Parents Just Don't Understand
32 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★ - 7 ratingsLeftist analysis of children's media, parenting, and the nature of childhood. Hosted by Chris, Kurt, and Denise.
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Episodes
Whisper Of The Heart w/ Raquel S. Benedict
March 13, 2022 00:24 - 1 hour - 99.9 MBWriter, podcaster, and the Most Dangerous Woman In Speculative Fiction Raquel S. Benedict joins us to talk about Whisper Of The Heart and why you need to tell kids that their writing is terrible so they get better. https://twitter.com/benedict_rs https://www.patreon.com/ritegud/
Captain Planet (feat. Hit Factory)
August 06, 2021 08:09 - 2 hours - 91 MBWe're joined by Aaron and Carlee of the podcast Hit Factory to discuss Captain Planet, the ideology of Nineties environmentalism, and Ted Turner's secret apocalypse tapes. Check out Hit Factory: https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod/ https://twitter.com/HitFactoryPod
Waffles & Mochi
May 15, 2021 04:08 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBKurt & Chris learn about food (and drones) with the Obamas' new kids show, Waffles and Mochi.
Pixar (feat. Shaun of Married, at the Movies)
February 07, 2021 06:37 - 1 hour - 88.2 MBWe sit down with Shaun from Married, at the Movies to talk about Pixar. Yes, all of it. This is your definitive podcast episode about Every Pixar Movie, and you don't need to listen to any more after this. Listen to Married, at the Movies! Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/marriedatthemovies Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/marriedmoviespodcast/
Thanksgiving Specials (feat. Malcolm)
November 26, 2020 21:54 - 1 hour - 84.5 MBWe're joined by Malcolm (https://twitter.com/MalcolmRambert) to journey through a slew of kids Thanksgiving specials, from 1972's A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving to (much better) modern specials from Hey Arnold! and Craig of the Creek. Malcolm on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalcolmRambert
Blippi Is A Worker
November 14, 2020 19:55 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBKurt and Chris discuss crappy children's YouTube channels, faceless content mills, the evils of advertising, and Baby Shark. Plus, we unmask a well known children's YouTube host.
Over the Garden Wall
November 01, 2020 03:53 - 1 hour - 60.9 MBWe're talking Halloween, spooky stuff, and the 2014 gothic folk adventure Over the Garden Wall with returning guest and new cohost Chris Woodward. Truly, the Grinch is gonna getcha. Check out Kurt's new digital magazine Blood Knife at https://bloodknife.com and https://www.patreon.com/bloodknife
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (feat. Brett Payne)
September 15, 2020 03:31 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBHey folks, we're back! And we're joined by Brett Payne of Street Fight Radio to talk about the 1990 anti-drug mega-crossover event Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue. We also discuss leftist parenting, DARE, beautiful shroom experiences, Reagan-era deregulation, and — shockingly — a little-known U.S. senator from Delaware. Listen to Street Fight: https://www.patreon.com/streetfightradio Follow Brett on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrettPain
COPS (feat. Andray Domise)
June 21, 2020 02:52 - 53 minutes - 51.5 MBWe're joined by writer and journalist Andray Domise to talk about depictions of cops in kids cartoons and their role in normalizing police violence against black, indigenous, and other marginalized communities. We also discuss parenting in times of social and political change, the late-80s sci-fi cartoon COPS, the sci-fi western Marshall BraveStarr, and anti-drug PSAs. Andray on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andraydomise Andray's writing at Maclean's: https://www.macleans.ca/author/andray-do...
BONUS: Kurt & Denise on This Might Be A Podcast
June 21, 2020 02:38 - 1 hour - 148 MBKurt & Denise went on This Might Be A Podcast to talk about the They Might Be Giants song "I Am A Paleontologist!", parenting, dinosaurs, science, and a whole bunch of other stuff. This is a great podcast and you should check them out! https://www.patreon.com/ThisMightBeAPodcast
BONUS: How to Talk to Kids About Illness & Health
April 23, 2020 03:36 - 15 minutes - 11.3 MBAfter recording our Hobbit episode, Chris was kind enough to stick around to share his perspective on a topic a lot of parents are grappling with as a result of the COVID-19 crisis: talking to kids about illness, health, and medical care.
The Hobbit (feat. Chris Woodward)
April 21, 2020 03:24 - 1 hour - 79.5 MBWe're joined by fellow parent and friend of the show Chris Woodward to discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 children's fantasy classic The Hobbit, as well as the 1977 animated version from Rankin-Bass.
School's Out Forever (feat. Ben Udashen)
March 24, 2020 04:31 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBPodcaster and childcare worker Ben Udashen of the Unpopular Front podcast returns to talk about parenting and childcare during a pandemic, the political economy of childrearing and household labor, universal childcare, and the swift changes in parenting norms we're seeing as a result of COVID-19. Ben's Twitter: https://twitter.com/marxistmanny?lang=en Unpopular Front: http://unpopularfront.com "The Coronavirus is a Disaster for Feminism," Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/a...
Star Wars... You Know, For Kids! (feat. Jack Allison)
March 13, 2020 14:44 - 52 minutes - 58 MBThis week, we're joined by Jack Allison of JackAM and Struggle Session to answer the question: "When's the right time to talk to YOUR kids about The Force?" We discuss the Star Wars Forces of Destiny children's web series, why and how kids have connected with Star Wars throughout the years, and what they can (and can't) learn from it. Jack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackallisonLOL/ JackAM: https://www.twitch.tv/jackam Struggle Session: https://www.patreon.com/strugglesession
They Might Be Giants (feat. Greg Simpson)
March 09, 2020 03:45 - 1 hour - 147 MBThis week we're joined by podcaster & music teacher Greg Simpson of This Might Be A Podcast to discuss a unique band that's just as popular with small children as with adults: They Might Be Giants! We also discussed music education, curating the soundtrack of a childhood, what makes for good children's music, and why terrorizing babies with loud sounds is actually very smart and good. This Might Be A Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ThisMightBeAPodcast TMBaP on Twitter: https://tw...
Jonny Quest (feat. Podside Pete)
February 20, 2020 22:28 - 1 hour - 164 MBThis week, we're joined by Podside Pete of the sci-fi & fantasy podcast Podside Picnic to explore a throwback to the golden age of cartoons: Jonny Quest! We explore the show and its latter day descendants (The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest & The Venture Bros, as well as the history of boy science adventures, pulp literature, racism and xenophobia, the Cold War, sci-fi adventures at the End of History, and a whole dang slew of other things. Listen to Podside Picnic: https://soundcloud.com/u...
Rise of the Gamer Dads
February 16, 2020 05:50 - 51 minutes - 76.2 MBThis week we've got one from the archives! In an ep that was previously lost to the mists of time, Kurt sits down with James the Anonymous Gamer Dad to talk about video games from childhood to parenthood. We discuss managing screen time, micro transactions, what kids can learn from games, and whether or not James's kids are actually any good at Fortnite. THE ANSWER MAY SURPRISE YOU! For more family gaming content, check out Kurt's guest spot on the Sleazoids film podcast to talk about TRON a...
Frozen & Frozen 2
January 30, 2020 04:23 - 1 hour - 77.5 MBDenise and Kurt take on Disney's modern cultural juggernaut: Frozen and Frozen 2. We discuss how to smash the patriarchy, why eco-terrorism is cool and good, conservative media having a meltdown about cartoons, and the full range of Frozen tie-ins and spin-offs. We also spend a few minutes catching up about what's been on the TV in the Schiller household. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParentsPod Listen to We Need to Talk About Kevin: https://soundcloud.com/weneedtotalkaboutkevin/...
Thomas the Tank Engine (w/ Justin Roczniak, aka donoteat01)
January 10, 2020 07:09 - 1 hour - 88.4 MBWe're joined by Justin Roczniak, better known as urban planning and Cities: Skylines aficionado donoteat01, to discuss the labor politics and mass transit infrastructure of Thomas the Tank Engine. We dig into Sir Topham Hatt's troubling history of strike-breaking, Sodor's surprisingly durable residential housing, and the nature of locomotive sentience and being. ALSO: British Rail privatization, locomotives of the Great Leap Forward, *tons* of train info and, as a special bonus for our Philly...
DC Superhero Girls (w/ Trevor Drinkwater & Jordan Hass)
January 06, 2020 05:55 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBTrevor and Jordan of Trevor Talks Titans stop by to talk about Cartoon Network's DC Superhero Girls, a new kids cartoon from Lauren Faust (of My Little Pony fame). We discuss representation in media, compare and contrast superhero shows, and explain why Poison Ivy's eco-terrorism is totally cool, actually. And check out our sick new theme from Matt Lilienfeld (@IntellectualDa8)! Trevor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/trev_drinkwater Jordan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jordha We Need to Ta...
Batman: The Animated Series (w/ Leslie Lee III)
December 08, 2019 15:19 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBWe're joined by Leslie Lee III (@leslieleeiii), Batman scholar and host of the leftist pop-culture podcast Struggle Session, to talk about Batman: The Animated Series. We explore the show's unique style and legacy, how it connected with both kids and adults, and how it compares to other superhero adaptations past and present. For more Batman content, check out Struggle Session's Patreon for a recent discussion of The Dark Knight Returns with Kurt of PJDU and Elana Levin of the comics podcast...
Princess Mononoke / My Neighbor Totoro (w/ Emma Bowers)
December 02, 2019 19:58 - 1 hour - 83.1 MBThis week we're joined by Emma Bowers (@hyenasandgin), anime correspondent for the leftist pop-culture podcast Struggle Session, to talk about Hayao Miyazaki's all-time classics My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke. We also discuss what it was like being an anime fan in the VHS era, working with children, and reveal Emma's anime origin story. Emma's Twitter – https://twitter.com/hyenasandgin Struggle Session – https://soundcloud.com/strugglesesh
BONUS: His Dark Materials Spoiler Zone & All-Ages Blasphematarium
November 20, 2019 14:42 - 36 minutes - 31.8 MBSPOILERS! You've been warned. Here's some bonus discussion with Ben & Karlo from our His Dark Materials episode where we delved into the overall plot of the books, what it was like growing up in the shadow of the Christian Evangelical movement and the rise of New Atheism, and SLAYERRRRRRR. (Audio got a bit spotty at times, sorry about that.)
His Dark Materials (w/ Ben Udashen & Karlo Yeager Rodriguez)
November 18, 2019 13:53 - 1 hour - 80.2 MBWe're joined by podcaster Ben Udashen and fantasy author Karlo Yeager Rodriguez to discuss the massively popular His Dark Materials series, which uses YA fantasy to explore weighty topics like growing up, authority, the nature of belief, and magical talking animals. We also offer up our thoughts on the first two episodes of HBO's new TV adaptation, and possibly uncover a secret anti-Catholic agenda at Borders books. Ben's Twitter - https://twitter.com/marxistmanny Unpopular Front podcast - h...
Compassion, Fantasy, & Folklore (w/ Erin Entrada Kelly)
November 15, 2019 15:51 - 51 minutes - 37.6 MBWe sat down with 2018 Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly (Hello, Universe; Blackbird Fly) to talk about her new YA fantasy novel, Lalani of the Distant Sea, the story of a young girl from the island of Sanlagita who sets out on a dangerous quest to save her family from a mysterious illness. We also discuss depictions of folklore, the importance of compassion, and some positive changes in the world of YA publishing. Lalani of the Distant Sea – https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062747273/lala...
Halloween Spooktacular: Horror Movies for Kids(w/ Josh Lewis)
October 13, 2019 14:07 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBKurt is joined by Josh Lewis of the SLEAZOIDS podcast to discuss kids and horror films, from "family" horror flicks like Gremlins & Beetlejuice to more teen-targeted fare like Child's Play and the new Scary Stories film. We also discuss the history of horror as a mainstream genre and why you probably shouldn't show your kids any Lucio Fulci films. (PLUS: We suggest a few gateway horror films you can show kids without completely melting their brains.) SLEAZOIDS - https://soundcloud.com/sleazo...
Halloween Spooktacular: Basic Witches
October 05, 2019 13:51 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBBwahaha ha ha! Kurt & Denise kick off the witching season by discussing the role of witches in children's media, from the Wizard of Oz to Discworld and Harry Potter. We also rank our top 3 favorite fictional witches and debate who is and isn't a witch. So grab your black cat, pull up a broom, and let's get spooky with it. Outro: Mr. Rogers interviews Margaret Hamilton about playing the Wicked Witch - https://youtu.be/W23FRsHnegE
Inappropes!
September 24, 2019 03:42 - 1 hour - 51.9 MBWe're back from our fall break to talk about our love for "inappropriate" kids media. We discuss what makes for good children's media, what we do (and don't) worry about exposing our kids to, and why you should throw out all those Beethoven for Baby Einstein CDs. Plus, Kurt uses death metal to help babies sleep and Denise fights a one-mom battle against the encroaching forces of the Winter Solstice. (Intro: Thee Irma & Louise – Stranger Danger / Outro: Jason Shaw – Running Waters)
Kids Game Shows (w/ Jordan Hass)
August 31, 2019 04:32 - 1 hour - 58.1 MBGET YOUR HANDS ON THOSE BUZZERS! This week we're joined by special guest and game-show expert Jordan Hass (Game Shows, I Suppose), who takes Kurt on a journey through the freakishly interesting history of children’s game shows. We discuss the rise and fall of WW2-era “smart kids” shows like Quiz Kids, through legendary Nickelodeon shows like Double Dare, GUTS, & Legends of the Hidden Temple, and on to a few shows you can watch right now. And hey, no pet noises on this one! Jordan on Twitter:...
Brave Little Toaster / Land Before Time w/ Reese (aka @DarthGuerrilla)
August 24, 2019 04:27 - 1 hour - 82.2 MBOn this week’s episode, we’re joined by the excellent Reese (@DarthGuerrilla) of Gaming Buzzed to tackle the “kid-friendly” animated emotional trauma of 1988’s The Land Before Time and 1987’s The Brave Little Toaster. We explore depictions of loss, abandonment, and grief in kids media, the existential horror of tar pits, and whether The Brave Little Toaster is anti-capitalist or just anti-repairman. Plus, explaining the concept of death to a 3-year-old! This one’s HEAVY, folks, so buckle up. ...
Hilda!
August 10, 2019 03:20 - 1 hour - 62.8 MBOn today’s episode, Kurt & Denise dig in for a long-form review of the best kids cartoon on TV: Netflix’s Hilda. We discuss depictions of evil in children’s media, why dealing with talking birds is a parenting goal, and the urgent need for troll land reform. Plus, Kurt takes a trip to a park and Denise goes to the library. Not impressed? Well, you should be. (Intro: Thee Irma & Louise – Stranger Danger / Outro: Yumenoma – Instant 0 in the Universe)
TV Party!
July 31, 2019 00:47 - 39 minutes - 45.5 MBIn our inaugural episode, Denise & Kurt discuss the dubious labor economy of True and the Rainbow Kingdom, Paw Patrol's disastrous canine nutrition standards, and the CGI nightmare of Word Party. Also, Kurt complains about the creeping militarization of Adventure Bay and one of our cats makes a weird noise. (Music: Thee Irma & Louise - Stranger Danger / Manwomanchild - Floyd's Theme)