Have you noticed the beautiful kitchens, homemade bread, flowing dresses, gardens, and slower-paced home life showing up all over social media? Welcome to the world of Tradwives.In this episode of Wondering About, we’re wondering what the Tradwife trend is really all about. What exactly is a Tradwife? Where did the term come from? Why has this lifestyle become so popular online—and what is it about the aesthetic that has so many people fascinated?We dig into the rise of Tradwife influencers, the appeal of homemaking and a slower lifestyle, and the difference between what we see on social media and what everyday life might actually look like behind the perfectly curated posts.Is Tradwife life a return to simpler living? A social media aesthetic? A reaction to our increasingly busy lives? Or a little bit of all three?Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put the sourdough in the oven, and come wonder with us!

Citations:

A single mother speaks out on how the ‘tradwife’ lifestyle led to her divorce - https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/27/health/tradwife-lifestyle-women-mental-health-wellness/index.htmlAll your questions about Nara Smith & Lucky Blue: https://www.elle.com.au/culture/celebrity/nara-smith-lucky-blue-relationship/Mothers’ invisible workload is damaging their mental health https://news.okstate.edu/articles/communications/2019/mothers-invisible-workload-is-damaging-their-mental-healthThe #Tradwife Persona and the Rise of Radicalized Domesticity https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/ps/article/view/1645Meet the queen of the “Trad wives” (and her eight children). The Sunday Times. https://www.thetimes.com/magazines/the-sunday-times-magazine/article/meet-the-queen-of-the-trad-wives-and-her-eight-children-plfr50cgk

Why are we so fascinated by true crime?

In this episode of Wondering About, we’re going down a rabbit hole to figure out why so many of us are drawn to stories about murder, mystery, danger, and the darker side of human nature.

Is it morbid curiosity? Are we trying to learn how to protect ourselves? Do we like the thrill of being scared from the safety of our own couch? Or are we simply wired to want to understand things that frighten us?

And then there are the people who take it a step further—the “keyboard detectives” who research cases, connect clues, develop theories, and sometimes become determined to help solve a crime.

We’re wondering why true crime has such a hold on us, why women make up such a large part of the audience, and what psychology can tell us about our fascination with the stories we probably shouldn't be listening to right before bed.

It’s a little creepy, a little fascinating, and a whole lot to wonder about.

Come wonder with us.

Notes:

Dru Sjodin case in North Dakota

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Dru_Sjodin

Lindsay Clancy case (still active)

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trial-of-lindsay-clancy-the-mom-who-killed-her-3-children-enters-second-week-of-testimony

True Crime blog-

https://truecrimenews.com/

Citations:

Vivanco Carlevari, S., Scrivner, C., & Oosterwijk, S. (2025). [Article title]. British Journal of Psychology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13353251/Alfaro‐Beracoechea, L. , Puente, A. , Da Costa, S. , Ruvalcaba, N. , & Páez, D. (2018). Effects of fear of crime on subjective well‐being: A meta‐analytic review. European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Contexts, 10(2), 89–96. 10.5093/ejpalc2018a9Harrison, M. A. , & Frederick, E. J. (2022). Interested in serial killers? Morbid curiosity in college students. Current Psychology, 41(6), 3768–3777. 10.1007/s12144-020-00896-w

Have you ever wondered why some words are considered “bad” in the first place? Who decided which words we’re not supposed to say—and why does yelling one after stubbing your toe somehow make you feel a little better?

In this episode of Wondering About, we’re wondering about curse words. Where did they come from? Why are certain words considered offensive? Does swearing actually affect our brains and bodies? And why do the words that shock one generation barely get a reaction from the next?

We dig into the history and science behind profanity, find out what research says about people who swear, and—of course—talk about our own relationship with those four-letter words.

So whether you swear like a sailor or still spell out the bad words, this episode is for you.

What the @#$% is it about curse words? Come wonder with us!

Citation:

Jay, T. (2009). The Utility and Ubiquity of Taboo Words. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(2), 153–161.Adolphs, R., et al. (1999). A role for the human amygdala in recognizing emotional arousal from unpleasant stimuli.Van Lancker, D. (1987). Nonpropositional speech: Neurolinguistic studies.Does swearing at work get the job done? - Sean Stonefield, NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43442410Profanity Can Sometimes Be the Best Medicine, Increasing Pain Tolerance by ~ 33%, Psychiatrist.com, https://www.psychiatrist.com/news/profanity-can-sometimes-be-the-best-medicine-increasing-pain-tolerance-33-percent/