Other Than Motherhood
by Elizabeth Joy
A "feelings-based" podcast that seeks to expand the discourse around the decision to be childfree and an exploration on the influences and messages that impact our thinking, and all of the possibilities of a life that is other than motherhood. This Podcast series focuses on bringing unique perspectives and interrogating the difficult questions, as well as elevating the importance of identity for women who do not choose to become mothers.
Episodes
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Reconciling Perceptions with Emily Monsell-Holden
Tune in this week to hear my guest Emily Monsell-Holden, talk openly and honestly about her personal journey through a life without children and where it's brought her to, today. Watch Emily's Tedx Talk "Why do we ostracise non-mothers'?": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFVJcBT_XDQ Connect with...
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Get body-schooled with me
Join me today and listen to me uncover my shameful ignorance on the intricate workings of the amazing machine that is the female body. I speak with childfree cycle expert Denise, on how to understand and recognise ALL of the phases of our cycles, and generally upskill on all of the important…
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Storyhouse Chilldless Recap
WE'RE BACK! After a (slightly longer than planned) summer hiatus, the Other Than Motherhood podcast is returning to the regularly fortnightly scheduling with some very exciting episodes lined up, to see you through the autumn and winter months. We're kicking off this week with a recap of the...
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Thriving with Lucy Meggeson
This week I am bringing you a combined episode with Lucy Meggeson, author, podcaster and founder of Thrive Solo. In this episode, Lucy and I chat about...well everything really to do with our personal child free journeys! Follow Lucy: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo
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A conversation with my mum
For this episode, I invited my own mum to come and give me her perspective on my decision not to have children. She talks about her changing views, her reconciliations with life's curveballs and her advice for other would-be parents. Follow my mum on Instagram.... just kidding. She doesn't know…
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Population Connection
Join Marian and Olivia this week from Population Connection as they talk about the work their organisation does in educating and raising awareness on the REAL population crisis - and debunk some of the common mythologies about it in the process! You can read more on Population Connection via…
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The Conversation (non) Starter
"SO, DO YOU HAVE KIDS?" That question with a stranger or acquaintance, that, whether you are childfree or childless suddenly becomes a social minefield for you to navigate your way out of. Today, I'm speaking with Lisa Kissane, founder of Flow, about this one simple, yet often dreaded question.…
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Financial Freedom with Bri Conn
Thanks to a slight issue in the post-edit suite there is no intro for this episode, so allow me to share one here... I have never really given a huge amount of thought as to the financial opportunities that not having children will enable ( aside from knowing that I would simply have more money…
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Doing it Scared - childfree entrepreneurship with Laura Ericson
Listen to this week's episode (and the first one of 2025!) to hear all about Laura's story of taking the plunge and starting her own travel business. Follow Laura on Instagram at @lolawhiskey Find out more about Laura's trips at: https://www.lauraericson.com/
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A 2024 Christmas Compilation
Please enjoy these samples from the year that has been the Other Than Motherhood schedule! I hope these little soundbites provide you with some wisdom this holiday season. The sections are taken from the guests from the below episodes, in the following order: 1. Instead with Maria Coffey 2. The…
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The Fallacy of Selfishness
In this week's episode, we are unpacking the often-used accusation that childfree people (particularly women) are somehow 'selfish' for not wanting children of their own. I am visited by Kylie-Ann - the Relationship with Yourself Coach, who has a lot of fascinating insights into the fallacy....
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Friendship Recipes for Introverts
in this week's episode, I am speaking to Maggie Dickens, creator of Unapologetically Childfree and a childfree community champion. In this episode, Maggie talks about the secrets to finding and forging connections with your childfree people and gives out some sage life advice for the more...
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Policies for Cat Ladies
Hello! This week on the pod I am joined by Christine Erickson, founder of The New Legacy Institute. Join us to to hear Christine talk more about the work that they do to try and bring about fundamental shifts required in policies across the workplace, healthcare and beyond to create a more...
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Childless Cat Ladies and Gendered Perspectives with Ali Hall
This week, I am rejoined by Ali Hall, writer, childfree and just all-round fabulous person and the host and curator of the new "Life without Children' publication platform on Medium. You can read Ali's publication here: https://ali-hall.medium.com/list/a-life-without-children-47dffee6b494
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Your Stories - Rene, Kay and Lisa
New episode, new stories. This week, I'm proud to bring you Rene, Kay and Lisa to share their childfree journeys. The spectrum of what it means to be childfree broadens with every personal story I hear. I hope you smile, I hope you feel inspired, I hope you slap your forehead in recognition, just...
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Climate & Change with Josephine Ferorelli & Meghan Kallman
We're back after the summer hiatus and this week I'm joined by Meghan Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli, the two halves of Conceivable Future (https://www.conceivablefuture.org) to talk about the intersection between the climate crisis and family planning. Learn about taking collective action, the...
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Others Like Me with Nicole Louie
Writer Nicole Louie visits the podcast this week to talk about the 14 years that went into the making of her newly released book, 'Others Like Me'. Wanting to explore her own feelings about having children, Nicole scoured the world to find women with stories to tell about their own experiences of...
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Your Stories - Ann-Marie, Lauren, Lis and Angela
Dropping the final episode in this series of stories from listeners. A HUGE thank you once again to all of the people who took part and so generously shared their stories. Would you like to share yours? If so then please do get in touch. I will be producing another round of shared stories very...
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Your Stories - Hannah, Nina and Rute
It is a privilege to bring you another installment of Your Stories. This week, the incredible Hannah, Nina and Rute are opening up about their childfree journeys. Enjoy!
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Your Stories - Sarah, Maisy and Molly
Welcome to the second installment of Your Stories - tales from listeners all around the world. A huge thank you to all of the women who participated and shared their perspectives and experiences from their child-free lives. It was truly an honor to speak to so many incredible people and I feel…
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Your Stories - Becca, Carly, Jerra and Jessica
I'm delighted to launch the first in a series of shared stories from listeners all around the world. A huge thank you to all of the women who participated and shared their perspectives and experiences from their child-free lives. It was truly an honor to speak to so many incredible people and I...
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"Fledging" with Rose Diell
PRE-ORDER Fledging today. You can be one of the first to get your hands on a copy of Rose's new book about a woman exploring the questions of motherhood by following the link here: https://renardpress.com/books/fledging/ Listen to this episode to hear Rose discussing her novel, her own thoughts…
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Religious Inheritance with Dr Dawn Llewellyn
Listen in to this discussion with Dr Dawn Llewellyn, who talks about her fascinating research on gender and feminism within religion. We discuss the role of women within the church of christianity, and the far-reaching interconnectedness between biblical teachings and pronatalism. You can read…
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Campaigning for Change with Samantha Walsh
We’re back after a brief hiatus and this week we’re joined by Sam from the Non-Mum Network, whose story went viral last year after she decided she wasn’t going to spend yet another Christmas covering for her colleagues with children over the holidays. What happened? Listen to find out. Sign Sam’s...
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Redux Reduced: Millennial Mindsets with Angela Gentile
This week, I'm bringing back some of my favourite parts of the conversation with Angela Gentile, creator of the Empowered Millennials media and coaching platform. Tune in to find out exactly why we think millennials are in quite a unique position, that sets the context for some of the ways in…
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Redux Reduced: Caitlin Durante Talks Tube Tying
Welcome to Redux Reduced - condensed versions of my episodes for a more on-the-go listen. This week, I've taken some choice parts of my conversation with Caitlin Durante, in which Caitlin talks about the experience of having her tubes tied, the difficulties she experienced with the healthcare...
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My So Called Selfish Life with Therese Shechter
Today I am visited by Therese Schecter; the writer, director and producer of the documentary film 'My So Called Selfish Life'. Therese's film delivers personal stories and professional perspectives from people from all different walks of life. If you haven't seen it yet, you can check it out (as...
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An Other Than Motherhood bulletin
No episode this week, but I did just want to remind everyone of my community episode! There is still time to take part and share your childfree experiences so please do reach out to me on Instagram at Otherthanmotherhood_podcast
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The 4-8 Scale with Childfree Millennial
Prepare for some absolute GEMS this week from Marcella, aka the Childfree Millennial. This episode contains all of the soundbites that will just make you go ‘Ahhhh, of course!’ Marcella has been creating space and building communities with childfree people for several years now and has a lot to…
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I Need YOU
This week I am putting out a call to action. I need you, the listeners to get in touch if you are interested in sharing your experiences for a special compilation episode that I am planning. Would you be happy to share your childfree story? If so please do get in touch via Instagram at...
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Adventure Woman with Emily Chappell
My guest today is Emily Chappell, author and adventurer who's passion is exploring the big wide world on two wheels. In this episode, Emily brings her perspective on personal challenges, doing the things that scare her, and what ultimately brings her joy in life. And of course, it wouldn't be an...
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Learned Wisdom with Marcia Drut-Davis
One of the childfree trailblazers is visiting the show today! I'm honored to speak to Marcia Drut-Davies and learn more about her experiences in her own words, and much of the wisdom she has picked up along the way. We should all aim to be a bit more Marcia! Instagram: @childfree_guru Read…
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Donating My Eggs with Charlotte Holmes
This week, I am joined by Charlotte Holmes, a proudly childfree person who is helping other women to become mothers by donating her eggs. In this episode, Charlotte talks about the process behind this decision, the practical implications of doing so, as well as her wider outlook on life and love....
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"Instead" with Maria Coffey
Hello everyone! I am very excited to introduce this week's guest - Maria Coffey is an author of 13 books, including her most recent publication - "Instead - Navigating the Adventures of a Child Free Life." Today, Maria will be talking with me about her experiences and how she came to write the…
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Friendship Dynamics #2
We're back! To kick start season 2, I'm revisiting a conversation with a previous guest, to explore the themes and tensions that can arise between friends, once babies are introduced into the dynamics. For those of you who have listened to Season 1, Episode 2, you will recognise the voice of my...
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A Christmas Compilation
An end of year compilation of some of Other Than Motherhood Season #1 best bits. This is by no means exhaustive, but is a sample of some of my favourite moments and soundbites from the last 20 episodes. Special thanks once again to all of my featured guests: Laura Carroll, www.lauracarroll.com....
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Gumption: 'A Special Sisterhood' Special, with Laura Carroll
Laura Carroll is revisiting the podcast today to talk about the release of her new book, "A Special Sisterhood" - just in time for Christmas! Laura's latest project looks at the unsung lives of women without children throughout history, who have achieved many amazing things and made huge...
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SHORTS: What I've Learned About "Regret" (So Far).
I really wanted to do a short that went back over the collection of conversations I have had with various guests on my podcast that touch on this pervasive idea that childfree people will one day regret their choices. It needs a lot of deconstructing which I can't do in these 15 minutes alone…
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Small Acts of Resistance with Maya Williams
Today, I'm speaking with Maya Williams https://www.mayawilliamspoet.com/ Maya is a published poet and a writer, openly nonbinary and a suicide survivor. In this episode, we get into the 'whole self'; the unashamed parts that make us up, and the importance of owning what we ARE rather than feeling...
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Millennial Mindsets with Angela Gentile
Todays' guest is public speaker, life coach and founder of Empowered Millennials, Angela Gentile. In this episode, we are going to be getting into just WHY our particular generation thinks like we do and the motivators and inhibitors that we have thanks to the unique period of time in which we…
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SHORTS: On The Subject of Envy
An extract from my recent conversation with Ali Hall (Episode 17 - The Social Challenges) in which we explore the natural feeling of envy and its role within social dynamics. An in-episode clarification - It's "MIMETIC desire"' desire for something simply because someone else desires it.
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The Social Challenges
In this episode I am speaking with Ali Hall, writer and Creator of the Abnormally Normal newsletter. Ali and I really get into the dynamics of changing friendships and the challenges that Childfree people often face when it comes to changing social circumstances. This is an absolute gem of an...
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Caitlin Durante Talks Tube Tying
I'm delighted this week to host Caitlin Durante, comedian, writer and one half of The Bechdel Cast podcast. In this episode, Caitlin talks of her experience of elective sterilisation, and the long road it took to get there. If you would like to read or listen to more of Caitlin's content you can...
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SHORTS: "20 Reasons Not To Have Children"
Today, I'm reading through a list of reasons, as published on MSN that claim to be definitive reasons for not having kids in today's world. Let's see how many boxes they tick! Did any of these resonate with you? Drop me a message on Instagram @otherthanmotherhood_podcast and maybe we can create…
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The Red Pill with Laura Carroll
Follow the White Rabbit Join childfree researcher and author Laura Carroll and myself as we unveil the Matrix of Pronatalist assumptions that have been hardwired into today's society. I was delighted and privileged to have been able to speak to Laura about her long history of work in this field.…
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A Brief Lesson in History
today I'm speaking with Emma Duval, otherwise known as @millenialemma and curator of the newly launched Childfree History Museum, to learn some more about Childfree representation over time - and why it matters! PS - still searching for that 1990's article referenced. Will update these notes when...
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It's Jennifer Flint!
So excited this week to speak to Jennifer Flint, @wildegg21 author of Wild Egg - A Story of One Woman's Search for her Child Free Life. In this episode we talk about Jennifer's journey in writing the book, the influences that played into it, and the response she has had since publishing it. This...
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Introducing...
We are taking a mid-season break this week, but will be back next week with a guest you DON'T want to miss!
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Deciding Factors with Margaret O'Connor
Join us today as Margaret O'Connor walks us through some of the conscious and sub-conscious conditioning and factors that feed into our confusion about whether having children is right for each of us as individuals. Margaret is a trained coach and psychotherapist and you can find her on Instagram...
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Cultural Pronatalism
Join me for today's episode where I meet Shweta, who is going to talk about her childfree story, and the cultural influences she had growing up in a southern asian family and wider community.
About this show
A "feelings-based" podcast that seeks to expand the discourse around the decision to be childfree and an exploration on the influences and messages that impact our thinking, and all of the possibilities of a life that is other than motherhood. This Podcast series focuses on bringing unique perspectives and interrogating the difficult questions, as well as elevating the importance of identity for women who do not choose to become mothers.
Hosted by
Elizabeth Joy