This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil cover image

This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil

The Good Mother Myth with Nancy Reddy | 274

Jan 22, 2025
30:48

Parenting comes with a lot of expectations, but have you ever stopped to ask where they come from? On this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, we unpack the myth of “the good mother” with Nancy Reddy, author of The Good Mother Myth.

Nancy shares her personal experience of confronting the unrealistic ideal of motherhood: endlessly patient, always available, and completely selfless. She hilariously and heartbreakingly debunks these outdated ideals, rooted in flawed mid-20th-century research by figures like Harry Harlow and Dr. Spock.

Nancy explains how bad science from the past continues to haunt modern parenting, creating pressure, guilt, and shame for today’s mothers. But this conversation is about more than debunking myths—it’s about empowerment.

Because when you prioritize what matters and let go of perfectionism, you’re not just doing woman’s work—you’re modeling it.

Connect with Nancy:

Newsletter: https://nancyreddy.substack.com/ 

Book: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-good-mother-myth-9781250336644/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/nancy.o.reddy/ 

Essay: I Was Promised That The “Golden Hour” Would Make Me A Mom: 

https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/04/golden-hour-c-section-bonding-attachment-baby-friendly-hospitals.html

Related Podcast Episodes:

Share the Love:

If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!

🔗 Subscribe & Review:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode