Curious Life of a Childfree Woman

In this episode, Emily Paulsen is joined by Dr. Ben Schuff, a licensed naturopathic doctor, dietitian, nutritionist, and acupuncturist, to explore the intricate relationships people have with food. Drawing on his extensive experience in holistic health, Dr. Schuff discusses how societal narratives, personal habits, and emotional factors shape eating behaviors.

This conversation addresses common struggles, from diet culture and body image issues to emotional eating and food-related anxiety. Dr. Schuff shares insights into mindfulness, creating healthy boundaries, and adopting a whole-person approach that includes tools like acupuncture, movement, and meditation. Listeners will come away with practical strategies to trust their bodies and build a healthier relationship with food.

The article Emily shared on the episode can be read here: https://breakbingeeating.com/body-image-statistics/ 

Key Takeaways:

• The cultural and emotional complexities surrounding food and how they influence daily habits.

• Why mindfulness and awareness are essential to shifting eating patterns without relying on willpower.

• Practical ways to create space and boundaries that support healthier choices.

• The role of tools like hunger and fullness cues in reconnecting with the body.

• How integrative approaches like acupuncture and movement contribute to sustainable healing.

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way. 

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com  

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/ 

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The guest on this episode, Dr. Ben Schuff is a licensed naturopathic doctor, licensed dietitian, nutritionist, certified nutrition specialist, and licensed acupuncturist. His diverse healthcare experience includes working as an EMT and volunteering in community health clinics and hospitals. These experiences highlighted the limitations of conventional medicine. leading him to embrace holistic and flexible approaches that consider the whole person. Dr. Schuff currently serves as the director of naturopathy and nutrition, at Bian, a holistic wellness club in Chicago, focusing on personalized clinical care that integrates modern medical science with complimentary healing modalities.

Connect with Dr. Ben Schuff online: 

https://www.livebian.com/services/nutrition

Why do women control less wealth than men—and how is that finally changing? In this episode, wealth strategist Teresa Bailey joins Emily Paulsen to explore the systemic barriers that have historically kept women from building and controlling wealth and the groundbreaking changes that are coming.

Teresa shares fascinating insights into the hidden history of women’s property rights, including how laws like coverture kept married women from having their own legal identity or financial autonomy. But this isn’t just a history lesson—Teresa breaks down the modern financial landscape, where women are poised to lead the largest transfer of wealth in history by 2030.

Together, Emily and Teresa discuss the emotional challenges many women face around money, why conversations about wealth can feel so fraught, and how open dialogue and strategic planning can empower women to take control of their financial futures. Whether you’re building your own wealth, supporting the women in your life, or just curious about the ripple effect this shift could have on society, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

Key Takeaways

• The History of Wealth and Gender: How centuries of inequality, including coverture laws, shaped today’s financial gender gap.

• The Women’s Wealth Transfer: Why baby boomer women will soon control the majority of investable wealth in the U.S.

• Reclaiming Financial Confidence: The emotional and social challenges women face in personal finance—and how to overcome them.

• The Power of Transparency: How open conversations about money can help women build confidence and support each other.

• The Future of Women in Wealth: Why women will reshape financial systems through new products, approaches, and investments.

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way. 

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com  

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/ 

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The guest on this episode is Teresa Bailey, a Wealth Strategist who actively orchestrates the financial affairs of executives, entrepreneurs, and other driven individuals. At W&A, she is known for enriching her clients’ financial worlds and building the W&A name by coordinating brand development, planning client events, and developing educational content.Teresa is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® practitioner who was named one of Memphis Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2016. In 2018, she began splitting her time between W&A’s Memphis and Nashville offices.

 Teresa is also the co-founder and conceptualist of Wealth of a Woman with Nashville-based entrepreneur Lauren Reed Williams. Inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), Wealth of a Woman is a grassroots initiative providing free online courses and resources for both men and women to promote a healthier relationship with wealth. 

Learn more about Teresa: 

https://wealthstrategists.com/

https://thewealthofawoman.com/

And connect with her online: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresajwbailey/

https://www.instagram.com/thewealthofawoman/ 

How can we take meaningful steps toward saving the planet while addressing our own consumption habits? In this compelling episode, Emily Paulsen and sustainability expert Ashlee Piper dive deep into the environmental crisis and explore what individuals can do to make a tangible difference.

Ashlee shares the fascinating history of consumerism, the psychological tricks behind marketing, and the innovative #NoNewThings Challenge she created to help people reduce overconsumption. Together, they discuss how small, intentional changes in our daily lives can lead to a ripple effect of positive impacts—for ourselves and for the planet.

This isn’t just a conversation about climate change—it’s an empowering call to action for reclaiming our personal power and living more sustainably.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding Consumerism: Learn how post-war industrialization and marketing created a culture of overconsumption and environmental degradation.

• The Role of Marketing: Discover how modern marketing exploits psychology to influence purchasing decisions and create false needs.

• The #NoNewThings Challenge: Explore how this initiative helps individuals reclaim time, money, and creativity while reducing their environmental impact.

• Actionable Sustainability: Practical steps for curbing overconsumption, living sustainably, and contributing to climate solutions.

• Individual Power in Collective Change: Why our personal choices matter and how they can lead to systemic improvements.

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way. 

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com  

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/ 

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The guest on this episode is Ashlee Piper, a sustainability expert, TV personality, author and globally recognized speaker whose work has been featured on 310+ television segments, including The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, LIVE with Kelly & Mark, and CNN, and in VOGUE, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Marie Claire, The Atlantic and Newsweek. Piper's 2018 book, Give A Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet. (Running Press) has been hailed as a 'sustainability Bible' by celebrities and reviewers.

She's consulted on sustainability practices with well-known companies such as Airbnb, LUSH, Nissan and Eileen Fisher, has been a cabinet-level advisor to two Massachusetts Governors and is a judge for the Marie Claire Sustainability Awards. Piper has spoken at the United Nations, SXSW and has a popular TED Talk. She is also the creator of the #NoNewThings Challenge, which received a 2022 Silver Stevie Award for Best Nonprofit Innovation and is set to be published as her second book in 2025 by Celadon Books.

Piper has been a Professor of Sustainability Marketing at Loyola University Chicago, eco instructor for LinkedIn Learning and holds a BA from Brown University, an MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention from the University of Oxford, UK and an MA in Holistic Health from IIN/Columbia University.

She lives in Chicago with Skip, an 18-pound cat she found behind a dumpster, in a home that’s 98% secondhand. You can find her drinking Sugar-Free Red Bull and vodka and singing Seal’s ‘Kiss From A Rose’ at any not-so-fine karaoke establishment.

Learn more about Ashlee on her website: 

www.ashleepiper.com

And connect with her on Instagram:  @ashleepiper

Pre-order her book: No New Things

In this powerful episode of Curious Life of a Childfree Woman, Emily Paulsen sits down with TEDx speaker, success designer, and business coach Bri Seeley to explore the evolving role of women in the workforce. From systemic inequities to transformative solutions, this conversation dives deep into how women can break free from outdated paradigms, redefine success, and create meaningful change for themselves and others.Bri shares her personal journey of defying societal expectations, choosing a childfree life, and building a reality on her own terms.

Key Takeaways

• It’s not about breaking the ceiling of a burning building. Bri explains why women need to leave broken systems and focus their energy on building something new and more equitable.

• Your current reality reflects past decisions. To create the future you want, start making decisions today from the perspective of your future self.

• Wealth is power. Women are positioned to lead the largest wealth transfer in history. By investing in themselves and other women, they can create transformative change.

• Ask for what you want. Nearly half of women have never asked for a raise. Bri emphasizes why asking is a crucial step in shifting workplace dynamics and creating personal financial growth.

• Drop what isn’t yours. Bri shares a simple but powerful exercise to help you let go of other people’s expectations, allowing you to live unapologetically and authentically.

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Host, Emily Paulsen, is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way. 

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com  

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/ 

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The guest on this episode is Bri Seeley, a TEDx Speaker, Success Designer and award winning business woman. Bri works with ambitious, high achievers to defy reality by bringing their most unrealistic goals to life without overworking, under living or sacrificing themselves for their audacious visions. Bri uses her signature DEFY process to help you design and create long-term and sustainable success - unapologetically. You may have seen her winning awards for Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Business Coach of the Year, and Los Angeles Small Business of the Year or on any number of press outlets such as Good Morning America, The TODAY Show, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Women’s Health and more.

Learn more about her work on her website: http://briseeley.com

Learn about her nonprofit: http://infiniteherizons.org

Listen to her Podcast: Big Goal Energy

Connect with her on IG:

@briseeley

@successbecomesme

@big.goal.energy.now

What does it mean to reflect on the life paths we didn’t take? In this deeply engaging episode, Emily Paulsen and Janet Alexandersson explore the concept of the “ghost ship life”—those alternate futures we let sail away—and the profound insights they can offer.

Janet, a creative force and founder of Piggy Bank Legal, joins Emily for a heartfelt conversation about curiosity, creativity, decision-making, and what it means to live intentionally. Drawing inspiration from Cheryl Strayed’s “The Ghost Ship That Didn’t Carry Us,” they consider how choices shape our identities, the courage to follow your instincts, and the power of letting go of the “what ifs.”

This conversation isn’t just about asking big questions—it’s about discovering how to honor the life you’ve chosen, celebrate its unique beauty, and create meaning in every step forward. So, what’s your ghost ship life? And how does it shape the one you’re living today?

Key Takeaways:

• Curiosity as a Compass: How embracing curiosity can guide our choices and deepen our understanding of ourselves and others.

• The Art of Letting Go: Why acknowledging the “ghost ships” of our lives can help us embrace our current path with more clarity and gratitude.

• Intentional Living: Practical ways to align your decisions with your values while exploring alternate paths through imagination and reflection.

• Reframing Relationships: From friendship to community, how meaningful connections can take many forms beyond traditional family structures.

• Decision-Making Frameworks: Janet’s approach to navigating crossroads with courage, curiosity, and a willingness to grow.

**The article referenced in this episode can be read here: https://therumpus.net/2011/04/21/dear-sugar-the-rumpus-advice-column-71-the-ghost-ship-that-didnt-carry-us/

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way. 

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com  

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/ 

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The guest on this episode is Janet Alexandersson, a creative at heart – sprouting new side and art projects every year. She is also the founder of the boutique law firm Piggy Bank Legal. She helps professionals add revenue streams through licensing by offering a unique combination of business advisory and legal services. Janet is celebrating 20 years as a lawyer and loves to chat about entrepreneurship, licensing, creativity and philosophy. 

Learn more about her work on her website:  janetalexandersson.com.

In this powerful episode of Curious Life of a Childfree Woman, Emily Paulsen sits down with Alexandra Raquel, an ordained priestess, ceremonialist, and ethical messaging strategist, to delve into what it truly means to live in harmony with our authentic selves. Together, they explore “soul work”—the process of reconnecting with our deepest inner voice and intuition—and how tuning into this wisdom can guide us toward a life of balance, fulfillment, and purpose.

Alex shares her insights into balancing masculine and feminine energies, living in sync with nature’s rhythms, and embracing rest and community as integral parts of a healthy, aligned life. Through a conversation that bridges ancient wisdom and modern challenges, Emily and Alex invite listeners to rethink productivity, embrace self-care as a form of resistance, and honor the cyclical nature of both their own energy and the world around them.

For anyone curious about reconnecting with a deeper sense of purpose or interested in moving away from the hustle mindset, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on leading a life that feels both intentional and inspired.

Key Takeaways

• The Power of Soul Work: Soul work means strengthening our “soul’s voice”—our inner compass that connects us to both our truest self and the wisdom of the earth.

• Balancing Energies: Healthy balance between feminine and masculine energies helps us create a life in which structure and flow can coexist.

• Reclaiming Rest: Rest is a critical part of nature’s cycle and, by extension, our own.

• The Importance of Community: Living in harmony with ourselves often means coming together with others.

• Redefining Success and Productivity: Alex invites us to challenge society’s traditional notions of productivity and achievement, emphasizing a more holistic, well-being-centered view of success that nourishes both the self and the world around us.

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way. 

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com  

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/ 

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The guest on this episode is Alexandra Raquel (Alex). She is on a mission to bring women to a place and life of deep belonging and connectedness through soul work. She's an ordained Priestess and Ceremonialist born of mixed Quechua and Canadian settler lineage, who's been leading transformative sacred women’s circles and Ceremony for over a decade, and offering beyond quantum healing 1:1 Ceremonial Soul Journeys for 4 years. 

Alex is also a word witch and messaging strategist specializing in HIGH CONVERTING & ETHICAL messaging and copy that's emotionally resonant and regulating. She works with ambitious female founders who want profit & impact — without sacrificing their commitment to walking their business path in a good way. Alex has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies, an MPhil in Development Studies. She's a global nomad by lineage and nature, having lived on 4 continents and speaking 4 languages. 

Alex currently lives and works on the shared territory of the Haudenosaunee, the Mississsauguas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, and the Wendat peoples, now known as Tsi Tkoróntõ aka Toronto, where she lives with her family.

Connect with Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_inessence/ 

Curious Life of a Childfree Woman, hosted by Emily Paulsen, is a podcast for people who favor questions over convention. Where unexpected choices are celebrated instead of shamed, and where we feel free to have honest conversations through the lens of a happy, child-free life. 

This is not about comparison; it’s about possibility. 

In each episode, Emily welcomes guests who are pushing boundaries, taking risks, and redefining what it means to lead a fulfilling life. From sustainability and finance to personal growth and creative innovation, conversations are equally steeped in optimism and open thinking.

Whether you are childfree by choice, circumstance, still navigating that chapter, or a parent seeking a space where kids are not the center of the conversation - you are welcome here. Let’s get curious, together.