MissPerceived

Ever caught yourself searching for your keys… again? In this episode, Leah explores the truth behind pregnancy brain fog, cognitive changes after childbirth, and how your menstrual cycle might affect your mind. Did you experience brain fog during these times, or is it all just in our heads? Listen now to find out!

Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/

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Is being in a long-distance relationship a recipe for heartbreak or could it be the secret to lasting love? In this episode, Leah unpacks the realities of loving from afar. From immigration to job deployments, we explore why couples live apart, whether distance actually harms relationship quality, and what the research says about staying connected across the miles. Spoiler: it's not all bad.

Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/

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Follow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner

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Haley Swenson (Better Life Lab, New America Foundation) takes over the mic to interview Leah on the invisible weight of the mental load and her upcoming book Drained. How is the mental load talked about in academia versus everyday life? What does the data reveal—and what are we still missing? They unpack why language matters, how gender shapes the conversation, and what real solutions might look like. 

You can find Haley’s work at the New America Foundation through their website https://www.newamerica.org/, or their instagram @newamericaorg.

Follow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner

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This week, Leah tacks a question sent in by one of our listeners that’s been making the rounds on TikTok and Insta reels: Do mothers who have babies later in life actually live longer? It’s a viral claim that’s got people talking—but what does the research really say? We dig into the science behind fertility timing and maternal longevity, explore the biological theories, and ask whether social and economic factors are playing a bigger role than we think.

Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/

Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcast

Follow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner

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What does the mental load look like for women with intersectional identities, especially migrant mothers from Southeast Asia? In this episode, Leah and Haley are joined by Mira Gunawansa to dive into her groundbreaking PhD research exploring how the mental load manifests for women of colour and how their unique experiences—navigating visas, cultural assimilation, familial expectations, and racism—are often overlooked in current literature. How are the solutions for these women different and how can we better account for this in the research? Tune in for an eye-opening discussion on how intersectionality shapes the mental load and how we can rethink support for diverse groups of women.

You can find Haley’s work at the New America Foundation through their website https://www.newamerica.org/, or their instagram @newamericaorg.

Connect with Mira Gunawansa through instagram @mgunawansa, and to read her most recent article on the Mental Load of Christmas you can visit the UniMelb website - https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/maybe-just-think-about-whos-carrying-the-mental-load-at-Christmas. 

Follow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner

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Do parents secretly prefer their daughters over their sons? In this episode, Leah unpacks the complexities of parental favouritism: Is it about gender, birth order, or a child’s personality? And what happens when kids perceive they’re treated differently from their siblings? We explore how these dynamics shape identity, self-esteem, and family relationships.

Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/

Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcast

Follow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner

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In this episode, Leah and Haley chat with Avni Patel Thompson, founder of Milo & Verity Tuck and co-founder of Goldee AI, about how technology can help lighten the mental load of parents. Avni and Verity share how AI and language modeling are streamlining day-to-day tasks, easing the mental burden, and letting parents breathe a little easier. Tune in for real-life stories and practical insights on using tech to help share the load and make parenting a little bit easier!

"Download the Milo and Goldee apps to help lighten the load. Find Goldee on Instagram @goldee.ai or visit www.goldee.ai. Connect with Milo on Instagram @join_milo or head to www.joinmilo.com. 

Use the code "Missperceived25" to start using Milo today!" 

Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/

Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcast

Follow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner

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Does having blonde hair make women more successful—or just more stereotyped? In this episode, Leah dives into the “beauty premium” and how looks influence salaries, opportunities, and social treatment. Join us as we unpack the societal impact of beauty standards and whether looking a certain way can lead to better outcomes or reinforce unfair biases.

Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/

Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcast

Leah and Haley are joined by Eve Rodsky, author of Fair Play, to reframe how we understand the mental load. They explore how men and women conceptualise invisible labour, the systems that uphold these imbalances, and how boundaries and communication can essential to creating more equitable and fair partnerships. Eve shares real-life stories of couples negotiating their mental loads using the Fair Play system—not just as a way to split tasks, but as a tool for reimagining fairness at home.

Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/

Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcast

Follow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner

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In this episode, we challenge the misconception that being a parent makes you a bad employee. We dive into how taking time out for caregiving can be career enhancing, how parenting skills are highly transferable to the workplace, and why these skills are crucial for the future of work. Plus, we introduce the Parenting Work Skills Certificate—our team’s initiative to highlight the value of parenting in professional settings. Tune in to discover how the experience of being a parent can enhance your professional journey!

Follow Leah Ruppanner at https://www.instagram.com/prof.leah/

Follow the MissPerceived Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/missperceivedpodcast

Follow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.