DESCRIPTION

Mother Tongue is a biannual print magazine that interrogates (and celebrates) modern motherhood through inclusive stories about art, sex, pop culture, politics, food and a few things in between.

It’s not about kids or how to parent them: it’s about the nuanced lives we are living—as mothers, and much more.

The magazine is edited by co-founders Melissa Goldstein and Natalia Rachlin and designed by creative director Vanessa Saba.

ISSUE 10 SPRING SUMMER 2026

Issue 10 of Mother Tongue is an action-packed adventure into the pungent world of weed nuns; a swift yet thoughtful exploration of the political battleground that is American motherhood; an artful view of what it looks like when the fountain of female pleasure is quite literally put under the microscope! Across 128 jam-packed pages, we find ourselves painting with Lucy Liu, bowling with Jenny Slate and getting into bed with Tracey Emin, as you do. Separately, we learn about the clitoris in all its (surprisingly large!) glory, get a vocabulary lesson from Kathryn Grody, and see what happens when Jane Goodall tells you to have one or two children. Cigarettes are fetishized, spliffs donated to worthy causes, and horror movies devoured, as we then dive into the cruelty of menstrual inequity in the US carceral system and confront the dualities of being Iranian-American in this moment of global tumult. We are reminded that endings can be beginnings in disguise, that justice is a lifelong pursuit, and that ignoring pain is not the same thing as healing. We also learn that the fight for a more stable, more decent world is just a continued (uphill!) battle, not something that can be won once and for all (according to Amber Tamblyn); contemplate the rollercoaster ride of ambition in midlife; assess the reliability of gossip; and turn to Erykah Badu for advice about baby daddies and the illusion of having it all.

Featuring words and work by: Erykah Badu, Kate Branch, Ej Dickson, Rachel Elam, Cory Feder, Ellen Fedors, Andi Gáldi Vinkó, Christine Garvey, Abigail Glasgow, Natacha Gorwitz, Kathryn Grody, Poppy Harlow, Victoria Hely-Hutchinson, Barbara Henri, Mara Hoffman, Hettie Judah, Hillary Kelly, Thessaly La Force, Janet Manley, Annie Marie Musselman, Nicole Najafi, Mary Overton, Neha Ruch, Reshma Saujani, Baran Shafiey, Lauren Tamaki, Amber Tamblyn, Jerrine Tan, Shana Jade Trajanoska, Anna Malaika Tubbs, Kristina Tzekova, Cassandra Welchlin, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, Shawna X, and Christina Zimpel.

ISSUE 9 Fall Winter 2025/2026

This issue is full of women sharing, with great conviction, how they see the world (and themselves in it): filmmaker Mary Bronstein makes a horror show of the maternal experience; writer Alexa Wilding asserts her existence amidst illness in the best way she knows how, and our cover star, Erykah Badu is, in her own words “pregnant with possibility.” Caro Claire Burke confronts millennial “cringe” and wonders why we’re so afraid of it; artist Carmen Winant takes us on an all-American road trip (with her mom), and we publish a short fiction piece for the first time, a ghost story, no less, by the young writer Yukti Narang. There’s also talk of earlobes, an account of fertilization as you never knew it, poetry by Kate Baer and Hala Alyan, an ode to frivolity, and a reexamination of Linda and Paul McCartney’s supposedly perfect love story—yet another reminder that things are not always as they appear. 

This issue also features words and work by: Hala Alyan, Angelica Alzona, Joana Avillez, Kate Baer, Kate Branch, Caro Claire Burke, Clémence Polès Farhang, Erin Feher, Kate Forster, Liana Finck, Hannah Felt Garner, Malwina Gudowska, Victoria Hely-Hutchinson, Bess Kalb, Hillary Kelly, Julie Kim, Keerthana Kunnath, Shannon Cartier Lucy, Chau Luong, Melissa Maerz, Janet Manley, Weronika Anna Marianna, Helena Minginowicz, Yukti Narang, Alice Pfeiffer, Naila Ruechel, Vanessa Saba, Anaïs Wade, Alexa Wilding, and Carmen Winant.

ISSUE 8 SPRING SUMMER 2025

In this issue we not only have grand visions for tomorrow, but we also look back: at history, nostalgia and childhood, as we think about what we choose to remember and what we wish we could forget. We look at the way women are treated (in the media, in the justice system, in the culture) and how narratives get twisted or taken over altogether; we revisit the idea of utopias, redefine sluttiness and discuss sex and intimacy in fascist times. Thankfully, we also swim in the Mediterranean, drink martinis and nourish ourselves with so-called blood porridge. We consider freedom (of thought and of personhood) and the domino effect of singular moments and impromptu decisions. We look at genetic engineering in the era of techbros, the myths of adulthood and the correct way to make hummus (according to any hardcore Lebanese grandma). We talk about so-called "women of ill repute" with Amanda Knox, and go down a transcendental meditation rabbit hole with writer Nina St. Pierre. Crucially, we also embrace the power of imagination with author Soraya Chemaly, who shares a feminist manifesto that rages against the male supremacy that shapes our world order (her words also grace our cover, with art by Sophie Douala). 

This issue also features words and work by Tina Berning, Davvon Branker, Veronica Chambers, Sophie Douala, Melissa Febos, Hannah Felt Garner, Jillian Guyette, Kimberly Harrington, Victoria Hely-Hutchinson, Amanda Hess, Hillary Kelly, Amanda Knox, R.O. Kwon, Sheena Meade, Amanda Montei, Andrea Mortson, Annie Marie Musselman, Casey Niccoli, Farah Al Qasimi, Logan Randall, Vanessa Saba, Fenna Schilling, Noor Tagouri, Anja Tyson, Fiorella Valdesolo, Anaïs Wade, Connie Wang, Jessie Kanelos Weiner, Alexandra Welch.

ISsUE 4 - Spring/Summer 2023

In Mother Tongue issue four, we analyze dreams (about sexy lions) with Bat For Lashes, and talk Real Housewives and real smiles with Jenna Lyons. We make sense of Whitney Houston with Amil Niazi and tend to songbirds of a different kind with artist Sheida Soleimani. We hit the road in Texas, as Dina Gachman takes us on a winding tale of revenge without remorse, and build a house for the future with Christene Barberich. Photographer Martina Zanin asks us to consider what happens when feline fixations go too far, and illustrator Rachel Deutsch conjures the everyday horror of our children’s unmeetable expectations. Sophie Ebrard contemplates sex and intimacy after kids, author Angela Garbes bridges the mother-daughter divide, and Ruby Warrington and Pooja Lakshmin discuss whether having children even makes sense anymore? And much, more more, including contributions by Kholood Eid, Victoria Hely-Hutchinson, Sarah Hoover, Annie Armstrong Miyao, Bonnie Morrison, Rachel Sperry, Shana Trajanoska, Taravat Talepasand, Ruth van Beek,​​ Anaïs Wade, Han Wang, Diana Weymar, Amber Winick, Lauren Withrow, LaTonya Yvette and Alex Zafiris.

ISsUE 5 - FALL/WINTER 2023-2024

In Issue 5 we talk about The End—of marriage, of life, of the world as we know it. We get nostalgic about the sublime weirdness of Anne Geddes and make a list of virgin births (besides the obvious). We navigate the unchartered territory of embryo adoption and find meaning in fermented fruit. 

Mira Jacob considers the “Margaret Thatchers” of her family, while poet Yrsa Daley Ward has had enough of Malcolm Gladwell. Writer Molly Prentiss and photographer Frances Tulk-Hart remind us that we must always notice the minutiae and marvel, and artist Andi Galdi Vinko documents the climate crisis through the eyes of our children. There’s also talk of phantom limbs, and a trip to Copenhagen—where Hillary Kelly trades secrets with Danish author Olga Ravn. And before we’re through, we laugh about schizophrenia with comedian Atsuko Okatsuka; we get existential about chocolate with Priyanka Mattoo; and we think about planting roots with Kailea Loften, who runs away and goes home, all at the same time.

ISsUE 6 - SPRING/SUMMER 2024

In this issue we discuss the coexistence of seemingly incompatible things—humor and trauma with filmmaker Lulu Wang and author Priyanka Mattoo; rejecting pregnancy and embracing motherhood with writer Samantha Mann, and attempting to solve the mysteries of self with no real clues to go on with poet Maggie Smith. We revel in the confidence of the Real Housewives with illustrator Jess Rotter and get weird about candidates’ wives with Sarah Hutto; and we talk empathy and non-binary thinking in a post-October 7th reality withMoh Mahdara, Rabbi Sharon Brous and BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors. We forgo categorization with artist Hayv Kahraman; rally for sisterhood with Salamishah and Scheherazade Tillet; and look to the right and left with Shannon Watts. We try on chore coats and grief with Jessie Gaynor; resist hoarding with Victoria Hely Hutchinson; examine the symmetry of our breasts with Caitlin Scholl; and last, but quite obviously not least: We get lusty about midlife with our cover star Miranda July, in a sizzling profile written by Hillary Kelly. Oh, you thought we were done? This issue also features work and words by Michelle Arcila, Lesly Deschler Canossi, Paula Codoner, Alex Free, Alma Haser, Lucy Jones, Nanse Kawashima, Emma Larsson, Zoe Lescaze, Nadiya Nacorda, Maggie Shannon, Ashley Simpo, Akilah Townsend and Anaïs Wade.

ISSUE 7 - Fall/Winter 2024/2025

In this issue we confront the before, the after and the in between; the surreal confusion of the present, the friendly ghosts of the past and the utter unknown of the near future. We reminisce about arty orgies with Hillary Kelly and we follow the signs to a Spiritualist epicenter on an occult road trip with Janet Manley. Nightbitch author Rachel Yoder thinks about time: its passing, its limitations, its inevitability; and Suleika Jaouad and her mother, Anne Francey, dive headfirst into mortality, maternity, and the perils of doing drugs (not the fun ones) in the bathroom. Art critic Jori Finkel offers notes on cultivating an out of body perspective—with help from land art icon Isabel Albuquerque—and Jennifer Romolini lets us in on her double life (and why solo travel makes her horny). Rachel Sklar profiles the inexhaustible Jessica Valenti, whose pro-choice crusade aims to save America from itself. And we head to DC before the election to find humanity in the digital abyss with counterrorism expert and Moonshot founder Vidhya Ramalingam. If that wasn't enough, we also contemplate witches, jazzercise and going gray; periods, sacrificial goats and Man Ray, and finally: explore the extremely sapphic undertones of American Girl dolls. (Once you see it, it’s impossible to unsee!)

This issue also features work and words by: Ana Maria Caballero, Rachel Cope, Dione Davis, Amie Dicke, Cynthia Edorh, Charlie Engman, Hannah Felt Garner, Gem Fletcher, Maria-Ines Gul, Sarah Hahn, Laura McLaws Helms, Victoria Hely-Hutchinson, Thessaly LaForce, Nicole Graev Lipson, Suchitra Mattai, Hannah Michelle Provisor, Joanna Rakoff, Isabel Reitemeyer, Naila Ruechel, Vanessa Saba, Katherine Sheehan, Sunny Shokrae, Rebecca Storm and Fiorella Valdesolo. 

ABOUT

Mother Tongue is a biannual print magazine that interrogates (and celebrates) modern motherhood through inclusive stories about art, sex, pop culture, politics, food and a few things in between.

It’s not about kids or how to parent them: it’s about the nuanced lives we are living—as mothers, and much more.

The magazine is edited by co-founders Melissa Goldstein and Natalia Rachlin and designed by creative director Vanessa Saba.