The Are Kids For Me Podcast

In the last of the current episodes, I speak with Elizabeth Joy, the creator of the Other Than Motherhood podcast. Elizabeth started this as part of her process of answering the question of whether she wants children or not. We talk about that process and she picks out some key concepts she has found useful from her podcast interviews. These include different ways of relating to regret as well as how this topic can impact friendships and how it can be difficult to communicate about for many reasons.
I highly recommend Elizabeth's podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/0ClXSiXAk7siifA3KCEa9l?si=98a15a64573a44e3
She has a a wide range of guests including experts and people she knows from her own life which highlights different perspectives.
I hope to be back with some new episodes next year, thanks to everyone for listening.

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates.

My guest today is Jennifer Flint, a woman's empowerment coach and author of the novel 'Wild Egg'. This book tells the story of Holly and her struggle to break the deadlock of ambivalence to decide whether becoming a mother is her wholehearted choice, or simply what she has been programmed to believe.  We discuss the book, the process of writing it and what it has been like since its release two years ago. The book also focuses on what happens after Holly makes her decision. We discuss transitions and endings in life, including the grief that can be present even when we make a positive choice. We talk about the importance of allowing ourselves this liminal phase as we adapt to our choice, experimenting with what life might look like. Please follow Jennifer on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wildegg21/?hl=en.

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates. 

I am so excited to speak with my guest today, Caitlin Durante. Caitlin is a writer, comedian and co-host of the amazing Bechdel Cast podcast, which discusses the representation of women in film. Caitlin is proudly childfree. We discuss the process she went through to be sterilised and how important it was for her body and mind to be aligned on this decision. We also explore the topic of regret and what can inform our ideas around that. It was wonderful to speak to Caitlin and I really hope you enjoy this conversation. Check out Caitlin's website here - https://www.caitlindurante.com/

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates. 

I am delighted to speak with Dawn and Nicole today about Storyhouse Childless. Storyhouse is a beautiful community and creative space in Chester, England. They host a range of events throughout the year, including Storyhouse Childless, a full weekend of events, taking place September 28-29th this year. The aim is to explore living without children for any reason and is open to anyone interested in the topic. I attended the event last year and found it to be such a welcoming atmosphere with a fascinating range of speakers. In this discussion, we explore how the event came to be and continues to develop, as well as how the organisers work to help people attending to feel comfortable. Please see https://www.storyhouse.com/seasons/storyhouse-childless/ for details and to book your tickets. I highly recommend attending if that is an option for you.

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates. 

To celebrate International Childfree Day this year, I am delighted to highlight some wonderful new books on the topic with an Irish connection. I have spoken to Nicole Louie about her book 'Others Like Me: The Stories of Women Without Children' so please listen to that episode when you have the chance. Here, I speak to Caroline Magennis about her new book 'Harpy: A Manifesto for Childfree Women'.
Caroline is a writer and academic, originally from the North of Ireland and now living in the U.K. She writes in a very accessible, empathic and humorous way. The book is future focused and hopeful - she explores how to live a childfree life, making the seemingly radical decision to believe people when they say they don't want children. We explore these themes as well as the specific impact of considering or making this decision in an Irish context. Harpy is available to buy now and you can follow Caroline on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/drmagennis/

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates. 

Welcome to a new series of episodes to celebrate International Childfree Day 2024! I am delighted to start off by speaking with Nicole Louie about her book 'Others Like Me: The Stories of Women Without Children'.
Nicole is originally from Brazil but is now based in Ireland. This book is a deeply personal exploration of childless and childfree women's lives, including Nicole's own story. The book shows the many ways in which people find fulfillment outside of parenthood and creates a sense of community regardless of age, geographical location or reasons for not having children.
Nicole both writes and speaks beautifully about this topic. We explore themes from the book including the impact of relationships with other people, how our voices can get lost through other peoples questions and doubt, and how clarity, once you find it and whatever that means to you, will cascade down and throughout all areas of your life.
Nicole's book is available to buy in Europe now and will be available in North America in November. For full book purchasing details, please click here - https://www.dialoguebooks.co.uk/titles/nicole-louie/others-like-me/9781408748336/
You can follow Nicole on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bynicolelouie/?hl=en where she curates content around books, movies and podcasts about women who are not mothers by choice, infertility, circumstance or ambivalence.
I really hope you enjoy this episode and that you have a great International Childfree Day!

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates. 

Welcome to mini book club! Today, myself and previous guest, Julie Cobbe, are discussing the novel 'Wild Egg' by Jennifer Flint. We talk about the themes raised in the book and our experiences of reading a book which focuses on the parenthood decision.

I spoke to Julie in season 2 about her own experience of deciding to have children or not. I do recommend you listen to that if you haven't already. I want to thank Jennifer Flint for sending me on copies of her book and to thank Julie for volunteering to read it and take part in this episode.
I refer to another podcast in this episode which discusses the book, Jennifer's own story and process of reading the book. Please see Anna Olson's excellent episodes of the 'We're Not Kidding' Podcast here -
Part one -https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cDRpIhrkO74KOm52euK5k?si=01f5e61b98e74780
Part two - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3FGdhAO7C8UQolPMoGZqcF?si=bb5ed345d1b9450c

Please Julies website here - https://juliecobbe.com/

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates. Episode transcripts are available on  https://www.arekidsforme.ie/podcast 

I am joined today by four members of the Sisterhood - Childfree by Choice Meetup group based in Ireland. Founded in 2020, it now has over 1,000 members with a range of online and in person events. I talk to Niamh, Kalyn, Katie and Ailish about how they came to be involved in the group, what the group does and the challenges around finding the right terminology to represent the wide range of experiences around this topic. 
If you are interested in making friends, being accepted and growing your world please check the group out here - https://www.meetup.com/sisterhood-childfree-females-by-choice/ Online events are open to people outside of Ireland and the group are currently working to offer more regional activities around Ireland.

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates. Episode transcripts are available on  https://www.arekidsforme.ie/podcast 

My guest today is Robin Hadley, a childless man, an associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and a founder member of campaign group Ageing Without Children. Rob has conducted a wide range of research on childless men so he brings both personal and professional experience to the topic. We discuss some myths around men and reproduction. We also discuss the implication of 'validity through virility' for everyone, and what happens when you don't follow the expected life arc, either by choice or not. Rob makes what can be heavy topics so accessible and relatable; this conversation will interest you regardless of your gender or childfree/less status.

This is a link to Rob's website where you can read his research and order his book 'How is a Man supposed to be a Man? Male Childlessness - A Life Course Disrupted'.
https://www.robinhadley.co.uk/

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates. Episode transcripts are available on  https://www.arekidsforme.ie/podcast 

Welcome to season 3 of the Are Kids For Me podcast. I took a break after season 2 but am delighted to be back with some special episodes. My first guest was actually the inspiration to make new episodes and it was a joy to speak to her.
Jenny is in her 70s and is living a very content childfree life with her husband. She talks us through making the decision in the 1970s and revisiting the decision at various stages of their lives. She encourages us to think about what we are choosing instead when we decide not to have children. This shifts the focus to the wide range of opportunities available. Jenny also wants to share about how they have dealt with health challenges and how they are planning for aging and older life without children. This is an honest conversation which I really appreciate Jenny having with me and I hope you find it as inspirational as I did.

Please subscribe/follow the podcast and check out the 'Are Kids For Me' pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/arekidsforme and Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/arekidsforme/ for more information and episode updates. Episode transcripts are available on  https://www.arekidsforme.ie/podcast