The Kids or Childfree Podcast

Author Kate Kaufmann shares her journey of choosing to be childfree after trying to have children alongside much valuable wisdom gleaned over her 70-plus years of life without kids. You'll hear about: The challenges and grief associated with this decision and how her identity shifted over time. The importance of intergenerational relationships and the value of having childless elders in her life. Practical aspects of aging without children, such as making end-of-life arrangements and having a support network in place. The capacity and stability that come with not having children and the richness of relationships that can be formed in different ways. Why individuals may not fit neatly into the categories of childless or childfree, and how one's feelings and experiences may change over time. As mentioned on the show:  Find out more about Kate  and her work at www.katekaufmann.com You can read Kate's column over at Psychology Today here: www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/unapparent Learn about and purchase Kate's book, Do You Have Kids? Life When the Answer is No, here. About Kate: International, award-winning author of Do You Have Kids? Life When the Answer is No, Kate Kaufmann advocates for better understanding of the childless/childfree demographic in person, on air, and in print. A popular speaker, media guest, and conversation-starter, Kate has an MFA in creative writing and professional background in human resources and consulting. Outlets where her work has been featured include NBC, CBC Radio, Psychology Today, and the Washington Post.  Kate’s mission is to open doors to frank, respectful conversations between the childless and childfree, as well as among parents, non-parents, and those whose futures are as yet unclear. Kate’s book Do You Have Kids? Life When the Answer is No has been published in North America, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Brazil, and Korea, with a Chinese edition forthcoming. __ Get the details on both of my upcoming group programs – Kids or Childfree, as well as Confidently Childfree — here: kidsorchildfree.com/group-coaching And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or a rating on Spotify. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

Join Keltie and her mom, Jan Maguire, for a heartfelt mother-daughter conversation about Jan's choice to become a mom, Keltie's decision not to, and Jan's reflections and wisdom about the Kids or Childfree decision. You'll hear about: The experiences and decisions that shaped Jan's path to becoming a mom. Jan's biggest challenges in motherhood — and her greatest joys. Motherhood as a creative experience, and the beauty in watching and nurturing your children to become the unique individuals they are.   How Jan feels about Keltie's choice to be childfree. The importance of listening to your gut — and resisting external pressures and expectations. __ Get the details on the April session of our Kids or Childfree Group Coaching Program: www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program Find out how I can help you with your Kids or Childfree decision at: www.kidsorchildfree.com. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or a rating on Spotify. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

In this episode, Keltie and sex educator, Erica Smith, discuss how conservative religious values influence and enforce broader societal ideas about gender, sexuality, and the importance of having children. We also talk about Erica's choice to be childfree and the joyful life she has built without kids.  You'll hear about: The concept of purity culture and its influence on gender and sexuality. Erica's decision to be childfree, plus guidance for those considering parenthood.  Why Erica feels so content and grateful for not having had children, and where she finds joy and fulfillment in her life. How to respond to comments about one's childfree choice. The importance of trusting your gut and seeking support with this decision. As mentioned in the show: Find out more about Erica and her work at www.purityculturedropout.com. Get Erica's Sexual Values Workbook here.  Find Erica on: Instagram: instagram.com/ericasmith.sex.ed Twitter: twitter.com/ericasmithsexed About Erica: Erica Smith is an award-winning sexuality educator and consultant with over 20 years of experience. Throughout her career, she has provided comprehensive sex education and advocacy to young women and LGBTQ+ youth in Philadelphia’s juvenile justice system, worked in abortion care, and supported HIV+ and transgender adolescents and their families. In 2019, she developed the Purity Culture Dropout™️ Program to help people learn all of the sex education that they missed growing up in purity culture- sex ed that is accurate, queer-inclusive, trauma-informed, compassionate, and comprehensive. She has since worked with hundreds of people to help them learn about healthy sexuality after high control religion. Erica lives in Philadelphia with her partner and house full of rescue animals. __ Find out how I can help you with your Kids or Childfree decision at: www.kidsorchildfree.com. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or a rating on Spotify. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

Listen in as expat and small business owner, Eleanor Mayrhofer shares her experience of becoming a first- and only-time mom at age 44 and the emotional journey of ambivalence, decision-making, and fertility treatments that preceded motherhood. You'll hear her and Keltie discuss: The importance of understanding the practicalities and challenges of pursuing parenthood. Why fertility treatments are a roller coaster of hope and disappointment, and the importance of considering its emotional, financial, and logistical implications. How our life decisions impact our choices and Kids or Childfree path. How ambivalence and flip-flopping between choices can still exist, even once you decide to have a child. Managing business and motherhood, as well as the challenges and benefits of raising a child in a foreign country. The joy of finally having a child and advice for others considering fertility treatments. Why the decision to become a parent is a deeply personal and emotional one and may not always have a rational explanation. As mentioned in the show: Find out more about Eleanor and her work at www.eleanormayrhofer.com. Listen to Eleanor's The Germany Expat Business Show podcast here: https://www.eleanormayrhofer.com/podcast Find Eleanor on: Instagram: instagram.com/eleanormayrhofer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eleanormayrhofer/ About Eleanor: Eleanor Mayrhofer was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She moved to Munich, Germany on a whim when she was 27 and ended up staying. She married in her late 30s and had her first and only child at 44 after a long fertility journey. Eleanor runs an agency of one providing online marketing, strategy, and websites to expat business owners in Germany. __ Find out how I can help you with your Kids or Childfree decision at: www.kidsorchildfree.com. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or a rating on Spotify. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree    

This conversation with Ruby Warrington not only delves into the author's latest book, Women Without Kids, but Ruby's own decision not to have children. Listen in as she and Keltie discuss: The immense societal pressure surrounding motherhood.  The normalization of questioning the desire to have children. An exploration of Ruby's personal journey and the impact of family dynamics on her childfree decision. Why women without kids should be seen as torchbearers of an alternative vision for womankind.  The myth of regretting not having children and the need for new solutions in an ever-changing world.   The notion of "fear-driven" decisions and the role of fear as a motivating force. The challenges and pain associated with being child-free, including feelings of envy and loneliness.  As mentioned in the show: Find Ruby's latest book, Women Without Kids, here: https://a.co/d/6ox3DLG Find out more about Ruby and her events, services, and work at www.rubywarrington.com. Find Ruby on: Instagram: instagram.com/rubywarrington Or join Ruby's private Facebook group for Women Without Kids, here. About Ruby Warrington: Ruby Warrington is a British-born author, editor, and publishing consultant. Recognized as having the unique ability to identify issues that are destined to become part of the cultural narrative, she is perhaps best known as the creator of the term “Sober Curious”—her 2018 book and million-download podcast of the same title having helped to spearhead a global movement to reevaluate our relationship with alcohol. Ruby’s other works include Material Girl, Mystical World, The Sober Curious Reset, and Women Without Kids: The Revolutionary Rise of an Unsung Sisterhood, and her work has been featured by countless media outlets globally, including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Good Morning America. She lives in Brooklyn. __ Join an upcoming Kids or Childfree Workshop and also get access to our free resources at: www.kidsorchildfree.com. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

In this conversation, Megan Sales shares her experience navigating single motherhood and the considerations she wishes she made before having a child. She discusses the romanticized notions of motherhood and the importance of intentional parenting.  You'll hear about: The struggles Megan encountered in her marriage and the decision to move in with her parents for support The need to consider various aspects of life, such as relationship dynamics, division of labor, and career aspirations, before having a baby The significance of support systems and community for both single parents and those in partnerships Megan's "devil's advocate questionnaire" to help individuals make intentional decisions about parenthood Some of the positive and negative changes that motherhood entails, and the importance of being prepared for the challenges that may arise As mentioned in the show: Tune into Megan's new podcast, Untouchable Babes, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/untouchable-babes/id1727571388 Find Megan on: Instagram: www.instagram.com/meg.sales.14 TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@megansales0514 About Megan Sales: Megan is a first-time millennial mom navigating single motherhood and content creation on top of a 9-5. She advocates for "intentional parenthood" after seeing firsthand how her mental health and quality of life suffered as a result of romanticizing motherhood. In addition to educating women, Megan is passionate about mental health, mindset mastery, and discussing healthy relational dynamics in the home. ___ Get my free online training, Navigating the Regret Threat:  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree  

Join Keltie and Maria Coffey, author of the memoir 'Instead,' as they discuss Maria's decision to live a childfree life and Maria's unique story of adventure, love, and self-discovery.   You'll hear about: The possibilities and fulfillment that can be found in a life without children The impact Maria's decision has had on her relationships and sense of self Some of the challenges Maria faced in navigating societal expectations and family pressures How despite its struggles, a childfree life has offered Maria great freedom and lightness The roles meaning and legacy have played in Maria's life ...alongside Maria sharing beautiful, poignant, and pivotal moments on her childfree journey.  As mentioned in the show: Find Maria's memoir, Instead, here: https://a.co/d/35RmSaV Learn about Maria and Dag's travel company, Hidden Places, and its conservation branch, Adventures for a Cause: www.hiddenplaces.net Find Maria on: Instagram: instagram.com/bookscoffey/ X: twitter.com/BooksCoffey Facebook: facebook.com/maria.coffey.370 About Maria Coffey:  Maria Coffey is an internationally published and award winning author of thirteen books. Fragile Edge: Loss on Everest, won two prizes in Italy including the 2002 ITAS Prize for Mountain Literature; Where the Mountain Casts its Shadow won the Banff Mountain Film Festival Literature Prize in 2003 and a National Book Award in 2004. For these titles, along with Explorers of the Infinite Maria was awarded the 2009 American Alpine Club H. Adams Carter Literary Award. Her most recent book, Instead: Navigating the Adventures of a Childfree Life won the Adventure Travel Prize at the 2023 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. Maria has also written extensively about her worldwide travels and expeditions with her husband Dag Goering, who is a veterinarian and photographer. They founded a boutique adventure travel company, Hidden Places, and its conservation branch Adventures for a Cause, raising funds and awareness for endangered species. Maria and Dag are based in British Columbia and in Catalonia. __ Join an upcoming Kids or Childfree Workshop: www.kidsorchildfree.com/workshop And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

In this conversation, Keltie Maguire and Renae Sager discuss Renae's journey to becoming a mom, and how she went from being a hard no to eventually deciding to have a child. She talks about the challenges and mixed feelings she had during the first few months of motherhood, and how her experience has evolved during the first year of her son’s life.  You’ll hear about how: Confidence is not about being unwaveringly self-assured all the time, but rather,  embracing both self-doubt and confidence. The decision to have children is personal and can change over time. Motherhood is a journey that evolves and improves. You can connect with own wants and needs by taking small steps to honor them. You shouldn’t let the fear of disappointing others dictate your decisions. — and a host of other topics related to Renae’s decision to become a mom. As mentioned in the show: Learn more about Renae and her work at www.renaesaager.com. Tune into Renee's podcast, The Ballsy Broadcast, here: www.renaesaager.com/podcast Get Renae's Three Strategies to Stop Binge/Emotional Eating: https://fabulous-leader-5694.ck.page/bd4c0944da Find Renee on Instagram: www.instagram.com/renaesaager About Renae Saager: Renae Saager is a certified health and life coach specializing in emotional eating and mind management, offering go-getter women the tools to conquer food and anxiety issues with confidence. Leveraging her own recovery from disordered eating and self doubt, Renae delivers a no-nonsense approach to break the emotional chains of eating, promoting a solid sense of self-worth and clarity. Her coaching is a blend of humor and actionable strategies, ensuring that transformation is not only successful but sustainable. ___ Get my free Kids or Childfree Response Guide: www.kidsorchildfree.com/responseguide And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

In part 2 of this solo episode with host, Keltie Maguire, Keltie shares the conclusion of her childfree story and how she came to her choice to remain childfree. You’ll hear about: The role of health issues and mental health in her decision The importance of self-compassion and how she learned to embrace her feelings, without judgement  The significance of asking the right questions and the ongoing journey of decision-making How her decision-making process evolved over time, and she finally arrived at a confident choice As mentioned in the show: Hear about why Keltie closed her last business here: https://www.keltiemaguire.com/the-clarity-podcast/ep-17 Get our free Kids or Childfree Response Guide:  www.kidsorchildfree.com/responseguide And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

In this solo episode of The Kids or Childfree Podcast, host Keltie Maguire shares part 1 of her childfree story.  You’ll hear about: Keltie's background, including her upbringing and family dynamics The impact of a life-altering event, and how it shaped her perspectives on family and children Some of the factors that precipitated her move to Germany  As mentioned in the show: Get our free Kids or Childfree Book Guide:  www.kidsorchildfree.com/bookguide And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you’re hearing! Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree