The Hearth Matters Podcast

Danielle Dreilinger is a journalist and the author of “The Secret History of Home Economics: How Trailblazing Women Harnessed the Power of Home and Changed the Way We Live.” In this episode, we discuss Danielle’s thoughtfully researched and engaging exploration of the history of Home Economics, which “restores a denigrated subject to its rightful importance, reminding us that everyone should learn...

Stephen Shaw is a data scientist and the director and producer of “Birthgap - Childless World,” a documentary about declining birth rates and unplanned childlessness. In this episode, we unpack the data and the cultural norms that lead some women to delay motherhood until it’s too late and they become childless by circumstance. We also discuss how unplanned childlessness impacts men, would-be gran...

Lene Rachel Andersen is an economist, author, futurist, philosopher and Bildung activist. In this episode, we discuss the concepts of meta and polymodernity and why the educational model known as Bildung might be the key to helping young people better navigate life in the information age.  Interested in learning more? Lene warmly invites you to join the conversation "What it Means to Be Human...

Tammy Peterson is a wife, mother, grandmother, podcaster and public figure who speaks on a wide variety of topics including personal development, mental health, feminism, relationships and parenting. In this episode, we discuss the skills and wisdom Tammy developed as a full-time householder, plus her commitment to using her platform to help young women–the next generation of mothers–navigate dome...

Erin celebrated her first Mother’s Day this month! Join Kathryn and a very pregnant Erin for a riff on her pregnancy just days before she went into labor.  Erin talks candidly about her struggle as a younger woman with body dysmorphia and how she’s dealt with her changing body before jumping into a colorful conversation about her birth classes, chestfeeders, vaginal seeding and other juicy topics...

Happy Mother’s Day from Hearth Matters! In this episode, we discuss the National Mother of the Year Award with its 75th winner, Dianne Dain, and the special role that mothers and grandmothers play in caring for the next generation of our human species.  Dianne is a mother of four and grandmother of five who has worked with the United Nations and World Health Organization on initiatives related to...

Dixie Dillon Lane, Ph. D, is a historian, writer and homeschooling mother of four, as well as an Associate Editor at Hearth & Field journal. In this episode, we discuss the homeschooling experience and why more American parents are opting out of the public school system to teach their children in the home-based classroom.  Dixie’s current book project is a history of homeschooling in Los Angel...

Shannon Hayes is a third generation farmer, mother of two and author of seven books, including Radical Homemakers (2014), The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook (2015) and Redefining Rich   (2021). In this episode, we discuss what it means to put the “family" back in “family business” and the struggle, reward and deeper wealth that can be found in running an intergenerational enterprise.  Follow Shann...

Lina Lyte Plioplyte is an Emmy-award winning cinematographer and storyteller whose latest documentary, Periodical , examines the science, mystery and politics of menstruation. In this episode, we discuss the cultural stigma around periods and menopause, promising advances in women’s health research and technology, and why menstruation education is so important to women’s health and happiness.   Pe...

Jim Dalrymple II is a father and journalist who writes about families on his Substack called  Nuclear Meltdown . He's also a contributor to the  Institute for Family Studies  and the  Deseret News , and writes about housing for  Inman . In this episode, we explore how we might recreate 21st century versions of agrarian era villages, the importance of the leadership role that ‘kinkeepers’ play...

Catherine Pakaluk is a mother of eight children and Director of Social Research & Associate Professor at the Catholic University of America. In this episode, we explore Catherine's new book,  Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth,  which portrays the motivations, values and experiences of 55 college-educated women who’ve chosen to have five or more children. We...

Ivana Greco is a mother and attorney turned homemaker who also homeschools her children and writes for a number of publications, including her own Substack called The Homefront. In this episode we discuss Ivana’s affinity for the title ‘homemaker’ and the immeasurable value these individuals provide not only to their families, but to flourishing communities and their country in turn. We also talk...

Mary Harrington is a columnist and contributing editor at UnHerd and runs her own Substack, Reactionary Feminist . She is the author of the widely acclaimed book, Feminism Against Progress, and is considered one of the most influential feminist thinkers in the West.   In this episode, we discuss Mary’s critique of industrial era feminist narratives and her call for a feminism that embraces interde...

Happy International Women’s Day to those of us who work in the public sphere–looking at you, #girlboss! If you’re a full time householder, mother or #tradwife, you’ll apparently have to wait your turn until May when Mother’s Day rolls around.   Join Kathryn and Erin for a provocative riff on this year’s theme, “inclusion,” and why they think some feminists have taken this idea too far. www.thehear...

Michal Schonbrun is a reproductive health educator, consultant, and trainer based in Israel who specializes in the Sympto-Thermal Method (STM) of fertility awareness, breastfeeding, contraception and achieving pregnancy, sexuality, and holistic self-care. She works with diverse clients around the world, leading workshops and offering private consultations from home and online.  What should women k...

Patrick Holden is the founder and CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust , and the U.S. Sustainable Food Alliance whose mission is to work internationally to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food and farming systems. He was Director of the Soil Association , the leading British organic farming organization, from 1995 to 2010, where he played a central role in developing the UK organic...

Erika Bachiochi is a legal scholar and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a senior fellow at the Abigail Adams Institute in Cambridge, MA, where she founded and directs the Wollstonecraft Project. In this episode, we discuss her latest book, The Rights of Women: Reclaiming a Lost Vision (Notre Dame Press), which looks at the philosophy of 18th century feminist Mary Wollstonecraft an...

Welcome to Part II of the Reunite Home & Work podcast series where we chat with the people who are making a living while making home. If you run a home-based business, or you're thinking about starting one, we’d love to share your story. Please get in touch at www.hearthmatters.com . Naëlle Yoshimura is a mother and chemistry teacher turned home based bakery owner who recently launched her...

Welcome to Part I of the Reunite Home & Work podcast series where we chat with the people who are making a living while making home. If you run a home-based business, or you're thinking about starting one, we’d love to share your story. Please get in touch at www.thehearthmatters.com . Nancy Chang, the owner of Purpose and Hope, makes delicious and healing soups right from her home kitchen...

Pronatalist.org co-founders Simone and Malcolm Collins are raising awareness about global demographic collapse and building an alliance of communities who believe in a pluralistic society where their children and culture can flourish into the future. To learn more about Simone & Malcolm's work: Visit  pronatalist.org  and find comprehensive resources for parents:  ⁠⁠https://pronatalist.org...

Kathryn discusses the challenges of integrating sustainable food systems with modern market economies, focusing on the difficulties faced by homemakers and local food producers in maintaining economic viability. She highlights the high costs and regulatory hurdles that inflate prices and limit access to locally produced, nourishing foods. Erin touches on the potential of technology to connect comm...

Kathryn and Erin discuss technology's role in family life. They explore the balance between the promise of AI and biotech and the challenges posed by social media on youth development, emphasizing the need for responsible tech management within homes to protect children and the pivotal role parents play in guiding their digital engagement.

In Part III of the Hearth Matters Chapbook Series, we present our big idea for how to reunite work and home in a neighbor to neighbor network that prioritizes human flourishing in a 21st century cottage economy model. You can also read and reference the image-rich version of this story on our Substack: ⁠www.thehearthmatters.com⁠ --- 02:03 The Market Economy and Women: A Brief History 03:02 Impact...

Part II of the Hearth Matters Chapbook Series examines current feminist narratives and introduces householder feminism as a movement that champions householders and drives meaningful change in the domestic sphere. You can also read and reference the image-rich version of this story at ⁠www.thehearthmatters.com⁠ . Next up: Part III, Domesteconomy , we present our big idea for how to reunite work an...

Welcome to the audio version of The Hearth Matters Chapbook Series, where we question old narratives and offer up new stories and practical advice for how to re-value, re-think and reinvent home & hearth in the 21st century. You can also read and reference the image-rich version of this story on our Substack: ⁠www.thehearthmatters.com⁠ Part I, Hearthstory , explores this question: In our relen...