

Under the Influence with Jo Piazza
Jo Piazza
Under the Influence is a deep dive into social media, a place haunted by aspirational marketing where it feels like every other person is a social media influencer trying to sell you something, all while posed in perfect houses that never seem to get messy. And behind this airbrushed perfection is money, so much money. Billions and billions of dollars. Journalist and mom Jo Piazza looks at how we got here, what it all means and how the commodification of every single aspect of our lives is driving everyone (but mostly women and mothers) a little insane.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 24, 2024 • 42min
Sunday Nice Things: The Family That Travels Together
Today we're dropping an episode of Committed in your feed.As a parent, how do you transcend the regular run of the mill parent/child relationship? How do you turn your bond into a real friendship? When Jessica's two kids were young, she pulled them out of traditional school, began homeschooling them and started traveling abroad. They left the U S a decade ago in search of a more authentic path. Since then they've lived in an RV in Europe for three years, learned to sail and crossed the Atlantic together as a family.This has been challenging and insane and also delightful and wonderful.Today we're talking to Jessica and Largo, her 17-year-old son, about how this lifestyle has strengthened their bond. This is the first in a two-part episode. In the first episode we dig into the foundation of their relationship and next week are getting into the mother-son duo's decision to hike the Appalachian trail together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 21, 2024 • 41min
Restoring Sanity in a Digital World
Mark Weinstein, a long-time tech executive and author of "Restoring Our Sanity Online," explores the perils of AI-driven social media addiction. He stresses the urgent need for parents to model healthy screen habits for their children to combat rising online dangers. Weinstein discusses the manipulative tactics of social media companies and calls for stronger legislative measures to protect young users. He also advocates for open discussions about technology's impact on mental health and emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in navigating the digital landscape.

Nov 19, 2024 • 45min
The Real Secret of Success—Be a Likable Badass
How can you get the status you need and deserve? What makes people WANT to work with you?As a professor of organizational behavior at University of North Carolina Alison Fragale, the author of Likeable Badass, is trying to help women figure out how to gain the status we deserve. It’s easy to feel powerless at work and at home. But there are strategies we can use to boost our status with coworkers, potential employers, audiences and even our own kids.We're also going to dive into negotiation techniques that work every time.Order Likable Badass here.Join our newsletter community here.Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here.Visit our lovely sponsors here.To sponsor this podcast contact: sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 14, 2024 • 44min
Create Stronger Friendships and Get Rid of Toxic Ones
Friendships are the backbones of many of our lives. But they also feel harder than ever to maintain and nurture. We need more strategic approached to our friendships and we also need a blueprint for how to cull toxic friends from our lives. Here to give us all of it is Anna Goldfarb, the author of Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections. Anna argues that we need to update our approach to friendships in a way that accounts for the hyper-fluid society we live in. The key to forming a lasting bond is what Anna calls “Wholehearted Friendship”―proven strategies to enhance enthusiastic connection.Order Modern Friendship here.Join our newsletter community here.Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here.Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 12, 2024 • 60min
Debunking the Myths of Traditional Motherhood
In this insightful discussion, science writer Elena Bridgers dives into the complexities of modern motherhood, challenging the myths of traditional caregiving. She argues that historical parenting models emphasize community support, which is crucial today to prevent burnout. Bridgers highlights how modern expectations can lead to guilt and the importance of leisure for mothers' well-being. The conversation explores the autonomy of children in hunter-gatherer societies and suggests that the focus should shift towards nurturing maternal mental health alongside kids' needs.

Nov 7, 2024 • 33min
How to Talk to Your Kids About the Election and Trump AND EVERYTHING
I woke up Wednesday morning in a sheet cake and red wine coma, floating in confusion, grief and fury. And yet I still had to parent. We still have to be the leaders and teachers our children will so desperately need for the strange and uncertain future. So how do we talk to our kids about what is happening?Today I'm joined by Amanda White, the Executive Director of the Therapy For Women Center and Julia Hitch of the Seattle Clinic to answer all of your questions.Join our newsletter community here.Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here.Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 5, 2024 • 52min
You Deserve All the Hope
Take some time for yourself to enjoy this election day....to enjoy the fact that you got to vote for a woman for president. We get to savor that. And you know what I have a lot of optimism. Here to share in the joy with me are Glynnis MacNicol and @EmilyinYourPhone.Binge all of the episodes of We've Got Issues Here.Join our newsletter community here.Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here.Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 3, 2024 • 56min
Sunday Nice Things: Frugal Friends
Let's take a break from election doom scrolling to clean out our closets. And while we do it why not try out a new podcast called Frugal Friends all about how to shift from a mode of overconsumption to one of underconsumption (and enjoy doing it).You can binge all of the Frugal Friends episodes here.Join our newsletter community here.Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here.Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 31, 2024 • 25min
A Very Influencer Halloween with Sara Petersen
Influencers who hate Halloween, influencers who make you feel like you're failing Halloween (no more boo baskets people), plus a little Ballerina Farm brand extension for good measure.Subscribe to In Pursuit of Clean Countertops here.Join our newsletter community here.Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here.Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 29, 2024 • 60min
Can a Poem Have a Punchline? With @MaryOliversDrunkCousin
Why can't I do a back walkover as a 44 year old woman? That is the central theme of this hilarious episode with Lyndsay Rush, AKA @MaryOliversDrunkCousin. Sure we talk about poetry and existential dread, but mostly back walkovers and grudge holding against people who have no idea who we are.Lyndsay's new book of poems A Bit Much just came out and it is such a joy to read. Order it here.You can subscribe to our newsletter and join our community at Over the Influence.You can pre-order a personalized copy of the trashiest trad wife murder mystery of all time, EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU right here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices