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Artwork for The Longest Shortest Time

The Longest Shortest Time

Hillary Frank | Realm
Parenting
Sex Education
Motherhood
Adoption
Parenthood
Relationships
Pregnancy
Breast Cancer
Family Dynamics
Consent
Menopause
Sperm Donation
Reproductive Health
Transgender Issues
Sexuality
Ancestry.com
Childbirth
Healthy Relationships
Family Secrets
Parenting Challenges

Stories about the surprises and absurdities of raising other humans—and being raised by them. But you don’t need to be a parent to listen. Created and hosted by Hillary Frank. The Longest Shortest Time is back after a 5-year hiatus! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Join LST+ for community, ad-free listening, and access to You Know What, our premium show featuring college students speaking ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes284Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SexualityParentingHealth & FitnessKids & Family

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Artwork for The Longest Shortest Time

Latest Episodes

Kate Casey grew up in a chaotic home, and as a child she struggled to understand the strange — and sometimes unsettling —choices her parents made. When it came time to start her own family, Kate decided to trade the bad kind of chaos for the good kin... more

We pick up where we left off with Kiely, Jenna, and their sperm donor Dominick. This time it's Jenna's turn to get pregnant. And, unlike last time, things do not go according to plan.

⭐️ This episode originally ran on November 30, 2016 and is a favo... more

Renee Bracey Sherman and Regina Mahone proudly share their abortion stories, which led one of them to realize she wanted to be a mom and confirmed for the other that she didn’t. Plus: the problematic ways we talk about "readiness" for parenthood… and... more

How do you make a baby when you’ve got a uterus and your partner does, too? We hear how one family did it, in this two-parter. And how some of their plans… don’t go according to plan.

⭐️ This episode originally ran on November 23, 2016 and is a favo... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Renee Bracey Sherman
Advocate for abortion rights and co-author of Liberating Abortion
Liberating Abortion (book)
Episode: Embracing Your Abortion Story
Regina Mahone
Author and abortion rights advocate, co-author of Liberating Abortion
Liberating Abortion (book)
Episode: Embracing Your Abortion Story
Kameelah Phillips
OBGYN, menopause specialist, founder of Calla Women's Health in New York
Calla Women's Health
Episode: Managing Your Perimenopausal Rage
Lina Dune
Sex educator and writer, discussed as guest on the episode
Ask a Sub / Substack
Episode: Why Heated Rivalry Is SO HOT (it's not just the sex scenes)
Dennis Hopeless
Writer of Spider-Woman, Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Episode: LST FAVES: Kicking Ass While Pregnant
Jessie Hopeless
Artist and wife of Dennis Hopeless
Marvel Comics
Episode: LST FAVES: Kicking Ass While Pregnant
Laura Kavanagh
Former first deputy commissioner and fire commissioner of the FDNY
FDNY
Episode: When Rumors Spread Like Wildfire About the Fire Commissioner
Jessica Chan
OB-GYN who delivered babies and experienced postpartum traditions firsthand
Self (Dr. Jessica Chan)
Episode: LST FAVES: Postpartum House Arrest
Linda Chan
Jessica's mother; immigrant who guided the postpartum practices
Linda Chan (mother)
Episode: LST FAVES: Postpartum House Arrest

Host

Hillary Frank
Creator and host of The Longest Shortest Time

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 5k ratings
  • Used to be.

    New review: I was very excited when this show was rebooted with Hilary as host. Now, I find myself skipping it every time. There are like 60 episodes of the Accidental Gay Parents, episodes about people who don’t even want kids and every week is a recommendation for The Oprah Podcast. I’m not sure what Hilary’s goal here is, but I’m not into whatever this is.

    Old review:

    When Hilary was host, this was my favorite show and always the first one I would listen to. I've been really disappointed... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Meaganclaire
    United States2 months ago
  • Confused by the direction of the show

    Really enjoy this show and the diverse and unique parenting experiences. But confused by the back to backs of the Accidental Gay Parent episodes? Enjoy those stories but also missing the range of experiences that they previously covered.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ClairePDX12
    United States2 months ago
  • Enjoying this podcast

    As a retired woman with grown kids and no grandchildren, I don’t think I’m the target audience. However, I’ve loved every episode. It’s so wonderful to hear honest real stories that weren’t available to me during my childbearing years, when I felt like I was navigating alone. Grateful and happy the world has moved forward for younger women today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Deborah16921
    United States4 months ago
  • Just keeps getting better!

    I’m a long-time listener and I feel like the show just keeps getting better! Every story/interview is so interesting and unique but also relatable. Hillary asks thoughtful questions that come out of her natural curiosity and make for great conversation. The interview with Zaraia Fabunmi was particularly intriguing and refreshing. This is such a wonderful and needed podcast! Keep doing what you do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thesylviad
    United States5 months ago
  • The podcast that saved motherhood for me

    I found this gem of a podcast 8 years ago during the isolating time of raising my first newborn and it saved my sanity. Hilary is so relatable, a master storyteller, and I wish I every parent and human would listen to LST. Please keep making this wonderful podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MicheleLM2017
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the expert guests and the blend of medical insight with personal narrative.
Listeners praise the candid, empathetic storytelling and the show's ability to tackle sensitive family topics with nuance.
Some feedback notes drift toward preference for older formats or concern over sponsor integrations, but overall sentiment centers on the show's relevance and warmth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Embracing Your Abortion Story
Q: So, Regina, you knew that you were not ready to have a kid the first time you were aware that you were pregnant, you had your abortion, how did you decide that you were ready?
Regina explains that readiness was achieved through practical steps—getting insurance, planning for retirement, moving to a more affordable area, and creating space in the budget for daycare—before trying again, which eventually led to pregnancy and motherhood.
Why Heated Rivalry Is SO HOT (it's not just the sex scenes)
Q: Okay, I want to transition now to just consent in general because I personally think that... is hot. How does the show portray consent and why does it work so well?
The show models consent through explicit, ongoing communication, with partners asking what they want, checking in, and choosing actions together, which makes the sexual scenes feel safe, respectful, and deeply connected.
LST FAVES: Kicking Ass While Pregnant
Q: What superpower do you most wish you could have as a parent?
We'd both want a pause button to stop the world so we could sleep, or intervene when one child is about to cause a crash with a lamp, effectively pausing each moment to manage chaos.
When Rumors Spread Like Wildfire About the Fire Commissioner
Q: How did rumors affect your sense of legitimacy and your approach to leadership after you became commissioner?
Laura details how persistent rumors delegitimized her achievements, forced her to confront gendered stereotypes, and pushed her to rely more on her work and mentors while processing fear and resilience.
When Rumors Spread Like Wildfire About the Fire Commissioner
Q: What is it like to lead through a major crisis like COVID-19 and protests while managing personal questions about family plans?
She describes the relentless cycle of information updates, frontline leadership, and personal losses, emphasizing the need to balance transparency with professional obligations and the toll on her personal life.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Longest Shortest Time

What is The Longest Shortest Time about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Stories about the surprises and absurdities of raising other humans—and being raised by them. The show blends intimate personal narratives with expert insights on parenting, reproductive health, and family life, often weaving in how gender, culture, and caregiving intersect with everyday realities. Episodes frequently feature physicians, educators, and LGBTQ family perspectives, delivering a mix of medical context, candid storytelling, and community-oriented discussions. A standout is its long-running Accidental Gay Parents arc and deep dives into perimenopause, infertility, and postpartum traditions, which set it apart with a generous, human-centered approach and a strong emphasis on open dialogue and support networks for listeners.

This ... more

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How many listeners does The Longest Shortest Time get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Longest Shortest Time has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Longest Shortest Time?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Longest Shortest Time:

1. Death, Sex & Money
2. Thanks For Asking
3. Proxy with Yowei Shaw
4. This American Life
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of The Longest Shortest Time are there?

The Longest Shortest Time launched 15 years ago and published 284 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Longest Shortest Time?

Recent guests on The Longest Shortest Time include:

1. Renee Bracey Sherman
2. Regina Mahone
3. Kameelah Phillips
4. Lina Dune
5. Dennis Hopeless
6. Jessie Hopeless
7. Laura Kavanagh
8. Jessica Chan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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