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Let's be honest...thinking you can just pick up where you left off after maternity leave is like expecting to run a marathon after taking a year off training. Everything's changed - including you. This week, we're tackling the messy, meaningful reality of returning to work after maternity leave and how to keep growing your career when your priorities have completely shifted. From navigating the emotional whirlwind of feeling like a different person at work, to mastering the art of being visible when you're working part-time. We explore why the "mental load" hits harder than anyone warns you about, tackle the confidence crisis that comes with feeling like people are doing you a favour by giving you part-time work, and bust the myth that career growth stops when you start working flexibly. What you'll learn:  How to have the pre-return conversation that prevents you from drowning in an impossible workload • The salary negotiation reality check - if you were on $100k full-time, that budget still exis

Feeling like the office weakest link in your new role? Your partner's "work wife / husband" making you seriously uncomfortable? Or maybe you're just trying to master the art of looking busy on those "done by lunch" WFH Fridays? This week, we're serving up the exact strategies and scripts you need to handle these sticky situations - from reframing new role anxiety to having that awkward work wife conversation, plus tactical Friday WFH hacks. What you'll learn: • New Role Confidence Toolkit: Why the "drowning" feeling means you're doing it right, plus how to reframe imposter syndrome using the HP study that shows men apply at 60% qualified • Friday WFH Survival Tactics: Specific strategies for spreading workload, scheduling emails, and staying available without being glued to your desk • The Work Wife Conversation Script: Exact approaches for discussing boundaries with your partner and red flags to watch for when workplace friendships cross the line Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advi

Let's be honest...waiting until you feel "ready" to make a career move is like waiting for the perfect weather to start exercising. It's never going to happen, and meanwhile, everyone else is getting ahead. This week, we're diving deep into why learning isn't just nice-to-have anymore - it's career insurance. Our guest Andrea Clark has spent her career helping people adapt fast, and she doesn't believe in waiting until you're ready to grow. From recognizing when that "mutual value exchange" with your employer has run its course, to spotting signals of change before they become obvious to everyone else. We explore why Andrea invested $3,000 in an AI course back in 2017 (spoiler: it paid off massively) and tackle the biggest blocker to career growth - thinking you need to feel 100% confident before taking action. What you'll learn: • The "mutual value exchange" test to know when it's time to move on • How to spot signals of change 5 years before your industry • Micro-learning strategies for

Workplace oversharing making you cringe? Your messy ex just applied to work at your company? And someone definitely overheard you venting about colleagues to your husband? This week, we're tackling the most awkward workplace situations that have you lying awake at 3am wondering how to fix them. We decode the delicate art of telling a colleague they share way too much personal information, reveal what to do when your romantic history collides with your professional life, and share the exact words to use when your private conversation becomes very public. What you'll discover: • The Oversharer's Dilemma: How to address a colleague who won't stop talking about their period and sex life without becoming the office prude • The Ex-Files: Real strategies for when your messy breakup threatens to invade your workplace (plus Em's brutal confession about sabotaging an ex's job application) • The Overheard Conversation: Exactly what to say when someone catches you venting about work to your spouse • T

Let's be honest...stuff like "personal branding" and "networking" can feel so cringey. But this kind of work - building relationships, putting yourself out there, making sure people know what you do - isn't optional anymore. This week, we're tackling the awkward space between wanting recognition and not wanting to feel like you're constantly selling yourself. We explore why 70% of Australian jobs happen through the "hidden job market" and how making your "invisible work" visible is key to career growth without the cringe factor. From the difference between visible work (what's in your job description) and invisible work (the relationships you build and unique perspective you bring) to navigating LinkedIn's evolution from professional networking to... whatever it is now. We unpack how to do it in a way that feels like you - not like you're selling yourself - plus practical ways to start showing up without feeling like a walking LinkedIn post. What you'll learn: Why "idea promotion" feels so much better than s

Do networking events make you want to hide in the bathroom? Your colleagues keep dumping their disasters on your desk? And everyone's talking about "conscious unbossing" like it's the career move of the century? This week, we're diving deep into the workplace trends that are reshaping how we think about success. We decode the viral conscious unbossing movement that's got Gen Z turning down promotions (and whether it's genius or career suicide), plus we tackle the networking game without sounding desperate and reveal the diplomatic ways to tell colleagues their chaos isn't your problem. What you'll discover: • The Conscious Unbossing Reality Check: Why turning down promotions might be the smartest move you never considered • The Zookeeper's Power Move: How one woman refused every promotion to stay happy (and why her boss loved it) • The Networking Breakthrough: The one question that transforms awkward coffee chats into real connections • The Boundary Setting Bible: Diplomatic ways to say "t

Ever suggest something new at work only to hear "that's just how we do things here" and watch the energy completely deflate? Yeah, we've all been there. This week, we're chatting with Wade Kingsley about breaking free from status quo thinking and actually getting your ideas heard without being shut down or laughed at (been there too). Wade breaks down why most workplaces are set up to reward playing it safe, how to identify whether you're a Dreamer, Doer, or Doubter on your team, and the genius strategy of testing ideas in kitchen conversations before you pitch them to the boss. Plus, we dive into why creativity isn't about having the most artistic job - it's about getting curious and asking "but what if we tried this instead?" when everyone else just accepts the way things are. What you'll learn: The Three Creative Types and why your team needs all of them (spoiler: it's not just about the big idea people) Why you should never pitch your brilliant idea to the boss first - and who to talk to instead The 'Fiv

Your boss just stole your brilliant idea. Again. While you're sitting there feeling invisible, they're presenting "their" genius solution to the entire leadership team. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Idea theft is alive and well in Australian offices, and this week we're giving you the tools to fight back. We're also tackling the mortifying moment we've all had - crying at work - and helping a millennial navigate the tricky waters of managing a team of boomers. This week we're solving workplace dilemmas that hit close to home, from generational clashes to protecting your intellectual property! What you'll learn: • The Authority Paradox: How to earn respect when you're the youngest person in charge • The Credit Protection System: Simple tactics to stop your boss stealing your ideas • The Crying Recovery Plan: How to bounce back professionally after showing emotion at work • The Generational Bridge: Why adapting your style (temporarily) isn't selling out • The Paper Trail S

Working your way up isn't just about putting in more hours or waiting your turn. It's about being strategic, being visible, and knowing how to navigate the messy middle - like relationships, timing, and office politics. This week, we're giving you the exact playbook to stop waiting around for someone to tell you that you're ready for a promotion and how to actually make it happen instead. We dig into how to know if you're actually ready to move up (spoiler: time in seat doesn't equal readiness), the art of asking for advancement without sounding pushy or awkward, and how to build the kind of reputation that makes people want to champion your career. Plus, we tackle what to do when you tick all the boxes but still don't get the promotion - and why that might actually be the best thing that could happen to you. What you'll learn: The Readiness Reality Check: How to get honest feedback about where you stand and what a "10 out of 10" performance actually looks like The Promotion Conversation Reframe: Why you sho

The hardest worker in the office used to get ahead. Now they just get... tired. While you're burning out at your desk, your colleagues are booking year-long "micro retirements" and somehow still getting promoted. This week we're cracking the code on why grinding harder isn't working anymore - and revealing what actually gets you ahead instead. We decode the viral micro retirement trend that's got twenty and thirty-somethings quitting their jobs to travel (spoiler: it's not for everyone), plus we tackle the corporate jargon takeover and expose a workplace trick that's stealing your paycheck. What you'll discover: • The Hard Worker's Trap: Why staying late is sabotaging your success • The Micro Retirement Test: Should you quit your job to travel? (The honest answer) • The Deathbed Reality Check: What people actually regret about their careers • The Jargon Shutdown: How to kill corporate speak without looking difficult • The Part-Time Scam: The simple trick

Going from mate to manager can get weird, fast. One day you're in the group chat laughing with your colleagues, the next day they might be laughing at you behind your back. This week, we're tackling one of the trickiest workplace transitions: becoming the boss of your former teammates. We dig into why this shift feels so bloody awkward (spoiler: it's not just you), how to navigate the immediate identity crisis when suddenly nobody wants to gossip with you anymore, and the art of setting expectations without turning into a micromanager overnight. Plus, we reveal the coaching trick that gets people to solve their own problems, why letting your team do "B plus work" is actually good leadership, and when to recognise that management might not be for you - and that's completely okay. What you'll learn: The Reset Conversation: How to acknowledge the shift without making it weird The B Plus Work Philosophy: Why perfectionist managers fail their teams The Question Technique: The coaching trick that creates ownership

When workplace flirting gets dangerously hot, should you risk everything for a colleague you can't stop thinking about? This week we tackle the steamiest workplace dilemma we've ever received: months of "dangerous flirting" that's reached breaking point. Then we solve what happens when your dream job becomes a nightmare faster than you can update your LinkedIn, and reveal why three weeks is the worst possible time to make any career decisions, plus the one conversation that could save you from a massive mistake. Plus, is there a colleague at work who makes you feel like the awkward new kid while they're the popular one everyone knows? We tackle workplace insecurity head-on, revealing the simple strategy that transforms your biggest workplace threat into your secret career weapon. What you'll learn:  The Insecurity Antidote: How to transform workplace jealousy into career advancement The 3-Week Rule: Why this timeline is too early to judge any new role (and what to do instead) The Safety vs Challenge Fra

"Be prepared to stretch and take yourself out of your comfort zone - there is incredible learning and growth in that." In this special episode, Em had the opportunity to get online with Sarah Harden, (the Australian powerhouse who co-founded Reese Witherspoon's $100 million media empire Hello Sunshine) reveals the career strategies that transformed her from a Melbourne politics graduate into one of Hollywood's most influential female executives. No theoretical fluff—just the exact mindset shifts and strategic moves that built the company behind Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Little Fires Everywhere. Listening to this episode will teach you: The specific career move that accelerates everything (and why most women never make it) How to replace self-doubt with curiosity when evaluating opportunities Why stepping into discomfort is the fastest path to exponential career growth The exact framework for turning consumer insights into multi-million dollar business decisions How to build authentic compa

Ever tried to show your sparkling personality through a pixelated Zoom screen while competing against people who get to charm their way through face-to-face interviews? This week we're tackling the art of nailing remote interviews when everyone else gets the home-field advantage of being actually present (rude, but okay).  Then we dive into every office worker's worst nightmare: waking up after the Christmas party with fuzzy memories and crystal-clear secondhand embarrassment. Spoiler alert: you're probably not the only one who went a bit too hard on the free bar, but we've got your damage control strategy sorted. Plus, we're tackling that boss who dismisses diversity efforts as "box-ticking" and can't resist dropping "snowflake millennials" into every meeting. Newsflash: this is exactly why HR departments exist. Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advice podcast where awkward career questions get real-world solutions. Got office politics nightmares or boss-from-hell situations? Send us a voice no

Ever wondered why we reveal the secret weapon for decoding those frustrating moments when you and your colleagues seem to be speaking completely different languages. Ever wondered why that one colleague drives you absolutely mental while another person finds them perfectly reasonable?Discover the four distinct working styles that explain why some people obsess over tiny details while others just want to "get it done," and why the golden rule of "treat others how you want to be treated" might actually be sabotaging your work relationships.You'll learn:- How to instantly identify whether someone is a D, I, S, or C style (and what your own default mode is) - The exact one-liners to use with each personality type to get better results - Why your "difficult" colleague might not be difficult at all – just wired differently - How to explain your own working style without sounding like you're making excuses You’ll finish this ep knowing exactly why your DISC profile is the difference between friction and

Is your open plan office driving you to distraction with endless chatter and non-stop interruptions? This week on BIZ Inbox, Em Vernem and Sarah Davidson dive deep into the chaotic world of trying to get actual work done when you're surrounded by Sally's weekend dating disasters and the marketing team's passionate font feuds (we're secretly here for both, tbh). Then we tackle that colleague who somehow thinks their name is written in flashing neon lights at the top of your to-do list – spoiler alert: it's not! Plus, we reveal how to flip the script on redundancy in job interviews and turn your layoff story into your biggest power move. Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advice podcast where awkward career questions get real-world solutions. Got office politics nightmares or boss-from-hell situations? Send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain completely anonymous! SHOW MENTIONS:  Get more Sarah Davidson in her sensational podcast Seize The Yay!Sign up to

Do you feel guilty for taking breaks? Put work ahead of your relationships? Ignore your health in the name of productivity? You might be stuck in workaholic mode without even realising it!  Meet your new BIZ hosts: Lisa Lie (former Head of People & Culture who worked herself into burnout twice in one year) and Em Vernem (Associate Editor at Mamamia who discovered that giving 80% at work prevents the burnout that comes from constantly operating at 100%). They've been trapped in the cycle, escaped it, and now they're exposing the workaholic trap that's keeping high-achievers burning out—even when they love what they do. You'll learn:  The signs you're already caught in the cycle Where workaholic tendencies actually come from (hint: it's not what you think) How the workaholic trap sabotages your daily life without you noticing Why that promotion might be making everything worse PLUS we take the University of Bergen’s 7-point Workaholism Test (finally, a way to tell the difference betw

Are you silently spiralling over a big presentation coming up? Or working from home and crushing projects but feeling totally invisible come performance review time? Or here's the uncomfortable truth bomb – are you actually the colleague who turns every team catch-up into your personal TED talk? This week on BIZ Inbox, Em Vernem and Sarah Davidson are serving up hard truths about meeting monopolisers who suck all the oxygen out of the room, plus sharing subtle tactics to give your quieter teammates a chance to shine without staging a workplace intervention. We're also solving the absolute terror of public speaking with psychology tricks that actually work (spoiler: clench your butt cheeks – seriously, it's science), and helping remote workers prove their worth when they're competing against the office crowd from their kitchen table. Got office politics nightmares or boss-from-hell situations? Send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain completely anonymous! SHOW MENT

Tax time is looming, performance reviews are on the horizon, and your motivation has completely ghosted you.The second half of 2025 is when the real work begins, and we're showing you how to thrive while everyone else just survives! Expect to learn the exact strategies you need to stay sharp when everyone else is burning out, how to sound more confident by saying less, the precise words to shut down condescending colleagues without getting fired, master networking when you'd rather hide under your desk, and why your mentor strategy is probably broken. This is your mid-year reset – no fluff, just the career advice that actually works! Sign up to the BIZ newsletter hereYou might be interested in our full episodes on: How To Stop Over-Explaining And Start Impressing How Do I Handle A Patronising Employee? How To Be More Productive (Without Trying Too Hard) How To Nail Networking Even When It Feels Super Awkward You Don't Need A Work Mentor You Need This THE END BITSSupport independent women's media.Follo

Are you the queen of procrastination who'd rather deep clean your entire house than finish that urgent report? This week on BIZ Inbox, Em Vernem and Sarah Davidson tackle the art of actually getting work done with practical strategies – including the game-changing "eat the frog" method that might just save your productivity. Plus, we wade into the murky waters of workplace social media boundaries (spoiler: someone might get offended, and that's okay), and we share how to stand out as the new person at work. Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advice podcast where awkward career questions get real-world solutions. If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain completely anonymous!Here is Em's article about 'eat the frog’. Get more Sarah Davidson in her sensational podcast Seize The Yay!Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here to get all our tips and tricks.THE END BITSSupport independent women's mediaFollow the Biz Instagram and