Episode Details

What happens when you return to work after maternity leave… only to be made redundant six weeks later?

In this honest and deeply relatable episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, I’m joined by Natalie McDonald, founder of Working@It, former LinkedIn editor, journalist, content strategist, and mum of two.

Natalie opens up about:

• Returning to work after maternity leave
• Being made redundant during the AI transformation in tech
• The emotional impact of redundancy as a mother
• Identity shifts after motherhood
• Building confidence after career setbacks
• Starting a business after redundancy
• Why working mums need community more than ever
• The importance of personal branding and networking
• The reality of balancing work, ambition and caregiving

This episode is for any woman who has ever questioned:
“Am I still valuable after becoming a mum?”
“Could this happen to me?”
“How do I rebuild confidence and a career after being made redundant?”

Natalie’s story is raw, empowering, practical, and incredibly validating for working mothers navigating change, uncertainty and the pressure to “hold it all together.”

If you’re navigating maternity leave, returning to work, redundancy, burnout, or career transition, this conversation will make you feel seen.

Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming, even when you’re doing everything “right”?

In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Lisa Taylor, author of The Perfect Parent Trap, about the invisible pressure modern mothers are carrying and why so many working mums feel like they’re constantly falling short.

From unrealistic expectations to the mental load, Lisa unpacks how the idea of “perfect parenting” has quietly shaped how we work, parent, and judge ourselves. We explore why this pressure is hitting working mothers especially hard, and what needs to change.

This is an honest, validating conversation for any mum who has ever felt:

Like she’s failing at work or at home
Overwhelmed by the mental load
Guilty for not being “present enough”
Exhausted from trying to do it all

In this episode, we chat about:

• What the “perfect parent trap” actually is
• Why working mums are set up to feel like they’re failing
• The role of societal expectations and systemic pressures
• How perfectionism shows up in motherhood
• Practical ways to let go of unrealistic standards
• A new way to think about being a “good enough” parent

If you’ve ever wondered “why does motherhood feel so hard?” - this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Connect with Lisa: 

• Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn
• Find out more via Natalie's website

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