Why are women punished for being honest about motherhood?

When Chappell Roan said her friends with kids are “in hell,” the backlash wasn’t about the words but about breaking the performance. In this episode of Scenic Route, sociologist and coach Jennifer Walter unpacks the emotional labour, mental load, and societal expectations that define modern motherhood.

Why do we praise men like Seth Rogen for opting out of parenthood while vilifying women who name the cost of caregiving? Why do tradwife aesthetics trend while actual support for mothers disappears?

This episode explores:

• The mental load and invisible labour that mothers carry
• Why motherhood is a performance, not just an experience
• The backlash against Chappell Roan and what it reveals
• Adrienne Rich on motherhood as institution vs. experience
• Erving Goffman’s theory of social roles and the "good mother" mask
• The rise of the trad wife movement and its political implications
• Why unpaid care work is central to the global economy—and still invisible
• The cost of honesty in a culture built on maternal silence

🎧 With insights on:

• Call Her Daddy and Chappell Roan's viral statement
• The cultural double standard around parenting and gender
• How systems maintain control through emotional suppression

Join us on the Scenic Route.
New episode drops Tuesday.

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Visit jenniferwalter.me – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change."

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We are living in the Disinformation Age — a time unlike any other in history. Never before have we been bombarded with so much information, yet so little clarity. Our feeds are flooded with misleading headlines, personal opinions disguised as facts, and viral narratives designed to manipulate us. Even the sharpest minds can fall for misinformation—so how do we learn to see through the noise?

In this episode of The Scenic Route, I sit down with Dr. Brie Kara, a psychologist specializing in disinformation and media literacy, to break down:

• The real difference between misinformation and disinformation (and why it matters)
• Why our brains are wired to fall for cognitive biases and mental shortcuts
• How disinformation campaigns hijack our instincts—and how to fight back
• Practical strategies to sharpen critical thinking and media literacy skills
• Why fact-checking isn’t enough—and what to do instead

We’re constantly being pulled in different directions by algorithms, outrage-driven media, and our own subconscious biases. This episode will give you the tools to think more clearly, question more effectively, and reclaim your mental autonomy.

Listen now and upgrade your brain’s operating system!

Mentioned in this episode
Brie Kara's website
On Instagram
On Threads

Thinking Fast & Slow by Daniel Kahneman

New episodes drop every Tuesday.
See you on the Scenic Route.

_____________________________________________________________________

Visit jenniferwalter.me – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change."

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on TikTok
• Follow on Threads

🔮 DAILY DOSE OF CHILL
The Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck is your online permission slip to trust your inner compass again. What does your card say? Share it with us!

👉 Pull Your Free Card

⭐ LOVE THE SHOW?
Leave a rating and review. Your words help other wandering souls discover the Scenic Route podcast.

For decades, empathy has been celebrated as the glue of human connection— but what if it’s actually burning you out? In this thought-provoking episode of The Scenic Route, we unpack why empathy alone isn’t enough and why it’s time to shift toward something more sustainable: compassion.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why empathy is exhausting—and how it leads to burnout, anxiety, and emotional paralysis
✔️ The three ways empathy has been weaponized in modern life
✔️ How selective empathy keeps us trapped in caring for some while ignoring others
✔️ Why compassion—not empathy—is the antidote to overwhelm and emotional fatigue
✔️ Actionable steps to set boundaries, stop absorbing everyone’s pain, and channel care into action

🎙 My Personal Story
I share my journey of unlearning toxic empathy, from growing up in a household where empathy was a one-way street to realizing how this pattern mirrors larger societal systems of emotional extraction.

The Scenic Route Podcast is your weekly dose of mindset shifts, deep conversations, and radical compassion—so you can stop over-functioning and start thriving. New episodes every Tuesday!

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This episode is part of #Podcasthon!
I’m thrilled to participate in this global initiative where 1,000+ podcasters unite to support charitable causes. This episode highlights the Frauenzentrale Zürich, an incredible nonprofit that has supported women for over a century.

👉 Support their mission here: https://frauenzentrale-zh.ch/spenden/

_____________________________________________________________________

Visit jenniferwalter.me – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change."

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on TikTok
• Follow on Threads

🔮 DAILY DOSE OF CHILL
The Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck is your online permission slip to trust your inner compass again. What does your card say? Share it with us!

👉 Pull Your Free Card

⭐ LOVE THE SHOW?
Leave a rating and review. Your words help other wandering souls discover the Scenic Route podcast.