Stuff Mom Never Told You
Episodes
The Mysterious Case of Convulsing Cheerleaders
05 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Nuns meowing like cats. School girls laughing uncontrollably. People dancing in the streets until they die from exhaustion. Cristen and Caroline dig i...
Mardi Gras Women
03 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When people think of women and Mardi Gras, they probably imagine bare breasts and beads -- but that's certainly not the extent of women's participatio...
Black Women Striving for Suffrage
26 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The history of the women's movement for suffrage was written by white women and largely overshadows the African-American feminists who worked alongsid...
Bro-rista Coffee Culture
24 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Since it first began its westward expansion in the 16th century, coffee has been a distinctively male drink. Even today, while plenty of women work be...
Understanding Miscarriage
19 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Miscarriage is one of the most common pregnancy experiences, though rarely talked about openly. Cristen and Caroline provide an overview of what misca...
Fictional Attraction
12 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Where do celebrity crushes, affections for fictional characters and hero worship come from? Cristen and Caroline shed light on the fascinating spectru...
The MAKERS of Comedy
10 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Comedy hasn't always been an especially welcoming space for women. Cristen and Caroline highlight the hilarious female trailblazers who've been honore...
The Curse of Swearing Women
05 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Swearing and use of profanity is has long been a considered a masculine habit, while women are the "experts of euphemism." Cristen and Caroline unpack...
Can birth control kill you?
03 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
A recent Vanity Fair article detailed the potentially fatal side effects of certain types of birth control. Cristen and Caroline unravel the science o...
Stuck on the Sidelines
29 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
During the Super Bowl, the only women on the football fields will be on the sidelines. Cristen and Caroline highlight historical landmarks of women in...
The Trouble With Thyroids
27 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Thyroid disorders are eight times more likely to affect women. Cristen and Caroline break down how thyroids function -- and malfunction -- and why the...
Why are gender reveal parties popular?
22 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, parents-to-be have given birth to a new baby celebration: the gender reveal party. Cristen and Caroline discuss what exactly they are...
The Ballad of Dolly Parton
20 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate her January 19 birthday, Cristen and Caroline look at the incredible life of country music legend Dolly Parton and why many consider the ...
Firefighting Women
15 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Although women have served as volunteer firefighters since the 19th century, putting out fires for a living is one of the hardest careers for women to...
Is sex slavery a growing problem?
13 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Since January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Cristen and Caroline discuss the scope of sex trafficking in the United States, its legal history ...
Where are the women in hip-hop?
08 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Since hip-hop was born in 1973, women have played important roles as emcees, b-girls and graffiti artists, but prominent female rappers have dwindled ...
Women on the Hunt
06 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Since sport hunting is on the rise among women, Cristen and Caroline take aim at the intersection of gender and hunting from early hunter-gather socie...
Do New Year's resolutions work?
01 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Humans have made New Year's resolutions for millennia - and had a terrible time sticking to them. So, great expectations aside, why do most resolution...
Are the holidays bad for relationships?
30 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Although romantic holiday movies lead us to believe that it's the most wonderful time of the year to fall in love, it's actually the most common time ...
'The Oprah Winfrey Show' Show
25 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
What has Oprah been up to since we first discussed her rise to media mogul status? Cristen and Caroline discuss Oprah's recent small and big screen su...
The DIY Craft Revival
23 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This holiday season, more people than ever are seeking out handmade, locally-sourced gifts from the likes of Etsy. But the online marketplace is only ...
The Anthropology of Pie
18 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Pie is an ancient food that began as a utilitarian and often inedible necessity and evolved over centuries into its current role as a sweet treat and ...
Women in Coding with Skillcrush
16 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Startup entrepreneur and computer coding evangelist Adda Birnir talks with Caroline and Cristen about feminism, why women should learn to code and how...
Beauty Parlors vs. Barber Shops
04 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Compared to barber shops that have been around since ancient Greece, women's salons and beauty parlors are relatively new inventions. Cristen and Caro...
The Child Prodigy
02 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1920s, Stanford psychologist Lewis Terman developed the IQ test to aid in his study of exceptionally smart kids, or child prodigies. Cristen an...
The Mother of Thanksgiving
27 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
American Thanksgiving may have Pilgrim roots, but its modern-day celebration is the handiwork of an 18th-century magazine editor. For 30 years, Sarah ...
Do women apologize more than men?
25 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Hollywood icon John Wayne once said, "Never apologize. It's a sign of weakness." Is that masculine advice why it's thought that women tend to apologiz...
The Rise of Female Action Heroes
20 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1970s, Pam Grier became Hollywood's first female action lead, debuting a new type of strong, fierce woman on screen. Following a slow and highl...
A Fatshion Revolution
18 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
In 2004, the Fatshionista LiveJournal community was founded to "discuss the ins and outs of fat fashions", and a plus-size fashion blogging network qu...
Women in Math
13 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
One of history's earliest-known female mathematicians was Hypatia, a scholar and philosopher who was later stoned to death by an angry mob. While cond...
Women in Engineering
11 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Engineering has some of the widest gender gaps among the STEM fields, despite having some of the most fascinating -- and lucrative -- career options. ...
Women in Tech
06 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why are fewer women than ever before pursuing computer science degrees? Lauren Vogelbaum of TechStuff stops by the show to discuss the tech industry's...
Women in Science
04 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Kicking off a four-part series on women in STEM fields, Cristen and Caroline chat with Julie Douglas of Stuff to Blow Your Mind about the nature vs. n...
Why are women true crime's bloodthirstiest fans?
30 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Whether in print or on television, true crime draws its largest audience from women. Caroline and Cristen autopsy the gory genre to understand the par...
What Not to Wear on Halloween
28 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Halloween 'tis the season for creative costumes, but why do so many people wear racist, offensive outfits? Cristen and Caroline discuss cultural appro...
The Maestras of Classical Music
21 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
In fall 2013, a Russian orchestra conductor sparked international controversy when he said that women cut out for conducting. Cristen and Caroline loo...
When did women start wearing pants?
16 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The history of women wearing pants is about far more than fashion. Caroline and Cristen explore the gender and class politics interwoven with pants sl...
Why is endometriosis called the 'career woman's disease'?
14 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why does it take women, on average, more than nine years to be accurately diagnosed for endometriosis, one of the most common medical disorders affect...
Why is "bossy" a bad word?
04 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
In the final installment of the "Lean In" series, Cristen and Caroline explore why "bossy" is a negative term typically applied to women and girls. As...
Uncorking Women and Wine
02 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Historically, women have been banned from most of the wine-making process, but it's a much different story today. Cristen and Caroline detail how and ...
Women's Prisons vs. "Orange Is the New Black"
30 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Does "Orange Is the New Black" accurately portray life in women's prisons? Caroline and Cristen size up the show versus the reality of the criminal ju...
Unbalancing Work-Life Balance
27 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
In the third installment of a special "Lean In" series, Cristen and Caroline discuss why "work-life balance" and the idea of "having it all" is a myth...
Is the manic pixie dream girl dead?
25 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Caroline and Cristen revisit the "manic pixie dream girl" trope in television and movies and explore whether the stock female character is disappearin...
Solidarity is for white women?
23 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Cristen and Caroline discuss a recent Twitter hashtag, #solidarityisforwhitewomen, that sparked an important conversation about feminism and race and ...
The Workplace Fear Factor
20 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why are successful women more likely to suffer from the "imposter syndrome?" In part two of their special series on "Lean In," Cristen and Caroline di...
Are men more forgetful?
18 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Do men and women have different memory mechanisms? Cristen and Caroline explore sex differences in memory and who's more susceptible to forgetfulness ...
Hollywood Stuntwomen
16 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Who are the pioneering stuntwomen who opened up this niche Hollywood industry to women? Caroline and Cristen take a look at women and stunt work then ...
How to Negotiate Like a Woman
13 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Cristen and Caroline kick off their special four-part series on Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In: Women, the Workplace and the Will to Lead" with a chat abo...
Are open relationships healthier?
11 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Recent research has found that open relationships may be healthier than monogamous ones. Cristen and Caroline investigate the dynamics, risks and rewa...
Generation Instagram
09 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
If you're a millennial with a smart phone, there's a good chance you're on Instagram. Caroline and Cristen chart the brief history of the popular phot...
Angry Women
04 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Anger is complex emotion, especially when gender gets involved. Caroline and Cristen explore how men and women experience and express anger differentl...
Lady Farts
02 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Cristen and Caroline get down to the stinky science and gender differences of passing gas because, like it or not, everybody farts. Learn more about ...
The Uphill Climb of Women's Pro Cycling
28 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder why there isn't a women's Tour de France? Women competitive and pro cycling has long lagged behind men's pro cycling, but not for lack of ...
What is the Bechdel Test for movies?
26 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
In 1985, graphic novelist Alison Bechdel described "The Test" for movies that require a) two named women on screen, b) talking to each other, c) about...
Breasts 101 with Florence Williams
21 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Florence Williams, the author of "Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History," stops by the show to talk about the evolution of breasts, the history of ...
Why is it harder to get pregnant after 35?
19 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Women are waiting longer to have children, but when does fertility take a nosedive? Caroline and Cristen explore the science of female fertility and w...
Goldieblox: An Engineering Toy for Girls
14 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
While Debbie Sterling was an engineering student at Stanford University, the small number of female engineers got her thinking about how to engage you...
The Office Romance
12 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
As soon as women entered the American workplace in the 1860s, sex and romance have been a common undercurrent of office life. Cristen and Caroline exp...
A Unbridled History of Bachelorette Parties
07 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why did it take until 1998 for Cosmopolitan to use the term "bachelorette party?" Because the raucous pre-wedding shindigs haven't been around very lo...
Why do women wear diamond engagement rings?
05 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Betrothed men and women have exchanged rings for centuries, but women receiving diamonds is a 20th-century invention. Cristen and Caroline take an unr...
What's next for gay marriage?
31 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court ruled The Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage between a man and a woman, unconstitutional. Caroline an...
Are pets the new children?
24 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
After Word War II, pets became a standard part of American homes. Now, some think that the love and money we shower on our domesticated animals consti...
Is kleptomania a female disorder?
22 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why are two-thirds of diagnosed kleptomaniacs women? Cristen and Caroline explore the 19th-century rise of retail consumerism, shoplifting and how kle...
Why does ASMR give people brain orgasms?
17 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why are online "whisper" communities giving people brain orgasms? Caroline and Cristen discuss autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, and inve...
A Lovely Conversation on Beauty & Feminism
15 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
How has Photoshop, social media and modern advertising altered the meaning of beauty? Cristen interviews beauty scholar Autumn Whitefield-Madrono of T...
Can you judge a book by its gendered cover?
10 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
For their annual summer reading episode, Caroline and Cristen discuss the impact of gendered book covers, the viral "cover flip" challenge, and whethe...
What does short hair say about a woman?
08 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
When actress Mary Pickford cut off her long hair in 1928, the haircut made The New York Times front page. Since short hair is still shocking today, Ca...
Why do kids wet the bed?
03 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
It's normal for kids to wet the bed, but scientists still don't know exactly why they do. Cristen and Caroline talk Freud, genetics and moisture alarm...
Drunkorexia 101
01 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The term "drunkorexia" was coined in 2008 to describe people who intentionally drink on an empty stomach to "save" calories and money. Media reports s...
Boys of Summer: The Man Behind Wonder Woman
26 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
For the final Boys of Summer installment, Caroline and Cristen highlight William Moulton Marston, the polyamorous inventor of Wonder Woman and how Mar...
The View on Barbara Walters
24 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
After more than 50 years on TV, Barbara Walters is retiring in 2014. Cristen and Caroline discuss her legacy as a pioneering female broadcast journali...
Boys of Summer: The Bike Perfecter
18 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
In the third Boys of Summer installment, Cristen and Caroline hat tip JK Starley, the engineer who invented the bicycle as we know it today, and expla...
Are women's colleges going extinct?
17 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in the 19th century, women's colleges now dwindle in number and popularity for female scholars. Caroline and Cristen discuss the history of th...
Boys of Summer: Birth Control Inventor
12 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
For the second "Boys of Summer" episode, Caroline and Cristen discuss the life and legacy of John Rock, a devout Catholic and co-inventor of America's...
Is Plan B access bad for girls?
10 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
A court decision to lift age restrictions on purchasing Plan B emergency contraception set off a firestorm of controversy. Cristen and Caroline talk a...
Boys of Summer: The Corset Liberator
05 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Poiret was a French designer credited with unlacing women from corsets. Cristen and Caroline explore the intersection of fashion history, industr...
Is fitspo unhealthy for women?
03 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Fitness inspiration, known as fitspo, is supposed to get women exercising, but is it helpful or hurtful for women's body images? Caroline and Cristen ...
What is natural childbirth?
28 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
As more women are choosing natural childbirth, Caroline and Cristen look into what "natural" actually means and how women deal with the pain of having...
Seeing Through Glasses Stereotypes
27 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Dorothy Parker once wrote that "men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses." Cristen and Caroline explore why so many negative stereotypes are a...
Movie Magical Makeovers
22 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
In 1942, "Now Voyager" starring Bette Davis was Hollywood's first major "magical makeover" movie. Caroline and Cristen explore the intersection of the...
Are Chinese children more loyal to their parents?
15 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Are Chinese children raised with a greater sense of family loyalty than kids in the West? Join Caroline and Cristen as they discuss Eastern parenting ...
Are women less financially literate than men?
13 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Women tend to score much lower than men on financial literacy tests. Why? Is money management a man thing? Does financial planning pander to women? Li...
Why do we celebrate Mother's Day?
08 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
On Sunday, Americans will spend more than $16 billion dollars celebrating Mother's Day. Cristen and Caroline discuss why we treat moms to brunch and f...
A Snapshot of Women in Photography
06 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why is photography still a male-dominated industry? Listen in to learn more about women's roles in the history of photography, including the work of F...
Do blondes really have more fun?
01 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Do redheads have it worst? Listen in to learn more about history's original "dumb blonde" and how yellow hair took on its various meanings -- includin...
Why are more women requesting C-sections?
29 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Does the scheduling convenience of C-sections outweigh the risks? Join Caroline and Cristen for a brief medical history of C-sections, as well as an e...
Why is anorexia on the rise among men?
24 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Men comprise an estimated 20 percent of anorexics, but many are going untreated. To understand why, it's necessary to explore unraveling sexual orient...
Why do kids love stuffed animals so much?
22 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
What's the childhood psychology of stuffed animals and other "transitional objects"? Why do 35 percent of adults still sleep with stuffed animals? Tun...
What's the most common bacterial infection among women?
17 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Is bacterial vaginosis a sexually transmitted infection? What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis, and what prevention methods are available? Joi...
Why are boy bands so popular?
15 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
What's the nature of gender, masculinity and sexuality in boy band lyrics? What about race and ethnicity in (mostly white) boy bands? Join Cristen and...
Why is "secretary" the most common job for women in the U.S.?
11 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
What was the gendering of the typewriter? How did women take over secretarial work? Join Cristen and Caroline to learn about the history of secretaria...
Are kids in the workplace good for business?
08 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Does teleworking solve the childcare issue? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the high cost of childcare for working parents & single moms...
Why do so few women coach women's basketball?
03 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
It's not that there are no women coaching female basketball (consider the legendary Pat Summit and others), but Title IX has more male coaches. Join C...
Are women cleaner than men?
01 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
By age 5, people expect girls to be cleaner than boys. Around the house and at work, men are only slightly less clean than women. Listen in to learn m...
Ask Caroline & Cristen Anything: Part 2
01 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Has Stuff Mom Never Told You ever run into taboo topics? Would you like to know more about Caroline's Proust questionnaire? How has the show affected ...
Is it OK for women to cry at work?
27 Mar 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why is crying in the workplace such a highly discussed topic for women? Scientifically speaking, prolactin and smaller tear ducts make women more pron...
Do tampons cause toxic shock syndrome?
25 Mar 2013
Contributed by Lukas
What is toxic shock syndrome, and what's the risk of contracting it? Why was 1980 the worst year for tampons? Listen in to learn all about toxic shock...
Ask Caroline & Cristen Anything: Part 1
25 Mar 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Has Stuff Mom Never Told You ever run into taboo topics? Would you like to know more about podcast regret or Caroline's Proust questionnaire? How has ...
Are school dress codes good for students?
20 Mar 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Are school uniforms the magic bullet for improved learning environments? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore school dress codes, Title IX and th...
The Military Fight for Women in Combat
18 Mar 2013
Contributed by Lukas
How will women in combat impact the military? Join Caroline and Cristen as they look at other countries that allow women in combat, outline a brief hi...