The Kids or Childfree Podcast

By Keltie Maguire

Should I have kids?

If you're on the fence about whether or not to have kids, this is your podcast. Each week, host and Clarity Coach, Keltie Maguire, will interview a wide-ranging host of different... more

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FAQs about The Kids or Childfree Podcast:

How many episodes does The Kids or Childfree Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 122 episodes available.

Best of The Kids or Childfree Podcast

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: 115. Maddy Lettuce on Opting Out of Life's Biggest Default Setting
In this episode, Keltie hosts childfree content creator, Maddy Lettuce, for a conversation about why its critical we question parenthood as the default life choice, and Maddy's personal childfree journey. You'll hear them discuss: The importance of questioning societal norms, and why self-discovery is a key part of this process. How personal life experiences shape decisions, and some of the key experiences that informed Maddy's childfree choice. How relationship dynamics play into the decision to have or not have kids, and some of the misconceptions about men's desires. (0:36) Meet Maddy & her Kids or Childfree story; (16:42) Parenthood as a default setting; (35:34) The impact from Maddy's upbringing; (48:04) Childfree dating & partnership; (1:07:27) Who has authority to discuss the Kids or Childfree decision About Maddy: Maddy Lettuce is a childfree content creator and writer based in New Hampshire. She creates content at @whozyourmaddy on TikTok, where her childfree content has accumulated 21 million views in the past year. She's currently working on a book called Opting Out: A Thinking Person's Guide to the Biggest Default Setting of Your Life, a prescriptive nonfiction book examining how parenthood became the default setting nobody questions, and what it would mean to actually treat it as a choice. Het content focuses on raising awareness that the decision to have children is exactly that, a decision, and giving people permission to examine it honestly before they make it. As mentioned in the episode: Find Maddy on Substack, TikTok, and Instagram at @whozyourmaddy. Sign up for our September 16th Kids or Childfree Group Program start. MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION: Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop Join a GROUP PROGRAM 🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program 🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive Access an ON DEMAND class 🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series 🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources CONNECT ONLINE 💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com 📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree ⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree 📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com Love what you're hearing? 💕 Subscribe | Like | Comment | Share with a friend
August 25, 20261h 13min
Number 2: 110. Caroline Lee on Birth, Death, Psychedelics, and the Kids or Childfree Choice
In this conversation, Keltie is joined by Caroline Lee, a death doula and somatic therapist who supports women and couples with the Kids or Childfree choice. You'll hear them discuss: Caroline's personal journey to motherhood, and the career pivot that took her from photographer, to death doula and therapist. How fear, grief, shame, and mortality influence decisions around parenthood. How to work through grief and shame when confronting the Kids or Childfree choice. The role of psychedelics like psilocybin and ibogaine in exploring the decision of whether to have kids. The significance of making conscious, intentional decisions about parenthood. ...and so much more. (1:48) Meet Caroline & her Kids or Childfree decision; (10:27) The work of a death doula; (16:52) Coping with grief and shame in the Kids or Childfree decision; (30:57) Mortality + the Kids or Childfree decision; (45:51) Using psychedelics for decision-making About Caroline: Caroline Lee is a death doula, somatic therapist, writer, and mother of 2. She is the creator of To Babe or Not to Babe, a six-week group for people deciding whether to become parents, remain childfree, or have another child. Her work explores death, desire, grief, the body, and the threshold moments where a life starts asking to be lived more truthfully. Her kids are Moses and Octavia, 2.5 years and 5 months old, and she had them at 37 and 39 years old. She and her partner live in the Bay of San Francisco. As mentioned in the episode: Find Caroline and her 6-week group program, To Babe or Not to Babe, online at www.tobabeornottobabe.com. Find her on social media at @howcarolinecarolines MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION: Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop Join a GROUP PROGRAM 🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program 🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive Access an ON DEMAND class 🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series 🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources CONNECT ONLINE 💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com 📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree ⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree 📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com Love what you're hearing? 💕 Subscribe | Like | Comment | Share with a friend
July 01, 20261h 9min
Number 3: 109. Tina Martinez on Living a Simple Childfree Life
Keltie is joined by guest, Tina Martinez, for a conversation about Tina's journey to embracing her childfree choice — and why a simple and peaceful life without kids is more than enough. The two of them chat about: How Tina and her husband ultimately landed on the childfree decision, after trying to have kids. The often-overlooked perks of a romantic partnership without children. How Tina navigates her fears about ageing and companionship. The importance of community and support networks for childfree women – and how Tina is building these for herself, and other childfree women. The biggest myths and stereotypes about childfree women. (2:08) Meet Tina and her Kids or Childfree decision (16:40) Being a childfree couple (29:21) An (extra)ordinary life without kids (39:05) Myths about childfree women (47:24) Being childfree in your 50s About Tina Tina Martinez is a Food Producer at Good Housekeeping magazine with over 15 years of experience across recipe development, food styling, and culinary content production. Currently working in a test kitchen, she wears many hats—developing, writing, and testing recipes, styling food for photo shoots, and producing video content for social media. She began her career in restaurant kitchens before moving into teaching culinary classes, eventually transitioning into food styling for editorial, digital, and television platforms. Originally from New Jersey, Tina has spent the past 25 years living everywhere from Queens and Brooklyn to California and Washington, DC, before settling in Westchester with her husband. Outside the kitchen, she's passionate about fitness and staying active—you can find her running, weightlifting, hiking local trails, or exploring neighborhood breweries. As mentioned in the episode Find Tina on Instagram at instagram.com/the_saltgypsy Find her on TikTok at tiktok.com/@the.salt.gypsy Her website is www.tinadegraff.com MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION: Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop Join a GROUP PROGRAM 🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program 🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive Access an ON DEMAND class 🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series 🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources CONNECT ONLINE 💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com 📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree ⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree 📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com Love what you're hearing? 💕 Subscribe | Like | Comment | Share with a friend
June 24, 20261h 2min
Number 4: 108. Emmalee Bierly & Jennifer Chaiken of ShrinkChicks on Friendships Between Moms and Non-Moms
Keltie is joined by therapists and hosts of the ShrinkChicks Podcast, Emmalee Bierly and Jennifer Chaiken, to discuss friendships between moms and women without kids — including their own. Hear them explore: How Jennifer supported Emmalee through postpartum depression and fertility struggles — and why it was actually a good thing Jennifer isn't a mom as well. Your biggest friendship dilemmas with friends who are moms. Why open communication and honesty are the key to navigating different life choices. How to bridge the divide that can occur when one of you has kids and the other doesn't. (2:13) Meet Emmalee and Jennifer, their friendship, & their Kids or Childfree choices (16:01) How Emmalee's motherhood journey impacted their friendship (32:14) Advice on feeling left out in friend groups comprised mostly of moms (39:12) Misconceptions about moms or childfree people About The ShrinkChicks Emmalee Bierly & Jennifer Chaiken are both Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, co-owners of the private therapy practice, The Therapy Group, and co-hosts of the ShrinkChicks Podcast! They believe in being down to earth, authentic, and transparent, which are values they bring both to their practice as well as their podcast! Their mission is to make therapy more relatable and accessible, working to break down that clinical wall. As mentioned in the episode Tune in to hear Keltie on the ShrinkChicks Podcast Find Emmalee and Jennifer on Instagram at:@shrinkchicks @thetherapygrp Their website is thetherapygroup.com Join our upcoming Grow or No Workshhop happening on June 24th. MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION: Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop Join a GROUP PROGRAM 🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program 🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive Access an ON DEMAND class 🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series 🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources CONNECT ONLINE 💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com 📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree ⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree 📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com Love what you're hearing? 💕 Subscribe | Like | Comment | Share with a friend
June 17, 202654min
Number 5: 107. Dr. Margo Lowy on Maternal Ambivalence and the Emotional Complexity of Motherhood
Join Keltie as she speaks with pyschotherapist and researcher, Dr. Margo Lowy, about the concept of maternal ambivalence and the mixed emotions that accompany the experience of motherhood. They discuss: Why saying yes to motherhood means embracing the "both, and" What maternal ambivalence and being on the fence about kids have in common, and what we can learn from the former Why letting go and surrender are essential to the motherhood path The myth of the perfect decision (and perfect mother) ...and lots more. (2:17) Meet Margo and her work on motherhood ambivalence; (11:40) Duality of the Kids or Childfree decision & Margo's motherhood experience; (23:17) Mothering as an experience of continually letting go; (43:07) The freedom of no "right" decision About Dr. Lowy Dr. Margo Lowy is a psychotherapist and researcher whose work explores the emotional complexity of motherhood. She's the author of Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments & Bitter Truths of Motherhood and a contributor to Psychology Today. As mentioned in the episode Find Dr. Lowy online at drmargolowy.com Her Instagram is @drmargolowy She's on Facebook at facebook.com/drmargolowy Read her book, Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments & Bitter Truths of Motherhood Read the Pyschology Today piece by Dr. Margo Lowy Watch the French film, A Happy Event Get our free Kids or Childfree Book Guide MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION: Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop Join a GROUP PROGRAM 🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program 🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive Access an ON DEMAND class 🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series 🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources CONNECT ONLINE 💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com 📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree ⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree 📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com Love what you're hearing? 💕 Subscribe | Like | Comment | Share with a friend
June 10, 202659min