Podcasts on Dr. Spock, the Man who Influenced a Generation of Parenting
By: Deborah Copperud (she/her), co-host of Spock Talk
Dr. Benjamin Spock never listened to a podcast, but his history lives on in these episodes! Don’t confuse him with the fictional “Star Trek” Spock — Dr. Benjamin Spock was a real person who wrote the bestselling parenting guide of all time. He had a long (1903-1998) and interesting life as an author, pediatrician, professor, anti-war protestor, and political candidate.
Podcast Recommendations on Dr. Benjamin Spock
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Spock Talk
“Men Not Moms”
Spock Talk is a podcast about the history of parenting advice. In this episode, co-hosts Katie Curler and Deborah Copperud discuss Dr. Benjamin Spock’s role in the patriarchy’s long game: the professionalization of the domestic sphere.
Significant Others
“Jane Cheney Spock”
The Significant Others podcast, narrated and written by Liza Powel O’Brien, tells the lesser known stories of people who influenced their famous spouses, siblings, or friends. This episode focuses on Dr. Benjamin Spock’s first wife, Jane Cheney Spock, who collaborated on the best-selling The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care. But mental illness and alcoholism doomed her to a devastating existence on the fringes of Dr. Spock’s fame.
Witness History: Witness Archive 2015
“The Man Who Changed Parenting”
Hosted by Luisa Dalgo, this episode of Witness History interviews Lynn Bloom, Dr. Benjamin Spock’s first biographer. Archival audio footage and Bloom’s insights give a succinct overview of Spock’s influence on contemporary parenting.
Dirt Nap City
“Who Was Dr. Spock?”
Each episode of Dirt Nap City covers an interesting dead person. This episode features a comedic conversation about Dr. Benjamin Spock and his very influential bestseller, The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care. Co-hosts Alex and Kelly debate the controversy over whether or not Dr. Spock’s advice produced a generation of mollycoddled Baby Boomers.
Today in History with the Retrospectors
“The Spock Generation”
This podcast spotlights curious moments from history. In this episode, hosts Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina, and Arion McNicoll summarize parenting advice in the twentieth century and humorously discuss how Dr. Benjamin Spock is different than the fictional Star Trek character Spock.
These five podcast episodes delve into the life and legacy of the ultimate 20th century parenting influencer. Listeners will enjoy archival audio of Dr. Spock’s smooth East Coast Brahmin accent, learn about 20th century history through the lens of one long-living figure, enjoy gossipy details about his troubled first marriage, and appreciate how The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care shaped an entire generation of Americans.
