Stuff Mom Never Told You

Lifeguards work at pools and coasts around the world, but where do they come from? In this episode, Caroline and Cristen dive into the world of lifeguards, from the history of lifeguarding to discrimination, the global impact of 'Baywatch' and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The manic pixie dream girl is certainly a memorable film trope, and numerous movies feature these characters. But where do they come from, and where are the manic pixie dream guys? Tune in as Caroline and Cristen explore manic pixies and film. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are Germans so fond of nude sunbathing? How did Heinrich Pudor become the father of nudism? Where are the world's best nude beaches? Listen in to learn more about nude beaches. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's true: The FDA has approved two new anti-obesity drugs. But when did the medical community begin treating obesity as a chronic disease? Listen in to learn more about obesity medication -- including why anti-obesity drugs like fenphen failed in the past. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is vajazzling, and why did women start gluing crystals on their bikini lines? Does vajazzling pose health risks? And what about the male equivalent -- pejazzling? Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore the unique body art known as vajazzling. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is gynecomastia? Believe it or not, man boobs are a normal part of male adolescent development. In this episode, Cristen and Caroline investigate man boob bullying and the psychological impact of gynecomastia. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" accurately portray gypsy/traveler culture? In this episode, Caroline and Cristen examine the not-so-simple history of gypsies, as well as the culture of gypsies in the United States. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Cristen and Caroline look at mothers across the employment spectrum, exploring how the 'Mommy Wars' pit working moms against non-working moms. Listen in to learn more about working moms -- and why part-time employed moms are the happiest. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where are the women in archaeology? What is the 'Indiana Jones effect'? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the lives of Agatha Christie and other notable women in archaeology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year, a few celebrities take a trip to the Betty Ford Clinic -- but who was Betty Ford? In this episode, Caroline and Cristen explore the mainstreaming of drug/alcohol rehab programs, as well as the odds of relapsing after rehab. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that female addiction tends to "telescope," intensifying more quickly than male addiction? Doctors are just now understanding sex differences in substance abuse and addiction behaviors. Listen in to learn more about estrogen and addiction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SlutWalks have drawn a lot of attention -- but what are they? What is the etymology of "slut," and should women reclaim it? Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore the history of SlutWalk activism, along with controversy surrounding the movement. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2012, U.S. parents will spend $1,087 to send their children to prom. It's a big business, but how did it get started? Caroline and Cristen recount the checkered past of the prom, including racial segregation, sexual discrimination and the ACLU. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does "the talk" make a difference in teen sexual behavior? Is it true that 40 percent of adolescents get "the talk" after they've already engaged in sexual intercourse? How should parents talk about sex with LGBT youth? Tune in for more with Cristen and Caroline. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Hanne Blank discusses her new book, "Straight: A Surprisingly Brief History of Heterosexuality." The term "heterosexual" was coined in 1868. Tune in to learn more about heterosexuality and the development of the American middle class. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Susan Cain's book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" has generated a surge of interest in introverts. But are introverts getting a fair shake? Join Caroline and Cristen as they take a closer look at introversion. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Caroline and Cristen look back on the history of U.S. public education and the Progressive Era. PTA began with the 1897 formation of the National Congress of Mothers. So what's the difference between the PTA and PTOs? Tune in to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nail polish sales have skyrocketed since 2011, and historically nail polish and colors denoted class from ancient China to Victorian England. Tune in to learn how Revlon turned modified auto paint into a billion-dollar beauty industry. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 16th, 1972, women were finally allowed to run in the Boston Marathon. (Amateur rules prohibited women from running until research proved that it wouldn't ruin their wombs.) Join Caroline and Cristen as they take a look at women and marathons. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that first impressions count for a lot, but how does the science of first impressions actually work? Listen in to learn more about how people judge first impressions -- and whether these judgments are accurate. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public restrooms are loaded with politics. Did you know that public restrooms were originally intended for men only? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the strange history of public restrooms, touching on potty parity laws, civil rights and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Amelia Earhart might be the world's most famous female aviator, she's certainly not the only one. In this episode, Cristen and Caroline take a closer look at the astonishing stories of female pilot pioneers, along with the impact of Amelia Earhart. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The origin of spring break dates back to a Colgate University swim coach, and Fort Lauderdale was the first spring break capitol. Tune in to learn more about spring break, along with the relationship between spring break and sexual health. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A typical U.S. couple will have an age gap of 2.3 years -- but this wasn't always the case. Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the average age gap, May-December relationships and the ultimate question: How large is too large of an age gap? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Cristen and Caroline examine the relationship birth control and perceptions of promiscuity. Learn more about how birth control historically affected the outlook on premarital sex, and what happens when the cost of birth control rises. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did yoga become popular in the U.S.? In this episode, Cristen and Caroline take a closer look at the health benefits and physical risks of practicing yoga. Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Kingdom has regulations against airbrushing in advertising, and the American Medical Association has an anti-airbrushing warning -- so how bad can airbrushing be? Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore the history of photo manipulation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cristen and Caroline talk to Melissa Petro, sex worker activist who retired from the New York City public school system after the media publicized her past work as a stripper and Craigslist sex worker. Petro talks to Stuff Mom Never Told You about how she's managed life since the scandal, the difference between consensual sex work and sex trafficking and why retiring from prostitution or escort work isn't as easy as people might think. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Studies have shown that the division of household labor is far from equal in most heterosexual domestic relationships -- but what about same-sex couples? Tune in as Cristen and Caroline explore the differences between labor division in these two groups. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do women make better peacemakers? Join Cristen and Caroline as they examine the influence women have played in the peacemaking process and gender differences in conflict resolution. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's world is full of billionaires -- and they're not all men. Join Cristen and Caroline as they look at the state of women's global wealth, ultimately asking: Will a woman ever become the richest person in the world? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Olympic women's wrestling started in 2004, and interest in the sport has grown since. Tune in as Caroline and Cristen look at the women of WWE wrestling, as well as the Cholitas, Bolivia's beloved women wrestlers, Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2012 Summer Olympics mark the official debut of women's boxing, and fans have been waiting anxiously. In this episode, Caroline and Cristen explore the history of women's boxing, along with gender dynamics at the gym and inside the ring. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many people have actually faked an orgasm? How have cultural perceptions of orgasms changed over time? Join Cristen and Caroline as they cut past the cultural baggage and get to the facts behind sex and orgasms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The launch of a new Lego line specifically for girls brings up the question of gender neutral toys. Should there be different toys for boys and girls? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As of 2009, there were about 423,773 children in foster care in the U.S. While some children may return to their original families, some are adopted and others simply age out of the system. Learn more about foster care with Cristen and Caroline. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Valentine's Day approaches, Cristen and Caroline take a closer look at floriography and the meaning of flowers. Where do Valentine's bouquets come from? What's it like for women working in the flower industry? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do doctors listen to female patients? Women often complain of doctors not taking symptoms seriously, and patient-doctor mistrust is nothing new. Tune in to learn more about this relationship, including how stress influences a female patient's diagnosis. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is vulvodynia? How many women suffer from vulvodynia? How do vulvodynia treatments work? Tune in to learn more in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are there gender differences in friendship patterns? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore famous bromances throughout history, as well as challenges to making man friends. Tune in to learn more about bromances. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Cristen and Caroline explore the etymology of the term "frenemy," the psychology of female friendships and women's evolutionary tendencies toward cultivating friendships. Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a 1-cent soft drink tax really save millions of lives? What are the health impacts of drinking soda? Are diet soft drinks better for you? Join Cristen and Caroline as they look at the relationship between soft drinks and health. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, men and women have different exercise motivations -- but which group exercises more? Join Caroline and Cristen as they look at gender and exercise, from why single men exercise more than anyone else to why men's exercise pays off more than women's. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Martha Stewart get her start? How did she lose -- and recover -- her reputation and wealth? Is Martha Stewart good for women? Tune in for the answers to these questions and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much weight do women gain during pregnancy? What exactly is pregnorexia? Is it true that men can gain pregnancy weight, too? Join Caroline and Cristen as they take a closer look at pregnancy and weight gain. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Cristen and Caroline interview Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl. Listen in to learn if men and women pay attention to grammar differently, and if it's acceptable to refer to women as girls. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are imaginary playthings friends or foes for child development? Psychologists have studied imaginary friends since the 1800s, and they've come to some fascinating conclusions. Tune in to learn more about imaginary friends. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether or not you're a fan of thongs, there's no denying that they attract attention. But where did these flimsy strings come from? Join Caroline and Cristen as they look into the origin of one of humanity's most controversial pieces of clothing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do people without siblings differ from the rest of the human race? Tune in as Caroline and Cristen look at the fiction -- and facts -- surrounding our stereotypes of only children. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What exactly is the psychopath test? Are there really gender differences in psychopathy? In this episode, Caroline and Cristen explore the process of diagnosing psychopaths -- and whether your gender affects your chances of passing the psychopath test. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.