Episode
What you don't know about the mental load with Leah Ruppanner
- Podcast
- Ladies, We Need To Talk
- Published
- Aug 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1538
- Processing state
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Summary
We've been talking about the mental load for decades, so why are so many women still carrying it? It's the unseen mental and emotional work we do to keep our lives running — the planning, problem-solving, and remembering that often goes unnoticed. The term isn't new, but our understanding of it is changing. Yumi is joined by sociologist Leah Ruppanner, who interviewed thousands of women as part of a research project to develop tools to help manage and lighten your mental load. As part of this research, Leah's developed a simple online quiz that breaks the mental load into eight categories, helping you see where your energy is going and how you might redistribute it. Further information Drained: Reduce Your Mental Load to Do Less and Be More is published by Penguin Random House Free Mental Load Assessment | Lighten Lab | Professor Leah Ruppanner) This episode will answer questions like: What is the mental load? How can I reduce the mental load? How does carrying the load impact women? How can I share the mental load? What are the eight categories of the mental load What to listen to next: "Traded a husband for a bestie" Why these mums moved in together Worst ever dates, with Alita Brydon What to read next: Empty-nesters on how they 'fill the void' left by children Women on being in a sexless marriage and tips for reconnecting This episode contains references to the mental load, housework, invisible labour, emotional labour, parenting, emotional responsibility.