Lighten Your Mental Load, Ditch the Mum Guilt, and Rethink Care with Professor Leah Ruppanner

Are you feeling exhausted or burnt out from the mental load? 

In this episode, I speak with Professor Leah Ruppanner – sociologist, gender equity advocate, and founder of the Future of Work Lab at the University of Melbourne. Leah unpacks the mental load in a way you’ve never heard before - why it’s not just cognitive, but deeply emotional too.

If you’ve ever felt invisible, overwhelmed, or wondered why you’re carrying so much, this conversation is for you. Leah’s insights are validating, refreshing, and might just change the way you move through motherhood and work.

From gendered expectations and the invisible labor women carry, to the societal norms that fuel mum guilt, Leah shares evidence-based insights and practical ways to help you begin to lighten the load. 

You will hear about:

- The true definition of the mental load (spoiler: it’s more emotional than you think)

- Why some mental load solutions don’t work (and what might)

- How gender norms are holding us back at home and at work

- The real reason mum guilt exists and how to release it

- How workplaces can (and must) better support caregiving

- What the research says about dads, mental load, and the desire to be more present

- Leah’s vision for structural change and redefining care as essential infrastructure

 

MORE LINKS

Connect with Leah via her website www.leahruppanner.com or on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/leah-ruppanner-1657a417/

Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity and the website  www.workingmumma.com.au or connect with Carina on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/carina-obrien/

 

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW 

If you loved this episode, please take a moment ot subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more working mums who need this resource to help them navigate the juggle of career and motherhood. Thanks for tuning in and see you next week.