Episode 2: Nobody Warned Us with Dr Beth Russ

Divorce is rarely just about signing papers. Behind the legal battles, financial uncertainty and emotional exhaustion are real people navigating one of life's most challenging transitions. But what if separation didn't have to become a battle? In Episode 8 of The Parts We Hide, Victoria Braithwaite and Dr Pennie Taylor APD are joined by Rose Cocchiaro, founder of Resolve Divorce and co-founder of RISE Woman, to explore what really happens when relationships break down, and why the way we navigate separation matters. Together, they unpack the emotional and financial complexities of divorce, the often-hidden realities of financial abuse and coercive control, and the importance of self-awareness, emotional regulation and managing conflict. They also challenge the stigma surrounding divorce and explore how a more compassionate, informed approach can help people protect their wellbeing, maintain their dignity and move forward. Whether you've experienced separation yourself, supported someone through it, or simply want to better understand the challenges people face behind closed doors, this conversation offers a different perspective on navigating life's difficult transitions. Because the parts we hide are often the parts that connect us. Content note: This episode discusses domestic and family violence, financial abuse, coercive control and emotional distress. Please take care while listening. Support: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence in Australia, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

When Annabel Bower's son Miles was stillborn, she entered a world of grief that so many families experience, yet so few of us know how to talk about. In this deeply personal episode of The Parts We Hide, Annabel joins Victoria Braithwaite and Dr Pennie Taylor APD to share Miles' story and explore the silence that so often surrounds miscarriage, stillbirth and baby loss. Why are we sometimes afraid to say a baby's name? What do you say when there really are no words? How can we better support someone navigating a loss that changes their world forever? Annabel is the author of Miles Apart: A Heartfelt Guide to Surviving Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Baby Loss, a book inspired by her own experience and the practical, compassionate support she wished she'd had. Together, they explore the isolation of baby loss, the reality of grief that doesn't follow a timeline, the things people say with good intentions that can unintentionally cause hurt, and the importance of remembering and honouring babies who have died. Because saying their name doesn't remind a parent of their loss. They haven't forgotten. Sometimes it simply lets them know that you haven't forgotten either. This is a conversation about love, loss, remembrance and the power of acknowledging the parts of grief we so often hide. Because the parts we hide are often the parts that connect us. About Annabel's book Miles Apart: A Heartfelt Guide to Surviving Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Baby Loss Find out more: https://www.milesapart.online Content note: This episode discusses miscarriage, stillbirth, baby loss and grief. Please listen when and if it feels right for you.

When you’re caring for everyone, who’s looking after you?

What happens when you're qualified to be in the room, but you're still trying to convince yourself you belong there? In this episode, Victoria Braithwaite and Dr Pennie Taylor APD are joined by sisters Christina Bruno and Sarah Bettcher, two engineers who have built successful careers in traditionally male-dominated fields. They take us back to where that sense of belonging can begin, long before the workplace. From growing up playing with Barbies while their brothers built with Lego and Meccano, to arriving at university feeling as though everyone else already knew more, Christina and Sarah reflect on confidence, finding their voices and the pressure to prove themselves. They share the moments they weren't heard, the meetings where speaking up felt impossible, the interview where Sarah's mind went completely blank and how those experiences have shaped the women and leaders they are today. But this conversation isn't only about careers. Christina joins us just two weeks after giving birth, rocking baby Harvey as we talk about motherhood, sleep deprivation, workplace flexibility, supportive partners, mental load, guilt, burnout and the invisible work that continues long after the working day ends. We also ask what needs to change for the girls coming behind them. How do we encourage girls who love maths, science, building and problem-solving to back themselves? How do leaders create workplaces where quieter voices aren't simply invited into the room, but are actually given the space to be heard? It's an honest, funny and very real conversation about confidence, careers, motherhood, leadership and learning that sometimes you don't need to become the loudest person in the room. You just need to know that your voice belongs there. The Parts We Hide. Because the parts we hide are often the parts that connect us.

Few things attract more judgement than how a mother feeds her baby. Breast is best. Fed is best. Breastfeeding, formula feeding, combination feeding; behind those simple phrases are women trying to make deeply personal decisions at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives, often without access to all the information they need. In Fearless Feeding, Charlotte Chambers, part of the first female-owned and operated infant formula company in Australia joins Victoria Braithwaite and Dr Pennie Taylor for an open conversation about infant feeding, motherhood and the judgement that can come with both. Charlotte shares her own experience of trying to feed a newborn, the challenges that followed and how that lived experience ultimately became the beginning of a business. Together, they explore the messaging around “breast is best” and “fed is best”, the laws and restrictions surrounding infant formula information and marketing, and an important question: what happens when parents don’t have all the information they need at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives? How do we make reliable infant-feeding information and support more accessible to new mums? How do we better support women when breastfeeding doesn’t go to plan? And can we have more honest conversations about feeding our babies without judgement, guilt or shame? Because fearless feeding isn’t about choosing one side or another. It’s about giving women the information, support and confidence they need to make the decision that is right for them and their baby.