Episode Summary: Trusting Your Instincts in a Culture That Doesn’t | Featuring Andrea Haskins and Kaylee Jenny Jones of Radical Moms Union
In the 424th episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, host Jenny Urich engages in a profound conversation with Andrea Haskins and Kaylee Jenny Jones from the Radical Moms Union. This episode delves deep into the challenges modern mothers face in maintaining their instincts amid pervasive cultural and corporate pressures. The discussion centers around themes such as breastfeeding, predatory formula marketing, sleep training, and the essential role of outdoor play in childhood development.
1. Introduction to Radical Moms Union
Jenny Urich welcomes Andrea and Kaylee, expressing gratitude for their presence and highlighting the alignment of their missions. Kaylee shares her admiration for Jenny’s work and explains how countless mothers in the Radical Moms Union look up to the 1000 Hours Outside initiative for motivation and support.
Notable Quote:
Kaylee Jenny Jones: “...a lot of friends, you know, even in the Radical Moms Union that look to A Thousand Hours Outside to really motivate them and their families.”
[01:37]
2. Journey to Radicalization and Motherhood
Kaylee narrates her transition from a background in textiles and apparel to questioning the consumer goods industry's ethical standings. Her role in quality assurance at Marisa’s exposed her to the darker facets of big business, particularly in the baby products sector. This revelation propelled her towards a healthier, more organic lifestyle after relocating to Colorado, where she became deeply involved in the organic food movement and met like-minded individuals such as Bonnie Hari.
Andrea joins the conversation, sharing her path from teaching middle school English to becoming a certified lactation counselor. She emphasizes the importance of following maternal instincts over societal expectations, a sentiment that resonates deeply with both Jenny and Kaylee.
Notable Quote:
Andrea Haskins: “I know this is a business. I know how business works. I've been there. I'm done. That was really around 2020 when the whole world was shifting too.”
[06:20]
3. The Menace of Predatory Formula Marketing
A significant portion of the episode tackles the insidious strategies employed by formula companies like Bobby to undermine breastfeeding. Andrea and Kaylee shed light on how these corporations exploit social media influencers and lactation consultants to market formula as a convenient alternative, often misleading mothers about its benefits.
They discuss the historical context of formula marketing, referencing unethical practices from the 1930s where companies bribed pediatricians to promote formula over breastfeeding. This legacy has evolved, with modern tactics focusing on digital platforms to reach mothers at their most vulnerable moments.
Notable Quotes:
Andrea Haskins: “They are literally doing it for profit. So that's what Radical Moms Union is kind of trying to call out.”
[22:57]
Kaylee Jenny Jones: “There’s something so deeply offensive about a child being dependent on you, they're never going to be independent.”
[24:55]
4. Advantages of Extended Breastfeeding and Cultural Resistance
The dialogue shifts to the myriad benefits of extended breastfeeding, including enhanced mother-child bonding and the transfer of essential antibodies that bolster the child’s immune system. Andrea and Kaylee critique the societal stigma that discourages prolonged breastfeeding, arguing that cultural narratives often paint it as an impediment to maternal independence and career progression.
They advocate for a return to instinctual parenting practices, emphasizing that extended breastfeeding is not only beneficial for the child but also empowering for the mother, allowing her to nurture and connect deeply with her child.
Notable Quotes:
Kaylee Jenny Jones: “I want women to question things and go back to their intuition and use that as a guide because I do wish I would have done that sooner.”
[48:30]
Andrea Haskins: “We just want to bring women back to that. Like, listen to yourself and follow your instincts.”
[44:02]
5. The Problem with Sleep Training Technologies
Jenny introduces the topic of sleep training devices, specifically the Snoo robotic crib. Andrea and Kaylee critique these gadgets, arguing that they perpetuate the notion that technological intervention is necessary to soothe babies, thereby further distancing mothers from their natural caregiving instincts. They highlight the exorbitant costs of such devices, making them inaccessible to many and positioning them as essential for a "safer" and "better-slumbering" baby.
The guests compare these technologies to outdated and invasive hospital practices, questioning the underlying motives of companies profiting from maternal anxiety and the desire for convenience.
Notable Quotes:
Andrea Haskins: “Why is it okay for the Snoo to rock your baby back to sleep, but you not to rock them to sleep? It makes zero sense.”
[40:06]
Kaylee Jenny Jones: “They make you think that your own body is like something to be feared when it comes to... you can't nurse your baby.”
[43:31]
6. Overcoming Cultural Barriers and Embracing Intuition
As the conversation progresses, Andrea and Kaylee emphasize the importance of mothers trusting their instincts over conforming to societal expectations. They advocate for seeking supportive communities like the Radical Moms Union, which empower mothers to make informed, intuitive parenting choices free from corporate and cultural pressures.
Jenny reflects on her personal struggles with rigid scheduling in motherhood, ultimately finding solace and liberation through outdoor play and unstructured time with her children. This revelation underscores the podcast's central theme of reclaiming childhood and motherhood through natural and instinctual practices.
Notable Quotes:
Jenny Urich: “Getting outside is really what changed things for me because it gave me a chance to exhale, and it gave me a chance actually to loosen the reins.”
[27:17]
7. Community Support and Resources
In the concluding segments, Andrea and Kaylee share resources for mothers seeking support and information. They highlight the ongoing campaigns against predatory formula marketing and encourage listeners to join their regular meetings and online communities. The importance of collective action and shared experiences is emphasized as a means to foster change and empower mothers to prioritize their instincts.
Notable Quotes:
Andrea Haskins: “We are continuing our campaign against Bobby in order to get the CEO to apologize for trashing breastfeeding and stop using breastfeeding in their marketing.”
[51:12]
Kaylee Jenny Jones: “We have certain lactation consultants. We have, like, doula groups. So you will find out about meetings like on the Radical Moms Union Instagram or the Radical Moms Union substack.”
[52:04]
8. Celebrating Outdoor Childhood Memories
True to the podcast’s ethos, the episode wraps up with Andrea and Kaylee sharing their favorite childhood memories spent outdoors. Kaylee reminisces about "walking beans" in soybean fields, while Andrea fondly recalls playing in her cousin’s tree fort. These anecdotes reinforce the importance of unstructured outdoor play in fostering creativity, resilience, and joyful childhood experiences.
Notable Quotes:
Kaylee Jenny Jones: “We just walk around and hack beans and laugh, and we would do that all day.”
[54:23]
Andrea Haskins: “I feel like I have a lot and so many good memories revolve around playing outside as a kid.”
[55:28]
Final Takeaways
This episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast serves as a compelling call to action for mothers to reclaim their instincts and prioritize natural, unstructured play in their children's lives. Andrea and Kaylee from the Radical Moms Union provide insightful critiques of the modern parenting landscape dominated by corporate influences and societal pressures, advocating instead for a return to instinctual and community-supported motherhood.
For more information and to connect with the Radical Moms Union, listeners are encouraged to visit their respective Instagram accounts and Substack pages:
- Andrea Haskins: Instinctual Mothering on Instagram
- Kaylee Jenny Jones: Wild Mama on Instagram
Stay Connected: To join the movement of reclaiming childhood and motherhood instincts, visit 1000hoursexside.com for more resources and community support.