Episodes 35
Avg. Duration 48m
Activity Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (8)
Since Dec 2024
Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
81%
Hosting
api.substack.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Bad Mothers focuses on mother-daughter estrangement from the daughter's point of view, and whether these fractured relationships play a role in our decision to have children of our own. We'll also have a healthy dose of talk about abortion rights & maternal ambivalence.

monicacardenas.substack.com

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Recent Episodes

S3, E12, It's better this way

May 28, 2026 16m

To close out season 3, I’m sharing my essay, It’s better this way, published by The Audacity on October 30, 2024. This essay is about my estrangement from my mother, my late effort to understand her…

S3, E11, When orphans become estranged, with Barbara

May 22, 2026 54m

My final guest for this season is Barbara, which is a pseudonym. Barbara’s parents died when she was young, and she is estranged from her siblings and step-mother. Her unique circumstances make it a…

S3, E10: Unpacking complex mother-daughter relationships, with Shelly Sharon

May 14, 2026 49m

Shelly Sharon helps women who’ve been around the block with healing unpack the way a challenging relationship with their mother still holds them back today, so they can thrive in their life and…

S3, E9, Writer and editor Jenny Bartoy on the No Contact: Writers on Estrangement anthology

May 07, 2026 38m

Last week, the long-awaited anthology, No Contact, Writers on Estrangement, was published. And lucky for us, we have its editor, the lovely Jenny Bartoy, as my guest for this episode. Jenny and I…

S3, E8, On being a mom after estrangement from parents and younger siblings, with Jaime

Apr 30, 2026 43m

This week we hear from another generous person who responded to my call for stories of sibling estrangement. Jaime has been estranged from her younger brother, sister and both parents for several…

S3, Ep 7: Sibling estrangement in The Original Daughter, with author Jemimah Wei

Apr 22, 2026 57m

I am a huge book nerd, so I am always looking for ways to incorporate books into my work here on the podcast, and on the Bad Mothers substack. Speaking of, on Tuesday April 28, you can join the book…

S3, Ep 6: On walking away from abusive parents and four siblings, with Sharon

Apr 16, 2026 42m

I put out a call on a few social media support groups for people willing to share their sibling estrangement stories. I’ve heard from a lot of estranged adults, and read plenty of stories. This one…

S3, Ep 5: Estrangement dynamics in Mother in the Dark by Kayla Maiuri, with Tam Stevens

Apr 08, 2026 44m

This week, my book club partner and Family Estrangement Substack author Tam Stevens and I are discussing the novel, Mother in the Dark by Kayla Maiuri. We read it for the Estrangement Book Club, and…

S3, Ep 4: Moving forward after sibling estrangement, with April

Apr 03, 2026 56m

This season, we’re taking a closer look at sibling estrangement — how it happens, what it feels like, and how to move forward.When I put out a call for those willing to talk about their experiences,…

S3, Ep. 3: Sandra Ann Miller on transforming anger and shame into happiness

Mar 24, 2026 1h

Sandra Ann Miller is a certified Happiness, Relationship, and Health & Wellness coach, and Trauma-Informed Abundance Coach. But she doesn’t like to call herself a coach. She is The Happyist, and…

S3, Ep. 2: My dad on having daughters, sibling relationships, and navigating divorce

Mar 17, 2026 53m

In keeping with the tradition of inviting one of my family members on the podcast each season, today I’m speaking to my dad. I truly value the trust and honesty that my guests offer in this space, so…

S3, Ep. 1: Dr. Katie McKenna on narcissistic family systems and sibling estrangement

Mar 10, 2026 1h 6m

I decided the best way to kick off a season focused on sibling estrangement was to learn the dynamics at play in a narcissistic family system. Who better to talk to than Dr. Katie McKenna.Katie an…

Introducing Bad Mothers, Season 3

Mar 02, 2026 2m

Welcome to season 3 of the Bad Mothers podcast.In the first season of the podcast, I focused on women who are estranged from their mothers and thinking about whether they want to become mothers. The…

The most moving things I heard from nine different women talking about motherhood

Dec 08, 2025 13m

Bad Mothers began as an outlet for me to write about how women can subvert their assigned scripts, particularly around motherhood. I advocate for abortion rights, reproductive justice, the right to…

S2, Ep. 9: Tam Stevens on family communication, parenting styles, and estrangement

Dec 01, 2025 51m

Tam Stevens is a psychologist, trainee counsellor and PhD researcher whose work centres on family relationships, identity and resilience. She runs the Substack Family Estrangement, where she explores…

S2, Ep. 8: Dr. Bridgette J. Peteet on how to (dis)Honor Thy Mother

Nov 24, 2025 57m

Thanksgiving week is often the start of a difficult time of year for a lot of estranged people, and I hope this interview with Dr. Bridgette J. Peteet is helpful.She is a clinical psychologist,…

S2, Ep. 7: Katie Dunn on a happy life after infertility

Nov 17, 2025 45m

If you’re a regular listener or reader of Bad Mothers, you know I adopted a puppy this year and it has been A LOT. I think it’s been a lot for me especially as an adamantly child-free woman. Because…

S2, Ep. 6: Gayle Kirschenbaum on maternal forgiveness

Nov 10, 2025 42m

My guest this week is Gayle Kirschenbaum. She is a filmmaker, writer, photographer and coach who recently released a memoir called Bullied to Besties, about how she healed her relationship with her…

S2, Ep. 5: Kate Muir on How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis

Nov 03, 2025 47m

Kate Muir is a women’s health expert, investigative journalist and documentary maker. She created and produced two ground-breaking Channel 4 documentaries on menopause that ignited a massive…

S2, Ep. 4: Melissa Fraterrigo and The Perils of Girlhood

Oct 27, 2025 48m

In this week’s episode, I speak to Melissa Fraterrigo, whose new book, The Perils of Girlhood, is a memoir in essays about how we teach girls to live in this world — both from her own perspective…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Bad Mothers Podcast have?

Bad Mothers Podcast has published 35 episodes since December 2024, covering topics in Kids & Family, Parenting.

Is Bad Mothers Podcast still active?

Bad Mothers Podcast is currently active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 48m.

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