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The ManFlu | Exploring Gender Dynamics, Partnerships & Raising Boys Who CareChanging the Scripts We Inherited Author: Lucy McAfee
Youve heard of the ManFlu that mysterious illness that somehow hits men way harder than any woman could ever fathom. Well, were not handing out tissues. Were here to talk about the real stuff underneath it: the disconnection, the imbalance, and how we can start to change it.The ManFlu is a metaphor we use to dig into something deeper: the cultural scripts, gender roles, and unspoken rules that keep men sidelined and leave women carrying more than their share of the mental and emotional load.Host Lucy McAfee has spent years studying how gender dynamics play out at home. As a wife and boy mom, shes still working them out in her own family. Each week, The ManFlu brings together researchers, thinkers, and families themselves to explore emotional labor, modern partnerships, and how we raise more connected boys. Together, we examine why these patterns persist, how they affect families, and the practical shifts that build stronger partnerships today and help break old patterns for the next generation. Youll leave each episode not just nodding along, but equipped with one small shift you can try at home.Join us to lighten the load and build a future where women and men can both show up as their whole selves. New episodes drop every Wednesday, follow the show so you dont miss one. And share it with your friends, because no one should have to face the ManFlu epidemic alone.Follow Lucy on Instagram @lucypmcafee for more on gender dynamics, mental and emotional load, and raising boys who care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Language: en Genres: Kids & Family, Parenting, Relationships, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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He Googled 'How to Be a Great Husband': Now He's the Expert Your Marriage Needs | Brian Page
Episode 3
Wednesday, 5 August, 2026
Our guest today irons his wife's clothes before putting them away, not because she asked, but because he understands that protecting her time is part of what providing means. This episode is about how he got there and what it really takes to build that kind of partnership.Lucy McAfee sits down with Brian Page, founder of Modern Husbands, to talk about what equal partnership in marriage actually requires beyond good intentions. Brian spent years as a primary earner working 60 to 80 hours a week. When his wife's career took off and the family needed a different setup, he stepped back and tried to figure out how to genuinely take ownership at home. He searched for guidance and found almost nothing useful. So he read every book and piece of research he could find, built an advisory board, and turned that search into a platform helping couples do the same.Brian breaks down why the mental load in marriage stays heavy even when a partner is willing to help. Willingness is not ownership. Real ownership means handling a task from start to finish at a shared minimum standard of care, without reminders and without someone watching over your shoulder. He and Lucy also get into gatekeeping, why it happens, and how couples get through it without creating more resentment.They dig into domestic labor in marriage and what fair play for couples looks like when it moves from a concept into a weekly habit. Brian also reframes the provider role in marriage to include protecting your partner's time, not just bringing in income. He explains how he stopped giving his wife's phone number to schools, realtors, and anyone connected to tasks he owned.The episode closes on equal leisure time as a real indicator of how balanced a partnership is, and Brian leaves listeners with two low-effort, practical shifts to try this week. If equal partnership in marriage feels like a moving target in your home, this episode gives you something concrete to work with.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Welcome to The Manflu with Lucy McAfee01:49 Brian Page on Building Modern Husbands02:15 Brian's Shift From Breadwinner to Home Manager06:19 Working Through Gatekeeping at Home08:45 What Hidden Brain Research Reveals About Gender Bias11:08 A Simple Way to Protect Your Partner's Time13:35 Where Dual Income Couples Get Stuck16:01 Learning the Fair Play Method Step by Step22:31 Why Equal Leisure Time Matters24:38 Stay At Home Parents Deserve a Break Too27:26 Motivating a Partner Who Won't Step Up32:43 Moving From Financial Provider to Teammate35:04 Untangling the Man Box and Mental Health37:12 Raising Boys Who Value Partnership41:50 Two Small Shifts to Try This Week44:11 Where to Find Modern Husbands ResourcesConnect with Brian Page:Visit The Modern Husbands Website Follow the Modern Husbands on InstagramListen to the Modern Husbands PodcastConnect with Lucy McAfee:Follow Lucy on InstagramConnect with Lucy on LinkedInVisit The Manflu websitePodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
