Ready or Not – Details, episodes & analysis

For decades, women and mothers have been hiding. We cover up our breasts as we feed our babies because since forever, our breasts have been sexualised. How dare you get those tarty things out to offer nourishment to that hungry, tired love of your life. Put them away.

We hide the blood that drops between our legs because we've been told it's disgusting. And what's more repulsive, more unattractive, more intolerable, they tell us, is the mood swings that it brings. A woman on her period, they say, is crazy.

And often, we hide the depths of our feelings as we navigate the throes of early motherhood, because we're meant to be grateful. We're meant to be giving. We're meant to be naturally good at it.

That doesn't leave much room for comfort in motherhood, in fact it creates a feeling entirely opposite to warmth. And that is loneliness.

And it was when Keshia Hutchens and Ariel Bryant were walking the streets of Melbourne with their third babies that they wondered - interrogated, even - why there wasn't a safe space for mothers to go. To think and feel and learn and question and laugh and cry.

And so, they created From Day One; a space that is pulling mothers from outside of their own four walls and bringing them their village.

From how the two co-founders have made work, work over the years, to the magic that they're witnessing between the mothers who are making up the village that is From Day One, this is a special conversation about loneliness and the antidote to it.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

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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.

As a youngest child with three older brothers, I've always been fascinated by sisters and the way I witnessed sisterhood play out among friends and family as a kid, and I think that's why I found today's guests and co-founders of The Big Sister Experience so interesting.

As they're about to tell you, while their best friends, business partners, perhaps even each other's soul mate in a lot of ways, Bianca and Kritz Sciessere could not be more different in a lot of ways. Bianca longed for and dreamed of motherhood her entire life, and while I wouldn't describe Kritz as apathetic towards motherhood, it certainly didn't consume her thoughts in the same way.

And so as you can imagine, this led to tensions when Bianca took her first parental leave. The training wheels were on as the two were thrown into the deep end of figuring out how to manage their booming business while Bianca was finding her feet as a first time mum, and with both sisters feeling lonely and challenged in their own unique way, it led to their first and only big fight in five years of business. And they're here to tell us all about it.

But not only are the two navigating motherhood and business, through their work, they're offering a transformative journey for girls and gender-diverse students, dedicated to inspiring the next generation.

So not only was I deeply interested to hear about their journey of navigating motherhood and sisterhood in business, I also wanted to learn about the youth of today - what gives them hope, what the common themes are, and what's challenging them. I learned so much that I will apply to my own children and I know that you will to.

What a special chat. I hope you love it as much as I loved talking to them.

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Shop the Ready or Not Go To Guides now, for $29 each or $69 for the trio and 10% off with code READY10:

• Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
• Childcare 101
• Postpartum and Return to Work Planning

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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.

I'm fascinated by founders and business owners like Mukti, because she's been incredibly successful with her skincare brand Mukti Organics, but she totally flies in the face of the highly corporate, suit-clad, city dwelling business person that we often associate with success.

Instead, she does things a little differently. She gave birth in a tee pee, for one. Her mum was - in her words - a crazy hippy woman who renounced everything and went off to India. She was a young mum, and she founded her business before the certified organic movement was even a thing. Before social media was even a thing.

She's funny, she's honest, she has some incredible tales to tell, and as someone in the earlier days of navigating parenthood and paid work, I value the wisdom of those mums that have come before me to no end.

From storing products underneath tarps hanging off the back of her house and navigating separation to reflecting on 16 hour days and what she regrets, here, she covers it all with generosity and humility.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Bed Intentions, a modern wellness brand that celebrates the evolving spectrum of pleasure.

From the world’s first microbiome certified water based lube to their new oil based natural tingle balm, this female-founded company has made it their mission to welcome open, shame-free conversations about all things intimacy.

Head to bedintentions.com to shop their natural, self-care products. We spend a third of our lives in bed, and these products are designed to make things safe, fun and easy.

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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.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Off the back of a recently solo parenting stint (and navigating paid work alongside solo parent) Loz is taking the reins today to talk really simple hacks to get you through the day. As always, we're not breaking any new ground here, because we want you to do less. Instead, we're reminding you of all the little tips and mindsets that will hopefully make it that little bit easier for you to make work, work alongside parenting.

LINKS

• Take 10% off the Postartum & Returning to Work Go To Guide (or buy all three Go To Guides with the same code!) here with code READYASEVER.

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Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! 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.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• More than two thirds of working parents consider quitting jobs because of childcare costs, research finds.
• What If Motherhood Isn’t Transformative at All? Actually, Having a Baby Changes You Forever: The Cut published two opposing articles on the same subject and we have some thoughts.
• And let’s talk about sex – in celebrating our partnership with Bed Intentions, we’re all getting into bed together.

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode is brought to you by Bed Intentions, a modern wellness brand that celebrates the evolving spectrum of pleasure.

From the world’s first microbiome certified water based lube to their new oil based natural tingle balm, this female-founded company has made it their mission to welcome open, shame-free conversations about all things intimacy.

Head to bedintentions.com to shop their natural, self-care products. We spend a third of our lives in bed, and these products are designed to make things safe, fun and easy.

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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.

Welcome back to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite sized tip based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday. Well today it’s on a Friday and if you don’t know why yet, you’ll have to listen to Wednesday’s check in episode with me, Lu.

And on that, you might be wondering why you’re hearing from me when I said Loz and I would be taking turns in bringing you Tits & Tricks.

Loz is solo parenting, while working four days a week while her husband is away for work. SO you get me two weeks in a row I’m afraid, and this week is made up of a whole lot of little hacks. We’re talking one meal two ways, what we’re automating so we can do less, and how to get through a day of working with a sick kid when you really have no choice but to get some form of paid work done. There’s nothing wildly new here, but sometimes I think we just need to be reminded about how others are tackling making work, work, and learning those little tricks along the way can make things SO much easier.

So let’s start with one meal two ways. I’m almost thinking of how you’ll see articles about one blazer worn five ways and applying that to food. After that, I’ll share what you’re all automating to make life a bit easier and lastly, we’re talking how the heck you work when you’ve got a sick baby or kid at home with you.

LINKS

• Take 10% off the Postartum & Returning to Work Go To Guide (or buy all three Go To Guides with the same code!) here with code READYASEVER.
• Find the expanded show notes & grocery list here.

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Thanks for listening to Tits & Tricks! 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.

Shit hit the fan for us as we were going to press publish on what was meant to be today's episode with Snuggle Hunny founder Julie Mathers. A big fat tech failure that nearly led Lu to start the whole edit again at 7.25pm last night. But, Loz reminded her of what's important, so here, she shares a quick check in instead.

We'll catch you back here tomorrow for an incredible episode with Snuggle Hunny's boss, Julie Mathers.

Welcome to Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite-sized advice-based podcast, and today is all about making the return to paid work a little bit easier via simplifying our wardrobes.

Look, I am no style expert. Although I love clothes, I’m not going to pretend to be your fashion correspondent. But I am a mum who needs to get dressed each day. And of all the things that bring unexpected stress in getting out of the door in the morning to get to work, a big one can be getting yourself dressed when you’re potentially trying to get little people fed, dressed, and out the door.

Your body might be different, you might have shoved your office wardrobe out of sight for six months or longer, and you might just feel different about the way you want to dress.

This episode is less about vanity and more about streamlining processes. It’s inspired by our Postpartum and Return to Work Planning Guide, and while that guide doesn’t cover fashion, the logistical advice we give in that guide has influenced so many areas of my life, including my work wardrobe.

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YOUR RETURN TO WORK WARDROBE CHECKLIST

Our full checklist referenced in the episode didn't quite fit the show notes limit, so please click here for the full checklist plus the items Lu mentioned, as well as links to some excellent return to work uniform sales happening at the moment.

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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.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Working families are more stressed than ever, a new report has found.
• ‘Kinkeeping’ is the invisible workload that women take on—and it’s affecting the mental health, performance, commitment and bandwidth of employees, experts say. (NYT)
• And the Instagram community poll of the week: How do you navigate pregnancy and friendships when you're the Miranda or the Charlotte?

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THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Mukti Organics, results-driven and award-winning skin care products made with certified organic ingredients & powerful actives.

Purchase the revised and expanded second edition of Mukti’s bestselling book ‘Truth in Beauty’ for $89 via www.muktiorganics.com and retailers Amazon, Booktopia and QBD Books.

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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.

Welcome back to Witching Hour: the show that looks at what's exciting, delighting, intriguing, and frustrating us as we make work, work alongside parenting. It's Ready or Not's loose little sister coming to your ears every Monday.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Research shows that those who spend more time speaking tend to emerge as the leaders of groups, regardless of their intelligence.
• Jessica Biel Is Done Being A “Cool Girl” About Periods
• And your answers to a poll I didn’t anticipate being so popular – all about that elusive and important ‘me time.’

THIS WEEK'S PARTNER

This episode of Witching Hour is brought to you by Elan House of Wellness, the mother-led brand that's dedicated to nurturing, nourishing and empowering new mothers and families. I have eaten my way through SO many of their incredibly nourishing dry food packs like the dark chocolate banana bread, golden kitchari, and blooming bites and you're in luck, because some of my favourite products are currently 20% off. Get 20% off until 30 June here: elan.house/collections/most-loved

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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.