Stuff Mom Never Told You
Episodes
Are women better peacemakers?
07 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Do women make better peacemakers? Join Cristen and Caroline as they examine the influence women have played in the peacemaking process and gender diff...
Who's the richest woman in the world?
05 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Today's world is full of billionaires -- and they're not all men. Join Cristen and Caroline as they look at the state of women's global wealth, ultima...
Does women's wrestling deserve more respect?
29 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Olympic women's wrestling started in 2004, and interest in the sport has grown since. Tune in as Caroline and Cristen look at the women of WWE wrestli...
Women's Boxing: From Sideshows to the Main Event
27 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
The 2012 Summer Olympics mark the official debut of women's boxing, and fans have been waiting anxiously. In this episode, Caroline and Cristen explor...
Who fakes orgasms?
22 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
How many people have actually faked an orgasm? How have cultural perceptions of orgasms changed over time? Join Cristen and Caroline as they cut past ...
Are gendered toys bad for boys and girls?
20 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
The launch of a new Lego line specifically for girls brings up the question of gender neutral toys. Should there be different toys for boys and girls?...
How do children fare in foster care?
15 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
As of 2009, there were about 423,773 children in foster care in the U.S. While some children may return to their original families, some are adopted a...
The Hidden Costs of Valentine's Day Flowers
13 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
As Valentine's Day approaches, Cristen and Caroline take a closer look at floriography and the meaning of flowers. Where do Valentine's bouquets come ...
Do doctors listen to women?
08 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Do doctors listen to female patients? Women often complain of doctors not taking symptoms seriously, and patient-doctor mistrust is nothing new. Tune ...
Why does my hoo-ha hurt?
06 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
What is vulvodynia? How many women suffer from vulvodynia? How do vulvodynia treatments work? Tune in to learn more in this episode. Learn more about...
Are bromances better than female friendships?
01 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Are there gender differences in friendship patterns? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore famous bromances throughout history, as well as challen...
Are female friendships more fraught with frenemies?
30 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cristen and Caroline explore the etymology of the term "frenemy," the psychology of female friendships and women's evolutionary tende...
Are soft drinks killing us?
25 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Could a 1-cent soft drink tax really save millions of lives? What are the health impacts of drinking soda? Are diet soft drinks better for you? Join C...
Do men or women exercise more?
23 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Sure, men and women have different exercise motivations -- but which group exercises more? Join Caroline and Cristen as they look at gender and exerci...
A DIY Guide to Martha Stewart
18 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
How did Martha Stewart get her start? How did she lose -- and recover -- her reputation and wealth? Is Martha Stewart good for women? Tune in for the ...
Is there a normal pregnancy weight gain?
16 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
How much weight do women gain during pregnancy? What exactly is pregnorexia? Is it true that men can gain pregnancy weight, too? Join Caroline and Cri...
A SMNTY Chat With Grammar Girl
11 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cristen and Caroline interview Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl. Listen in to learn if men and women pay attention to grammar differe...
Where do imaginary friends come from?
09 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Are imaginary playthings friends or foes for child development? Psychologists have studied imaginary friends since the 1800s, and they've come to some...
Who invented the thong?
04 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Whether or not you're a fan of thongs, there's no denying that they attract attention. But where did these flimsy strings come from? Join Caroline and...
Is one the loneliest number?
02 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Do people without siblings differ from the rest of the human race? Tune in as Caroline and Cristen look at the fiction -- and facts -- surrounding our...
Do more men pass the psychopath test?
28 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is the psychopath test? Are there really gender differences in psychopathy? In this episode, Caroline and Cristen explore the process of ...
Why do we pierce our bodies?
26 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
What is the history of ear and body piercing? How does the underground sexual culture of piercing work? What does Alicia Silverstone have to do with t...
Is the 'man flu' real?
21 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Do men complain more about being sick? Do women have stronger immune systems? Who takes the most sick days? Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore ...
Who were the flappers?
19 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Who were flappers? Were flappers feminists? In this episode, Caroline and Cristen take a closer look at the iconic women known as flappers, touching o...
What do kids learn from sex ed today?
14 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of this series, Cristen and Caroline explore the differences between comprehensive and abstinence-only sex ed. Does abstinence-only...
Where did sex ed come from?
12 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Sex education is controversial in U.S. schools, but how did it begin? In this episode, Caroline and Cristen delve into the history of U.S. sex educati...
Why are more female spies hiding out on TV?
05 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
How have women's roles in spy film and TV changed over time? Join Cristen and Caroline as they take a look back at the history of the spy genre and fa...
The 'Oprah Winfrey Show' Show
30 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Today Oprah Winfrey is one of the world's most famous people, but how did she get her start? In this episode, Cristen and Caroline look at Oprah's imp...
Are women more anxiety-prone than men?
28 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
What's the difference between stress and anxiety? Why are women diagnosed with clinical anxiety twice as often as men? Join Caroline and Cristen as th...
Does male bisexuality exist?
23 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Several years ago, a study from Northwestern University argued that male bisexuality doesn't exist. Strangely enough, a new study from the same univer...
Do human pheromones exist?
21 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
What are pheromones, exactly? Do they affect levels of attraction in humans? Listen in as Caroline and Cristen explore the science behind pheromone my...
Why do breakup songs hurt so good?
16 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Almost everyone has a breakup song -- but why? In this episode, Cristen and Caroline explain how we process emotional rejection as physical pain and w...
Does stress make you go gray?
14 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Despite folk wisdom, stress doesn't gray your hair. In this episode, Caroline and Cristen explain why you should blame gray hair on your parents, gene...
A Fabulous History of Drag Queens
09 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Where did drag originate? Where does it fit within the queer community? Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore the history of drag -- along with th...
Why are romance novels so popular?
07 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Believe it or not, romance novels are the best-selling fiction genre. Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore the common romance novel heroes, heroi...
HPV vaccine update
02 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most commonly transmitted sexually-transmitted disease, and researchers have noted a rise in HPV-related canc...
Halloween Slasher Spectacular!
31 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Do slasher films glorify sex and violence toward women? What is the "final girl" archetype, and what can we learn from other slasher film tropes? Join...
Women on TV
19 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Are women the new misogynists on fall TV? Has the portrayal of women on television improved? Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore the state of wo...
History of The Playboy Club
17 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The first Playboy Club opened in 1960. Waitresses called "bunnies" earned up to $1,000 per week, and the club aimed for a certain cachet. Yet when Glo...
Is Masturbation Good For You?
12 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Cristen and Caroline investigate the pros and cons of masturbation from a health and wellness perspective. Does it threaten relationships? What happen...
Masturbation by the Numbers
10 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Masturbation can be a sensitive subject, and many people are uncomfortable asking questions about the practice. For example: Do men masturbate more th...
The Singlehood Stigma
05 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
More people are delaying or avoiding marriage, and also raising children outside of wedlock. Are single people penalized? Join Cristen and Caroline as...
Should we be scared of soy?
03 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers have reached conflicting findings about the potential health impacts of soy phytoestrogens, including the relationship between soy, breast...
How Pickup Artists Work
28 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
What are pickup artists, exactly? In this podcast, Caroline and Cristen explore the practices, tactics and theories behind pickup artistry. Tune in to...
What is vagina dentata?
26 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
People have been talking about vaginas with teeth for ages, and folktales about vagina dentata can be found across the globe. But why? Join Caroline a...
Why do men have nipples?
21 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Why haven't males evolved to not have nipples? Many newborns lactate "witches milk" soon after birth. Can men lactate? Listen in as Cristen and Caroli...
Child Beauty Pageants and Baby Parades
19 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Child pageants started in Britain with the May Queen Festival. Before child beauty pageants, baby parades were all the rage. Are beauty pageants unhea...
Who are the dancing boys of Afghanistan?
14 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Dancing boys perform at weddings across Afghanistan, but their dances are only part of their occupation. Bacha bazi, or "boy play," is a form of sexua...
A History of Pregnancy Tests
12 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Pregnancy tests have a colorful history tracing back to 1350 BC -- and, as you might imagine, the methods have varied greatly over the centuries. In t...
What is your voice saying about you?
07 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Why do men have Adam's apples? What determines the pitch of your voice? What deepens men's voices? Tune in as Caroline and Cristen get to the bottom o...
Child Marriage: Buying and Selling Brides
31 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Child marriage usually occurs in poor, rural communities. The brides are often betrothed to older men, sometimes even before they're born. In this epi...
Women's Intuition: Myth or Reality?
29 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Studies show men are just as intuitive as women, so why does folklore disagree? Does women's intuition really exist? Do women have higher emotional in...
The Long and Short of Women's Height
24 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In a previous episode, Cristen and Caroline focused on how height affects men. This episode explores the research on women and height -- and, unfortun...
Are taller men more desirable?
22 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Why are men taller than women? Are taller men more attractive? Do tall people make more money? Join Caroline and Cristen as they tackle some of the re...
Madams: Wealthy Women of the West
17 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Madams who ran brothels in the West were some of the wealthiest in the U.S., and running a brothel gave Victorian era women financial independence and...
Female Freaks: Sideshows, Circuses and Stripteases
15 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
P.T. Barnum popularized freak shows in the U.S. The most popular freaks were those with disabilities who could perform everyday tasks. Tune in to lear...
Mermaids in Myth and Real Life
10 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
So what is a mermaid, exactly, and where do all the mermaid legends come from? Join Caroline and Cristen as they delve into mermaid mythology from aro...
Male Birth Control: Are We There Yet?
08 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
How will male birth control work? It might not be a hypothetical question for much longer. Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the current resea...
Bag the Douche
03 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Historically advertised as a sanitary process, douching has become increasingly controversial. In this episode, Caroline and Cristen take a closer loo...
Are rebound relationships unhealthy?
01 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Rebounding has a negative stigma, but could they be good for you? Perhaps! Psychologists say rebounding could be especially good for attachment person...
Did cowgirls get the boot from history?
27 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Cowboys are an iconic part of American history, but what about cowgirls? In this episode, Caroline and Cristen hit the history books to discover the s...
Can women initiate dating?
25 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that most cultures have fairly defined cultural roles assigned to each gender. This is especially apparent in the dating scene, where m...
Who was the first woman to run for president?
20 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to own a Wall Street firm, speak before Congress and run for president. However, her press wasn't always positiv...
Do female astronauts have the right stuff?
18 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
When Kennedy announced the lunar missions, several women hoped to make the trip. The women of Mercury 13 excelled at physical testing yet weren't allo...
Why do women become suicide bombers?
13 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Most acts of terrorism are carried out by men, but more and more women are becoming suicide bombers. Join Cristen and Molly as they explore the causes...
Why do women remove their hair down there?
11 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Why do women spend so much time and money removing the hair down there? Is it because of men, the media, or personal preference? Join Molly and Criste...
Should dads be in the delivery room?
06 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
A French obstetrician believes that men in the delivery room hinder their partner's laboring process. Is it possible that men don't need or want to be...
Do we marry our parents?
04 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Studies show that people often rank faces that resemble their parents as more attractive than other faces. Is this creepy, or can we pick up on clues ...
Should you sell or donate your breast milk?
29 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
While some mothers throw away extra breast milk, there are tons of other options. Breast milk banks test donors and sell bottled milk to hospitals. Ot...
Do baby names make a difference later in life?
27 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
There's tons of research about how your name will affect your destiny. Some studies suggests your name is linked to your grades, your criminal record ...
Should we care about hymens?
22 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Many cultures believe that a hymen is proof of virginity, but is it true? The hymen's not a piece of skin that covers the entire vaginal opening, and ...
Is there a link between semen and happiness?
20 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Could semen serve as an anti-depressant in some women? A study found that women who never used condoms rated themselves as happier than women who used...
Why don't men wear makeup?
15 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Historically, men have always worn makeup. But now, wearing makeup is seen as effeminate. Is it possible that more men will wear makeup in the future,...
Yeast Infections: A Conversation
13 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Three out of four women will have a yeast infection in her lifetime, experiencing a range of unpleasant symptoms. But while you may be tempted to head...
Why is skin lightening such a big business?
08 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Pale-skinned people often desire a nice, healthy tan, even though tanning can bring health risks. Yet in some other cultures, this ideal is reversed. ...
Is sexting good or bad for relationships?
06 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
There are tons of stories about the horrors of sexting. But what role does sexting play in consenting, adult relationships? Join Molly and Cristen as ...
Why are more people enslaved than ever before?
01 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Experts claim that there are more slaves today than at any other point in history. Human trafficking has two major components: sex trafficking and lab...
When did sun tanning become popular?
30 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
As people across the hemisphere gear up for summer, Molly and Cristen take a look at the practice of tanning: When did it become popular, and why do p...
This Just In: Where are the women news anchors?
25 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
For years, there was a stereotype that women couldn't effectively deliver the news. Yet today women are all over newscasts. However, Katie Couric is l...
The Inside Scoop on Lady Reporters
23 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Is there a gender divide in journalism? Not really - from stunt reporters, sobs sisters, Eleanor's girls and other names, lady reporters have been aro...
How can you not know you are pregnant?
18 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
We've all seen those news stories where a woman goes nine months without realizing she's pregnant. It happens more often than you might think - but ho...
Is love at first sight possible?
16 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Familiar to any fan of classic romance stories, love at first sight is a common theme loved by some and, well, contemptuously dismissed by others. But...
How did women pedal their way to emancipation?
11 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Susan B. Anthony once said the bicycle deserved all of the credit for women's emancipation. Women had to fight restrictive clothing and stereotypes to...
Skygirls, Stewards and Flight Attendants
04 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In 1930, the first stewardess was hired. Stewardesses had to be young, unmarried and within certain height and weight guidelines. To get rid of these ...
Are soap operas underrated in TV history?
02 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that some people think soap operas are just junky TV for housewives. But is that true? Join Cristen and Molly as they trace the history...
Decoding the Mystery of Female Spies
27 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
When people think of spies, they often picture men like James Bond. Yet throughout history women have also had careers as spies. Listen in to learn mo...
Are Godmothers taking over the Mafia?
25 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Breaking the glass ceiling in organized crime may not be anything to celebrate, but it's making headlines all the same. In this episode, Molly and Cri...
Do men and women doctor differently?
20 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since women started becoming doctors, studies have scrutinized genders and doctoring styles. Women may spend more time with patients and communic...
What's the difference between a doula and a midwife?
18 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Midwives and doulas are often present at natural childbirth. But what do these people actually do? Join Cristen and Molly as they explain the differen...
Do women make better bosses?
13 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Surveys show that women may possess more of the skills necessary to be a good boss, so why do employees prefer male bosses? Tune in as Molly and Crist...
Why is nursing women's work?
11 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of nurses, we think of women. Male nurses are considered anomalies and are often the butt of jokes in pop culture. But why? Tune in as M...
Live at SXSW: Polyamory
06 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Polyamory -- the practice of having intimate relationships with more than one person -- is more common than some might assume. But how does this pract...
Were women tricked into smoking?
04 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Before the 1920s, it was considered unseemly for women to smoke. However, as cigarette makers realized they were missing half of the potential market,...
Royal Wedding Extravaganza Spectacular
30 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Why are so many people fascinated by royal weddings? In this episode, Cristen and Molly explore the allure of royal weddings: Is the draw of this spec...
Am I carrying my own twin?
28 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers believe that one in eight pregnancies involve twin fetuses -- so why do only one in eighty pregnancies actually result in the birth of twi...
Does it cost more to be a woman?
23 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that women tend to pay more for haircuts, but that's only one of the products and services that are more expensive for women. So how do...
What's the point of kegels?
21 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
When Dr. Arnold Kegel noticed a high frequency of urinary incontinence in women after they had given birth, he designed the Kegel exercise. Join Molly...
When did beer become a boy's drink?
16 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays, beer is widely considered to be a boy's drink -- but this wasn't always the case. Listen in as Molly and Cristen recount the history of beer...
A Tip of the Habit to Nuns
14 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
There's no denying that nuns are iconic. Unfortunately, they're all stereotyped in modern culture. In this episode, Molly and Cristen cut past the ste...
Should women take vitamins?
09 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
People spend 20 billion dollars a year on health supplements like multivitamins -- but do they actually work? Join Molly and Cristen as they explore t...