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Mommy Has Questions.

Mommy Has Questions.

By: Among Other Things
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With heart, analysis and experience, Mommy Has Questions examines the evolution of motherhood and challenges expectations to create a world where we all thrive. Your exhaustion isn't personal, it's cultural.

Join Cristina, a career professional turned stay-at-home mom, and the Among Other Things co-founders as they connect your daily overwhelm to decades of policies that depend on mothers doing it all. This is where shame becomes solidarity, where private struggles reveal public patterns, and where women discover they're not broken - the system is.

Mommy Has Questions is presented by Among Other Things, a vibrant moms collective dedicated to driving cultural change for all women.

©/℗ 2025 by Among Other Things, All Rights Reserved.
Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 10: Is There A War On Women
    Jun 19 2025
    📋 Show Notes:🎙️ Episode 9: What Are We Teaching Our Sons?Subtitle: Gender StereotypesHurt Boys TooThis 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 This episode is a must-listen for any parent ready to raise the next generation without outdated limits.🗣️ What We Talk About:- Why boys absorb gender norms so early- The emotional cost of teaching boys to suppress feelings- How media and family dynamics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: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 twoJess Kahn Marks – Former engineer and mom of twoTiffany Hodges – Writer, actor, filmmaker, and mom of one🌐 Find Us Everywhere💬 Want to share your story or ask a question?hello@mommyhasquestions.com🔑 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
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    44 mins
  • Episode 9: What Are We Teaching Our Sons?
    Jun 12 2025

    📋 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? hello@mommyhasquestions.com

    🔑 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

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    32 mins
  • Episode 8: Do Movies Accurately Portray Motherhood?
    Jun 5 2025
    📋 Show Notes:🎙️ Episode 8: Do Movies Accurately Portray Motherhood?Subtitle: Moms in MoviesThis 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 & TelevisionMiss 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 twoJess Kahn Marks – Former engineer and mom of twoTiffany Hodges – Writer, actor, filmmaker, and mom of one🔗 Follow Along:📬 Email us your stories: hello@momsamongotherthings.com📱 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
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    29 mins
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