Stuff Mom Never Told You

Julie Sygiel reinvented the period panty with her company Dear Kate. Cristen and Caroline chat with this startup STEM major-turned-underwear entrepreneur about everything everything from venture capital to feminist dads and how Dear Kate is hoping to disrupt the lingerie industry. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The history of women's underwear is probably shorter than you think. Cristen and Caroline unpack the evolution of pantaloons to panties and how what women wear under their clothes reveals a lot about the world outside of them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the Underground Comix Revolution happened in the 1960s, women still weren't welcome in comics circles, but it didn't stop them from making their art and telling their unique stories. In the second half of a two-part podcast, Cristen and Caroline trace the rise of women like Lynda Barry and Alison Bechdel in indie comics to the current clamor for more women in today's mainstream comic book industry. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1896, Truth magazine published the first comic strip drawn by a woman. In the first half of a two-part podcast, Cristen and Caroline trace the early history of women in comics from the origin of the newspaper comic strip to the Golden Age of Comic Books. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long before Beatlemania, 19th-century women threw themselves on stage to touch pianist Franz Liszt. Ever since, emotional teenyboppers have been misunderstood and ridiculed for their musical tastes. Cristen and Caroline spotlight the history of pop music fandom and why fangirls are considered the very worst kind of followers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most powerful women in the music industry, Taylor Swift has amassed a global legion of fans through her catchy songwriting, social media savvy and star-studded dating history. Cristen and Caroline take a look at the country-princess-turned-pop-powerhouse's incredible career and why her critics ignore her talent. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do big butts, revenge porn and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg all have in common? They were some of the most popular Stuff Mom Never Told You episodes of 2014 that got listeners talking. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of working moms work night shifts to reap its possible parenting benefits. Cristen and Caroline look into the intersections of motherhood and shift work, as well as health risks associated with working while the kids are sleeping. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angela Lansbury was 59 what she began starring in "Murder She Wrote" as Jessica Fletcher. Cristen and Caroline pick up their lady detective talk with JB Fletcher and why television has been friendlier to older women as crime solvers and how femininity is played on screen on Law and Order: SVU, Prime Suspect, Top of the Lake and other lady detective-driven shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women detectives have been a prime-time staple since the 1950s. In part one of their investigation into female crime solvers on TV, Cristen and Caroline trace the literary origin of this beloved character all the way to Cagney and Lacey's game-changing roles. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chess, one of history's oldest games, is considered a man's game -- but why? Cristen and Caroline examine how the queen piece revolutionized chess and subsequently kicked women players out of the sport. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are women likelier to join cults? Cristen and Caroline investigate how destructive cults like the Manson Family work and why women join them and then debunk stereotypes about women in cults. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cristen and Caroline chat with Belle & Sebastian member Sarah Martin about women in indie rock and what it's like being the only girl in the band. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are women getting plastic surgery to slim down their ankles? Cristen and Caroline explore how slender ankles became a feminine beauty standard and the etymology and science behind the dreaded cankles. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is egg freezing the most hotly discussed health benefit in Silicon Valley? Cristen and Caroline put the science and success rates of oocyte cryopreservation, or egg freezing, under the microscope to determine whether it really is the great workplace equalizer for women. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As many as 75 percent of women develop uterine fibroids, yet few are aware of this women's health issue. Cristen and Caroline break down what fibroids are, when they should be treated and why African-American women are at a higher risk of developing them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pocahontas myth has perpetuated the "Indian Princess" stereotype since the 17th century. Cristen and Caroline explore how this stereotype mangles the true history of Native American women and mythbust the Disney version of Pocahontas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where did basic bitches come from? Cristen and Caroline take an etymological journey through the history, gender politics and reclamation of women's most-used curse word. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Oxford English Dictionary declared "vape" its 2014 Word of the Year, and it's not just men getting into vaping culture these days. Cristen and Caroline puff on how the rapidly growing e-cigarette industry is selling women on vaping and how it compares to how Big Tobacco lit up female smokers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is the Ebola virus killing more women than men in West Africa? Cristen and Caroline chart the spread of the Ebola virus and the gender roles that put women more at risk for contracting Ebola virus and other pandemics. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nail polish that changes color in the presence of date rape drugs is just one of many products and apps being developed to prevent rape. Cristen and Caroline parse out the pros and cons this emerging cottage industry and whether it ultimately contributes to eradicating rape or perpetuating victim-blaming. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The verdict on female lawyers' proper courtroom attire is murky at best. Cristen and Caroline investigate why workplace wardrobe is particularly vexing for women attorneys and how that reflects on broader gender equity issues in legal professions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might seem like a preposterous question, but many researchers wonder how much of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is physical fact versus culturally constructed fiction. Cristen and Caroline chart the medical history of PMS and how moodiness most commonly associated with might not be a byproduct of menstruation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do our death rituals come from? Kate Sweeney, author of "American Afterlife: Encounters in the Customs of Mourning" talks to Cristen and Caroline about the role women have played in death and mourning from Victorian hair jewelry to modern-day memorial tattoo artists. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is gang membership among girls on the rise? Cristen and Caroline explore the history of girl gangs and what gang life means for young women past and present. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost as soon as The Golden Girls premiered in 1985, it became one of the most beloved shows on television. Cristen and Caroline discuss the show's history and incredible legacy as a sitcom that wasn't afraid to tackle important issues such as aging, sexual health and even gay marriage. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intimate partner violence, or domestic violence, accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime in the United States. Cristen and Caroline uncover the cycle of domestic violence and manipulation that keeps female and male victims from leaving their partners and the long-term health impacts of this epidemic of abuse. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent years, tattoos have become a common part of breast cancer recovery. Beginning with a brief refresher on the history of women and ink, Cristen and Caroline discuss the different ways tattoos are providing new and empowering choices for women who've undergone mastectomies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The clitoris has been one of the most misunderstood and maligned female features in medical history. Cristen and Caroline uncover the incredible geography of clitoral complex and why it took so long for doctors to figure it out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What exactly is a sociopath, and why are women with antisocial personality disorder so rare? Cristen and Caroline confront the clinical realities of sociopathy and why it's become pop culture's favorite character flaw. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stereotypes about Latinas' bodies and behaviors abound, and perhaps none are more pop culturally persistent than that of the "spicy" Latina. Cristen and Caroline, trace the history behind this on-screen trope that's endured from Carmen Miranda to Sofia Vergara. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do women care so much about their eyelashes? From science and ancient history to to a mascare inventor named Rimmel, Cristen and Caroline get deep about these not-so-superficial hairs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black hair contains an entire history of ethnic pride, discrimination and assimilation. Lori L. Tharp, author of "Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America," talks to Cristen about black hair from the tragic to the triumphant and why more black women today are celebrating the beauty of their natural hair. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do girls' relationships with their fathers influence who they grow up to become? Cristen and Caroline unpack the psychology of "daddy issues" and the unique dynamics of father-daughter bonding. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do boys' relationships with their mothers influence who they grow up to become? Cristen and Caroline unpack the psychology of "mama's boys" and the unique dynamics of mother-son bonding. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What "perfect" teeth look like depends on where in the world you are. In this episode, Cristen and Caroline shed light on the intersections between beauty, social status and teeth. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the "grandmother hypothesis," humans have grandmas, nanas and bubbies to thank for their longer lifespans. In this episode, Cristen and Caroline reveal the compelling science and evolution behind these important maternal figures. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is late night television resistant to women hosts and writers? Cristen and Caroline explore the past and present of late night TV to answer a question critics and viewers alike have been asking increasingly in recent years: where are the women? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since ancient times, women have been advised to cover up in order to protect their dignity. More recently, a so-called "modesty movement" has gotten underway, and Cristen and Caroline undress how the "modest is hottest" message ultimately strips agency from women and men alike. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As cosplay has become more popular outside of Japan in recent years, it has raised fascinating questions about gender, sexuality and authenticity in fandom and the fictional realms cosplay strives to mirror. Just in time for con season, Cristen and Caroline share how there's far more to cosplay than dressing up. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curly-haired women often feel like they're living in a flat-ironed, staight-haired world. Cristen and Caroline untangle the science of curly hair and get to the root of the cultural stereotypes regarding ringlets. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women are far likelier to suffer from insomnia than men, but why? Cristen and Caroline put the science to rest on the biological and psychological female factors that lead to sleepless nights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do women have larger buttocks than men, and why are they considered attractive? From Hottentot Venus to Instagram's Butt Selfie Queen, Cristen and Caroline get to the bottom of our longstanding cultural fascination with women's big butts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do middle children really get the short end of the familial stick? Cristen and Caroline explore the psychological history of middle children, the influence of birth order and the cultural biases against the in-between siblings. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Greek fraternities become a part of college life? Cristen and Caroline investigate the history of fraternities and how problems hazing, drinking and sexual assault threaten their future existence. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the scientific function of best friendship? Cristen and Caroline put besties and bromances under the microscope to discover the pros and cons of how these influential relationships shape our lives. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women who travel alone have long raised suspicious eyebrows for bucking convention in order to see the world. Cristen and Caroline take a trip from the 19th-century Golden Age of Travel to today to find out why women travel solo and whether their independent itineraries are really a safety risk. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The earliest seafaring women had to disguise themselves as men just to be allowed aboard ships. In this aquatic installment of their series on exploration, Cristen and Caroline chart the incredible adventures of women on the high seas past and present. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cristen and Caroline visit the Stuff Mom Never Told You listener mail bag to answer questions about asexual dating, modesty, the "hot convict" meme and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of all the places on the globe, Antarctica has been the hardest for women to reach, barred even from South Pole-bound ships. Cristen and Caroline bundle up for an adventure with the persistent women who fought their way to explore the icy continent. Antarctica-bound ships, women have had to fight their way to explore the icy continent. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.