Call Your Mother

We talk to writer Lori Gottlieb, who pens The Atlantic's "Ask a Therapist" column about what it's like to be a therapist in therapy. Shannon and Jordana talk about their adventures (and misadventures) with therapy. But that's not all: The bane of modern parenting — SLIME — and places you don't want your child to put it is discussed, and since Jordana's mom is on vacation, the team places a call to Shannon's adorable 94-year-old grandmother.

Got a story to share? Email us at [email protected]. We're waiting to hear from you. Or leave us a voicemail at 908-248-4273.

Music: "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "Evidence Song" by The Good Lawdz "Fallen Stars" by Ketsa "Swing America" by Dimusic "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan ft. Habit Blcx

Bryce Gruber, a Manhattan mother of five, social media influencer, and founder of The Luxury Spot, comes to chat with Shannon and Jordana. The trio covers everything from Bryce's appearance on Millionaire Matchmaker, to her marriage to an Israeli she met in shul, to the birth story of her fifth child which almost (literally) killed her. She candidly shares about her fierce love for Antiques Roadshow, how she almost moved to Israel to get the right medical care, and how the perfect lipstick cannot, in fact, change your life (#shocking). Plus, Gram talks about the horrors of children's birthday parties, and Shannon discusses the ultimate Father's Day gift: Ambien.

Got a story to share? Email us at [email protected]. We're waiting to hear from you. Or leave us a voicemail at 908-248-4273.

Music: "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "For Hip-Hop" by Marscott "Rewind Back" by Marscott "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan ft. Habit Blcx

In light of increased restrictions on abortion around the United States, this episode focuses on stories of women who were already mothers when they made the choice to have an abortion. Jordana and Shannon sit down with Shannon Berkowsky, who was a mother of two when her third pregnancy developed problems and she had a second-trimester abortion. Voicemails from listeners tell stories of the various reasons behind their choices to have an abortion. And Gram gives advice on what to do when someone gives you WAY too much information.

Got a story to share? Email us at [email protected]. We're waiting to hear from you. Or leave us a voicemail at 908-248-4273.

Music: "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "Hip Hop Happiness" by Mellowsstu "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan ft. Habit Blcx

Jordana and Shannon chat with Esther Wojcicki, whose daughters include Susan (the CEO of YouTube), Anne (the CEO of 23andMe), and Janet (a Fulbright-winning professor of pediatrics and epidemiology). Esther talks about growing up in an Orthodox household and how it made her strive to raise successful girls. "Gram" lets Shannon know how to figure out when to let kids stay home from school, and Jordana tells about becoming an inadvertent accomplice to (goldfish) murder.

Got a story to share? Email us at [email protected]. We're waiting to hear from you. Or leave us a voicemail at 908-248-4273. Come chat with us in the Kveller Moms Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode: "How to Raise Successful People" by Esther Wojcicki

Music: "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "Lo-Fi Afternoon" by Marscott "Gentle Talk" by Marscott "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan ft. Habit Blcx

Jordana and Shannon sit down with Mira Jacob, the author of the graphic memoir Good Talk: A Memoir In Conversations, to talk about living as a woman of color married to a Jewish man, and raising an Indian-Jewish son in 2019 America. Also, she talks about what it's like to navigate life with Trump-supporting in-laws. "Gram" chimes in with her thoughts about abortion, and Shannon shares what she really thinks about what her husband puts on a bagel.

Music: "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "Don't Forget" by Marscott "Ambient Magic" by JulioKladNiew "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan ft. Habit Blcx

Mentioned in this episode: Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations

Jordana and Shannon talk with Jamie Stelter, New York One's traffic and transit reporter, about Jamie's six miscarriages, her struggle to get and remain pregnant, and how she has been outspoken about her fertility struggles on social media and beyond. This episode covers the whole circle of life, from the struggle to become pregnant to...well, we'll let Shannon surprise you. And Jordana's mom chats about what to do when you get bad advice.

Music: "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "Puzzle" by Tobu "Libertad!" by Eaters "Foolin" by Nangdo "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan ft. Habit Blcx

Mentioned in this episode: Babyquest provides financial help for fertility treatments, which can be extremely expensive and prohibitive for many: https://babyquestfoundation.org/

Writer Carla Steckman talks to Jordana and Shannon about losing her not-yet 2-year-old daughter, Talia, to Tay-Sachs Disease, "extreme parenting," and what we can learn from our own children. Jordana and Shannon catch up after the podcast's hiatus, about pregnancy (Shannon's) and escape (Jordana's).

Music: "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "Valantis" by Blue Dot Sessions "Outsider's Paradox" by Springtide "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan ft. Habit Blcx

Mentioned in this episode: -Learn more about Tay-Sachs and what you can do to help families facing genetic diseases at the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association (Carla is on its board), which is leading the fight to cure Tay-Sachs and other genetic diseases at www.NTSAD.org. -Ashkenazi Jews in particular, but truly all couples, are encouraged to do genetic screening before having children (as Carla did). You can learn more about what you can and should do at https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/genetic-screening-and-judaism/. -Carla is at work on a memoir about her experience parenting Talia. You can read more of her work at www.carlasteckman.com and https://thewarmweightoflove.wordpress.com.

Springtime! Matzah! Saltwater! Sacrificial shank bones! To celebrate Passover, the dynamic duo at Call Your Mother talk with the dynamic duo behind Kveller's very own haggadah. Gabrielle Birkner and Elissa Strauss worked hard to make a haggadah that keeps kids and their parents jazzed and curious about the seder. Then, Marnie Fienberg discusses 2 For Seder, a program she launched to combat anti-Semitism and to honor her late mother-in-law, who was killed in Pittsburgh's Tree of Life shooting. Plus, Shannon's daughter makes a surprise appearance and divulges intel about that time her mom almost killed her. Happy Pesach!

Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about 2 For Seder Check out the Kveller Haggadah

Music: "Anna Banana" by Eaters "Fallen Stars" by Ketsa "Evidence Song" by The Good Lawdz (edited) "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan (ft. Habit Blcx)

Jill Kargman spares nobody and nothing in her books Momzillas and Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut, and in her late, beloved TV show Odd Mom Out. In real life, too, the actress, comedian, and writer finds very little that's sacred. In a hilarious and wild conversation, Kargman talks about life in DORITO (hint: it's a neighborhood in Manhattan), being shunned at her daughter's ballet class, the problem with traveling by private jet, and how she responded to anti-Semitism at her son's private school. Plus, we learn about the proper size of a bialy and gain more insight into Jordana's dynamic with her mother.

Mentioned in the episode: Momzillas, https://amzn.to/2VwWKhg The Kveller Haggadah, https://www.kveller.com/haggadah/

Music: "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "Good Thing" by Ménage Quad "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan (ft. Habit Blcx)

Trans activist Rafi Daugherty joins the Call Your Mother team to talk about his decision to become a single father by choice. Raised a girl, Daugherty started transitioning in his 20s and never gave up his dream to be a parent. He discusses the challenges of single parenthood, how he talks about gender roles with his kids, pizza, and more. Plus Shannon and Jordana weigh in on "Baby Beluga" and Jordana's mom talks about accepting the inevitability of parental fallibility.

Music "Voicemail" by Khronos Beats "I Let" by Sanmi "Baby Beluga" by Raffi "Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan ft. Habit Blcx

Mentioned in the episode: Keshet The Kveller Haggadah Gittel's Journey