Hysteria

American society is still organized around a presumption that every family unit has a full-time caregiver in the home. Jessica Grose, mom of 2 and opinion writer for  The New York Times , joins host Anne Helen Petersen to answer questions about the struggle, sadness, and burnout that comes from trying to still get by in that space, even when it isn't reality for millions of families. To hear even...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk midterm election results we know so far with Grace Parra Janney and Crooked’s Vice President of Politics Shaniqua McClendon. Then, a break from all that! With a completely non-political Sani-Petty. Show Notes CNN panelist predicts 'bad night,' says Democrats didn't 'listen' to voters throughout the election   For a closed-captioned version of this episode, cl...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk SCOTUS’s affirmative action arguments — some poignant, some petty — and the attack on Paul Pelosi before reminding everyone that the midterms are this! Tuesday! Next, Amanda Nguyen and Megan Gailey come on to look back on the way we behaved during the height of COVID and whether or not there’s forgiveness there. To end, a little Sani-Pedi. For a closed-captio...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco discuss the latest bad news: anti-semitism’s surge, Britney Griner’s rejected appeal, and schoolchildren’s low post-pandemic scores on a national exam. Then, Lorena Austin joins to talk about her crucial campaign for Arizona State House. Next, Dana Schwartz and Kara Klenk join to talk about looking smart, gifted child syndrome, and rainbow-organized bookshelves. F...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco come to you live from LA, reuniting for the first time since pre-pandemic! They kick off the show interviewing LA’s (hopefully) future mayor Congresswoman Karen Bass about all things midterms. Then, Megan Gailey, Julissa Arce, and Kiran Deol join to talk about the doomed fate of wife guys. Finally, the crew finishes the show reading and arguing about hot takes fro...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco welcome Hysteria’s FIRST MALE interview guest: Beto O’Rourke! Never not breaking barriers over here. After talking to him about his Texas governor race, Erin and Alyssa continue their October Witch of the Week series with the indigenous Deer Woman. Next, Tien Tran and Megan Gailey join to talk about rich-poor friendships and end the show with a Halloween-adjacent...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into staunchly pro-life Herschel Walker’s abortion underwriting and Florida’s invasion into the privacy of student athletes before sitting down with Michigan State Supreme Court candidate Kyra Harris Bolden. Next, Amanda Nguyen and Nona Willis Aronowitz come on to chat about sex, consent, and how the "sexual revolution" has let some women down. Then, we end o...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco shoutout Lizzo’s crystal flute skills before getting into the news: the aftermath of Mahsa Amini’s death, the election of Italy’s brand new lady fascist and state-level lies and secrets that will make you shake your damn head. Then, Michaela Watkins and Julissa Arce join to talk about the intersection of misogyny and disinformation, inspired by Don’t Worry Darling...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco get into the latest abortion news — bans, polls, men being evil — before sitting down with Arizona’s Secretary of State Katie Hobbs to discuss her running for governor in a major toss-up race against a rocket launcher enthusiast. Next, Kiran Deol and our senior producer Caroline Reston come on to talk about getting berated and how to respond when someone yells at...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the highs (WNBA breaking records, Abbott Elementary winning Emmys) and the lows (the proposed federal abortion ban, the mess that is the GOP) of the latest national news. Then, Kiran Deol and Kara Klenk join to discuss why Americans are so bad at unplugging when they’re OOO. Finally, we’ve chosen a name for our I Feel Petty and Sanity Corner combo: Sani-...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by Jill Gutowitz and Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein to discuss the queering of reality dating shows and the undeniable chemistry between the two current Bachelorettes. Plus, rounding out the summer with a I Feel Petty/Sanity Corner combo! Show Notes Six on Broadway Tony Performance   For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click  here . For a tran...

Erin Ryan is joined by guest co-host Grace Parra-Janney to embark on another Tour de Fuckery, checking in on what tomfoolery is going on in various red states. Then, Erin chats with scholar, teacher, and cultural theorist Dr. Aria Halliday about the Handmaid’s Tale as a post-Dobbs cultural reference and the relationship between Black women and reproductive justice. Next, Julissa Arce and Amanda Ng...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco get into Biden’s student loan debt relief program, Secretary-Mayor Pete’s proposed new rules to strengthen airline passenger protection, and discuss how abortion on the ballot is driving women to register to vote in higher numbers than men. Then, Grace Parra-Janney and Dana Schwartz join to talk about Finland’s Prime Minister daring to have a social life, our Russ...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco discuss Dr. Oz’s baffling crudité video, living in a post-Roe digital dystopia, and future former Congresswoman Liz Cheney. Then, Akilah Hughes and Tien Tran come in to talk about identifying our own toxic traits — and seeing the positives in our negatives. Finally, an extra toxic I Feel Petty-Sanity Corner combo.   Show Notes: Not Just Kansas; Women Motivated to...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco toast to the victory that is the Inflation Reduction Act before getting into teacher shortages, abortion bans, and Facebook being a menace to democracy. Next, Kiran Deol and Julissa Arce join to talk about parental approval of your decisions, from childhood to adulthood. Finally, a little I Feel Petty, a little Sanity Corner.   For a closed-captioned version of th...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco start on a high note, celebrating the abortion rights victory in Kansas before discussing more reproductive rights news and embarking on another state-by-state Tour de Fuckery. Then, Shaniqua McClendon and Dana Schwartz come on to discuss quiet quitting, girlbossing, and having a life outside of work. Finally, a I Feel Petty-Sanity Corner combo.   For a closed-cap...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk to Betsy West and Julie Cohen about their latest film Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down, an inspiring story about recovering from gun violence which they describe as a romance, a comedy, and a musical! In news, Erin and Alyssa continue discussing Roe’s impact, from walking out on an anti-abortion speaker to codifying gay marriage to responding to right-wing Twit...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco interview activist Amanda Nguyen, the founder and CEO of civil rights accelerator Rise, to talk about gamifying lawmaking and seeking justice for rape survivors across the globe. Then, in news, Erin and Alyssa assess the current state of the fight for abortion rights on multiple stages: the streets, medical facilities, and the courts. Next, Tien Tran and Julissa A...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk to academic and activist Bernardine Dohrn on the heels of Crooked’s new award-winning podcast, Mother Country Radicals, which tells the story of her life in advocacy. Next, in news, Erin and Alyssa start with a glimmer of hope and move on to a Tour de Bullshit, going into the terrible things happening in individual states, from Alaska to Tennessee. Then, Kara...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by Grace Parra Janney and Julissa Arce to do another special episode of Solicited Advice. Then, I Feel Petty.   For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click  here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand about the realities and battles of a post-Roe America. Next, in News, Erin and Alyssa dive into the different responses — from Democrats, from the GOP, from the states — to the overturning of abortion rights. Then, they’re joined by Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz to talk about the power of imagining different realities th...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco prepare for more Supreme Court decisions this week by working through three hypothetical outcomes of the impending abortion ruling. Next, in News: Erin and Alyssa discuss January 6 hearing updates and states no longer scheduling abortions in light of being in Roe v. Wade limbo. Then, Dana Schwartz and Julissa Arce join for Personal/Political to break down “The Fut...

Happy 200 episodes! Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk to NBC anchor Katy Tur about her honest new memoir Rough Draft. Then in News: Erin and Alyssa discuss Liz Cheney’s Jan. 6 opening statement, the tampon shortage (and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s dizzy, transphobic comments about it), a new Ohio law allowing teachers to carry guns after barely any training, and the alt-right attacking Pride eve...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk to NY Mag writer-at-large Rebecca Traister about her newest piece on Dianne Feinstein. Plus in News: Erin and Alyssa reflect on the Uvalde victim stories and Matthew McConaughey’s surprising engagement in the gun conversation. Then Megan Gailey and Dana Schwartz join to discuss the bikini menace and the rise and fall of the “bikini body”. Finally, a very pett...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk to the President of the National Education Association Becky Pringle about what it means to arm teachers with guns and the extraordinary burden teachers have carried the past few years. Then in News: Erin and Alyssa talk about Michigan Governor’s Whitmer executive directive on abortion, reproductive health, Japan’s terrible abortion laws, plus a man does a co...