Common Sense Media Review
By Lakshmi Hutchinson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Feminist news and pop culture; mature content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
STUFF MOM NEVER TOLD YOU examines news, pop culture and gender equality issues from a feminist perspective. This podcast has been going since 2009 and has been through a few sets of hosts, each with their own particular styles and interests. Older episodes focus more on science, psychology, and history. The current hosts, Anney and Samantha, discuss activism, fandoms, and unconventional women. One episode could be about women protesting in Iran, and another might be about feminist themes in Star Wars. There are regular features like "Activists Around the World" as well as book clubs and movie reviews. The tone is conversational and often anecdotal, with the hosts sharing their personal experiences.
Is It Any Good?
This podcast has been around since 2009, and with so many episodes available to listen to it can be a mixed bag in terms of quality. An older episode of Stuff Mom Never Told You from 2012 about gendered toys references multiple studies and sounds well researched and articulated. Some of the newer episodes could benefit from additional time and preparation. A current episode on women protesting in Iran is well-intentioned but very rushed, and leaves out some important historical context. Another episode about Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars skips over one of the most interesting stories about her: how she went from a hated to a beloved character. It would have been great if they'd really delved into this as promised in the episode description.
The current hosts Anney and Samantha each have their own topics they're passionate about, so sometimes there's less interaction than you'd expect. Still, the podcast addresses some important subjects and profiles groundbreaking women that listeners may have never heard of otherwise. Stuff Mom Never Told You covers everything from Sex and the City to politics, and with over a decade of episodes to choose from you're sure to find some you'll enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Stuff Mom Never Told You pays special attention to female fans of entertainment franchises like Star Wars. How are female fans usually represented in pop culture and media?
In this podcast we hear stories about female activists from around the world, but we don't hear from the women themselves. Do you think it's important to have first-person accounts and interviews, especially when we're discussing other cultures?
Do you think podcasts are a good source for news and discussion about current events? Where do you get your news?
Podcast Details
- Release date : February 5, 2009
- Genre : Entertainment
- Run time : 30 minutes
- Hosts : Anney Reese , Samantha McVey
- Production Company and Network : iHeartPodcasts
- Pricing structure : Free
- Topics : Activism , School ( High School )
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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