In this episode of The Feminist Mom Podcast, Erin sits down with Jillian Knight, LMFT, a financial therapist specializing in feminist and trauma-informed care, to discuss the emotional and relational complexities of money—especially for women and mothers. They explore how financial stress intersects with caregiving, gender roles, and systemic oppression, offering a compassionate lens on how to unlearn the money stories we've been handed and build healthier, values-aligned relationships with money.

In this conversation, Erin and Jillian delve into how social conditioning and systemic forces shape women's financial beliefs and behaviors—from scarcity mindsets to shame around spending. They examine how motherhood can intensify financial anxiety and emotional labor, especially within heterosexual partnerships where caregiving and income often remain imbalanced. Together, they unpack the unspoken financial power dynamics that emerge in relationships, the importance of transparency, and how healing your relationship with money can be a powerful feminist act.

Jillian Knight is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Financial Therapist based in Raleigh, NC. She helps women and couples move from financial stress to empowerment by combining systemic therapy with financial education. Jillian brings a feminist, anti-oppressive approach to her work, creating inclusive spaces where clients can align their financial lives with their values and rewrite inherited narratives around money and worth.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt anxious about money, avoided financial conversations with their partner, or wondered how societal expectations around gender, caregiving, and class shape their financial decisions. You’ll walk away with fresh insight—and a few practical tools—for reimagining your relationship with money through a feminist lens.

Learn more about Jillian Knight and her work:

Website: https://www.herfinancialtherapy.com/

Instagram: @herfinancialtherapy

Connect with Erin:

Instagram: instagram.com/feminist.mom.therapist

Website: www.erinspahrtherapy.com

Substack: erinspahr.substack.com/subscribe

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In this episode of The Feminist Mom Podcast, Erin sits down with Dr. Jessica Zucker, a psychologist and writer specializing in reproductive health, to talk about her new book Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women’s Lives. Together, they explore how shame and cultural silence shape women’s experiences—from miscarriage to menopause to aging and identity.

In this conversation, Erin and Jessica discuss the ways storytelling can break the cycles of shame that often accompany womanhood. Jessica shares her own experience with miscarriage and how it reshaped her understanding of women’s mental health. They talk about societal pressures around perfectionism, beauty, and the expectations placed on mothers—and how healing begins when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, human, and imperfect.

This episode also dives into the deeper themes of aging, intersectionality, and how we can create safe spaces for authenticity and connection. It’s a powerful call for cultural change—and a reminder that we’re not alone.

Dr. Jessica Zucker is a Los Angeles-based psychologist specializing in reproductive health and the author of the award-winning book I Had a Miscarriage: A Memoir, a Movement. She’s the creator of the viral #IHadaMiscarriage campaign and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vogue, New York Magazine, Harvard Business Review, and more. Her latest book, Normalize It, is available now.

Learn more about Dr. Jessica Zucker and her work:

Website: drjessicazucker.comInstagram: @ihadamiscarriagePurchase Normalize It: Amazon Bookshop.org

Connect with Erin:

Instagram: instagram.com/feminist.mom.therapistWebsite: www.erinspahrtherapy.comSubstack: erinspahr.substack.com/subscribe

Subscribe & Review:

Love what you’re hearing? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more listeners like you!

In this episode of The Feminist Mom Podcast, Erin sits down with Dr. Serene Khader where they discusses her book “Faux Feminism: Why We Fall for White Feminism and How We Can Stop” and explores the intersections of feminism and motherhood, particularly in the context of the pandemic.

In this conversation, Erin and Serene discuss the evolution of childcare awareness and the impact of the pandemic on caregiving. They explore the historical context of feminism and childcare, the need for flexible childcare solutions, and the burden of intensive parenting. The discussion also highlights the overutilization of women's labor and the changing gender dynamics in feminism, emphasizing the importance of men's involvement in the movement.

Dr. Serene Khader is a writer, philosopher, and feminist thinker whose new book, Faux Feminism: Why We Fall for White Feminism and How We Can Stop, takes a hard look at how mainstream feminism often focuses too much on individual success instead of real, collective change. She’s a professor at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, and she has a lot to say about the ways feminism and motherhood intersect—especially after the pandemic.

Learn more about Dr. Serene Khader and her work at https://www.serenekhader.com/

Follow Serene on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/serenekhader.bsky.social

Purchase Faux Feminism here.

Follow Erin on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/feminist.mom.therapist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about Erin: www.erinspahrtherapy.com

Podcast Website: www.feministmompodcast.com

Subscribe & Review: Love what you’re hearing? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more listeners like you! Support the podcast with a monthly donation:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/feministmompodcast/support⁠⁠⁠⁠

Introducing the Inclusive Provider Directory! It is free for families to search. Providers can become a member and create a profile, as well as accessing a number of additional benefits.

Please note: The information provided on this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content shared here is not intended to be professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This page may contain affiliate links.

In this episode of The Feminist Mom Podcast, Erin sits down with Nancy Reddy, author of the forthcoming book The Good Mother Myth, which challenges the unrealistic expectations placed on mothers. Together, they discuss the cultural narratives that shape motherhood, the history of these ideals, and how we can create healthier, more equitable family dynamics. They explore the value of caregiving work, the importance of community, and why we need to let go of the "shoulds" that weigh us down.

Topics Discussed:

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• The origins of The Good Mother Myth and Nancy’s inspiration for writing it

  
  
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• The cultural expectations of motherhood and how they impact parents

  
  
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• The value of caregiving work and paid care in today’s society

  
  
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• Intensive mothering, attachment theory, and breaking free from societal “shoulds”

  
  
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• How to seek help, build community support, and share parenting responsibilities

  
  
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• Nancy’s reflections on her own early years of motherhood

  
  
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Nancy Reddy is a writer, teacher, and author of The Good Mother Myth, coming January 21, 2025. She’s also the author of three poetry collections and has written for outlets such as Slate and Romper. Nancy teaches at Stockton University in New Jersey and leads writing workshops to inspire creativity and connection.

Learn more about Nancy and her work at https://www.nancyreddy.com/

Follow Nancy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancy.o.reddy

Nancy’s newsletter Write More, Be Less Careful: https://nancyreddy.substack.com/

Purchase The Good Mother Myth here.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/feminist.mom.therapist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about Erin: www.erinspahrtherapy.com

Podcast Website: www.feministmompodcast.com

Subscribe & Review:Love what you’re hearing? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more listeners like you! Support the podcast with a monthly donation:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/feministmompodcast/support⁠⁠⁠⁠

Introducing the Inclusive Provider Directory! It is free for families to search. Providers can become a member and create a profile, as well as accessing a number of additional benefits.

Please note: The information provided on this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content shared here is not intended to be professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This page may contain affiliate links.