The Mental Load: Why Women Carry It and How to Share

What does it really mean to carry the mental load and why does it so often fall on women? In this episode, Paige Connell: a mom of four and former corporate professional turned full-time content creator — joins us to unpack the invisible labor of motherhood, marriage, and modern partnership. We explore what the mental load actually is (and why it’s been so hard to name), how invisible and emotional labor shape our relationships, and practical ways to make the invisible visible. Paige shares how to talk about the mental load with your partner without triggering defensiveness, resentment, or the “nagging” narrative — and why time is a real contribution, not just financial contribution, because time equity reveals what money often hides. If you’ve ever felt exhausted, unseen, or like you’re carrying more than your share, this conversation will help you feel less alone — and more equipped to ask for change. Forget perfect parenting—this is the podcast moms actually want. These episodes feel like a late-night kitchen-table chat with your best friend: real, warm, and a little messy. Each week, Annabel Lawee and Dale Stabler share unfiltered stories and host honest conversations about what motherhood really feels like—identity shifts, career pivots, mental health struggles, mom guilt, and the vulnerable truths that rarely make the highlight reel. We’re not experts, nor will we ever pretend to be—just two mom best friends riding the rollercoaster right alongside you and creating a space where you feel seen, inspired, and never alone.