Parenting is a Joke

Parenting is a Joke

You know when you talk to your friends about your childhood and end it by saying, "But look at us, we're fine!" Here's my question: Are we fine? Because we're sitting here doused in CBD oil under a weighted blanket recording a podcast called Parenting is a Joke. Each week, host and standup Ophira Eisenberg talks to a different comedian about their career and their kids. Conversations tackle the tooth fairy, eating sticks, summer camp anxiety, the hidden horrors of childbirth, and the obvious horrors of our own childhoods. We celebrate the absurdity of shuffling a career with raising a kid, and highlight less traditional parenthood journeys, all while relishing in the fact that no one knows what they're doing, but we're all trying! Sometimes even our best. New episodes every Tuesday. New Season October 1st.

Episodes

January 14, 2025 50 mins
This week on Parenting Is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg welcomes podcast pioneer Biz Ellis from the wildly popular One Bad Mother show! Biz shares her strategies for raising emotionally forward kids, from letting them slam doors to giving them ice to smash against walls. Meanwhile, Ophira reflects on her own parenting moments, like offering her son the chance to scream it out in the car and navigating impulse control challenges. Togethe...
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In this snack-sized episode, Ophira Eisenberg sits down with comedy writers Wendy and Lizzie Molyneux, the creative forces behind Bob’s Burgers and The Great North. The sisters open up about the controlled chaos of parenting large families while balancing successful careers in animation. Wendy, a mom of four, and Lizzie, a mom of three, discuss household rules that almost work, from no iPads during the week to family dinners free o...
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This week, host Ophira Eisenberg is joined by Wendy and Lizzie Molyneux, the brilliant sister duo behind Bob’s Burgers and The Great North. The pair share their hilarious and heartfelt parenting journeys—Wendy as a mother of four and Lizzie with three kids spanning toddler to teen. They reflect on the joys and challenges of raising kids in Los Angeles while juggling a demanding career in television. From the realities of postpartum...
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Ophira Eisenberg kicks off the new year with returning guest Ophira Edut, one-half of the AstroTwins and a seasoned astrologer. Together, they reveal the cosmic trends shaping 2025 and what they mean for parents. From Capricorn’s 16-year Pluto transformation to the emerging influence of Aquarius, they explore how planetary shifts mirror societal changes, including new trends in parenting, relationships, and work-life balance. Liste...
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Parenting and comedy collide in this hilarious and heartfelt episode featuring UK comic Jen Brister. Known for her hit specials Waves and The Optimist and her book The Other Mother, Jen opens up about navigating life as a mom of twin boys while juggling a demanding comedy career. From her "put your shoes on" parenting anthem to the unique challenges of being a non-biological parent in a same-sex relationship, Jen’s candid insights ...
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In this special holiday snack-sized episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg shares listener-submitted stories of holiday mishaps and parenting disasters. From festive puke-filled car rides to Lego-set mix-ups, a ravioli catastrophe that spanned three floors and the perils of trying to be a supermom post-C-section, these tales will make you laugh, cringe, and feel less alone in the season's chaos. Ophira also reflects on he...
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On this week’s episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg revisits a festive favorite featuring Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson, the comedic duo behind the hit podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood. With six kids between them and years of experience making people laugh, Margaret and Amy open up about the chaos of raising children while building a thriving podcasting empire. They explore everything fro...
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In this lively, holiday-themed snack-sized episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg welcomes comedian and holiday advice-gatherer Emily Winter for a laugh-packed chat on surviving the festive season. From the chaos of cross-country travel to the psychological warfare of managing "Elf on the Shelf," this episode is full of relatable humor and practical insights. Hear crowd-sourced gems like why Santa shouldn’t get credi...
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December 17, 2024 51 mins
In this episode of Parenting as a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg welcomes Mike Pesca: journalist, host of podcasts The Gist and Funny You Should Mention, and father of two teenage boys. Mike demonstrates his hard-hitting journalism prowess in the episode, as he discusses sugar-fueled parenting, why Ophira almost choked on a grape, and letting your kid give a PowerPoint presentation to earn subway privileges. The conversation meanders from ...
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We’re back with a Parenting's a Joke festive, snack-sized bonus episode with comedian Megan Gailey! Megan, host of the Sports Bitches podcast, shares her hilarious take on parenting, from navigating her toddler’s obsession with sports figures to her ultimate dream holiday scenario straight out of a Hallmark movie, and yes, It involves Christmas sweaters and a whole lot of holiday spirit Megan opens up about her hilarious holiday di...
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December 10, 2024 44 mins
In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg sits down with comedian Megan Gailey to explore the realities of parenting in the male-dominated world of comedy, how women in comedy can’t escape scrutiny regarding their appearance and weight, and how it feels to deliver jokes while pregnant and also as a new mom. Megan opens up about how the pregnancy gave her a fresh perspective on her material and the challenges of fitti...
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December 5, 2024 22 mins
Parenting's a Joke brings you an entertaining snack-sized bonus episode featuring Ryan Britt! Ryan, a writer and editor specializing in parenting media, spills the tea on kids’ shows like Bluey (spoiler: he’s not a fan) and his surprising love for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. From breaking down what makes My Little Pony unexpectedly deep to sharing hilarious highlights from celebrity dad interviews—including Matthew McConau...
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December 3, 2024 46 mins
In this episode, Ophira Eisenberg sits down with author, cultural critic, and father Ryan Britt for a fascinating conversation that blends geek culture, parenting, and life transitions. They reflect on their early days performing live at Moth storytelling shows in NYC and explore Ryan's journey as a writer of celebrated nonfiction books like Luke Skywalker Can't Read and Phasers on Stun. Ryan also shares his experience moving from ...
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In this holiday episode, we're serving up a fun, festive mix of Thanksgiving humor, life hacks, and wild stories with comedian and writer Emily Winter! Even her name is right on theme. From Thanksgiving drama to her accidental (but expertly planned) win on The Price is Right, this episode runs the gamut from antics to anxiety that is textbook holiday. Emily takes us on a wild ride through the aftermath of winning big, her family va...
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Host Ophira Eisenberg revisits one of her favorite interviews with two incredible comedians Joe List and Sarah Tollemache to talk about their marriage and the baby they are about to bring into this world! The conversation includes frank talk about fertility issues, the cost of treatment, the decision to go with an egg donor and how they envision their lives when this baby enters their world. Plus there are tons of laughs with these...
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In this bite-sized podcast episode, Ophira Eisenberg and comedian Sarah Tollemache take a hilarious trip down memory lane, reminiscing about holiday shenanigans and the rollercoaster ride of parenting. They fondly recall the wild, unsupervised escapades of their childhood holidays, where the only rule was "don't break anything... especially yourself." Fast forward to today, and they marvel at how parenting has morphed into a high-s...
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November 19, 2024 58 mins
In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg sits down with the hilariously candid comedian Sarah Tollemache, fresh off the release of her comedy special "Butthole Money." Together, they dive headfirst into the whirlwind of chaos and comedy that is the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. Expect a rollercoaster of laughs as they tackle the emotional and physical rollercoaster of raising a newborn, from the nipp...
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In this Parenting is a Joke snack, Ophira continues her chat with the talented comedian and actress Ashley Austin Morris, who's about to make the leap from creative powerhouse to working mom. Ashley opens up about her faith, her hilarious take on "dad excitement", and the challenges of figuring out how to recharge once the baby arrives. They also dive into Ashley’s experience on the Electric Company reboot, where she made the jump ...
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In this candid episode of Parenting is a Joke, comedian and actress Ashley Austin Morris opens up about her experience navigating pregnancy, body changes, and the complexities of medical care. She shares her struggles with the emotional and physical toll of pregnancy, especially as someone who's faced an eating disorder in the past, and reflects on the challenges of being an older mom with a different perspective on medical interve...
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November 7, 2024 22 mins
Join host Ophira Eisenberg and comedian Pete Dominick in this bonus snack episode, where they talk about how to help your kids navigate the sea of information in today’s world, and practical tips for encouraging critical thinking to foster open dialogues and emotional well-being. They also share some laughs about holiday traditions and outrageous gifts for kids, and Pete offers the perfect remedy for those nostalgic moments when yo...
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