For the 182nd episode of Private Parts Unknown, host Courtney Kocak welcomes Jennifer Case, author of We Are Animals: On the Nature and Politics of Motherhood. 

Jennifer explains how human maternal behavior makes more sense when viewed through the lens of evolutionary biology and how these biological instincts often clash with modern societal expectations of motherhood, creating tensions that manifest in issues like maternal mental health, isolation, and lack of support. We discuss Jennifer's personal experiences with pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood, including the challenges she faced with her second unintended pregnancy and her husband's opposition to abortion. She also opens up about her challenges in balancing academic and career ambitions with the demands of motherhood, how she navigates the complexities of sharing childcare responsibilities equitably with her husband, and how she reconciles her feminist ideals with the realities of motherhood.

For more from today's guest, Jennifer Case:

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Courtney is teaching the writing and publishing intensive of your dreams this January. It's called New Year's Newsletter & Pitch Party Extravaganza, and it will definitely take your writing practice and career to the next level. To join the fun, head to courtneykocak.com/teaching and use code PRIVATE for $100 off.

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