Not Like a Regular Mom

I sat down with potty training expert, parenting educator, and author of Oh Crap! Potty Training, Jamie Glowacki. We cover potty training basics, frequent roadblocks, and myths, as well as her hot takes about the current state of parenting.
In this episode, we discuss:
A summary of her method
Why potty training should be done before age 3 (and what happens if your child is older)
How you can tell when a child is “ready” to start potty training?
The complexities of night training and the surprising connection between bedwetting and airway issues
The number one mistake you see parents make with potty training
Jamie answers potty training questions from my followers
The govern/garden/guide theory for parenting
The "rugrat" race and our current culture of over-scheduled kids

If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to navigate tougher conversations with kids--anything from consent to race to gender--this episode offers clear, practical guidance. First Conversations books are an incredible tool for starting discussions about hard topics and sparking kids’ curiosity from toddlerhood. They take big topics that are difficult for adults to put into age-appropriate words and make them relatable and engaging for kids.
I had the privilege of speaking with Jessica Ralli, one of the co-authors alongside Dr. Megan Madison of the book series, and we discussed:
● why kids aren't "too young" to know about social issues
● how to respond when your child says something inappropriate, and how to guide them after the misstep
● how to avoid shaming your child
● "connection over correction"
● encouraging your children to confidently express themselves and develop tools against bullying
● how to answer your child when they ask you an important question you are unprepared for
● how to teach consent from an early age
● considerations for neurodivergent kids
● how to talk to kids about ICE and systemic discrimination

Resources:
First Conversations website: https://www.firstconversations.com
Talking to kids about ICE: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/blog/2026/02/03/all-are-welcome-library

I sat down with Stefanie O'Connell, journalist and author of The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up--and Then Pushes Them Down, a data-driven guide to dismantling the hidden forces that hold women back, burn them out, and make us all pay.
In this episode, we discuss:
-the failed promises of "girl power"
-what the 'ambition penalty' is and how it affects women
-mind-blowing statistics about gender in the workplace, in relationships, and in the domestic sphere
-what girlboss and tradwife cultures have in common, and the insidious goals of the latter
-a shocking new way to look at the costs of childcare and your career
-what women who date men should know before partnering up with them
...and so much more that will make you feel a little more sane, and perhaps actually empowered

The holiday mental load makes the rest of the year's mental load feel like a vacation. From curating gift lists, to managing multiple calendars, to creating the holiday magic, so many holiday tasks unfairly fall on women. In this episode, we explore:
family dynamics, dealing with in-laws, becoming a matriarch, and kin-keeping
gift giving, gift lists, tracking sales, budgeting, wrapping, hiding
the difference between the mental load, invisible labor, and emotional labor
magic-making, hosting, and preparing for travel for the holidays
men's holiday bad moods, and women's forced performance of joy
...and so much more that an old white man somehow gets all the credit for!!?

Dr. David Stukus, professor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy and Immunology and Director of the Food Allergy Treatment Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, busts myths and breaks down facts about one of parents' biggest fears: food allergies.

Topics Include:

The advancements in food allergy research

The top allergens (and why they're so common)

Whether we know the cause of food allergies

Why food allergies are more prevalent now

Can you prevent food allergies?

Current guidelines for introducing allergens

Initial symptoms of a food allergy

What many allergists get wrong

The *major* myth of cutting out foods when breastfeeding

The role of eczema and asthma in food allergies

Testing and diagnosis

Current and future treatments

Follow Dr. Stukus on Instagram and Twitter @AllergyKidsDoc