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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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 or you can email me at brian@modernhusbands.com.

For today’s podcast we welcome Dr. Jenny Olson, an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Dr. Olson just released research examining how people predict happiness from buying something, what actually happens, and whether how poor or rich you are impacts how we feel about it. Enjoy the show.

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction
01:00 Fast overview of her previous groundbreaking research on joint bank accounts
03:45 Judging people in poverty who spend money
07:45 The findings from her research
09:50 What her research has to do with our basic needs
13:00 How to interpret the research and suggestions
14:32 How do common misconceptions about income levels affect people’s expectations from happiness from their experiences
17:05 What can dual career couples do to enhance their own happiness
19:46 The line between spending and compulsive spending for happiness
21:05 Examples of consumption experiences that she found drive happiness
22:03 Self care: people prioritize the self care of others before themselves
25:27 How has your research influenced your own views
29:09 One piece of practical advice people can use now in their lives based on your research

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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 podcast we welcome Dr. Gary Barker and Dr. Taveeshi Gupta of Equimundo.

Dr. Gary Barker is the CEO and co-founder of Equimundo and a globally recognized leader in engaging men and boys to advance gender equality, with over 30 years of experience across more than 50 countries.

Dr. Taveeshi Gupta is the Senior Director of Research at Equimundo and a global expert on masculinities and gender with over 15 years of experience leading research on structural inequalities and their impact on youth and development.

The research at Equimundo was the origin of the evidence used by the Congressional Dads Caucus for proposed legislation.

Our conversation will center around Equimundo’s State of American Men 2025, a groundbreaking new study that offers an unflinching, data-driven look at the emotional, economic, and cultural pressures facing American men.

At a time when narratives around masculinity are increasingly divisive and distorted, their annual study cuts through the noise with a clear, compassionate message: Men are not in crisis because of who they are — they’re in crisis because of what they lack.

Perhaps that is a driver behind their finding, an absolutely terrifying statistic that 57% of men, and 52% of women, believe that the US would be a better place with a strong leader in charge who doesn’t bother with elections. The stakes of what is occurring in our country right now couldn’t be any higher.

Link to research: https://www.equimundo.org/resources/state-of-american-men-2025/

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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 or you can email me at brian@modernhusbands.com.

For today’s podcast we welcome Dr. Allison Daminger, an assistant professor of sociology at UW-Madison and the author of What's on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life, forthcoming in September 2025. Daminger's research is focused on how and why gender shapes family dynamics, particularly the division of work and power in couples. Her award-winning scholarship has been featured in outlets including The Atlantic, The New York Times, and Psychology Today. Daminger also writes a weekly newsletter, The Daminger Dispatch, about the intersections between gender and family life.

Today’s discussion is laser focused on the mental load and what’s on the mind of working women. Enjoy the show.

Show Notes

01:00 Introduction
01:55 Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is “cognitive labor,” and how is it different from other types of household labor?
05:02 You break down cognitive labor into four tasks: anticipating, identifying, deciding, and monitoring. Can you walk us through what those look like in everyday family life?
16:28 One of your findings is that even in households that believe in equality, women tend to carry more of the mental load. Why is that, and how does it persist even with good intentions?
25:36 How do early childhood experiences shape the way men and women learn (or don’t learn) to do cognitive labor?
28:44 Your research includes same-gender couples. What lessons can different-gender couples learn from how cognitive labor is handled in those relationships?
32:11 Let’s talk about solutions. What can couples do if they want to move toward a more equitable distribution of cognitive labor? Where should they start?
38:14 You write that many men want to help but feel unsure about how to jump in. What advice do you have for those men to begin showing up better?
43:21 In the book, you describe how unequal cognitive labor can impact a woman’s identity, stress levels, and even career. Can you share a story or example that really stuck with you?
45:32 Where can our listeners learn more about you and purchase your book?
46:03 What is one piece of simple and actionable advice you want to leave our listeners with?

Click here to learn more about Dr. Daminger and buy her book.

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In this episode of the Modern Husbands podcast, Brian Page, Ashley Brichter, and Kate Mangino discuss the importance of household equality and the challenges couples face in achieving it. They explore the benefits of domestic equity for both men and women, emphasizing the need for emotional connections and breaking down traditional gender norms.

Dr. Kate Mangino is the author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home, focuses on the benefits for men who live in a gender equitable way. Kate focuses on addressing social norms for attitude and behavior change.

Ashley Brichter is the Founder and CEO of Birthsmarter, a wildly successful education program for married couples. Ashley is a life-long educator, birth worker, consultant, Certified Fair Play Facilitator and entrepreneur.

The conversation introduces the MOVE framework (Money, Operations, Values, and Empathy) as a tool for couples to navigate their relationships and financial discussions effectively. The hosts share practical strategies for improving communication and managing household responsibilities, ultimately highlighting the value of investing in relationships and adapting to change together.

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction to Modern Husbands Podcast
03:56 Understanding Gender Norms and Their Impact
06:36 Benefits of Household Equity for Men
09:23 The MOVE Framework: Money, Operations, Values, Empathy
14:16 Navigating Money Conversations in Relationships
22:12 Practical Steps for Couples to Improve Communication
29:55 Final Thoughts and Resources for Couples

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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 or you can email me at brian@modernhusbands.com.

For today’s podcast we welcome Dr. Ax Abdullah is a war refugee turned Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction. Ax is the founder and the CEO of 3rd Brain, a company he founded with his wife and co-founder, Paige. Together, they are creating an application that addresses the mental load we all experience managing home and the life as busy dual career couples.

You’re going to love his story and today’s great conversation about the mental load. Enjoy the show.

Subscribe or follow Modern Husbands on social media!

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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 or you can email me at brian@modernhusbands.com.

For today’s podcast we welcome Otto Rivera, a Certified Financial Planner® and an Enrolled Agent with the IRS who was diagnosed with ADHD in his 40s. Otto is a member of the Financial Planning Association and is the host of their national Neurodivergent Planners Knowledge Circle in which neurodivergent financial planners and other advisors share insights and education about neurodiversity.

Today’s episode is focused on how neurodivergent couples can manage their finances. Enjoy the show!

Listener Notes

00:00 Introduction
01:16 Can you explain what it means to be neurodivergent?
03:08 Can you share with our audience why you became passionate about helping neurodivergent folks with money management and financial planning?
05:02 Could you explain how neurodivergence can affect an individual's ability to manage finances?
10:45 For a neurodivergent individual looking to start managing their finances, what initial steps would you recommend?
14:10 What role can spouses play in assisting neurodivergent individuals with their financial planning?
17:01 Can you discuss any budgeting techniques that are particularly effective for those who are neurodivergent?
20:23 Why is it more effective to split your deposit?
25:27 What is one simple piece of actionable advice you want to leave our listeners with on the topic?

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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.

Today we welcome Dr. Jennifer Petriglieri. Dr. Petriglieri is an Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD. Prior to joining INSEAD, she was a Post-Doctoral Fellow of Organisational Behaviour at the Harvard Business School. Dr. Petriglieri is the author of Couples That Work, a book on how dual-career couples can thrive in love and in work.

Today’s discussion will dive into how busy dual career couples can work together practically to manage their homes more effectively and grow closer together as a couple. Enjoy the show.

Questions

00:00 Introduction
02:00 Let’s start with you sharing where your passion came from to write your book Couples That Work?
03:30 In Couples That Work, you discuss the importance of defining success as a couple. What practical steps can dual-career couples take to align their personal and professional goals?
05:12 What advice do you have for couples to balance their individual ambitions while fostering teamwork?
07:08 Many couples struggle when one or both partners go through significant career transitions. What strategies do you recommend for navigating these moments while maintaining a strong relationship?
10:03 Relocation can be a major issue for dual-career couples. How can couples navigate the challenges that come with one partner's job requiring a move?
13:39 What are some relocation negotiation tactics you can employ with employers?
16:04 What are some of the most common mistakes dual-career couples make that can lead to conflict or dissatisfaction? How can they proactively address or avoid these issues?
23:24 Why is the division of household responsibilities in dual-career relationships particularly important, according to most women?
31:26 What are three practical steps couples can take to manage household responsibilities fairly?
35:06 What are your top tips for dual-career couples to keep their relationship strong and connected despite their limited time together?

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