From prediction markets like Kalshi and its youngest self-made female billionaire cofounder to sports betting partnerships with the WNBA, the gambling boom's play for women has all the predictable moves of a gendered marketing story, except they're inside of an unreal game playing out, thanks to the wonders of capitalism (and MAGA).Cristen got on Polymarket, Kalshi and is still spiritually recovering from the amount of $$$ Americans bet on sports last year, prediction markets embedding in journalism and a certain someone's resemblance to former youngest self-made female billionaire, Elizabeth Holmes. ~ get in touch @unladylikemedia on Instagram, or email hello@unladylike.co ~ special thank you to Unladies' Room Patreon supporters! this wouldn't exist without you ~ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Better late than never read! In March, Adult Braces – and three unfortunate emails to a Slate reporter – inspired a thousand Substack hot takes, reactionary declarations of failed feminism and social media rage against Lindy West’s husband, Aham Oluo. Now that Cristen’s finished the book, and the controversy’s faded out from our feeds, the drama looks a lot like a feminist Scandoval: a parasocial fandom reckoning with the gaps between a woman's public politics, private relationships and the marriage she’s choosing to stay in. ~ get in touch @unladylikemedia on Instagram, or email hello@unladylike.co ~ special thank you to Unladies' Room Patreon supporters! this wouldn't exist without you ~ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The perimenopause boom is old news, but where did it come from, and why does it make some ob-gyns wary? Cristen investigates what we do – and don’t – know about perimenopause and what to expect when you’re expecting The Change(s). And as an industry “growth opportunity” at the intersection of beauty, aging and healthcare (usually in that order), how do we tell the difference between our own perimenopause needs and what’s being sold to us? Highlights include: perimenopause, the TikTok personality; the study that set hormone therapy back a generation; and why the menopause market is now coming for women in their thirties.~ get in touch @unladylikemedia on Instagram, or email hello@unladylike.co ~ special thank you to Unladies' Room Patreon supporters! this wouldn't exist without you ~ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the “soft swinging” scandal that launched it all to leaked domestic violence footage, restraining orders, and The Bachelorette cancellation, Cristen breaks down the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives chaos, what it reveals about our appetite for female dysfunction, relationship abuse as reality TV drama, and whether we've officially hit peak Mormon cultural moment.~special thank you to Unladies' Room Patreon supporters! this wouldn't exist without you~ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Birth rates are down, pronatalism is up, and having two kids isn't enough (allegedly). Cristen unpacks the trio of contradictions defining "real" American womanhood right now: the political pressure to procreate, fake science masquerading as chivalry, and "zero trimester" influencers monetizing fertility anxiety. Plus: medication abortion in the courts, maternal regret in The Cut, and seeking comfort in adult cradles. ~special thank you to Unladies' Room Patreon supporters! this wouldn't exist without you~ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do toned arms, “wonky” eyes, and collar bone angles prove about your gender? Nothing. Nevertheless, the digital phrenology of transvestigation persisted. But how?? Digital culture researcher Lexi Webster decodes the conspiracy genre where all celebrities (and most First Ladies) are “secretly trans” and skull-measuring pseudoscience rules, then political scholar Fran Amery connects transvestigation brainrot to very real organized transphobia, uniting feminist factions with the far right in the name of protecting women. Originally aired on Conspiracy, She Wrote in September 2024.~special thank you to Unladies' Room Patreon supporters! this wouldn't exist without you~ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharing a special episode this week from Dr. Sharon Malone. On Dr. Sharon’s new podcast, The Second Opinion, women take back the conversation on health with straight talk, real experience, and the care we all deserve. You’ll hear prominent female advocates, experts and patients just like you sharing how they confronted gaps in our healthcare system and got second opinions that saved their lives. Alongside each guest, Dr. Sharon tackles the questions and topics we’ve been conditioned to ignore — the ones we search for at 3 a.m. but never bring up at the doctor’s office. From dismissed symptoms to systemic failures, she pulls back the curtain on what’s really going on in women’s health and gives women the tools to advocate for themselves and each other. In this episode, Dr. Sharon talks to Board Certified Ob/GYN and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon, Dr. Karen Tang. The two unpack the evolution of Obstetrics Gynecology, the different OB-GYN subspecialties, and surgical options for reproductive health. Plus, Dr. Tang shares experiences patients may have on the surgical table and why you may want to choose a minimally invasive surgery for gynecologic conditions. Find more episodes of The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon Malone at https://link.mgln.ai/unladylike Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author Jo Piazza (Under the Influence) and Cristen don their milkmaid dresses to talk tradwives, elusive tradhusbands and the hustle. From homeschooling curriculum to MAHA-approved supplements, tradwife influencers are serving up a fantasy of submission—and becoming breadwinners while they’re at it. Jo unpacks why it's so lucrative, the research behind her new tradwife thriller Everyone Is Lying to You, the pink-pilled pipeline pulling women rightward, and the prairie-core dream versus generational wealth realities.**For ad-free bonus episodes and uncut guest interviews, join the Unladies Room Patreon. Get in touch on Instagram @unladylikemedia, and/or subscribe to the newsletter at unladylike.substack.com.** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When womanhood is reduced to a capitalist identity, who gets erased—and who gets empowered to do the erasing? In the final episode of Gender War Games, host Cristen Conger joins Material Girls co-hosts Hannah McGregor and Marcelle Kosman to unpack how white womanhood is activated—politically, culturally, algorithmically—to reinforce systems of power. From tradwife aesthetics to terf rhetoric, strategic essentialism to state violence, discover how white femininity gets mobilized as both soft power and backlash engine in the so-called gender wars. (00:00) Gender Equality Survey Says...(00:59) The Real Societal Tension: Wealth Inequality(03:37) Strategic Essentialism and Gender Categories(08:37) Scapegoating and Transphobia(12:01) Gender as a Technology(14:45) Capitalism, Social Reproduction and Gender Roles(18:46) Masculinity Crisis By Design(26:44) Racial Capitalism(31:18) The Political Weaponization of Gender(39:59) Community Building Beyond IndividualismFor ad-free bonus episodes and uncut guest interviews, visit patreon.com/unladylikemedia. Get in touch on Instagram @unladylikemedia, and/or subscribe to the newsletter at unladylike.substack.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When misinformation becomes a vibe, who gets caught in the crosshairs? In part 3 of Gender War Games, host Cristen Conger and linguist Amanda Montell (Sounds Like a Cult, Magical Overthinkers) decodes the cognitive glitches, language games, and algorithmic dynamics fueling today’s gender panic. From the illusory truth effect and magical thinking to the viral power of weaponized words, learn how belief is built—not by facts, but by feelings, aesthetics and repetition. (00:00) "Gender War" Is a Shapeshifter(03:22) Decoding the Discourse(05:07) Cognitive Biases and Gendered Disinformation(05:56) The Illusory Truth Effect(06:40) The Rhyme Is Reason Effect(09:52) Algorithmic Influence(10:46) This Is Your Brain On Gender War(15:47) The Gender Nostalgia Trap(23:52) Moral Overconfidence and Social Justice(30:06) Radical ImaginationFor ad-free bonus episodes and uncut guest interviews, visit patreon.com/unladylikemedia. Get in touch on Instagram @unladylikemedia, and/or subscribe to the newsletter at unladylike.substack.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is wellness the new purity ring? In part 2 of Gender War Games, host Cristen Conger and trainer Cadence Dubus breaks down how body control, aesthetic discipline, and "clean" femininity are being sold as self-care—while reinforcing the same old patriarchal power structures. From the rise of Ozempic and disordered wellness trends to body shame masquerading as moral virtue, what happens when femininity and fitness become political battlegrounds where women are expected to be skinny, soft, and silent?(00:00) Your Body Is a Battleground  (00:52) The New Right's Body Ideals(01:23) The Wellness Grind(03:16) Functional Strength > Weight-Loss Goals(05:48) Women's Fitness Mirage(11:13) The Ozempic Effect(15:18) America's Health Hierarchy(17:28) Politicized Exercise(21:15) Class, Wealth and Commodified Wellness(28:29) What's a Body to Do?For ad-free bonus episodes and uncut guest interviews, visit patreon.com/unladylikemedia. Get in touch on Instagram @unladylikemedia, and/or subscribe to the newsletter at unladylike.substack.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is feminism dead—or just shadowbanned? In part 1 of the Gender War Games miniseries, host Cristen Conger and Diabolical Lies co-hosts Caro Claire Burke and Katie Gatti Tassin dissect how feminism got hyper-commodified, beauty became capitalism's favorite control tactic, and reactionary gender politics took center stage. From antifeminist burnout to algorithmic aesthetics, what's behind the right-wing, conspiratorial rebranding of women and gender—and who's profiting off it? (00:00) Feminism Under Siege(01:34) Womanosphere Rising?(02:56) Diabolical Lies podcast(04:12) A Femininity Crisis?(07:40) Feminine Hierarchy and Gender Panic(13:45) Reactionary Feminism and Its Roots(19:33) Evie Magazine and Far-Right Women's Media(23:50) Antifeminism's Self-Fulfilling Prophecy(28:24) The 90s Evie Magazine (29:32) Echo Chambers vs Reality(41:27) Don't Underestimate Far-Right Women(43:18) Conclusion and Call to ActionFor ad-free bonus episodes and uncut guest interviews, visit patreon.com/unladylikemedia. Get in touch on Instagram @unladylikemedia, and/or subscribe to the newsletter at unladylike.substack.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharing a new show from our friends at Higher Ground, hosted by Michelle Obama. On IMO, Michelle and her big brother Craig Robinson bring their candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Each week, they’re joined by a guest to tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs. Topics range from dating and relationships, to family and faith. Michelle and Craig share stories about being there for each other throughout their lives, from first crushes and fraught college years, to landing at the White House, to losing their mom. For six decades they’ve been each others’ most trusted counsel—and now, they want to be that counsel for you. In this episode, they’re joined by actress Issa Rae for a topic we've discussed many times on Unladylike: female friendships. Issa helps a listener navigate the challenge of mismatched expectations in adult friendships.You can find more episodes of IMO at https://lnk.to/imomichellecraigUNSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why do sex trafficking myths keep spreading—especially among suburban moms and TikTok girlies? Journalist Caitlin Dewey (Links I Would Gchat You) unravels how viral misinformation, true crime culture and moral panic have turned Target parking lots into imagined danger zones. Caitlin and Cristen compare the realities of trafficking to "ladies, stay safe!!" rhetoric that insists we're always in danger. Subscribe to Conspiracy, She Wrote and hear the FIVE-part Ladies, Stay Safe miniseries. Scroll The Links x "Conspiracy, She Wrote" reading guide to America’s sex trafficking panic.More Unladylike:as seen on Instagram and TikTokjoin the Unladies' Roomnew sweatshirts?!!!ads by Multitude ProductionsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gold digger. Ice queen. Punching bag. Why was a 22-year-old Robin Givens villainized when her whirlwind romance with boxer Mike Tyson spiraled into a living nightmare? In this bonus from the Unladies' Room, Susie Banikarim (In Retrospect) tells us the story of how their brief and tabloid-frenzying marriage ended with Robin declared "the most hated woman in America" and why she still hasn't gotten the cultural redemption she deserves.  CW: intimate partner violence . . . Follow Unladylike: Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Shop merch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why waste a good passport marrying a fellow citizen? Is love strong enough to withstand deportation? Journalist and author Anna Lekas Miller shares what happened when she "proposed marriage fraud" to a Syrian refugee and how borders, visas and passports decide who gets to be together. Her book is Love Across Borders: Passports, Papers, and Romance in a Divided World.   . . . Follow Unladylike: IG and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Shop merch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the rise of the "perfectly imperfect" veneer ideal, it's the perfect time to revisit how beauty culture got here. (And subscribe to The Review of Beauty by Jessica Defino!) Why are more young women trading in their natural teeth for cosmetic veneers? What does it say about beauty standards, class perceptions and the dental healthcare gap? Writer Jessica Goldstein drills down on the rise of cosmetic dentistry, aesthetic veneers, head-to-toe "hotness creep" and her brilliant Washington Post feature, "Have you noticed that everyone's teeth look a little too perfect?" . . . Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Shop merch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good men aren't hard to find. What's "good" is where it gets complicated. Sociologist Emily Carian returns to the pod to share what she learned interviewing male feminists and men's rights activists for her new book Good Guys, Bad Guys: The Perils of Men's Gender Activism. Highlights include: privilege renegotiation, women's roles in cishet men's paths to feminism and/or the manosphere and why a leftist Joe Rogan doesn't exist. Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Get your new favorite sweatshirt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**UNLADIES' ROOM PATREON TEASER** It's a good thing, this bonus episode. Unladies, we're talking about a trio docs out that I'm calling the Venn Diagram of Peak White-Womaning and Girlbossery (really rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?): Martha on Netflix, Breath of Fire on Max and Anatomy of Lies on Peacock. I planned to watch none and ended up bingeing them all. To hear the full, ad-free episode, join the Patreon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They're trending, unfortunately. Sociologist Emily Carian explains what the men's rights movement is, who it attracts and why. Cristen also talks to Emily about the mental and scientific challenges of interviewing anti-feminist men for her research. This episode originally aired in November 2022. Follow Unladylike Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices