Bright Lights, Big City Teens with Mike Pesca

In this episode of A Parenting is a Joke Snack, host Ophira Eisenberg talks with Mike Pesca, a seasoned journalist, author, and host of The Gist, for a thoughtful conversation about parenting teens and the importance of quality time with kids. As a father of two teenage sons in New York City, Mike offers a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of raising teens in a fast-paced urban environment. He shares insights on how quality time with kids changes as they grow older, with a focus on meaningful moments like family meals, hanging out at home, and engaging in deeper conversations. They discuss how parenting strategies evolve over time, from managing curfews and boundaries to complex topics like toxic masculinity and politics. Mike sheds light on how today’s teens are processing these issues and how they engage with the world around them, offering a glimpse into the modern teenage experience. The conversation also covers the impact of the city environment on family life, where subway rides replace driving and moments of connection can be fleeting but valuable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Om Podcasten

You know when you talk to your friends about your childhood and end it by saying, "But look at us, we're fine!" Here's my question: Are we fine? Because we're sitting here doused in CBD oil under a weighted blanket recording a podcast called Parenting is a Joke. Each week, host and standup Ophira Eisenberg talks to a different comedian about their career and their kids. Conversations tackle the tooth fairy, eating sticks, summer camp anxiety, the hidden horrors of childbirth, and the obvious horrors of our own childhoods. We celebrate the absurdity of shuffling a career with raising a kid, and highlight less traditional parenthood journeys, all while relishing in the fact that no one knows what they're doing, but we're all trying! Sometimes even our best. New episodes every Tuesday. New Season October 1st.