Our Parents Did What?!

It's our final episode of season 2!! And we're going out in a flash - flash photography, that is. In this extra long final episode, we're discussing the history of photography from the Victorian Era all the way up to …

No one makes science as cool and relatable as the one and only Bill Nye. He brought scientific concepts to the children of the 90s in a way that has …

Rounding out our series of puberty episodes, Diane gives us some facts about body image, the effects of social media on how teenage girls see themselves, and why teenagers are so darn stinky. We'll also do our best to …

This week, Diane tells us all about one of her most favorite shows from her childhood, Boy Meets World. We talk about the themes the show dared to explore, and those that it was too timid to embrace. It is a real piece …

In the second installment of our series of puberty episodes, Jen provides some details into how first periods are celebrated throughout the world. We also take some time to look at the history of how boys become men …

Talking animals were all the rage in the 90s, and this left the door wide open for the edutainment masterpiece that was Wishbone. This PBS show …

It's that time! Our podcast has reached puberty (we're over 50 episodes in, so this arbitrarily feels like our teen years) and to celebrate, we're …

TGIF was a staple in the American experience throughout the 90s. A true example of lightning in a bottle, this block of shows dominated TV ratings for over a decade and brought us some of the most memorable family …

In the second half of our foray into the use of drugs in infants, babies, and children, we bring you the fascinating history of opium! This is a …

This show was gauranteed to make an appearance as a mini episode at some point! Not many shows are as deeply loved as Rugrats. This was Nickelodeon in it's prime - mastering the art of balancing comedy and sincerity. …

We're back after a brief mid-season break and are bringing you two episodes on the use of highly addictive drugs as medicines for children and babies in history. In our first episode, Diane describes the various uses of …

Today's mini episode is all about one of the most beloved PBS programs of all time, "Reading Rainbow". Lovingly brought to life by the one and only Levar Burton, it's won an embarrassing number of awards and has enjoyed …

In the second half of our two-part series on The Great Depression, Diane describes some of the details of The New Deal and how government programs impacted the lives of children and families. The Great Depression was …

Captain Planet: he's our hero! Gunna bring pollution down to zero!

This show is a beloved addition to our collection of mini episodes. Jen and Diane …

In the first of our two part series on The Great Depression, Diane goes over the history of the Great Depression and how it impacted families, children, and women. There are some surprising facts that come from this …

Jen is certain that she is living in a parallel universe this week as Diane tells her all about a television show that rings zero bells. After her mini existential crisis, Jen listens intently as Diane tells her all …

Our series on playgrounds is over, so we're taking a break this week with a one-off episode about the history and cultural significance of the …

It's another mini episode! Television in the 90s offered up some truly inspired and lasting material. But few shows were as groundbreaking, …

In our final episode in our exploration of Playgrounds, Diane shares what she has found about making modern playgrounds accessible to all children. We also discuss the resurgence of adventure playgrounds and touch upon …

In our third mini episode of Season 2, Diane brings us back to 1985 to remember the much beloved Canadian TV miniseries, "Anne of Green Gables". It …

This week Diane shares her research into modern playgrounds and the leaps and bounds we have made in terms of safety. We'll go over some of the …

Jen's first mini episode brings us some 90's tween drama like only Nickelodeon could bring us with "The Secret World of Alex Mac". What was this …

In our second full episode of this season, Jen gives some more information about the history of playgrounds, focusing in this time on the slide. We …

We're introducing something new this year - Mini Episodes! These bite sized episodes will come out in between our regular episodes and during Season …

It's Season 2! Diane and Jen are back with a new set of wild episodes all about the history of parenting and child rearing. In this season, we'll be spending a few episodes diving deeper into one topic. So we're …

Since beginning this podcast in early 2020, Jen and Diane haven't been able to see each other in person. In this episode, they are reunited and recording for the very first time in the same room! And Jen has a very …

In this episode, we have a very special guest joining us to explore a topic that the three of us are highly invested in. LaWann Moses, from the More Than a Mother podcast, joins us to talk all about the history of women …

Way back in February of 2020, before the pandemic and before we had honed our sound quality, Jen and Diane recorded this episode about the origins of gripe water. So join us as we travel back in time (TWICE!) to …

Jen provides some personal and timely research in this episode in honor of Pride. We discuss the practice of conversion therapy, how it has changed over time, and the impact it has had on the queer community. At the end …

Helicopter Parent. The term is usually uttered with rolled eyes and snide remarks. But when you take into account the circumstances of the 1980s …

What do the history of women in America and Jell-O have in common? More than you probably realize! In this episode, Jen explores the incredible road …

It all started when Jen bought Diane’s daughter an adorable unicorn and rainbow themed play tea set for her 2nd birthday. It got Diane thinking about how much she loved her own toy tea set growing up. Why was pretend …

Snow White. Hansel and Gretel. The Frog Prince. Stories that are well known and beloved the world over. We can thank the very famous and very …

In this episode, we are joined by friend of the show Rachel Kuberry, who tells us all about the history of the baby cage and the historical importance of airing out babies. Why did these devices ever seem like a good …

Birth control is ubiquitous in society today. It is so commonplace that we just refer to it as "the pill." But have you ever wondered how that pill …

Throughout visual media, there are countless examples of the big window looking over a room of newborn, swaddles babies. The hospital nursery is a sight that most people are familiar with, but has really only been …

If you are a 21st century mom you are probably familiar with the term baby wearing. It is very “in” right now, with wraps and carriers seen as not only functional, but also a fashion statement. Like many aspects of …

Few things are as quintessentially American as child beauty pageants. And it turns out, they also originated from our home state of New Jersey! In this episode, Jen takes us back to the mid 1800's to the beginning of …

Note: Today's episode contains some sensitive content related to infant deaths.  Please use caution when listening.If you had asked me 2 years ago …

Spit has seemingly endless examples of cultural significance throughout the world. It's with that in mind, that Jen travelled down the spit in …

Growing up is hard enough when you're just a regular kid. But can you imagine growing up at the most famous address in the country, while the whole …

In order to celebrate the end of this truly miserable year, we are sharing a story that is similarly upsetting. Jen presents her findings on the …

Nothing gets us in the holiday spirit like an angry mob of customers fighting over a children's toy. With the advent of online shopping, crazy store …

If you live in America, you may be under the assumption that Halloween has always cornered the market on dressing up in costumes. But you would be …

You may be wondering why we are talking about a Supreme Court case on a show about the history of parenting, right? Well, we have the answer! The …

Every new mom can attest to the fact that babies, especially newborns, love to suck. Their fingers, their toes, a bottle, a breast, and for some babies even a pacifier. So today, we explore the history of that infamous …

Every new mom can attest to the fact that babies, especially newborns, love to suck. Their fingers, their toes, a bottle, a breast, and for some babies even a pacifier. So today, we explore the history of that infamous …

2020 might not be the craziest year for the US Postal Service after all. Back in 1913, parcel post was introduced and in no time at all, people had started shipping all kinds of unexpected packages, including their …

2020 might not be the craziest year for the US Postal Service after all. Back in 1913, parcel post was introduced and in no time at all, people had started shipping all kinds of unexpected packages, including their …

2020 might not be the craziest year for the US Postal Service after all. Back in 1913, parcel post was introduced and in no time at all, people had started shipping all kinds of unexpected packages, including their …

We've all heard the term "mom shaming," but what does it really mean? And when did it begin? In reality, we are all probably guilty of playing a part in the mom shame game, often unintentionally. Let's dive into the …

While the pandemic is keeping many of us from our usual summer plans, we thought we'd share some of the fascinating history of family vacations with you all. We'll look at summer camps for children, family road trips, …

“I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys 'R' Us kid!” We all remember the jingle, and the excitement of stepping into a Toys 'R' Us in its heyday. With its rows and rows of toys, the possibilities were endless! And then we …

Come join us for a side-splitting episode that looks at the life and times of Mrs. Patricia Carter, the original Free Birthing guru! Pat is a riot and we definitely wish she was still around for us to go out for drinks …

This week, we have our very first guest host, Whitney from the How She Moms podcast! Whitney joins us to share her fascinating research into the history of baby names in America. She described some of the naming trends …

Ok everybody - buckle up. On this week’s episode we explore something a little sinister: babies being stolen from their mothers and sold on the …

John B. Watson and his infamous Little Albert Experiment may be little more than a footnote in the history of parenting and childrearing. But they are a fascinating and important one. Jen presents her research into the …

Have you ever tried to find the perfect book to help you cope with the shear terror that is parenthood. Yeah, we've been there, too! In this episode, Diane takes us through the many different eras and styles of …

It's our first ever live episode! Listen in as Jen and Diane host this special bonus episode on Instagram Live. The ladies go over some of the most famous and beloved fairytales from their childhood, specifically the …

Ah, the sweet memories of running home after school to catch your favorite cartoon on what may be the most iconic children’s television network of …

This week, we're taking a look at a slightly more recent practice: the pox party! There are plenty of people alive today who have been to one. Jen gives some history on pox parties, their modern day equivalents, and …

It's hard to imagine there was ever a time in our history when we lacked the tiny incubators designed for premature babies that we see in the NICU nowadays. We have a man named Dr. Couney and his turn of the century …

Jen set out to provide a brief history into children's toys, but quick discovered what a foolish plan that had been. The wealth of information on any …

Of all the mythical figures we know and love, the Tooth Fairy seems to have the most elusive backstory. Where did she come from, and why the heck do …

Run Time: 32 minutes, 23 secondsLittle boys in "skeleton suits"Teen boy with frilled collarHistoric photo of boy wearing skeleton suit.Illustration …

Diapers as we know them today are a fairly new commodity in the grand scheme of the history of parenting. But, before Pampers and Huggies, our ancestors used some pretty crazy materials to diaper their babies. Wood …

Peas, and apples, and carrots, oh my! When did baby food become commercialized, and what on earth is dessert baby food?? We cover this, and so much more, on this week's episode! Join us as we explore the history of baby …

Have you ever heard of the Tot Guard? We hadn't, either! Until we took a deep dive into the history of car seats. In this episode, we go way back to …