The Multiverse: a Podcast about Tribalism in America

Extra long, extra juicy, extra momtastic: Caitlin & Katie (both moms of two, if ya didn’t catch that) debrief the issues explored in Season 3 with our expert guest hosts, Paula & Nina. From the attitudes and practices surrounding vaccines, infant feeding, and moms and work, to the attitudes and practices (read: policies) that our country imposes on moms at large, C& K ponder how the state of the “Mom Tribe” might point to some larger issues facing America today.  

CREDITS: 

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl 

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Expert guest hosts Paula & Nina shine with compassion and wit as they take on their last episode here at the Multiverse. They respond frankly to Randi Zuckerberg’s interview about (not) having it all (at once), and share their own experiences of being a stay-at-home and/or working mom. They also field three stories from our listening audience about motherhood and work, shining a little light – and lightheartedness – on what looks like an all around impossible situation for moms out there today.  

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl

© OPEN EYE | media, productions, projects & FRIEND ENERGIES Productions

In a world where women are expected to parent like they don’t have a job and work as if they don’t have children, how exactly do we “have it all”? Bestselling author, new mom (again), and media mogul, Randi Zuckerberg, tells us why it’s better to be well lopsided than perfectly balanced. In her book, Pick Three, she lays out how focusing on 3 of the 5 areas women aspire to rule can be the ticket to real world success. Katie and Paula find out exactly what that looks like for her, and what specific advice she has for moms stuck in the hampster wheel of early parenthood.  

Guest: Randi Zuckerberg 

Links: Zuckerberg Media &  Pick Three

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl

© OPEN EYE | media, productions, projects & FRIEND ENERGIES Productions

Have you ever been invited for coffee only to find out your friend was working a pyramid scheme and pushing unwanted “goods” on you? The Multiverse interviews Laura Richards on her viral article concerning MLM’s and why they are so toxic to our society. Paula dishes on her own experience with tupperware sales and Nina offers a counterpoint to one of the sketchiest schemes going down in the mom tribe. Grab a glass of wine, prop open your laptop, and give this one a listen while living your best life. #bosslady

Guest: Laura Richards

Links: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/01/21/how-mlms-are-hurting-female-friendships/ 

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl

© OPEN EYE | media, productions, projects & FRIEND ENERGIES Productions

In this episode, Paula and Nina explore the dicey choice moms have to make regarding how they feed their newborns and why you should care. First, author Emily Oster breaks down how data-based parenting looks in the real world, the mixed messages moms get about feeding their infants, and how we’re probably not failing our children regardless of what choice we make. Then blogger and formula feeding activist Suzanne Barston illustrates how sometimes the decision between breastfeeding or bottle feeding isn’t really a choice...and the judgement moms receive, nonetheless.  

Guests: Emily Oster, Suzanne Barston 

Links: Crib Sheet & Fearless Formula Feeder 

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl 

© OPEN EYE | media, productions, projects & FRIEND ENERGIES Productions

In this episode, Paula and Nina respond to letters from listeners regarding vaccines and the decisions parents make. They explore multiple perspectives, data based outcomes, the question of education as an equalizer, and share some of their own experiences – both personal and drawn from their many years of experience working with new parents. 

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl

© OPEN EYE | media, productions, projects & FRIEND ENERGIES Productions

This week you'll meet Paula Norcott and Nina Emlen, our expert guest hosts this season! Both are perinatal professionals, doulas, entrepreneurs and mothers living and working with new moms in Maine. The first topic they'll tackle is perhaps the most contentious - and potentially the most dangerous - health issue facing today's new parents, and really, public health at large: vaccine hesitancy and refusal. They interview sociologist and author Jennifer Reich, who researches how and why families choose to vaccinate their children or not. Discover what the data says about vaccine safety, how the history of vaccines is actually wound up in a social justice movement, and how families are navigating issues of individual health versus civic duty. 

Guests: Jennifer Reich 

Links: Calling the Shots 

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl

© OPEN EYE | media, productions, projects & FRIEND ENERGIES Productions

Cait & Katie discuss the special interviews with Ann Crittenden and Emma Johnson, and break down some of the realities about the labor of mothering, parenting with and without a partner, burnout, policy, and what might have to happen in America for things to actually change.  

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl

© OPEN EYE | media, productions, projects & FRIEND ENERGIES Productions

Katie talks with author, blogger and shared parenting activist Emma Johnson about single parenting, dismantling the Patriarchy (for women and men), and how our culture’s messages about what makes a “good mom” isn’t exactly good for women. Prepare to have your most unconsciously internalized values about family life and labor challenged in the most illuminating of ways.  

Guests: Emma Johnson 

Links: Kickass Single Mom, Wealthy Single Mommy, Moms for Shared Parenting 

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl

© OPEN EYE | media, productions, projects & FRIEND ENERGIES Productions

In this special interview, Cait talks to journalist and economist Ann Crittenden, whose book The Price of Motherhood changed her perspective on new motherhood. Brace yourself for a discussion about the value our country puts (or doesn’t put) on women’s traditional work, the (still pervasive) “mommy tax,” how the statistics about how moms are faring in America are as bad (or worse) as they were 20 years ago… and how hoards of grannies might be the ones to save the day.  

Guests: Ann Crittenden 

Links: The Price of Motherhood 

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Caitlin Scholl and Katie Wilson

Sound Design & Editing by: Caitlin Scholl

Mixing & Mastering by: Chris Burns

Opening music: “America” by Bill Callahan

Closing music: “Mama” by Caitlin Scholl

© OPEN EYE | media, productions, projects & FRIEND ENERGIES Productions