When the World Pushes You to Have a Baby (Or Two) episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 18, 2026 · 41 MIN

When the World Pushes You to Have a Baby (Or Two)

from The Longest Shortest Time · host Hillary Frank | Realm

A lot of us wrestle with whether to start a family, or to grow the one we have. Today, Helena de Groot shares her own kid ambivalence — and the messy, intimate, confusing process of getting her husband to believe her wishes around whether or not to become a mom. (Plus, Hillary shares something she’s never talked about publicly before!) … Recommendations from the archive • Should I Have Kids? Follow a former LST producer’s journey as she confronts this big question. • Fresh Air’s Terry Gross decided not to have kids. Hear her story: Terry Gross on Not Having Kids • Still having doubts? Listen to The 36 Questions to Ask Your Partner Before Having Kids … Episode resources • Hear the rest of Helena’s story in her series Creation Myth, from CBC Podcasts … • Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! • Follow us on Instagram • Sign up for our newsletter, where we recommend other parenting + reproductive health media • Buy books by LST guests (your purchase supports the show!) • Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of us wrestle with whether to start a family, or to grow the one we have. Today, Helena de Groot shares her own kid ambivalence — and the messy, intimate, confusing process of getting her husband to believe her wishes around whether or not to become a mom. (Plus, Hillary shares something she’s never talked about publicly before!) … Recommendations from the archive • Should I Have Kids? Follow a former LST producer’s journey as she confronts this big question. • Fresh Air’s Terry Gross decided not to have kids. Hear her story: Terry Gross on Not Having Kids • Still having doubts? Listen to The 36 Questions to Ask Your Partner Before Having Kids … Episode resources • Hear the rest of Helena’s story in her series Creation Myth, from CBC Podcasts … • Join LST+ for community and access to You Know What, another show in the Longest Shortest universe! • Follow us on Instagram • Sign up for our newsletter, where we recommend other parenting + reproductive health media • Buy books by LST guests (your purchase supports the show!) • Website: longestshortesttime.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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When the World Pushes You to Have a Baby (Or Two)

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This episode was published on March 18, 2026.

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A lot of us wrestle with whether to start a family, or to grow the one we have. Today, Helena de Groot shares her own kid ambivalence — and the messy, intimate, confusing process of getting her husband to believe her wishes around whether or not to...

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