Work-Life Balance Starts at Home: Managing the Invisible Load Together – A Conversation with Dr. Julie Wayne

Welcome to the Modern Husbands podcast, where any combination of Dr. Bruce Ross, Christian Sherrill, and Brian Page host national experts who share winning ideas to manage money and the home as a team.

I’m Brian Page, founder of Modern Husbands. Sometimes our listeners want more support than a podcast can give, individual or couple support, which I now provide. Details can be found at modernhusbands.com.

For today’s episode we welcome Dr. Julie Wayne, a Professor of Management at the Wake Forest University School of Business, specializing in work-family scholarship. Her research focuses on how work and personal lives intersect, examining work-family enrichment, the meaning and measurement of work-life balance, and the "invisible family load". Wayne has been recognized with the 2024 Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research for her significant contributions to the field.

In this episode, Dr. Wayne breaks down the concepts of mental and emotional load—and why they so often go unseen in relationships. She explains how these hidden responsibilities impact men and women differently, and shares practical strategies for couples to notice, share, and reduce the invisible load at home. Whether you're managing careers, kids, or both, this conversation offers actionable insights to strengthen your partnership. Enjoy the show.

Questions

00:00 Introduction
02:05 Where does your passion for your work originate? 
03:32 What exactly is the “mental load,” and why do people call it invisible? 
06:02 What does the mental load have to do with the intersection of work and home?
13:02 How does it generally show up differently for men and women?
18:17 How does the emotional load differ from the mental load, and why is it particularly challenging?  
22:37 What are some practical ways husbands and partners can notice, share, or reduce the emotional labor at home?
31:17 Beyond the household, how can workplaces, policies, or broader societal expectations help men and women balance mental and emotional responsibilities more equitably?
35:49 What is one piece of simple and actionable advice you want to share with our listeners?

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:05 Where does your passion for your work originate?
• 3:32 What exactly is the “mental load,” and why do people call it invisible?
• 6:02 What does the mental load have to do with the intersection of work and home?
• 13:02 How does it generally show up differently for men and women?
• 18:17 How does the emotional load differ from the mental load, and why is it particularly challenging?
• 22:37 What are some practical ways husbands and partners can notice, share, or reduce the emotional labor at home?
• 31:17 Beyond the household, how can workplaces, policies, or broader societal expectations help men and women balance mental and emotional responsibilities more equitably?
• 35:49 What is one piece of simple and actionable advice you want to share with our listeners?