Stuff Mom Never Told You

Do redheads have it worst? Listen in to learn more about history's original "dumb blonde" and how yellow hair took on its various meanings -- including how and why hair color colors our perceptions of people. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the scheduling convenience of C-sections outweigh the risks? Join Caroline and Cristen for a brief medical history of C-sections, as well as an exploration of doctors' concerns over the rising rates of the procedure. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Men comprise an estimated 20 percent of anorexics, but many are going untreated. To understand why, it's necessary to explore unraveling sexual orientation, internalized homonegativity and more. Tune in to learn why calling it "manorexia" is problematic. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the childhood psychology of stuffed animals and other "transitional objects"? Why do 35 percent of adults still sleep with stuffed animals? Tune in to learn more, including a brief history of the teddy bear and why the stuff possum never caught on. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is bacterial vaginosis a sexually transmitted infection? What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis, and what prevention methods are available? Join Cristen and Caroline for a quick course in bacterial vaginosis 101. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the nature of gender, masculinity and sexuality in boy band lyrics? What about race and ethnicity in (mostly white) boy bands? Join Cristen and Caroline for a brief history of boy bands, from The Beatles to 1 Direction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was the gendering of the typewriter? How did women take over secretarial work? Join Cristen and Caroline to learn about the history of secretarial work from ancient scribes to the steno pool, along with how to overcome negative secretary stereotypes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does teleworking solve the childcare issue? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the high cost of childcare for working parents & single moms, as well as how workplace childcare improves job satisfaction and business bottom lines. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not that there are no women coaching female basketball (consider the legendary Pat Summit and others), but Title IX has more male coaches. Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore homophobia, sexism and the glass wall that coaches often run into. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By age 5, people expect girls to be cleaner than boys. Around the house and at work, men are only slightly less clean than women. Listen in to learn more about the Hygiene Hypothesis, and how being cleaner might not be healthier for women. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has Stuff Mom Never Told You ever run into taboo topics? Would you like to know more about Caroline's Proust questionnaire? How has the show affected the co-host's romantic lives? Tune to learn more in the second part of this series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is crying in the workplace such a highly discussed topic for women? Scientifically speaking, prolactin and smaller tear ducts make women more prone to crying. Tune in to learn more, including strategies for managing emotions in the workplace. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is toxic shock syndrome, and what's the risk of contracting it? Why was 1980 the worst year for tampons? Listen in to learn all about toxic shock syndrome (including how to prevent it) in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has Stuff Mom Never Told You ever run into taboo topics? Would you like to know more about podcast regret or Caroline's Proust questionnaire? How has the show affected the co-host's romantic lives? Tune to learn the answers to these questions and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are school uniforms the magic bullet for improved learning environments? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore school dress codes, Title IX and the nature of gender identity within school dress code restrictions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will women in combat impact the military? Join Caroline and Cristen as they look at other countries that allow women in combat, outline a brief history of women soldiers and explore the combat exclusion policy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do advice columns dole out good advice? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore how Dear Abby and Ann Landers were rival twin sisters, well as examining Dan Savage and the rise of the sex columnist. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Athenian Mercury was history's first advice column, and since then advice columns have become a staple of modern publishing -- but how? And why are most advice columns written by women? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pole dancing originated in China and India, and took off in strip clubs in the 1980s in Canada. Should it be considered as an Olympic sport? Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore the rising popularity of strippercizing and pole dancing for fitness. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that the EU enforces its ban on animal-tested products in March 2013? Why did mascara kick off animal testing in the U.S.? Why are women more invested in animal rights, compared to men? Join Caroline and Cristen to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vaginoplasty, labiaplasty and vaginal rejuvenation are today's hottest new plastic surgeries. So what does a normal vagina look like? Tune in to learn more about why women get "The Barbie" and other vaginal cosmetic surgeries. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is there a lack of qualify film roles for black actresses? Listen in to learn more about Hattie McDaniel, the the first black actress to win an Oscar, as well as more about black women behind the camera directing, screenwriting and producing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is vocal fry and why is everyone talking about it? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore valley girls and uptalk, ultimately asking why younger women are the linguistic trendsetters. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do public displays of affection compare to etiquette-friendly social kissing? How is PDA an act of love - and defiance -- in the LGBT community? And, do you love it or hate it? Listen in to learn how onlookers respond to PDA. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did the medical community wrongfully exploit the Lacks family? Listen in to learn how John Hopkins Hospital got a hold of Henrietta Lacks' "immortal" HeLa cells, how these cells transformed modern medicine and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the etymology of "tomboy," and how has it evolved from meaning a whiskey-drinking man to a rough-and-tumble girl? Tune in to learn more about pop culture, tomboys, sissies and gender identity in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From ancient Greek stone-lifting to modern-day shake weights, fitness fads have been around for ages. What's the deal with gendered marketing and fitness fads? Listen in to learn why toning sneakers - and other fitness fad products - are completely bogus. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Cristen and Caroline dive into the history of British domestic service as well as race and domestic service in the United States. Tune in to learn more about immigration, exploitation and risky work for domestic service workers today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At what age should a woman first go to the gynecologist? Do women prefer female gynecologists? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explain the Stuff Mom Never Told You about OB-GYN visits. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are so many people drawn to cooking, crafts and lifestyles from a bygone era? How do Etsy, Pinterest and mommy blogs fuel new domesticity? Tune in as Cristen and Caroline interview with Emily Matchar on her book on the new domesticity movement Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When did people start exercising for their health? How were women were responsible for the rise of public gyms and health spas? Listen in to learn more about Jack Lalanne, the Cold War and the Modern Fitness Movement in the United States. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does this muscle-building hormone act in the body? What's the relationship between testosterone and masculinity? Does testosterone fuel aggression, or the other way around? Join Cristen and Caroline to learn more about this oft-misunderstood hormone. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people are familiar with the trope of the terrible, no good mother-in-law, and studies confirm often-strained mother-in-law relationships. So does this stereotype have evolutionary roots? Listen in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans have made New Year's resolutions for millennia - and had a terrible time sticking to them. So, great expectations aside, why do most resolutions fail? Listen in to learn more about science of willpower and how to stick with resolutions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is food porn unhealthy? Do foodies represent a cultural era of feast or famine? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the rise of the foodie and the culinary hipster. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have food morals replaced sexual morals? Do modern humans want pizza and chocolate more than sex? Surveys suggest yes. Listen in to learn more about how food and sex collide in the brain. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the deal with virginity auctions? Why is virginity associated with both sacredness and stigma, especially for women? Is virginity a valueless construct rather than an actual physical state? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tis the season for throwing away tons of food. Did you know that the federal government only mandates expiration dates on infant formula and baby food? What do the dates on food packaging really mean? Tune in to learn more about food waste. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do urinary tract infections happen? Why are cranberries the magical fruit cure for UTIs? Join Cristen and Caroline as they take a closer look at urinary tract infections, from what they are to how they work -- and why men can get UTIs, too. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the rhythm method and who developed it? Why is the rhythm method referred to as "Catholic roulette"? Are the rhythm method and other forms of natural birth control effective? Join Cristen and Caroline to learn the answers to these questions and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kjiersten Gruys went a year without looking in a mirror to readjust how she looks at her body. So how does losing weight for health compare to losing weight to meet beauty standards? Is intentional weight loss a feminist choice or feminist fail? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the "friendzone" and where did the term come from? How does getting in - and out - of the friendzone work? Can friendships survive the friendzone? (Studies say maybe.) Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are more men Internet trolls? Why is there so much misogyny and slut shaming in Internet trolling - and what can we do about it? Join Cristen, Caroline and TechStuff co-host Jonathan as they discuss the gender dynamics of online trolling. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When kids fly the coop, do parents come down with empty nest syndrome? It's no secret that kids leaving home often requires parents to renegotiate their relationships. Listen in to learn how moms and dads tend to deal with empty nests differently. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who came up with Pinterest and why? Why is Pinterest so popular among women? In this episode, Cristen and Caroline do more than answer these questions -- they also explore Manteresting, Gentlemint and other 'Pinterests for dudes.' Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks to sociocultural evolution, interracial marriage is increasingly common. Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore Loving v. Virginia, why worrying about children in these marriages is outdated (and likely rooted in racism) and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are hormones to blame for the obesity epidemic? Join Cristen and Caroline as they unravel the facts surrounding obesity, from genetic predispositions to the ways in which testosterone and estrogen can affect an individual's weight. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What did flappers have to do with the invention of the bobby pin? Where do all those bobby pins go when they disappear? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the history of hair pins, as well as theories of where all those lost bobby pins end up. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queen Bee Syndrome was coined in the 1970s to describe terrible lady bosses, yet recent research challenges the notion of Queen Bee Syndrome. Listen in to learn why women should help other women - and men -- in the workplace Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are 1.4 million child caregivers in the United States -- but what kinds of caregiving responsibilities do these kids shoulder? Listen in to learn why child caregivers are at a higher risk of asocial behavior, anxiety and depression. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.