Parenting is a Joke

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Knocking On Doors with Doug Smith Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

In this snack-sized episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg reconnects with comedian Doug Smith for a candid and comedic conversation about parenting, sobriety, and navigating life after leaving a strict Jehovah’s Witness upbringing. Doug opens up about his post-religion rebellious phase, his approach to parenting with fewer restrictions, and the lessons he’s learned while raising his spirited nine-year-old.

They also discuss setting boundaries with kids, from screen time battles to endless dessert negotiations. Doug shares his journey to sobriety, reflecting on how it’s shaped his perspective as a father and comedian. Together, they laugh over parenting dilemmas, the absurdities of modern life, and why nostalgia-fueled movies like Back to the Future don’t quite land with today’s kids.

✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com.

📍 February Tour Stops Feb 12th Loveland, CO, Feb 13 Rapid City, SD

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Doug Smith’s Kid Thinks His Life is Just Coffee and Naps Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg sits down with comedian and Brooklyn neighbor Doug Smith to explore the chaos, laughter, and deep reflections that come with parenting while managing a creative career. Doug shares tales of raising his fearless nine-year-old son, who loves nature—and a terrarium full of cockroaches to prove it. They discuss the challenges of nurturing a city kid who thrives in the wild and how Doug’s upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness shaped his perspectives on parenting and comedy.

The conversation takes a candid turn as Doug reveals what it was like knocking on doors as a child evangelist and reflects on leaving the faith and starting anew. Ophira and Doug also riff on the absurdity of parenting buzzwords, their mutual hatred of "glamping," and why growing up with older parents gave them a unique outlook on life. Expect moments of hilarity, heartfelt insights, and some surprising revelations about what it means to juggle creativity and family.

✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com.

📍 February Tour Stops Feb 12th Loveland, CO, Feb 13 Rapid City, SD

Follow Doug Smith:https://www.instagram.com/whodougsmith

See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events

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From the Algonquin Table to the Dinner Table with Cat Greenleaf Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

In this snack-sized episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg reconnects with the talented Cat Greenleaf, former host of Talk Stoop and creator of the Soberness Podcast. They dive into Cat’s personal journey to sobriety and how it has influenced her parenting style and her broader perspective on life. Cat shares how losing her dream job led her to a period of healing by the ocean in Coney Island, where she rediscovered herself and even started a nonprofit to help others find restoration by the water.

The conversation also explores the challenges and joys of creating a podcast that features raw, vulnerable stories from celebrities about their paths to sobriety. Cat explains how emotional honesty, recovery, and resilience have shaped her role as a mom and what she hopes her podcast can inspire in others. A quick but powerful chat that’s equal parts inspiring, thought-provoking, and funny.

✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com.

📍 February Tour Stops Feb 12th Loveland, CO, Feb 13 Rapid City, SD

Follow Cat Greenleaf:https://www.instagram.com/sobernesspodcast/

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Cat Greenleaf Moves from Talk Stoop to Sober Talk Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Parenting is a Joke, host Ophira Eisenberg welcomes the brilliant Cat Greenleaf. Cat is celebrated for her iconic celebrity interview series Talk Stoop and now hosts the compelling Soberness Podcast. Together, they talk about the complexities of parenting teenagers and sobriety. Cat opens up about adopting her two sons, navigating the unique challenges of raising teenagers, and balancing a media career while fostering meaningful connections with her kids.

The conversation also explores her journey to sobriety, the transformative impact of the 12-step program, and the surprising ways her experiences shaped her parenting style. Ophira and Cat bond over the absurdities of homework battles, technology struggles, and the constant evolution of their children’s personalities. From hilarious childhood memories of "Headlamp the King" to the bittersweet moments of growth, this episode offers heartfelt insights, laughs, and a reminder that none of us really have it all figured out.

✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com.

📍 February Tour Stops Feb 12th Loveland, CO, Feb 13 Rapid City, SD

Follow Cat Greenleaf:https://www.instagram.com/sobernesspodcast/

See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events

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Bright Lights, Big City Teens with Mike Pesca Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of A Parenting is a Joke Snack, host Ophira Eisenberg talks with Mike Pesca, a seasoned journalist, author, and host of The Gist, for a thoughtful conversation about parenting teens and the importance of quality time with kids. As a father of two teenage sons in New York City, Mike offers a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of raising teens in a fast-paced urban environment. He shares insights on how quality time with kids changes as they grow older, with a focus on meaningful moments like family meals, hanging out at home, and engaging in deeper conversations.

They discuss how parenting strategies evolve over time, from managing curfews and boundaries to complex topics like toxic masculinity and politics. Mike sheds light on how today’s teens are processing these issues and how they engage with the world around them, offering a glimpse into the modern teenage experience. The conversation also covers the impact of the city environment on family life, where subway rides replace driving and moments of connection can be fleeting but valuable.

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Arthur Meyer and Stephanie Drake Mock the ABC’s of Parenting Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Ophira Eisenberg is joined by Arthur Meyer and Stephanie Drake, the creative forces behind the satirical web series "ABC Parenting." They share how their personal parenting journeys in New York City and Los Angeles inspired their series, which offers hilariously bad advice that every parent can laugh at (and ignore). They also talk about how the show skewers the contradictory and often ridiculous advice parents face, offering comedic relief to frazzled moms and dads.

Together, they all discuss whether parenting was easier in the past and the pros and cons of raising kids in big cities, including space constraints, sticky hands, and the odd beauty of neighborhood familiarity. Arthur recounts teaching his son phrases like “big fat turkey,” while Stephanie opens up about her unexpected transition to being a stay-at-home mom by default. They also workshop ideas on how to get kids to do chores and what works when managing tantrums. Luckily, creative work has helped them find humor in the chaos.

✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com.

📍 February Tour Stops Feb 9, Fort Collins CO, Feb 11 Denver CO, Feb 12th Boulder CO

Follow Arthur Meyer:https://www.instagram.com/arthurmeyer13

Follow Stephanie Drake:https://www.instagram.com/stephaniedrake1/

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Surviving Trails and Tantrums with Sally Brooks Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

This week on Parenting Is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg chats with the ever-hilarious Sally Brooks, comedian and author of Going to Maine: All the Ways to Fail on the Appalachian Trail. Sally opens up about her grueling five-month hike and how those endless blisters and unpredictable trail moments mirror her parenting journey. Sally Brooks and Ophira swap stories about the guilt trips only kids can deliver—like Sally’s son asking, “Are there ever going to be three people in this house again?” after she leaves for a show, and the absurd world of parenting cliches, like the timeless wisdom of turning off lights because "we don't work for the electric company," and the generational quirks we inherit from our own parents.

They also talk about Sally’s outdoor adventures, from dragging her son on hiking vacations he’d rather skip to dreaming of a future family trek on the Appalachian Trail (if he ever becomes a hiking enthusiast) and the brilliant art studio she constructed in her own backyard.

✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com.

Follow Sally Brooks:https://www.instagram.com/thesallybrooks/

See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events

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Sally Brooks Conquers The Appalachian and Parenthood Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

This week on Parenting Is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg sits down with comedian and author Sally Brooks to talk about her hilarious memoir, Going to Maine: All the Ways to Fail on the Appalachian Trail. Sally shares how her wild adventures as a road comic and five months of hiking the Appalachian Trail prepared her (kind of) for parenting. From blisters that wouldn’t heal to the surprise night she unknowingly conceived her child, Sally keeps it real with stories that are equal parts relatable and laugh-out-loud funny. They chat about parenting as an ever-changing trail, Skibbi Toilet toy chaos, and the absurd parallels between surviving nature and surviving parenthood.

✨ Subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on socials @ParentingAsAJoke and @OphiraE (or @OphiraNYC on TikTok). Check out upcoming live performances at OphiraEisenberg.com.

📍 January tour stops: Seattle and Olympia Jan 21st & Jan 22nd

Follow Sally Brooks:https://www.instagram.com/thesallybrooks/

See Ophira LIVE: https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com/events

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