The New Normal Podcast show

The New Normal Podcast

Summary: The New Normal: conversations between hosts Tess McCabe and Emma Clark Gratton (plus regular special guests) about balancing work, life, creativity and sanity while parenting. From Melbourne, Australia, Emma and Tess leave very few parenting issues undiscussed.

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  • Artist: Tess McCabe and Emma Clark Gratton
  • Copyright: Copyright © Emma Clark Gratton and Tess McCabe. All rights reserved.

Podcasts:

 Episode 71: Victorian Small Business Commissioner Judy O'Connell has two sets of twins | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 33:53

Our newest podcast is with Victoria’s Small Business Commissioner Judy O’Connell who has TWO SETS OF TWINS *faints*. This basically qualifies her to run the whole damn country, in our opinion. Judy has had a long career in the public service, including as Assistant Commissioner at the Australian Tax Office, where she set up an in-house childcare centre. Throughout her career, Judy has been a champion for flexible work for both mums and dads, and for integrating family life with career. She also told us all about the cool things the Victorian Small Business Commission does, including help with dispute resolution, tax requirements, mediation and advocating for small businesses.

 Episode 70: Are Nerf Guns a good idea? Plus our recent book and internet recommendations | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 38:37

So we've decided to change the focus of the podcast to be the Leigh Sales Appreciation Society. Just jokes, but seriously we do spend a fair bit of time this episode talking about Australia's leading current affairs anchor and the new book she's written about overcoming trauma. Other cheery topics include breast self-examinations and whether or not our kids should play with toy guns. Happy listening!  Reading: The Nowhere Child by Christian White Leigh Sales’ interview in Fairfax papers Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales Practising Simplicity (blog) The Mental Load by Emma (not our Emma, a french Emma) Watching: Brooklyn 99 The Americans  Touch Your Tits  Listening: ABC Kids News Time Parent hack notes: BioCeuticals Ultra Potent-C powder is the one Tess' kids like more than other brands --- THANKS for the reviews and star ratings on iTunes! xx

 Episode 69: Maryanne Moodie on entrepreneurism, creativity and building a community | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 47:17

Finding a way to turn a creative passion into a profitable business can be tricky, especially when you throw a family into the mix. Enter Maryanne Moodie, Insta-famous weaver and teacher, a magical unicorn who has managed to develop her creative expression into a thriving business and community.  If you’re a crafty type who enjoys a bit of interiors porn, there’s a strong chance you’ve seen Maryanne’s work. Her gorgeous textured weavings have inspired thousands of people to pick up some yarn and a loom, through her online and in-person weaving classes and her book On the Loom.  We explore Maryanne’s story from schoolteacher to entrepreneurial weaver, including how she managed moving to New York City for her husband’s dream job with their one-year-old son in tow.  Maryanne also shares a couple of great parenting hacks, including the toothbrushing podcast Chompers, the bedtime meditation for kid’s Bedtime Explorers.  

 Episode 68: Sleepovers, kid-friendly podcasts, and having (more) empathy for teachers | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 41:54

It's Emma and Tess in your ears again with our recent book, pod and teev recommendations (for you AND your kids!). Yep, this episode we talk about a few kid-friendly podcasts on high rotation at home, plus revel in the wonder that is nature (documentaries). Then, thanks to a great listener suggestion, we discuss our policies on sleepovers and babysitting while our kids are still little. Enjoy! Reading: Teacher by Gabbie Stroud Ache by Eliza Henry Jones Lunchlady Magazine* Listening: Wowee Podcast Married to a Maker Future Women Kids podcasts: Wow in the world; But Why; Pants on Fire; Brains On; Smash, boom, best; Story Pirates Watching: Planet Earth I & II Glow (Netflix) Sharp objects --- *Tess' book Conversations with Creative Women (Vol 3), feat. an interview with Lunchlady's founders Louise Bannister and Lara Burke, can be found at creativemindshq.com, or your local bookshop :) --- Find us elsewhere online: Insta: @thenewnormalpodcast @emmaclarkgratton @tessmccabe Twitter: @newnormalpod @emmamakesthings @tessmccabe worsthousebeststreet.comtessmccabe.com.au

 Episode 67: Beci Orpin on raising independent kids, self-regulating screen time and keeping a small radius. | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 41:45

Beci Orpin needs no introduction: her work has been seen on everything from billboards and snowboards to food trucks and books. Beci and her partner Raph (of Beatbox Kitchen and All Day Donuts fame!) have built a creative empire, all while raising their two sons. Many of our guests are still in the trenches with toddlers or preschoolers, so hearing Beci’s view on the tween and teen years is a balm for our exhausted souls. She describes how it does get easier (hurrah!) and the joy of seeing your kids grow up. Beci also takes us behind the scenes into how she and Raph manage running their own businesses (tip: keep everything local!); how she designs, tests, produces and writes her books; and why she encourages independence in her kids.

 Episode 66: Extra-curricular activities, op shop books, and podcast therapy for The Handmaid's Tale | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 41:00

We kick off this episode discussing what's been in our podcast feeds and TV queues, and you'd be right in thinking that recently we haven't been consuming them as an escape tactic from the realities of the big bad world. From The Handmaids Tale (no spoilers, promise) to Nanette; You Can't Ask That to Teacher's Pet; there is definitely a 'theme' to our recommendations this episode (so consider this a content warning!). But it's not all dark... We talk about our approaches to introducing extra-curricular activities into our kids lives and what we've tried; and share some trusty parenting hacks as well. Enjoy! Reading: Mothermorphosis by Monica Dux Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee Watching: Nanette - Hannah Gadsby's special (Netflix) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt  (Netflix) Making Child Prodigies (ABC iView) You Can’t Ask That (ABC iView) Hidden Figures (film) Listening: Eyes on Gilead and Blessed Be The Fruit Salad (Handmaid's Tale S2 podcasts) Teacher's Pet Start Up S7 - Church Planters ----- Thanks to those of you who have recently rated & reviewed us on iTunes! We really appreciate it xx E&T ----- PS... thenewnormalpodcast.comworsthousebeststreet.comtessmccabe.com.au Insta:@thenewnormalpodcast@tessmccabe@emmaclarkgratton Facey:facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast

 Episode 65: Jen and Kirstie on egg donation and equality | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:02:32

For some, the path to parenthood is relatively straightforward. For others, it is more complicated, but no less joyful. On this episode we talk to Jen Clark of Jen Clark Design and her partner Kirstie Innes-Will, managing editor at Black Inc. In  2014, Jen and Kirstie decided to help another local couple to complete their family, and ended up in their own modern-day fairytale. Because life with a newborn isn't hard enough, their first year as parents was shadowed by the same-sex marriage survey, where the entire country passed judgement on the validity of their new family. Jen and Kirstie generously share their story with us, but it's four women talking a mile a minute at a kitchen table, so apologies for our constant talking over one another!  

 Episode 64: Screen time rules, donut cakes, and teaching kids about consent | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 36:49

In terms of shielding our pre-school and early primary school-age kids from the big bad world, we're kinda in a cosy bubble rn. But for how long? In this episode we talk about our own family rules for screen time and what we fear is awaiting us in the future; as well as the important conversations we're starting to have around consent and approaching strangers for help. Then - because it be freezing outside - we share some recent TV & film recommendations that you can curl up under a blanket to consume. Happy listening! Reading: Today’s masculinity is stifling from The Atlantic My Underpants Rule (book for kids) Watching: Queer Eye (again) on Netflix Consent for kids A Cry in The Dark starring Meryl Streep (from the '80s) Tully starring Charlize Theron (written by Diabolo Cody) Creative Discipline talk on vimeo by Lou Harvey Zahra (Google her to find her books too!) ----- Have you rated/reviewed us on iTunes yet? Don't be shy! It helps other parents find our podcast. We'd love it if you did!! xx E&T ----- PS... thenewnormalpodcast.comworsthousebeststreet.comtessmccabe.com.au Insta:@thenewnormalpodcast@tessmccabe@emmaclarkgratton Facey:facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast

 Episode 63: Guardians, wills and Sausage Slurry with lawyer Laura Vickers | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 41:11

Laura Vickers is a lawyer and mum of two who has carved out a niche for herself in the legal world with her practice Nest Legal based in Melbourne. She explains to us why it’s important to have the difficult conversations around who will look after your kids if you die, who gets your assets and what songs you want played at your funeral. Her practice focusses on families, wills, tax and property conveyancing, and strives to be a family-friendly little hamlet in the decidedly unfamily-friendly legal world. We learn that pre-nups are not as big a deal as we thought, that the wills you buy at the post office probably aren’t comprehensive enough and a handy recipe for Sausage Slurry, which ticks all our boxes for easy, fast, healthy and good for little tummies.

 Episode 62: Great Aussie TV miniseries', bulk-buying birthday gifts, and making 'mum friends' | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 44:24

While admittedly this episode starts with a requisite debrief on *the* Royal wedding, if you're in need of some high quality TV series' and podcasts to get hooked into while the weather is chilly, this episode has heaps of our recent (or ol' favourite) recommendations. Then we delve into how and why Tess is trying (and so far failing) to make some new local mum friends, and share our friendship origin story, a.k.a that time when we awkwardly met at a cafe having read eachother's blogs and stalked eachother online. Plus we offer some parenting hacks and a few chuckles. Enjoy!  Reading: Every Decision My Kids Made Me Make In One DaySmall Acts of Disappearance by Fiona WrightUnbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia de Rossi Watching: Supernanny (Youtube)The Handmaid’s Tale (SBS) - no spoilers!Safe Harbour (SBS)Love My WayWildsideSeven Types of AmbiguityThe Beautiful Lie  Listening: Ladies, We Need To Talk (new season)The HabitatHillary Clinton on Conversations ----- Have you rated/reviewed us on iTunes yet? Don't be shy! It helps other parents find our podcast. We'd love it if you did!! xx E&T ----- PS... thenewnormalpodcast.comworsthousebeststreet.comtessmccabe.com.au Insta:@thenewnormalpodcast@tessmccabe@emmaclarkgratton Facey:facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast

 Episode 61: Homebirth, anxiety and the Mother Baby Unit with Lorelei Vashti | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 54:49

If this bumper episode sounds like you’re eavesdropping on three friends who haven’t seen each other in a while, then that’s exactly what it is.  We catch up with past guest Lorelei Vashti (author of How to Choose Your Baby’s Last Name: A Handbook for New Parents) who we first spoke to way back in episode 27. Lorelei generously shares all about her two very different home births, dealing with birth trauma and what help is out there for parents who may be struggling.   The birthing course that Lorelei mentioned is through Birthing Wisdom by Rhea Dempsey. The anti-anxiety weighted blanket that Emma raves about it is from Calming Moments. If you or another parent you know is struggling with emotional wellbeing, you can call PANDA on 1300 726 306.    

 Episode 60: Asking for flexibility at work, internet wormholes, and a dash of Beyonce | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 47:34

A LOT of random ground in covered in this episode, featuring Emma & Tess chit chatting about recent reads and audiovisual consumption. Cults, cold case murder investigations, stars without makeup, wills, Beyonce... See? Plus, a discussion about asking for flexibility at your workplace before/after you've been offered a new job; and two parenting hacks that that will make you a whole lot less frustrated by the minutiae of daily parenting life! :D Reading: Ordinary People by Diana EvansZero Fucks Cookbook by Yumi Stynes7 Damaging Parenting Behaviors That Keep Children From Growing Into LeadersGuide to pre-death life admin Watching (all on Netflix): LoveThe KeepersWild Wild Country  Listening: In The Loop podcast ----- Hey, if you have a minute, please rate and or review us on iTunes? It helps other parents scrolling through their phones for mental relief at the end of a long day find our podcast. Thanks in advance!! xx E&T ----- PS... thenewnormalpodcast.comworsthousebeststreet.comtessmccabe.com.au Insta:@thenewnormalpodcast@tessmccabe@emmaclarkgratton Facey:facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast

 Episode 59: Jess Reftel Evans on IVF and hope | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 45:30

It seems unbelievable that after 58 episodes, this is the first one where we have deep-dived into IVF. Fertility issues affect one in six couples, and more than 70,000 IVF cycles are performed in Australia each year. But photographer Jess Reftel-Evans came to IVF for a different reason to most people: Jess has a genetic condition that she didn’t want to pass onto her offspring. She answers all our nosey questions about egg harvesting and HCF levels, and graciously puts up with us exclaiming, ‘Oh my God!’ every few seconds. We also chat about celebrity pregnancies (Janet Jackson fell pregnant at 50!?!) giving false hope to regular women, maintaining a relationship through IVF and how much parenting is like having a dog: kids eat food off the floor, require a lot of walks and will poo anywhere. Some even require leashes!   

 Episode 58: Tess' meal planning method, She-Ra, and the genius of Date Day | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 35:58

Only a privileged few have ever set eyes on Tess' weekly meal plan, but in this episode the origin and power of this document is revealed once and for all (and it's actually super easy for you to try for yourself!). Also, we talk about the books and podcasts we've been consuming, and offer a couple of parenting hacks including one that will make bathtime easier, and one that will make you a fancy free human adult who enjoys midday movies and long lunches with your lover. READING Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay WATCHING She-Ra (Netflix) Better Things (Foxtel) Becoming Warren Buffett (on YouTube) LISTENING Auspicious Plastic podcast by Megan Spencer Where Should We Begin podcast with Esther Perel (Season 2)  

 Episode 57: Stillbirth | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00:46

Episode 57 is a special one. Instead of our usual mix of recommendations, updates and banter, we dedicate the entire episode to the stillbirth of Emma's daughter Edie in October last year. Her due date was last Saturday. We discuss what happened, what helped and where to from here, including how you can help someone in similar circumstances. You can find more of Emma's writing about her experience at her blog.    This probably isn't an episode for little ears, or if you are feeling a little tender.    

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