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Parenting Roundabout

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Join parenting writers Terri Mauro and Catherine Holecko for a weekly look at the things parents are talking about, complaining about, and obsessing about right now.

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United States

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Join parenting writers Terri Mauro and Catherine Holecko for a weekly look at the things parents are talking about, complaining about, and obsessing about right now.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Weekly Roundup: “Better Than Fiction” and Our Series Finale

4/16/2026
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week, in the final episode EVER of this podcast. Catherine's library find is Better Than Fiction: True Travel Tales from Great Fiction Writers, published in 2021 by The Lonely Planet. There's also a second volume of even more travel tales. Terri's random recommendation is all the ways you can keep up with us when we're no longer blabbing in your ears three times a week. Also mentioned: Bookmory and Authory. Too Old for CoolInstagram@mamatudewebsiteInstagramTwitter In the archives, we talked about a couple of specific episodes while recalling the many permutations of the podcast over the past dozen years: Parenting Investigations and Are You a Soggy Mom?. While we won't be publishing new episodes, our archives will remain available. Thank you for listening!

Duration:00:22:10

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Parenting Tips from “Lost” S5 E9, “Namaste”

4/15/2026
Each Wednesday, we've been discussing an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. We stay on the island for this entire episode, but jump between two timelines just to keep things interesting. To Terri's dismay, the love quadrangle of Sawyer/Kate/Jack/Juliet is back in action. Mentioned: Call the Midwife and a pertinent scene from The Princess Bride. We're wrapping up our recaps of Lost here, but we may not be quite done blathering about TV in general (and Lost in particular; Catherine can't stop watching now!). Keep an eye on our social media and Terri's Substack for updates. We'll be back tomorrow with our final weekly roundup.

Duration:00:26:39

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Parenting Tips from “Shrinking” S3 E11, “And That’s Our Time”

4/14/2026
Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Fittingly, for our last Tuesday episode, we're finishing season 3 of Shrinking. In a three-season arc of grief, forgiveness, and moving on, it turns out "moving on" is the least dynamic part of the story, as the season ends with the characters scattered around the globe. Still, we enjoy these characters and will come back to see how the creators handle season 4. We just won't be here to discuss it, because we're moving on from the podcast. We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost, though! Mentioned: Mike Nelson, the actor who plays Jimmy's patient Dan, on Facebook.

Duration:00:25:15

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Weekly Roundup: Honest History, Twitter Jail, Podcast News, and What Is a Young Adult

4/9/2026
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a resource for kids who love history: Honest History, which has magazines, books, and a blog, all with fun facts and appealing illustrations. Terri's random recommendation is, first, to stay out of Twitter jail if you can. And second, we have some important news about this podcast to share. In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023, in which we asked what makes a young adult. Next week's lineup: Shrinking Lost Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Duration:00:21:31

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Parenting Tips from “Lost” S5 E8, “LaFleur”

4/8/2026
Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode, telling the story of what Sawyer's been up to since the Oceanic Six took off, gives us another example of how things can be going just fine (in your kids' world, in your own life, and so on), and then it's all upended in a moment. Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 9, "Namaste." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Duration:00:14:08

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Parenting Tips from “Shrinking” S3 E10, “The Bodyguard of Sadness”

4/7/2026
Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Whoever the "bodyguard of sadness" was, they did a terrible job with this episode, because every one of Jimmy's friends and family members is leaving him: temporarily, permanently, metaphorically. It all required a great deal of face acting from Jason Segel. Next week, we'll finish season 3 with episode 12, "And That's Our Time." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Duration:00:24:05

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Weekly Roundup: Library Holds, iPhone Mirroring, and Good Mom Moments

4/2/2026
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is the joy of putting items on hold. It's like ordering yourself a gift: It will arrive at some undetermined future date (surprise!), you'll get something you know you want, and it's completely free. Terri's random recommendation is a handy piece of technology that she recently discovered: Mirroring her iPhone to her new Apple laptop. In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 in which we recalled those rare good mom moments. Next week's lineup:Shrinking Lost Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Duration:00:24:35

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Parenting Tips from “Lost” S5 E7, “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”

4/1/2026
Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week, it's the tale of one John Locke, and how he journeys from the island to the North African desert, then to Los Angeles and finally back to the island, with a few side quests along the way. He's up, he's down; he's in a wheelchair, he's walking; he's dead, he's alive. It's a lot. Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 8, "LaFleur." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Duration:00:19:11

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Parenting Tips from “Shrinking” S3 E9, “Daddy Issues"

3/31/2026
Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This time, Jimmy's dad (played by Jeff Daniels) arrives to give all the bad dads of Lost a real run for their money. While he doesn't actually murder anyone, he does contribute to the demise of Jimmy's fledgling relationship with Sofi, and show us that he won't have a problem breaking Alice's heart. Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E10, "The Bodyguard of Sadness." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Duration:00:22:04

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Weekly Roundup: “Yes, Ma’am,” the Return of “Scrubs,” and Parents Oversharing

3/26/2026
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is the misleadingly titled Yes, Ma'am: The Secret Lives of Royal Servants by Tom Quinn. It's not, in fact, about the servants, but about the people they serve, and who cares about them? Terri's random recommendation is a rather lukewarm one, more of a curiosity than a gung-ho endorsement: the new Scrubs season, which brings back all the actors from the show's original run (2001-2010). Mentioned: thirtysomething, Once and Again. In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 that asked whether oversharing is bad parenting. Next week's lineup:Shrinking Lost Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Duration:00:20:10

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Parenting Tips from “Lost” S5 E6, “316”

3/25/2026
Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The Oceanic Six have (mostly) reassembled, and we (sorta) find out how they ended up on a plane together, flying back to the island. And we receive what might be the strongest piece of parenting wisdom the show has ever given us: "The results will be unpredictable." Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 6, "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Duration:00:20:47

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Parenting Tips from “Shrinking” S3 E8, “Depression Diet”

3/24/2026
Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Alas, Terri's fervent hope that Maya was simply lost in the crowd at Disneyland was dashed. That sad outcome was only one of several disappointments in this episode, but it did yield some parenting advice that everyone can (and should) follow. Mentioned: "Don't Be Suspicious" on Parks and Recreation. Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E9, "Daddy Issues." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Duration:00:24:50

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Weekly Roundup: “You’re a Winner, Gracie Wei,” “The Friday Afternoon Club,” and Messy Moms

3/19/2026
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is the first in a new kids' chapter book series. It's called You're a Winner, Gracie Wei, and the author is Kristen Mei Chase. This is another fun case of "Hey, I know that writer!" Terri's random recommendation is also a book, another in her series of Hollywood and Hollywood-adjacent memoirs: The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne. This one's more about Dunne's early life and family, vs. his acting career, but it was still worth a listen. In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 about how messy moms are good moms (that's our story and we're sticking to it). Next week's lineup:Shrinking Lost Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Duration:00:18:07

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Parenting Tips from “Lost” S5 E5, “This Place Is Death”

3/18/2026
Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In Los Angeles, Ben is still busy assembling his group of island departees, and Sun has to choose between her kid and her is-he-dead-or-alive husband. On the island, that husband is having a pretty bad day, and Charlotte learns the hard way that she should've listened to her mother. Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 5, "316." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Duration:00:21:14

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Parenting Tips from “Shrinking” S3 E7, “I Will Be Grape”

3/17/2026
Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This is sometimes a happy fun show and sometimes a sad scary one, and this one tipped the balance a little too far toward sad (at least at the end). However, Candice Bergen knows our podcast motto, so we appreciate that. Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E8, "Depression Diet." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Duration:00:21:27

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Weekly Roundup: “Like Family,” Duolingo, and Warning Labels We Need

3/11/2026
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a novel that had many blurbs that appealed to her, so she wants to check it out: Like Family by Erin O. White. She also has a follow-up to last week's history of Victorian parenting. It's Hot Victorians: Meet Your Dream Man From the Past by Aaron Radford-Wattley (inspired by an Instagram account of the same name). Mentioned: True Biz by Sara Novic. Terri's random recommendation is Duolingo, where you can learn not just languages used in the real world, but those from the past (Latin) and fictitious worlds (Klingon, High Valyrian). Mentioned: Duolingo French podcast and a Game of Thrones scene that demonstrates the power of knowing your enemy's language: Part 1, part 2. In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2022 on the warning labels we need as parents. Mentioned: AIM away messages. Next week's lineup:Shrinking Lost Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Duration:00:16:42

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Parenting Tips from “Lost” S5 E4, “The Little Prince”

3/11/2026
Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In Los Angeles, Ben continues his manipulative efforts to return the gang to the island. On the island, time jumps plague the Sawyer/Locke/Juliet team, and guess who wasn't killed in the freighter explosion? Mentioned: Tom Irwin, who plays Ben's lawyer and also Angela's dad on My So-Called Life. Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 5, "This Place Is Death." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Duration:00:19:33

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Parenting Tips from “Shrinking” S3 E6, “Dereks Don’t Die”

3/10/2026
Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Be reassured that no Dereks die in this episode, thankfully. And both parents and kids step up when it matters, but we've got just enough worrying moments to keep us concerned about what's to come. Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E7, "I Will Be Grape." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Duration:00:19:41

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Weekly Roundup: “Ungovernable,” “Still,” “BRATS,” and Parenting Mantras

3/5/2026
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a book of nonfiction that may sound like a parenting book, but doesn't, in fact, contain useful advice for the modern parent. It's Ungovernable: The Victorian Parent's Guide to Raising Flawless Children by Therese ONeill. Terri's random recommendation is a pair of documentaries that are helping her justify her streaming subscriptions: Still, on Michael J. Fox and his life with Parkinson's disease, and BRATS, a look at the Brat Pack from one of its... aggrieved members. Mentioned: "Murder Show" on SNL. In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on parenting mantras. Next week's lineup:Shrinking Lost Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Duration:00:21:58

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Parenting Tips from “Lost” S5 E3, “Jughead”

3/4/2026
Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The Oceanic Six took a back seat in this episode, so we could follow the island residents as they jumped through time, and Desmond as he walked directly into the path of Charles Widmore. Mentioned: Klingon vs. Ubbi Dubbi on The Big Bang Theory, the '70s kids' show Zoom. Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 4, "The Little Prince." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Duration:00:20:09