Show Notes
Parenting today feels like navigating endless advice while quietly wondering if you’re doing any of it right.
Jay sits down with bestselling author and economist Emily Oster to unpack one of the most overwhelming journeys many people will ever face: becoming a parent. In a world filled with endless advice, social media pressure, and conflicting research, parenting can start to feel like a test you’re constantly failing. Emily offers a refreshing, data-driven perspective that helps parents cut through the noise, separating real evidence from the myths that fuel unnecessary anxiety. From pregnancy and fertility to sleep training and screen time, this conversation reveals what truly matters and what parents can finally let go of.
Together, Jay and Emily challenge many of the parenting beliefs we’ve accepted without question. They explore why modern parents feel so overwhelmed by information and expectations, when the data actually shows there are many “right” ways to raise a child. Emily breaks down how correlation is often mistaken for causation in parenting advice and how that misunderstanding quietly drives guilt, fear, and comparison. Whether it’s breastfeeding versus formula, screen time, sleep training, or developmental milestones, Emily encourages parents to move away from perfection and toward confident, thoughtful decision-making.
In this episode you'll learn:
How to Stop Overthinking Parenting Decisions
How to Decide What Parenting Advice to Ignore
How to Choose the Sleep Strategy That Works for Your Family
How to Raise Kids with a Growth Mindset
How to Plan Parenting Decisions Before Problems Arise
How to Let Go of the Pressure to Parent Perfectly
Parenting can feel overwhelming, especially in a world filled with endless advice, opinions, and expectations. The truth is, raising a child isn’t about getting every small decision perfectly right, it’s about showing up with love, care, and intention, day after day.
Emily’s book, Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know, offers guidance through pregnancy and motherhood. Grab a copy now.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
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What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
01:39 Why Does Parenting Feel Harder Today?
04:06 What the Data Really Says About Parenting
05:24 Don’t Trust This Fertility Advice!
07:56 What Affects Sperm Health
09:51 Lifestyle Habits That Affect Fertility
12:26 Are Antidepressants Safe During Pregnancy?
15:02 Which Pregnancy Rules Actually Matter (And Which Don’t)
18:25 When Is the Best Age to Have Kids?
21:56 Common Pregnancy Myths Debunked
31:19 How Dads Can Support After Birth
34:09 What’s Actually Best for the Baby?
36:51 More Parenting and Pregnancy Myths
44:20 How to Deal With Mom Guilt
47:55 How to Raise Confident Kids
54:28 Parenting Decisions That Cause Stress
56:27 The Truth About Sleep Training
01:02:03 Does Crying It Out Harm Attachment?
01:04:12 How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?
01:09:40 The Truth About Childhood Vaccines
01:12:02 Are Kids Being Overmedicated?
01:14:35 The Many Paths to Parenthood
01:16:49 This or That: Parenting Edition
01:24:31 Emily on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Website | https://parentdata.org/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/emily.oster.509/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/profemilyoster
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/parentdata
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@profemilyoster
X | https://x.com/ProfEmilyOster
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.