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Bethany Mandel
Bethany Mandel is a freelance journalist and co-author of the best seller, "Stolen Youth." A former editor of Ricochet, she is a stay-at-home mother of six children.
Series
Recent Episodes
This week, Bethany sits down with her old Ladybrains co-host Mary Katharine Ham to discuss the viral New York Times Magazine essay about how Nikole Hannah-Jones betrayed her daughter by sending her to a failing New York City public school. Note: This episode was recorded before the release of the This American Life episode featuring Hannah-Jones and her daughter, Najya.
- Guest:
- MKMary Katherine Ham
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Ricochet
September 2026
This week, Kara and Bethany are joined by Dixie Dillon Lane, the author of the book Skipping School: A history of American homeschooling and how it went mainstream. They talk... homeschooling, you guessed it.
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This week, Bethany is joined by Theresa Payton, the CEO of Fortalice Solutions. They discuss how the algorithms on social media gave us Lindsay Clancy defenders and Luigi Mangione fans. Theresa, who was the first female White House chief information officer (serving under President George W. Bush) is the author of Manipulated.
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Bethany is joined by Ann Koffsky, one of her children's favorite authors. Ann has written over 30 Jewish books for children, and they discuss the Jewish holiday season and some tricks for raising a reader. Note: This episode was supposed to debut last Thursday right before Rosh Hashanah, but was delayed due to technical issues. The good news is that this will be a 2-episode week! See you again Thursday!
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In this episode, Bethany sat down with Julie Apel, the Assistant Headmaster of Hillsdale Academy to discuss classical education and some of the incredible things that Hillsdale has to offer parents passionate about educating their children, homeschooling or not. You can learn more about Hillsdale's robust K-12 programs and offerings here
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August 2026
This week, Bethany is joined by Alex Adams, Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), to discuss changes to the Head Start program and address critics of the announcement. They also discuss progress on the work to prevent states from seizing the Social Security survivor benefits of children in foster care, updating a piece Bethany wrote about the practice last year.
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This week, Bethany is joined by Katharine Birbalsingh, Britain’s Strictest Headmistress and the host of the new podcast Strictly Education. They discuss parenting philosophy and how parents can tighten the reins at home and school to create a more pleasurable experience for the entire family.
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This week, Bethany sat down with Alleigh Marré, the Executive Director of the American Parents Coalition, to discuss how to keep families safe from trans-mania at the gym, the pediatrician's office, and more. If you or someone you love is a member of YMCA gyms or sends a child to sleepaway camp, this is an episode you can't skip.
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In this week's episode, Bethany sits down with DailyWire's Upstream editor Madeline Fry Schultz to talk about the last time they got together in person—in labor and delivery—and how we should be talking about Ariana Grande.
- Guest:
- MFMadeline Fry Schultz
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July 2026
This week, Bethany sat down with Houston Independent School District's Superintendent Mike Miles to discuss how the urban district is turning things around, providing a model for other struggling school districts across the country. You can read Bethany's reporting about Houston's success in the New York Post.
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This week Bethany sat down with Adina Shmidman, the Director of the Orthodox Union's Women's Initiative and the queen of a daily learning program called "Nach Yomi" to discuss daily Bible study and how moms and all women can delve into text learning, Jewish or not! Bethany has been participating in one of the OU's programs called Nach Yomi, and you can learn more about it here.
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This week, Bethany sat down with Josh and Hannah Centers, the publishers of a new imprint called Chapter House Books, to talk about the state of children's literature, reading, and how parents can raise enthusiastic learners. You can enter to win the first two volumes of their new series here.
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Bethany and Kara have the honor to sit down and talk to Glenn Beck (yes, that Glenn!) about his incredible new initiative for patriotic families, The Torch, and about what families need to do to equip their kids to grow to love America, especially in our 250th year. Happy Fourth of July! Excerpt from "Five in the First," ©2026 Mercury Radio Arts, Inc. Used with Permission.
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June 2026
Bethany sat down with Professor Matt Mehan, Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Government at Hillsdale in DC, to discuss his new book, The American Book of Fables, released last month. We have a wide-ranging conversation about the importance of fables, homeschooling as the Founders might have, and the importance of literature for all ages. He's the author of three books, including Mr. Mehan's Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals and The Handsome Little Cygnet.
- Guest:
- MMMatthew Mehan
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Kara makes a triumphant return to the podcast after her chaotic maternity leave, ready to talk about the birth of her second daughter, Sloane. She and Bethany discuss life with two under two, and how life with two feels somehow harder than life with six.
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April 2026
Bethany is joined this week by Emily Elkins, Vice President of the Cato Institute and a mother of three. She dives into reams of data she's acquired about how kids these days are doing. Buckle up, it's a bit depressing.
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This week Bethany is joined by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to talk about her new book, Poisoned Ivies, about how parents can navigate *these times* with their toddlers and young adult children alike, and what it it's like as a young mother serving as a Member of Congress. You can read Bethany's piece interviewing Stefanik at the New York Post here.
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In this episode, Bethany is joined by writer and comedian Bridget Phetasy to talk about how becoming a late-in-life mother was transformative, and how our culture gets the narrative wrong on motherhood. Phetasy is the host of the podcasts Walkins Welcome and Dumpster Fire.
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Bethany is joined this week by a fellow mother of six, Katie Carney, to talk about growing up in a big family and deciding to have one as well. Katie is married to the pro-natalist crusader Tim Carney, author of Alienated America and Family Unfriendly.
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March 2026
Bethany is joined this week by the Free Press's Kat Rosenfield to talk about the situation in young adult publishing and the polyamarous craze, and her column on Lindy West.
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In this episode, Bethany spoke with Christina Smith, a mom of 1.75 and the Consumer Center Director for the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, about how American moms who are MAHA can also stay sane.
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In this week's episode, Bethany sits down with Senior Political Correspondent at Jewish Insider, Lahav Harkov, talking about what it's like to be a mother in Israel amid yet another war. With her husband serving in the military reserves, Lahav is juggling parenting 3.75 children while also reporting on the war that's sending her to a bomb shelter in her home several times a day.
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February 2026
It’s Bethany’s first episode driving solo with Kara out on maternity leave. Mazal tov and welcome to Sloane! Bethany sits down with Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead, author of the new book, Infertile but Fruitful. A Catholic adoptive mom of three, Snead talks about her infertility journey and her advice for other mothers facing the same challenges. You can follow her on X at @SneadLeigh or her Substack, Catholic Conversations with TCA.
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Bethany and Kara welcome in Ericka Andersen, author of the new book Freely Sober, how a former "Wine Mom" came to the realization that she needed a way out of a habitual and destructive relationship with alcohol.
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