Under the Influence with Jo Piazza

The patriarchy is getting a rebrand. From tradwives to “soft girl” culture, conservative influencers are using the language of feminism to sell women a polished version of submission. In this episode, Dr. Nicole Mason, the policy expert who coined the term “she-cession,” explains how this messaging is pulling women out of power and why the left still doesn’t have a strong counter-narrative. The conversation digs into the unfinished business of feminism, why equality feels so hard to sustain, and how younger women are being seduced by curated fantasies of homemaking and “letting men lead.” Nicole also shares insights from her groundbreaking U.S. Women’s Power and Influence Index and breaks down what is really behind the stubborn wage gap. This is a conversation about power, work, motherhood, and the cultural battle over women’s choices and how we can finally stop carrying it all alone. Subscribe to Dr. Mason's newsletter here. Learn more about Future Forward Women here. Follow Dr. Mason on Instagram here. Join our newsletter community here. ORDER EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week I am bringing back one of my favorite episodes of Too Much Money, the show I created with Doree Shafrir of Forever 35 about the ridiculous sh*t that billionaire do with their billions. This one is a delight. What’s the gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving? Immortality of course, and it is the eternal brass ring that so many billionaires are trying to get their grubby hands on. Join us as we tell the tale of centi-millionaire Bryan Johnson’s efforts to reverse his biological age. This real life Benjamin Button takes more than a hundred supplements a day, only eats in the morning and gets injections of his teenage son’s blood. But at what cost? Is living forever worth it when you strip life of all its joys? Binge all the episodes of Too Much Money here. Find Forever 35 here. Join our newsletter community here. ORDER EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sleep is not a luxury, a reward, or a wellness trend. It's a biological necessity. In this episode, writer and sleep coach Lindsay Scola shares her journey from high-functioning burnout to a late-in-life narcolepsy diagnosis, and why she's helping others rethink their relationship with rest. The conversation explores why traditional sleep advice often fails, how the sleep industry profits from our exhaustion, and what actually helps—from sound sleep masks to mocktails to restoring cast iron skillets on YouTube. This is a no-shame, no-snake-oil guide to making sleep work for your real life. Learn more about Rest Assured and all of Lindsay's sleep work 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

Sometimes the only thing that gets you through real life is diving headfirst into someone else’s dumpster fire. This week we’re talking about the celebrity memoirs that make you so happy you're not famous! From Ione Skye’s steamy Gen X nostalgia to Mariah Carey’s perfectly chaotic brilliance, we unpack the stories that stick with us, the confessions we wish more people would make, and why every woman needs at least one ride-or-die friend to stop her from marrying a man named Sticky Ricky. Joining us is celeb memoir guru Chelsea Devantez, author of her own memoir, I Shouldn't be Telling You This, and the creator of the wonderful podcast Glamorous Trash. Buy Chelsea's book I Shouldn't Be Telling You This here. Binge Glamorous Trash 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

Rain on your wedding day is supposed to mean good luck, but for Allison and John, it meant they were about to have the worst year of their lives. From John experiencing a life-changing set-back in his career, to Allison losing her beloved mother to a rare neurological disease, their time as newlyweds was anything but peaceful. But in the inaugural episode of the podcast, John and Allison dissect how this rough patch ultimately strengthened their commitment to an institution that many feel is no longer necessary. If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at ⁠startermarriagepodcast@gmail.com⁠. Learn more about the possibilities of modern marriage with a copy of ⁠I DO (I THINK): Conversations About Modern Marriage⁠. Purchase Allison’s new romcom novel ⁠Save The Date.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Jonathan Zelken, a board-certified plastic surgeon, dives into the fascinating intersection of AI, social media, and beauty perceptions. They explore how filtered images skew our understanding of beauty and drive trends in plastic surgery. Dr. Zelken shares insights on why celebrities are opening up about their surgical enhancements, the psychology behind cosmetic fillers, and how social media is shaping new beauty standards. Expect revelations about what’s possible in surgery versus the fantasies created online.

What if the entire wellness internet—bee venom facials, jade eggs, raw dairy—could be traced back to one woman? Gwyneth Paltrow didn’t just win an Oscar and marry a rock star. She built Goop, turned luxury wellness into a global machine, and maybe even helped create the Maha influencer pipeline. Journalist Amy Odell, author of the brand-new biography Gwyneth, spent three years and 200 interviews uncovering Gwyneth’s meteoric rise, the media’s obsession with tearing her down, and how she rewrote the rules of modern fame. Order GWYNETH here. Follow Amy on Substack here. Join our newsletter community here. ORDER EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So many of us are wondering why our government is not working for us today. Why our representatives are so ineffectual - simple bills that would protect so many vulnerable children from lead exposure like The Lead Paint Right to Know Act get stuck in committee and never brought to the floor for a vote regardless of the fact that it passed the assembly with the largest margin yet: 106 to 40. You're about to listen to LEAD, an audio drama made by a mom who's son suffered from extensive lead poisoning and what's she doing to make sure it doesn't happen to more children. Listen to more episodes of LEAD here. Join our newsletter community here. ORDER EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a candid conversation, Dr. Kim Einhorn, an OB-GYN and founder of The Menopause Collective, tackles the often-taboo topic of perimenopause. She reveals the reality behind symptoms like sleepless nights and shifting hormones. Dr. Einhorn emphasizes the need for better healthcare communication and empowers younger women with knowledge to navigate their own experiences. From hormone therapy options to the importance of sleep, she advocates for proactive health management and open dialogue about this natural life stage.

Today, we're diving into the untold history of four women who risked everything to fight fascism in WWII Italy. Author Suzanne Cope joins Jo to talk about her new book Women of War, which profiles badass resistance fighters who smuggled weapons, organized underground strikes, and wrote radical newspapers while the men were often hiding in the hills. These women didn't wait for permission to lead—they just did it. Jo and Suzanne explore what made them so effective, why history has buried their stories, and how their legacy might just be the blueprint we need right now. Order Women of War 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