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November 17, 2025 17 mins
Have you talked to a parent recently? Are they...okay?

From textbook bans to health food trends, there’s a whole culture of fear and political propaganda that preys on new parents, convincing them that just buying this or just voting for that will keep their children safe. But how do you know if something is a moral panic or a legitimate concern?

Brittany is joined by Karen Leick, author of Parents, Media and Panic through the Years, and Cynthia Wang, Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations at Northwestern University to sift through the differences.

(0:00) The burdensome anxiety of modern parenting
(2:01) How parental fear & shame impacts children
(4:26) How perceived threats shape parental behavior
(10:31) The emotional impact of parental fears on kids
(13:13) How to know a real vs. perceived threat in modern life

Follow Brittany Luse on Instagram: @bmluse

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