The Longest Shortest Time

Join us for a deep (and delightfully nerdy) dive into the misunderstood world of vaginas, where we’ll learn about orgasm-chasing royalty, clitoral wingspans, vagina lollipops, wandering wombs — and the research on female anatomy we still desperately need. Science writer Rachel Gross is our fearless guide. … Recommendations from the archive #27 Rewriting Your Birth Story … Writing by Rachel • Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage (using this book link supports our show!) • Half the World Has a Clitoris. Why Don’t Doctors Study It? (NYT) • Women in Menopause Are Getting the Short Shrift (The Atlantic) • What Can We Learn from Menstrual Blood? (The New Yorker) • Body Language (NYT series on the history of medical language) … More on the clitoris & friends • The Clitoris, Uncovered (video by Rachel for Scientific American) • Cliteracy Reel (3D depictions by Sophia Wallace) • SEX-ED+ (company that makes silicone molds of clitorises and vulvas for educational purposes) • Tight Lipped (grassroots movement by and for people with chronic vulvovaginal and pelvic pain) … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A game of got-yer-nose turns racial and a 6-year-old raps to her white mom about not getting her Blackness. Two stories of biracial kids schooling their mamas. ⭐️ This episode originally ran on Fri, 05 Jun 2015 and is a favorite from the archives. We hope you enjoy, and we’ll be back next week with a brand new episode. … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Crano and David Joseph Craig knew starting a family would be hard — but they didn’t expect the twists and scares that inspired them to write a movie. In this episode, they share the true, messy tale behind I Don’t Understand You, their horror-romcom starring Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells. … Recommendations from the archive #95 The True History of a Child Chef & His Mom … Sponsors (using our links supports the show!) Caraway: carawayhome.com/LONGSHORT or code LONGSHORT at checkout for free shipping, a 30-day trial, and 10% off … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judah is 12. He makes a mean beef Wellington. Hear how he became a child chef, and how his mom had him when she was just a kid herself. ⭐️ This episode originally ran on September 7, 2016 and is a favorite from the archives. Find fun pictures of Judah and Kara at our website. We hope you enjoy, and we’ll be back next week with a brand new episode. … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Hess writes about the internet for a living. So she didn’t expect to form an emotional bond with a fertility app during her pregnancy. But when Amanda’s pregnancy got complicated, her relationship with the app got complicated, too. … Recommendations from the archive We recently re-aired some favorite episodes from our ongoing Sex + Parenthood series. Check them out in your podcast feed (the most recent eps before this one) or find the full series here. … More Amanda Hess • Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age (using this affilitae link supports the show!) • Amanda’s work in the New York Times … Sponsors (using our links supports the show!) Quince: quince.com/longshort for FREE shipping + 365-day returns Green Chef: greenchef.com/50LST for 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with FREE shipping … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did your high school health teacher ever try to teach you the risks of sex by making you carry around an egg and pretend it was a baby? These days, the pretending isn’t as much of a stretch. Lots of schools are opting to use robotic babies that cry throughout the day and night just like a real infant. In this episode, we follow two teenage girls over the course of 48 hours with the “babies,” and their conclusions surprise us! We also revisit the story after an eye-opening study in The Lancet that shed new light on our reporting. ⭐️ Versions of this episode originally aired on March 1, 2015 and November 16, 2016 and the story is a favorite from the LST archives. It’s also part of our ongoing Sex & Parenthood series. We’ve been airing a few episodes from the series over the next few weeks, while we gear up for our next batch of new episodes. You can find the full series here. … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us, at some point, will be touched by an affair—whether in our own relationships, or because one of our parents cheated, or because we are a trusted confidant. It’s a scary thing to think about, especially when kids are in the mix. Couples therapist Esther Perel joins us with advice on how to navigate affairs and how to keep them from happening in the first place. ⭐️ This episode originally aired on December 6, 2017 and is a favorite from the LST archives. It’s also part of our ongoing Sex & Parenthood series. We’ll be airing a few episodes from the series over the next few weeks, while we gear up for our next batch of new episodes. You can find the full series here. … Books by Esther Perel (using our affiliate links supports the show!) • The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity • Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence … Esther’s Podcast • Where Should We Begin? … Sponsors (using our links supports the show!) Blueland: 15% off at blueland.com/longshort … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most of his life, comedian W. Kamau Bell assumed his single mom never had sex after she made him. Today, he gets the real story. ⭐️ This episode originally aired on July 12, 2016 and is a favorite from the LST archives. It’s also part of our ongoing Sex & Parenthood series. We’ll be airing a few episodes from the series over the next few weeks, while we gear up for our next batch of new episodes. You can find the full series here. … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Sara Reardon’s friends discovered she had answers for all their (and their moms’) weird vagina questions, they called her “The Vagina Whisperer.” Sara embraced the nickname and, like a true superhero, put on her cape (ahem, vulva costume) and went on a mission to save leaky, dry, painful, and aging vaginas around the world with her pelvic floor physical therapy practice and fun, educational videos. Tune in for Sara’s tips — and answers to YOUR questions — about keeping things healthy down there. … Recommendations from the archive • #49 Healing After Childbirth • All episodes from our ongoing Sex & Parenthood Series (we will be airing a few of these in the coming weeks as we gear up for our next batch of new episodes) … Upcoming live pelvic floor AMA! Join Hillary and her very own pelvic floor PT, Debra Goldman, for a live AMA on Wednesday, June 18th 1-2pm ET. This event is available for LST+ members, and we are currently offering 10% off annual membership with code VAGINA. We did this once before and it was super fun, so don’t miss it! There is truly no such thing as TMI here, so come prepared with questions! … Episode resources *Purchasing with our affiliate links helps support the show! • Vagina Survival Kit, curated for LST by Sara • Sara’s book: FLOORED: A Woman’s Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage • Sara’s website • The Vagina Whisperer on Instagram … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anna North spent years reporting on reproductive health — so she was surprised when her doctor suggested a birth control method she’d never heard of. In this episode, Anna shares why she chose to end her potential for having kids while giving birth to one… and who else might want to consider this little-known procedure. … Recommended from the archive #71 A Childless Man Gets a C-Section … Articles by Anna North (Vox) • The cancer-reducing birth control method you might not have heard of • What science is just starting to understand about periods • The failed promise of egg freezing • Anna’s newsletter: Kids Today … Novels by Anna North (using our links supports the show!) • Outlawed • Bog Queen … Sponsors (using our links supports the show!) • Blueland: 15% off your first order at blueland.com/longshort • Blissy: 60 nights risk-free + 30% off at blissy.com/longshortpod with code LONGSHORTPOD … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xyla Foxlin started flying as a teenager. By her twenties, she was piloting her own plane and building another from scratch. But when a private health crisis went public, she wound up in a battle with the FAA that could ground her for good. … Recommendations from the archive • #51 Real Teens, Fake Babies … Suicide and Crisis Lifeline • If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal ideation, dial 988 … More about Xyla • Xyla’s YouTube channel • Xyla’s IUD video • Xyla’s FAA video … More on pilots and mental health • Why Airline Pilots Feel Pushed to Hide Their Mental Health, The New York Times • It’s Time to Act on Pilots’ Mental Health, Scientific American • FAA Should Not Require Pilots to Disclose Talk Therapy, Panel Says, Reuters … The Pilot Mental Health Campaign The Pilot Mental Health Campaign offers resources for pilots struggling with mental health issues and is advocating for two bipartisan bills in congress. Learn more here. … Sponsors (using our links supports the show!) • Blissy: 60 nights risk free + 30% off at blissy.com/LONGSHORTPOD with code LONGSHORTPOD … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re bringing you something special: an episode from Add to Cart, a show we love hosted by Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak. You might remember Kulap when she was a guest on our show back in 2018, where she bravely unpacked her childhood trauma and shared how it led to her documentary film. Add to Cart is a witty, subversive take on consumerism. Each week, Kulap and SuChin have candid (and often TMI) conversations about what they’re adding to or removing from their carts—whether it’s products, people, trends, or philosophies. Together, they explore what we’re buying into and what it reveals about who we are. In this episode, they’re joined by author and journalist Vicky Nguyen for the very first Auntie Book Club of the year, diving into her powerful memoir Boat Baby. Vicky talks about going from boat refugee to national TV and why the R is for refuse in her household. To hear more episodes of Add to Cart, follow the show wherever you get your podcasts or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/atcfd … Kulap’s LST episode #204 Breaking Cycles (and Chairs!) with Kulap Vilaysack … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ashley Parker has covered some of the biggest political events of our time — but for years she’s been obsessed with a very different type of story: birth stories. In this episode, Ashley opens up about her own experiences with childbirth and pregnancy, raising three girls, and a mistake she made as a teenager involving a camera… and boobs. If you follow her work, this is a side of Ashley Parker you’ve never heard before! … Recommendations from the archive #73 Love Yurts … Episode resources • Ashley’s Atlantic essay about miscarriage (gift link expires 5/12/25) • Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support • March of Dimes • The Miscarriage Association … Sponsors (using our links supports the show!) • Blueland: 15% off your first order at blueland.com/longshort … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ali Yarrow thought her childbirth experience would be hers to guide. Instead, she found it was guided by American the obstetrics system — a model that was designed by men. Ali documented what she uncovered in her eye-opening book, Birth Control, and joins us to share what she learned about maternal care in the U.S., how we got here, and how to advocate for ourselves in a system stacked against both patients and providers. *When you use our affilate links to purchase books, we earn a commission, which helps support our work! … Recommendations from the archive • #27 Rewriting Your Birth Story • #28 The Missing Chapter to Ina May’s Guide • #218 Ina May’s Guide, Completely Revised and Updated … Doula Resources Doulas often lead to better birth outcomes. Find one in your area through DONA International. Doula Training If you’re a birth partner, you can train to be a doula yourself! • DONA birth doula certification training • CAPPA birth doula certification training • MaternityWise Institute birth doula certification training Low-Cost/No-Cost Doula Services Many cities have low/no-cost doula programs for low-income individuals. Contact local birthing centers, hospitals, and state health departments for more info. Below are some examples. • NYC’s Citywide Doula Initiative • HealthConnect One community based doula services • Community Doula Network (DC Area) • Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance (LA Area) … Sponsors (using our links supports the show!) • Blissy: 60 nights risk-free plus 30% off at blissy.com/LONGSHORTPOD with code LONGSHORTPOD • Alloy: $20 off your first order at myalloy.com/LONGSHORT with code LONGSHORT … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Gordon starred in over a hundred porn films in the 70s and 80s under the name Richard Pacheco. But his greatest role was as a father. At StoryCorps, he talked with his son Bobby Gordon about sex, shame, and dirty movies. This episode comes from StoryCorps's podcast season "My Way" - stories from people who found a rhythm all their own and confidently marched to it their whole lives. … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When we last heard from CJ, they were struggling to figure out how to achieve their lifelong dream of becoming a dad. CJ now has a kid, but getting there was a total rollercoaster — including sperm mishaps, blatant discrimination, and an underground group of queer midwives in Athens. Buckle up, because this ride is a wild one! Note: this episode contains mature content, so probably not one to listen to with the kids. … CJ’s first episode #170 Becoming a Single Dad While Trans … Resources for trans pregnancy + parenthood • Trans Fertility Co. • Fenway Health • Family Equality • UCSF Transgender Care … Sponsors (using our links supports the show!) • Betterhelp: betterhelp.com/longshort for 10% off your first month • Acorns Early: first month free with acornsearly.com/longshort • Hungryroot: hungryroot.com/longshort with code LONGSHORT for 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sex ed in schools isn’t cutting it, and studies show that kids are turning to porn for answers. In this episode, Traci Thomas of The Stacks podcast joins us to suggest books that help tweens and teens navigate the complicated world of sex and relationships. We’ll cover fiction and nonfiction — plus a few picks to help spice up the sex lives of parents! … Recent episodes about sex ed • #220 The Staircase • #221 How to Now (Accidentally) Raise a Rapist … Episode resources • More about Traci • Full list of books mentioned in this episode … Episode sponsors (using our links supports the show!) • Alloy: $20 off your 1st order at alloy.com/LONGEST • Hungryroot: 40% off 1st box + free item in every box for life at hungryroot.com/LONGSHORT with code LONGSHORT • Quince: free shipping + 365-day returns at quince.com/LONGSHORT … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last time we heard from Andrea Silenzi, she was navigating the wild world of sperm shopping as a single woman in her mid-30s who wanted to become a mom. Five years later, Andrea’s back with an exciting update. Hint: she’s no longer single and no longer shopping. … Hear “The Single Lady’s Guide to Sperm Shopping” • #208 Sperm Series: I Download an App • #209 Sperm Series: I Visit a Sperm Bank • #210 Sperm Series: I Ask a Friend Hear the episode about Andrea’s doctor • #183 Postpartum House Arrest … Sponsors (using our links supports the show!) • Alloy: $20 off your 1st order at alloy.com/LONGEST • Hungryroot: 40% off 1st box + free item in every box for life at hungryroot.com/LONGSHORT with code LONGSHORT • Quince: free shipping + 365-day returns at quince.com/LONGSHORT … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cyndie Spiegel built a career on optimism — inspiring audiences with messages of hope and writing a bestselling book about the benefits of positive thinking. But when 2020 hit, her world unraveled in ways she never saw coming. As she faced mounting struggles with family and health, the affirmations she once preached were no longer working, and she had to find a new way forward. In this episode, Cyndie shares the surprising ways she found hope when life was not okay. And if YOU’RE feeling not okay, we hope Cyndie’s techniques help you, too. … More episodes about non-parents • #79 Terry Gross on Not Having Kids • #84 My Best Friend’s Baby … More about Cyndie cyndiespiegel.com … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Consent education in school is mostly insufficient or non-existent — even when it’s required by state law. An organization called SafeBAE is trying to change that by training teens to teach each other about consent. SafeBAE’s executive director Shael Norris talks about what works and what doesn’t when discussing this topic with young people. We’ll also hear a cautionary tale about a time when Shael’s own daughter attempted to get justice for sexual assault survivors back when she was in high school. Artwork for this episode by Andrea Tomingas. … Recommendations from the archive • The title for this episode is a spin on one of our most popular episodes ever: #116 How to Not (Accidentally) Raise a Racist • If you want to learn about the history of sex ed, check out: #134 How to Make a Fella Feel Relaxed … SafeBAE resources mentioned in this episode • For teens who want to learn about consent or become peer educators • For adult educators who want to incorporate consent education at school • For parents who want better consent education for their kids • SafeBAE’s #knowB4Unude video • SafeBAE’s active bystander video … Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! Follow us on Instagram Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices