The Kids or Childfree Podcast

In this solo episode of The Kids or Childfree Podcast, host Keltie Maguire explores the concept of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) as it relates to the decision of having kids or remaining childfree. You'll hear her discuss: * How FOMO can show up on both sides of The Kids or Childfree decision. * The peace available when you focus on what you have, rather than what you lack. * Personal insights and practical advice on navigating relationships when FOMO shows up — and the importance of cultivating new ones. * How shared values and experiences in relationships can help bridge the gap between parents and childfree individuals. * Why acknowledging that you are missing out can bring peace and acceptance. * The fact that no decision guarantees immunity from life's challenges and struggles. * Journaling questions to help you navigate any FOMO that's showing up for you. As mentioned in the show: Access our free resources (including the Between Friends event replay, mentioned in the show) at kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources] Sign up to join us for the fall session of the Kids or Childfree Group Program: kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program] -- 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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-kids-or-childfree-podcast/id1720765874], or a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1H8Cjavw0ThIxFUyxlNnzA?si=X0tu4janTi-5OsMdoHPZbg]. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/]. Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree]: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree

In this conversation, Keltie speaks with Liz Leedham-Pepin, who shares her powerful journey to motherhood through adoption. You'll hear Liz and Keltie discuss: * Liz's lifelong dreams of motherhood, and the emotional rollercoaster of trying to conceive * Why Liz decided that motherhood probably wasn't for her after all, and why she and her wife decided to adopt after a life-changing epiphany * Insights from Liz's experience navigating the adoption process, the importance of self-advocacy, and the unexpected challenges that arose along the journey * The importance of openness in adoption, the ethical considerations involved, and the lengthy process of navigating the adoption system in Canada * Some of the complexities and challenges of parenting Liz and her wife have faced as an LGBTQ+ couple * Liz's experience and perspectives on parenting children with special needs * Advice for prospective adoptive parents and reflections on the joys of parenthood About Liz: Liz Leedham-Pepin is a nurse living in British Columbia, Canada, with her wife and their adopted twins. Their family will soon be joined by the twins' younger brother. Liz's professional experience includes time spent working with autistic children and at-risk youth, including youth and teenagers struggling with emotional disturbances, addiction, mental health, homelessness, and prostitution. Liz's nursing experience includes emergency and on-call forensic nursing, and supporting moderate to severe mental health and addiction.  ___ Join the upcoming Kids or Childfree Group Program here: kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program] Check out our free resources here [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources], or at kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/responseguideAnd 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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-kids-or-childfree-podcast/id1720765874], or a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1H8Cjavw0ThIxFUyxlNnzA?si=X0tu4janTi-5OsMdoHPZbg]. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/]. Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree]: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree]: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

In this conversation, Keltie Maguire and Kate Brightwell explore the complexities of choosing a childfree life, including what it means to be a childfree woman in the workplace. You'll hear Keltie and Kate discuss: * The pressures Kate faced to have children, despite having always known she didn't want any. * How being childfree has impacted Kate's romantic partnerships and dating experiences. * Kate's experience of feeling othered in the workplace due to her childfree status. * The dynamics of workplace culture and the experiences of those who do not conform to traditional family structures. * The intersection of the Kids or Childfree decision and women's reproductive rights — and why using your voice and voting power is as important as it's ever been. * Cultural perceptions of childlessness and the significance of personal choices in shaping one's career and life path. As mentioned in the show: Find Kate on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kate-brightwell-a195b528/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-brightwell-a195b528/] About Kate: Kate is a lobbyist and tech public policy specialist, based in London. She has previously worked for a leading US tech company, global management consultancies, and the UK election regulator. Her passion for politics has enabled her to focus on public policy that impacts society and is what has driven her career to date. Kate is currently taking a career break, which she describes as her "maternity leave without a baby"! During this period of fun-employment she is thinking long and hard about what comes next while enjoying traveling in her campervan around Europe and spending overdue time with loved ones. She also has a side hustle as a dog sitter. ___ Join the upcoming Kids or Childfree Group Program here: kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program] Check out our free resources here [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources], or at kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/responseguideAnd 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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-kids-or-childfree-podcast/id1720765874], or a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1H8Cjavw0ThIxFUyxlNnzA?si=X0tu4janTi-5OsMdoHPZbg]. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/]. Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree]: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree]: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

In this episode, Keltie chats with coach and The Single Greatest Choice podcast host, Katie Bryan, about her journey of choosing to have a child on her own. You'll hear them discuss: * The complexities of deciding whether to wait for a partner or pursue solo parenthood. * Katie's initial plans of being a stay-at-home mom and how her divorce at 28 changed everything. * Katie's experiences of dating and settling in relationships, as well as the decision to freeze her eggs.  * The process of finding a sperm donor and undergoing IUI, plus the emotions of shame, regret, and hopelessness that accompanied her journey. * Why personal growth and self-love are essential in embracing the path of single motherhood. * Katie's positive experience with pregnancy and the joy she felt in carrying her son, plus, what solo motherhood is like today. * How support from friends and loved ones can make a significant difference during the process of becoming a solo mother by choice. * How Katie provides support and coaching for women considering solo motherhood and has created a community for them to connect and share their experiences. As mentioned in the show: Find Katie online at www.singlegreatestchoice.com. Instagram: instagram.com/single_greatest_choice [https://www.instagram.com/single_greatest_choice/] Tune into the Single Greatest Choice Podcast: singlegreatestchoice.com/podcast [https://www.singlegreatestchoice.com/podcast] Learn about the U.S. Donor Conceived Council, and the resources they offer, here: https://www.usdcc.org/ [https://www.usdcc.org/] Learn about the company Katie shares, that offers ethical donor matching: https://www.theseedscout.com/ [https://www.theseedscout.com/] About Katie: Katie Bryan is a coach, community facilitator, and single mother by choice. After a divorce in her late 20s and an exhausting decade of unsuccessful dating, Katie decided she was ready to separate her desire for motherhood from her desire to find a life-partner. While solo motherhood was most certainly a Plan B, choosing to pursue pregnancy through IVF and donor conception is the single greatest choice she's ever made. She is now a mama to her 3 year old son and has pivoted her career to support other women who are considering or pursuing solo motherhood. She hosts The Single Greatest Choice Podcast and provides 1:1 and group coaching as well as retreats for women who are considering having a child on their own through pregnancy or adoption. — Get details on my Clarity Booster offering here: kidsorchildfree.com/claritybooster [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/claritybooster] Check out our free resources here [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources], or at kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/responseguideAnd 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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-kids-or-childfree-podcast/id1720765874], or a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1H8Cjavw0ThIxFUyxlNnzA?si=X0tu4janTi-5OsMdoHPZbg]. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/]. Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree]: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree]: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree

In this episode, Keltie speaks with writer and author, Jackie Shannon Hollis, about what happens when you fall in love with a man who doesn't want children, joyfully commit to a life together...and then begin longing for a child, shortly after your wedding day.  You'll hear them discuss: * The importance of being intentional in our choices and not being locked into societal expectations. * The role of other people's opinions and how Jackie managed her feelings of longing for a child while being in a relationship with someone who didn't want kids. * Why there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to having kids. * How Jackie made peace with the decision not to have children and how she found joy and fulfillment in other areas of life. * The challenges and rewards of aging without children, and the richness that comes from focusing on what one has rather than what one does not have. As mentioned in the show: Purchase Jackie's book, This Particular Happiness: A Childless Love Story, here: jackieshannonhollis.com/purchase [https://www.jackieshannonhollis.com/purchase] Find Jackie online at www.jackieshannonhollis.com [https://www.jackieshannonhollis.com/]. Facebook: facebook.com/Jackie.Shannon.Hollis [https://www.facebook.com/Jackie.Shannon.Hollis] Instagram: instagram.com/jackie.shannon.hollis [https://www.instagram.com/jackie.shannon.hollis/] Threads: threads.net/@jackie.shannon.hollis [https://www.threads.net/@jackie.shannon.hollis] Join an upcoming quarterly "fireside" chat on Zoom, with childless elders the NoMoCrones (Non Mom Crones): gateway-women.com/gateway-elderwomen/ [https://quarterly%20] About Jackie: Jackie Shannon Hollis is a writer, storyteller, speaker, and the author of the memoir, This Particular Happiness: A Childless Love Story (Forest Avenue Press). Her writing has been described as honest and intimate, exploring complex human issues in prose that is both direct and lyrical. Her work has appeared in various literary magazines, including The Sun, Rosebud, Inkwell, High Desert Journal, VoiceCatcher, Nailed, and Slice Magazine. — Join the upcoming Kids or Childfree Group Program here: kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program] Check out our free resources here [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources], or at kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/responseguideAnd 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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-kids-or-childfree-podcast/id1720765874], or a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1H8Cjavw0ThIxFUyxlNnzA?si=X0tu4janTi-5OsMdoHPZbg]. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com [https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/]. Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree]: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree]: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree