MissPerceived

The mental load isn’t just about managing household tasks and mental to-do lists —it’s about carrying the weight of everything happening around us. From the rise of AI to the cost-of-living crisis and threats to democracy, our cognitive and emotional burdens are shifting in ways we’re only beginning to understand.In this episode, Leah and Haley Swenson from the New America Better Life Lab dive into the meaning of "mental load," who carries it, and whose responsibility it is—individuals, families, organizations, or governments. We also explore how partners share (or don’t share) the load and what solutions exist for a more balanced future.Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcastFollow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Menopause is a natural transition in life, but should you talk about it at work? In this episode, Leah dives into the latest research on menopause in the workplace, your reproductive rights, and the policies (or lack thereof) supporting women through this stage. How do symptoms impact your career? And what does this mean for your identity at work? Tune in for expert insights on navigating menopause on the job.Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcastFollow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do queer couples break free from traditional gender roles, or do old patterns creep in? In this weeks episode, Leah explores how LGBTQIA+ partners divide housework compared to heterosexual couples. Is the split more equal, or do unseen forces shape who scrubs the dishes and who takes out the trash? Tune in for an academic deep dive into love, labour, and the politics of domestic life!Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcastFollow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love languages say gifts = love, but should we rethink the way we give? Women often take on the emotional and financial labour of gift-giving—planning, making, and wrapping—while men’s gifts can sometimes feel like a quick fix for deeper issues. And with rising costs, is the pressure to give even sustainable? In this episode, we unpack the gendered side of gift-giving, the financial weight of presents, and whether it’s time to break free from the expectation that love = stuff. Tune in as Leah discusses the politics of presents!Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcastFollow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we break down the science of intelligence—cognitive, emotional, and beyond—to challenge outdated stereotypes. Is intelligence a spectrum? How do we measure it? And why do we still equate IQ with superiority? Tune in as we dismantle the myths, explore the biases, and reveal what intelligence really looks like. Who’s smarter—men or women? Or is that the wrong question entirely?Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcastFollow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.