Claim OwnershipThe Mental Load Chronicles
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© 2026 The Mental Load Chronicles
Description
One couple’s real-time journey to rebalance work, home, and everything in between.
We’ve been married for 20 years. We’ve got three kids, multiple dogs, demanding careers—and more mental tabs open than our browsers can handle.
We’re not experts. We’re just two longtime partners trying to unpack the invisible labor that’s been building between us for years—and we’re doing it out loud, on purpose, in real time.
Each week, we sit down (sometimes tired, often interrupted) to talk through what the mental load really looks like in our home, what’s working, what’s not, and how we’re learning to share the weight more equitably.
With honesty, humor, and zero perfection, we’re inviting you along as we figure it out—one messy, meaningful conversation at a time.
Expect:
- Real talk about modern relationships
- Behind-the-scenes of our wins and fails
- Tools, conversations, and messy progress
- And plenty of “Oof, same” moments
Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or just tired of doing it all, you’ll find solidarity—and maybe some solutions—right here.
23 Episodes
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Send us a text Sometimes the mental load looks like powering through. And sometimes it looks like knowing when to pause. We planned new episodes for the end of the year — and then real life happened. Energy ran out. The calendar filled up. The load showed up. So we’re taking a short break and will be back in January with new conversations about sharing the work, the weight, and the invisible labor of family life. Thanks for being here — and for understanding that rest is part of the work, too...
Send us a text Sick days, snow days, thank-you notes, tooth fairies, parenting possession arrows, and yes… the moment one partner wonders what their legs would look like in high heels. We’re revisiting the Magic Deck—the cards that shape the “fun” and “meaning” parts of family life—and asking what’s working, what’s slipping, and what still needs a major reboot. In this episode, we dig into: – Why sick days and school closures keep defaulting to the same parent – How middle-of-the-night wakeup...
Send us a text This week, we’re taking you inside our Thanksgiving trip to Disney World — a vacation that somehow became our most relaxed Disney trip yet… even with strep throat, checklist mishaps, extended family dynamics, and a whole lot of mental load along the way. We unpack the real moments parents know too well: • the fridge “celery incident” that wasn’t actually about celery • why handing off tasks before a trip is so tricky • the tiny gestures that make all the diffe...
Send us a text In this pre-holiday episode, we ask each other quick-hit questions about the holidays: what we dread, what overwhelms us, which traditions matter, and where we inevitably stumble into marriage dynamics. We talk about the chaos of decorating, the emotional weight of making the season “magical,” the guilt around traditions, the blessing and burnout of family expectations, and what it feels like to navigate this season in an interfaith home. Whether you’re juggling latkes, wrappin...
Send us a text This Thanksgiving week, we’re doing something a little different. Guided by our teenage daughter, we sat down for a real “getting to know us” Q&A. In this heartfelt conversation, we reflect on 21 years of marriage, raising three kids across three very different life stages, our career paths, our hopes for the future, and the gifts of the “good old days” we’re living in right now. Along the way, you’ll hear the true story of how we ended up getting married in South Korea, wh...
Send us a text This week, we’re talking about the mental load of gift giving — and how to make it meaningful without the guilt, pressure, or drama. From the emotional labor of shopping, wrapping, and remembering everyone’s favorites, to the art of giving gifts that actually land, we’re sharing our best hits (and a few epic misses — looking at you, “urine-be-gone”). We’ll walk through ideas for gifts that say “I see you” — from Fair Play bundles to self-care packages, stress-free travel plans,...
Send us a text One minute your kid’s supposed to be asleep. The next, you’re calling 911 because her retainer is stuck in her throat. In this episode, we share what really happened — the chaos, the calm, the fire truck in our driveway — and what it taught us about dividing the mental load when life takes a sharp left turn. From staying calm under pressure to learning when to just let go (literally), this is a story about teamwork, panic, parenting, and the weirdest bedtime emergency ever. It’...
Send us a text If last week was about awareness, this week is about action — and continuing a conversation too good to rush. In Episode 15, we started unpacking what it really takes to share the mental load. The dialogue ran deep, so instead of cutting it short, we kept going. This week, we pick up right where we left off: talking about accountability, self-understanding, and how defining success at home can be just as important (and complicated) as defining it at work. There’s reflection, la...
Send us a text In this candid check-in, we talk about how things are really going as we try to share the mental load. From garlic confusion and weekend dinners to birthday parties and even an unexpected ER visit, this episode unpacks the tiny shifts that add up to big changes. We get real about what’s working, what still feels heavy, and how learning to let go — and let your partner actually help — can be life-changing in the smallest ways. It’s messy, funny, and maybe a little too relatable....
Send us a text If you’ve ever tried to talk about the mental load and ended up in a full-blown argument — this one’s for you. We’ve been there. More than once. In this episode, we get brutally honest about what didn’t work (spoiler: “you never do anything” is not a winning opener) and what finally did. It’s equal parts laughter, therapy flashbacks, and practical advice for anyone who’s ever reached their breaking point over the mental load. It’s real, raw, and maybe a little too relatable. Wh...
Send us a text You planned it, packed it, and somehow still ended up carrying the toddler uphill to a castle. In this week’s episode — Two Weeks, Four Backpacks, Seven Countries: Running Uphill With a Toddler on Your Back — we wrap up our travel trilogy by unpacking what it really takes to “relax” on vacation when you’re the family trip planner. From hangry moments at Epcot to surprise injuries in Bavaria, we share the real, unfiltered mental load of traveling as a family — and how to make yo...
Send us a text Packing is never just about clothes—it’s about anticipating every scenario, lightening the mental load, and making sure the whole family can actually enjoy the trip. In this episode of The Mental Load Chronicles, we share how we packed for a two-week, seven-country European adventure with three kids… using just four backpacks. From building a DIY medical kit with a label maker, to outsmarting cobblestones with backpacks instead of rolling suitcases, to improvising with Pringles...
Send us a text In this first episode of our three-part Travel with Five series, we dive into the mental load of travel planning. From researching flights a year in advance to sprinting through train stations with three kids, we unpack what it really takes to pull off a two-week, seven-country European adventure. You’ll hear: Why backpacks > suitcases when traveling in EuropeWhat went wrong (oversold trains, closed attractions, rental car chaos in Paris)How balancing kids’ preferences adds ...
Send us a text In this episode of The Mental Load Chronicles, we dive into what happened when Dad took full responsibility for planning our son’s birthday party—for the very first time. From scrambling for contact info and navigating RSVPs, to forgotten candles, late-night Target runs, and the chaos of seven laser-tag-hyped kids, we unpack the invisible labor that goes into pulling off a “simple” birthday party. You’ll hear what surprised him, what felt easier than expected, and where the big...
Send us a text In this episode of The Mental Load Chronicles, we continue exploring the caregiving portion of the Fair Play deck—this time focusing on the realities of pet care, parenting, medical needs, and school responsibilities. From managing a beloved pet’s cancer treatments to dealing with homework, school transitions, and never-ending paperwork, they unpack how these responsibilities add up to create an invisible but very real mental load. The discussion also touches on estate planning...
Send us a text What happens when pop culture’s biggest power couple collides with the everyday realities of marriage and mental load? In this episode, we use Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s whirlwind romance as a springboard to unpack the conversations every couple should have before tying the knot. From dividing household labor, balancing career demands, and navigating money and kids, to making time for each other when life gets hectic — we share what we wish someone had handed us as a “marr...
Send us a text Tooth fairy fails, surprise haircuts, and why “helping” sometimes makes things harder—this episode dives into the caregiving side of the mental load. We work through the Fair Play deck and unpack how small tasks highlight bigger truths about partnership, parenting, and communication. Highlights include: Why surprise “help” (like an unexpected haircut stop) doesn’t always lighten the loadThe difference between “just doing it” vs. “doing it with shared knowledge”How small t...
Send us a text Birthday parties look simple from the outside, but behind the balloons and cake is a mountain of invisible labor. He's offered to "own" birthday parties! Yay! So, in this episode, we unpack the hidden checklist of planning a kid’s party: RSVPs, food drama, decorations, thank-you notes, and the chaos of managing 20 kids at once. He says, "Piece of cake!" going into it - how does he feel after talking to our son and actually getting down to planning the party? Chapters 00:00 Intr...
Send us a text From pet loss to home renovations gone rogue, we’re diving into the “Wild” section of the Fair Play deck. These are the unpredictable life moments that don’t fit neatly into a category — but still demand teamwork, compassion, and a good sense of humor. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Fair Play and Mental Load Chronicles 01:49 Navigating Death and Grief in Family 04:43 Home Renovation as a Shared Responsibility 06:50 Managing Daily Disruptions and Illness 09:17 Financial Ha...
Send us a text This week, we continue through the Fair Play deck by Eve Rodsky to see how our family’s responsibilities stack up — and who’s really holding the cards. From civic duties to cultural outings, travel plans to kids’ activities, we talk through what’s working, what’s… not, and how we can better share the load. It’s part strategy session, part reality check, and a whole lot of honest conversation about making home life feel fairer for both of us. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Fair ...
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