What does it mean to consensually choose parenthood? A conversation with birth expert, doula, coach, and storyteller Sarah Auna. Plus, Julie schedules an egg freezing consultation and accidentally gets her IUD removed! Happy holidays and happy new year! 

For more information about Sarah and her practice: https://www.sarahauna.com/

Groopman Spectrum: https://bit.ly/GroopmanSpectrum

Follow Choosing on instagram: @choosingpod

Choosing is podcast about the choices we make and the routes we take to become parents. Are you grappling with the decision to become a parent, or have you become a parent via a non-traditional way? I'd love to hear your story. Get in touch: [email protected] or via @choosingpod on Instagram. 

Choosing is written, produced, and sound designed by Julie Censullo. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, with additional audio from freesound.org. 

In 2021, Suzanne found out she would never have a biological child. Also in 2021, Suzanne's son was born.

Choosing is podcast about the choices we make and the routes we take to become parents. Are you grappling with the decision to become a parent, or have you become a parent via a non-traditional way? I'd love to hear your story. Get in touch: [email protected]. 

--

Buy Suzanne's book, Shadow Migration: Mapping a Life: https://suzanneohlmann.com/

Listen to Out Cold (my spooky audio drama series!) wherever you get your podcasts. Join us for the Out Cold season 3 premiere party at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis: https://thehookmpls.com/event/out-cold-season-3-premiere-podcast/

Apply to the Everwood Farmstead Artist Retreat: https://www.everwoodfarmsteadfoundation.org/the-artist-retreat

---

Choosing is written, produced, and sound designed by Julie Censullo. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, with additional audio from freesound.org and Audio Jungle. Special thanks to Chris Everett, Bill Underwood, and Em Haas of the Everwood Farmstead Retreat. 

Our choices around parenthood are often a reflection of how we were parented. To help make up her mind about having children, Julie speaks with her own mom. 

Note: this episode features a depiction of a surgical abortion at 15:02 - 17:20.

Choosing is podcast about the choices we make and the routes we take to become parents. Are you grappling with the decision to become a parent, or have you become a parent via a non-traditional way? I'd love to hear your story. Get in touch: [email protected]. 

Choosing is written, produced, and sound designed by Julie Censullo. Special thanks to Rob McGinley Myers and Nancy Rosenbaum for editorial support on this episode. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, with additional audio from freesound.org. The sound of the wind was recorded at Everwood Farmstead in Glenwood City, WI. 

Sometimes we realize we want to be parents at the strangest of times. 

Choosing is podcast about the choices we make and the routes we take to become parents. Are you grappling with the decision to become a parent, or have you become a parent via a non-traditional way? I'd love to hear your story. Get in touch: [email protected]. 

Choosing is written, produced, and sound designed by Julie Censullo. Jennifer McCord and Kelsey Dilts McGregor provided editorial guidance. Additional voice acting by Kelsey Dilts McGregor. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions. Additional audio from freesound.org. 

A show about the choices we make and the routes we take to become parents. Choosing premieres September 17, 2025. Hosted and produced by Julie Censullo.

Julie is in her mid-30s and she's single. But she's pretty sure she wants to have kids. As she considers freezing her eggs for her 34th birthday, she asks friends, family, doctors, birthing experts, parents, step-parents, single parents, adoptive parents, and parents-to-be about the choices we make around having children. If you are considering parenthood, especially via non-traditional methods, this is a show for you.