The Kids or Childfree Podcast

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

In this conversation, Janel Forsythe shares her experience of being on the fence about kids — and finding joy and fulfillment despite her ambivalence and indecision.  You’ll hear about: How Janel’s expectations for her life differ from her current reality What it’s like being an only child when you’re not sure if you’ll ever have kids The complexity of the decision to have children and the societal pressures and judgments that come with it The relationship between being single and the kids or childfree choice How to embrace ambiguity and create a joyful life  As mentioned in the show: Here are some of the resources Janel mentions in the episode and that she personally found helpful: Sara Eckel (It’s Not You)  Dr. Kinneret Lahad (Table for One)  Shani Silver (A Single Revolution) Dr. Bella DePaulo (Ted Talk) Jo Piazza (Under The Influence) Dr. Kris Marsh (The Love Jones Cohort; Interview) Rebecca Traister (All The Single Ladies)  Nancy Jo Sales (Swiped Documentary)  Mary Delia Allen (Enjoy Your Solo) __ 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/@kidsorchildfre

Fertility Rules author, Leslie Schrock, joins Keltie for a discussion on reproductive health, fertility, and her personal experience of becoming a mom. Their conversation touches on: Common misconceptions and fertility myths The importance of understanding the impact of age on fertility, as well as the importance of fertility testing and preservation Egg freezing and embryo freezing and what you need to know about them Why both partners should be tested and involved in the fertility journey  The need to listen to one's body and to consider long-term goals when deciding whether or not to have children The challenges and realities of parenthood, and the importance of shared vision and communication between partners As mentioned in the show: Learn more about Leslie and her work online at www.leslieschrock.com. Find Leslie on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/leslieschrock X (Twitter): www.twitter.com/lesliejz Order Leslie’s books: Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy: Navigating the Wild, Weird, and Wonderful Journey From Conception Through Birth and Beyond   Fertility Rules: The Definitive Guide to Male and Female Reproductive Health About Leslie Schrock Leslie Schrock is an author and angel investor working at the convergence of health and technology. Her breakout hit, Bumpin': The Modern Guide to Pregnancy mixes the latest clinical research with practical advice for working families. Her second book, Fertility Rules (starred review from Booklist), takes the same approach for male and female fertility. Leslie is also an advisor to Maven, Alife, Origin, Oath, and Reverence, on Gameto’s bioethics board, and the board of advisors at the Moody School of Communication at her alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin. She was named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, and her work has been featured on CNBC, NPR, Time, GQ, Fortune, Entrepreneur, Wired, The Economist, and The New York Times. Connect with Leslie at LeslieSchrock.com, on Instagram, or read her Substack. — 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

Keltie and this episode’s guest, Jennifer Hofmann, discuss Jennifer's decision to be childfree, the factors that influenced her choice, and the freedoms it has afforded her. You’ll hear about: The complexity of decision-making and the emotions that can arise, such as regret and grief Jennifer’s experiences with societal pressure and family expectations, as well as her strategies for navigating questions about having kids Dealing with the guilt of disappointing others The benefits of being childfree, including the freedom to pursue personal growth and make a difference in the world Jennifer’s views on legacy and fulfillment, including her personal journey of discovering her purpose and the impact she is making through her work  — and how being childfree doesn’t limit one's ability to create a meaningful and fulfilling life. As mentioned in the show: Learn more about Jennifer Hofmann and Americans of Conscience: www.jenniferhofmann.com www.americansofconscience.com Find Jennifer on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/inspiredjen X (Twitter): www.twitter.com/inspiredjen Facebook Get Jennifer's values worksheet: https://bit.ly/jhofmann-values-worksheet   About Jennifer Hofmann: As the founder and executive director of Americans of Conscience Checklist, Jennifer Hofmann leads a dedicated team of nearly 30 volunteers who together empower Americans to engage in advocacy for equality and democracy. This mission was sparked by the desire to cut through through post-2016 election chaos, providing concerned Americans with a beacon of hope and meaningful action. Beyond her civic engagement, Jen is an author and blogger. Her upcoming spiritual memoir is about a life-changing, 500-mile-walk across northern Spain. With a passion for making a positive difference and an unwavering belief in the power of community, Jen weaves together the vibrant threads of advocacy and personal discovery, shaping a world where hope and action intersect. __ 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