Under the Influence with Jo Piazza

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Sunday Nice Things: Women's Work Sep 21, 2025

Show notes

Today we are revisting the second ever episode of UTI! Mom influencing is a multi-billion dollar industry. How the hell did we get here? How did influencing become a job? Why doesn’t Wikipedia mention mom bloggers in their history of women and what does the 19th Century economic philosopher Thorstein Veblen have to do with why we are so enchanted by people who seem wealthier than we are. Consider this your history lesson of women influencing other women to attempt to lead more perfect lives. We start in 1896 with the creation of Vogue, wonder if Lucille Ball was actually the first mom influencer,and scroll all the way to the the beautiful mess of the early Mom Internet. Moms have been commodified since the beginning of moms, the only difference now is who is making the goddamn money. And if past is prologue, will answering all these questions help Jo figure out how to become the influencer of her dreams?

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The Messy Truth About Potty Training Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Potty training has been sold to parents as a finish line — three days, one weekend, no more diapers. But what if that’s the wrong way to think about it? In this episode, Laura Birek, co-author of Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today’s Intentional Parent, explains why potty training isn’t a binary, why “naked weekends” don’t work for every family, and how a rehearsal period can ease kids (and parents) into the process. We talk about readiness, deadlines, daycare pressures, and why social media has made potty training so much harder than it needs to be.

If you’re in the trenches — or about to be — this conversation will change the way you think about one of parenting’s messiest milestones.

Laura’s new book Good to Go is out October 2, 2025 from Bloomsbury and available for preorder now.

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How We Divide Household and Parenting Labor in Our House Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

So many women are exhausted by carrying more of the household labor, both the visible chores and the invisible work no one talks about. In this episode Jo and Nick sit down to map out how it really happens in their own home. They talk through who does the laundry, who puts it away, who manages school forms and grocery runs, and who gets stuck with the trash. And then there is bedtime, the nightly ritual that drains every ounce of patience and energy. What starts as a list of chores becomes a deeper look at marriage, parenting, and the hidden labor that shapes family life.

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Can Creativity and Motherhood CoExist? Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

The world loves to tell parents—especially moms—that kids and creativity can’t co-exist. Writer M.M. De Voe thinks that’s B.S. and so do I.

M. founded Pen Parentis to help writers keep creating after they have kids. In this conversation, we get into what really happens to creativity when you add a baby to the mix: the productivity spurts, the guilt, the comparisons, the shame. And why community might be the single thing that saves your art.

Learn more about Pen Parentis at penparentis.org.

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How Patagonia Rewrote the Rules of Influence With David Gelles Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Patagonia isn’t just an outdoor brand. It’s a company that has quietly shaped how we dress, how we think about the planet, and how business can act in the world. Today we're talking to New York Times reporter David Gelles about his new book Dirtbag Billionaire, tracing Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard’s journey from dirtbag climber to the creator of a brand with outsized cultural influence.

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Sunday Nice Things: Broadway Husbands Sep 07, 2025

Show notes

Stephen and Bret—aka the Broadway Husbands—have spent their careers lighting up the stage, from The Little Mermaid to Billy Elliot. But their most moving performance is the life they’ve built together as husbands and now as dads.

In this episode, they join Committed to share their story: how they met in sobriety, fell in love over Christmas parties and theater trips, and eventually tied the knot with a rooftop proposal at the Empire Hotel. They talk candidly about their four-year surrogacy journey, the emotional rollercoaster of becoming parents, and the ways fatherhood has reshaped their relationship, their boundaries, and their priorities.

We also get into how they balance Broadway careers, creative projects, and parenting, while still making space for each other as partners. And yes—there’s singing, laughter, and plenty of joy.

Stephen and Brett’s love story is not just a Broadway tale, it’s a human one—about resilience, partnership, and building a family against the odds.

Follow the Broadway Husbands here.

You can see Bret's Go Fund Me here.

Binge all the episodes of Committed here.

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Here's What No One Tells You About Freezing Your Eggs With Danielle Robay Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

What happens when your peak career years collide with your peak fertility years? Journalist Danielle Robay shares her unfiltered story of freezing her eggs—the painful parts no one talks about, the aftermath, and what she wishes she’d known before she started.

Listen to Danielle's Podcast Question Everything here.

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Forget Perfect Parties—Here’s How to Celebrate Every Day With Grossy Pelosi Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

We’ve been sold the myth that entertaining means a spotless house, endless cooking, and perfection. Dan Pelosi—aka Grossy Pelosi—believes the opposite. His new cookbook Let’s Party shows why the best gatherings come from embracing imperfection, celebrating the everyday, and keeping food joyful and easy.

In this episode, Dan shares why a good menu is really about confidence, why dips are the little black dress of parties, and how to show up as both a great host and a great guest. Let’s Party is out now—your blueprint for gatherings that feel simple, fun, and full of connection.