One Bad Mother
421 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1.6K ratingsA comedy podcast about motherhood and how unnatural it sometimes is. We aren't all magical vessels! Join us every week as we deal with the thrills and embarrassments of motherhood and strive for less judging, and more laughing.
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Episodes
Ep. 120: Kids Are Loud
September 04, 2015 04:05 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBBiz and Theresa lay out some serious facts. Kids are loud. Plus, Biz makes lemonade out of concentrate, Theresa checks in after a hard week, and Lisa Roth, the creative mind behind the Rockabye Baby Music series, joins us to talk about making music parents can stand.
Ep. 119: What Happened To My Personal Space?
August 28, 2015 03:47 - 1 hour - 69.1 MBWarning! Our show goes a lot of places this week. Luckily they fall into neat categories! (see our trigger warnings note below) This week, Biz and Theresa talk about personal space, which is a thing our kids like to act like they've never heard of! Plus, Biz finds something new to love and Theresa prepares to send her youngest off to daycare. And renowned author, childbirth educator, physical therapist, and doula Penny Simkin joins us to discuss actual helpful ways to prepare for a first ch...
Ep. 118: More! More! More!
August 21, 2015 03:16 - 1 hour - 65.6 MBBiz and Theresa want more! More! More! More! More stuff, more babies, more pets, more emotional gratification and in no way is it the same as our kids wanting more. Or, alright fine, maybe it's exactly the same. So we explore the why and the what can be done in hopes of fostering an appreciation for moderation in our kids. Plus, Biz goes to first grade, Theresa actually has a great vacation with her family, and we talk to author and storyteller Matthew Dicks about his new novel, The Perfect ...
Ep. 117: Are We Treating Our Partners Like Kids?
August 14, 2015 02:29 - 1 hour - 67.3 MBThis week on One Bad Mother, Biz and Theresa explore the question, “Are we treating our partners like children?” If you're not sure whether this is something you do, try sharing a kayak with your partner and seeing what comes out of your mouth. Plus, Katy Belle stops by for a visit, Theresa shows Buzz Lightyear who's boss, and Chris Routly of DaddyDoctrines.com joins us to talk about marriage, gendered expectations of parenthood, and the value of supportive community for 'at-home' dads.
Ep. 116: Pregnancy Loss
August 06, 2015 18:58 - 1 hour - 66.2 MBThere is no clever way to say it. This week, Biz and Theresa talk about miscarriages. Theresa shares her experience and together we explore what it's like to go through a pregnancy loss, or have a friend experiencing pregnancy loss, in a culture that doesn't seem to offer much in the way of acknowledgment or support. Clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Zucker, whose focus is on women's reproductive and maternal mental health, joins us to talk about her own miscarriage and her efforts to make t...
Ep. 115: Where Can('t) We Take Our Kids?
July 31, 2015 03:51 - 1 hour - 68.6 MBBiz and Theresa try to come up with a list of places society allows us to take our kids...it ain't a long one! Are parents doing a bad job of taking kids in public? Or do other people in public just need an attitude adjustment? Plus, Biz has an encounter with a creepy dad and Theresa busts out the bikini! And we get some incredible advice about teaching our kids valuable social skills from etiquette expert Mindy Lockard.
Ep. 114: Are We Squashing What Makes Our Kids Special?
July 24, 2015 04:31 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBBiz and Theresa love how special our children are but sometimes feel like the need for peace, quiet, and order calls for squashing their special little selves. IS THAT BAD?! Plus, our kids ask us the tough questions this week! And, we talk to women's health expert, labor and delivery nurse, mother of four, and FitPregnancy.com columnist Jeanne Faulkner about her new book, Common Sense Pregnancy.
Ep. 113: Sleep Regression
July 17, 2015 01:44 - 1 hour - 66.1 MBBiz and Theresa talk about baby/toddler sleep regressions and how it makes us feel when months of blissfully decent sleep suddenly turn to dust in our hands for seemingly no good reason. Turns out we're MUCH closer to the point of nervous breakdown than we realized! Plus, Biz weeps for the mom life she imagined she’d have, Theresa's son listens to her with horrible results, and we welcome back sleep expert Jodi Mindell to talk us down from the sleep regression ledge.
Ep. 112: When Will We Be Normal Again?
July 10, 2015 03:42 - 1 hour - 65.4 MBBiz and Theresa wonder when, as new parents, do we get back to feeling normal again? And what is normal? Maybe it's the day we stop crying at Target or maybe it's accepting a “new” normal. Also this week, we have another case of baby fever! Plus, we chat with pregnant San Francisco-based film maker Haley Jude, who is a conrtibutor to Elle.com and producer of her own video series, Queer Mama, where she chronicles her journey of lesbian conception and pregnancy.
Ep. 111: Who Wins At Suffering?
July 03, 2015 04:03 - 1 hour - 69.1 MBBiz and Theresa explore the hardest parts of parenting and how "suffering" affects our relationships with our partners. Biz wants her husband to SUFFER LIKE SHE HAS! Theresa has Catholic guilt and wants to spare everyone at her own expense. Turns out we each have our own set of issues and in both cases -- surprise! -- suffering sucks. Luckily our guest, comedienne and actress Kimmy Gatewood, brightens our outlook on things when she joins us to talk about her newborn, her nanny, and her new m...
Ep. 110: Is My Child Leading a Double Life?
June 26, 2015 03:35 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBBiz and Theresa talk about how it makes us feel when our kids behave differently around other adults than they do around us. "What do you mean he's well-behaved and likes vegetables?!" What are we doing wrong?! Plus, Biz is enjoying crippling sleep deprivation in Alabama and Theresa shares an epic three-part fail.
Ep. 109: What Did That Baby Do To My Friend?
June 12, 2015 04:56 - 1 hour - 70.6 MBWhat happens to a friendship when one friend suddenly has a baby, and the other remains child-free? This week, Biz and Theresa tackle questions about friendships submitted by our child-free listeners. From dealing with the crappy things that come out of new parents' mouths to trying to convince your friend that you really do want to hang out with her and her screaming baby, we try to take the pressure off by answering the questions that may feel hard to ask when friendships encounter big cha...
Ep. 108: Toy Guns
June 05, 2015 04:22 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBWho needs two tickets to the gun show? These guys! Biz and Theresa test the bonds of friendship by talking about our respective stances on toy gun play. Plus, Biz returns to her roots, Theresa gets a 24-hour vacation, and we talk to the very funny actress and writer Sarah Thyre.
Ep 107: The 3rd Ever Genius/Fail Spectacular...With Rants!
May 29, 2015 03:31 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBBiz and Theresa celebrate YOU, our listeners, and what an amazing job you're all doing…most of the time! From serving baby oatmeal out of a piping bag to poking your kid in the eye before a shot, you guys are nailing it!
Ep. 106: Crisis Mode
May 22, 2015 03:56 - 1 hour - 69.4 MBBiz and Theresa wonder why sometimes a crisis is easier than regular life? Maybe we wouldn't feel this way if we got trophies and a standing ovation every time we did the dishes or handled bedtime solo! Plus, success leaves a bad taste in Biz's mouth, Theresa discovers the secret to keeping a clean house, and we talk to nationally syndicated advice columnist Amy Dickinson, who reminds us, “It’s just a baby.”
Ep. 105: Post-Mother's Day Mom Rant
May 15, 2015 03:09 - 1 hour - 65.8 MBBiz and Theresa need to vent about the holiday that is Mother’s Day and ask these three important questions: What’s wrong with Mother’s Day? Should we just cancel Mother’s Day? and Can’t we have anything nice? Plus, something horrible is following Biz, Theresa has her strengths and her weaknesses as a parent, and we talk about life with a Top Chef with Jen Voltaggio.
Ep. 104: Anxiety
May 08, 2015 04:18 - 1 hour - 71 MBBiz and Theresa admit to all the things that keep us up at night and share our tricks for coping when our minds want to go off the deep end. What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day? If you don't already suffer from crippling anxiety, you might after hearing this incredibly graphic show! Plus, Biz’s toddler is SO negative, Theresa has great bedside manner and we talk with humor writer and author Kate Casey about her new book You Know You Are Pregnant When, Funny Quotes From Women Who Have B...
Ep. 103: What Will Our Kids Be When They Grow Up?
May 01, 2015 04:12 - 1 hour - 66.8 MBBiz and Theresa predict what our kids will be when they grow up, based on what they're into now. (Hint: Someone LOVES throwing food, so he's probably going to be a food critic!) We also come to the shocking realization that we may be letting our own emotional baggage shape our hopes and dreams for our kids. (Future fail!) Plus, Biz has one walker and one faller, and Theresa announces that her job is not to make all of Simon’s wishes come true.
Ep. 102: I See London I See France, I See Mama Naked!
April 24, 2015 03:50 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBBiz and Theresa talk about whether and for how long it's ok to be naked in front of our kids and vice-versa. And, as if that's not awkward enough, we also discuss names for all those body parts that are out there in the open! Plus, Biz solves part of the “poop in the tub” problem, Theresa's genius moment and failure are both thrilling and urine-related, and we talk to Al Watts, president of the National Stay At Home Dads network.
Ep. 101: What Will Our Kids Remember?
April 17, 2015 03:49 - 1 hour - 67.6 MBBiz and Theresa wonder what our kids will remember of their childhoods and whether there's any way to get them to treasure our genius moments as much as we wish they would? Oh, and of course, forget our failures? That'd be nice! Plus, Biz turns a corner, it's Weaning Day ("hooray, hooray!") for Theresa, and we chat with inspiring mom of two, Senior Producer of This American Life and Executive Producer of Serial, Julie Snyder!
Ep.100: It Was So Much Easier Back Then
April 10, 2015 15:46 - 1 hour - 67.8 MBBiz and Theresa celebrate our 100th episode! With our moms! We find out whether it really was easier being a mom back in the good old days before everything could kill us. Plus, no amount of glitter can decorate Biz’s fail, Theresa ruins Easter, and a Mom Rant reminds us all that sleep is more important than we sometimes acknowledge. What better way to celebrate 100 episodes?! Everyone is doing a great job!
Ep. 99: If Only
April 03, 2015 04:32 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBBiz and Theresa talk wishful thinking, including the dillusion that "if only ____[insert complaint here]____ was different," we'd feel better and be better moms. HA! If only it was that simple. Plus, Biz has a super laid-back attitude about Katy Belle taking on more responsibility in the house (......which is not a true statement), and Theresa tries not to ruin motherhood for others. No guest this week, but plenty of time for some amazing listener calls!
Ep. 98: When Only Mama Will Do
March 26, 2015 03:45 - 1 hour - 77.8 MBBiz and Theresa talk about that special time in a child's life when only Mama will do. We aren’t sure it feels as good as it should. Plus, Theresa compliments her partner, coughing drives Biz to the edge of madness, and we welcome back one of our favorite people, Janelle Hanchett of the blog Renegade Mothering, to talk about parenting and the internet.
Ep. 97: In-Laws
March 19, 2015 04:24 - 1 hour - 78.9 MBBiz and Theresa finally go there and talk about in-laws, oh my! Before we put our foot too far in our mouths we get insight into many of the issues created by joining families with Dr. Ruth Nemzoff, author of Don’t Roll Your Eyes: Making In-Laws into Family. Plus, we bust out some epic listener calls, including a working mom's video conference call that goes terribly wrong and a mom whose baby would probably sleep through the night if it weren't for dad's extraordinarily loud peeing!
Ep. 96: Time-Outs
March 13, 2015 03:27 - 1 hour - 63.3 MBThis week on One Bad Mother, Biz and Theresa wonder if time-outs actually work and wonder how bad WE have to get for someone to send US to our rooms. Plus, Biz sets her kitchen on fire, Theresa takes a dive, and the creator of the 'Dirt and Boogers' blog helps us to stop yelling at our kids.
Ep. 95: Kid Hair
March 06, 2015 03:19 - 1 hour - 65.7 MBBiz and Theresa tackle the tangled topic of hair! To cut or not to cut, that is the question. The answer is “no one cares.” Plus, Biz Leaves It To Beaver, Theresa totally eats it in this week’s fails, and we get outdoorsy with Peter Brown Hoffmeister, author of Let Them Be Eaten By Bears, a book about getting you and your kids into the great wide outside!
Ep. 94: We Give Up!
February 27, 2015 06:00 - 1 hour - 68.8 MBBiz and Theresa wonder why "letting go" feels so great but "giving up" makes us feel like losers? Clearly we're having trouble deciding whether our glass of wine is half-full or half-empty. Plus, Biz offers a refuge for tired moms and Theresa comforts her child with sugar. And we explore being married to the military with Lisa Smith Molinari of the blog The Meat and Potatoes of Life.
Ep. 93: What DO You Do All Day?
February 20, 2015 05:18 - 1 hour - 63.7 MBWe call bullshit on the "to do list" when none of the ten thousand things we do as a parent everyday counts as a thing we can cross off. Plus, Biz comes to the realization that any problems her kids have may not actually be her fault, Theresa plays mind games with Simon, a listener fails when she realizes the cock her son wants to know about isn’t a rooster, and we talk to Sally Hepworth about her debut novel, The Secrets of Midwives.
Ep. 92: Spoiled Rotten
February 13, 2015 05:20 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBThis week, Biz and Theresa forgot to put the kids back in the fridge and they’ve gone SPOILED ROTTEN! Can a young child really be spoiled? Or is it just one of those descriptions we found so easy to toss around before we had kids and discovered that our expectations may be out of whack? DO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THIS 4-YEAR-OLD ISN'T ABLE TO BE POLITE AND GRATEFUL AT ALL TIMES? SPOILED! (IT MUST BE THE PARENTS' FAULT!) Plus, Biz decides to let her 5-year-old off the hook this week, and The...
Ep.91: TEENS!
February 06, 2015 03:33 - 1 hour - 66.3 MBBiz and Theresa make predictions about what life will be like when our kids become teens (...our conversation quickly turns to porn). Plus, Biz poses the question, "Which is worse: when your partner has a hard time with the kids, or when he says they had a blast?" Theresa finds a way to make early mornings marginally better, and we hear an amazing listener-call-in fail involving a small child with a fake moustache. Dr. Jennifer Wider returns to give us advice on dealing with teens and talks ...
Ep. 90: Getting Deep About Strollers (aka Stop Hating Moms)
January 30, 2015 04:11 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBBiz and Theresa tackle the deepest of parenting topics…strollers. Have strollers become the symbol of all things evil about moms? Plus, the universe does not want Biz to enjoy a hamburger, Theresa is her own chiropractor, and we talk to super-edgy renaissance woman Michelle Tea about going through IVF as a lesbian, her new memoir How To Grow Up, and her kick-ass online publication Mutha Magazine.
Ep. 89: Confidence
January 23, 2015 03:48 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBBiz and Theresa accidentally gain new insight into ourselves this week! OOPS! We talk about our self-confidence and what happens to it after we become parents. (Hint: It may get shit on.) Plus, Biz discovers there's even MORE she didn't know about her kids' teeth, Theresa blows Biz’s mind with a trip to the spa, and we enjoy a much-needed laugh at parenting with Johanna Stein and her funny new book, How Not To Calm A Child On A Plane.
Ep. 88: A Visit From The Tooth Fairy
January 16, 2015 04:13 - 1 hour - 70.2 MBBiz and Theresa get a visit from the Tooth Fairy and discover we're totally unprepared for both the high emotional cost and high monetary cost of a baby tooth these days! Also, Theresa learns all you need is a box and an imagination to lose your mind, Biz has a bright idea that's a failure, and a listener’s rant reminds us that 90 percent of parenting is having to do something you don't want to do. Plus, our guest, Dr. Gloria Walther, is an Early Childhood Development expert and she drops cr...
Ep. 87: Children Are The Worst Liars
January 09, 2015 04:15 - 1 hour - 63.7 MBBiz and Theresa discover that change is hard, especially when that change is your precious child starts lying to you...without the courtesy of being any good at it! Sadly, this isn’t one of those phases you can ignore in hopes they will grow out of it, much to Theresa’s dismay. Clearly, the only answer is putting the fear of God into them. No chance of future issues with that solution. Plus, a genius listener leans ON instead of leaning IN and we talk with Jennifer Oxley, co-creator of the P...
Ep. 86: Toys Toys Toys
January 02, 2015 05:47 - 1 hour - 58.7 MBBiz and Theresa tackle toys this week! What's better, eco wooden toys or plastic? Who cares! As long as they keep the kids amused so we have a minute to catch our breath. Plus, Theresa can't answer any more kid questions and Biz just wants to be left alone to brush Repunzel’s hair. Together, we learn that the holiday break may have been a tad too long and no bathroom is big enough to provide much-needed sanctuary from the household chaos.
Ep. 85: Resolving to Be Awesome
December 19, 2014 17:23 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBBiz and Theresa discuss New Year’s resolutions and try not to be super judgy about them! Plus, Batman helps a 3-year-old poop on the potty, Theresa finds out why blender lids exist, and we speak with comedian W. Kamau Bell about canceling tour dates to be home with his wife and young family.
Ep. 84: Holiday Survival Guide
December 11, 2014 23:03 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate that brings feelings of cheer and MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF STRESS! Biz and Theresa discuss why the holidays can make even the most innocent of comments about your kids or your parenting style sound like you are the worst parent on the planet. Plus helpful tips on how to survive, Biz confirms a new mother’s worst fears that it actually is hard, and Theresa proves to be more fun than a Disney movie. Brooklyn artist Jenny W...
Ep. 83: Baby Mama Drama
December 05, 2014 04:27 - 1 hour - 67.3 MBBiz and Theresa want to know why we feel like crazy people when we worry about everything? Just relax, already! Clearly the vacation is going to pack itself! Plus, Biz reveals that french-kissing robots keep her marriage strong, Theresa gets fooled by her momentarily nice kid, and we talk with Gina Sampaio of Sister Serendip who informs us that even adoptive parents can be assholes sometimes!
Ep. 82: Gratitude
November 26, 2014 03:57 - 1 hour - 66.1 MBOn A Very Special Thanksgiving Episode of One Bad Mother, Biz and Theresa put the attitude in gratitude, only to discover that kids don’t get the concept of empathy and thankfulness on their own. CRAP! More work for us! I mean, thank you for the chance to mold our children into amazing people. Biz triumphantly survives One of the Shittiest Weeks of All Time and Theresa gets judged by her three-year-old. Plus, we talk to Alexandra Metral, one of the organizers of the MIT Breastpump Hackathon!...
Ep. 81: Weaning
November 21, 2014 04:38 - 1 hour - 62 MBBiz and Theresa talk about weaning this week, which means there is bonus mom judging! Plus, Theresa really can’t cook and Biz isn’t trying hard enough to be a good mother. Our most uplifting show yet! To lighten the mood we have a special mom breaking down about in-laws! Everyone is doing a great job!
Ep. 80: Mom Ruts
November 14, 2014 03:46 - 1 hour - 65.4 MBBiz and Theresa admit we're sometimes in a rut. In fact, as moms we've been in almost every kind of rut there is (other than PODCASTING RUT, obvi). The question is how to get out of them? We propose inventing a new rut that's actually an enjoyable place to be. Plus, Biz gets a free car wash, Theresa discovers a fifth food group called "fruit leathers," and we chat with singer-songwriter (and new mom) Jill Barber, who shares her secret for switching gears between loving mommy and live musicia...
Ep. 79: Turning One, It Ain't About the Baby
November 07, 2014 12:54 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBBiz and Theresa discover the answer to the question, “Who is the first birthday for anyway?” It's us! So, where's our bounce house? Biz’s younger self is disgusted with her older self’s view on Halloween candy, Theresa may have a screw loose when it comes to finding appropriate toys for her children to play with, and we ask you to declare if you are Team Pouch or Team Dirty Banana. Plus, we talk making mom friends (and dad friends!) with one of the creators of MomMeetMom.
Ep. 78: Zombie Apocalypse!
October 31, 2014 05:01 - 1 hour - 70.4 MBOn a very special Halloween episode of One Bad Mother, we talk zombie-apocalypse-readiness! (...A.K.A. emergency preparedness!) Clearly, we are prepared to have a three-day-supply of water and eat people. Theresa solves bedwetting forever and Biz spins a genius moment out of anything that will spin. Plus, we summon the ghost of John Hodgman to judge us as moms, only to discover that the real monster is the creator of baby food puree pouches!
Ep. 77: Forgiving Ourselves
October 17, 2014 03:23 - 1 hour - 76.3 MBOn a Very Special MaxFunWeek episode of One Bad Mother, Biz and Theresa seek forgiveness. Why is it so easy to forgive the people we love, but not ourselves? Plus, Katy Belle is in love, Theresa is not a monster, and best of all we talk with Dave Shumka of Stop Podcasting Yourself and his wonderful wife, Abby, who is her own person, about life with their brand new baby.
Ep. 76: Me, Myself & I...and My Baby
October 10, 2014 14:04 - 1 hour - 66.9 MBBiz and Theresa wonder what you're supposed to do when you can’t take the time for yourself that everyone wants you to take unless you have the baby with you. Is it possible to have restorative time for ourselves...while we're with our babies? Plus, kissing in kindergarten, everyone is being a dick to mom, and we talk with Lisa Mourgess about parenting techniques, homeschooling, Down syndrome, and what it's like to have seven kids.
Ep. 75: Finding The Time To Talk
October 03, 2014 04:36 - 1 hour - 66.8 MBBiz and Theresa wonder how we find time to discuss family business with our partners, or -- shock of all shocks -- simply talk and connect with our partners?! How is it possible two people can live in the same house and not find time to talk? Oh, that’s right. We have kids. Plus, Biz gets comfortable with being a “plain old mom” and Theresa takes a chance and talks with the parents of Simon's playground "bully." And, we talk about paternity leave in America with Shaun Wiley, Professor of Soc...
Ep. 74: Let's Lie To Our Kids!
September 26, 2014 04:08 - 1 hour - 68 MBBiz and Theresa wonder if lying to our kids is even a lie at all? Probably? It probably is still lying. Plus, Theresa is decidedly NOT gushing about preschool this week, Biz tries to figure out why Princess Leia needs a hairbrush, and we talk about autism and international adoption with Becca, of the awesome blog, Sincerely, Becca.
Ep. 73: It's Like We Don't Have Kids!
September 19, 2014 15:17 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBBiz and Theresa try to have a conversation without mentioning our kids and get to know each other better as friends, not just mom-friends! Plus, Biz learns that “childproof” may not be applicable to her child, Theresa turns her car into a mobile playground, and we find out exactly what our kids' teachers want us to know, thanks to our guest Erica Ladd and her new book, The Candid Classroom.
Ep. 72: Preserving the Memories AKA Memory Hoarding
September 12, 2014 04:22 - 1 hour - 64 MBBiz and Theresa talk about preserving the precious memories we have about our children, only to discover that, as usual, we are each failing at it in our own special way! Plus, Biz finds herself trying to explain the Afghanistan War to a five-year-old and Theresa tricks her kids into thinking everything old is new again. And, we talk with with Mary Kobinger, whose husband is on the front lines of the fight against Ebola, about what it's like being married to someone who puts his life at risk...
Ep. 71: The Second Ever Genius/Fail Spectacular - With Rants!
September 05, 2014 14:56 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBWoooooo! Kick back and bask in the glory of you, our listeners, as we celebrate your genius moments and failures in The Second Ever Genius/Fail Spectacular -- this time with rants! From washing the diaper pail while washing yourself, to going too far trying to help another mom, to the mother-in-law who seemed to think it was a great idea to send a mean note about breastfeeding to her daughter-in-law via Facebook, we walk away from this show feeling less alone than ever. You are all doing a g...