Most species don't have grandparents. Humans do. Why? In this final episode of season one, developmental psychologist Alison Gopnik explores a strange feature of human evolution, and what it reveals about childhood, caregiving, and why raising children was never meant to be a job for parents alone. Shownotes: Much of today's conversation draws on Alison Gopnik's bestselling book The Gardener and t

Parenthood may be one of the biggest transformations in human life. So why are there so few stories about it? Franklin Leonard, founder of The Black List, has spent his career identifying overlooked stories. In this conversation, he helps us think about one of the biggest stories we may still be struggling to tell. Shownotes: Much of today's conversation draws on Franklin Leonard's work as the fou

For much of history, becoming a father came with a script. Today, many of those expectations have disappeared. Richard Reeves explores what happens when old ideas about manhood no longer fit, and why fatherhood may be one of the places where a new script is still being written. Shownotes: Much of today's conversation draws on Richard Reeves' bestselling book Of Boys and Men , in which he explores

Why do children make ordinary things feel extraordinary again? Writer and On Being host Krista Tippett reflects on how becoming a mother transformed the way she sees the world, and why wonder may be one of parenthood's most overlooked gifts. Shownotes: Krista's long-running podcast On Being explores spirituality, ethics, science and what it means to be human. In the episode with Buddhist teacher S

Before children, a city is something you move through. After children, it's something you start to see. Ecological engineer Nadina Galle explores how parenthood reshapes our relationship with nature—and why even a blade of grass can begin to matter. Shownotes: Nadina's book The Nature of Our Cities explores how technology – from AI to sensors and satellite imagery – can help us better understand,

Every parent eventually becomes the CEO of a small, chaotic organization. Economist and data expert Emily Oster explains what parenting can teach us about decision-making, leadership, and why good management matters more than perfect answers. Shownotes: Much of today's conversation draws on Emily Oster's book The Family Firm , in which she argues that families can benefit from applying principles

The human brain loves a good explanation. Parenthood has other plans. Science journalist and Radiolab host Lulu Miller explores why we are so determined to make sense of the world, and what happens when life refuses to fit the story. Shownotes: Much of today's conversation draws on Lulu Miller's bestselling book Why Fish Don't Exist , a meditation on our deep human desire to impose order on the na

Why does a bedtime routine feel so important? Anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas studies rituals, from firewalking ceremonies to family traditions. His work reveals why humans return to rituals whenever life becomes uncertain, and why parenthood may be one of the most ritual-filled experiences of all. Shownotes: Much of today's conversation draws on Dimitris Xygalatas' book The Ritual Effect: From

Sometimes a child is looking right at you and seems completely elsewhere, and sometimes they're completely with you. Developmental neuroscientist Vicky Leong studies those moments of connection, uncovering how parents and children synchronize their minds and get ready to learn from one another. Shownotes: Victoria Leong – Publications ( link ) Leong et al. (2017), Speaker gaze increases informatio

Why would evolution redesign a man's body after he has children? Anthropologist Lee Gettler helped uncover a surprising answer. His research on hormone changes including testosterone suggests that fatherhood doesn't just change how men think and feel, it changes their biology too. Shownotes: Lee’s landmark study Longitudinal Evidence that Fatherhood Decreases Testosterone in Human Males showed tha

For centuries, scientists studied what pregnancy does to the body. Almost nobody studied what it does to the brain. Neuroscientist Susana Carmona helped change that, uncovering evidence that motherhood reshapes the human brain in ways scientists are only beginning to understand. Shownotes: Susana's book A Mother’s Brain brings together the latest research on how pregnancy and motherhood reshape th

Three quarters of animal species undergo metamorphosis. Why are we so sure humans don't? Historian of science Oren Harman takes us from butterflies to starfish in search of an answer, and toward a surprising way of thinking about what happens when a baby turns someone into a parent. Shownotes: Much of the conversation draws on Oren Harman's exploration of metamorphosis across the natural world in

When a baby is born, a parent is born too. But what if that's more than a metaphor? Birth of a Parent explores the emerging science of how parenthood transforms the human mind. Host Michael Feigelson speaks with leading scientists, writers, and thinkers to investigate whether becoming a parent is one of life's most profound – and least understood – developmental stages. By following the podcast, y