Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show
Jamilah Lemieux, Zak Rosen, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Lucy Lopez share triumphs and fails and offer advice on parenting kids from toddler to teens. Want more Care and Feeding? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive advice. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the Care and Feeding show page. Or, visit slate.com/careplus to get access wherever you listen.
Episodes
July 31, 2025 • 38 mins
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Jamilah respond to a letter from a parent of young kids who’s worried that when it really matters—her children just won’t listen. How do you teach safety, boundaries, and urgency to kids under 5... without fear or yelling? The hosts talk about authority, instinct, and what actually works in high-stakes parenting moments.
But first, we’ll circle up for a round of triumphs and fails: Zak’s week o...
Mark as Played
July 28, 2025 • 34 mins
On this episode: Zak shares a surprising lesson from his kid about being the family comedian. Elizabeth reflects on traveling in places that clearly weren’t built with kids in mind. And Lucy’s become a pickleball obsessive—thanks to a wholesome family showdown.
Then: A listener's question about toxic positivity opens up a conversation on how to create space for kids to feel what they feel, without trying to fix or reframe everythi...
Mark as Played
July 24, 2025 • 42 mins
This week, a listener faces an agonizing parenting dilemma: Their beloved dog is old and undergoing risky surgery—and they’re not sure how honest to be with their child about what might happen. Should you keep things upbeat and hopeful? Or give your kid a soft landing pad in case the worst comes true? The hosts unpack how to talk about death when it’s still a maybe, not a certainty.
Then in triumphs and fails, Lucy dives a little ...
Mark as Played
July 21, 2025 • 36 mins
This week on Care & Feeding, a listener writes in with a question that tugs at the heart: Their five-year-old daughter—an only child, growing up in a rural area—is asking for a sibling. But more than that, she’s asking for connection, companionship, someone to play with. The hosts unpack the emotional weight behind the ask, and explore how parents can foster deep social bonds for solo kids—especially when playdates, cousins, and ne...
Mark as Played
July 17, 2025 • 43 mins
This week on Care & Feeding, Elizabeth and Lucy respond to a listener wondering how to help their child—and themselves—prepare for the leap to middle school. The hosts share practical tips and emotional insights on everything from shifting friendships to growing independence, academic pressure, and those moments when your once-chatty kid starts speaking in shrugs.
They unpack how to build trust without hovering, how to guide witho...
Mark as Played
July 14, 2025 • 38 mins
On this episode: Elizabeth Newcamp, Zak Rosen, and Lucy Lopez dive into a letter from a parent who’s stuck in the food fight crossfire between their college-aged child—who has both celiac and ARFID—and a preschooler who’s suddenly mimicking the restrictive eating. Is this a passing phase? A red flag? Or just one of those strange sibling mirrors? The hosts unpack family dynamics, poop accidents, and how to keep everyone’s plate (and...
Mark as Played
July 10, 2025 • 45 mins
On this episode: Zak Rosen, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Lucy Lopez dive into a letter from a parent with three kids spanning college to preschool — and two of them are acting like they run the nursery. What do you do when your teens become self-appointed disciplinarians for your four-year-old? And how do you re-establish the line between “big sibling” and “co-parent” without sparking a family feud?
After that, of course, we’ll circle u...
Mark as Played
July 7, 2025 • 45 mins
On this episode: Slate’s own Aymann Ismail is with us to talk about his new book, Becoming Baba – which is out TOMORROW!
We’ll talk about the book. But first, Aymann, Jamilah, Zak and Elizabeth take a question from a listener who’s hoping to reclaim the time that she feels like she lost during the newborn phase.
And on Slate Plus: Elizabeth has a dilemma, and Aymann sticks around to help.
If you’re not part of the Slate Plus co...
Mark as Played
July 3, 2025 • 42 mins
On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah talk about summer boredom. We get questions about this every year — so we’re coming in early this year with some ideas for how to handle that classic, but dreaded, complaint… that no, really, there’s nothing to do.
And after that, of course, we’re sharing a round of triumphs and fails.
Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us wha...
Mark as Played
June 30, 2025 • 41 mins
On this episode: Zak, Lucy and Elizabeth chat about screentime. We’ve got two great questions that are variations on the theme: are podcasts screentime? And you missing out on something if your little ones don’t get to watch a certain children’s YouTuber? We’ll discuss.
After that, we’re circling up for a round of triumphs and fails, because why not? And if you stick around for the Slate Plus Playground, we’re talking about water ...
Mark as Played
June 26, 2025 • 49 mins
On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah help a listener who’s just lost her job due to DOGE cuts – and now, she’s trying to figure out how to explain what’s happening to her elementary schooler. And, they’re getting ready to move back to the States after working and living overseas. There’s a lot to unpack, and we’ll do what we can to help.
And after that, of course, we’re sharing a round of triumphs and fails.
Join us on F...
Mark as Played
June 23, 2025 • 57 mins
On this episode: Zak, Lucy and Elizabeth chat about sibling spats. Our question is from the mom of three tween girls who are jealous of each other — so we’ll talk about dealing with unfairness, and keeping the peace.
We’ll also check in and share what’s on our minds this week. And if you stick around for the Slate Plus Playground, we’re talking about our parenting “shoulds.”
If you’re not part of the Slate Plus community, we hope...
Mark as Played
June 19, 2025 • 88 mins
First, an announcement: we’re excited to show you our new best-of playlist. Let us know if we’ve done an expert interview that you think is missing from the list.
In this episode from 2020, where Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Rebecca Lavoie were joined by Trina Greene Brown, the founder of Parenting for Liberation, to answer questions about race and police violence.
We’ve also unlocked the Slate Plus bonus segment from this episod...
Mark as Played
June 16, 2025 • 57 mins
On this episode: Elizabeth and Lucy sit down with Meagan Francis – she’s a parenting writer and the author of the new book, The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read. It’s all about embracing the teen years and your impending empty nest.
And if you stick around for the Slate Plus Playground, Zak and Jamilah join Elizabeth to talk about what they hope an empty nest looks like.
If you’re not part of the Slate Plus community, we ho...
Mark as Played
June 12, 2025 • 57 mins
On this episode: Zak and Elizabeth introduce a series-within-a-series called Care and Feeding 101 — where we’re walking you through all things baby, with the help of some truly amazing experts. Think of it like the baby book that we know you don’t have time to read.
In Volume One: Zak meets some seasoned sex and relationship coaches who just had a baby. And Elizabeth invites Dr. Sheilagh Maguiness to bust the top myths about baby...
Mark as Played
June 9, 2025 • 42 mins
On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy chat with Diana Lind, an urban policy expert and writer, about her thoughts on parent-friendly cities. We’ll talk about ways that cities do – and could – make housing, third places, transportation, and more work better for more families.
And if you stick around for the Slate Plus Playground, Diana hangs out for a conversation about why kid activities have to be so. boring. for. adults.
If ...
Mark as Played
June 5, 2025 • 66 mins
On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy talk about executive functioning. Listeners reliably chime in when Elizabeth and Lucy talk about their planners, their calendars, and their methods of staying sane… so today, we’re diving into the ways we keep track of everything. Most of the time.
After that, of course, we’ll circle up for a round of triumphs and fails.
Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to as...
Mark as Played
June 2, 2025 • 34 mins
On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah help a listener who just got told that her toddler is overweight. Now, she’s wishing the pediatrician hadn’t said anything — and she’s also feeling like she failed as a parent. So, we’re here to explain how she didn’t fail… and talk about what healthy bodies can look like.
And then, we’ll circle up for a round of checkins… and on Slate Plus, we muse on whether it’s just a phase.
If you’...
Mark as Played
May 29, 2025 • 48 mins
On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah are talking about a tricky dynamic between a stepson and his step-grandparents. Our listener doesn’t differentiate between her stepson and her bio kids in her home — but when her parents interact with the kids, it’s a different story. So, our listener is wondering what’s normal… and how to patch up this issue with her husband, who’s upset by it.
After that, of course, we’ll circle up for...
Mark as Played
May 26, 2025 • 49 mins
At least 10 percent of parents in the U.S. are disabled, but Andrea can’t seem to find parenting advice on disability and accessibility. On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace brings on Jessica Slice, author of the new book Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World, to help Andrea reimagine parenthood.
If you liked this episode check out: How To Date With a Disability and How To Become a Parent Overnig...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.