Why does time off still feel like work for so many mothers?
Journalist and author Brigid Schulte joins Simona Deifta for a conversation about unequal care, resentment, the invisible mental load and redesigning work around a full human life.
Brigid shares the Thanksgiving moment that forced a conversation with her husband, the small experiments that helped them share responsibility, and why real time off means sharing both the work and the vigilance. We also discuss workplace expectations, career breaks, AI and measuring outcomes rather than hours.
Brigid is the author of Overwhelmed and Over Work and director of the Better Life Lab at New America.
Explore more Do Not Disturb conversations: https://www.donotdisturbpodcast.com/
Subscribe to The Cultural Edit for more ideas and stories: https://www.donotdisturbpodcast.com/subscribe
00:00 Unequal care, resentment and the green couch
00:55 Why combining work and care felt impossible
07:28 The invisible mental load
10:55 The Thanksgiving turning point
14:28 Making invisible labour visible
16:20 Small experiments in sharing responsibility
20:35 Fragmented time and the guilt around rest
25:43 What makes time feel polluted?
27:19 Why holidays can still feel like work
29:10 Protecting each other's time off
31:41 The ideal-worker culture and having it all
35:38 Investing in families and care
41:40 What workplaces lose when mothers leave
45:34 Who gets the time saved by AI?
46:55 Career breaks, choices and returning to work
51:07 Judge outcomes rather than hours
53:17 You do not have to earn time for yourself
54:14 Finding bright spots in work and care
56:24 Examples of change that give Brigid hope
59:52 Closing reflections
","author_name":"Simona Deifta"}