Podcast Summary: The Isabel Brown Show

Episode: Therapists Are Prescribing FAKE Baby Dolls To Grieving Moms… and I Have Questions
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Isabel Brown
Podcast Network: The Daily Wire

Episode Overview

In this episode, Isabel Brown dives deep into the rising phenomenon of “reborn” baby dolls—hyper-realistic dolls that adults care for as if they were real babies. Spurred by viral TikToks and a USA Today article, Isabel examines why therapists are prescribing these dolls to grieving mothers and dementia patients, and whether this “therapy” is healthy, exploitative, or even dangerous. The episode explores cultural implications, controversies, and personal stories behind the reborn doll trend, ultimately questioning what this says about family, grief, and the commodification of children in America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Viral Reborn Doll Content: Initial Reactions

• TikTok Trends: Isabel’s “For You” page is filled with “reborn baby doll moms,” most notably the “dolls aren't real” account, which amassed over 15 million views in 6 days. Isabel reacts to a viral “morning in the life of a doll mom” video, expressing disbelief and discomfort.
  • Quote: "Am I overreacting or are reborn baby dolls unbelievably creepy? Come weigh in today on the Isabel Brown Show." (01:30)
  • Memorable Moment: Isabel reacts live to a TikTok skit showing a woman feeding and dressing her lifelike dolls, struggling to distinguish between parody and reality. (03:38–06:07)
• Details Observed: Isabel notes the elaborate routines, waste of real food, and the fantasy world built around these dolls—dolls having their own dolls, full nurseries, etc.

Reborn Dolls as Therapy: Background & Industry

• Origins: Reborn dolls started as art and are celebrated for their realism. However, therapists now increasingly prescribe them for memory therapy and grief.
• Dementia Care: Therapists use dolls to unlock memories in dementia and Alzheimer's patients.
  • Quote: "You have a lot of these people who can't even tell you if they've had breakfast that very morning, yet here they are telling you how big their baby was 60 years ago. It is incredible the memories that these dolls really can unlock..." (15:09)
• Prescribing for Grief/Infertility: More controversial is their use for mothers suffering infant loss or infertility.
  • Quote: “At the risk of being canceled... I find prescribing a freakishly, scary-level, lifelike baby doll as a therapeutic healing tool for women struggling to conceive... sadistic torture. I genuinely find this evil to a degree that I can't even begin to wrap my head around.” (17:37)

Personal & Societal Implications

• Case Studies: Discussion of Tracy Knopp, a 60-year-old with 28+ dolls; Knopp’s family supports her, seeing therapeutic benefit, but many hide the hobby due to social stigma.
  • Quote: “Her actual children and husband support her hobby of these dolls because they've seen how much it's helped her. Of course, not everyone supports the doll habit, particularly on social media... some go out of their way to hide the habit.” (20:00)
• Commodification of Children: Isabel expresses concern that such therapy contributes to seeing children as commodities.
  • Quote: “This is creating a gateway to the further commodification of children… actual children, living breathing children, not reborn dolls.” (26:15)

Men, Reborn Dolls, and Online Culture

• Male Collectors: Introduction of an 18-year-old male, Xavier, with 30+ dolls on TikTok, some videos showing undressing dolls in diapers and generating disturbing comments.
  • Quote: “Is this not wildly concerning to anyone else? That we now have adult men, grown men making lifelike realistic baby doll accounts on TikTok... videos of which have babydolls being undressed…” (30:33)
• Comparison to Surrogacy Conferences: Isabel ties the doll trend to the “Men Having Babies” commercial surrogacy conference, arguing both commodify the idea of parenthood.

Community Perspectives: Reddit & Social Feedback

• Mixed Reactions: Reddit threads reflect empathy for grief but skepticism about the long-term value or psychological impact of reborn dolls.
  • Quote: “Some people say this seems like it would soothe in the moment but make it far worse in the long term… it would create further emphasis on the fact that I'm struggling with infertility, whereas I'm finding I need to move on.” (35:20)
• Memorial Items vs. Dolls: Isabel distinguishes between comfort items (like weighted bears) and life-like dolls, seeing value in the former but criticizing the latter as haunting reminders.

Deeper Societal Critique: Family, Motherhood, & Modern Priorities

• Loss of Traditional Family Values: Isabel argues reborn doll therapy is symptomatic of a society that promotes career over family and dismisses motherhood.
  • Quote: “We have brainwashed successfully entire generations of women to genuinely believe that... you are a selfish person if you do the most selfless thing in the entire world... bringing new life into this world.” (42:59)
• Cultural Decline in Birth Rate: Points to falling fertility rates and media narratives that discourage having children.
• Artistry vs. Replacement: One Redditor claims dolls are an art hobby; Isabel counters that for many, they substitute real human connections.

Final Reflections

• Personal Testimony: Isabel shares the irreplaceable love she feels for her own daughter, claiming nothing—especially a doll—can compare.
  • Quote: "There is no replacement. There is no substitute. There is nothing that even remotely comes close to the intimacy and love and depth of emotion that you feel when your baby locks eyes with you for the first time..." (48:09)
• Call to Action: Isabel implores listeners to do better for women and families, suggesting the need for societal and therapeutic alternatives that truly heal and empower.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• “Am I overreacting or are reborn baby dolls unbelievably creepy? Come weigh in today on the Isabel Brown Show.” —Isabel Brown [01:30]
• (Reacting to Gina’s TikTok) “So we're packing lunches… rampantly wasting food... I’m so confused. Every time I watch this it just gets worse, to be honest.” —Isabel Brown [04:35]
• “I, in all of my spare time, had never heard of a reborn doll before. I had no idea what this was.” —Isabel Brown [14:14]
• “I find prescribing a freakishly... lifelike baby doll as a therapeutic healing tool for women... sadistic torture.” —Isabel Brown [17:37]
• “Her actual children and husband support her hobby of these dolls because they've seen how much it's helped her.” —Isabel Brown paraphrasing USA Today [20:00]
• “Is this not wildly concerning to anyone else? That we now have adult men, grown men making lifelike... baby doll accounts on TikTok?” —Isabel Brown [30:33]
• “We have brainwashed successfully entire generations of women to genuinely believe that... you are a selfish person if you do the most selfless thing...” —Isabel Brown [42:59]
• “There is no replacement. There is no substitute. There is nothing that even remotely comes close to the intimacy and love... when your baby locks eyes with you for the first time...” —Isabel Brown [48:09]

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|------------------------------------------------| | 01:30 | Isabel’s intro and initial reaction to reborn dolls on TikTok | | 03:38–06:07| Reaction to viral “doll mom” TikTok routines | | 14:14 | Isabel describes her deep dive into reborn dolls | | 15:09 | History of reborn dolls and their use in dementia care | | 17:37 | Strong critique of reborn dolls as therapy for infant loss/infertility | | 20:00 | Real-life case of Tracy Knopp, doll collector | | 26:15 | Commodification of children and cultural concerns| | 30:33 | Analysis of male reborn doll collector accounts and comparison to surrogacy | | 35:20 | Exploring Reddit discussions on reborn dolls for grief | | 42:59 | Societal critique: motherhood, fertility, and values | | 48:09 | Isabel’s personal reflection on motherhood |

Episode Tone & Language

Isabel maintains a direct, opinionated, and sometimes incredulous tone throughout, blending personal stories, cultural critique, and research. She’s empathetic toward those grieving but critical of therapeutic and societal frameworks that, she argues, exploit women’s pain or reinforce unhealthy norms. The episode mixes moments of dark humor (“Can someone say creepy like yesterday, please?” [23:17]) with heartfelt appeals for the revival of traditional family and support for real children and mothers.

For Listeners: Takeaways

• The “reborn doll” therapy phenomenon is not only a growing trend but a flashpoint for deeper debates about how modern society handles grief, motherhood, and the meaning of family.
• Isabel challenges the normalization of substituting fake for real connection, warning against the spread of what she views as unhealthy coping mechanisms or even exploitation.
• The community is asked to weigh in: Is this trend comforting, creepy, or something even more dangerous?

Did you find this summary useful? Let us know your take on reborn doll therapy and its implications in the comments!