141. The Controversial School Holidays Episode — 3 Years Later

Sep 29, 2026 · 45 min · 13 segments

Three years ago, I recorded what became the **most-listened-to episode of Dr Julie's Coffee Chats** — and listening back, I was struck by just how relevant it still is today. So I'm bringing it back. While school holidays might seem like a simple issue of juggling children and work, the reality is much bigger. In this episode, I unpack the **research and statistics behind what happens to women's careers, income, financial security and wellbeing when they become parents — and why this matters to ALL women, whether you have children or not.** We look at the gender pay gap, occupational segregation, parental leave, why women are more likely to reduce their hours or leave the workforce, and the longer-term consequences of these decisions. Because these aren't simply individual choices happening inside individual families. There are much bigger structural factors at play. And school holidays are just one small window into a much bigger conversation about how our workplaces, childcare systems and society are set up — and who ultimately carries the cost when they don't fit together. I'm now coming back to this episode three years later with three boys all in school, but the research and the questions at the heart of this conversation remain incredibly relevant. This isn't an episode about blaming parents, women, men or employers. It's about looking at the **evidence**, understanding what is actually happening, and asking whether we should be doing things differently. And next week, Anna and I will continue the conversation and bring our 2026 perspectives to this topic. But first, let's go back to where it started. **This is The Controversial School Holidays Episode.** A huge thank you to my podcast partner, **Fuel Box**, a fellow Wellington business supporting busy Kiwis to fuel their day.

Speakers: JulieHost

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈12k followers

The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said

Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes

Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline

Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode

141. The Controversial School Holidays Episode — 3 Years Later

We value your privacy

141. The Controversial School Holidays Episode — 3 Years Later

Sign up to see more

Sign up to see more