  RE-RUN: Welcome back to Ready or Not, the show for mums navigating paid work and unpaid work. On today’s show:When will we stop judging the mums? Lu has seen so much unsolicited judgement on Instagram lately and she has some questions.The hidden bias in job applications: why women are being turned off by the questions we don’t ask men.—Got a question? Submit it here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— 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.RE-RUN: Welcome back to Ready or Not, the show for mums navigating paid work and unpaid work. On today’s show:When will we stop judging the mums? Lu has seen so much unsolicited judgement on Instagram lately and she has some questions.The hidden bias in job applications: why women are being turned off by the questions we don’t ask men.—Got a question? Submit it here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Is it normal to be jealous of mums who work less than you? 24.06.2026 10m

  DEAR READY OR NOT: What should you be doing in your final weeks of mat leave to set  up for the return to work? How to stop the envy creeping in when your friends work fewer days than you but somehow still have the house and the holidays. And how to keep your cool when you're stuck managing up.—Got a question? Submit it here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Just how undervalued is women’s work? 21.06.2026 39m

  Welcome back to Ready or Not, the show for mums navigating paid work and unpaid work. On today’s show:Pay me like a cop: A deep dive into the maths of who we actually value. Unpacking our very unofficial state of working motherhood report. We took to Instagram to find out how everyone is feeling, find out where everyone is at in the motherhood and work journey, and to ask some of the questions that are keeping working mums up at night.—Got a question? Submit it here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Would you work if you didn't need the money? 17.06.2026 19m

  DEAR READY OR NOT: The mum-guilt of choosing to work full-time when you don't  have to. A co-worker has been bitching about you behind your back while you're on mat leave, do you confront her when you return or let it play out? And more life hacks, because you asked and we can never say no.—Got a question? Submit it here! —Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also find us on Instagram:@readyornot.pod@laurentreweek_@lucindamckimm_And join us on DOME below! YEEHAW!homeofdome.com/ready-or-not/— 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.This month, Ready or Not is proudly brought to you by Yoto. Use our discount Code: READYORNOT15 for 15% off your Yoto device [not to be used with any other offer, valid from 1st May - 5th June.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.