129 episodes

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.

Under the Influence with Jo Piazza Jo Piazza

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.4 • 716 Ratings

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.

    Help! My Therapist is on TikTok

    Help! My Therapist is on TikTok

    What would you do if you discovered your therapist was on TikTok? And worse than that...what if they were talking about things YOU told them in therapy. Today we are talking with Bustle writer Kate Lindsay about her reporting on the mental health TikTok stars and the patients who are concerned. There are so many ethical and practical issues surrounding mental health content on social media these days and we are going to dive into all of it.

    • 46 min
    Genealogy Influencing is a Real Thing with The Barefoot Genealogist

    Genealogy Influencing is a Real Thing with The Barefoot Genealogist

    If it exists in the world there is an influencer for it. And Genealogy and family research is no exception. I found Crista Cowan (The Barefoot Genealogist) while I was trying to solve my great great grandmother's murder for the Sicilian Inheritance true crime podcast and I became fascinated by how she uses her platform and her position as Ancestry's Corporate Genealogist to help people climb their family trees, but more importantly to help them shape their identities and how they move in the world.

    • 40 min
    Meatfluencers with Nick Aster

    Meatfluencers with Nick Aster

    Let's journey into a strange corner of social media filled with uncomfortably buff men chowing down on raw meat. Yes, meatfluencing is a thing. My special guest is Nick Aster, my very own husband, who I will try to convince to become a meatfluencer to put our kids through college.

    • 32 min
    Messy Women and Money with Jean Chatzky

    Messy Women and Money with Jean Chatzky

    There is a prevailing narrative around women and money that says women are a mess financially. It isn't true! And we are talking about that today with Her Money podcast host and personal finance guru Jean Chatzky. We dispel the myths that women aren't good with money. We talk about how to save for college and retirement and we dive into why influencers can create dangerous expectations when it comes to investing.

    • 39 min
    Taping Your Mouth Shut and Influencers in Books

    Taping Your Mouth Shut and Influencers in Books

    For a long time every novel I read or rom com that I watched contained a lady journalist, or a hard-hitting ad executive. And about two years ago all those characters became influencers. Now about every other novel I read has an influencer character and I don't know if I like it. Today I talk to the journalist and novelist Sheila Marikar about her decision to write influencers into her new book Friends in Napa. I also have a bonus conversation from the car (DRIVING IN CARS WITH JO) with Glynnis MacNicol about why she is taping her mouth shut when she sleeps. The answer has to do with Gwyneth Paltrow.

    • 43 min
    Touched Out with Amanda Montei

    Touched Out with Amanda Montei

    I'm touched out. I say that all the time. Before I became a parent I didn't know that was possible. But once I became a mom my body was no longer my own; it belonged to my children. But I didn't have a way to talk about the feeling of being touched out until I read the stunning book by Amanda Montei of the same name—TOUCHED OUT. There is an expectation gap between what we imagine motherhood looks like and what it actually is and the cultural script for motherhood has often been written by men.

    • 42 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
716 Ratings

716 Ratings

c_f_528 ,

Can we stop with the “old lady” comments?

Love listening but, given the content of the show, it’s surprising to me that Jo so often refers to herself as an old lady. I’m in my mid thirties, and just don’t think it’s necessary or helpful. Like in the latest episode — 30 year old butt vs 40 year old old lady butt? We don’t need this. You can be sexy and attractive at any age. Thanks for considering, and hope you can be kinder to yourself!

Vidadevaldes ,

Jo & Nick are a fantastic duo

I have been following along now for almost as long as this pod has been out, mainly because this content is so fascinating and lots of great guests have been featured. This latest episode with Jo and her husband was my favorite by far as the conversation flowed so much more naturally and both temper each other so well. I think this is the first time I ever heard the host joke around and laugh without making the punchline “ because we’re all hot mess moms”. Again, I feel like the topics are smartly selected and look forward to more episodes, hopefully with the two of you hosting.

CO Native Snowflake ,

All the stars

Jo is the podcast host you’d love to continue the conversation with over coffee (or wine) and hear about all the tidbits that didn’t make the final edit.

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