Parenting is a Joke

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.comFollow 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-upFollow 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.comFollow 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-upFollow 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.comFollow 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-upFollow 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.comFollow 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-upFollow 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.comFollow 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-upFollow 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.comFollow May Flam: https://www.instagram.com/mayflamMay 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-upFollow 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.comFollow 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-upFollow 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.comFollow 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-upFollow 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.comFollow 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-upFollow 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/@ophiranycLearn 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.comFollow Dave Neal: https://www.instagram.com/dnealzSubscribe to his Youtube: https://youtu.be/0vUxVb3InIo?feature=sharedSee Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events SUBSCRIBE so you never miss O thing: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/sign-upFollow 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