Do you want the truth?

Samantha Strom, Zara Hanawalt
  • 5.0 (10)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Do You Want The Truth? where we dive deep into the real raw stories from parents in the trenches of parenthood.  Season 2 is brought to you by Sam Strom and Freelance Journalist Zara Hanawalt, along with guest co-hosts such as Jaime Fisher.  Season 1 is brought to you by Paige Connell & Sam Strom. They bring you candid conversations with parents who share their experiences of parenthood and what they wish they knew before having kids. You'll hear the real stories. The stories that are typically reserved for best friends. The stories with TMI. We believe in the power of truth telling because when someone asks, do you want the truth? We always say yes. Join us as we explore the highs and lows and everything in between so you can feel less alone on your journey.  Connect with Sam: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

  1. APR 24

    The Truth About Mom 2.0, Emma Grede’s “3-Hour Mom” Rule & Pop Culture Chaos

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Sam & Zara break down our real experience at Mom 2.0—from imposter syndrome and “blogger energy” to the surprising moments that actually felt empowering and healing.  Then we get into the conversation everyone is having: Emma Grede’s controversial take on motherhood, ambition, and whether women can truly “have it all.” Is she being honest—or is this just late-stage capitalism in a blazer? We also dive into:  Meeting influencers (like Carli Bybel) IRLThe reality of finding yourself again after motherhood  Why “mom guilt” might be a myth (and what actually replaces it)  The Summer House drama that has us questioning everything  Alex Cooper vs. Alix Earle—and why we’re obsessed with women feuding  The unspoken truth about privilege, parenting, and success This is your unfiltered, honest, slightly chaotic pop culture + motherhood debrief—the kind of conversation you wish you had with your friends after a long weekend away. Influences mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/sharon.a.life/ My month with a billionaire https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT9NBN6oKkfg8-UI0Wr/ https://www.instagram.com/thefashionbybel/ 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Support the show Website:  https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com Connect with Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms Connect with Zara: Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

    45 min

  2. APR 20

    The Truth About: Executive Function in Teens with Gayle Alexander

    Send us Fan Mail You can feel it in families right now: everyone is tired, kids are wired, and a simple “How was school?” gets you absolutely nowhere. We sit down with Gayle Alexander, a licensed professional counselor who works with teens, young adults, and parents, to unpack what actually helps kids talk and what quietly shuts them down. We get practical about the moments that matter most like the car ride home, the bedtime confession, and the first sentence you say when your child finally opens up. We also go straight to the big stressors shaping teen mental health: smartphones, social media, sleep loss, comparison, and the anxiety loop of constant dopamine hits. Gail explains why the issue is not a phone call or a text; it is unlimited internet access in a developing brain, plus the pressure to look perfect. We talk about realistic screen time boundaries, why devices should stay out of bedrooms at night, and how family dinners with no phones can rebuild connection without turning into an interrogation. Then we zoom out to what’s missing for a lot of kids and parents: community. Gail shares how Project Safe creates in-person support through group therapy and family work, and why being around peers helps teens feel less alone while they learn communication and coping skills. We also touch on vaping, marijuana, and other ways kids numb discomfort, plus what parents can watch for and how to start hard conversations without blowing up trust. If you want better conversations, calmer boundaries, and tools that work in real life, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a parent friend, and leave a review with the one rule or question you’re going to try this week. Support the show Website:  https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com Connect with Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms Connect with Zara: Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

    1h 10m

  3. APR 9

    The Truth About: Hidden Costs Of Putting Children Online with Fortesa Latifi & Sheisapaigeturner

    Send us Fan Mail The internet doesn’t just “share” your child. It archives them, copies them, and can weaponize them. We’re joined by journalist Fortesa, author of Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online, to talk about what happens when parenting becomes a content pipeline. We get into the uncomfortable stuff creators rarely say out loud: why brands pressure parents to “show the kids,” how followers feel entitled to a family’s private life, and why the algorithm often rewards the most vulnerable moments. If you’ve ever wondered whether posting a sick kid, a tantrum, or a hospital scare crosses a line, this conversation will give you language for what your gut already knows. We also dig into the bigger system around family vlogging and influencer marketing: FTC disclosure incentives, hidden sponsorship dynamics, and why child labor laws still don’t cleanly apply to kids working on camera at home. Fortesa explains how a patchwork of state laws is trying to catch up, and we talk about newer threats like AI deepfakes and broad “usage rights” that can let brands reuse a creator’s likeness indefinitely, raising serious questions about consent and long-term digital privacy for minors. And because real life is always in the room, we go personal too: emergency C-section recovery, building a parenting village, and hyperemesis gravidarum, including emerging research on metformin that may offer hope for future pregnancies. If this hit home, subscribe, share with a parent group chat, and leave a review so more families can find it. What’s your boundary on posting kids online? Support the show Website:  https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com Connect with Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms Connect with Zara: Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

    1h 1m

  4. MAR 2 ·  BONUS

    Pop Culture Hour: Epstein Files & Influencer Kids: We React to the Internet’s Darkest Moments

    Send us Fan Mail In this raw, wide-ranging Pop Culture Mom Talk episode, Sam and Zara are joined by new co-host Rachel Gibbs (@rachonlife) for an unfiltered conversation about what’s flooding women’s algorithms — and why it feels so overwhelming right now. They unpack everything from toxic TV relationships like Tell Me Lies to the unsettling ripple effects of the Epstein files, the Blake Lively / Justin Baldoni discourse, and why so many women feel like pop culture has crossed from escapism into emotional overload. The conversation weaves through influencer ethics, why more moms are pulling their kids off social media, how motherhood changes your tolerance for “hot mom” culture, and what it really means to parent intentionally in a world that feels increasingly unsafe and unregulated. From unaccompanied minors on flights to uncomfortable truths about privacy, power, and who actually gets held accountable — nothing is off-limits. It’s funny, uncomfortable, validating, and very much a reflection of the moment we’re all living in. If your algorithm feels dark, confusing, or too real lately — you’re not alone.  pop culture podcast, mom podcast, motherhood and pop culture, Epstein files discussion, Blake Lively controversy, influencer kids privacy, parenting in 2026, intentional parenting, mom mental load, TikTok algorithm moms, Instagram motherhood, child privacy online, influencer ethics, modern motherhood stress, parenting and social media, pop culture commentary women, millennial moms podcast, Gen X moms podcast, women talking pop culture, internet safety for kids Support the show Website:  https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com Connect with Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms Connect with Zara: Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

    52 min

  5. FEB 3

    The Truth About: Building A Career And Identity As A Creator Mom with Cameron Rogers

    Send us Fan Mail A high-pressure desk at JP Morgan. A meal-prep side account called Freckled Foodie. A car accident that made everything loud and urgent. Cameron Rogers takes us through the leap from finance to full-time creator and the even bigger transition that came with becoming a mother during a global pandemic. We get candid about how identity can fracture and reform in those first months, why postpartum depression doesn’t always look like you expect, and how honest help—childcare, a cleaning routine, and a truly shared division of labor—keeps families and careers afloat. We dig into the mental health side that rarely shows up on glossy feeds: intrusive thoughts that arrive like movie scenes you never asked to see, anxiety that clings to every doorbell, and the slow recalibration of medication, sleep, and boundaries that make days feel doable again. Cameron shares how she set guardrails around her kids’ privacy while still speaking openly about motherhood’s hardest edges, and why transparency about support matters. You’ll hear how she reframed “real work,” built a financial runway, and grew a sustainable creator business—with a podcast schedule, a team, and a product designed for busy, buzzing minds: Quiet Your Mind and Busy Your Hands. There’s practical wisdom here too: swapping but for and to hold two truths without guilt, carving out time that belongs only to you, and using small joys like romance novels to reset attention and rekindle desire. We also talk Fair Play, the realities of entrepreneurship, the loss of corporate stability, and the joy of building your own team. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re allowed to love your kids and need space, to be grateful for work and still crave rest, this conversation offers language, tools, and relief. If this resonated, follow and subscribe for more real talk on motherhood, mental health, and creative work. Share the episode with a friend who needs permission to say and instead of but, and leave a review to help others find the show. Support the show Website:  https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com Connect with Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms Connect with Zara: Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

    54 min

  6. JAN 27

    The Truth About: Casting for Disney & Building a YouTube Empire w/ @thisisdanabowling

    Send us Fan Mail From Blake Lively to Bank Accounts: Casting Kids, Quitting Hollywood & Making Money Online What happens when a former Hollywood casting director walks away from Disney, kid actors, and a very dark industry… and accidentally builds a wildly profitable pop-culture media empire? In this episode, @thisisdanabowling (TT/YT) pulls back the curtain on everything — from casting Zendaya and Jenna Ortega to why she would never let her own kids enter the entertainment industry. We talk Blake Lively headlines, the uncomfortable truth about child actors, and how millennial women were sold a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days fantasy career that never actually existed. Dana opens up about hitting financial rock bottom while “keeping up with the LA mom crowd” (that included actually Real Housewives like Teddi Mellencamp) while quietly drowning in debt, and the exact pivot that helped her rebuild — fast. She breaks down how Daily Dose of Dana really makes money (YouTube, podcast ads, Patreon, brand deals), why content creation is not a get-rich-quick scheme, and what most people don’t understand about going viral. We also get real about: The hidden power (and emotional cost) of being able to pivotWhy your friends won’t support you when you start posting onlineThe Blake Lively coverage that sent her views through the roofWhy women are better at reinvention than men (sorry, not sorry)Raising kids in a world where everything is contentAnd what it means to be unapologetically Jewish in today’s pop-culture landscapeIf you’ve ever fantasized about quitting your job, side-eyed influencer money, or wondered what actually happens behind the scenes in Hollywood — this episode is the reality check you didn’t know you needed. 🎧 Listen now — especially if you love pop culture, money talk, and the truth about motherhood no one says out loud. #BlakeLively #BethennyFrankel #motherhood Support the show Website:  https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com Connect with Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms Connect with Zara: Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

    1 hr

  7. JAN 20

    The Truth About: Building a Flexible Family Life with Kaleana Quibell

    Send us Fan Mail Parenthood didn’t just change our guest’s calendar; it rewired her relationship with work. Kaleana Quibell spent years inside Bay Area benefits, rolling out wellness, mental health, and family programs for marquee tech companies. Then two kids, an eight-minute delivery room sprint, and a parade of sick days revealed what the slide decks missed: policies don’t parent; people do. She chose a different path—part-time caregiving, part-time consulting, and a new platform, Both And, that maps real options for working families. We dig into the practical moves that make flexibility real. Kaleana explains why to set up an LLC before you “need” it, why a simple website and scope template save hours, and how to quote your first “pick your brain” call without flinching. We unpack health insurance for independents, state leave programs, and the growing set of platforms bundling coverage with invoicing. If benefits have kept you tethered to a job that no longer fits, this is your permission slip—and your playbook—to build a safety net outside the org chart. Care gets reimagined, too. Instead of outsourcing the moments that matter, Kaleana shows how to offload everything else: a mother’s helper for two hours, a retired neighbor for errands, targeted help for laundry or car seats. That patchwork approach turns invisible labor visible, lowers stress, and catches the inevitable surprises—school closures, coughs, and last‑minute travel—without blowing up your week. We also confront culture head-on: how “above and beyond” rewards availability over outcomes, how moms are judged on extras, and why consulting can flip the power dynamic to pay for results. By the end, you’ll have a clearer map for stay, shift, or step away: negotiating part-time or IC roles, keeping a toe in your craft, and measuring success by time, health, and presence—not just salary. Ready to design a career that fits your family and your ambition? Listen, share with a friend who needs options, and subscribe for more real‑world playbooks. Then tell us: what’s the first lever you’ll pull to reclaim your time? Support the show Website:  https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com Connect with Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms Connect with Zara: Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

    1h 19m

  8. JAN 13

    The Truth About: Why The System Fails Working Parents with Melissa Panzer

    Send us Fan Mail The cracks in the system aren’t hairline—they’re chasms you feel every school morning and late-night Slack. We sit down with filmmaker and producer Melissa Panzer (WABE’s The Work Behind the Work) to unpack why so many women who could be leading are instead leaving, and what it would take to make work and family actually coexist without breaking us. Melissa traces her path from ESPN’s storytelling culture to a decade documenting the labor market, then into the frontline of pandemic-era motherhood. She interviewed 200 moms and kept hearing the same theme: corporate structures weren’t made for two demanding careers and kids, and the nine-to-five still assumes a spouse in the shadows. We explore universal design—solve for moms and you lower friction for everyone—and why Fair Play-style rebalancing at home fails without top-down policy that respects soccer drop-offs as much as sales calls. We go there on return-to-office mandates, the quiet exodus from leadership, and the real economics behind “flexibility.” The conversation pulls apart social media’s romanticized stay-at-home aesthetic and how MLMs exploit a genuine desire for income and independence. We examine the childcare math that eats entire salaries, the public vs private school squeeze, aftercare lotteries, and what kids actually learn from what we model—who uses the broom, who makes lunch, who gets to rest. Melissa shares how research changed her marriage: loosening control, letting help in, and learning kids do just fine when care is shared, even if the sandwiches look different. This is a candid, data-aware, and deeply human look at work, caregiving, and the small wins that keep us going—the bedtime finally won, the book finally read, the moment a child says, I did it, and we whisper back, so did I. If this conversation moves you, subscribe, share with a friend who needs the solidarity, and leave a review with the one policy change you think would move the needle. We’re listening. Support the show Website:  https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com Connect with Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms Connect with Zara: Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

    1h 5m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Welcome to Do You Want The Truth? where we dive deep into the real raw stories from parents in the trenches of parenthood.  Season 2 is brought to you by Sam Strom and Freelance Journalist Zara Hanawalt, along with guest co-hosts such as Jaime Fisher.  Season 1 is brought to you by Paige Connell & Sam Strom. They bring you candid conversations with parents who share their experiences of parenthood and what they wish they knew before having kids. You'll hear the real stories. The stories that are typically reserved for best friends. The stories with TMI. We believe in the power of truth telling because when someone asks, do you want the truth? We always say yes. Join us as we explore the highs and lows and everything in between so you can feel less alone on your journey.  Connect with Sam: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha Strom, Zara Hanawalt
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Do you want the truth?
  • Show Website
    Do you want the truth?

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