Welcome to Have It All, the podcast that says the quiet part out loud about motherhood, career, and the chaos in between. I’m Emily Parks. Mum of two, marketer, and someone who’s learned that doing it all often means doing too much. Every second week, I chat with women navigating the juggle of working motherhood. These are honest, messy, and uplifting conversations. Because having it all doesn’t mean doing it all. And you’re not meant to figure it out alone.
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 f...
In this episode of Have It All, I sit down with Jaz – a hairdresser, makeup artist, actress, content creator, marketing coordinator, AND mum of two – for a conversation about what it really means to juggle a creative career, parenting, ambition, and identity in today’s world.
From early morning drop-offs to late-night auditions, Jaz shares the realities of building a multifaceted life while raising kids and navigating a world th...
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:
This episode is an honest look at the real sacrifices of mo...
Today’s episode is a special one, and slightly different from usual!
I’m joined by my best friend, actress Courtenay Louise, who is pregnant with her first baby. While she’s not YET a working mum, she’ll likely to return to work at some point after baby – you might know her as Monique from Shortland Street, one of Aotearoa’s most recognisable TV roles.
We recorded this episode just after Courtenay publicly announced her pregnancy (a...
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 s...
For anyone struggling with feeling present, battling mum guilt, trying to figure out the balance, or feeling stuck in the cycle of mental load, burnout, and more guilt – this episode is for you.
This week I’m joined by Becs Bradley – mum of two, Head of Learning in postgraduate education, and coach for women navigating the chaos of work and motherhood. We recorded this late at night (for Becs – she’s based in the UK!) but the conver...
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...
What does it look like to build a thriving pakihi Māori from the ground up while raising a young family and staying true to your kaupapa?
In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah from The Pēpi Pozy, a young mum and entrepreneur who’s weaving Te Ao Māori into every part of her business and life. From launching a viral brand with just $400, to travelling to China to meet her manufacturers, Hannah shares the highs, the hard bits, and ...
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:
What if your family life had its own digital PA?
This week on Have It All, I’m joined by Nicole, founder of the PAM App aka your Personal Admin Manager. After hitting her breaking point during the juggle of parenting and working through New Zealand’s lockdowns, Nicole set out to create a solution that could help families manage the mental load, together.
We talk about:
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, ...
What happens when your identity is wrapped in your career – and then you become a mum?
In this episode, my former colleague, Megan, shares the emotional reality of returning to work, shifting to part-time, and redefining her self-worth. From identity loss to finding the right job fit as a mum of three boys, this is an honest look at the juggle of motherhood and career.
If you liked this episode, I would SO appreciate you taki...
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 com...
What if your next big business idea was hiding in plain sight... like in the middle of a playground with your toddler?
In this episode, I’m joined by Renata, founder of Roam with Kids, an app her husband describes as “the new Google Maps for parents.”
Designed to help caregivers discover kid-friendly spots like fully fenced playgrounds or cafes with high chairs, Roam is redefining how we plan our days with little ones.
Renata and I c...
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 ab...
What happens when you’re on the brink of motherhood but feel like you’re standing outside a “secret club” no one talks about?
In this episode, I sit down with Jordan, who is in the midst of trying to conceive and navigating the realities of family planning, career balance, and the cultural differences between the US and New Zealand. We discuss the decision she made last year to step aside rather than step up—a shift from the corpora...
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 ...
Feeling burned out, stretched thin, or stuck in survival mode? In this episode, I chat with Lisa Walker, a qualified nutritionist, about the everyday challenges facing busy women—particularly mums—and how stress, nutrition, and self-care all play a role in reclaiming health and energy.
Lisa shares practical tips for eating well as a family, the importance of postpartum recovery, and why small lifestyle changes can have a profound ...
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 tackl...
In this episode, I sit down with Rebekah Fraser, The Back To Work Coach, to explore the crucial steps for navigating parental leave and career breaks. We discuss key moments to plan for—starting before you're even pregnant—and how to approach conversations with your employer about taking time off.
Rebekah shares her expert insights on overcoming self-doubt and negative self-talk, redefining success on your terms, and finding ways f...
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!