The Mother Of It All

Sarah and Miranda
  • 5.0 (47)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

We are Miranda Rake and Sarah Wheeler, two friends, mothers and professional writers on the parenting beat. The Mother Of It All is a podcast where we dive deep into the culture of modern motherhood. Expect warmth, humor and over-considered takes on hot topics, fresh takes on old ones, expert guests and good times. motherofitall.substack.com

  1. Friction-Maxxing with Kathryn Jezer-Morton

    Jun 1

    Friction-Maxxing with Kathryn Jezer-Morton

    The author of The Cut’s Brooding column returns to roll out version 2.0 of “friction-maxxing,” the term that went viral earlier this year and earned her her first Wikipedia page. We talk AI, why she will die on the “turn off location your sharing” hill and the “slurrification” of time to which we are all passively consenting. Plus, the lies we tell ourselves about sleeping arrangements at the AirBnb and new shows, books, and movies! LINKS: * Kathryn’s new book, The Story Of Your Life * In 2026, We Are Friction-Maxxing (The Cut) * Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother * Zach Galifinakis’ show, This Is A Gardening Show * Taskmaster (Sarah’s recommends Series 4) * Claire Dederer’s Poser * Adult Braces on audio and the discourse around Adult Braces * Brawler by Lauren Groff If you love the work we do, please consider becoming a ✨paid subscriber✨ on substack. Paid subscribers get access to everything behind the paywall, like subscriber-only episodes, book reviews and more. Or, support us by following, sharing or reviewing our show here and everywhere else you listen to podcasts you love. Thank you! Visit our Bookshop storefront to find all the books we’ve mentioned here and in previous episodes. When you shop there, we get a small affiliate fee (thank you!). You can follow the podcast on Instagram (@themotherofitall). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit motherofitall.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 16m

  2. May 18

    Our 100th Episode LIVE! Motherhood as a 'Serious' Topic with Poet Rachel Richardson

    As part of a feature series with local bay area radio station KALW, Berkeley-based poet Rachel Richardson joins Sarah and Miranda for a LIVE recording of The Mother Of It All podcast. We talk about the state of the cultural conversation around motherhood in general, whether poetry about motherhood counts as serious poetry, and celebrate our 100th episode. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit motherofitall.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 29m
  3. What to do when your kid doesn't want to go to school, and other pressing questions

    Season 3, Episode 99 Trailer

    What to do when your kid doesn't want to go to school, and other pressing questions

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit motherofitall.substack.com Did you hear?! We’re recording our 100th episode LIVE in San Francisco on May 8th as part of a series with KALW (91.7 FM). Get tickets your here! We will be joined by Berkeley-based poet Rachel Richardson, and KALW will be airing excerpts from our show all week long leading up to the live event. In this episode for our lovely paid subscribers (thank you…

    7 min
  4. Restlessness, Maternal Ambivalence, and the Buried Stories of Women in History with Julia Cooke

    Apr 20

    Restlessness, Maternal Ambivalence, and the Buried Stories of Women in History with Julia Cooke

    A quick announcement: We will be recording our 100th episode LIVE in San Francisco on May 8th at 7pm. Poet Rachel Richardson will join us for a conversation about the legitimacy of motherhood as a serious topic for artists, academics and writers. We have room for 80 people, and we’d love to have you there. Click here to get your ticket! In this episode, author Julia Cooke joins Sarah and Miranda to discuss her new book, Starry and Restless: Three Women Who Changed Work, Writing, and the World, and how it made us think differently about maternal ambivalence, the woman’s gaze, and the relationship between work, adventure, and motherhood, as well as bring us much-needed images of raising young children in a world that is rapidly descending into fascism. Links: * Starry and Restless by Julia Cooke * Joan Crillo * China To Me by Emily Hahn * Rebecca West * Martha Gellhorn * Moms Gone Wild (The Cut) * Nina McLaughlin Hammer Head * How It Feels To Be Alive by Megan O’Grady * Queen Mab by Emily McBride If you love the work we do, please consider becoming a ✨paid subscriber✨ on substack. Paid subscribers get access to everything behind the paywall, like subscriber-only episodes, book reviews and more. Or, support us by following, sharing or reviewing our show here and everywhere else you listen to podcasts you love. Thank you! Visit our Bookshop storefront to find all the books we’ve mentioned here and in previous episodes. When you shop there, we get a small affiliate fee (thank you!). You can follow the podcast on Instagram (@themotherofitall). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit motherofitall.substack.com/subscribe

    53 min
  5. Are We Overinvested in Parenthood? A Converstaion With Sociologist Nina Bandelj

    Apr 6

    Are We Overinvested in Parenthood? A Converstaion With Sociologist Nina Bandelj

    Sociologist Nina Bandelj, author of the new book Overinvested: The Emotional Economy of Modern Parenting, joins us for a wonderful, perspective-altering converstation about how and why modern parenthood feels the way it feels. She unpacks for us how raising kids has become a project, how kids became ‘human capital,’ and what it means that parenthood is privatized, economized, and (a new word for us!) “emotionalized.” Turns out, “just wanting your kids to be happy” is a goal that’s perhaps not as laid-back as it seems. Plus, tons of culture recs, including the new Robyn album, Sexistential, and Sarah’s recently upgraded nail game. Links: * Pricing the Priceless Child by Viviana A. Selizer * Thinking Like an Economist by Elizabeth Popp Berman * Lenore Skenazy If you love the work we do, please consider becoming a ✨paid subscriber✨ on substack. Paid subscribers get access to everything behind the paywall, like subscriber-only episodes, book reviews and more. Or, support us by following, sharing or reviewing our show here and everywhere else you listen to podcasts you love. Thank you! Visit our Bookshop storefront to find all the books we’ve mentioned here and in previous episodes. When you shop there, we get a small affiliate fee (thank you!). You can follow the podcast on Instagram (@themotherofitall). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit motherofitall.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 6m
  6. Does every mom do too many things? Is that...maybe fine?!

    Mar 23 ·  Bonus

    Does every mom do too many things? Is that...maybe fine?!

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit motherofitall.substack.com Paid subscribers, this one’s for you! We explore the question of whether or not we do too many things from many angles. If you find yourself responding to PTA emails at 3 in the morning, does that mean you’re 100% for sure doing too many things? What if it doesn’t!? Should we consider switching to AI friendships in order to save time? Also: * Longing for …

    7 min
  7. Hope, Care & Raising Kids In A Climate Crisis with Kaitlyn Teer

    Mar 16

    Hope, Care & Raising Kids In A Climate Crisis with Kaitlyn Teer

    Kaitlyn Teer joins us again! This time, she’s here to talk about her new book, Little Apocalypses; Essays on Motherhood, Climate Change, and Hope at the End of the World. The book is kaleidoscopic and specific all at once, and we both loved it, even though it’s full of heavy stuff about climate grief and how much we’ve already lost. In this episode, there are so many moments of discovery, including a long chat about the powerful, fantastic phrases that Teer built the book of essays around. As a teaser, here are some of the ideas we explore: * Muscular hope * Maternal ecodistress * Green third shift * Maternal time * Ecological compassion * Apocalyptic mindfulness And much more in this inspiring conversation about care, climate, activism and how we can show up for our children as we face a changed planet, together. Links: * Sarah on Jodeci’s Feenin’ * Your Local Epidemiologist * Maternal Ecodistress * Pre-order Kaitlyn’s book, Little Apocalypses * Sunaura Taylor’s Disabled Ecologies * Parents Guide to Climate Revolution If you love the work we do, please consider becoming a ✨paid subscriber✨ on substack. Paid subscribers get access to everything behind the paywall, like subscriber-only episodes, book reviews and more. Or, support us by following, sharing or reviewing our show here and everywhere else you listen to podcasts you love. Thank you! Visit our Bookshop storefront to find all the books we’ve mentioned here and in previous episodes. When you shop there, we get a small affiliate fee (thank you!). You can follow the podcast on Instagram (@themotherofitall). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit motherofitall.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 14m
  8. Losing Our Ambition with Amil Niazi

    Feb 23

    Losing Our Ambition with Amil Niazi

    We welcome Amil for her THIRD Mother of it All appearance, where she gives a moving eulogy for the career ambition that has died out for her as she’s gotten older and had more kids. We also talk s****y teenaged jobs, perimenopausal sex drive, what we think our kids are learning about money and work, and the new Muppets Show. Links: * Life After Ambition by Amil Niazi * Want to Change Careers? Three People Share Their Success Stories (via Big Salad) * Find a perimenopause-aware practitioner via The Menopause Society * Mark Rober Crunch Labs box * The new Muppet Show (Disney) If you love the work we do, please consider becoming a ✨paid subscriber✨ on substack. Paid subscribers get access to everything behind the paywall, like subscriber-only episodes, book reviews and more. Or, support us by following, sharing or reviewing our show here and everywhere else you listen to podcasts you love. Thank you! Visit our Bookshop storefront to find all the books we’ve mentioned here and in previous episodes. When you shop there, we get a small affiliate fee (thank you!). You can follow the podcast on Instagram (@themotherofitall). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit motherofitall.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 2m
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Trailers

5
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

We are Miranda Rake and Sarah Wheeler, two friends, mothers and professional writers on the parenting beat. The Mother Of It All is a podcast where we dive deep into the culture of modern motherhood. Expect warmth, humor and over-considered takes on hot topics, fresh takes on old ones, expert guests and good times. motherofitall.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah and Miranda
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sarah and Miranda
  • Show Website
    The Mother Of It All

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