Tara Pavlovic is a Gold Coast-based content creator and mum of two who recently announced her separation — and the response from women everywhere made it clear this conversation needed to happen.

Rachel and Tara get into what the lead-up to leaving actually looks like from the inside. The years of therapy. The panic attacks. The couples counselling that didn't save the marriage but mattered anyway. The Fiji holiday they booked because they knew they could still have a good time together. And the moment Tara's body made the decision before her mind was ready to.

They also go somewhere neither of them planned — into what it does to a woman's sense of self when she realises her version of the marriage and his were two completely different realities. And what it means to lose trust in yourself so completely that you can't imagine ever choosing again.

Honest, raw, and at times genuinely surprising. This one will probably make you cry at least once.

In this episode:

• Why the hardest part of leaving isn't what comes after — it's the decision itself
• What couples counselling actually does when it doesn't save the marriage
• How alcohol can hold a relationship together — and what happens when it's gone
• The moment the panic attacks became impossible to ignore
• Why she doesn't believe anyone will truly love her now
• What it feels like to lose all trust in yourself after a marriage ends
• What Tara would say to any woman sitting in that dark place right now
• 
  

Find Tara: @tarapavlovic

Now What is hosted by Rachel Maksimovic. Follow @rachel.maksimovic & @nowwhat.podcast on Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel sits down with Kylie to talk about the parts of single motherhood and dating again that don't get said out loud enough — the fallout when a significant relationship ends and your kids are caught in it, the survival mode that masquerades as a personality, and the stories women tell themselves to excuse behaviour they should be walking away from. Kylie is five years out from her separation, has lived through a second major breakup, and speaks with the kind of hard-won clarity that only comes from actually doing the work. This is an honest conversation about blended families, self-trust, and what it really takes to be open to love again without losing yourself in the process.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catie Gett is a Melbourne-based naturopath, founder of The Staple Store, and single mum to her daughter Scout. She has spent her career making food and health accessible to people who can't afford a 20-step morning routine — and this conversation goes places neither of them expected.

Rachel and Catie get into what survival mode actually costs you. Why the wellness industry has made health aspirational instead of accessible. Why telling women to self-care without changing any of the actual conditions they're living in is just another layer of guilt. And what it feels like to look back on your daughter's early years and realise you don't remember them — because you were so deep in stress you weren't really there.

Rachel also gets honest about where she's at right now. And somehow, by the end of it, finds one thing she can actually change.

This one is for every woman standing at the bench feeding her kids breakfast while she has nothing but a coffee. It's practical, it's honest, and it will probably make you cry at least once.

In this episode:

• Why the wellness industry has made health a purchase, not a right
• What survival mode does to your body — and your memory
• The breakfast change that shifted everything for Katie
• Why "have you tried yoga?" is some of the most expensive free advice women get
• The specific cruelty of heartbreak when you're parenting alone
• 
  

Find Catie: @thestaplestore

Now What is hosted by Rachel Maksimovic. Follow @rachel.maksimovic & @nowwhat.podcast on Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Stephanie, the creator of The Divorce Diaries, who began documenting her divorce and court experience in real time from the US. Together they unpack what it’s really like to navigate a legal system when money, representation, and support feel out of reach, and the financial whiplash of going from being a stay-at-home mum to having to provide again almost overnight.

Stephanie shares the turning points that made her leave, the layers of betrayal she uncovered, and why choosing to “settle” wasn’t giving up, it was a decision to step out of the chaos and protect her kids’ wellbeing. They talk co-parenting when communication is tense, how to stay grounded when things are done to derail your day, and the practical ways Stephanie rebuilt her strength through small daily acts of self-care, perspective, and boundaries.

This is a candid conversation for anyone entering separation, facing court, or trying to rebuild a life that feels stable, safe, and yours again.

Find Stephanie @stylewith.stephanie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy didn’t set out to become a voice for single mums online. She started by sharing her running. Then she posted one honest video about single motherhood and it blew up, not because it was dramatic, but because it told the truth: stop feeling sorry for her. Her life is good. And 18 months ago, she was in the hardest place of her life.

In this episode, Amy speaks candidly about the slow heartbreak of postpartum expectations not being met, the moment she realised she couldn’t stay, and the stigma she had to unlearn about what being a single mum means. She also shares what it was like growing up raised by a single mother herself, how that shaped her fear of repeating history, and why she now sees her choice to leave early as its own kind of cycle-breaking.

There’s no sugar-coating the early months. Amy describes them as hell: moving constantly, sleep deprivation, living out of bags, and navigating a legal battle while trying to stay present for her son. She talks about the unexpected things that helped her heal, including community, friendship, and a relationship that showed her what respectful love can look like, even if the timing wasn’t right to keep it.

The conversation goes deep into the parts of single motherhood that aren’t always said out loud: weekend triggers, watching families together, grieving the dream you had when you fell pregnant, and the ongoing ache of knowing your child didn’t choose this. It also explores identity, boundaries, and the conscious decision not to make your child your whole world, especially when you know the pressure that can put on a son.

Amy shares what her co-parenting structure looks like, how she uses the little time she gets to refill her cup, and what she’d say to a newly single mum who feels like dreams and goals are a lifetime away.

This episode is for the woman in the thick of it. The woman comparing her life to the families at cafes. The woman just trying to survive the day. It’s a reminder that single motherhood is brutally hard, but it can also be the making of someone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

**Melbourne IVF fertility specialist Dr Daniel Lantsberg has offered the Now What community an exclusive discount for anyone in Melbourne considering becoming a solo mum by choice.

They are offering half-price off the initial consultation — usually $400, reduced to $200 — for those who register via the link below.

The initial consult is the most important first step, even if you’re only in the thinking stage. It gives you clarity on your fertility, your timelines, your options and the realistic pathway ahead, so you can make informed decisions without losing valuable time.

If this is something you’ve been quietly considering, this is a practical place to begin.

Leave your details to start your journey with Melbourne IVF:

https://www.jotform.com/assign/260467361728059/260471128781054

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Anna Riches (you may know her from Big Miracles) for an honest, reassuring conversation about becoming a solo mum by choice- and what people don’t tell you about the road to getting there.

Anna takes us through the turning points that pushed her from “I’ve got time” to freezing her eggs, then choosing a donor, then diving into treatment with Dr Daniel Lantsberg — including multiple failed IUIs, IVF, a chemical pregnancy, a pregnancy loss, and the third transfer that finally brought River into her life.

They talk money (because IVF isn’t optional-cost), the long, mandatory counselling and donor waitlist process, how she chose her donor, why she didn’t use a friend as a donor even when offered, and what it feels like when you’re the only adult at 4am with a crying baby and no one to tap in.

It’s also a conversation about the emotional aftermath: the hormonal shock, the loneliness that hits in different seasons, the grief for your old life even when you got the life you wanted, and the non-negotiable need to protect your mental health - including building in paid help even if it means living lean.

If you’re considering solo motherhood by choice, this episode cuts through the noise: start earlier than you think, expect it to take longer than you think, and don’t confuse fear with a “no.”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The holiday season can be beautiful — and brutal — especially when you’re a single parent.

In this end-of-year episode of Now What, Rachel speaks directly to the quiet, complicated realities that so many single mums carry through the festive period. The grief of waking up without your children on Christmas morning. The sting of moments you assumed were guaranteed. The comparison traps — to the other parent, to two-parent households, to families with bigger budgets, bigger holidays, bigger support systems.

This conversation is an honest acknowledgement that Christmas doesn’t magically become easier just because time has passed. Whether it’s your first Christmas post-separation or your fifth, the feelings can still surface — and that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

Rachel explores how to hold both love and grief at the same time, how to release the pressure to “replicate” old traditions, and how to gently redefine what this season can look like now. She reminds us that children don’t care about dates on a calendar — they care about how they feel, how loved they are, and the moments we create with intention.

This episode also speaks to the mums spending Christmas without their kids, offering permission to take up space, to create rituals that soothe rather than distract, and to honour your own experience without shame or self-blame.

It’s a conversation about comparison being the thief of joy, about letting go of perfection, about creating magic within the reality you’re in — not the one you imagined. And about choosing, again and again, to feel the feelings without getting stuck in them.

If this season feels tender, heavy, or quietly lonely — this episode is for you. You are not broken for finding it hard. You are human.

Rachel closes the year with reflection, compassion, and a reminder that you get to decide what comes next.

Wishing you a gentle, intentional holiday period — however it looks for you.

Now What will be back in your ears in January 2026.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever had the quiet thought — “Could I become a solo mum by choice?” — this episode is a must-listen.

In this powerful and deeply informative conversation, I sit down with Dr Daniel Lansberg, Fertility Specialist at Melbourne IVF and one of the leading experts in fertility care (and known from the TV series Big Miracles). Together, we walk through the entire journey of becoming a Solo Mum by Choice — from the very first “what if?” all the way to what the path can look like in practice.

Dr Lansberg breaks down every step with clarity and compassion, covering:

• What to do if you’re just starting to think about solo motherhood
• How to understand your fertility picture
• The full medical process from first appointment → donor selection → treatment
• Egg freezing — when to consider it, who it’s right for, and what to expect
• Common fears and emotional hurdles women experience
• Unexpected things that can come up along the way
• Costs, timelines, preparation, and lifestyle factors
• How to make an informed, empowered decision about your next chapter

Whether you’re actively planning, quietly curious, or supporting someone on this path, this episode will leave you feeling informed, grounded, and less alone in the process.

This episode is part of our Solo Mum by Choice Mini-Series, designed to bring clarity and confidence to any woman navigating this possibility.

Sponsored by Melbourne IVF

Learn more about Melbourne IVF and book a consultation:

https://www.mivf.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I’m joined by Fiona, the founder of Mama Matters, for a deeply grounding conversation about what it really means to be a good enough parent.

We unpack the origins of the term, why it’s become such an important reframe for modern parents, and how releasing the pressure to be “perfect” can radically transform the way we show up for our kids — especially when we’re parenting on our own.

Fiona breaks down how good enough parenting supports single mums through overwhelm, decision fatigue, guilt, and the invisible load, offering practical ways to soften the self-criticism and hold more compassion for ourselves in the hardest seasons.

We also dive into Circle of Security, the attachment-based framework Fiona teaches, exploring how understanding our child’s emotional needs — and the patterns we bring from our own upbringing — can strengthen connection, reduce conflict, and create more ease in the everyday moments.

This is an episode for anyone craving reassurance, clarity, and a kinder way to navigate the complexities of solo parenting. You’ll walk away feeling steadier, more supported, and better equipped to trust yourself.

Follow Us:

Rachel: @rachel.maksimovic

Fiona: @mamamatters.au

Now What Podcast: @nowwhat.podcast

Mama Matters website: https://www.mamamatters.com.au/

Circle of Security program: https://www.mamamatters.com.au/circle-of-security-1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this short introductory episode, Rachel shares the story behind the evolution from Mothering On My Own to Now What?.

This podcast has always held space for the realities of single motherhood - the heartbreak, the rebuilding, the identity shifts, the co-parenting dynamics, the dating again, the courage it takes to start over. But as every single mother knows, the journey doesn’t really end once the dust settles. It changes shape. It stretches you. It asks new questions at every turn.

Now What? reflects that evolution. It’s still the same honest, grounded conversations you’ve come to expect - just expanded to honour everything that happens when a family changes shape, and everything that unfolds in the chapters that come after.

In this mini episode, Rachel walks through why the name felt right, what this shift means for the stories ahead, and how the podcast will continue to grow with you, no matter where you are on your journey.

If you’ve ever found yourself standing in a moment you didn’t plan for, wondering what comes next - you’re in the right place.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Mothering On My Own, Rachel is joined by financial advisor and coach Rebecca Pritchard for a real and relatable chat about money—because let’s be honest, it can feel super overwhelming, especially when you’re doing life solo.

Rebecca breaks down some of the biggest fears and myths around personal finance, particularly for single or separated women, and shares how shifting your mindset can completely change how you manage money. We talk about building confidence with your finances, learning the basics (without the jargon), and taking small, practical steps toward feeling more in control. If you're in the middle of a financial shake-up or just want to feel more empowered with your money, this one's for you.

FOLLOW US:

Instagram:

Podcast: @motheringonmyown.podcast

Rach: @rachel.maksimovic

Rebecca: @rfpritch and @risingtidefs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.