The Modern Load

Why does the mental load feel invisible, until it’s overwhelming?In this episode of the Modern Load Podcast (MOLO), host Sophie Bruce is joined by Stacey van den Aardweg to unpack the unseen weight carried across work, home, and everything in between.Stacey shares her perspective on how the mental load shows up day-to-day — from managing households and careers to the constant background processing that never really switches off. The conversation explores why this load is so often misunderstood, how it impacts relationships, and what needs to change to create a more balanced way of living.This is an honest, practical conversation about awareness, ownership, and the systems we need to rethink.What we cover:What the “mental load” actually is — and why it’s often invisibleHow the load builds across work, home, and relationshipsWhy it’s not just about tasks — but responsibility and anticipationThe emotional impact of carrying the load long-termHow relationships are affected by imbalanceWhy awareness is the first step to changePractical ways to better distribute responsibilityThe role of communication, expectation setting, and ownershipWhy modern life amplifies the pressureChapters:00:00 – Introducing the mental load01:18 – What people get wrong about it03:05 – Tasks vs responsibility05:12 – The invisible work behind the scenes07:40 – How the load builds over time09:15 – Emotional impact and burnout11:02 – Relationships and imbalance13:24 – Why it often goes unnoticed15:08 – Awareness as the first step17:20 – Communication and expectation setting19:45 – Redistributing responsibility22:10 – Practical ways to reduce the load24:30 – The role of modern life and pressure27:05 – Rethinking how we approach work and home29:40 – Final reflections and advice📩 Get in touch: [email protected] - https://x.com/TheModernLoad_Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themoloapp/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/molo-app/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/The-MOLO-AppTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@themoloappYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheModernLoad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the key to navigating work, parenting, and pressure… was thinking more like a poker player?In this episode of the Modern Load Podcast (MOLO), host Sophie Bruce is joined by Jo Living — entrepreneur, former investment banker, and founder of Aces High — to explore how risk, decision-making, and confidence show up in both business and family life.From growing up in a high-achieving household to building and exiting a startup, Jo shares how her relationship with money, ambition, and independence has evolved — and how poker strategy became an unexpected lens for navigating high-stakes moments at work and at home.This is a conversation about ownership, negotiation, and why trying to “do it all” might be the wrong game to play.What we cover:Why the “modern load” is a systemic problem — not a personal failureHow childhood shapes ambition, money mindset, and independenceThe reality of high-performance careers alongside parentingWhy resentment builds in relationships — and how to fix it“Divide and conquer” vs trying to do everything togetherWhat poker teaches us about risk, confidence, and decision-makingWhy women hesitate to “play the hand” they’ve been dealtThe pressure of being a high-achieving parent (and letting go of perfection)How to practically split the mental load in a relationshipThe role of tech, distraction, and always-on expectationsChapters:00:00 – Poker, parenting, and the modern load01:01 – Meet Jo Living: entrepreneur, poker strategist, founder02:30 – Growing up in a high-achieving family04:00 – Financial shifts and early independence05:03 – Investment banking and chasing money05:42 – Walking away and becoming an entrepreneur08:28 – Building and exiting a startup09:40 – Cards, strategy, and discovering poker12:12 – Winning her first poker tournament13:26 – From poker table to business strategy14:44 – Parenting, flexibility, and “divide & conquer”16:09 – Burnout, self-care, and resetting under pressure17:01 – Resentment and the imbalance of the load18:21 – Careers, trade-offs, and real-world constraints20:01 – The “perfect storm” of modern life21:30 – Why couples misjudge the load (130% problem)22:20 – Systemic failure vs individual blame23:15 – Practical ways to split responsibilities25:05 – Letting go of perfection in parenting26:22 – Communication, negotiation, and partnership28:14 – The myth of the “super mum”30:24 – Parenting differences and decision-making31:04 – Screen time, tech, and modern challenges33:04 – Always-on culture and mental load35:36 – Advice to younger self: know your value36:49 – First job, money, and early lessons📩 Get in touch: [email protected] - https://x.com/TheModernLoad_Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themoloapp/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/molo-app/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/The-MOLO-AppTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@themoloappYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheModernLoad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really mean to carry the modern load?In this episode of the Modern Load Podcast (MOLO), host Sophie Bruce sits down with Antonia Redgrove to unpack the reality of balancing career, parenting, and everything in between.Antonia shares her journey growing up in a family of nine, how that shaped her drive for independence, and what happens when ambition meets the realities of modern parenthood. From navigating childcare, career progression, and societal expectations — to the mental load that never switches off — this is an honest, grounded conversation about how people are actually making it work today.If you’re building a career, raising a family, or simply trying to stay on top of it all… this one will hit.What we cover:The reality of the “modern load” and why it feels so overwhelmingHow childhood shapes ambition, work ethic, and financial independenceThe transition into parenthood — and the loss (and return) of independenceThe mental load of managing work, home, and everything in betweenWhy modern parenting feels harder than everThe impact of tech, expectations, and always-on culturePractical ways couples divide responsibilities (and where it breaks down)Rethinking ambition after becoming a parentChapters:00:00 – Parenthood and the shock to independence01:32 – Growing up in a family of nine03:14 – Financial shifts and changing family dynamics05:12 – Early independence and work ethic07:25 – Freedom, money, and autonomy09:23 – Transition into parenthood11:40 – Navigating work, childcare, and logistics14:02 – The reality of the modern load15:09 – Covid, careers, and parenting under pressure18:14 – Default parenting and mental load20:30 – Ambition vs parenting expectations23:14 – Why modern life feels harder than ever24:48 – The pressure we put on ourselves as parents28:14 – Tech, distraction, and always-on culture30:32 – Setting boundaries with technology32:57 – First job, money, and lessons on work📩 Get in touch: [email protected] - https://x.com/TheModernLoad_Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themoloapp/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/molo-app/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/The-MOLO-AppTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@themoloappYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheModernLoad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.