1 in 5 - Leading a life without children

Lucy Meggeson is a podcast producer and host, who previously worked as a programme-maker at BBC Radio 2. At the start of 2022, she launched the 'Spinsterhood Reimagined' podcast, which explores and celebrates single life, whilst challenging the stigma that can be attached to being single and without kids. Lucy is happily childfree, but in this chat, she shares an unexpected broodiness that happened in her early 40s, and how she navigated temporary feelings of grief and sadness. From smashing the negative stereotypes linked to spinsterhood and showing that being single isn't plan B to embracing your life right now, there is so much that will resonate regardless of whether you are in a relationship or not.If you'd like to learn more about Lucy, do check out her website lucymeggeson.com Also we'd highly recommend her brilliant podcast Spinsterhood Reimagined https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/spinsterhood-reimagined/id1606620264If you enjoyed this chat, please do subscribe and share it far and wide. We'd would love to hear what you think, so if you can post a review or contact us via Instagram @geetapendse or email me the1in5podcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening.

Christine Erikson is an international executive and entrepreneur. She recently founded the New Legacy Institute, which aims to campaign for change around the social and policy inequalities faced by the collective community of those who do not have children. From workplaces to the education system, the New Legacy Insitute is challenging the often ingrained views of pro-natalism, where having kids is put on a pedestal.Christine describes herself as childless by circumstance, and in this chat, she shares how an abusive marriage influenced her own views around having kids. We also speak about the stigma those leading a life without kids can face, and why creating a collective voice for change is important.You can find out more about the New Legacy Institute and Christine's work here https://newlegacyinstitute.com/ or on Instagram @newlegacyinstitute If you enjoyed this chat, please do subscribe and share it far and wide. We'd would love to hear what you think, so if you can post a review or contact us via Instagram @geetapendse or email me the1in5podcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening.

Mel Brown is a talent success manager, a trained celebrant and host of her own podcast, Mel's Monday Musing. She describes herself as childfree by choice but can see children in her future. As a woman in her mid-thirties who is open to parenthood, in our chat Mel shares the pressures that come with dating when it feels like the biological clock is ticking. We dive into dating, exploring options such as egg-freezing and why Mel is asking herself if it is selfish to have children in a world of environmental uncertainty. As Mel is very much open to having kids, we do explore topics such as fertility and parenthood, which may not resonate with everyone. But as always my aim with this show is to explore all sides of life without kids in the present, even if that might change in the future. If you'd like to learn more about Mel's work as a celebrant you can go to https://www.melbcelebrant.co.uk/ or listen to her podcast Mel's Monday Musings on your podcast app. And you can find Mel on Instagram @melbrown0110.If you enjoyed this chat, please do subscribe and share it far and wide. We'd would love to hear what you think, so if you can post a review or contact us via Instagram @geetapendse or email me the1in5podcast@gmail.com

Vikas Shah is a hugely successful entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. His book and blog, ‘Thought Economics', has seen him interview some of the world's leading thinkers. As someone who is childfree, Vikas has thought long and hard about legacy and purpose. In this chat, we explore the social expectations on men, dating when choosing to be childfree, creating a living legacy and the added layer of pressure that can come from growing up in a South Asian family. You can find out more about ‘Thought Economics' here https://thoughteconomics.com/ or follow Vikas on Twitter @MrVikas to get all the latest on his work. If you enjoyed this chat, please do subscribe and share it far and wide. We'd would love to hear what you think, so if you can post a review or contact us via Instagram @geetapendse or email the1in5podcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn is a British journalist and radio presenter who has felt ambivalent and confused about parenthood for decades. Always hoping that one day she would wake up and feel differently, during the pandemic Kathryn decided to embark on an active process to choose whether to have kids or not. In this chat, she shares how it's not always black and white, and why the process can be a painful one. From navigating ambivalence on your own and in a couple, challenging our conditioning around where we find purpose and looking to the future as a childfree woman, Kathryn is refreshingly open and honest about her own journey.If you'd like to learn more about Kathryn and her work do check her out on Twitter @stanchers.If you enjoyed this chat, please do subscribe and share it far and wide. We'd would love to hear what you think, so if you can post a review or contact us via Instagram @geetapendse or send us an email to the1in5podcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening.

Emma Duval is on a personal mission to reveal and document the lives of childfree and childless women in history. Raised in France and now living in the US, Emma felt a lack of positive role models growing up. From a Gallo-Roman physician and a Buddhist nun to Hollywood icon Greta Garbo, Emma is using social media and her research skill to amplify the lives of hundreds of women. Emma is currently writing a book about single women in history. Whilst none of us are defined by our status with or without kids, in a world where leading a life without children can be painted as negative Emma's approach is refreshing. If you'd like to find out more about Emma's work do check out her Instagram account: @millenialemma or you can go to her website millenialemma.comIf you enjoyed this chat, please do subscribe and share it far and wide. I'd love to hear what you think too, so please do post a review or contact Geeta via Instagram or twitter @geetapendse

Kat Brown is a journalist, commentator and social media editor. In 2022 she successfully crowdfunded, 'No One Talks About This Stuff', a new book which will see 25 writers share their experiences of infertility, childlessness, baby loss and almost motherhood. In this chat, we explore topics including ambivalence, choice, delaying parenthood due to financial instability, infertility and the power of hearing other women's stories. If you'd like to hear more about No One Talks About This Stuff and Kat herself, you can find more information on Instagram @noonetalksaboutthisstuff @katbrownwrites or visit Kat's website: Katbrownwrites.comIf you enjoyed this chat, please do subscribe and share it far and wide. We'd would love to hear what you think, so if you can post a review or contact us via Instagram @geetapendse. Thank you for listening.

Michelle Ackerley is a TV and radio presenter who is championing more honest conversations about women's health. Michelle recently shared her experience of living with endometriosis and the impact it can have on fertility. In this chat, she talks about the complex reasons why women may choose not to have children or are unable to and why there needs to be more openness and support around this. We also talk about how working in the public eye can add an extra layer of scrutiny when it comes to the question of children. It's a must-listen!You can find Michelle on Instagram @michelle_ackerley or on twitter @MichAckerleyIf you enjoyed this chat, do subscribe and post a review. We'd would love to hear what you think. Contact us via Instagram @geetapendse. Thank you for listening.

Erin Spurling is on a mission to change the conversation for and about women who are embracing a childfree lifestyle, whether that's by choice or circumstance. Erin is a writer and music journalist, who set up Curiously Childfree as a platform to cultivate positive, understanding and judgement-free conversations. In this chat, Erin shares her experience of being in a heterosexual childfree couple, and how she is often treated differently from her partner. We talk about the importance of community and why Erin is refusing to fulfil the trope of being angry or bitter, hating parents and children, having a lonely life, or thinking her life is better than someone else.If you'd like to learn about Curiously Childfree – you can find information on Instagram @curiouslychildfree or go to Erin's website https://erinspurling.com to find out more.This is the last episode in Series 1 but we are happy to say that the 1in5 podcast will be back soon with a new series. In the meantime we'd would love to hear your thoughts on series and what topics you'd like us to get into next. You can email the1in5podcast@gmail.com or find Geeta on Instagram or twitter @geetapendse – thank you so much for listening!

Jody Day is the Founder of Gateway Women, a global friendship, support and advocacy network. Described as the Beyonce of childlessness, Jody's Ted Talk “The Lost tribe of childless women” has been viewed almost 170,000 times. Her book “Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future without children” is what many professionals consider the ‘go-to' book on this topic.In this chat, we explore a range of topics including social infertility, the power of community and how grief can be a transformative experience with the right support. If you would like to learn about Gateway Women, then you gateway-women.com – all the details are in the show notes. And they have a range of workshops, talks and resources, which are really worth checking out.

This International Women's Day we have the wonderful Stella Duffy as a guest. Stella is an acclaimed author and playwright, with 17 novels to her name. She's also a yoga teacher, breast cancer survivor, trainee existential pyschotherapist and an OBE recipient. In this chat Stella, who had dreamt of having children, shares her journey of deep self- acceptance and the power she now feels embracing the life she has. As a queer older woman, she speaks of how a pro-natal and heteronormative world view, can isolate those who are different instead of valuing diversity. Stella shares the need to debunk the idea that fertility is a woman's greatest gift and to create a space to celebrate post-menopausal women. An approach Stella has seen other cultures embrace. It's a powerful and joyful chat, that moved me to my core and I'm sure it will you as well. If you would like to learn more about Stella's work, you can go to her website. https://stelladuffy.blog/Her novel, Lullaby Beach is now available on paperback. https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/stella-duffy/lullaby-beach/9781405549653/As always we'd love to hear from you. Please share what you think of our chat by posting a review or you can find me on Instagram or twitter @geetapendse. It means the world to see your messages.

Leyla Okhai is the founder of Diverse Minds, a company that works to help create a positively productive workplace, with an emphasis on mental health. Leyla is childfree by choice and through her work she has seen how a flawed system can pit mothers against those who are childfree. Alongside calling out inequalities Leyla talks about her choice not to have children, which she instinctively knew from a young age. From the environment and mental health to the trauma of racism – there are many factors at play for her. Leyla also shares the lessons she's learnt about approaching inequality in the workplace and respecting people's choices. If you like to know more about Leyla's work – I would definitely check out her website which is diverseminds.co.uk – you can also listen to her podcast Diverse Minds which full of inspiring conversations. We would love to hear your thoughts on the 1in5 podcast so far and what topics you'd like us to get into. You can email the1in5podcast@gmail.com or find us on Instagram @geetapendse

Zoe Noble is the founder of We are Childfree, a community that lifts up the voices of women and gender diverse people who have decided not to have children. Zoe always knew she didn't want kids, but it was only in her thirties that she felt she could stand in her truth and really own it. A photographer living in Berlin, she is trying to overturn the negative narratives that can be projected onto childfree people. She's an absolute trailblazer and has been featured on the cover of the New York Times Style section, alongside connecting with thousands of people around the world. If you'd like to see more of Zoe's work – go to wearechildfree.com or you can find her on Instagram @zoenoblephotoWe would love to hear what you think of the chat, so please do post a review and share far and wide. Thank you for listening!

Katherine Baldwin is a love and relationship coach and mid-life mentor who once described herself as childless by ambivalence. In this chat, she shares how childhood experiences of watching her own mother fuelled her ambivalence towards parenthood. We talk about the biological clock and meeting a partner who doesn't want children, grief around what might have been and how she is embracing her choices now. Katherine's clients include many single women who are childless not by choice or who are still hopeful about having children but feel they are running out of time. If you want to learn more about Katherine's work you can go to her website katherinebaldwin.com or read her book ‘How to Fall in Love'. We'd love to hear your thoughts, so please do post a review and hit subscribe if you want to hear more episodes.

Bea Grist is a life and wellness coach, who is actively sparking conversations around living a life without children. Bea is childfree by choice – but getting to that place has taken over a decade of questioning and turbulence. In this chat Bea shares how she found that clarity for herself and why she's now speaking out on social media about the pressures many women are under. In the process, she puts forward the idea that you can be a mother without having kids of your own. Her approach is honest and liberating, and invites the idea that all we can do is listen to what we need now. If you want to learn more about Bea's work, you can find her on Instagram @bea.grist or go to her website beagrist.comThank you so much for listening, we would love to hear what you thought of the chat today. If you can, do post a review and if you've enjoyed the podcast, then subscribe to get the latest episodes and share far and wide.

From social pressures and challenging the patriarchy to the grief of infertility, Yvonne John is an author and activist for childless women. She wrote her book, Dreaming of a Life Unlived, out of anger for those who were not being heard or listened to. She's inspiring, funny and honest about her journey, and the pressures that can come from being a woman of colour. Yvonne shares her grief journey, and how she is now embracing a life without kids.Yvonne's blog is called Finding My Plan B – info findingmyplanb.comYvonne is a graduate of Gateway Women (GW) year-long Plan B Mentorship programme and is a trained facilitator of the GW reignite weekend workshops. If you enjoyed this chat, please do subscribe and post a review. We'd would love to hear what you think. Thank you for listening.

Welcome to the brand new 1in5 Podcast, a space to explore all sides of leading a life without children – whether it's by choice or by circumstance. Hosted by Geeta Pendse, in this first series, we'll be exploring a whole range of subjects from the pressures of social expectations, the biological clock, infertility, ambivalence around parenthood and embracing a life without kids, in whatever shape that comes. And we have some incredible guests sharing their journeys.The first episode lands at the end of Jan – subscribe wherever you get podcasts and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening!the1in5podcast@gmail.com