Stuff Mom Never Told You

Around the world, the birth rate is declining and it is sounding a lot of alarms. What is behind the decline? While some would like to blame feminism, there are many factors at play. We discuss in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did ICE, or the Immigrations and Custom Enforcement in the US, come to be? We delve into the history and the discuss some of the ramifications in part one of our look at the organization. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While not necessarily bad, hyperfixation - an intense focus on a hobby, interest or activity - can lead to disruptions in every day life. We talk about what hyperfixation is and some of the ways it can manifest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 2026 is the hundredth anniversary of Black History Month in the United States. What is the history of it and why is it important, especially now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we're spotlighting the work of climate activist, author and podcaster Mikaela Loach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where does the stereotype that women talk too much, and talk more than men, come from? Turns out there is a long history that we are still feeling to this day. We discuss in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Though women have been present in sports since the beginning, numerous obstacles have often stood in the way of them becoming coaches and referees. In this classic, we examine the playbook to look at the history of why this is and the ways people are trying to change it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1997 cult classic film Romy and Michele's High School Reunion followed two best friends from childhood friends to adult besties, though their friendship is tested by their upcoming ten year high school reunion. We talk friendships, cliques, the meaning of success, complete with 90s fashion, technology and fashion in all its glory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new game appears to be bringing out empathy online. Samantha and Anney chat about what's going on, and why it's a good thing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anney and Samantha give an update on cozy gaming, and give reviews of three games they played for this episode (one new one, a Samantha recommendation and an Anney recommendation). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're talking about climate activist and glaciologist Dr. Heidi Sevestre. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been a lot of talk about what has been labeled the Male Loneliness Epidemic. But what is it? Are there gendered differences in loneliness? We discuss in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shipping has gone from a derided part of fandom to a mainstream component, and with that has come good and bad. We talk about the history and psychology of shipping, and why shipping should be included in our conversations about the beauties and toxicities of fandom in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rosie A. Point's cozy word search murder mystery book is delightful, fun and full of classic cozy tropes. We chat about word searches, mysteries and the coziness of it all.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Which one of us took the (queer)bait? Anney did. And it was not fun. Not one bit." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Educator, coach, scholar and author of the book Fair Game: Trans Athletes and the Future of Sports Dr. Anna Baeth joins us to break down some of the myths surrounding trans athletes, why sport matters and what we can strive for to make things better in the future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Half-elf Arwen Evenstar from the Lord of the Rings universe had to navigate questions of love and immortality. We delve into her story, and the differences between her adaptions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to fighting those in power, one of the many tools we have is boycotting. Samantha and Anney shed some light on the effectiveness (or not) of recent boycotts against large companies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award-winning journalist, story collector and teller Michele Norris joins us for a wide-ranging discussion on women, race and identity - and how we often learn about it and see it play out in the kitchen. We chat about the podcast Your Mama's Kitchen, The Race Card Project and the power of curiosity in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brazilian composer, conductor, teacher and performer Chiquinha Gonzaga crafted many works and left a legacy. Yves delves into her history and accomplishments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not only is dancing fun, but it has numerous health benefits. Anney and Samantha break down some of the reasons why you should bust a move. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

X's AI chatbot Grok has recently been involved in some high profile cases of generating damaging and disturbing images of young girls and women. However, this is not new, but part of a pattern across several tech platforms and is rooted in societal issues. Bridget Todd breaks it down for us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we highlight the works of Ugandan veterinarian and gorilla conservation Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is internalized homophobia and how can it manifest? Anney and Samantha shine some light on the issue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The simple question of how you're doing is not always so simple, and can lead to tears. We look into a few common reasons why in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.