E306: Why Modern Women Hate Motherhood w/Leah Sargeant | Lila Rose Show

Apr 2, 2026

Leah Sargeant, a Catholic convert, mother, and author who writes on feminism and family. She explains reclaiming feminism, her journey from atheism to faith, and how embodiment shapes pro-life views. Conversation covers fertility and miscarriages, gender roles and parenting, and practical ideas for supporting men, women, and families.

02:12:42

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ANECDOTE

How Debates and Books Led Leah To Christianity

Leah converted after debating Christians at Yale and reading C.S. Lewis, Chesterton, and McIntyre, which shifted her from deontology to virtue ethics.
A sudden impulse at an alumni toast crystallized for her that morality is a person who loves her: Jesus.

insights

INSIGHT

Autonomy Ideal Undermines Dignity Of Dependent People

Defining personhood by autonomy makes pregnancy and caregiving seem like dehumanizing liabilities.
Leah warns this autonomy ideal erodes dignity for babies, the elderly, disabled, and especially women who become needy during pregnancy.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Living Through Multiple Miscarriages Day By Day

Leah endured six miscarriages before her first live birth and learned to live each pregnancy day-by-day without assuming future milestones.
She sometimes sat by playgrounds to talk to babies she feared she'd never see play there.

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Why Leah Calls Herself a Feminist

01:58 • 2min

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Sex Differences, Schools, and Justice

03:50 • 2min

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Conversion: From Atheist to Christian

05:37 • 3min

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Philosophy to Faith: Kant to Virtue Ethics

The Leap to Belief and Moral Knowledge

17:00 • 7min

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Receiving God's Love and Living It

24:07 • 5min

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How Embodiment Shapes Pro-Life Convictions

29:17 • 6min

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Struggles with Miscarriage and Parenthood

Why Abortion Contradicts Women's Justice

48:53 • 5min

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Pregnancy vs. Kidney Hypotheticals

54:05 • 7min

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Feminism's Messy Roots and Salvageable Goods

01:01:06 • 6min

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Catholic Case Against Marital Rape

01:07:28 • 5min

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Sex, Intimacy, and the Damage of Porn

01:12:48 • 7min

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Tradwife Aesthetics and Marriage Roles

01:19:29 • 8min

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Work, Earnings, and Family Finances

01:27:10 • 5min

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Flexible Work and Mothers' Desires

01:32:09 • 7min

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Should Women Lose the Vote or the 19th Repeal?

01:38:48 • 5min

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Where Men Are Shortchanged Today

Practical Ways to Call Men to Good Masculinity

01:55:22 • 6min

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Engaging Online Fights with Charity

• Mentioned in 60 episodes

After Virtue

Alistair McIntyre

Alasdair MacIntyre's "After Virtue" is a highly influential work in moral philosophy that critiques modern ethical theories and proposes a return to virtue ethics. MacIntyre argues that modern moral philosophy has lost its way, leading to a fragmented and incoherent understanding of morality. He traces the historical development of ethical thought, identifying the decline of virtue ethics and the rise of emotivism and other relativistic approaches. MacIntyre proposes a revival of virtue ethics grounded in the Aristotelian tradition, emphasizing the importance of character development and the cultivation of virtuous dispositions. His work has had a profound impact on contemporary ethical debates, inspiring renewed interest in virtue ethics and its application to various social and political issues.

#6244

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

The Dignity of Dependence

Leah Labrasco Sargent

#35

• Mentioned in 288 episodes

Mere Christianity

C.S. Lewis

In 'Mere Christianity', C.S. Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology. The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity. Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage. The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style.

#528

• Mentioned in 59 episodes

Orthodoxy

G.K. Chesterton

In 'Orthodoxy,' G.K. Chesterton presents a compelling defense of Christianity, arguing that it is the most rational and fulfilling worldview. The book is a personal and philosophical journey where Chesterton explains how he came to embrace traditional Christianity after exploring various heresies and philosophies. He compares Christianity with other worldviews, highlighting its unique ability to balance paradoxes and provide a coherent explanation of human nature and the world. Chesterton's writing is characterized by his wit, humor, and profound insights, making the book both intellectually stimulating and engagingly readable.

Leah Sargeant was a proud atheistic feminist who experienced a deep conversion to Christ. But she couldn't fully ditch the term "feminism," and in today's episode she explains why. She also shares her struggles with fertility and policy solutions for stronger families, and we discuss whether gender roles are helpful.

*Leah's book*: https://amzn.to/4m2FMo5

Leah's X: https://x.com/LeahLibresco

Substack: https://www.otherfeminisms.com/

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:10 - The question Feminism asks:

00:03:44 - Where men are shortchanged

00:04:49 - From Atheist to Christian

00:08:40 - Kant’s morality

00:09:44 - Self identity before Christianity

00:10:44 - CS Lewis steps in

00:11:41 - GK Chesterton follows up

00:12:21 - Christianity is radical…and sensible

00:12:52 - Alasdair McIntyre

00:16:19 - Atheist to Christianity

00:20:22 - Morality is…a person?

00:23:33 - Jesus…loves me?

00:28:14 - Why abortion is not logically consistent

00:34:24 - Life after conversion

00:36:43 - Struggles with fertility

00:37:56 - Handling miscarriages

00:41:57 - Accepting the cross and understanding God’s will

00:43:00 - Advice for struggling women

00:46:10 - How did you achieve fertility?

00:47:13 - The female body

00:48:10 - How did feminism get so radical?

00:53:23 - Radical support for abortion

01:01:28 - Feminist manifesto

01:05:04 - Does feminism have a toxic root?

01:06:09 - Where feminists do better

01:06:46 - Marital r*pe

01:09:14 - Bible says not to deny sex…

01:12:06 - Intimacy comes easier when:

01:14:02 - You can’t be “generically good” at sex

01:14:56 - How modesty leads to better sexuality

01:19:19 - Tradwives

01:23:36 - Does it matter who earns more?

01:27:16 - What does it mean to be a father?

01:28:19 - What does it mean to be a mother?

01:29:30 - Women in workforce

01:34:56 - Are women at war with their motherhood?

01:36:50 - Repeal the 19th Amendment?

01:40:52 - Do men have it worse off today?

01:44:48 - What is good masculinity?

01:46:14 - What should we tell men?

01:50:06 - Military draft vs Pregnancy

01:53:21 - Unnecessary “war of the sexes”

02:00:14 - The word ‘feminism’

02:02:01 - Public policy advice?

02:04:35 - Should birth be made free?

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