Women are holding more than ever, the mental load, the emotional labour, the invisible work that keeps families, teams, and workplaces running.

In this episode of Spacious Success, I’m joined by one of the wisest women in my life, Maggie Dent, for a deeply honest conversation about why modern motherhood and womanhood feels so heavy right now.

We explore why women lie awake at night running endless mental checklists, why the pressure to be a “good mother” has intensified, and how biology, hormones and the digital age are colliding to create chronic overwhelm.

We talk about the loss of the village, the rise of comparison culture, the unrealistic standards women are measuring themselves against, and why self-care isn’t the solution we’ve been sold.

This is a conversation about identity, matrescence, perimenopause, boundaries, and the power of wise women, friendship, and community.

If you’re a high-performing woman feeling stretched thin, depleted, or quietly wondering, Is it just me? This episode will help you understand what’s really going on, and why you’re not broken.

Commonly known as the ‘queen of common sense’, Maggie Dent has become one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors, educators and podcasters. She has a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience, and is an undisputed ‘boy champion’. Maggie is the author of 10 major books, including the bestselling Mothering Our Boys, From Boys to Men and Girlhood. In 2024, she released her final parenting book, Help Me Help My Teen. Maggie hosts The Good Enough Dad podcast and hosted six seasons of the award-winning ABC podcast Parental As Anything. In 2025, she also featured in the genre-bending ABC TV series, The Role of a Lifetime. Maggie is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother.