Parenting is a Joke

In this special rerun of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg welcomes the multitalented Tony Award-winning star Laura Benanti for a conversation that’s both unforgettable and fiercely real. Laura opens up about the high-wire act of being a working performer and a parent, sharing stories from her early Broadway debut at 18 to the surprising joys of suburban life in New Jersey. She talks about negotiating equity in her marriage, resisting outdated gender expectations, and the invisible labor of motherhood—even when you're the family breadwinner. Laura also shares her experience with postpartum depression and multiple miscarriages, including a deeply personal account of suffering a miscarriage while performing on a cruise ship, with her six-year-old daughter singing beside her. She reflects on the lack of public dialogue around pregnancy loss and why she felt compelled to speak out. The episode touches on ghost stories, crystal wands, and her daughter’s Halloween exposure therapy via a 12-foot skeleton. Plus, hear how Laura turned texts with a friend into the hilarious and empowering book M Is for Mama (and also Merlot)—written for moms who are tired of the prairie-dress fantasy. The phrase “medical disappointment” might just become your new go-to for life’s curveballs. 📍August Shows are Ohio, Atlanta, and NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Laura Benanti: https://www.instagram.com/laurabenanti/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode, Ophira Eisenberg reconnects with Erin Keating, host of Hotter Than Ever, for a raw, funny, and wildly relatable look at how a hospital stay during the pandemic catalyzed a total life reinvention. After being hospitalized with COVID pneumonia, Erin had what she describes as a Canyon Ranch-level spa break—complete with flowers from work, no interruptions, and the radical realization that she was deeply unhappy. Within a year, she turned 50, ended her long marriage, got laid off, and found herself with a clean slate—and a hot French guy in Italy. Erin shares how she eased into dating after a decade without sex, discovering an unexpectedly wide fanbase of 20-year-olds, truckers, and professors. She talks about reentering parenting as her central identity, navigating co-parenting with her ex, and discovering that her kids actually did better with less conflict in the house—even her son admitted it felt “better” post-divorce. Erin opens up about friends-with-benefits, falling in love with someone who didn’t want to be a stepdad, and why dating dads now feels like the sweet spot. She wraps by describing how her 14-year-old daughter once came out… as straight, following an earlier bisexual declaration. Erin’s evolution, like her dating profile, has range—and the spa metaphor still holds: sometimes you check in with pneumonia and check out with your whole life reset. 📍August Shows are Ohio, Atlanta, and NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Erin Keating: https://www.instagram.com/erindkeating/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Ophira Eisenberg sits down with her longtime friend Erin Keating—former television executive, mom of teenage twins, and host of the podcast Hotter Than Ever—for a conversation that spans from IVF dolphin omens to teen fashion battles. Erin shares how a gamified approach to online dating led to meeting her now ex-husband (he was date #5 out of a planned 10), and how her determination during fertility treatments turned her into what she calls a “warrior” with a 4-a-week Upper East Side IUI commute. The IVF worked, and during a Cape May trip, she and her then-husband spotted twin dolphins—just days before finding out they were expecting twins (actual human ones, not more dolphins). Erin recounts birthing her 14-pound combined children—one lounging transverse, the other breech—and how their differing in-utero layouts led to years of bunk-bed metaphors and a dead-on prediction of their teenage eating habits. She reflects on co-parenting after divorce, her son’s hyperfocus (he once used her credit card to buy digital Valorant weapons), and why she’s proudly never read a parenting book. Erin’s philosophy? Lead with love, skip the playlists, and make your teen send the follow-up email after their camp counselor interview. And yes, she confirms: Brooklyn in 2011 really was the twin capital of the world. 📍August Shows are Ohio, Atlanta, and NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Erin Keating: https://www.instagram.com/erindkeating/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg talks with powerhouse vocalist and soon-to-be mom Rachael Price—lead singer of Lake Street Dive—about performing while pregnant, planning a tour around a due date, and preparing to raise a baby on the road. Rachael shares what it was like touring with the band into her third trimester, including maternity Spanx, food poisoning that almost led to a canceled show, and the unexpected wave of emotion before her final pre-baby concert. She opens up about the confusing abyss of Instagram parenting “advice,” why her cloth diaper ambitions may be short-lived, and how her birth plan has already been demoted to a set of “hopes.” They discuss sustainable touring, parenting in small spaces, and the surreal moment of announcing a pregnancy during a band meeting like a corporate HR update. Rachael also reflects on growing up with a musician dad and traveling with choirs as an 11-year-old—training that’s come full circle as she now plans to hit the road with her daughter and a rotating support team that might include a nanny, her mom, or a very sleepy band mate. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Nantucket, MA, Aruba, Calgary, Alberta, Canmore, Alberta, Saratoga Springs, NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Racheal Price: https://www.instagram.com/rachaelpricepants/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode, Ophira Eisenberg reconnects with comedian, author, and How to Be a Better Human podcast host Chris Duffy for a rapid-fire chat covering the unexpected overlaps between parenting and comedy. Chris reflects on his years as a fifth-grade teacher, including a moment when a student earnestly asked—in front of the class—if having “huge balls” was a medical concern. The two swap stories about bedtime existentialism, the silent pressure of sleep training success, and the social minefields of modern parenting advice (including unsolicited high-fives from strangers about home births). Chris shares why he’s terrified his kid might become a hypebeast influencer, and admits he’s never called an Uber with his child for fear it might tank his 5-star rider rating. This mini-episode wraps with Chris’s pitch for a premium Uber Labor tier—and his confession that he still hasn’t recovered from laughing at a fourth grader’s joke about rejection checkboxes. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Nantucket, MA, Aruba, Calgary, Alberta, Canmore, Alberta, Saratoga Springs, NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Chris Duffy: https://www.instagram.com/chrisiduffy/ Find Chris Duffy’s podcast How to Be a Better Human wherever you get your podcasts See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg sits down with comedian, writer, and podcast host Chris Duffy to unpack the joys and absurdities of raising a toddler while maintaining a creative career. Chris shares how his “fun mom energy” has defined him since high school, his past life as a babysitter and fifth-grade teacher, and the surreal experience of writing jokes for Dan Rather during his first TV writing job. He reflects on the lack of nuanced parenting books for dads and explains why most advice boils down to: “Are you willing to let the baby cry?” Ophira and Chris swap stories about parenting-induced identity crises, obsessive marker-capping, and the complicated trade-offs between artistic ambition and hands-on parenting. Chris also reveals the emotional reason he starts his popular Brightspots newsletter with a disclaimer, and explains how his podcast How to Be a Better Human tries to offer comfort, not homework. The episode ends with Chris’ hard-won realization: he’s basically just a large baby with a beard. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Nantucket, MA, Aruba, Calgary, Alberta, Canmore, Alberta, Saratoga Springs, NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Chris Duffy: https://www.instagram.com/chrisiduffy/ Find Chris Duffy’s podcast How to Be a Better Human wherever you get your podcasts See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg is joined once again by author and podcast host Jo Piazza for a conversation that hits on the real logistics of being a working parent with no time for “manifesting” or gentle parenting platitudes. Jo explains how her background as a tabloid journalist trained her to write anywhere—including from the toilet while hiding from her kids—and how that skill helped her crank out her latest novel, Everyone Is Lying to You, in just three months. They talk about what it actually takes to get creative work done while raising kids (hint: discipline, childcare, and no scrolling), and how Jo structures her mornings around laser-focused word counts. She shares what it was like traveling through Sicily with a 5-month-old while researching a real-life family murder, and why her new dream is a European river cruise where no one has to pack and repack. The two also compare cultural attitudes toward parenting, with Jo recalling how an Italian stranger followed her into a bathroom just to offer her a pillow and a glass of wine. And when it comes to American parenting, Jo offers the most honest take of all: she doesn’t gentle parent—because her kids aren’t gentle. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Nantucket, MA, Aruba, Calgary, Alberta, Canmore, Alberta, Saratoga Springs, NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Jo Piazza: https://www.instagram.com/jopiazzaauthor/ Buy Jo’s New Book Everyone is Lying to You: https://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Lying-You-Thriller-Piazza/dp/B0DJCSHC1G See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg talks with bestselling author and Under the Influence podcast host Jo Piazza about parenting three young kids while juggling a prolific writing career. Jo shares the moment she realized she was pregnant (it involved an Elton John concert and tequila), why she can’t stand chickens, and how her latest thriller Everyone Is Lying to You takes aim at the surreal and insidious world of mom influencers. She opens up about trying to become an influencer herself—complete with a hired photographer, reluctant kids, and affiliate links for water shoes from the school giveaway bin—only to discover that she hated every minute of it. Jo and Ophira get into what postpartum really looks like and how mom influencers perpetuate impossible standards while profiting off our insecurities. They talk about breaking up with Cocomelon, teaching their kids media literacy, and raising children in a house where canceling plans is considered an act of love. Jo also reflects on the burnout of the girlboss era, the fantasy of the tradwife lifestyle, and why the influencer economy is both a trap and a lifeline for modern moms. Her happiest child eats like a roaming dog, and honestly, that might be the parenting win of the year. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Nantucket, MA, Aruba, Calgary, Alberta, Canmore, Alberta, Saratoga Springs, NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Jo Piazza: https://www.instagram.com/jopiazzaauthor/ Buy Jo’s New Book Everyone is Lying to You: https://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Lying-You-Thriller-Piazza/dp/B0DJCSHC1G See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack-size episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg checks back in with comedian and new mom Vicky Kuperman for a hilarious and refreshingly real follow-up conversation about those chaotic first weeks of parenting. Vicky shares how hiring a night doula gave her an elusive eight-hour stretch of sleep and why postnatal support might be the difference between loving your baby and loving having a baby. They swap notes on useless pediatrician advice, cry-trigger guesswork, and the loneliness of baby groups when no one gets your sense of humor. Vicky opens up about the mental fog of newborn care, the underestimated emotional load of having a dog and a baby, and how she and her husband navigate parenting roles—complete with night shifts, miscommunications, and moments of "I'm drowning!" clarity. Also discussed: musical enrichment guilt, measles-era isolation, baby smile myths, and why swaddling should really be a service for grown women. Vicky also shares that asking for help gave her just enough breathing room to start jotting down jokes again—proof that even a little support can make space for yourself to reappear. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Aruba, Calgary, AB, Bucks Country, PA, Nantucket, MA! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Vicky Kuperman : https://www.instagram.com/vickykuperman/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this summer edition of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg catches up with stand-up comic, filmmaker, and war-zone performer Jennifer Rawlings. Jennifer reflects on her years raising five kids while performing for U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sarajevo—often leaving behind toddlers and pull-ups for flak vests and flatbed stages. She shares how her youngest son, now a film professional, co-directed her new special I Only Smoke in War Zones, which captures her real-life experiences performing comedy amid explosions, basketball-court gigs with no mics, and chow-hall sets surrounded by barbed wire. Ophira and Jennifer get real about the guilt moms carry, the emotional labor of parenting adult children, and the horror of seeing your grown kid’s partner move into your basement. Jennifer recalls being handed a Kevlar vest mid-set as mortars went off and jokes that her kids were so feral when she returned from 30 days in Iraq, she wasn’t even sure she’d been missed. They also talk about how her work in war zones exposed her to young mothers and children missing limbs, fueling a deeper drive to tell women’s stories both on stage and in film. And yes—her son did call her in Afghanistan just to complain his brother ate all the Cheez-Its. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Nantucket, MA, Aruba, Calgary, Alberta, Canmore, Alberta, Saratoga Springs, NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Jennifer Rawlings: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferrawlings/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this in-studio Parenting is a Joke fav episode, Ophira Eisenberg sits down with comedian, Daily Show correspondent, and guest host Desi Lydic to talk parenting, performing, and prompter disasters. Desi recounts the surreal moment her Daily Show hosting debut began with a backwards teleprompter—and how the audience's reaction helped her recover instantly. They talk about raising thoughtful boys in today's world, from navigating gender norms and emotional literacy to Desi’s personal favorite parenting guru (spoiler: it's Dr. Becky). Desi opens up about auditioning for The Daily Show while four months pregnant and the support she received from the show’s female leadership. She shares what it's like juggling her son's passion for NBA jerseys, Pokemon trades gone shady at after-school care, and managing the “mental load” of parenting—even with a very involved husband. Plus: how her Southern Republican parents record every Daily Show appearance, and why her son yelling “Big Daddy!” at school was a much bigger problem than any F-bomb. Also: yes, she’d rather her son be a boxer than an NRA exec—as long as she gets to Vaseline his face before the fight. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Nantucket, MA, Aruba, Calgary, Alberta, Canmore, Alberta, Saratoga Springs, NY! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Desi Lydic: https://www.instagram.com/desilydic/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg is joined again by Tracey Tee—comedian turned founder of Moms on Mushrooms (M.O.M.)—to talk about how microdosing psilocybin became the unexpected tool that helped her feel more present, emotionally resilient, and aligned as a parent. Tracey explains how her past work creating The Pump and Dump Show laid the groundwork for building a mushroom-centered community for moms looking for healing, connection, and alternatives to antidepressants. They discuss the myths around microdosing, the stigma of moms on psychedelics, and why Tracey compares it to a cup of coffee rather than a drug-induced haze. She breaks down how most moms in her community aren’t looking to get high—they’re looking to feel something again after years of numbing out on SSRIs, exhaustion, and societal expectations. Tracey also explains why mushrooms, unlike wine or wellness trends, actually ask moms to show up for their own healing with intention. The episode ends with Tracey reflecting on the exact moment she knew the mushrooms were working: when she stopped parenting for appearances and started listening to what her daughter actually needed. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Aruba, Calgary, AB, Bucks Country, PA, Nantucket, MA! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Tracey Tee / Moms on Mushrooms : https://www.instagram.com/momsonmushroomsofficial/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Tracey Tee, co-creator of the hit touring show The Pump and Dump, returns with a whole new mission: helping moms heal with mushrooms. In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, she opens up to Ophira Eisenberg about how her decade-long comedy career and business collapsed overnight during the pandemic, leaving her physically and emotionally unmoored. She shares the long and grueling road she traveled through infertility, stage 4 endometriosis, surgical menopause at 41, and the grief of saying goodbye to her uterus before she ever really got to celebrate becoming a mother. It was only after a traumatic car accident with her daughter that Tracey began to recognize how much plant medicine—specifically microdosing psilocybin—had changed the way she processed stress, anxiety, and fear. The two talk about how the cultural stigma around psychedelics is shifting, especially for mothers who are desperate for support but drowning in shame and exhaustion. Tracey walks us through the wild, unexpected origin of her now-thriving community M.O.M. (Moms on Mushrooms), how a shaman helped her daughter heal faster than traditional therapy, and why she believes we’re just beginning to scratch the surface of what mushrooms can do for mothers' mental health. Plus, Tracey reveals the exact moment she knew the mushrooms were working: when she found herself sincerely apologizing to a tree. 📍 July Shows are in NYC, Aruba, Calgary, AB, Bucks Country, PA, Nantucket, MA! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Tracey Tee / Moms on Mushrooms : https://www.instagram.com/momsonmushroomsofficial/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special snack episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg reconnects with comedian Liz Glazer to celebrate the release of Liz’s new stand-up special Do You Know Who I’m Not?—a follow-up to her acclaimed debut tackling the heartbreak of stillbirth. Liz shares what it’s like raising a two-year-old, obsessively documenting milestones like her daughter renaming bottles “babush,” and navigating the guilt and chaos of being a working comic mom. They unpack the newborn stage's anxiety—highlighting the absurd pressure of tummy time—and how Liz handles the grind of travel, not for adventure but to maximize earnings. The conversation touches on Liz’s recent Tonight Show debut, the surreal behind-the-scenes moments (like spotting a donut yeti), and how she structured her set to reflect the awe of arriving at that moment in her career. Liz also reveals her love of public transportation, her obsession with capturing everything on camera, and the mental load of keeping every photo and video safe. The episode wraps with Liz sharing the thrill of having a brand-new joke hit right after taping The Tonight Show, calling it the comic’s equivalent of discovering buried treasure. Liz compares the high of finding a working new bit after filming The Tonight Show to discovering the perfect pill—a boost so real, it rivals the euphoria of a new baby. 📍 June Shows are in NYC, Boulder, CO, Sag Harbor, Long Island, Nantucket, MA!Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Liz Glazer: https://www.instagram.com/lizglazer Watch Liz’s new special: https://www.youtube.com/user/lizglazer See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, comedian and brand-new mom Vicky Kuperman joins Ophira Eisenberg just five weeks after giving birth—and no, she didn’t know she wanted kids until recently either. Vicky opens up about pivoting from a life focused solely on comedy to embracing IVF, sharing how her fourth and final covered cycle resulted in her daughter. She reveals she once had a miscarriage during a screening of the Barbie movie (yes, she jokes about it), and reflects on the double standards women face in comedy when tackling darker material. The two comedians swap birth stories—Ophira’s dramatic labor room moment vs. Vicky’s swift C-section where the team was chatting about Sex and the City as her daughter arrived. They also dissect the politics of pregnancy shame, how little anyone warns you about post-op edema, and why a Chanel gift bag might be the Upper East Side’s version of a baby bonus. You get to hear what’s inside that legendary Chanel postpartum bag! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg catches up with comedian and dad Mike Cannon, who's juggling life with a kindergartener and a new baby. Mike talks honestly about how parenting the second time around comes with fewer toys, more perspective, and the realization that kids’ interests change faster than you can declutter. He recounts the chaotic beauty of raising a son who alphabetizes his dinosaurs, breaks toys within minutes, and treasures a lion stuffy so much that it once sparked a Medieval Times rescue mission. Mike shares the emotional toll of not finding a therapist and how cold plunging—yes, in a backyard ice tank—unexpectedly became his mental health lifeline. The episode also covers the perks and pitfalls of moving back to your hometown, coordinating dual creative careers with his floral-designer wife, and why yelling is off-limits in their household. Even without a therapist, Mike has figured out how to use cold water, deep breathing, and a sense of humor to stay present in the chaos of raising two small kids. 📍 June Shows are in NYC, Boulder, CO, Sag Harbor, Long Island, Nantucket, MA! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Mike Cannon : https://www.instagram.com/iammikecannon/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg welcomes comedian Mike Cannon for a Father’s Day–timed conversation packed with raw insight, humor, and real talk about parenting sensitive kids while holding onto your sanity and creative drive. Mike opens up about life with a kindergartner and a seven-month-old, reflecting on how jujitsu helped his son build emotional resilience—and how parenting has forced him to confront his own childhood trauma, OCD, and anger. The two comedians swap stories about navigating vulnerability, shifting identities post-kids, and finding joy (and a little stability) in edibles. Mike also unpacks the internal war he feels before going on stage and how childhood fears shape his on-stage energy. They cover everything from microdosing trends among parents to the strange poetry of seeing your father’s face in your baby’s crying eyes. He shares how a Don't Tell Comedy set pushed him to reshape his material for younger audiences, while still anchoring it in authentic parenting truths. Plus, he and Ophira bond over their shared frustration with schools punishing behavior by taking away recess—arguably the one thing kids need most. 📍 June Shows are in NYC, Boulder, CO, Sag Harbor, Long Island, Nantucket, MA!Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Mike Cannon : https://www.instagram.com/iammikecannon/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this quick-hit snack episode, Parenting is a Joke host Ophira Eisenberg reconnects with Deborah Goldstein, creator and host of the kids’ podcast The Big Fib, for a sharp and funny follow-up conversation about parenting, lying, and letting go. Deborah shares her experience raising two sons through the awkward "dumb liar" phase—like when one claimed he “found” a cow magnet stuck to a stranger’s car—and reflects on how surprisingly uptight her kids turned out despite her own rebellious youth. She and Ophira bond over the absurdity of structured parenting philosophies and the pressure to sign kids up for every activity, only to wonder if they’re overdoing it. They talk about screen addiction, anime, Dungeons & Dragons-style games, and the quest to let kids “find their thing”—even if it’s not what you had in mind. Deborah admits to being a rigid parent who now wishes her kids swore more, while Ophira jokes about dragging her child back to a birthday party to return stolen plastic gems. The episode wraps with a message many parents need to hear: loosen your grip, have faith, and remember—they probably won’t remember any of this anyway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg welcomes Deborah Goldstein, co-host of the hit kids' podcast The Big Fib and producer of the nationwide storytelling series Listen to Your Mother. Deborah shares what it’s like raising two "man children" with her wife in a North Jersey suburb full of fellow Brooklyn expats, where being a cis, lesbian, monogamous couple is almost boring by local standards. The conversation spans everything from the surprising struggles of parenting highly responsible college kids (who could maybe stand to experiment a little) to the challenges of growing up with parents who withheld unconditional love. Deborah recounts her and her wife’s multi-continent, multi-wedding path to parenthood—including importing donor sperm from the U.S. to London when local clinics weren’t quite up to speed on queer family building. She and Ophira also unpack tracking your kids by phone, the shocking lack of time college students actually spend in class, and how kids on The Big Fib often have a better radar for truth than many adults. This episode is equal parts hilarious parenting chaos and refreshing perspective on raising kids in a rapidly changing world. 📍 June Shows are in NYC, Boulder, CO, Sag Harbor, Long Island, Nantucket, MA!Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Deborah Goldstein: https://www.instagram.com/deborahy2k/ Listen to The Big Fib: https://gzmshows.com/shows/listing/the-big-fib/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode of Parenting Is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg chats with comedy writer Rob Kutner about parenting teens, creative careers, and why his daughter called him and his wife “hippies.” Rob opens up about raising a 16-year-old navigating academic pressure, social anxiety, and her first heartbreak—with plenty of Gilmore Girls marathons to get through it. He shares how his 12-year-old son, who’s gearing up for his bar mitzvah, is increasingly independent (and stubborn about button-down shirts), giving Rob more time to write everything from graphic novels (Snot Goblins) to animated series (God's Gang). The two discuss how their creative careers make them the oddballs in their communities, what it’s like to be the “cringey” parent during your kid’s first relationship, and the reality of working from home while your tween wants to be left alone with Legos and ramen. Also, find out why Rob’s daughter roasted her parents’ outfits as “coastal grandmother chic.” Thank you to Lumen for sponsoring this episode! Head to http://lumen.me/JOKE for 15% off your purchase. 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Rob Kutner :https://www.instagram.com/robkutner/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting Is a Joke, comedian and late-night writer Rob Kutner (The Daily Show, Conan, The Tonight Show) joins Ophira Eisenberg to talk parenting while producing comedy—and building epic Lego cities. Rob shares how his son’s rediscovered passion for Lego led to an IKEA-based organizing hack courtesy of his wife, complete with color-coded bins and DIY design books. He reflects on raising a sophisticated 12-year-old boy with a penchant for Frank Sinatra and Pokemon, and preparing for his upcoming bar mitzvah. Rob also opens up about balancing parenting with his writing career, including the unexpected silver lining of unemployment after the Tonight Show implosion—precious bonding time with his daughter. He and Ophira compare their anthropological backgrounds, unpack how Lego obsession evolves with age, and discuss the not-so-glamorous realities of parenting in New York. Rob also talks about his new book The Jews: 5,000 Years and Counting, offering surprising stories from Jewish history—including a Jewish sorceress in Yemen and an Ethiopian Jewish state—and pushes back on tired stereotypes about wealth and power. This episode is rich with hilarious parenting truths, obscure historical gems, and very sharp Donatello action figure fists. Thank you to Lumen for sponsoring this episode! Head to http://lumen.me/JOKE for 15% off your purchase. 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Rob Kutner :https://www.instagram.com/robkutner/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode, Denver comic Janae Burris returns to talk to Ophira about parenting logistics, chaos management, and the sticker shock of daycare in Colorado. She opens up about choosing to keep her toddler home with her—despite everyone around her insisting she needs a break—and how that decision slowly unraveled once the “fast and sticky” two-year-old phase kicked in. Janae shares the sticker price of a Montessori tour that nearly sent her packing, the unexpected benefits (and side-eye) of sending her son to visit family in California, and how her toddler came back from Grandma’s with new clothes, sign language skills, and potty training in progress. The conversation also touches on career balance, her dream of raising a nomadic child via arts grants and library visits, and the bittersweet reality of watching your kid absorb—and mimic—your every gesture, even your sass. Plus, Janae imagines how her son would roast her on stage, and it's all too real. Thank you to Lumen for sponsoring this episode! Head to http://lumen.me/JOKE for 15% off your purchase. 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Janae Burris :https://www.instagram.com/negativenegro/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, comedian and Denver arts staple Janae Burris joins Ophira Eisenberg to talk about becoming a mom at 41 after thinking parenthood had passed her by. She recounts the surreal moment she realized she was pregnant—just after performing at a comedy show—and how fear and humor carried her through a high-risk pregnancy. Janae reflects on her path from dropping out of high school to earning an avant-garde theater degree and eventually finding a creative home in Denver, where she juggles stand-up, plays, and teaching. She opens up about shifting professional priorities, bringing her toddler (and sometimes guacamole-stained pants) on the road, and why she now sees moms in the audience as the most electric crowd she could ask for. With honest laughs about crib fails, mom guilt, and the awkwardness of post-show hangs, Janae paints a vivid picture of what parenting and performing really look like when your setlist includes bedtime and baby gear. She also shares how her comedy special MomBod became a time capsule of her pregnancy fears, filmed while she was visibly pregnant and quietly panicking about whether her baby would make it to term. Thank you to Lumen for sponsoring this episode! Head to http://lumen.me/JOKE for 15% off your purchase. 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Janae Burris :https://www.instagram.com/negativenegro/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Parenting is a Joke Snack Episode, singer-songwriter Amy Millan shares hilarious and heartfelt stories about parenting a 14-year-old aspiring musical theater star and an 8-year-old who’s always one snack away from bedtime stalling. Amy reveals that her daughter's only use for a smartphone is belting out songs for hours, but that didn’t stop the teen from hitting her with a brutal “You didn’t live your dreams” when Amy suggested she write and direct. Amy opens up about her own creative childhood, including the ballet teacher who told her she “walked like an elephant,” and the Portuguese nanny named Rita who helped raise her after her father died when she was five—a loss that inspired her new album I Went to Find You. She and host Ophira Eisenberg swap stories about parenting through hormones, resisting Uber Eats requests, and why ordering from local bookstores is a moral mission, even if it means telling your kid their book is coming by “horse and carriage.” Thank you to Lumen for sponsoring this episode! Head to ⁠http://lumen.me/JOKE⁠ for 15% off your purchase. 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at ⁠https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com⁠ Follow Amy Millan :https://www.instagram.com/amymillanforreal/ See Ophira LIVE:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/⁠ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing:⁠ https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up⁠ Follow PIAJ: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/⁠ ⁠https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/⁠ Follow Ophira: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/⁠ ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit⁠ megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, singer-songwriter Amy Millan of Stars and Broken Social Scene opens up about the wild logistics of parenting on the road, from breastfeeding backstage to taking her toddlers on European tour buses. Amy shares what it was like to return to the stage just 12 weeks postpartum, how a Canadian grant system once forced her to pretend her childcare provider was a photographer, and the creative lengths she’s gone to—like winning $150 at a casino—to get her daughter a clean bath. Amy reveals how she once had to pretend her childcare provider was part of the crew just to qualify for a tour grant—and how that policy has finally changed. She also shares how her second child was basically brought into the world by her friend Rima’s legendary carrot cake and martinis. Host Ophira Eisenberg and Amy compare late-in-life motherhood, traveling with gear and children through three climate zones, and raising kids who casually refer to their sibling as "Sister." The conversation also touches on fertility struggles, career sacrifices, and the everyday surrealism of going from soundcheck to bath time. Amy's new solo album I Went to Find You marks her first in over a decade, and she explains exactly why that gap makes perfect sense. Thank you to Lumen for sponsoring this episode! Head to http://lumen.me/JOKE for 15% off your purchase. 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Amy Millan :https://www.instagram.com/amymillanforreal/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode, Tara Clark of Modern Mom Probs returns to chat with Ophira Eisenberg about saying no (or more often, yes) to their kids, why the tween years might actually be the sweet spot of parenting, and how a learner-led school changed everything for her 12-year-old son. Tara opens up about resisting the urge to fast-forward conversations with her son—even when he's explaining every last Marvel Rivals stat—and the pressure moms feel to be constantly engaged. They also revisit the rise and fall of the "wine-in-a-sippy-cup" era of mom culture (good riddance), discuss whether microdosing is a modern coping mechanism or just another trend, and laugh about being labeled “boring” for not partying like it’s 2010. Most importantly, Tara speaks to the loneliness so many moms feel and how the lack of in-person community and constant comparison on social media makes things worse. Her advice? Put on pants, leave the house, and find your people—even if it starts with guac and iced coffee. Thank you to Lumen for sponsoring this episode! Head to http://lumen.me/JOKE for 15% off your purchase. 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Tara Clark:https://www.instagram.com/modernmomprobs/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instag ram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg sits down with parenting content creator, meme queen, and Modern Mom Probs founder Tara Clark for a dynamic, deeply relatable conversation about the evolution of modern motherhood. From Tara’s early days running Nickelodeon’s social media and literally being the voice of Dora the Explorer on Facebook, to launching a meme empire built on honest parenting humor, this episode traces the hilarious and frustrating truths of parenting in the digital age. Tara shares why she left NYC for the suburbs, how her son's preschool closure reshaped their lives, and how her viral quote about the shift from “mama” to “bro” got endlessly merchandised—without credit. They also unpack why sleep training ignites online firestorms, how humor in mom content has shifted from wine memes to mental health, and why the algorithm can’t handle jokes about moms doing cocaine (yes, really). Plus, Tara opens up about infertility, her only-child household dynamic, and how pelvic health, social media rules for kids, and late diagnosis conversations are reshaping what moms actually talk about today. Thank you to Lumen for sponsoring this episode! Head to http://lumen.me/JOKE for 15% off your purchase. 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Tara Clark:https://www.instagram.com/modernmomprobs/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instag ram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this heartfelt and funny episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg sits down with legendary stand-up comedian Jake Johannsen, whose record 45 appearances on Letterman only scratch the surface of his storytelling chops. Jake opens up about raising his daughter while balancing a touring career, how the pandemic and his wife's multiple myeloma diagnosis reshaped their family dynamic, and the surprising parenting wisdom he picked up from decades of dealing with hecklers. He shares raw moments about sleeping in a camper during his wife's treatment, the emotional challenges his daughter faced, and how humor became their lifeline. Jake also reflects on his Midwestern upbringing, his teenage daughter’s bold independence (including sending him packing on move-in day at Trinity College Dublin), and why a Flowbee haircut is still his signature style. Packed with real stories, laughter, and lessons in resilience, this episode is a masterclass in showing up for your family—even when life turns upside down. 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded live from PodJam in Henderson, Nevada, this special episode of Parenting is a Joke features Ophira Eisenberg hosting a lively panel of working moms—Desiree Goble, Rachel Spitz, Kim Nyborg, and Ty Vosslership—who bring real-world parenting tales from all corners of the U.S. They swap stories about managing chaotic departures to attend PodJam, mean girl drama in middle school, sleep training regrets, the challenges of potty training a stubborn toddler, and even the emotional rollercoaster of raising kids with anxiety and OCD. The panelists share how they talk to their children about current events, including one standout conversation about teaching kids to assess politics by asking, "Does it help or hurt?" Plus, Ophira gets surprised by a guest appearance from Dr. Aaron Carroll, who reassures parents about delayed potty training and puts breastfeeding pressure into perspective. From freezer-stashed breastmilk jewelry plans to a hilarious “balance of the fucks” parenting philosophy, this episode is a relatable snapshot of modern parenting's daily victories and absurdities. Special thanks to Pete Dominick for making it all happen! 📍 May Shows are in NYC, Iowa, Halifax Comedy Festival, NJ, and Seattle! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow and Listen to Stand Up with Pete! :https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stand-up-with-pete-dominick/id1485475085 See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special return episode, David Cross and Amber Tamblyn join Ophira Eisenberg for a lively conversation about their creative household, balancing big careers with raising their daughter, and the unexpected side effects of school lunch anxiety. David talks about his hands-on parenting style and the limits of “gentle parenting” when a 4-year-old starts giving ultimatums, while Amber shares the surreal moment of explaining her teenage friendship with Hillary Clinton to their daughter. They open up about their collaborative dynamic, what it's like having a kid with two artists as parents, and the occasional need to pretend a granola bar is a “treat.” With plenty of laughs and thoughtful observations, this episode offers a rare peek into the rhythms of family life with two powerhouse creatives. 📍 April Shows are in NYC, OH, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow David Cross: https://www.instagram.com/davidcrossofficial/ Follow Amber Tamblyn: https://www.instagram.com/amberrosetamblyn/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded live in Austin at the Moontower Comedy Festival, this episode features married comics and new parents Andy Haynes and Rosebud Baker getting real about parenting with a comic’s sensibility. They talk about welcoming their daughter into the world just five months ago and how that's affected everything from their marriage to their material. Rosebud shares the moment she realized her baby might have her same savage comedic instincts, and Andy recounts accidentally performing for a crowd full of toddlers. The two reflect on balancing their careers with early parenthood, finding humor in sleepless nights, and why their baby’s first word might be a well-timed curse. From festival stage mishaps to bedtime routines, this conversation captures the chaos and comedy of parenting as performers. 📍 April Shows are in NYC, OH, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Rosebud Baker: https://www.instagram.com/rosebudbaker Follow Andy Haynes: https://www.instagram.com/imandyhaynes See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedians Erin Judge and Jenny Chalikian join the show to talk about the unexpected lessons of parenting, from the comedy gold in toddler tantrums to the bizarrely specific fears kids develop (spoiler: escalators are a menace). Erin shares the surreal experience of their child explaining emotions with unsettling accuracy, while Jenny recounts a grocery store meltdown that ended in a surprise life lesson. They also discuss the struggle of balancing comedy careers with the chaos of raising kids and the weirdest places they've ever had to take a work call. Plus, a debate on the proper punishment for stepping on a LEGO—because some offenses deserve more than just an "oops." ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 April Shows are in NYC, OH, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Erin Judge: https://www.instagram.com/iamerinjudge/ Follow Jenny Chalikian: https://www.instagram.com/jchalikian/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedians Erin Judge and Jenny Chalikian join the conversation to share the realities of balancing comedy and parenting. Erin recounts a surreal moment of performing stand-up while baby-wearing, proving that the show really must go on—even with a newborn attached. Jenny talks about the unexpected ways her toddler has influenced her comedic timing, from interrupting punchlines to unknowingly delivering some of the best material. They swap stories about the absurdity of school drop-off politics, including Erin’s realization that preschool cliques aren’t just for kids when she was unintentionally excluded from the “cool parent” group. Jenny also shares how her son’s obsession with repeatedly acting out the same scene from Frozen has made her rethink the mechanics of joke repetition—it turns out, toddlers and comedians both love a good callback. Plus, a discussion on whether parenting truly makes comedians funnier or just more exhausted. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 April Shows are in NYC, OH, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Erin Judge: https://www.instagram.com/iamerinjudge/ Follow Jenny Chalikian: https://www.instagram.com/jchalikian/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Comedian and writer Robby Slowik joins the show to talk about balancing stand-up with parenting, as he and his wife, comedian Casey Balsham, prepare for baby number two. Robby shares how he went from being ambivalent about having kids to navigating the chaos of IVF, all while working unpredictable gigs and writing for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He recalls the moment a fertility doctor ruthlessly critiqued his sperm under a microscope and how their first IVF attempt involved "an amount of drugs that would kill most barn animals." He and Ophira bond over the unique struggles of raising kids in a creative profession, from juggling late-night sets to traveling internationally with a toddler—like the time they performed in Bologna while sharing a backstage with a burlesque dancer mid-costume change. Robby also recounts his unusual childhood of constant relocation—South Africa, Israel, England, the Cayman Islands, and Florida—thanks to his nomadic, gambling-addicted, orthopedic surgeon father. Plus, hear why he refuses to sit down in an IVF clinic sample room and why his family might just pack up and move to London. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 April Shows are in NYC, OH, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Robby Slowik : https://www.instagram.com/robbyslowik/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Parenting is a Joke snack episode, comedian and podcaster Casey Balsham returns to talk about expecting baby number two and the major parenting shifts she’s making this time around. She shares why she’s skipping breastfeeding after 14 months of postpartum rage, how her toddler still treats her chest like a pacifier, and why people keep assuming this pregnancy happened “naturally” despite another round of IVF. Casey and Ophira swap notes on the challenges of playing with toddlers, the struggle to keep toys organized, and the frustration of unsolicited parenting advice. Plus, they discuss co-sleeping chaos, the mental gymnastics of screen time guilt, and the absurdity of parents who put designer clothes on their kids. Casey also teases her upcoming Broadway-themed podcast, It’s Broadway, Bitch. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 April Shows are in NYC, OH, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Casey Balsham: https://www.instagram.com/casefaceb/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Casey Balsham joins Parenting is a Joke to talk about balancing stand-up, parenting, and a pregnancy that’s been anything but easy. She shares her IVF experience, including the financial and emotional rollercoaster of spending nearly $100,000 to grow her family. Casey also reveals how she found out she was pregnant while performing her one-woman show about infertility at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She and Ophira discuss performing as moms, the struggle of finding childcare while chasing comedy gigs, and why she and her comic husband are bringing their toddler along for international shows. Casey opens up about the exhaustion of back-to-back pregnancies, the toll of constant nausea, and the surreal experience of getting an anatomy scan while barely able to function. Plus, she shares her take on why IVF is such a gamble, how switching doctors changed everything, and why her new podcast, It’s Broadway, Bitch, is the only thing worth losing sleep over these days. Don’t miss this episode full of sharp observations, real talk about IVF, and the unexpected perks of a hotel stay without a toddler. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 April Shows are in NYC, OH, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Casey Balsham: https://www.instagram.com/casefaceb/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Actor, director, and food enthusiast Laura Prepon joins Parenting is a Joke to talk about parenting, directing That ‘90s Show, and her deep-seated hatred of tuna fish—thanks to some childhood trauma involving her sister and a classmate’s braces. She shares her love for homemade soups, her kids’ aversion to marinara sauce, and why a solo parenting weekend is way tougher than an 18-hour day on set. Plus, Laura reveals her past as a hardcore poker player, including playing in the World Series of Poker and hosting high-stakes home games. A fun, fast-paced conversation packed with unexpected stories, parenting struggles, and plenty of laughs. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 March Shows are in NYC, CT, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Laura Prepon: https://www.instagram.com/lauraprepon/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian and photographer Christa Meola joins this snack-sized episode to share how a New York City leasing agent played matchmaker, setting her up with fellow comic Costaki Economopoulos, whom she later married—and then divorced. She talks about the unexpected perks of single parenting, how co-parenting shifts the mental load, and why her daughter’s obsession with her magician boyfriend is making her nervous. Christa also opens up about their post-divorce comedy tour, The Divorce Show, and how the audience Q&A proved some people completely missed the point. Plus, she and Ophira swap war stories about parenting through endless kid illnesses, enrolling kids in too many activities, and dealing with child-free friends who just don’t get it. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 March Shows are in NYC, CT, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Christa Meola: https://www.instagram.com/christameola/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting coach May Flam joins the show to discuss the realities of burnout, division of labor at home, and how couples can stop keeping score. May shares her personal experience growing up in a home daycare, how that shaped her approach to parenting, and why she and her husband strategically divide household responsibilities—including his unexpected role as the family event planner. She explains the invisible workload many women carry, why "letting things go" isn’t the solution, and how the Fair Play system can help create a more balanced household. The conversation dives into common parenting struggles, from dealing with the never-ending dinner dilemma to handling a partner who just doesn’t see the mess. Plus, May introduces the ultimate relationship hack: giving your spouse the light when they’ve gone on one tangent too many. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 March Shows are in NYC, CT, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow May Flam: https://www.instagram.com/mayflam May Flam is offering a free coaching session on April 21 workshop: Sign up here: https://mayflam.lpages.co/followthrough/ It'll be on April 21, 8-9 PM EST, on Zoom. See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian, actress, and world-renowned photographer Christa Meola joins the podcast to talk about the chaos and comedy of co-parenting with another stand-up comic. She shares how she balances late-night sets with raising her six-year-old daughter, Zoe, while running her own photography business. Christa dives into her unexpected journey to motherhood, from being on the fence about having kids to navigating fertility struggles and finally embracing parenthood. She and Ophira swap stories about the challenges of family photography—whether behind or in front of the camera—and the pressures moms face to capture the "perfect" family moment. Plus, Christa reveals her daughter's unexpected six-year-old relationship drama, why she had a formal "Ta-Ta to the Ta-Tas" ceremony, and the real reason she refuses to lie about Santa. Don’t miss this candid, funny, and unfiltered look at life as a comic, a mom, and an artist. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 March Shows are in NYC, CT, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Christa Meola: https://www.instagram.com/christameola/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Parenting is a Joke snack episode, comedian Ester Steinberg returns for more unfiltered takes on parenting, beauty standards, and raising kids in Las Vegas. She talks about her struggle with her son's obsession with toy weapons, the debate over giving kids Nerf guns, and the pressure of raising self-sufficient boys. Ester also shares her blunt parenting philosophy—teaching her kids that life is not fair—and why she forces them to try stand-up comedy as a form of reverse psychology. The conversation takes a deep dive into plastic surgery culture, self-image struggles, and how moms teach their kids confidence while battling their own insecurities. Plus, they discuss the logistics of being married to a fellow comedian, the drama of coordinating childcare, and why Ester might be done taking gigs at the same time as her husband. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 March Shows are in NYC, CT, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Ester Steinberg: https://www.instagram.com/ester.steinberg/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, comedian and mom Ester Steinberg joins the show to talk about parenting two young kids, living in Las Vegas, and the unexpected twists of motherhood. She hilariously recounts discovering she was pregnant on her honeymoon, doing stand-up while miscarrying in Dallas, and accidentally taking mushrooms—twice—while unknowingly pregnant. The conversation dives into postpartum struggles, C-section recoveries, and the absurdity of kids’ birthday parties (spoiler: she’s anti-goodie bags). Ester also shares what it's like raising a family in Vegas, far from the chaos of the Strip, and how the affordability drew her there. They swap stories about parenting fails, the reality of going back to work after having a baby, and why no one seems to care that moms are recovering from childbirth. Plus, Ester reveals the unexpected reason she once drank breast milk on a plane and why her wedding diet was immediately undone in Italy. It’s a wild, relatable, and laugh-out-loud look at modern motherhood, comedy, and survival. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 March Shows are in NYC, CT, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Ester Steinberg: https://www.instagram.com/ester.steinberg/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg sits down with comedian and YouTube creator Dave Neal to talk about balancing fatherhood with content creation, childhood influences, and the struggle of managing screen time for kids. Dave opens up about his mother’s journey as a single parent, how a family friend’s generosity shaped his identity, and what it was like gaining a stepfather at age 12. He also shares his personal battle with sugar addiction, the lessons he’s learned from his childhood, and how they inform his approach to parenting today. Ophira and Dave dig into the generational shift in parenting styles, from yelling households to communication-focused parenting, and debate whether modern kids are missing out on creativity due to constant screen stimulation. Dave also reveals how going viral after his baby was born added unexpected pressure, and why he believes boredom is the secret ingredient to raising imaginative kids. It’s an honest, funny, and thought-provoking look at raising kids in a world of endless distractions. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 March Shows are in NYC, CT, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Dave Neal: https://www.instagram.com/dnealz Subscribe to his Youtube: https://youtu.be/0vUxVb3InIo?feature=shared See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg sits down with comedian, YouTuber, and new dad Dave Neal to talk about the chaos of raising a newborn while managing a thriving comedy and podcasting career. Dave shares what it’s like producing The Rush Hour Podcast twice a day while navigating sleep deprivation, diaper blowouts, and his wife’s surprising decision to enter their baby in a beauty pageant—where he walked away as a state champion. The conversation delves into Dave’s unconventional childhood, growing up with a single mom who left his birth father while pregnant with him, and how a family intervention changed the course of their lives. Dave reflects on the challenges of relocating from LA to Nashville, the culture shock of suburban life, and the impact of moving away from a major comedy hub. He and Ophira also dive into the pressures of modern parenting, debating whether today’s kids are missing out on creativity due to constant screen time and discussing the generational shift from authoritarian to more communicative parenting styles. Plus, Dave reveals how the pandemic reshaped his career, his unexpected success on YouTube, and why comedians are like cockroaches—always finding a way to survive. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 March Shows are in NYC, CT, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Dave Neal: https://www.instagram.com/dnealz Subscribe to his Youtube: https://youtu.be/0vUxVb3InIo?feature=shared See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian and photographer Christa Meola joins this snack-sized episode to share how a New York City leasing agent played matchmaker, setting her up with fellow comic Costaki Economopoulos, whom she later married—and then divorced. She talks about the unexpected perks of single parenting, how co-parenting shifts the mental load, and why her daughter’s obsession with her magician boyfriend is making her nervous. Christa also opens up about their post-divorce comedy tour, The Divorce Show, and how the audience Q&A proved some people completely missed the point. Plus, she and Ophira swap war stories about parenting through endless kid illnesses, enrolling kids in too many activities, and dealing with child-free friends who just don’t get it. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 March Shows are in NYC, CT, and Las Vegas! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Christa Meola: https://www.instagram.com/christameola/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Parenting is a Joke snack-sized episode, Ophira Eisenberg shares a parenting moment that perfectly sums up the emotional unavailability of every guy she ever dated—courtesy of her son’s fart noises. Then, she sits down for a bite-sized chat with social media strategist Katie Love to discuss parenting in the digital age. Katie opens up about the decision to share (or not share) her children on social media, the unexpected backlash her daughter received after a viral Santa moment, and how she maintains boundaries in a career that never truly clocks out. Plus, Ophira and Katie commiserate over online trolls, how female comedians and content creators get picked apart for their appearance more than their work, and why moms seem to get judged for parenting decisions no matter what they do. It’s a quick but packed conversation about the intersection of parenthood, digital culture, and surviving the comment section. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 February Shows are in NYC! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Katie Love: https://www.instagram.com/katielovesocial See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg sits down with journalist-turned-entrepreneur Katie Love, founder of Love Social Media. Katie shares her journey from covering high-profile murder cases and presidential elections to building a successful social media agency that helps female founders stand out online. They dive into the challenges of balancing career ambitions with parenting, including Katie’s unique family dynamic—her husband is a stay-at-home dad. Together, they unpack societal expectations, gender biases, and people's surprising reactions to their roles, like the unsolicited praise Katie’s husband receives just for parenting or the judgmental comments she gets about “leaving” her family for work trips. They also discuss how motherhood alters everything—including what they can stomach on TV (Katie covered true crime for years but now avoids anything where a child is in danger). Plus, Katie shares how her social media expertise helped her navigate parenting in the digital age, from dealing with Instagram’s unrealistic portrayals of pregnancy to raising kids in an era where a middle school birthday party might feature a celebrity performance. Whether you’ve ever felt working-parent guilt, debated whether a second kid is worth it, or just wondered why airplane passengers act personally offended by the presence of babies, this episode has something for you. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 February Shows are in NYC! Details at https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com Follow Katie Love: https://www.instagram.com/katielovesocial See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg serves up a delightful snack-sized episode featuring comedians Arthur Meyer and Stephanie Drake, creators of the Onion-style parody series ABC Parenting. From hilariously misguided advice to TikTok confusion, the trio explores the quirks of modern parenting and comedy. Stephanie shares the chaos of brainstorming topics for ABC Parenting—like deciphering the alphabet soup of preschool levels—and Arthur reflects on their attempts to mix parody and sincerity in an online world that’s often too literal. They dive into old-school parenting methods like soap-mouth threats and spanking, hilariously contrasting them with today’s diagnosis-heavy culture. Ophira reminisces about her own odd childhood experiments (Charlie perfume, anyone?) and reflects on the lingering sensory memories they left behind. Meanwhile, Arthur and Stephanie share stories about audience reactions, TikTok trolls, and the joy of parodying intense parenting. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 February Tour Stops - all in NYC. Go to ophiraeisenberg.com for details Follow Arthur Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/arthurmeyer13 Follow Stepahine Drake: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniedrake1/ See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Parenting is a Joke episode, Ophira Eisenberg revisits a fan-favorite conversation with comedian and long-time Late Night with Seth Meyers writer, Matt Goldich. Together, they dive into the hilarious chaos of balancing comedy careers, parenting two kids with wildly different personalities, and navigating the everyday absurdities of family life. Matt shares practical parenting advice, like why traveling with a baby is easier than you'd think, how he handles bedtime battles, and why he embraces being a "B-minus parent." Ophira recounts a funny exchange with her son about intelligence across life stages and reveals the comedic perks of being a stand-up mom. From summer camps and gender roles to karaoke favorites and surviving New York City parenting, this episode is packed with relatable humor and genuine insights. Plus, hear about Ophira and Matt’s upcoming co-headlining gig at QED in Astoria, where they mine the endless comedy gold of parenting. ✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com. 📍 February Tour Stops all in NYC, go to my website for details! Follow Matt Goldich: https://www.instagram.com/mattgoldich See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-up Follow PIAJ: https://www.instagram.com/parentingisajoke/ https://parentingisajoke.substack.com/ Follow Ophira: https://www.instagram.com/ophirae/ https://www.facebook.com/OphiraEisenberg/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ophiranyc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices