Moms Podcast Takeover: A Pro-Science Parents Guide to Instagram, Pt. 1

By Desiree English and Ana Marija Dolaskie
Social media can feel like a minefield for parents. Every scroll brings a fresh wave of chemical scares, "toxic" warnings or the latest must-try health fad—if you want to be a "good mom," that is. This week on the Science Dispatch podcast, two ACSH moms step into the host seats: video reporter Ana Dolaskie and science teacher Desiree English. They push back against the fearmongering and offer evidence-based guidance to help parents navigate Instagram (and the rest of the internet) with confidence instead of anxiety.
Image: ACSH

Join Ana Dolaskie and Desiree English as they tackle the benefits of boredom, vitamin K shots and the science of parenting. Articles discussed:

Newborns routinely receive the Vitamin K shot immediately after birth to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can cause brain bleeds. Despite strong evidence that the shot saves lives, refusal rates have risen 77% in recent years, fueled by social media. From one parent to another, don't fall for myths that could endanger your child.

“I’m bored” may sound like a problem to solve, but it’s an opportunity in disguise. In a world where screens and packed schedules dominate childhood, boredom has quietly lost its place—and with it, a powerful driver of creativity and independence. Research shows that boredom fuels creativity, problem-solving, and self-directed skill-building by encouraging children to explore and innovate without adult scaffolding. A lesson for parents: occasional boredom is a low-risk feature of healthy development, not a bug to be fixed.

It's Mother’s Day! Here at ACSH, that means it's time to highlight how dedicated moms help mold their children into capable, independent adults. It may not always feel like it, but all that time you invest in your kids makes a lifelong difference. Here's the science.

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Desiree English

Desiree English is a high school science teacher with eight years of classroom experience. She holds a B.S. in Kinesiology and brings a unique blend of academic expertise and real-life “in-the-trenches” parenting to family and children’s content.

Recent articles by this author: