Mom Wars

In this lively and intimate episode, Bethany Mandel and Kara Kennedy are joined by Arden Jamison, a woman she recently bonded with on a homeschooling apple-picking trip — the kind of instant connection that happens when you realize someone else also wrangles a throng of kids.The trio dives deep into faith, motherhood, and autonomy, exploring how religion shapes their choices around family and education. The conversation turns candid as they share personal experiences with home birthing, comparing the spiritual, practical, and political dimensions of bringing life into the world outside of institutions. Kara also gives a preview of her latest investigation into freebirthing groups, revealing a subculture that’s both radical and tenderly devoted to maternal sovereignty.

"Dad will tell you he believed fixing me was only possible because of my 'intelligence,' but I would counter and say it couldn’t have happened without his love."So writes Leland Vittert, anchor at NewsNation and former foreign correspondent for Fox News. Diagnosed with what we now understand as autism, Vittert was labeled as "retarded" and was bullied throughout his school years. His father quit his job and became a full-time parent/coach/friend. It was, as his dad described it, Leland's "only hope."Bethany and Kara sit down with Vittert and talk about his life and his new book, Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism.

Second-generation homeschooling mom Caitlin Francis (@MrsCMFrancis on X) joins the program for a wide ranging discussion including what everybody is watching on television - with and without their husbands.

This is a much requested episode about finances for six kids and how Bethany saves and invests for each of them. We also discuss a very interesting and dramatic longform piece in Wired about surrogacy. And, of course, gossip about our lives.

Melinda Strauss (@therealmelindastrauss) is a New York-based Jewish content creator and influencer with over 1.6 million followers on TikTok and Instagram. She is celebrated for her engaging and educational content, which explores Orthodox Judaism, kosher recipes, Jewish history, Antisemitism, and Zionism, while sharing insights into her everyday life. Through her blend of cultural practices and modern storytelling, Melinda provides followers with a fresh perspective on preserving tradition.Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Melinda has been blogging and sharing her love of cooking since 2011. Her debut cookbook Eat Jewish is set to release on September 2nd. Connect with Melinda on TikTok and Instagram @therealmelindastrauss or visit her website at melindastrauss.com.

This week, Bethany and Kara are joined by Brielle Persun, a beloved book influencer whose passion for reading has built a vibrant community online. Earlier this year, Brielle experienced the sudden loss of her husband—a life-altering tragedy that could have silenced her spark. Instead, she’s chosen to lean into resilience, connection, and the power of story. Together, we talk about the books that bring comfort, the importance of finding joy in unexpected places, and how community can carry us through even the hardest chapters. It’s a conversation filled with hope, laughter, and, of course, plenty of book recommendations.

This week Bethany and Kara are joined by Nicki Neily, the President of Defending Education. They discuss how the madness usually associated with higher ed has now filtered down in the world of K through 12 and what you can do about it.Neily is the President & Founder of Defending Education and Speech First, a national campus free speech organization, and has worked at the Independent Women’s Forum and the Cato Institute. She is the mother of two school age children. Follow her on X at @nickineily.

Abby Roth, aka, Classically Abby, joins Bethany and Kara to talk about being a "First-Generation SAHM" (Stay At Home Mom)Check out Abby's new Substack at thefirstgensahm.substack.com

According to the CDC, almost 10% of American women of child bearing age are on SSRIs - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - a class of antidepressants that include such medications as Lexapro, Prozac and Zoloft. But are they safe to take during pregnancy?Tracy Beth Høeg, MD, PhD and Senior Advisor for Clinical Sciences in the Office of the FDA Commissioner, joins the show to talk about what the science says and what it doesn't say.Prior to joining the FDA in March of 2025, Dr. Høeg worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management and was a practicing Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physician specializing in interventional spine and sports medicine. She is a Danish American dual citizen and completed her MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin, PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology at the University of Copenhagen and Residency at University of California-Davis.

Kate Johnson, an RN who spent most of her 10-year career working in critical care at a Washington, DC trauma center and who now devotes herself to promoting preventative care and living a healthy lifestyle, drops by to discuss MAHA and the wonders of living in Florida.You can follow her on Instagram at @nursekatejohnson

Bethany and Kara are joined by fellow mom of six and television booking producer Daniella Tasca Taylor. They discuss how to exercise trust in big families when it comes to letting your kids have an independent life, and how that sometimes backfires.

Another TMI episode we hope our husbands don't listen to. Bethany and Kara discuss the unadvertised joys of childbirth and about when Bethany ran into the SLOTUS last weekend. Also, Kara shares some news...

After being on the road on their summer holidays, Bethany and Kara catch up and discuss how they’ve been keeping their kids entertained in the heat. As always, the conversation soon shifts and Bethany explains the dramatic story of how her and Seth met. 

In the latest episode of the Mom Wars Bethany and Kara discuss sleep training methods and how you should probably just cry it out. Also: the experts are all nuts and the toxicity of mommy spaces.

Bethany and Kara catch up after Bethany's trip to London with five kids and no husband.

Madeline Fry Schultz, the Contributors Editor at the Washington Examiner talks about the myth of “family planning” and the realities of secondary infertility.

In this episode we discussWhether families should pay extra for airplane seats togetherBritain's push to ban all ed tech in classroomsHow having babies codes right wing Also: Bethany's love letter to her menstrual cup (so male listener discretion is advised,)

This week on the Mom Wars podcast Bethany and Kara discuss Montgomery County and the Supreme Court, the Trump administrations pro-natal incentives, and RFK Jr and vaccines. Plus the big question right now: would you leave your kid in a hotel room?

In this wildly unpredictable episode, we’re cutting it *way* too close at the airport, diving headfirst into the whirlwind of Passover prep, and sharing the unforgettable (and slightly graphic) tale of how Bethany’s kid was born in a car. Buckle up—literally and figuratively—as we navigate travel anxiety, family traditions, and New Jersey birthing energy.

Evan Pokroy joins from Israel to discuss with Kara and Bethany the blessings of his large family, raising his kids after his wife passed away last year, and Bethany shares how Evan’s family inspired her own.