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When Sandy was 21, she stepped into the road and was hit by a car. She learned super young that she could die in surgery, so after 9 major reconstructions and a year in a wheelchair, she promised herself, “ I’m going to live my life the way I want to live my life. I need to make choices that I love.” Now 62, Sandy’s choices have brought her to life on the road, travelling across the US and Canada with her two poodles, her laptop, and… not much else! She’s shed her possessions, society’s expectations, and is now free to live a life that’s fully hers. Truly inspirational 😍 Podcast: Life is a risk, with 73-year-old world traveller Maria Coffey Want to find your people? We have TWO SPOTS LEFT for Hearth, our guided gathering for childfree women. Six sessions, every two weeks, a small intimate group. Join us! Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

Should you break up with your friend when they won’t forgive you for missing their baby shower? That’s the question from someone who had to stay home to look after their sick dog - and is now being given the silent treatment - that we put to the We are Childfree community for this episode of Ask WAC! How do you reconcile with a friend who expects you to celebrate all their milestones but never returns the favour? Should you even bother? Can childfree folks ever hope to stay friends with parents once they have kids? Listen to find out! If you have a question or problem you’d like the community’s help with, submit your “Ask WAC” here, and we’ll tap into the childfree hive mind for a future episode! 🐝 Want to find your people? Hearth is a guided gathering for childfree women. Six sessions, every two weeks, a small intimate group. Find out more Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

Sandy is living proof that there’s more than one way to be childfree! She used to struggle with ambivalence about having children, always feeling different to the other girls, but still feeling the same pressure to become a mother one day. After a lot of time and money spent on trying to get pregnant, it was in her late 30s that Sandy accepted and started to embrace a life without children. That’s about the same time that a professor recognised Sandy’s community work in Montreal, and recommended her for a master’s program in social work - giving her a direction that has nothing to do with having children. She’s come out several times - as genderqueer, as pansexual, and childfree - and now lives in a platonic life partnership with a friend, and they care for each other and their ageing families 💞 This conversation reminds us that, no matter how complicated life can get, you can still find yourself, and the people and things that you care about. And that is enough. Visit Sandy’s website to find out more about her and her work. Want to find your people? Hearth is a guided gathering for childfree women. Six sessions, every two weeks, a small intimate group. Find out more Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

Hag. Spinster. Crone. Childless cat lady 🐈‍⬛ The words have barely changed - and neither has the patriarchal playbook. In this episode, we trace the threads between the women burned as witches and the childfree women demonised today: fear of females outside of men’s control, the suspicion of our time and money, the medical misogyny that came after midwives and still shows up in doctor’s offices to this day. Join us as we get dark, summon the spirits of our long-dead sisters, and gather a coven of powerful childfree women ✨ BBC Radio 4 podcast: Witch Jody Day: The Symbolic Annihilation of Childless Women in Films and Media Harpy: A Manifesto for Childfree Women by Caroline Magennis Guen, Berlin: “People wonder, when left to our own devices, what trouble childfree women get up to.” Roz, UK: “It was all men making decisions about my body.” Monica, Berlin: “I was struggling to find a job, until I started to bring up being childfree in interviews. The results were staggering.” Childfree Stories: My Body, My Choice Podcast: The Devil You Know with Sarah Marshall We are Childfree podcast: Birth Rate Panic! Not our problem. Shop Hag merch on the We are Childfree store Vice: 50-Year-Old French Author Says Women Over 50 Are ‘Too Old’ Helen Parish: “Paltrie Vermin, Cats, Mise, Toads, and Weasils”: Witches, Familiars, and Human-Animal Interactions in the English Witch Trials Come see us at Storyhouse Childless in September in the UK! We’ll be giving a keynote speech about the birth rate panic, hosting panels on ageing without children, creating community, and childfree men - and we’d love to see you there. Grab your weekend pass here. Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit wearechildfree.substack.com “Feel the fear and do it anyway” could be the motto of 67-year-old aussie legend Karen. She’s skydived despite her fear of heights, dived with sharks even though she didn't quite trusting the cowboys running the operation, and tried stand-up comedy - because of her terror of public speaking 💪 For Karen, being childfree has meant freedom. Freedom to leave her husband who thought she’d change her mind and only wanted to dim her (intense) light. Freedom to move on a whim, from Adelaide to Singapore, and then Hong Kong. And freedom to date men as young as her friend’s grown-up children ❤️ Karen has so many stories, we kept the juiciest ones for our Dolly Patrons. Subscribe now to hear about Karen’s trip to a brothel, how many children she had in a past life, and what she did on her honeymoon with the toast and the jam… 🍞 Whatever you wish for your childfree life, we hope this conversation inspires you to not let fear stand in your way! Want to find your people? Hearth is a guided gathering for childfree women. Six sessions, every two weeks, a small intimate group. Find out more. Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com

The alt right media is asking, "Why do the 'child-free' want EVERYBODY to devalue motherhood?", and warning women that "The Childfree Dream Is A Scam"... But who's selling who, and what are they peddling? In this ep, we meet the two genders of modern conservative media, Blaze and Evie, and dive deep into their grift: tricking you into giving up on feminism and becoming a trad-wife-in-training. Their ultimate goal? The Motherhood Scam. This one's so shocking, James' jogging pants flew off! (...the front of our camper van...) Listen in to find out the state of modern motherhood, why patriarchy wants to keep the truth from you - or at least make you shut the eff up about it - and how, as ever, childfree women are getting the blame 🤬 Blaze: Why do the 'child-free' want EVERYBODY to devalue motherhood? Unladylike podcast: Gender War Games Pt. 1: Womanosphere Rising with Diabolical Lies Evie: The Childfree Dream Is A Scam We are Childfree podcast: Taking the road less-travelled, with 65-year-old clinical psychologist Shelley @peanut on Instagram: The 2026 Motherhood Index Come see us at Storyhouse Childless in September in the UK! We’ll be giving a keynote speech about the birth rate panic, hosting panels on ageing without children, creating community, and childfree men - and we’d love to see you there. Grab your weekend pass here. Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

Rae is a legend! From birth, she’s always been very sure of who she is and what she wants, feeling a powerful sense of inner strength - an absolutely no maternal instinct 🙅‍♀️ Now 72, she was the baby of her family, but always treated like an adult, especially by her pharmacist father, who supplied her with the contraceptive pill among his other support. Rae seized the opportunity to create a life of her own, working behind the scenes in TV, training as a handwriting expert and now campaigning as an animal rights activist. Rae has gathered around herself a feathered family, anchored by her husband Bob AKA Daddy Bird! And while theirs is a beautiful love story which will end in a graceful green burial, Rae’s sense of self holds strong. We completely co-sign these words of wisdom: “be your own best friend and be ready to be there when no one else might be”. Get ready to meet an absolute icon 💎 Join the waitlist for Hearth, an intimate live programme for childfree women who are ready to stop carrying the questions alone, and start finding answers together. Next cohort coming soon from We are Childfree! Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

Another week, another birth rate panic! We recorded this ep before Dr Oz starting shrieking out about “under-babied” Americans, when the UK was freaking out about the death rate possibly exceeding the birth rate… But guess what bro, the birth rate’s been falling for 50 years! It might be time to accept that and adapt - unless what you’re really worried about is being “replaced” by people who don’t look or live like you? And even if you believe the birth rate is a problem to be solved, as childfree people, is it our problem? 📉💥 The Independent: UK population growth set to slow due to reduced migration and lower fertility rates OVERSHOOT podcast: Falling Birth Rates are Not a Crisis | Philip N. Cohen BBC: More UK deaths than births expected every year from now on, ONS projects The Telegraph: Britain’s demographic timebomb is about to blow. We have three terrible choices Statista: Fertility rate hits record low in England and Wales We are Childfree podcast: Childfree Elder Judi: “I Feel Joyful Every Day” Daily Mail: UK fertility timebomb: Crisis as birth rates drop to all time low with some areas becoming 'baby deserts' as so few are having children Diabolical Lies podcast: Gen Z Women's New "Anti-Woke Voice” The Guardian: The tipping point: what happens when deaths outnumber births? Our World in Data: Fertility rate Life Without Children: Russia Is Sending Women Who Don’t Want Kids To Have Their Heads Checked Journal: Earth at risk: An urgent call to end the age of destruction and forge a just and sustainable future Come see us at Storyhouse Childless in September in the UK! We’ll be giving a keynote speech about the birth rate panic, hosting panels on ageing without children, creating community, and childfree men - and we’d love to see you there. Grab your weekend pass here. Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

Get curious with Judi, 68, who’s truly made the most of her freedom. Born an only child in a time and place when that was rare, she grew up in Los Angeles and spent summers with her countless cousins in Tennessee, having her eyes opened to different lifestyles and different choices from a young age. Determined to make the most of opportunities her grandmothers never had, Judi started her own business - Mannequin Madness! - nurtured kids her own way as a mentor in a Big Sister programme, explored her spirituality as a Buddhist, travelled the world and now wants to learn Spanish and move south of the border. Judi’s secret to feeling joyful every day? Practising gratitude, even in the hard times, and staying curious about the world. We hope this conversation brings a big smile to your face lovelies 😃 Join the waitlist for Hearth, an intimate live programme for childfree women who are ready to stop carrying the questions alone, and start finding answers together. Coming soon from We are Childfree! Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

We’re always warned we’ll end up unhappy if we don’t have children, but a recent study’s shown that parents are no happier than non-parents - and that’s SCIENCE! Cue the pronatalist backlash from self-proclaimed experts, including a bunch of dumb dads, claiming that what we’re really missing out on is meaning. But what’s the purpose of “Purpose” if it doesn’t make you, or anyone else, happy? Listen in to hear the parental happiness myth busted, how you don’t have to earn your place on the planet and why hedonism is a good thing, actually 🍾 Having children DOESN'T make you happy: Becoming a parent provides no boost to wellbeing, study claims – but it does ruin your relationship Dinky Podcast: stories from regretful parents Parents are not happier but have a greater sense of meaning in life We are Childfree podcast: No regrets, with 78 year-old childfree trailblazer Marcia Drut-Davis Am I a happier person for having a child? It’s the wrong question to ask We are Childfree podcast: You are enough, with Dr Kate Tomas Join the waitlist for Hearth, an intimate live programme for childfree women who are ready to stop carrying the questions alone, and start finding answers together. Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Esther, 67, based in New Zealand. She's dedicated her life to teaching kids how to be curious and independent, and thinks of her students as her "lights in the world", her living legacy. Esther's come a long way from being adopted in Germany, and raised by neglectful parents who sought - unsuccessfully - to control her. She's travelled the world, campaigned for Greenpeace, championed underprivileged kids... and she says that every decade of her life just gets better! Hearing from childfree elders brings us so much hope and pride, and it's our pleasure to introduce you to the ever-inspiring Esther 💝 Join the waitlist for Hearth, an intimate live programme for childfree women who are ready to stop carrying the questions alone, and start finding answers together. Coming soon from We are Childfree! Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

A third of Gen Z men believe that a wife should always obey her husband. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! James takes us on a deep dive into young men’s attitudes about women, themselves and - most worryingly - gender equality. A survey that dropped on International Women’s Day shows how badly patriarchy drives men to hurt themselves, other men, and especially women. Listen in to hear Zoë get horrified about the state of the genders across generations, and maybe find a little bit of hope for the future 🙏 “Gen Z males twice as likely as baby boomers to believe wives should obey husbands“ Joan Smith in The Guardian: "As a boomer, I’m shocked by gen Z’s attitude towards women – something has gone very wrong" Katie Jagielnicka: Gen Z Men Will Never Be Breadwinners Join the waitlist for Hearth, an intimate live programme for childfree women who are ready to stop carrying the questions alone, and start finding answers together. Coming soon from We are Childfree! Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

Spoiler alert for Love Is Blind Season 10! And yes, we know he’s called Mike - but sometimes it’s hard to tell these guys apart 😅 Zoë dives deep into the toxic reality TV trope of “You’d be a great mom!” and reveals to James - and all of y’all - just how deep the pronatalist rabbit hole goes. You’re welcome? Seriously, we loved dissecting one of our guilty pleasures - if you enjoyed this too, let us know and we’ll do more eps like this! Liz Plank never lies: Love Is Blind Is Not a Dating Show It’s a Nature Documentary. Listen to Taking the road less-travelled, with 65-year-old clinical psychologist Shelley. Find out the problems with genetic testing, with this Ill Conceived podcast on Surrogacy. Join the waitlist for Hearth, an intimate live programme for childfree women who are ready to stop carrying the questions alone, and start finding answers together. Coming soon from We are Childfree! Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more! Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast is back! Zoë and James check in from the Canary Islands, taking a break from our Childfree Elders Project to share some inspiration and hope from older icons 🙌 If you've ever wondered, "Will I regret not having children?", then this ep is for you! Watch the video of this episode here. Check out our Childfree Elders Project - share your story and help spread the word! Learn how to look at your life with curiosity from our beautiful portrait of the iconic Maria Coffey Listen to Don’t fear regret, with Orna Donath Support our mission of celebrating childfree lives by becoming a Dolly Patron. You’ll get full-length episodes of the pod, access to all our beautiful portraits, exclusive BTS from our journey, and more!Follow We are Childfree on Substack, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. And find out more at wearechildfree.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Jody Day, an icon, an inspiration, and a pioneer in creating community for non-parents 💝 From the episode: - how Jody worked through her childless grief to feel as childfree as if she’d chosen it - why everyone along the non-parent spectrum needs to unite to fight against the powers of pronatalism - Alterkin, Jody’s innovative, in-person, intergenerational community of non-parents who vow to support each other as they age We are Childfree is an independent podcast and we rely on community support to keep going. Please consider becoming a Dolly Patron, starting at €5 a month. You’ll get full episodes, exclusive portraits, access to the chat and free childfree stories straight to your inbox. Help us get to 2000 members, to cover the costs of celebrating and supporting childfree lives for one more year! Find out how to become a Dolly Patron at wearechildfree.substack.com 🔗 Links Find Jody at Gateway Elderwomen  Book: Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on The Decision Not To Have Kids - edited by Meghan Daum Book: The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World - Laura Carroll Book: No One Talks About This Stuff - edited by Kat Brown This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearechildfree.substack.com/subscribe