Parenting is a Joke: Recent Episodes
iHeartPodcasts
You know when you talk to your friends about your childhood and end it by saying, "But look at us, we're fine!" Here's my question: Are we fine? Because we're sitting here doused in CBD oil under a weighted blanket recording a podcast called Parenting is a Joke. Each week, host and standup Ophira Eisenberg talks to a different comedian about their career and their kids. Conversations tackle the tooth fairy, eating sticks, summer camp anxiety, the hidden horrors of childbirth, and the obvious horrors of our own childhoods. We celebrate the absurdity of shuffling a career with raising a kid, highlight less traditional parenthood journeys, all while relishing in the fact that no one knows what they're doing, but we're all trying! Sometimes even our best. Co-produced by Pretty Good Friends and iHeartPodcasts. New episodes every Tuesday.
Summer is here and we’re all scrambling to figure out our new schedule, how summer camp works and... the future! Help us shape it into something even better. Only 9 weeks until school starts again!
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Ophira chats with Liz Tenety, journalist and founder of the website and community Motherly. Liz tells us why she might not call back the school nurse, and how her parenting has changed as her number of children increased.
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This week Ophira revisits her conversation with Economist Emily Oster who reveals her obsession with sleep and the very unique pets in her household. Emily has a new book coming out, "The Unexpected" about complications in pregnancy.
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In this mini-episode, Ophira puts AJ Jacobs to the test with a game we're calling, The Constitution.
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In this bite-sized bonus episode, Ophira asks Rachel Feinstein some rapid fire questions and finds out whether she'd rather her daughter be a comic or a fire figher.
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We're back with a little extra from Laura Prepon. Laura Prepon answers some rapid fire questions where she reveals her favorite dinnertime recipe and why she has never tried tuna fish.
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On our special Mother's Day episode, Ophira chats with actress and director Laura Prepon about 6-year-old flirtation, her kids' recent set visit and the beauty of batch-cooking.
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LIVE from Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, Ophira talks with comedian Jeremiah Watkins about ups and downs of fatherhood.
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LIVE from Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, Ophira talks with comedians and parents Rosebud Baker and Andy Haynes about their 6 month old daughter, which parent is more patient, and why Andy thought expired kimchi might kill them all.
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On this week's bonus episode Ophira chats with the hilarious Jake Johanssen about dropping his 19-year-old daughter off at college in Dublin, Ireland and his love of the Flowbee.
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Ophira chats with comedian and actor Andy Richter about the perks of living with your 20-something year-old son and why under NO circumstances will he ever negotiate with toddlers.
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Spring is hopping and this week marks the last of our team's school vacations so we are bringing back a favorite interview while we catch up. Ophira chats with the hilarious comedian and actress Kristen Schaal about how parenting is so many wonderful things, but it is NOT funny!
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This week we have a special bonus conversation with Matthew Buccelli, author of the newsletter ParentSounds. Ophira chats with Matthew about parental leave in Germany and his career as a kindergarten DJ.
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Ophira talks to CNN's climate correspondent Bill Weir about how to talk to our kids about the state of our planet, how there's hope for us and his new baby, and his short stint as a standup comedian.
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Happy Spring Break, which is a different week of no school for every parent on our team! So...we're bringing a favorite episode with the wry and hilarious comedian and mom to twins, Tig Notaro. And don't miss her new comedy special, "Hello Again."
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Ophira plays the game, "Real of Fake Kids' TV Shows" with Daily Show Correspondent, Jordan Klepper.
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The Pop Culture Moms ask Ophira for advice on how to teach their kids to be funny.
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Ophira chats to Andie Mitchell and Sabrina Kohlberg about their new podcast Pop Culture Moms. They also talk about woodworking, how commuting while nursing is logistical hell, and why Bluey's mom is a mom-icon.
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A bonus rapid fire Q & A this week with comedian Matt Goldich! Ophira chats with Matt about what he'd do if he had a night off from performing AND parenting, and he shares his best parenting tips.
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This week Ophira talks to comedian Giulia Rozzi about her kid growing up in a two-comedian-household, why she doesn't have much blowjob material in her stand-up these days, and the negotiation power of Bubble Guppies.
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In this bonus episode, Julia Scotti shares more about New Jersey food, which US state she wouldn't want to perform in, and the best birthday present she ever got from her son.
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Ophira talks with the very funny comedian Julia Scotti about starring in Susan Sandler's documentary, "Funny That Way," being a transgender woman, and the power of a good teacher.
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Ophira sits down with her son Lucas to discuss his desire for a video game player.
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Ophira chats and somehow becomes best friends with the hilarious UK comedian Jen Brister - they laugh and laugh about sexism, meager requests in green rooms and how their family FaceTimes never involve actual conversation.
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Our overqualified intern-dad Jeffrey Kaufman gives us the scoop on safe sleeping.
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Ophira chats with comedian Mike Feeney and IVF and grape cough syrup. Trigger warning: Mike makes reductionist statements about pink eye.
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Ophira answers a burning question from parents everywhere: How does Ryder from Paw Patrol fund his operation?
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Ophira talks with Caitlin Murray of Big Time Adulting about the full range of parenting challenges - from childhood leukemia and tragic accidents to being woken up early for no reason other than to be asked what animal has the largest tongue. It is the blue whale FYI.
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Happy February Vacation to those who celebrate it and/or dread it. We're bringing back a favorite episode with hilarious comedian Zarna Garg, and it includes a BONUS CHAT with Zarna while she has a break from opening on the road for Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.
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Happy Valentine's Week! You'll love this episode with Ophira and the very funny comedian Adam Cayton Holland. They chat about OCD, how parents become wallpaper, and why he loves his kids’ swim class.
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Ophira chats with fellow Canadian and comedian Shaun Majumder about moving from Newfoundland to LA, and how a drug-fueled night in Costa Rica made him realize he wanted kids.
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Ophira talks to comedian Seth Herzog about his twin 4-year-old daughters, dancing onstage, and the logistical roller coaster of parents who both work at night.
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Ophira talks with comedian Liz Glazer about her 6-month-old, being married to a rabbi, and how funny things still happen in our darkest moments.
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Ophira chats with the very funny comedian Tom Papa about his newfound empty nest, how he liked sourdough bread making before it was trendy, and why his daughter gifted him a gnome.
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We're back with a NEW episode for a NEW year! Ophira chats with Sara Dean, host of The Shameless Mom Academy, about being the daughter of a nun and how she manages the minefield of meal planning.
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Happy New Year! We’re serving up a favorite episode with comedian Pete Dominick, and a BONUS CHAT with Pete as he reflects on the past year. We wish all of you a healthy 2024 even though we know that's not realistic, especially when you're a parent.
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Our first kid-friendly episode is a holiday present to you, dear parent-listeners. Ophira talks to the kids, finds out what they want to hear, and we deliver. Merry merry! We hope this short episode gives you a laugh during the chaos of the holiday season.
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Ophira talks to comedian Gina Brillon about Christmas, loving gift cards, and the hardest thing: being patient with your kid. Plus a special holiday song from Adira Amram!
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Ophira talks to the very funny actress Desi Lydic about Fox News, her son's basketball gear obsession, and how she considers herself an awesome dad.
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Ophira welcomes back parenting data expert Dr. Emily Oster and they talk about her kids' pet snails, how sleep should reign supreme, and why we must embrace potty talk.
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Ophira chats with the very funny writer/actor/comedian Jordan Carlos about his fear of kids with clean knees, what children's books should be banned, and tips on how to rescue a cell phone from a murky pond.
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Happy Thanksgiving week! We’re dishing out a favorite episode with comedian and actress Rachel Bloom, and it includes a BONUS CHAT with Rachel as she prepares for the NYC run of her new show this December! Did she ever recover from Hand Foot Mouth? Physically? Emotionally? Find out! Gobble gobble!
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Ophira chats with actor, writer, comedian Jon Glaser about toy guns, the adoption process, and his new comedy album for dogs.
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Ophira talks with comedian, actress, and podcast host Kara Klenk about Law and Order, how her first baby tricked her into a second, and her theory on colic.
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On our Halloween episode, Ophira gets a tarot reading! And she chats with comedy legend Rachel Dratch about her new podcast Woo Woo, and what she would answer if her child asks "are ghosts real?"
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Ophira talks with actress and Broadway icon Laura Benanti about her daughter's fear of witches, why she has a crystal wand, and how a cruise ship is the least dignified place to have a miscarriage.
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Ophira talks to two famous cartoonists Emily Flake and Julia Wertz about manners, and what age you can let your kids loose in the streets, and the unsolved mystery of the missing poop
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Ophira chats with comedian Alyce Chan about giving her kids money, bringing babies to comedy shows, and why she hopes kids embrace weirdness.
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Ophira talks with comedian and actress Michelle Buteau about her long path to motherhood, trips to the beach with twin 4 year-olds, and her daughter’s ability to pick a lock.
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Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables of the hit podcast "What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood" chat with Ophira about the biological imperative of picky eating and why it's OK to let your kid quit extracurriculars.
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Ophira kicks off Season 2 with funny people and parents David Cross and Amber Tamblyn. They reveal their six-year-old daughter's favorite parent and why the only joke David could come up with in the delivery room was about the merlot cart.
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Does having a kid ruin your life? Some days, yes, but most days, yes. Listen to Season 2 of Parenting is a Joke with comedian and host Ophira Eisenberg.
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It's our last episode of Season 1!!! Ophira chats with comedian couple Joe List and Sarah Tollemache about how they're preparing for their son and why DNA doesn't mean you'll love someone.
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Ophira chats with comedian Ted Alexandro about his move to the woods of Connecticut and what it's like having two toddlers when you're over 50.
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We're back with a new episode! Ophira talks with very funny comedian Zarna Garg about her new special on Amazon, how Indian yoga is boring, and why she wasn't scary enough to be a civil litigator.
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Our crew is on summer vacation this week! We're probably all experiencing a mix of struggling to sunscreen our children, finding sand everywhere, asking "is this poison ivy" and begging our children to eat $15 chicken fingers -- but hopefully we are all enjoying 4p cocktails. We're bringing back one of our favorite interviews of Season 1 in honor of his upcoming multi-city tour, the hilarious comedian Roy Wood Jr!
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Satirist and columnist Alexandra Petri talks about her new historical humor book, her mother's obsession with George Washington and why she doesn't think babies like elegant minimalism.
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Comedian and writer Rachel Feinstein tells Ophira that the best parenting advice comes from a Type "A" Mom at Soul Cycle, and about her firefighters husband’s habit of dressing their daughter like Steve Jobs
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The king of modern comic books Neil Gaiman sits down with Ophira and talks about having a son and a grandchild that are the same age and why he loves writing in front of the Jerry Springer Show with a fountain pen.
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Actress Kristen Schaal talks with Ophira about how having a child almost killed her, her daughter's stuffed animal named Brian, and her "last call snacks" routine.
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It's that time of year, listeners. School has 8 special events that they just told us about before it ends, camps have sent a 40 item long list of things your child needs to bring, and there is NO bug spray left in sight. While our team scrambles to find deet, enjoy one of our favorite interviews of this first season: In honor of the series end of Workin' Moms on Netflix, the creator and star, Catherine Reitman.
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Actress and comedian Iris Bahr talks with Ophira about why Israel is a great place to raise kids despite the rockets, and how there should be a dating app that matches custody schedules.
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We continue our Mother's Day Month with actress Christine Taylor! She explains to Ophira why a parent should never send a text that says "how are you?" and why getting her son to feel stable in the laundry room is her #1 goal as a parent.
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Comedian Tig Notaro shares a story with Ophira about her son asking if she was a boy or a girl, and how "sit by the front door" is the biggest punishment she doles out.
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Writer and producer Jeannie Gaffigan talks with Ophira about raising a big family in NYC, working with her husband Jim Gaffigan and why a child can’t be trusted with hot tea.
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Actor and writer Eric Bogosian talks with Ophira Eisenberg about growing up as an outsider, his early days in the NYC theater scene and his new favorite role: being a grandfather.
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Comedian Hari Kondabolu talks with Ophira Eisenberg about his new special Vacation Baby and his nightly routine singing alternative music from the 90s with his toddler.
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Comedian and writer Laurie Kilmartin reveals her escape plan for when her son turns 18, why she live-tweeted her parents' hospice care and her secret to successfully getting the coveted EU passport.
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The crew of Parenting is a Joke is on spring break with their family, whether they like it or not. But we leave you with a snack-sized episode of meltdown stories, because it's more fun to listen to other people's misery than to experience it yourself.
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Ophira gets expert last-minute Disney advice, plus comedian and podcast host Jimmy Pardo talks about his son’s love of 70s Heist movies, and his own meltdown at Elton John's Farewell Tour.
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We talk to author and opinion writer at the NY Times, Jessica Grose about her new book, the ideal image of motherhood and the psychological warfare of her pre-teen daughter's group texts.
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Comedian Lenny Marcus talks about his days in Corporate America, co-hosting The fckry with Leslie Jones and how he regrets not buying a spacesuit.
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Comedian and actor Baron Vaughn talks to Ophira about moving from LA to Atlanta, meeting his biological father for the first time, and his oldest son's love of untalented YouTubers.
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Comedian and Daily Show correspondent Jordan Klepper talks about bunk beds, getting his kid to wear a winter coat and how his man-on-street interrogation style is a complete fail with his toddler.
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Ophira answers a listener's question about teaching kids the difference between funny and annoying. A few funny parents share their experiences, plus you'll hear some annoying things from kids but not too annoying because NO ONE WOULD WANT TO LISTEN TO THAT!
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Musician Rachael Price talks about touring with Lake Street Dive in her third trimester, how her bandmates refer to the upcoming break as "their maternity leave" and if it’s okay to wash cloth diapers in a shared laundry room.
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Happy Valentine's Day! Comedian and podcast host Jackie Johnson talks about her decision to end her long-running podcast, how many Sofie the Giraffes one needs, and eating placentas.
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Comedian Kurt Braunohler talks to Ophira about why Blippi is a piece of shit, Keanu Reeves' favorite sandwich, and how he found out his wife was pregnant the day after his mother's funeral.
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Comedian and writer Jena Friedman talks with Ophira about her sleep training fears, how America hates moms and why being pregnant on stage is fun.
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Comedian Judy Gold talks with Ophira about what not to ask a gay mom, raising sons in NYC, and how she helped update the NY state parent/guardian forms.
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Ophira and Samantha Bee talk about breast pumping in a van full of 21-year-olds, the surprise of a 3rd child, and why she would never take parenting advice from someone.
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Comedian and musician Adira Amram and Ophira talk about pediatric dentistry, morning sickness in Italy, and milking cows on jazz musician hours…
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Ophira chats with Pete Dominick about having two teenage daughters, New Year's Resolutions and avoiding parenting debates.
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Ophira answers a listener's question about potty training in our mini-episode about poop. A few funny parent-friends also share tales from the toilet; a perfect listen for your holiday season.
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Comedians Negin Farsad and Jon Fisch join Ophira for a live show at iHeart headquarters to celebrate the holidays!
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Bobcat Goldthwait and Ophira talk about his days opening for Nirvana, bringing his daughter on the road, and lighting dynamite in their backyard. We also learn he almost toured as a duo with David Bowie...
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Rachel Bloom and Ophira talk about her TV show Reboot, kids names, and the grossest childhood virus: Hand-foot-mouth. Professor Emily Oster also drops in and confirms we did NOT break our kid the day we let him watch 19 Paw Patrol episodes in a row.
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Chuck Bryant and Ophira talk about adoption, letting their kids watch the Godfather, and being "older" parents. Emily Oster also pops in for a quick chat about working parents and stuffing eggs into socks.
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Mary Lynn Rajskub and Ophira talk about the TV show 24, dating, and what it’s like to parent a teenage boy. Mary Lynn also shares the secret recipe of Denny’s ranch dressing and unrelated, why her son has never been to one of her comedy shows.
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Chris Gethard and Ophira talk about germs, septic tanks, and what it means to be cool when you're a parent. Dr. Emily Oster also joins for a quick chat about sleep training and cheap pinot noir.
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Eugene Mirman and Ophira discuss grief and how kids can help navigate hard conversations thanks to their curiosity and short attention spans. They also talk about Eugene's 2.1 high school GPA and his not-so-anonymous experience at the sperm bank.
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Catherine Reitman and Ophira talk about gaslighting their children, the inspiration for Workin' Moms and Reitman's "no lame parents" rule for her kids' playdates. They also find out why a doctor advised parents to shake hands with their babies and feed them bacon.
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Roy Wood Jr. and Ophira talk about the Daily Show, parenting during the pandemic and Delta skymiles. They also examine the philosophical musings of Winnie the Pooh and how not to raise a future standup comedian.
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Jessi Klein and Ophira discuss whether you can digest chalk, why their kids won’t eat a cherry tomato, how the details of childbirth are still whispered secrets and that motherhood is the real hero’s journey. They also cover Jessi’s hilarious new book I'll Show Myself Out.
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Your kid doesn’t think you’re funny. Learn more hard truths on Parenting is a Joke with comedian and host, Ophira Eisenberg.
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