Culture
Goodbye, for now
In this heartfelt farewell episode, Emily Oster reflects on the journey of the Parent Data podcast, sharing insights from over 60 episodes and the incredible guests who contributed to its mission. As ...
Goodbye, for now
Culture •
0:00 / 0:00
Interactive Transcript
spk_0
This is parent data.
spk_0
I'm Emily Oster.
spk_0
At the risk of getting a little mushy, parent data is kind of like another kid for me.
spk_0
You can see something, you gestate it, you think about it a lot in the middle of the
spk_0
night.
spk_0
You put it out into the world and you hope with a lot of luck and a lot of guidance that
spk_0
it thrives.
spk_0
This last five years of parent data have been a wild ride.
spk_0
I went from a plan for writing a newsletter to a few thousand readers twice a month to
spk_0
providing COVID guidance to hundreds of thousands of people to this current moment when this
spk_0
is a full-fledged startup with a website, subscriptions, and an amazing internal team that
spk_0
supports all the work.
spk_0
Startups and kids have a lot in common.
spk_0
They demand your time and your energy.
spk_0
They provide both very high highs and very low lows.
spk_0
They also require prioritization.
spk_0
You always need to think about what extracurriculars you want to sign up for, what's worth experimenting
spk_0
with, what's worth pursuing, and what to stop.
spk_0
Piano, soccer, making a podcast.
spk_0
We've been producing the parent data podcast since the fall of 2023.
spk_0
The we here is me and my extraordinary producer tomorrow.
spk_0
Over the course of over 60 episodes, I've had the chance to talk to so many incredible
spk_0
thinkers, journalists, medical professionals, mental health professionals.
spk_0
We've gabbed, developed placenta and baby-sulting, peanut allergies, and screen time, sleep,
spk_0
and summer camp.
spk_0
That was my favorite episode.
spk_0
We've been true to our mission, which is to provide the best data-driven analysis to
spk_0
your most pressing parenting concerns.
spk_0
But with an extra human touch of hearing real people talk about their real kids and their
spk_0
real passions and their fears.
spk_0
And you've heard me talk about my own kids' births, my own pelvic floor, my anecdotal
spk_0
experience with device hygiene, my marriage, basically all of my own idiosyncratic parenting
spk_0
journeys.
spk_0
And we had an amazing response from you.
spk_0
You've contributed your own voices, your questions.
spk_0
You've written to us to say when something particularly touched you, or to tell me what
spk_0
you feel I've gotten wrong.
spk_0
And more than anything you've been listening, and that means more to tomorrow than you
spk_0
can imagine.
spk_0
But now it's time to hang it up, at least for the time being.
spk_0
We've got so much happening and more in the pipeline, and I'm looking forward to giving
spk_0
my voice to rest and letting my fingers do more talking.
spk_0
Writing has always been my favorite, and it's still where I want to spend more of my
spk_0
time.
spk_0
Plus, as of this recording, tomorrow's having her baby literally any minute now, and I think
spk_0
we're all looking forward to a well-deserved break.
spk_0
But first some thank yous.
spk_0
Thank you to all our guests for their time, their honesty, their insights.
spk_0
Thank you to PRX for their generous hosting, and to the parent data team for all their
spk_0
invaluable help with feedback, participation, partnerships, and always being willing to
spk_0
be an extra set of ears.
spk_0
And thank you especially to my producer, Tamara of Ascii, for really being everything here.
spk_0
If you ever get a chance to make a podcast, I hope that you have a partner as extraordinary
spk_0
as tomorrow.
spk_0
Someone who holds everything to the very, very highest standard and is willing to say
spk_0
drive to a summer camp and talk to kids about their friendship bracelets.
spk_0
Thank you to Mar.
spk_0
Really.
spk_0
Thank you.
spk_0
And finally, thanks to you for listening.
spk_0
Thank you for sharing episodes and episode ideas, and I hope you'll continue to share the
spk_0
episodes that helped you or challenged you or felt meaningful to you.
spk_0
We are really proud to have this resource evergreen out in the world.
spk_0
Right Penelope?
spk_0
Right, Mom?
spk_0
That's goodbye for now.