Poisoned Ivies

Fables for the American Republic

Bethany sat down with Professor Matt Mehan [https://x.com/MTMehan], Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Government at Hillsdale in DC about his new book, The American Book of Fables [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1XYVC54], that was released last month. We have a wide-ranging conversation about the importance of fables, homeschooling as the Founders might have, and the importance of literature for all ages. He's the author of three books including Mr. Mehan's Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals, and The Handsome Little Cygnet.

Kara's Comeback

Kara makes a triumphant return to the podcast after her chaotic maternity leave, ready to talk about the birth of her second daughter, Sloane. She and Bethany discuss life with two under two, and how life with two feels somehow harder than life with six

Are the Kids Alright?

Bethany is joined this week by Emily Elkins, Vice President of the Cato Institute and a mother of three. She dives into reams of data she's acquired about how kids these days are doing. Buckle up, it's a bit depressing.

Poisoned Ivies

This week Bethany is joined by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to talk about her new book, Poisoned Ivies, about how parents can navigate *these times* with their toddlers and young adult children alike, and what it it's like as a young mother serving as a Member of Congress. You can read Bethany's piece interviewing Stefanik at the New York Post here [https://nypost.com/2026/04/15/opinion/elise-stefanik-and-the-sick-truth-of-colleges-moral-collapse/].

Bridget Phetasy

In this episode, Bethany is joined by writer and comedian Bridget Phetasy [https://www.phetasy.com] to talk about how becoming a late-in-life mother was transformative, and how our culture gets the narrative wrong on motherhood. Phetasy is the host of the podcasts Walkins Welcome and Dumpster Fire.