Mommy Has Questions.

🎙️ Season 2, Episode 7: When Did You Realize It’s A Man’s World?

The wake-up calls that changed everything we thought we knew

💬 Episode Overview

In this deeply personal and powerful conversation, the moms trace the moments — big and small — when the illusion cracked and they realized the world wasn’t built for women to succeed. From pregnancy discrimination at work to classrooms without female role models, from internalized misogyny to the quiet ways patriarchy teaches women to shrink, this episode is about awakening. Cristina, Tiffany, and Jamie reflect on how sexism shows up across childhood, education, careers, relationships, and culture — and how once you see it, you can’t unsee it. More importantly, they explore what comes next: unlearning, calling it out, raising the next generation differently, and continuing the conversation as an act of resistance.

🗣️ What We Talk About

- The moment pregnancy exposes workplace sexism

- How “vibe shifts” and gossip punish working mothers

- Paid parental leave — who gets it and who doesn’t

- Internalized misogyny and being a “guy’s girl”

- Growing up believing equality was already solved

- Education systems that erase women’s contributions

- Sports, uniforms, and the unequal playing field

- Literature, art, and the absence of women in history

- Why patriarchy only benefits those at the very top

- How awareness leads to action — not shame

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts

Cristina Sansone – Public health professional turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three

Jamie Dennison – Corporate executive and mom of two

Tiffany Hodges – Writer, actor, filmmaker, and mom of one

🎙️ Call to Action

Think back to your moment.When did you realize it’s a man’s world — and how did it change you?

📩 Share your story with us at [email protected]📢 Tag #MHQ and keep the conversation going📬 Subscribe to our newsletter for more resources and bonus content

🌐 Find Us Everywhere

linktr.ee/momsamongotherthings

🔑 Keywords

patriarchy, sexism, feminism, internalized misogyny, workplace discrimination, pregnancy at work, paid parental leave, women in history, gender equity, motherhood, education, women’s rights, cultural conditioning, allyship

🎙️ Season 2, Episode 6: How Do Moms Reclaim Power In The Workplace?

Why the Workplace Still Isn’t Built for Moms - and How We Change It.

In this eye-opening conversation, the moms sit down with Daphne Delvaux, Esq. — nationally known trial attorney, women’s rights advocate, and founder of The Mamattorney — to unpack one of the most urgent but overlooked questions in modern motherhood: Why is the workplace still failing moms?Drawing from Daphne’s groundbreaking legal work, her book Moms In Labor, and her transformative online program Motherland, this episode dives deep into the structural, cultural, and legal barriers facing working mothers today. Together, we explore the realities of pregnancy discrimination, the myth of “work-life balance,” what MFLA actually covers, and the emotional toll of navigating a system never designed for women — especially mothers. More importantly, Daphne offers real tools: legal protections every mom should know, mindset shifts to reclaim power, and a vision for a new era of motherhood where parents can work, thrive, and lead with dignity.

🎤 Meet Our Guest:

Daphne Delvaux, Esq. is an employment lawyer and trial attorney. She is the Founder of Delvaux Law, the nation’s first and only law firm devoted to mothers’ rights at work. She has been graced with the prestigious Outstanding Trial Lawyer award, elected by her peers.

Daphne is also the creator of the Mamattorney, a platform on a mission to educate mothers on their rights at work and teach them how to advocate for their needs, including extended maternity leaves, financial benefits, telework, flexibility, more breaks, pumping protections, and more, all without sacrificing their career goals.

As the only employment lawyer in the motherhood space, Daphne is routinely seen as THE expert on maternal rights. 

She encourages mothers to celebrate their motherhood as the superpower it is, instead of hiding it in the margins, and to proudly and professionally seek the accommodations they need instead of suppressing their or their babies’ needs. She teaches mothers how to strategically center mothers at work to the benefit of everyone, including the employers (it can be done!).

You can find Daphne at:

📱 Instagram: @theMamattorney 🌐 Website: https://www.theMamattorney.com 📚 Moms In Labor (Book):https://www.momsinlabor.com 🌍 Motherland Program:https://www.theMamattorney.com/motherland

🗣️ What We Talk About:

Why U.S. work culture treats motherhood as a liability instead of a strength

How pregnancy discrimination actually shows up — including subtle and “legal-ish” forms

What the MFLA covers (and what it definitely doesn’t)

Why so many women feel blindsided when they try to “prepare” for motherhood

The emotional and psychological cost of becoming a mom in a patriarchal workplace

Why pregnant employees carry both physical AND emotional labor at work

The roots of the “good employee” vs. “good mother” identity crisis

Postpartum realities and why the system sets women up to feel like they’re failing

How Daphne’s book Moms in Labor reframes motherhood as a political identity

Why her online program Motherland is giving women a new way forward

The mindset shifts every mother needs to reclaim her power at work

How mothers can collectively change workplace culture and advocate for themselves

📚 Resources:

MFLA (Maternal and Family Leave laws)https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla

Moms In Labor by Daphne Delvaux, Esq.Reframing motherhood as a feminist, legal, and cultural identityhttps://www.momsinlabor.com

Motherland — Daphne’s Online Programhttps://www.theMamattorney.com/motherland

The Mamattorney (Daphne’s Legal Resource Platform)https://www.theMamattorney.com

Sponsored By:

Poppy— the voice-note memory app for modern moms.  Poppy lets you add voice notes to your photos, so you can tell the stories behind them in seconds.

✨ Use promo code MommyHasPoppy for 3-months free at checkout! Download Poppyhereor directly in the iOS store. ✨

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

Cristina Sansone – Public health pro turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three

Jamie Dennison– Corporate exec and mom of two

🔗 Find Us Everywhere

💬 Want to share your story or ask a question? [email protected]

🔑 Keywords:

motherhood, workplace discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, MFLA, labor rights, gender equity, maternal health, postpartum, feminism, identity, working moms, motherhood culture, patriarchy, women’s rights, workplace reform, caregiving, family leave, emotional labor

🎙️ Season 2, Episode 4: How Does Talking About Menopause Lead to Gender Equity?

A Conversation About Menopause with Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LMSW, JD

In this episode, we sit down with Lauren to confront one of the biggest taboos in women’s health: menopause — a natural life phase that has been misunderstood, stigmatized, under-researched, and under-treated for generations. Together, we explore why millennials are pushing a cultural shift toward more open, honest conversations, and how misogyny and ageism have fueled decades of silence around this transition. We dig into the emotional, physical, and social realities of perimenopause and menopause, why destigmatizing this experience is essential for gender equity, and how women can advocate for better care, access, and insurance support. Lauren reframes menopause as a long-term health transition — not a single moment — and makes the case for recognizing it as a feminist issue central to improving women’s health across the entire lifespan.

🎤 Meet Our Guest:

Lauren A. Tetenbaum is a licensed clinical social worker, lawyer, women’s advocate, certified menopause practitioner, mother of two, and author of Millennial Menopause: Preparing for Perimenopause, Menopause, and Life’s Next Period.
She blends expertise, honesty, and humor to help women understand the full scope of perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause — not only as health experiences, but as feminist issues tied to gender equity. Follow her on instagram @thecounselaur

🗣️ What We Talk About:

Why menopause is so misunderstood — and why that’s changing

The rise of millennial women pushing for transparency about hormonal health

How misogyny + ageism have shaped decades of silence

What perimenopause actually feels like (the emotional, physical, and social layers)

What women aren’t taught — but desperately need to know

How to advocate for better care, diagnosis, and insurance coverage

Why menopause is a feminist issue

The urgent need for research, access, and systemic change

How solidarity and community can help women feel less alone

📚 Resources:

Menopause Society (menopause.org) — free educational tools + insurance denial letter templates

Millennial Menopause by Lauren A. Tetenbaum https://thecounselaur.com/millennialmenopausebook/

Sponsored By:

Poppy — the voice-note memory app for modern moms.  Poppy lets you add voice notes to your photos, so you can tell the stories behind them in seconds.

✨ Use promo code MommyHasPoppy for 3-months free at checkout! Download Poppy here or directly in the iOS store. ✨

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

Cristina Sansone – Public health pro turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three

Jamie Dennison – Corporate exec and mom of two

Tiffany Hodges – Writer, actor, filmmaker, and mom of one   

🔗 Find Us Everywhere

💬 Want to share your story or ask a question? [email protected]

🔑 Keywords:

menopause, perimenopause, women’s health, gender equity, hormonal health, feminist health, aging, stigma, millennial women, medical advocacy, emotional wellbeing, identity shifts, healthcare access, social change, community support

🎙️ Season 2, Episode 4: Are Women Punished for Being Ambitious?

Why wanting more costs women everything—and how the system makes sure of it

Finance expert and cultural critic Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez joins us to unpack her groundbreaking work on the ambition penalty—the hidden tax women pay for wanting more in their careers, finances, and lives. Through data and lived experience, we explore why mothers face the steepest costs, losing up to $500,000 over a lifetime while their male counterparts receive a fatherhood bonus. Stefanie reveals how invisible labor subsidizes men's success, why burnout is a systemic issue rather than personal failure, and how dangerous narratives like the "soft life" trend mask the structural barriers pushing women out of paid work. This conversation challenges the myth of choice and meritocracy, offering a clear-eyed look at what it really takes to dismantle the systems that punish women's ambition.

🎤 Meet Our Guest:

Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez — writer, producer, finance expert, and creator of the award-winning newsletter Too Ambitious. Her new book The Ambition Penalty uncovers how women are systematically punished for wanting more — financially, socially, and professionally. Featured in Bloomberg, CNBC, Glamour UK… and she’s also a mom.

🗣️ What We Talk About:

The Ambition Penalty — why the playing field was never level.

The myth of meritocracy and how the goalposts keep shifting for women.

Why mothers face the steepest penalties in pay, leadership, and opportunity.

The “fallacy of choice” — why it’s NOT a choice when the system pushes women out.

How invisible labor and household inequality directly subsidize men’s success.

The growing “soft life” trend targeting women — and why it’s dangerous.

📚 Key Takeaways:

Women aren’t lacking ambition — the data shows they enter the workforce equally or more ambitious than men.

Ambition is rewarded in men but punished in women. Assertiveness + achievement triggers backlash, not opportunity.

The motherhood penalty costs women up to $500,000 over a lifetime — while men receive a fatherhood bonus.

Invisible labor (planning, caretaking, emotional management, logistics) is unpaid work that directly increases men’s earnings and leisure time.

Women’s burnout is not a personal failure — it’s the predictable result of inequality at home, at work, and in cultural expectations.

The narrative of choice (“women are opting out”) is a dangerous distortion used to justify systemic discrimination.

Trends like the “soft life” or “trad wife” ideal romanticize women giving up paid labor — but it’s still work, just unpaid and unsupported.

Sponsored By:

Poppy — the voice-note memory app for modern moms.  Poppy lets you add voice notes to your photos, so you can tell the stories behind them in seconds.

✨ Use promo code MommyHasPoppy for 3-months free at checkout! Download Poppy here or directly in the iOS store. ✨

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

Cristina Sansone – Public health pro turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three  

🔗 Find Us Everywhere

💬 Want to share your story or ask a question? [email protected]

🔑 Keywords:

#AmbitionPenalty
#GenderData
#MotherhoodPenalty
#InvisibleLabor
#MeritocracyMyth
#GirlPowerToBurnoutPipeline
#SystemicInequality
#WomenDeserveMore

🎙️ Season 2, Episode 3: What's It Like Being a Stay-at-Home Dad?

An Honest Conversation About Fatherhood, Caregiving, and What It Means to Be a Man Today

In this eye-opening episode, Cristina and Tiffany welcome a longtime friend and truly special guest, Matt Groff — a stay-at-home father, primary caregiver, writer, literary critic, puppeteer, and blogger. Matt brings a deeply honest, thoughtful, and often surprising perspective on caregiving, identity, masculinity, and partnership in modern America.

This conversation follows Episode 2, where we asked: What do young men in America actually need today? Now, we flip the lens inward and explore caregiving and masculinity from the lived experience of a full-time dad who chose this role, joyfully.

This conversation widens the lens on masculinity, caregiving, and gender norms. It asks listeners to rethink old assumptions, recognize caregiving as human work rather than “women’s work,” and imagine a future where both men and women have the freedom to build purpose and family on their own terms.

🗣️ What We Talk About:

- Identity, masculinity & purpose

- Caregiving is not a “women’s issue”

- Generational shifts in how people react to a stay-at-home dad

- Partnership & redefining the provider role

- The “men in crisis” narrative & why it’s being blamed on women

- Loneliness, community & adult connection

🎓 References:

The Prof G Pod with Jonathan Haidt and Richard Reeves

Scott Galloway

Jonathan Haidt

Richard Reeves

Joe Hudson

🎤 Meet Our Guest:

Matt Groff - Stay-at-Home Father · Short story writer · Literary critic · Puppeteer · Blogger

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

Cristina Sansone – Public health pro turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three

Tiffany Hodges – Multimedia Creator and mom of one

🌐 Find Us Everywhere:

linktr.ee/momsamongotherthings

🔑 Keywords:

Stay-at-home dad, caregiving, masculinity, gender roles, fatherhood, parenting, partnership, identity, emotional labor, modern families, purpose, men and caregiving, social expectations, community, isolation, redefining masculinity

📣 Sponsored By: Poppy — the voice note memory app for modern moms. Use promo code MommyHasPoppy for 3 months free at checkout.

🎙️ Season 2, Episode 2: What Do Young Men Need?

How Patriarchy is Failing Our Boys (and Men Too)

In this episode of Mommy Has Questions, the moms dig into one of today’s most pressing and complex cultural topics: the crisis of young men. Inspired by a conversation on The Prof G Pod with Jonathan Haidt and Richard Reeves, Cristina, Tiffany, Jamie, and Jess unpack what’s really going on with men aged 18–34 — and what they actually need from society, from women, and from themselves.

They explore how patriarchy is failing men too, why emotional regulation is missing from male conditioning, and how structural inequality and economic stagnation have left a generation feeling lost. From “boys will be boys” to pay gaps and parental leave, this episode dives deep into how we can all — together — redefine strength, connection, and masculinity for the next generation.

🗣️ What We Talk About:

Why young men (18–34) are struggling in today’s culture

How patriarchy harms men emotionally as much as it limits women socially

What boys actually learn about emotion — and what they don’t

The generational and economic roots of male frustration

Why women are “blaming the system,” not men

How to model emotional intelligence and healthy masculinity for our sons

The myth of “boys will be boys” and what it costs all of us

🎓 References:

The Prof G Pod with Jonathan Haidt and Richard Reeves

Scott Galloway

Jonathan Haidt

Richard Reeves

Joe Hudson

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

Cristina Sansone – Public health pro turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three

Jamie Dennison – Corporate real estate exec and mom of two

Jess Kahn Marks – Former engineer and mom of two

Tiffany Hodges – Multimedia Creator and mom of one

🌐 Find Us Everywhere:

linktr.ee/momsamongotherthings

🔑 Keywords:

toxic masculinity, boyhood, empathy, parenting, emotional intelligence, gender roles, modern fatherhood, loneliness epidemic, raising boys, feminism, motherhood, identity

📣 Sponsored By: Poppy — the voice note memory app for modern moms. Use promo code MommyHasPoppy for 3 months free at checkout.

📋 Show Notes:

🎙️ Episode 10: Is There A War On Women

Subtitle: Anti-Woman Policies and Cultural Backlash

In this urgent and powerful episode of Mommy Has Questions, the moms break down what’s really happening behind the rise in anti-woman policies, cultural backlash, and legislative assaults on bodily autonomy. From systemic violence and political maneuvering to erasure in medicine and media, the conversation dives deep into what it means to be a woman—and a mother—in a country where rights are being stripped in real time.

Cristina and the moms make the case: this isn’t isolated. This is coordinated. And moms, we need to be loud. Because raising kids in this culture means we can’t afford to stay quiet.

🗣️ What We Talk About:

Why violence against women is not rare, but systemic

The culture of silence around abuse, assault, and power

How policies are rolling back women’s rights post-Roe

The role of guns, pregnancy, and the failure of VAWA

The politicization of maternal health

How “gender ideology” is being weaponized against women

The rise of manosphere influencers and “alpha male” rhetoric

Why this moment calls for urgent, unapologetic resistance

📚 References:

Horne , Marvin. “Initial Guidance Regarding President Trump’s Executive ...,” 30 Jan. 2025, Accessed 19 June 2025. 

Bedekovics, Greta, and Sydney Bryant. “The Save Act Would Disenfranchise Millions of Citizens.” Center for American Progress, 28 Mar. 2025, 

Nietzel, Michael T. “Women Continue to Outpace Men in College Enrollment and Graduation.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 8 Aug. 2024, 

Baird, Addy, and Emily  Anderson Stern  “Mike Lee’s Save Act Is Unlikely to Get through the Senate. but Is It Already Working?” . The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 May 2025,

Cultural Shifts. Greenhouse, L. (2022, July 4). We are not going back to the time before Roe; we are going somewhere worse. The New Yorker.

US Abortion Laws. BBC News. (2021, November 2). US abortion laws: What’s at stake in the Supreme Court case. BBC News.

Covid 19 Reproductive Health. Moghaddam, S., & Dastgheib, M. (2020). A comprehensive review of the impact of COVID-19 on reproductive health. PubMed Central.

Miscarriage Charges. Unga, B. (2025, January 16). Ohio woman charged after miscarriage sues City of Warren, Mercy Health in federal court. Ohio Capital Journal.

Women as Incubators. NPR. (2025, May 20). A brain-dead pregnant woman is being kept on life support, raising legal questions. NPR.

Toxicity In Schools. O'Keeffe, G. (2024, April). Toxicity in schools: A comprehensive report. Anti-Bullying Centre.

Pregnancy Related Deaths. Harvard Gazette. (2025, April 12). U.S. pregnancy-related deaths continuing to rise. Harvard Gazette.

2024 Election. AP News. (2025, June 1). Trump, Harris, and women's rights in the 2024 election. AP News.

National Women's Law Center. (2025). Project 2025: A blueprint for attacking EMTALA protections and denying emergency abortion care. National Women’s Law Center.

Emergency Abortion Access. The Washington Post. (2025, June 4). New EMTALA guidance could hinder emergency abortion access. The Washington Post.

Manosphere. NBC News. (2025, May 18). Adolescence and the manosphere: The rise of toxic masculinity on Netflix. NBC News.

Among Other Things Substack: The War on Women

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

Cristina Sansone – Public health pro turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three  

Jamie Dennison – Corporate exec and mom of two

Jess Kahn Marks – Former engineer and mom of two

Tiffany Hodges – Writer, actor, filmmaker, and mom of one

🔗 Find Us Everywhere

💬 Want to share your story or ask a question? [email protected]

🔑 Keywords:

women’s rights, gender equity, maternal health, violence against women, feminism, war on women, manosphere, reproductive justice, bodily autonomy, motherhood, policy, parenting, advocacy, allyship, no-fault divorce, guns and abuse, gender roles

📋 Show Notes:

🎙️ Episode 9: What Are We Teaching Our Sons?

Subtitle: Gender StereotypesHurt Boys Too

This episode of Mommy Has Questions tackles the early socialization of boys into restrictive gender roles and how that impacts their emotional development, self-worth, and future relationships. Cristina and the moms explore how gendered language, media messaging, and family dynamics shape kids’ ideas about what boys and girls are “allowed” to do.

They discuss how we can challenge traditional roles, bring more male voices into caregiving and education, and raise boys who are emotionally open, empathetic, and strong allies for equality. This episode is a must-listen for any parent ready to raise the next generation without outdated limits.

🗣️ What We Talk About:

- Why boys absorb gender norms so early

- The emotional cost of teaching boys to suppress feelings

- How media and family dynamics shape ideas about gender

- The importance of male representation in caregiving and education

- Why empowering girls doesn’t mean disempowering boys

- What gender-neutral parenting actually looks like

- Teaching boys about privilege, equality, and allyship

- How open conversations about family roles foster understanding

- Why modeling equal partnerships matters

- Strategies to break cycles of gender bias at home

📚 References:

"Gender Role."Wikipedia, 11 June 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_role.

Sally. Directed by Cristina Costantini, National Geographic Documentary Films, 2025.

Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. See Jane, seejane.org/.

Reeves, Richard V. Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It. Brookings Institution Press, 2024.

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

Cristina Sansone – Public health pro turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three  

Jamie Dennison – Corporate exec and mom of two

Jess Kahn Marks – Former engineer and mom of two

Tiffany Hodges – Writer, actor, filmmaker, and mom of one

🌐 Find Us Everywhere

💬 Want to share your story or ask a question? [email protected]

🔑 Keywords:

motherhood, gender norms, gender roles, gender stereotypes, gender-neutral, family roles, partnership, gender bias, parenting, emotional expression, emotional development, self-worth, allyship, representation, equality, boys, girls, caregiving

📋 Show Notes:

🎙️ Episode 8: Do Movies Accurately Portray Motherhood?
Subtitle: Moms in Movies

This week on Mommy Has Questions, Cristina, Jamie, Jess, and Tiffany dive deep into the cultural narrative of motherhood on screen. From Night Bitch to Bluey, the group examines how media shapes our expectations, identities, and experiences as mothers. They explore why it took so long for films to reflect the real emotional and physical realities of parenting, and why so many depictions still feel hollow, idealized, or just plain wrong. The hosts share personal stories about media moments that missed the mark and the few that finally felt true—while unpacking the gender gaps behind the camera that are holding progress back. This episode is an open, honest, and layered look at how storytelling can either reinforce old roles or radically reshape them.

🗣️ What We Talk About:

- The cultural significance of Night Bitch and why it hit a nerve for moms

- How childbirth scenes in movies are often laughably unrealistic

- How the male gaze has shaped the dominant narrative of motherhood in media

- The loneliness and shame that can result from not seeing your truth reflected on screen

- Historical portrayals of moms vs. emerging, more complex characterizations

- The importance of female directors, producers and writers telling women’s stories

- How movies don’t just reflect culture, but actively create it

- What it means to confront cultural stereotypes about mothers before our daughters learn to perpetuate the same things

- Representation of fathers and why Bluey might be the role model we didn’t know we needed

📚 References:

Nightbitch. Heller, Marielle, director. Performances by Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, and Emmett Snowden, Searchlight Pictures, 2024. 

Tully. Reitman, Jason, director. Performances by Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, and Mark Duplass, Focus Features, 2018. 

Nightbitch: A Novel. Yoder, Rachel. Doubleday, 2021. 

“Edna Ferber.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Feb. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edna_Ferber. 

“Twentieth Century Women Writers.” Persephone Books, persephonebooks.co.uk/. Accessed 2 June 2025. 

Lolly Willowes: Or, the Loving Huntsman. Warner, Sylvia Townsend. New York : New York Review Books, [1999]

Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. 2021 Report on Parenting in Film & Television

Miss Representation. Newson, Jennifer Siebel, Director. The Representation Project, 2011. 

Schitt's Creek. Levy, Eugene, et al. Lions Gate Entertainment, 2015-2020. 

Minkin, R. Horowitz, J.M., Pew Research Center, Societal Expectations of Parents: A Gendered Analysis (2023)

Mary, S.M. Gendered Messages in Media and Their Impact on Youth Aspirations . Journal of Communication. (2020)

Gender & Society, The Representation of Motherhood in Popular Media (2022)

USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. The Impact of Women in Film & TV Production (2023)

“What Bluey, the Best Show on TV, Taught Me about Fatherhood.” Franklin-Wallis, Oliver. British GQ, British GQ, 5 Aug. 2022, 

“Hello Sunshine.”

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

Cristina Sansone – Public health pro turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three  

Jamie Dennison – Corporate exec and mom of two

Jess Kahn Marks – Former engineer and mom of two

Tiffany Hodges – Writer, actor, filmmaker, and mom of one

🔗 Follow Along:

📬 Email us your stories: [email protected]

📱 IG: @momsamongotherthings
🌐 Website: mommyhasquestions.com
🎧 Presented by: momsamongotherthings.com

📰 Substack: amongotherthingsnyc.substack.com

🔑 Keywords:

motherhood, media representation, Night Bitch, childbirth, women's stories, cultural expectations, motherhood portrayal, emotional experiences, motherhood challenges, female empowerment, gender roles, female directors, male perceptions, diversity, parenting, statistics, authentic storytelling, societal norms, involved fathers, cultural change, female-driven content

📋 Show Notes:

 🎙️ Episode 7: Why Am I Having a Mental Breakdown?
Subtitle: Parenting: A Public Health Crisis

Cristina, Tiffany, Jess, and Jamie come together to talk about the mental, emotional, and social weight of parenting in 2025. What begins with Cristina’s story of reflecting upon a breakdown, induced by holiday-prep-burnout, quickly becomes a deeply resonant exploration of why so many moms are feeling on the verge of a mental health breakdown — and what we can do to create more support, equity, and care for each other.

🗣️ What We Talk About:

The stress of manufacturing ‘holiday magic’ — and who that burden usually falls on

Why mothers carry the mental load (and what it’s doing to our health)

The impossible pressures of “intensive parenting”

How family dynamics have shifted away from community and toward isolation

Communication breakdowns in relationships — and how to get on the same page

Why breakdowns can actually be breakthrough moments

The importance of naming abuse, stress, and inequality in parenting

Creating space for women’s health, mental well-being, and self-care

Real talk on what support systems should actually look like

📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:

Parents Under Pressure The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents, 2024.

The Parents Aren’t Alright. Barbaro, Michael, host, and Claire Cain Miller, guest. "The Parents Aren't All Right." The Daily, The New York Times, 9 Oct. 2024, www.nytimes.com/thedaily.

Fair Play  Rodsky, Eve. Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live). G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2019.

The Second Shift Hocheschild, Arlie. The Second Shift:  Working Families and the Revolution at Home. Penguin Books, 2012.

❤️ You Are Not Alone: Help for Abusive Relationships

If you or someone you love is experiencing abuse—emotional, physical, sexual, or psychological—please know support is available. These trusted resources can offer immediate, confidential help:

National Domestic Violence Hotline

📞 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

💬 Text: START to 88788

🌐 thehotline.org

Available 24/7 with trained advocates offering free, confidential help in over 200 languages.

Women’s Law (from NNEDV)

🌐 womenslaw.org

Find clear legal info by state on protection orders, custody, and divorce. You can also email an advocate anonymously for guidance.

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

Cristina Sansone – Public health pro turned full-time stay-at-home mom of three  

Jamie Dennison – Corporate exec and mom of two

Jess Kahn Marks – Former engineer and mom of two

Tiffany Hodges – Writer, actor, filmmaker, and mom of one

🔗 Follow Along:

📱 IG: @momsamongotherthings

🌐 Website: mommyhasquestions.com

🎧 Presented by: momsamongotherthings.com

🔑 Keywords:

parenting, mental health, burnout, societal expectations, intensive parenting, motherhood, family dynamics, communication, mental load, public health, social media, community support, women’s health, self-care, empowerment, abuse