Equal-ish

Rachel Childs and Kate Mangino
  • 4.8 (19)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Equal-ish is all about that precise intersection of parenthood, work, and being in a relationship. This funny, wonderful, messy, frustrating process is possible - but not easy! Join Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs every week to help you find your equal-ish household balance.

  1. 19H AGO

    Ep 20: The Evolution of Fatherhood: Why Dads Matter More Than Ever

    In this episode, evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin challenges everything you thought you knew about fatherhood. From hormone shifts and brain changes to the unique ways dads build attachment, Anna unpacks why fathers are wired to be caretakers, not just breadwinners, and how their involvement shapes resilience, social skills, and mental health in children. Kate and Rachel dive into: The evolutionary roots of fatherhood and why caregiving, not earning, is innate. How dads uniquely “scaffold” children’s growth and prepare them for the world. The importance of secure attachment, sensitive parenting, and playful involvement. Why societal norms and workplace cultures, not biology, often prevent dads from fully engaging. How couples can use pregnancy to prepare for parenthood, maintain relationship strength, and navigate the early years together. This episode is essential listening for any parent, partner, or parent-to-be who wants to understand the science behind equal parenting, and how to put it into practice in today’s world. Dr Anna Machin is an evolutionary anthropologist, writer and broadcaster who is world renowned for her work into the science and anthropology of human love and fatherhood.  She is the author of the Life of Dad: The Making of the Modern Father and Why We Love: The Definitive Guide to our Most Fundamental Need.  She has written for The New York Times, The Observer and The Guardian among others, works regularly with the BBC and national and international broadcast media and recently appeared on The Diary of a CEO podcast.  She is the lead scientist for the new dating app LoveJack. Subscribe to Equal-ish on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear the coaching edit from our interview.  Find out more about your hosts Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs.

    51 min
  2. Ep 19: Being a Great Parent Isn’t the Same as Being a Great Partner. The Alex Tippier Coaching Edit.

    12/31/2025

    Ep 19: Being a Great Parent Isn’t the Same as Being a Great Partner. The Alex Tippier Coaching Edit.

    In the final episode of the season (and year!), Kate and Rachel unpack three themes that surfaced in their conversation with Alex Trippier and reflect on what the past year of Equalish has taught us about navigating parenthood and partnership. The discussion explores why parenting demands a process-driven mindset, why being a strong parent doesn’t automatically make someone a strong partner, and how couples can move out of echo chambers and into real dialogue. Parenting Is a Process, Not a Results Game Being a Great Parent vs. Being a Great Partner  Getting Out of the Echo Chamber  Subscribe to Equal-ish on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear the coaching edit from our interview. Find out more about your hosts Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs.

    32 min

  3. 12/24/2025

    Ep 18: Why Being an ‘Involved Dad’ Wasn’t Enough. What Happened When Alex Trippier Went From Present To Partnership

    Discovering concepts like mental load, matrescence, and motherhood ideals really can fundamentally reframe your understanding of parenting as a partnership. In today’s conversation, Rachel, Kate talk to Alex Trippier, host of the Be a Happier Parent podcast about his fatherhood journey, the strain young children put on his relationship, and the turning point—from believing he was an “involved dad” to realising he had completely missed the invisible emotional, cognitive and cultural pressures shaping his wife’s experience. It’s time to redefine fulfillment as a father beyond achievement and into meaningful family connection. Here are two of the Be a Happier Parent episodes that we referenced in our interview:  The magic of caregiving with Elissa Straus  What do dads do? With Steve Biddulph These are the books Alex referenced: The Motherhood Complex by Melissa HogenboomMatrescence by Lucy Jones Fair Play by Eve Rodsky Beyond Baby Talk by Rachel Childs Subscribe to Equal-ish on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear the coaching edit from our interview.  Find out more about your hosts Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs.

    42 min

  4. 12/17/2025

    Ep 17: The Sarah Fishburn-Roberts coaching edit: writing your own script.

    Kate and Rachel dig into the interview with psychotherapist Sarah Fishburn-Roberts, turning a rather theoretical interview into practical actions. Why should we expect to change? How can we change together? How can we have these hard conversations with each other without playing the blame game and getting defensive? You are both going to change.  It’s not “you vs them.” Think of it as “us vs the pattern.”  Empathy is everything.  How to re-write your own script. If you like Sarah, you can find her services here.  Subscribe to Equal-ish on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear the coaching edit from our interview.  Find out more about your hosts Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs.

    24 min

  5. 12/10/2025

    Ep 16: Is This Just How It Is? Why So Many Couples Settle for the Status Quo

    Today Kate and Rachel talk to psychotherapist Sarah Fishburn-Roberts to explore the distinctions and intersections between couples therapy, coaching and facilitation - and when to reach out for extra support.   (Spoiler alert - we all need it. And the practitioner you find is as important as the process you choose).  If you like Sarah, you can find her services here.  Subscribe to Equal-ish on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear the coaching edit from our interview.  Find out more about your hosts Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs.

    53 min

  6. 12/03/2025

    Ep 15: The Dr. Fisher coaching edit: it is all about the family system.

    Using father’s mental health as a starting point, Dr Fisher emphasized that it is really the “family system” that requires our attention. Kate & Rachel love this, and devote today’s coaching edit to go deeper into what family system caretaking looks like.  He might not be fine, even if he says he is fine.  Everyone can, and does, experience trauma. Fertility issues and difficult births affect all parents.  It is not just about taking paternity leave, but HOW you take it.  It is never too late to rebuild your team. If something isn’t working, don’t give up. Bring in a new offensive coach and swap out your talent. Kids can reinforce sexism, too! We need to be intentional about combatting stereotypes even with our own kids.  You can find more about Dr. Fisher’s work and practice here. Subscribe to Equal-ish on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear the coaching edit from our interview.  Find out more about your hosts Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs.

    21 min

  7. 11/26/2025

    Ep 14: Why we need to talk about paternal emotional health. (Yep, you read that right.)

    Pregnancy and birth should be all about mom, right? Well - no, not really. In this episode Kate and Rachel talk to Dr. Sheehan Fisher from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr Fisher is a paternal mental health specialist - and agrees that mom’s health needs to be at the core of the conversation. But it’s good for ALL of us when we ALSO take into account dad’s health needs.  Dr Fisher is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. His research and clinical interests focus on father’s mental health during the perinatal period and their impact on the family dynamic and child outcomes. Dr Fisher’s research examines the hormonal and socio-environmental factors that contribute to the etiology of postpartum depression in fathers and mothers. In turn, the impact of paternal and maternal postpartum depression on parenting behaviors and infant/child outcomes is investigated. His clinical work specializes in behavioral therapies for fathers and couples during the perinatal period. You can find more about Dr. Fisher’s work and practice here. Subscribe to Equal-ish on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear the coaching edit from our interview.  Find out more about your hosts Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs.

    46 min

  8. 11/19/2025

    Ep 13: The George Gabriel coaching edit. Paternity Leave isn’t a ‘nice to have’, it’s a relationship issue.

    We’re told the UK has paternity leave, but the reality for families says otherwise. Kate and Rachel reflect on what George Gabriel, co-founder of the Dad Shift, shared about how outdated systems, mixed messages and cultural norms are holding dads back, and what that means for the emotional and practical load inside relationships. This is the truth behind paternity leave, and why change matters for every couple. Here are some of the statistics we shared to help your personal business case for your paternity leave:  For organisations offering “paid family-leave” (which covers parental/paternity) more than 80% reported a positive impact on morale, and more than 70% reported increased productivity. Boston Consulting Group 80% of employees report they feel more committed to their employer when they have access to flexible family-friendly policies (including enhanced parental leave). Inspiring Dads 74% of employees said they were more likely to continue working for their employer. 43% of UK employers now offer enhanced parental leave and pay rates (i.e., above statutory minimums). Employee Benefits   The Dad Shift is just one of a number of organisations campaigning for better parental leave rights. Find out more, and support the work that all these incredible campaigns are doing. If we’ve missed any, do tell us! The Dad Shift Pregnant then Screwed The Fatherhood Institute Working Families  Subscribe to Equal-ish on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear the coaching edit from our interview.  Find out more about your hosts Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs.

    29 min
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4.8
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Equal-ish is all about that precise intersection of parenthood, work, and being in a relationship. This funny, wonderful, messy, frustrating process is possible - but not easy! Join Kate Mangino and Rachel Childs every week to help you find your equal-ish household balance.

Information

  • Creator
    Rachel Childs and Kate Mangino
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rachel Childs and Kate Mangino
  • Show Website
    Equal-ish

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