Myternity Leave

Join the ultimate 12 month rollercoaster as your friendly host Samantha Hannah (stand-up comedian and traditionally what's known as a "career gal") documents 365 days of parental leave. A maternity leave diary in podcast form—about fumbling through the end of pregnancy, preparing for parenthood, and discovering if comedy can prep you for the world’s toughest crowd: a newborn. But this isn’t a “how-to” on motherhood. This is not a parenting podcast. It's *for* the parents. And about identity—how it shifts and flips as your life faces one of its biggest changes yet.

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Latest episodes

27 May 2025

Month 7: We're leaving! (for a bit!)

This week on Myternity Leave, we've hit a few solid milestones. Literally! Charlie’s finally got a high chair, he’s trying actual food, and now I’m casually dealing with finding black strings in his nappy.

Aside from that, we’re packing for the UK (no big deal), and taking a little mid-season break. Make sure you’re following the podcast so you don’t miss when we’re back and make sure to recommend to a friend*. (*preferably one who doesn't mind a bit of poo chat).

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19 May 2025

Month 6: Trade-offs

This week on Myternity Leave, it’s month six, and we’re somehow nearly halfway through. Toby joins me on the couch for a heartfelt (and slightly grumpy) catch-up as I mourn parts of my old life… like having the freedom to write jokes at any time, not exclusively at 5am in the morning. We talk about our recent trip to Waipukurau, surviving the dreaded 4-month sleep regression (yes, still), and Toby’s first baby swimming classes. All this and the main man himself makes a rather cute appearance.

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12 May 2025

Month 5: It's our birthdays and baby will cry if he wants to

On this episode of Myternity Leave, it’s birthday time for Toby and me… not that we're in any way relevant now. We reflect on how celebrations have changed (less bougie brunch, more nappy bin bants), I shed some thoughts — and hair — on postpartum fallout, and I continue my return to the stage with the joyful chaos that is Airhorn! in Newtown.

It’s an episode about building new traditions, letting go of your locks, and clinging onto the little things that help make you feel like you again.

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05 May 2025

Month 4: Death Wobble on the SH1 Southbound

In the latest episode of Myternity Leave, Toby finally gets a mic, I reminisce about my foray into the world of baby activities, and reenact the day my car developed a full-blown death wobble on the motorway.

Elsewhere, I squeeze in a visit to work with little one in tow, we take our first little overnight trip, and I return to comedy with two gigs in one night — which would be fine, if I wasn’t completely in love with my baby and crying on the inside the whole time.

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28 April 2025

Guest Ep with Lesa MacLeod-Whiting

This week on Myternity Leave, life threw me a curveball — a family emergency meant I had to hit pause on documenting the next leg of the parental leave journey.

Luckily, my very funny friend Lesa MacLeod-Whiting (2025 Billy T Award nominee and my Are We Pals? podcast co-host) had been at my place earlier in the week — and we just so happened to record a chat while she was there!

From accidentally ending up at a pro-abortion rally with a five-week-old, to sharing tips about going back to work as a self-employed new mum, Lesa provides us with a very real, very fun surprise guest episode.

Tickets for Lesa's NZ Comedy Fest Show Rebellina are available now! https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/find-a-show/lesa-macleod-whiting-rebellina/

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21 April 2025

Month 3: Getting back into the world

It’s Month 3 of maternity leave, and I’ve left the house. On purpose. With the baby. And I drove. That’s right — I’m back behind the wheel as a brand-new mum and a brand-new driver. In this episode, I cry in a pet store car park, get deep as I talk about losing someone I love, and discuss how I now use a Tamagotchi-style self-care app to survive the day.

It’s all about rebuilding independence, exploring as a family, and trying to grow in confidence. But even more important than all that, I've finally finished the nursery and hot air balloon!

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