Have It All

Most conversations about “having it all” skip over the reality of what it actually takes.In this episode, I’m joined by Charlotte, founder of Rose Studio – a boutique design studio based in Auckland, New Zealand helping bold, passionate business owners to bring their vision to life with strategic and intentional design.Charlotte built her business while raising three young kids, including a high-needs autistic child, navigating life across countries, and spending long stretches solo parenting when her husband was overseas for his professional football career.We talk about what it really looked like behind the scenes – from waking at 4am to carve out quiet time for work, to rebuilding her confidence as a mum returning to the workforce.We cover:The reality of solo parenting and navigating motherhood without your usual support systemsHow Charlotte built her business around her life (not the other way around)The confidence shift that came from studying again as a mumWhat motherhood has taught her about leadership, resilience and capacityThe challenges of raising a high-needs child alongside career ambitionWhy “having it all” looks different for every woman — and why that mattersFollow @haveitall.podcast on InstagramNEW episodes every second week.

What happens when the return-to-work plan changes?In this episode, I sit down with Charlotte — paediatric ICU nurse and founder of And Breathe First Aid. When we first recorded together, she was preparing to return to Starship after maternity leave. Six months later, everything looks different. Charlotte made the decision to extend her leave and pour her energy into growing her first aid education business.We talk about how becoming a parent reshapes your perspective on work, why mums who work from home or run their own businesses often face judgement for using childcare, and the messy, honest juggle of raising young children while keeping a business afloat.Charlotte shares how her nursing lens has shifted since becoming a mum, the emotional weight of caring for families in crisis, and why parental advocacy in healthcare matters more than ever.

Mum guilt. We all feel it — but what if it’s not actually guilt at all?This week I’m joined by Francie, a mindset coach for mums and mum of two, to dig into the invisible load of motherhood, the “perfect mother” myth, and the subconscious patterns that sit underneath what we call guilt. Spoiler: many of us are really carrying shame or grief.We talk about:✨ Why the invisible load of motherhood is so exhausting — and often goes unseen✨ How the “perfect mum” myth sets us up to fail✨ The self-abandoning patterns that lead to burnout and resentment✨ Why emotional regulation is essential for both mothers and kids✨ Generational shifts in parenting (and why our mums’ experience still lingers in us)✨ Practical tools to manage the cognitive load and release pressure✨ Why asking for help is a strength, not a weaknessFrancie’s perspective is both practical and compassionate — reminding us that taking care of ourselves isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing, constantly battling that inner critic, or weighed down by mum guilt, this conversation will give you new language, fresh perspective, and real tools to lighten the load.Make sure to follow Have It All to keep up to date with fortnightly episodes. And give this episode a like...if you like!LINKSSophie Brock for a deeper dive into mum guilt https://drsophiebrock.com/ Francie's offerings https://www.flourishandfree.com/ Pam app https://www.mypam.co/ Fair Play game https://www.fairplaylife.com/the-cards

Sargam's story is unlike any I’ve heard on Have It All so far. What was meant to be a six-week trip to India in early 2020 turned into an eight-month stay when COVID-19 changed the world overnight. Suddenly, she found herself navigating early motherhood, distance from home, and the uncertainty of a global pandemic all at once.In this conversation, Sargam shares what that time looked like: the mental health challenges of being far from her support system, the small daily practices of gratitude that kept her grounded, and how that season reshaped her perspective on work, family, and ambition.What stands out most is the way Sargam talks about ambition. For her, being ambitious doesn’t have to mean climbing the corporate ladder or chasing the next big role. Instead, it’s about creating a life that works for both her and her family, supported by workplaces that truly value parents.We also talk about what supportive systems at work can look like, how communication around parenting needs can shift culture, and why the conversation about the “motherhood penalty” urgently needs to evolve.Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.You can also follow @haveitall.podcast on IG

This episode is for the ambitious mums – the ones who love their kids and their careers, and who feel a little lost when they step away from either.We talk about the quiet doubts many mothers have but rarely say out loud:What if I don’t want to stay home full-time?Why does no one question dads the way they question mums? Can I be ambitious and a present parent?This episode is an honest look at the real sacrifices of motherhood – physically, emotionally, professionally – and how many women are learning to make choices that honour both their families and themselves.Topics we cover:Identity, ambition & returning to workMental load and asking for helpSupport systems at work and homeFinancial realities & outsourcingLetting go of guilt — and owning your choices🎧 Have It All is a podcast for modern mothers navigating the beautiful chaos of family, career and self. New here? Make sure you scroll back for more episodes, and follow along so you never miss one.

How do you make it all work — raising little kids, staying connected to yourself, contributing financially, maintaining a relationship…and maybe even renovating a house?This week on Have It All, I’m joined by Skye Ross — a full-time, stay-at-home, part-time working mum (her words, and I love them). Skye and I talk about what it really looks like to balance motherhood, freelance work, and the emotional juggle that happens when you start to question, “Am I doing the right thing?”Skye shares the story of her epic home reno (a total labour of love), how she and her partner approached finances and childcare, and what it felt like to navigate identity in the thick of motherhood. There’s a moment where she describes her “crisis thoughts” — when the pre-kids version of herself shows up to ask what the hell she’s doing.We talk about the comparison trap, creative work, self-care (hint: it doesn’t always mean time alone), and the illusion of having it all. And we touch on something I think a lot of us will relate to: the slow journey of remembering who you are outside of being needed all the time.Links mentioned:Skye's podcast MothernessTen things I wish you knew about your child's mental health by Dr Billy Garvey

Let me know what you think in the comments!In this episode, I sit down with Shrenika, a mum of two boys, a paediatric nurse at Starship, and the founder of Little Beat First Aid.We talk about the messy middle of motherhood and work, and how those worlds constantly shift and realign as our kids grow.Shrenika shares what returning to work looked like for her after each baby and how, after her second, she felt torn and emotional, like she was being pulled in two directions. She talks about quitting nursing altogether for a while, and how she found her way back to work by creating something that worked better for her family and for herself.We explore the loneliness of being home with babies, the tricky flex of older kids who still need you, and the unique challenges mums face in healthcare roles. We also talk about balancing a “real job” with the business hustle, and how the idea of success can shift so much from your 20s to your 30s and beyond.In the end, maybe it’s less about balance and more about figuring out what’s enough for you right now.Linkshttps://www.littlebeat.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/little_beat_first_aid

Naomi spent nearly a decade living and working on superyachts: a career that took her around the world, introduced her to her husband, and pushed her to grow in ways no desk job ever could.In this episode, we catch up after years apart to talk about life after yachting, the transition from working long hours at sea to settling into family life in Papamoa with her husband and baby Max.We talk about:The unglamorous side of life on the yachtsPregnancy and navigating healthcare across three countriesLeadership, kindness, and learning on the jobLetting go of expectations and building a life that feels goodThe butterfly effect of small choices that shape our livesUnfortunately we ran into a few technical difficulties when recording, so this episode is a little fragmented compared to my usual.Let me know what you think!

Please take care when listening to today's episode. Caylin shares how the wheels essentially "fell off" when eight days after giving birth to her daughter, her husband was called away for work — and spent eight of her daughter’s first sixteen weeks overseas. With no family nearby and very little support, Caylin quickly found herself spiralling. She opens up about the guilt of asking her husband to come home, the sleep deprivation, the anxiety, and the moment she realised she needed help.Now living in Japan and running her own business Pepi & Parent, Caylin shares how her personal experience, combined with a professional background in psychology and mental health, led her to support other parents with holistic, evidence-based sleep guidance.LINKShttps://www.instagram.com/pepiandparent/https://www.instagram.com/babysleepwithainslee/https://www.instagram.com/cradlednz/https://www.instagram.com/first.five.years/If you feel like you need someone to talk to after listening to this episode, please reach out https://mentalhealth.org.nz/help

Parenting isn’t about perfection - it’s about connection. In this episode, I sit down with Sophie, founder of Imperfect Parents, to talk about the reality of modern parenthood, and the ever-changing balance between work, life, and raising tiny humans.After parenting through COVID-19 lockdowns, Sophie saw firsthand how isolating and overwhelming it could be, especially without a village. So, she built one. Imperfect Parents is a community-driven space where parents can share their experiences, ask for help, and feel supported without judgment or pressure to have it all together.We dive into:How parenting during COVID-19 inspired Sophie to create Imperfect ParentsThe reality of self-employment in the parenting spaceWhy inclusivity and community are essential for new parentsSleep training, financial privilege, and the societal pressures of modern parentingIf you’ve ever questioned whether you’re doing enough as a parent (spoiler: you are), or felt like you’re carrying the invisible weight of it all, this episode is for you.LINKS 🔗 Imperfect Parents – Sophie’s community for real, honest parenthood🔗 Rachael Rose – Women’s circles & support🔗 Dr. Heather Johnstone – Cradled – Sophie's mentor 📖 The Gifts of Imperfection – Brené Brown💬 Loved this episode? Share your thoughts in the comments or tag us on socials!

This episode is a special one! I’m sitting down with my friend Kate, who I met 10 years ago at uni, to talk about the reality of navigating career transitions, motherhood, and the ever-elusive work-life balance.Kate opens up about how her perspective on work shifted after having her second child, and how she went from wanting to be the “career mum” to realising that some parts of her job just weren’t worth the time away. We talk about the constant juggle, the mental load, and the unexpected ways motherhood changes friendships and priorities.Topics we cover:The shift from agency life to self-employment & why Kate made the leapWhy rushing was her biggest challenge when working full-timeWhy the time away from your kids has to feel worthwhileHow working motherhood can create a social divide: where do we fit in?The hard truth: once you let go of personal time, it's tough to get backFollow Have It All on IG & TikTok @haveitall.podcast

Before becoming a mum, Danny and her husband were living life to the fullest—careers they loved, a buzzing social life, friends, parties, and the kind of freedom you don’t realise you have until it’s gone. But nothing could have prepared her for the profound shift that motherhood would bring.Danny’s experience of becoming a mum was not just life-changing—it was earth-shattering. A deeply traumatic birth left her with PTSD, and the emotional intensity of motherhood hit harder than she ever imagined. She had an unshakable bond with her child, but navigating the rollercoaster of emotions, identity shifts, and the pressure to return to work was overwhelming.In this episode, we dive into:🧡 The identity shift that comes with becoming a mum🧡 The pressure to balance work and family (without losing yourself)🧡 How to navigate judgment—from others and yourself🧡 Why self-trust is the key to surviving the chaos🧡 The emotional impact of parenting decisions and why grace is essentialWhether you’re in the thick of raising little ones, transitioning back to work, or just trying to figure it all out, this conversation is for you.LINKSRead: The Child in You: The Breakthrough Method for Bringing Out Your Authentic Self by Stefanie StahlFollow @haveitall.podcast on IG & TikTok

In this episode of Have It All, Emily sits down with Erin to explore the emotional realities of becoming a parent and balancing a career. They discuss the often-overwhelming transition back to work, managing feelings of guilt, and navigating lack of family support during early parenthood. Erin opens up about the isolating experience of being the first in her friend group to have a baby. She reflects on the emotional weight of tackling major parenting challenges without a village, and how this can leave new parents feeling alone with their struggles. This heartfelt conversation sheds light on the harsh yet transformative realities of early parenthood and emphasises the importance of community, self-care, and redefining personal fulfilment while navigating the demands of work and family.