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71. Why Modern Motherhood Feels Impossible: Journalist Zara Hanawalt on Work, Care, and Burnout
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In this week’s episode of The In Both Podcast, host Dr. Ashley welcomes journalist and twin mom Zara Hanawalt, whose bylines include Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Parents, The New York Times for Kids, and more. Zara’s work dives deep into the intersections of motherhood, culture, and women’s health—especially in a post-pandemic world where millions of moms were forced to reckon with impossible expectations and invisible labor.
In this candid, thoughtful, and at times hilarious conversation, Ashley and Zara explore what it was like parenting toddlers during lockdown, why remote work offered a glimpse of something more sustainable, and how the culture has since regressed—leaving moms to quietly pick up the pieces. From putting the grocery cart back with four kids in tow to viral trad-wife aesthetics, this conversation peels back the layers on the “have it all” myth and asks: why are moms the only ones being asked to bend?
Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, working mom, freelance warrior, or somewhere in between, this episode is full of validation, insight, and a reminder that no one is doing it wrong—it’s just that the system wasn’t built to support any of us.
You'll learn:
- How the pandemic reshaped parenting roles—and revealed deep systemic flaws
- Why freelance work can be a survival tactic for moms, not just a “girl boss” dream
- The emotional and logistical toll of caregiving without support
- How return-to-office culture is erasing hard-won flexibility for families
- The difference between advocating for mothers and simply “complaining”
- Why stay-at-home parenting is labor, even if it’s unpaid
- The role of social media in promoting extreme (and unrealistic) portrayals of motherhood
- How gender bias shows up in everyday parenting expectations
- What needs to change culturally and politically to better support mothers
- That taking care of yourself doesn’t have to look a certain way—quiet moments count too
Connect with Zara:
Website: www.zaraalt.com
Instagram: @zaraalt
TikTok: @zaraalt
Connect with Ashley:
Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co
Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/
AND/BOTH Community: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/andboth-community
Dovetail® App: https://airtable.com/appn6w6IWipJYIuA3/pagZys7UnECzM46iJ/form
Social:
Instagram: @dovetailapp
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