Why are women so exhausted? Professor Leah Ruppanner explains the invisible mental load women carry every day - from planning and organising to worrying and responsibility-holding.

We explore the eight types of mental load, why women become the default managers of family life, the impact of social judgment and gender expectations, and practical ways to reclaim energy for what matters most.

A validating, research-backed conversation for every working mum who feels mentally and emotionally overloaded.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/187

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I teach leadership for a living. So when I got a phone call from school telling me my son had been suspended, I should have been able to handle it, right?

Within seconds, I was unravelling. Shame flooded in before logic had a chance, my people pleaser came online and every piece of leadership work I'd ever done on myself went quiet.

In this episode, I'm sharing something deeply personal with my son's full permission. Because what happened next and how my family navigated it taught me more about emotional regulation, personal leadership, and parenting than any professional training ever has.

We cover:

- Why home is often the hardest room to lead in and why that's not a failure

- What shame does to our nervous system and why it arrives before logic

- How to regulate yourself before you respond, and why that changes everything

- Why the people we love most can trigger us most deeply

- What Leading on All Fronts® looks like when it's tested most

This one is for the high-achieving woman who holds everything together professionally and finds that home is the place that undoes her most quickly.

Whether your children are two months or twenty-two years old, this episode will stay with you.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/186

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Still not feeling like yourself even though your baby is months or years old? You're not imagining it. And you're not failing.

In this episode, Nicky Lowe shares her own experience of burnout and exhaustion after her first child - the years it took to get answers, and the moment she finally found the language for what had happened to her.

Drawing on the work of Dr. Oscar Serrallach (The Postnatal Depletion Cure), Nicky explores why postnatal depletion can last up to ten years after having a baby, why high-achieving women are so often dismissed when they say something is wrong, and what you can do, starting today, to begin rebuilding.

This episode is for new mums navigating the blur of early motherhood, women further into the journey who are still waiting to feel like themselves, and anyone who manages someone returning from parental leave.

You'll come away with:

A clear understanding of what postnatal depletion actually is and why it's so much more than tiredness

Why willpower and mindset alone won't fix this

Five practical steps to start supporting your system right now

Whether your baby is six weeks old or six years old - this one is for you.

Resources mentioned:
The Postnatal Depletion Cure by Dr. Oscar Serrallach

The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/185

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Confidence isn't something you're born with; it's something you build.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Kate Hayes, one of the leading experts in performance psychology. With a PhD focused on confidence in elite sport and experience supporting world-class athletes (including the Lionesses) Kate brings both cutting-edge research and real-world insight.

We explore what confidence really is, whether women experience confidence differently to men, and how to build it in a way that's evidence-based, grounded, and lasting, so you can perform at your best when it matters most.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/184

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If you've ever found yourself wondering, "What is happening to me?"… you are not alone. Perimenopause can feel like a slow and disorienting shift.

In this honest and empowering episode, I'm joined by Dr Charlotte Gooding, GP and BMS-accredited menopause specialist, to explore perimenopause, HRT and breast cancer risk.

We unpack the symptoms many women miss, the emotional impact of hormonal change, and the nuance around HRT safety, so you can make more informed, personalised decisions about your health.

If you're navigating perimenopause, HRT decisions, or breast cancer fears, this episode will help you feel more informed, empowered and less alone.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/183

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Have you ever been told you need more presence, more gravitas, or more confidence at work?

In this episode, I'm joined by Louisa Preston and Luisa Baldini, co-founders of Composure Media and former BBC journalists, to explore how we can communicate with more confidence, composure and impact in high-stakes moments.

They share practical tools for building executive presence, managing nerves, using body language more intentionally, and speaking with calm authority - without over-explaining, shrinking yourself, or trying to become someone you're not.

A thoughtful, practical conversation for any ambitious woman who wants to be seen, heard and taken seriously at work.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/182

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AI is everywhere right now, yet many women are still hesitant to use it.

In this episode, we explore the growing gender gap in AI adoption with Andrew Wyatt-Sames and Lucy Pitt, co-founders of Uptake AI.

Together, we unpack the "good girl mindset" and the fear of cheating, and share simple, confidence-building ways to start using AI tools with care.

We also tackle the big questions around ethics, confidentiality, and what's safe to share - so you can protect your standards and get back precious headspace.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/181

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One of the most powerful things you can do as a leader and mother is build a team around you - because it really does take a village, both in work and in life.

In this episode, I'm joined by the women behind the scenes of my business for an honest, practical conversation about how we work together as a high-performing remote team.

We unpack the rhythms, communication habits, and supportive systems that keep everything moving, what we do when things go wrong, and the building blocks that help you create support you can truly trust. If you've been thinking, "I can't keep doing it all alone," this episode will show you what's possible.

More details: https://luminate-group.co.uk/podcast/180

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