The Selfish Choice: Childfree Living, Anxiety, and the Fear of Regret

Barbara Dunkelman is here to chat about her incredible journey from being a fan to being the voice of Rooster Teeth’s Yang Xiao Long on RWBY. She opens up about the company's unexpected closure, dealing with planning a wedding, and finding relief in a major life change. This deep-dive covers the pressure of chasing trends and the truth about self-worth outside of analytics. We also explore profound personal philosophies, including the 10% vs. 90% rule of reaction , the power of the "Main Character Complex", and the anxiety around personal choices. Barbara and Kati get candid about their shared decision to be childfree, battling societal pressure, and the freedom that comes with fully committing to a life without regret. Plus, learn about her new product line and her D&D podcast, Tales from the Stinky Dragon. My new book is available for pre-order! Why Do I Keep Doing This? https://geni.us/XoyLSQ Book Tour: https://katimorton.com/wdikdt-book-tour If you’ve ever felt stuck, this book is for you. I’d be so grateful for your support. Shopping with our sponsors helps support the show and allows us to continue bringing you these important conversations about mental health. Please check out this week's special offers: Aura Frames - use the promo code: KATI at https://auraframes.com/ for $35 off Carver Matte frames Fabletics - 80% off everything for new VIP sign-ups at https://www.fabletics.com/Kati One Skin - use the promo code: KATI for 15% off at https://www.oneskin.co/Kati ⏱️ Timestamps 00:01:32 Moving to Austin: Joining Rooster Teeth and the stressful work visa process. 00:04:14 The early days of RT: Starting as Community Manager when the company was tiny. 00:18:54 Barbara's Anxiety: Starting Always Open and her interest in mental health. 00:23:22 The 10/90 Rule: You have control over how you react to things. 00:25:04 The Main Character Complex: Why everyone is thinking about themselves, not you. 00:28:23 Therapy Search: The challenge of finding the right fit for counseling. 00:44:49 The Scariest Standard: How being exposed to "the best of the best" online affects self-image. 00:46:35 Phone Addiction: Strategies Barbara uses to put her phone in "timeout". 00:47:44 Choosing Childfree: Why Barbara decided against having kids and the pressure to procreate. 00:50:02 Ending the Regret Cycle: Making the decision and committing to it fully. 00:53:01 The "Selfish" Argument: Why choosing your own happiness isn't truly selfish. 01:04:11 The Next Chapter: Retaining the IP for Tales from the Stinky Dragon. 01:06:02 New Venture: Developing her own hair styling cream. 01:08:29 Intentional Travel: Living out their Childfree plans with a trip to Japan More Barbara! Tales from the Stinky Dragon https://www.youtube.com/@stinkydragonpod Barbara's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bdunkelman All Good. No Worries https://www.instagram.com/allgood.noworries Don't forget to Like and Subscribe for more Ask Kati Anything episodes every week Ask Kati Anything ep. 291 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT MAIN YOUTUBE CHANNEL www.youtube.com/@Katimorton MY BOOKS Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok? https://geni.us/sva4iUY ONLINE THERAPY While I do not currently offer online therapy, our sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist. Receive 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/kati PARTNERSHIPS Nick Freeman | [email protected] Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Viewing this content does not establish a therapist-client relationship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices