Trad Wife Horror with Sarah Langan
Summary
Host Stephanie interviews author Sarah Langen about her novel *Tradwife*, a horror story exploring the commodification of traditional gender roles through a journalist trapped on a farm. They discuss the predatory nature of MLMs, the impact of social media algorithms on women, and the cultural backlash against feminism. The conversation also covers various horror and literary recommendations, including *The Devil and Mrs. Davenport* and *The Bus on Thursday*, while analyzing themes of domestic isolation and female agency.
Topics discussed
Introduction and guest welcome
Plot summary of the novel Tradwife
Origins of the tradwife concept and publishing
Cultural context: Post-COVID and cottagecore
MLMs and predatory marketing to stay-at-home moms
Social media algorithms and Hannah Neeleman
Character analysis: Jenny's agency and apology
The decline of journalism and career choices
Domestic labor, motherhood, and feminist critique
Personal anecdotes: Conservative upbringing and specialness
Horror film comparisons: Stepford Wives and Rosemary's Baby
Discussion of Pleasantville and Night Bitch
Book recs: The Ecstatic and Amy Peckwitt's novel
Parenting surveillance and judgmental strangers
Upcoming book: Lady of the House poetry collection
Book recs: Shirley Barrett and Australian horror
Book recs: 1950s domestic horror and weepy romances
Book recs: Man Who Fell to Earth and harm OCD
Book recs: Cat Person, Out There, and Comfort Me with Apples
Media landscape and the tradwife wave
Religious frameworks and abusive dynamics
Current reading lists and Pride and Prejudice
Final song choice and outro
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