Podcast appearances and mentions of melanie notkin

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit smokeempodcast.substack.comLet's say you want to promote a book and you have a little ad money to burn. If you are author and communications consultant Melanie Notkin, you might contact Shelf Awareness, which sends free newsletters to, per its Instagram bio, “booksellers, librarians, publishers, book collectors, literary antiquarians, and everyone else who loves to read.” Shelf Awareness publisher Matt Balducci was happy to run the promo, for the U.S. release of Bernard-Henri Lévy's latest book… until two days later, when he emailed Melanie to say they were cancelling the ad.“I've never been denied the ability to pay for an ad in any outlet,” says Notkin, who knew, before she spoke with Balducci — a conversation Notkin recorded — that he was backing out because of one of the words in the book's two-word title, and it wasn't “Alone.”Francesca Block at The Free Press reported on the story earlier today. Here, Notkin picks up the conversation, including:* Is the anti-Israeli movement contracting or going underground?* Pro tip: When you basically tell someone you're caving to the mob, maybe try not to sound patronizing* The shadow-banning of books and authors leads nowhere good* Quick: A group of masked people on the subway chant, “Raise your hand if you're a Zionist!” What do you do?* “I don't want to live in a world where my friend denounces me.”* #nevershuttingupPlus, big love for Douglas Murray, when intolerance becomes a show of valor, and did casual Fridays ruin everything?

Melanie Notkin is the founder of SAVVY AUNTIE: A Celebration of Modern Aunthood - a multiplatform lifestyle brand for cool aunts, great-aunts, godmothers and all women who love kids.00:00 - Intro4:36 - Israel vs Hamas7:46  Anti-Semitism19:45-  Source of Courage21:41 Silent Majority 26:53 Gender Dysphoria35:00 Ignored Men40:11  Boss babe51:56 Childless Women58:22  Patriarchy 1:05:40 - Man-hating women1:11:02 - EndingMelanie is a foremost expert on the emerging demographic of childless, often single, women. Her data and insights on the PANK (Professional Aunts No Kids) – the influential and growing female cohort she uncovered and coined in 2008 – have been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, CNN and more.In this conversation, Savvy Auntie, author and advocate Melanie Notkin and Candice, explore a range of topics, starting with reflections on the Israel-Palestine conflict and perspectives on transgender issues. The dialogue then delves into the complexities of modern relationships, including the evolving roles of women, societal expectations, and the impact of career choices on family planning. Notkin critiques certain feminist ideologies and emphasizes the importance of open communication in relationships. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that spans contemporary global issues and the intricacies of love, marriage, and societal norms.Melanie Notkin's website: melanienotkin.com/Candice's socials: linktr.ee/candicehorbaczLady Ballers Trailer: https://youtu.be/Py2MzGtmaJ0?si=HHZQvo1eGDyqY98g ⚠DISCLAIMER⚠ Under no circumstances does the cast of Chatting With Candice endorse, support, or condone all views and opinions presented by guests on the show. The cast of Chatting With Candice is here to provide balanced discussion about a variety of hot-button topics and encourage all viewers to do their own due diligence before purchasing, supporting, sharing, or promoting anything mentioned by our hosts or guests. The Chatting With Candice platform is for informed discourse on a variety of topics and designed to provide a balanced view of current events, sensitive subjects, and relevant matters that permeate our current culture. Listen responsibly and do your due diligence accordingly.Support the show

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, September 27th, , 2023. Olive Tree Biblical Software: Discover why more than a million people use the free Olive Tree Bible App as their go-to for reading, studying, and listening to the God’s Word. Start by downloading one of many free Bibles and start taking notes, highlighting verses, and bookmarking your favorite passages. You can read at your own pace, or choose from a large selection of Reading Plans, including the Bible Reading Challenge. When you are ready to go deeper into your studies, Olive Tree is right there with a large selection of study Bibles, commentaries, and other helpful study resources available for purchase. There’s also an extensive bookstore that allows you to build your digital library one book at a time and Olive Tree’s sync technology lets you pick up where you left off on your tablet, pc or phone and get right to studying on another supported device. Now here's the best part – You can start with the Olive Tree Essentials Bundle for FREE. Visit www.olivetree.com/FLF and download it today!  https://dailycaller.com/2023/09/26/bankruptcy-filings-13-month-consecutive-increase-biden-administration/ Now this! The Office ( US ) : Michael declares Bankruptcy- Play 0:03-0:10 Bankruptcy Filings Spiked In 2023 Under The Biden Administration, And You Should Expect More Financial Chaos To Come Data released Tuesday showed that Americans filed more than 39,000 bankruptcy cases in Aug. 2023, an 18 percent increase from the same time last year. The data released by Unusual Whales details how, along with personal bankruptcy filings, there were more than 41,600 new bankruptcy cases recorded in August, including for businesses. This marks the thirteenth consecutive month that bankruptcy filings have shown a year-over-year increase under the Biden administration’s embarrassing and dangerous economic policies. The bankruptcy filings are not a surprise to anyone with a finger on the pulse of the domestic and global economy, but likely come as a shock to those just trying to keep afloat. As so many families were lulled into a false sense of financial security during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, their ill-advised spending habits have landed them in hot water. Many folks bought homes they couldn’t afford in the last two years, often with minimal down payments, bad credit and sky-high mortgage rates. Some of these individuals were banking on a pause or total relief of their student loan debt to keep the lights on, but this hasn’t really materialized like people thought it would (duh). The most terrifying thing is that a lot of folks set-up interest-only payments for property purchases for the first five years or so of their mortgage. This means lower payments today, but zero equity build-up in homes these individuals won’t be able to afford once they’re forced to pay the equity and interest — which will almost definitely lead to more bankruptcies, foreclosures and worse. https://dailycaller.com/2023/09/25/mayors-fault-blue-city-average-40-vehicle-thefts/ ‘The Mayor’s Fault’: Blue City Reports An Average Of 40 Vehicle Thefts A Day Police officers in Oakland, California, have reported more than 10,000 motor vehicle thefts in the city since the start of 2023, data from the Oakland Police Department (OPD) shows. The OPD recorded a total of 10,547 motor vehicle thefts — an average of 40 vehicle thefts a day — and a 51% increase from the year-to-date reported number of thefts in 2022, CBS News Bay Area reported. At least 133 vehicles were stolen between Sept. 11 and Sept. 17, and an additional 12 vehicles were carjacked during the same time period, according to the OPD data. Now I’m no math wiz - but that’s a lot of thefts! Oakland residents have placed pressure on their district attorney and mayor for months to increase the town’s police force and security response as crime in the city has continued to escalate. Residents became even more frustrated with local officials over the past week after the city failed to submit an application to the California government to receive additional crime-fighting funds. “The buck stops with the mayor. This is the mayor’s fault. It stops with the mayor. We need to hear from the mayor,” Oakland NAACP President Cynthia Adams told CBS on Sept. 18. Officers admitted that the number of overall crimes in the area is likely much higher because many residents have stopped reporting crimes to the police, according to CBS. Total crime in Oakland has gone up 27% since 2022 while violent crime has increased by 20%, OPD data shows. The Oakland mayor’s office and the OPD did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/desire-large-families-50-year-high-america Desire for large families hits 50-year high in America: Gallup A growing number of people in America prefer families of three or more children, hitting the highest desire for large families since 1971. According to a Gallup survey released Monday, the number of people who prefer smaller and larger family sizes are statistically tied, bouncing back from a decadeslong trend of believing one or two children was ideal. "Overall, this recent survey shows that Americans might finally be climbing out of the anti-family bomb shelter caused by the myths of the 1960’s of a population explosion disaster," Terry Schilling, the president of the American Principles Project, told the Washington Examiner. "Favoring more children is a sign that Americans are returning to basic principles and values that life was made for — bringing forth the next generation through the family." Forty-five percent now favor larger families, with 29% finding three children as ideal, 12% who prefer four, and 2% each who prefer five, six, or more. That is compared to 47% who believe two or fewer children is ideal, with 44% preferring two children and 3% preferring one. Two percent believe the ideal family should not include children. Gallup pointed to several social trends from past decades that may have contributed to the decline in having children, including the preference for larger families "plummeting" from 70% in 1967 to 52% in 1972 "fueled at least in part by concerns about a global population explosion, resulting from the 1968 bestselling book entitled The Population Bomb." The organization started tracking this data in 1936, when 64% preferred three children, reaching a peak in 1945 at 77%. However, by 1973, the strong preference for families of one or two children became the norm, evidenced by the 50% drop in children-per-family from the peak of the baby boom to 1.8 children in 1980. What stands out to Schilling, however, is that only 8% do not wish to have children, leaving over 90% with the desire for children at any amount. "The 8% of America that’s anti-family has way too much representation in our culture — especially in entertainment, politics, news media, academia, and even corporations," Schilling said. Gallup notes that people under the age of 30 are at least twice as likely to say they do not want children, but the "vast majority" continue to prefer having children. Twenty-one percent of that age group already has children, and 63% hope to have children in the future. Moreover, 69% of those who already have children want more, as well as 15% of 18- to 40-year-olds who want to be parents someday. Six percent of childless people aged 41 and older also wished they had children. While ideal family size is not significantly different from men to women, other demographic traits do trend in certain directions. Young people aged 18-29 are more likely than any other age group to prefer larger family sizes, and black and Hispanic people are also more likely to prefer larger families. In addition, Republicans, conservative independents, and lower-income residents tend to prefer families with more children. By contrast, Democrats, non-religious, and wealthy residents are more likely to prefer only one or two children. Despite stated preferences, birth rates have been on the decline, and adults are starting families much later in life, which is highly correlated to smaller family sizes. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the average age of a woman who had her first child was 27.3 years, a record high. Part of the answer for fertility declines, author Melanie Notkin writes in a piece for the Institute for Family Studies, is that much like the effect of The Population Bomb in the 1960s and 1970s, "we have a similar trend with the rise of anti-natalism where its nihilistic supporters believe the world is too sad a place to bring children into, along with climate change 'doomerism.' More practically, the current economy makes family forming more challenging for many young Americans." However, the public has appeared to cut through some of the popular trends, Schilling told the Washington Examiner. "There are so many policies across the cultural and economic spectrum that make family formation much more difficult, and it’s a true testament to the beauty and intrinsic value of the family that in spite of all the hurdles before us, we still desire children and family," he said. https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/biden-poland-billions-aid-ukraine-defense-russia/2023/09/25/id/1135800/ US Offers Poland Rare Loan of $2 Billion to Modernize Its Military My goodness - we’re giving out loans everywhere! You get a loan, you get a loan, and you Hawaiins get $700… The Biden administration announced Monday that it is offering a $2 billion loan to Poland, which has been a hub for weapons going into Ukraine, to support the ally's defense modernization. The State Department said in a statement that Poland is a “stalwart” ally of the U.S. whose “security is vital to the collective defense” of NATO ’s eastern flank, and that such funding is reserved for Washington’s most important security partners. The U.S. government is also providing Warsaw up to $60 million for the cost of the loan in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) which would support “urgent procurements of defense articles and services from the United States,” the State Department said. The $60 million is a loan subsidy meant to ensure that Warsaw can secure favorable terms for the loan. Poland has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, handing over large numbers of its own tanks, fighter jets and other equipment. It has also been a hub for most of the Western weapons going to Ukraine. It has been undergoing a process of modernization to replace what it gave away, much of which was based on old Soviet technology, putting in orders with U.S. and South Korean defense companies. Recently the Polish-Ukrainian relationship has seen strains due to a trade dispute centered on Ukrainian grain entering the Polish market and driving down the prices Polish farmers can get. Amid the spat Poland’s Prime Minister said his country was no longer sending any more weapons to Ukraine. The comment created some confusion. Analysts noted that Poland has already in fact given Ukraine most of what it has to give, and the statement was made ahead of a Polish election and did not mean much. But it also raised concerns that Western support for Ukraine could be weakening. U.S. officials have sought to play down the spat, praising Poland’s role in helping Ukraine and noting that it is in Poland’s strategic interest for Ukraine to prevail against Russia.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, September 27th, , 2023. Olive Tree Biblical Software: Discover why more than a million people use the free Olive Tree Bible App as their go-to for reading, studying, and listening to the God’s Word. Start by downloading one of many free Bibles and start taking notes, highlighting verses, and bookmarking your favorite passages. You can read at your own pace, or choose from a large selection of Reading Plans, including the Bible Reading Challenge. When you are ready to go deeper into your studies, Olive Tree is right there with a large selection of study Bibles, commentaries, and other helpful study resources available for purchase. There’s also an extensive bookstore that allows you to build your digital library one book at a time and Olive Tree’s sync technology lets you pick up where you left off on your tablet, pc or phone and get right to studying on another supported device. Now here's the best part – You can start with the Olive Tree Essentials Bundle for FREE. Visit www.olivetree.com/FLF and download it today!  https://dailycaller.com/2023/09/26/bankruptcy-filings-13-month-consecutive-increase-biden-administration/ Now this! The Office ( US ) : Michael declares Bankruptcy- Play 0:03-0:10 Bankruptcy Filings Spiked In 2023 Under The Biden Administration, And You Should Expect More Financial Chaos To Come Data released Tuesday showed that Americans filed more than 39,000 bankruptcy cases in Aug. 2023, an 18 percent increase from the same time last year. The data released by Unusual Whales details how, along with personal bankruptcy filings, there were more than 41,600 new bankruptcy cases recorded in August, including for businesses. This marks the thirteenth consecutive month that bankruptcy filings have shown a year-over-year increase under the Biden administration’s embarrassing and dangerous economic policies. The bankruptcy filings are not a surprise to anyone with a finger on the pulse of the domestic and global economy, but likely come as a shock to those just trying to keep afloat. As so many families were lulled into a false sense of financial security during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, their ill-advised spending habits have landed them in hot water. Many folks bought homes they couldn’t afford in the last two years, often with minimal down payments, bad credit and sky-high mortgage rates. Some of these individuals were banking on a pause or total relief of their student loan debt to keep the lights on, but this hasn’t really materialized like people thought it would (duh). The most terrifying thing is that a lot of folks set-up interest-only payments for property purchases for the first five years or so of their mortgage. This means lower payments today, but zero equity build-up in homes these individuals won’t be able to afford once they’re forced to pay the equity and interest — which will almost definitely lead to more bankruptcies, foreclosures and worse. https://dailycaller.com/2023/09/25/mayors-fault-blue-city-average-40-vehicle-thefts/ ‘The Mayor’s Fault’: Blue City Reports An Average Of 40 Vehicle Thefts A Day Police officers in Oakland, California, have reported more than 10,000 motor vehicle thefts in the city since the start of 2023, data from the Oakland Police Department (OPD) shows. The OPD recorded a total of 10,547 motor vehicle thefts — an average of 40 vehicle thefts a day — and a 51% increase from the year-to-date reported number of thefts in 2022, CBS News Bay Area reported. At least 133 vehicles were stolen between Sept. 11 and Sept. 17, and an additional 12 vehicles were carjacked during the same time period, according to the OPD data. Now I’m no math wiz - but that’s a lot of thefts! Oakland residents have placed pressure on their district attorney and mayor for months to increase the town’s police force and security response as crime in the city has continued to escalate. Residents became even more frustrated with local officials over the past week after the city failed to submit an application to the California government to receive additional crime-fighting funds. “The buck stops with the mayor. This is the mayor’s fault. It stops with the mayor. We need to hear from the mayor,” Oakland NAACP President Cynthia Adams told CBS on Sept. 18. Officers admitted that the number of overall crimes in the area is likely much higher because many residents have stopped reporting crimes to the police, according to CBS. Total crime in Oakland has gone up 27% since 2022 while violent crime has increased by 20%, OPD data shows. The Oakland mayor’s office and the OPD did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/desire-large-families-50-year-high-america Desire for large families hits 50-year high in America: Gallup A growing number of people in America prefer families of three or more children, hitting the highest desire for large families since 1971. According to a Gallup survey released Monday, the number of people who prefer smaller and larger family sizes are statistically tied, bouncing back from a decadeslong trend of believing one or two children was ideal. "Overall, this recent survey shows that Americans might finally be climbing out of the anti-family bomb shelter caused by the myths of the 1960’s of a population explosion disaster," Terry Schilling, the president of the American Principles Project, told the Washington Examiner. "Favoring more children is a sign that Americans are returning to basic principles and values that life was made for — bringing forth the next generation through the family." Forty-five percent now favor larger families, with 29% finding three children as ideal, 12% who prefer four, and 2% each who prefer five, six, or more. That is compared to 47% who believe two or fewer children is ideal, with 44% preferring two children and 3% preferring one. Two percent believe the ideal family should not include children. Gallup pointed to several social trends from past decades that may have contributed to the decline in having children, including the preference for larger families "plummeting" from 70% in 1967 to 52% in 1972 "fueled at least in part by concerns about a global population explosion, resulting from the 1968 bestselling book entitled The Population Bomb." The organization started tracking this data in 1936, when 64% preferred three children, reaching a peak in 1945 at 77%. However, by 1973, the strong preference for families of one or two children became the norm, evidenced by the 50% drop in children-per-family from the peak of the baby boom to 1.8 children in 1980. What stands out to Schilling, however, is that only 8% do not wish to have children, leaving over 90% with the desire for children at any amount. "The 8% of America that’s anti-family has way too much representation in our culture — especially in entertainment, politics, news media, academia, and even corporations," Schilling said. Gallup notes that people under the age of 30 are at least twice as likely to say they do not want children, but the "vast majority" continue to prefer having children. Twenty-one percent of that age group already has children, and 63% hope to have children in the future. Moreover, 69% of those who already have children want more, as well as 15% of 18- to 40-year-olds who want to be parents someday. Six percent of childless people aged 41 and older also wished they had children. While ideal family size is not significantly different from men to women, other demographic traits do trend in certain directions. Young people aged 18-29 are more likely than any other age group to prefer larger family sizes, and black and Hispanic people are also more likely to prefer larger families. In addition, Republicans, conservative independents, and lower-income residents tend to prefer families with more children. By contrast, Democrats, non-religious, and wealthy residents are more likely to prefer only one or two children. Despite stated preferences, birth rates have been on the decline, and adults are starting families much later in life, which is highly correlated to smaller family sizes. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the average age of a woman who had her first child was 27.3 years, a record high. Part of the answer for fertility declines, author Melanie Notkin writes in a piece for the Institute for Family Studies, is that much like the effect of The Population Bomb in the 1960s and 1970s, "we have a similar trend with the rise of anti-natalism where its nihilistic supporters believe the world is too sad a place to bring children into, along with climate change 'doomerism.' More practically, the current economy makes family forming more challenging for many young Americans." However, the public has appeared to cut through some of the popular trends, Schilling told the Washington Examiner. "There are so many policies across the cultural and economic spectrum that make family formation much more difficult, and it’s a true testament to the beauty and intrinsic value of the family that in spite of all the hurdles before us, we still desire children and family," he said. https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/biden-poland-billions-aid-ukraine-defense-russia/2023/09/25/id/1135800/ US Offers Poland Rare Loan of $2 Billion to Modernize Its Military My goodness - we’re giving out loans everywhere! You get a loan, you get a loan, and you Hawaiins get $700… The Biden administration announced Monday that it is offering a $2 billion loan to Poland, which has been a hub for weapons going into Ukraine, to support the ally's defense modernization. The State Department said in a statement that Poland is a “stalwart” ally of the U.S. whose “security is vital to the collective defense” of NATO ’s eastern flank, and that such funding is reserved for Washington’s most important security partners. The U.S. government is also providing Warsaw up to $60 million for the cost of the loan in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) which would support “urgent procurements of defense articles and services from the United States,” the State Department said. The $60 million is a loan subsidy meant to ensure that Warsaw can secure favorable terms for the loan. Poland has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, handing over large numbers of its own tanks, fighter jets and other equipment. It has also been a hub for most of the Western weapons going to Ukraine. It has been undergoing a process of modernization to replace what it gave away, much of which was based on old Soviet technology, putting in orders with U.S. and South Korean defense companies. Recently the Polish-Ukrainian relationship has seen strains due to a trade dispute centered on Ukrainian grain entering the Polish market and driving down the prices Polish farmers can get. Amid the spat Poland’s Prime Minister said his country was no longer sending any more weapons to Ukraine. The comment created some confusion. Analysts noted that Poland has already in fact given Ukraine most of what it has to give, and the statement was made ahead of a Polish election and did not mean much. But it also raised concerns that Western support for Ukraine could be weakening. U.S. officials have sought to play down the spat, praising Poland’s role in helping Ukraine and noting that it is in Poland’s strategic interest for Ukraine to prevail against Russia.

In “Other Hood,” Melanie Notkin argues for active aunthood as a way to bring back something of the lost extended family. It's a win-win. The post “The Good Aunt” appeared first on ColemanNation.

Savvy Auntie, Melanie Notkin, opens her heart to us and it's all warm and fuzzy and why can't we have that feeling between us in spite of our born differences? We don't know if Jews listen to anyone even when our wellbeing is on the line but maybe women, with their natural ability to embrace and bring together, can make us do things even when we don't initially want to do them. Sounds like growing up. Maybe it's what we need. Melanie's digital signature: melanienotkin.com T/IG/FB: @SavvieAuntie Listen to the mystery book podcast series: https://anchor.fm/thejewfunctionpodcast Link to Seth's book: https://www.antidotetoantisemitism.com/ FREE audiobook (With Audible trial) of The Jewish Choice - Unity or Antisemitism: https://amzn.to/3u40evC LIKE/SHARE/SUBSCRIBE Follow us on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram @thejewfunction NEW: Support us on PATREON patreon.com/thejewfunction

We are smack in the middle of teshuvah season, when Jews usually focus on repentance in the lead-up to Yom Kippur. But the Hebrew root of the word comes from the idea of returning—implying that teshuvah, in fact, happens after you realize you've strayed from the path you should be on and return to where you were, or where you always wanted to go. In this way, teshuvah can be a lifelong journey. We wanted to speak with a few Canadian Jews who are embarking on those journeys personally to learn how they're handling it and what the process looks like. We're joined by speaker and author Melanie Notkin; Ruth Chitiz, assistant director of Hillel at York University; and Casriel Silver, who works in real estate. After that, we're continuing our Sermon Slam with speeches from Rabbi Steven Wernick, Rabbi Stephen Wise, Rabba Rachel Kohl Finegold and Rabbi Philip Scheim. Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Zachary Kauffman is the producer and editor. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

In this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to founder of the Savvy Auntie Community, author and entrepreneur, Melanie Notkin.Melanie is an entrepreneur, author, media contributor, speaker, marketer, and a leading voice of childless, often single, women and men. In 2008, she founded ‘Savvy Auntie: A Celebration Of Modern Aunthood,' a multiplatform lifestyle brand for cool aunts, great-aunts, godmothers and all women who love kids. Melanie is author of two books, ‘Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers and All Women Who Love Kids'; and ‘Otherhood: Modern Women Finding A New Kind Of Happiness.' In this episode, Melanie and I talk about how she set up the Savvy Auntie community in 2008; her six nieces and nephews (including two sets of twin girls!); and how she coined the term PANK (Professional Aunt No Kids).We discuss Melanie's journey of not having children, and how she always had a vision of what she thought her life would be, which included a wedding in her back yard and twin girls; how in her mid-30s she went through an incredibly difficult time as she realised she may not have children of her own; how she wrote about her grief of not having children in her book, Otherhood, and how her desire for children felt like an ‘existential yearning.'Melanie also talks about being happy that she never had her eggs frozen; how feelings of desperation and anxiety around not having children can come to an end with the arrival of menopause; and how those women who aren't willing to settle for a ‘lesser love' - the ‘reinvented spinsters' - tend to be at a certain level of success in their lives. Follow Melanie on Instagram: @savvyauntieFollow Melanie on Twitter: @SavvyAuntieUK Link to Melanie's book, Savvy Auntie: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Savvy-Auntie-Ultimate-Great-Aunts-Godmothers/dp/0061999970 UK Link to Melanie's book, Otherhood: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otherhood-Modern-Women-Finding-Happiness/dp/1580055710/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CCW1PZSI3BZ4&keywords=otherhood&qid=1663096908&s=books&sprefix=otherhood%2Cstripbooks%2C80&sr=1-1 US Link to Melanie's book, Savvy Auntie: https://www.amazon.com/Savvy-Auntie-Ultimate-Great-Aunts-Godmothers/dp/0061999970/ref=sr_1_2?crid=7FKGW1YCEET5&keywords=savvy+auntie&qid=1663097183&sprefix=savvy+auntie%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-2 US Link to Melanie's book, Otherhood: https://www.amazon.com/Otherhood-Modern-Women-Finding-Happiness/dp/1580055710/ref=sr_1_1?crid=11XVVOC4BAG3L&keywords=otherhood&qid=1663097215&sprefix=otherhoo%2CaMelanie's Website: www.melanienotkin.com Join my private Facebook Group: Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimaginedFollow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggesonEmail me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com  Check out my website: www.lucymeggeson.com 

Peter McGraw talks to Melanie Notkin, an expert on the rising cohort of childless, often single, women. They discuss aunthood and otherhood, as well as examine the challenges facing boys and men and its implications for women who are seeking to have a family. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

In this episode, Greg hosts Melanie Notkin, an entrepreneur, author, media contributor, speaker, marketer, and a leading voice in childless, often single, women and men from New York City. She is the founder of SAVVY AUNTIE: A Celebration of Modern Aunthood - a multiplatform lifestyle brand for cool aunts, great-aunts, godmothers, and all women who love kids. Melanie is a foremost expert on the emerging demographic of childless, often single, women.Greg and Melanie discuss Melanie's book Otherhood: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness, becoming the SAVVY AUNTIE, being a PANK (Professional Aunt No Kids) the powerfulness of femininity, the attack on masculinity, chivalry, what women want, the importance of play for boys, and much moreIf you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe!————————————Follow Melanie Notkin on Twitter @SavvyAuntiehttps://twitter.com/SavvyAuntieAnd check out her website: http://melanienotkin.com/————————————Follow Me On————————————All Platforms: https://linktr.ee/GregEllisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/realgregellis/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellisgregInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/realgregellis/ ————————————Show Notes————————————[00:00] Respondent introduction[01:07] Greg introduces this week's guest, Melanie Notkin[01:23] Where Melanie grew up and her childhood in NY.[03:16] Melanie's book Otherhood and finding happiness outside of motherhood[07:14] Wisdom, knowledge, and fulfillment[09:33] Becoming the SAVVY AUNTIE and PANK (Professional Aunt No Kids)[12:31] Women having children later[16:11] Feminism and toxic masculinity; Women becoming more masculine and Men becoming more feminine.[16:33] "Third and fourth-wave feminists have created an entire generation of men they are not attracted to." GE quoting MN[17:39] "It is a little ironic to be equal to people you don't like." MN[22:39] The most powerful thing a woman can be is feminine.[23:23] The Shadow Self and the genesis of toxic masculinity[26:53] The Importance and utility of relationships and falling in love.[27:23] "A relationship doesn't take away. A relationship adds. The right relationship makes you better. When you have a champion with you, you don't need to self-empower; you've got someone behind you that can help push you along." MN[30:03] Love is a skill to be learned not, not just an emotion to be felt. GE[31:57] The Feminine Mystique and the misunderstanding around what she was saying[33:46] The attack on masculinity[38:17] Chivalry [42:10] Melanie's experience with dating and having the man choose the restaurant.[45:47] What woman want [52:49] Should the man always pay on dates?[56:39] The dance between masculinity and femininity[01:02:20] Decisiveness[01:04:42] The problem with the word "empowerment."[01:09:03] Inhumane Resources and the Oppression Olympics.[01:12:37] "Victimhood is the new social currency, and its economy is booming." GE[01:12:49] The women marches and how girls are doing great and boys are falling apart.[01:16:19] Importance of boys and play. [01:16:49] Warren Farrell[01:24:19] The Philosophical Queue [01:25:04] Where does Melanie find meaning?[01:25:40] The most meaningful moment of Melanie's life[01:27:36] The Urban Pioneer: Where does Melanie go to think, where she goes for peace and quiet.[01:29:27] Melanie's favorite song [01:31:12] Writing Melanie's epitaph [01:31:33] Melanie's one wish [01:31:55] What the future has in store for Melanie[01:34:07] The Respondent[01:38:19] Why Greg & Melanie wrote their books[01:39:04] Podcast filler words #GregEllis #MelanieNotkin #SavvyAuntie #Feminism

2:17 | Ryan and Sarah review the news headlines including Alberta's Premier Jason Kenney having a block party on Twitter where he stopped many Albertans from accessing his account. 11:50 | Wilfrid Laurier University's Dr. Izabela Steflja on how war affects women from the battlefield to the home front, and their ability to commit war crimes. 32:46 | #TheLeadingEdge | The first centre of its kind in Canada, The Zebra Centre, supports kids who have experienced abuse, using a continuum of multi-disciplinary resources. Presented by Leading Edge Physio. 34:45 | An International Women's Day discussion about what defines womanhood, with transgender advocate Marni Panas, breast cancer survivor Christina Belding, and childless woman expert Melanie Notkin.

What happens when you always wanted to be a wife and mother, but you haven't met your person? Well, if you're author Melanie Notkin, you start a fabulous brand called, Savvy Auntie! Melanie joins us for a vulnerable and candid discussion about how to embrace and thrive in a life we wouldn't have scripted. We center the conversation around her poignant and powerful book, Otherhood. Specifically, we delve into: How women of The Otherhood manage their ongoing and currently unmet desire for marriage and family. The question almost every woman of The Otherhood has asked herself, “Should I settle for a ‘good enough' guy in order to have children?” How to handle invasive and insensitive questions/comments about your life e.g. “You must have focused too much on your career!” or “Didn't you want kids???” The prevailing, yet inaccurate, assumption that women of The Otherhood delayed marriage and child bearing. Grieving the loss of the life we'd expected, while embracing the joys of the life we have! Despite the fact our lives haven't played out as planned, we women of The Otherhood, can be assured our nurturing and influence make a profound, positive impact on the children we didn't create, yet choose to love. Single is the New Black - Audiobook Audible: smarturl.it/SITNB-Audible iTunes: smarturl.it/SITNB-iTunes Dr. Karin Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/ Instagram: @dr.karin

This short segment first appeared as the Endcap on our conversation with Savvy Auntie, Melanie Notkin. Chris & Richard talk about new numbers on declining birthrates, implications for the toy industry and some ideas of how toymakers might respond to the changing market. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-playground-podcast/support

Richard and Chris talk with Melanie Notkin about her mission with Savvy Auntie, and the economic, cultural and emotional power of PANKs (Professional Aunts, No Kids). This powerful demographic is often overlooked by the toy business, and yet it's one that represents outstanding potential for driving toy sales...if they are acknowledged and addressed. Listen in on this lively conversation, and we promise you'll be inspired to find new ways to reach and engage this market segment that spends more than $250 per year per kid in their lives. In The Endcap Chris and Richard continue the conversation, discussing the implications of new figures showing declining birthrates and fertility rates, what that means for the toy companies and ways to thrive in this dynamic market. The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, Precise.tv and ChizComm. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-playground-podcast/support

Tim, Ian, and Lydia host commentator and author Melanie Notkin to discuss some of the biggest issues facing modern, including women who struggle to find men who earn as much money as they do, having too much to actually be happy, like the rats in the 'rat utopia' experiment, the point of marriage, biological clocks, and dating apps.

Melanie Notkin is the founder/creator of the popular Savvy Auntie lifestyle brand. Notkin’s book on the subject, Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids, was a Wall Street Journal bestseller. Her second book, Otherhood: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness is also a bestseller. Together, Melanie and Stef explore the concept of choosing happiness.  Produced by LegRoom Creative Engineered by www.podcaststudioservices.com

Melanie discusses the Gen X and the pressure to have the perfect life Twitter: @therocsworld Twitter: @SavvyAuntie Site: SavvyAuntie.com

Melanie shares insight on the tension between the Hasidic Jewish community and NYC Twitter: @therocsworld Twitter: @SavvyAuntie Site: SavvyAuntie.com

Author & entrepreneur, Melanie Notkin, shares her lockdown experience & staying connected to family and community Twitter: @therocsworld Twitter: @SavvyAuntie Site: SavvyAuntie.com

On this week's Bespoke Parenting Hour, host Julie Gunlock talks to writer (and coolest aunt on the planet!) Melanie Notkin, an expert on the emerging demographic of childless, often single women, which she wrote about in her memoir, Otherhood: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness. Notkin and Julie discuss a wide range of issues—from David Brooks' essay on the nuclear family, the important role non-parents have in children's lives to the many myths and assumptions the public has about childless women, and why the more inclusive and understanding parents are of non-parents, the happier parents and children are overall! In addition, Notkin offers parents some good tips on how to honor the extended family members in their lives. Tune in!The Bespoke Parenting Hour is a podcast about and for parents who are tired of being told how to do it. There's no one way to parent--there are as many ways as there are kids. Parenting styles, strategies and philosophies should be bespoke--tailor made to fit you, your family, and most importantly, your kids!. Twice a month, Bespoke host Julie Gunlock is joined by a variety of guests who are parenting the way they see fit. You can listen to the latest Bespoke episode(s) here or wherever you get your podcasts. Then subscribe, rate, and share with your friends. If you are already caught up and want more, join our online community at iwf.org/connect. Independent Women's Forum (IWF) believes all issues are women's issues. IWF promotes policies that aren't just well-intended, but actually enhance people's freedoms, opportunities, and choices. IWF doesn't just talk about problems. We identify solutions and take them straight to the playmakers and policy creators. And, as a 501(c)3, IWF educates the public about the most important topics of the day.Check out the Independent Women's Forum website for more information on how policies impact you, your loved ones, and your community: www.iwf.org.Be sure to subscribe to our emails to ensure you're equipped with the facts on the issues you care about most: https://iwf.org/sign-up. Subscribe to IWF's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/IWF06.Follow IWF on social media:- https://twitter.com/iwf on Twitter- https://www.facebook.com/independentwomensforum on Facebook- https://instagram.com/independentwomensforum on Instagram#IWF #SheThinks #AllIssuesAreWomensIssues Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are joined in this episode by Melanie Notkin, the founder of SAVVY AUNTIE: A Celebration of Modern Aunthood - a multi-platform lifestyle brand. Melanie is a WSJ bestselling author, speaker, and expert on the emerging demographic of childless, often single, women. Join us as we discuss Melanie's success and the different paths women find to achieve happiness. You'll walk away from this conversation realizing that there is no right or wrong path to realize your success and happiness. Visit Savvy Auntie: http://savvyauntie.com/ and http://melanienotkin.com/

Sunday, July 26, 2020 is the 12th annual National Auntie’s Day—a day for celebrating the special bond between women and their nieces and nephews. It’s an opportunity to highlight the unique and important contribution aunts make to the development of the children in their lives. I’m an aunt and so are many of you, so I’m pleased to welcome the founder of Auntie’s Day and author of Otherhood: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness, Melanie Notkin, to the program! In our conversation, Melanie and I discuss: · How women of The Otherhood manage their ongoing and currently unmet desire for marriage and family. · The question almost every woman of The Otherhood has asked herself, “Should I settle for a ‘good enough’ guy in order to have children?” · How to handle invasive and insensitive questions/comments about your life e.g. “You must have focused too much on your career!” or “Didn’t you want kids???” · The prevailing, yet inaccurate, assumption that women of The Otherhood delayed marriage and child bearing. · Grieving the loss of the life we’d expected, while embracing the joys of the life we have! Aunties matter! And, despite the fact our lives haven’t played out as planned, we women of The Otherhood, can be assured our nurturing and influence make a profound, positive impact on the children we didn’t create, yet choose to love. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/love-and-life-media/support

“A life beyond my expectations”: Melanie Notkin talks Generation PANK (Professional Aunts, No Kids) aka women who are childless by choice, chance, or challenge, the complex feelings raised by modern fertility science, and the wonders of Aunt-hood. The post Ep 53 SavvyAuntie.com Founder Melanie Notkin appeared first on Midlife Mixtape .

Melanie Notkin, founder of Savvy Auntie, the first community for cool aunts, great aunts, godmothers and all women who love kids (but might not have them) discusses her book Otherhood and women who are childless, not by choice, but by circumstance. She and Bridget cover the assumptions people make about childless women, being told that […]Sponsored by Away Travel Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/walk-ins-welcome-bridget-phetasy/melanie-notkin-and-bridget-talk-wasted-womb-shaming-what-it-is-and-why-its-terrible/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to Walk-Ins Welcome w/ Bridget Phetasy in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

Melanie Notkin, founder of Savvy Auntie, the first community for cool aunts, great aunts, godmothers and all women who love kids (but might not have them) discusses her book Otherhood and women who are childless, not by choice, but by circumstance. She and Bridget cover the assumptions people make about childless women, being told that they should have settled if they wanted kids, and how Bridget feels like she kept hitting snooze on her biological clock. Find out how feminism made men lazy, why you’re only as loyal as your options in the age of social media, and how in the battle of the sexes everyone seems to be more confused than anything. Don’t miss an incredibly honest conversation about Melanie’s ability to take the source of her greatest pain – not having children – and turn it into something that helps countless people – women and men.

Minter Dialogue Episode #297Melanie Notkin founded a robust and thriving community, called SavvyAuntie. As such, Melanie is a leading voice of a group of women that has $61B in buying power. She's a national best-selling author having penned SavvyAuntie (2011) and Otherhood, Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness (2014). She's also a speaker and marketing expert. In this conversation, we discuss how Melanie founded and built up the community, her insights and innovations, tips for marketers wanting to build or approach a community, plus she's provided us with a scoop. Meanwhile, please send me your questions as an audio file (or normal email) to nminterdial@gmail.com; or you can find the show notes and comment on minterdial.com. If you liked the podcast, please take a moment to go over to iTunes to rate/review the podcast. Otherwise, you can find me @mdial on Twitter. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/minterdial)

Are you  P.A.N.K? aka Professional Aunt NoKids? This often unsung and uncelebrated large demographic of our population is the subject of my guests BREAKTHROUGH on this episode.  Melanie Notkin is the national best-selling author of Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids and the founder and personality behind Savvy Auntie, the beloved lifestyle brand celebrating modern aunthood. Notkin is the foremost expert on the emerging demographic of childless, often single, women in North America. She has shared her research, writing, and popular voice as a contributor to The New York Times, The New York Post, The Huffington Post, and PsychologyToday.com, among others, and she appears regularly on national television, radio, and the web. Otherhood, her second book, was inspired by her life in New York City. On this episode of BREAKTHROUGHS with Jordan Murphy she shares generously about how SAVVY AUNTIE came about and the process that has lead her to success as an entrepreneur.

Welcome to today's episode of Unclassified Woman. Today I have the pleasure of talking to Faith Agugu. Do you ever wish you had a crystal ball that could show you the future? Often the decisions we make today might be different if we knew what was around the bend for us. Finding real peace, though, means coming to terms with the past, including the decisions we’ve made and the way those circumstances have grown us into who we’ve become today. My guest bares it all to share her story and how it didn’t quite turn out like she had expected. In spite of it all, she is thankful for the path she’s taken and the impact she can have on other women in the world. Faith Agugu has always been motivated by service. Her first job after leaving school was with a not-for-profit organisation in London, working with children from troubled backgrounds. She then discovered the bright lights of the fashion industry and worked as a catwalk model for over five years before she left London for the sunny shores of Sydney, Australia. Faith landed a job with one of Australia’s leading fashion houses, and continued to advance her career as a model, and then launched her own fashion business--Raw Fashion Agency-- in 2004. Representing local fashion designers as a PR and sales agency, Faith also began teaching at FBI Fashion College in 2006, mentoring the next generation of up-and-coming fashionistas.  "I thought it would be irresponsible of me to hand my child over to this man every weekend if I chose to carry on with the pregnancy." - Faith Agugu After 25 years in the fashion industry, and approaching her 50th birthday, Faith felt the call to return to helping others and took time out to study for a bachelor’s degree in social science, majoring in counselling. Faith launched her new business, The Healing Process, where she offers counselling, energy healing, and mindfulness coaching to women tackling the challenges of mid-life. She also runs regular workshops to assist her clients to work through issues of self-esteem, relationships, and addiction. Faith also has a particular interest in balancing the disadvantages experienced by the indigenous community. Faith is a passionate, motivated, and driven entrepreneur, and through her private practice, she seeks to help women find their voice and claim their place in society. She is a very inspiring lady, indeed.  What you’ll hear in this episode:  The circumstances that led to Faith’s child-free life. In her 20’s, she thought she would definitely be a mother by age 30 and she assumed the man she was in a relationship with would be the father of her children That relationship ended, and she met another man and actually got pregnant at age 31, but she knew there was no way the relationship would last or that she could share a child with him She made the decision to terminate the pregnancy, never realising at the time, that it would be her one and only opportunity to be a mother. Why many women don’t talk about the topic of abortion and terminations, because of the shame, guilt, and pain. Why Faith felt an urgency with every ensuing relationship to have a child, even rushing the relationship along to accomplish her “agenda”. The desire to have a child felt natural for Faith. She had a strong sense of it that she took for granted, and it never occurred to her that it would NOT happen. The difference in cultural expectations for women of colour or certain ethnicities around the topic of childbearing. How Faith’s mother had to “come to terms” with the idea of Faith--and some of her siblings--NOT being parents and giving her grandchildren: this affected Faith profoundly and made her feel “less of a woman” at the time. The estimated facts are that by 2030 in Australia, there will be more family units without children than with them---there are BIG changes occurring! How Faith felt judged and “less than” when compared to other women who had children. The deep grieving process it takes to “let go of the dream”. For Faith, the best tool for getting through the grief was therapy. It helped tremendously to talk about the grief she felt each week with a therapist. There are different ways to find meaning and purpose through nurturing. Faith resonates with what Melanie Notkin says in using the word "child-full" in that she has children in her life, but they are just not her own. Faith finds fulfilment in her close relationship with her godchildren and her hands-on work as a case worker and counsellor for girls ages 18-27. Ironically, this is the age that her daughter would be today if that pregnancy had continued. Faith is grateful for the chance to “mother” and mentor other women, to hold space for them, and to nurture them. “I’m at peace with my soul’s choice.” Faith expresses her creative energy and essence in cooking as a way to show love and intentionality in a purely meditative process that transforms people that receive it. Faith’s also currently works with daughters on the powerful healing journey for the mother-daughter relationship. This of course impacts all of our relationships with women and how we perceive ourselves as women. You can find out more about Faith and her work at  www.thehealingprocess.com.au If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help more women access these stories, then please subscribe and leave us a review or rating on Itunes. Thank you so much for your help. Much appreciated.  For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com

World-famous cardiologist Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum,  Director, Women & Heart Disease, Lenox Hill/North-Shore hospital and National Spokesperson for AHA’s Go Red For Women, on achieving wellness and vitality by living a heart-centered life.  Renowned author and women’s advocate, Melanie Notkin, on the results of an important new health survey.

World-famous cardiologist Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Director, Women & Heart Disease, Lenox Hill/North-Shore hospital and National Spokesperson for AHA’s Go Red For Women, on achieving wellness and vitality by living a heart-centered life. Renowned author and women’s advocate, Melanie Notkin, on the results of an important new health survey.

World-famous cardiologist Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Director, Women & Heart Disease, Lenox Hill/North-Shore hospital and National Spokesperson for AHA’s Go Red For Women, on achieving wellness and vitality by living a heart-centered life. Renowned author and women’s advocate, Melanie Notkin, on the results of an important new health survey.

Best-selling authors Melanie Notkin and Jon Birger join Brian in his hometown of New York City to dish about love in the Big Apple, the challenges of dating over 30, where to find the good men, the price women pay for independence, the benefits of a issuing an ultimatum, and the three words nobody wants to hear on a date!

Best-selling authors Melanie Notkin and Jon Birger join Brian in his hometown of New York City to dish about love in the Big Apple, the challenges of dating over 30, where to find the good men, the price women pay for independence, the benefits of a issuing an ultimatum, and the three words nobody wants to hear on a date!

Otherhood! More women today are not having children, more than ever before. Whether by circumstance or by choice, and Author Melanie Notkin is talking about it. Today we celebrate the women who are who are totally in love with your nieces or nephews, friends’ kids. And open a dialogue of the challenges modern women, even A list celebrites have on the quest to otherhood.

Welcome! My guest today is an experienced commercial research consultant who was born and raised in the UK. Dr. Chloe Peacock earned a Ph.D. in Consumer Brand Participation and is an expert in Semiotics. She loves beaches, traveling, the outdoors, and all creatures. She is the founder of the UK Lifestyle Network for Childfree Women and The League of Fabulous Women. Her hope is to gently shift and soften cultural perceptions of women without children and to help these women connect with each other. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and at www.tlfw.co.uk. In this episode, you’ll learn the following about Chloe: Chloe has always been very comfortable with her ambivalence about motherhood. Even as a childfree woman, you can still be a caring, nurturing person and have children in your life. We all have different peak life experiences that we view as huge and fulfilling. In her mid-30’s, Chloe considered her “fertility window” but never felt the compulsion to plunge into motherhood. Like many childfree women, Chloe has dealt with pressure from family and friends: “You’d make a GREAT mom! You’re such a caring person!” The issue of legacy is important to Chloe and she has had many conversations with her father about this topic. Ultimately, you have to follow your own path. The League of Fabulous Women started small, as a product of her own experience, and then it grew rapidly. It exists for the purpose of connecting childfree women in friendship. Like many childfree women, Chloe noticed a dramatic shift in her social life because of others’ pregnancies. She read about Melanie Notkin’s work and then began meet-up groups of her own. Women over 40 without children are an increasing demographic for the present and the future. Not being a mother is no less natural or feminine than being a mother and having children. There is much cultural mythology surrounding motherhood as THE ultimate feminine experience. Chloe likes to express her creativity through creating relationships. For Chloe, the major benefits of NOT having children are the sense of freedom, being able to travel, and being the author of her own life. The League of Fabulous Women now has meet-up groups in Brighton, Bristol, Manchester, and London.  Connect and find out more at www.tlfw.co.uk   I do hope you enjoyed this episode. Please subscribe and share with a friend. For more episodes go to www.michellemariemcgrath.com

In this day and age, we hear a lot about women balancing it all: work, relationship, kids, life, etc. But what about women who work, who aren’t married and/or don’t have children? My guest today Melanie Notkin is a media entrepreneur: author, marketer, keynote speaker, and lifestyle personality. In 2007 she founded Melanie Notkin Media, Inc. - the first and only multiplatform media company designed for the growing global demographic of childless, often single, women. Savvy Auntie is the name of her popular and beloved lifestyle brand and bestselling book for cool aunts, great-aunts, godmothers and all women who love kids. The brand appeals primarily to Melanie’s proprietary PANK® (Professional Aunts No Kids) demographic of 23 million American women. In celebration of this "childfull" demographic, Melanie established Auntie's Day® in 2009. Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids (Morrow/2011) is a national bestseller. Her latest book is called Otherhood: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness. This is Melanie’s reported memoir on childless, often single women who expected love, marriage and motherhood. Before becoming a media entrepreneur, Melanie was an interactive and print beauty editor and interactive marketing and communications executive for global Fortune 500 companies.

Celebrating Auntie's Day, this podcast features best selling author Melanie Notkin, who also founded Aunties Day in 2009. Learn about circumstantial infertility, and what exactly is a PANK

Melanie Notkin is a media entrepreneur, author, speaker, marketer, and a leading voice of childless, often single women.  She is the founder of the Savvy Auntie lifestyle brand and is also the national best selling author of the book, SAVVY AUNTIE: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great Aunts, Godmothers and All Women Who Love Kids and Otherhood: Modern Women Finding A New Kind of Happiness. You can find out more about Melanie’s work here. Melanie believes that being childless for her was due to circumstance. She always wanted to find love, get married, and have a child with that man and yet she remained single. She is 46 and always expected to have found that love and would not settle for anything less. Unfortunately, whilst she hoped it would happen before her fertility waned, she has remained without a child. What do you think are some of the reasons that women are facing? “Social infertility” is an increasingly used term.  Melanie uses the term “circumstantial infertility,” the pain and grief over not having a child because you don’t have a partner and you would prefer to have a child with a partner.  It is a global Western trend and is a global phenomenon. There was a 15-page feature in DE Morgan, the largest daily in Brussels for Mother’s Day on “Otherhood”,  the title of her second book. “I think that part of it has to do with the fact that women today, our generation, the daughters of the feminist movement born in the 60s, 70s, 80s, imagine we’d have the social, economic, and political equality our mothers didn’t have when they were born. Naturally we’d have the husbands and kids that they did have. Plus the education and the financial stability, and independence, alas many of us had not been able to find that love.” Melanie thinks it’s partly because of the even split in education and in financial strength and ability. This generation of single women are among the most well educated, most financially successful, often the most fit and fabulous. These are the most A+ women who can’t find a match.  It’s not because they are too picky, it’s that they want to have a partner who challenges and supports them and to feel that the person adds value to their life and family. Also, on the women’s side, we’ve been told, believed, and in some ways agree that in order to be equal to men, we have to become a little more like men. Women have lost our femininity and trying to shoulder a lot of the traditional roles that men often participated in. Melanie thinks that we are all a little confused about how we should act and truthfully feels that we get turned on by courtship. It seems that there is work to do on both sides to try to bring that together in a more balanced way.  She believes that the simple solution is honesty. Melanie learned to only agree to dates that only work for her. This means that she would make the man work and choose the place of venue rather that her making the decision. We have to understand as women, that there is tremendous power in our femininity. If there weren’t such great power in our femininity, there wouldn’t be such male misogyny. It’s actually our femininity that is threatening to men than there is masculine energy. As women, we nurture everyone around us so we need to be aware and know how to use that femininity appropriately. How did Savvy Auntie come about? Savvy Auntie came about before Otherhood. Melanie had the idea in 2007 and she launched it in the summer of 2008. She was in her late 30s and always expected to be married and have kids by then. The most important people in her life were her nephews and nieces. She didn’t know what to do, what they were in to, and all the things parents were talking about. Often, women who don’t have children can feel left out because they are spending a big part of their life without kids. Melanie then got the idea that there needed to be a community just for them, which is how Savvy Auntie was born. She was a marketer by trade so she knew there was a business in that. When is International Aunties’ Day? International Aunties’ Day is always on the fourth Sunday in July so this year it will be on July 26. What do you typically do on that day and what do you do to celebrate that day? How does that work? Just like Mother’s Day, it’s a day to celebrate and honor the aunt or godmother in a child’s life. It’s up to the families how they want to celebrate that day but it could is simply be a Skype call to communicate or with a card or a hug. It’s a way to acknowledge how much you love and care about them and how much they mean to you.  What is your definition of “childfull” and how did that word come about?  Melanie struggled with the words “childless” and “childfree”. Childless is the generic term for a woman or man who doesn’t have children. It has the word “less” in it and nobody wants to feel less than. Childfree is the implication of one that is free from children. Melanie does not feel childfree because she has children in her life. “Childfull” means that one’s life is full of children they love. This sounds very positive and most women who don’t have a child of their own but have a child in their life would agree to that term. Melanie titled her book Otherhood because it’s not motherhood. Feminists talked about the idea of women being second to man, that women are other to man, and that equality would mean that we are no longer other to man. Childless women often feel other to mother. Melanie thinks that our next stage of liberation and feeling equal of our own equality movement is to show that we are equal to mother and that we are not other to mother. It is a good way to show we are fighting for that sense of equality. There was a study done in Australia that showed how even among self-assured, confident, successful women, the feeling of otherness can make a woman feel less than. It’s interesting how people now choose the natural period in a woman’s life when to have children. People often make stereotypes that can be damaging and are not valid at all. It can be a lot of pressure on a woman who’s not necessarily responsible for her circumstances. Melanie thinks that one of the stereotypes are called “career woman.” If you are single at 40 and don’t have children, most people will identify you as a career woman meaning that you care more about your career than a family which can be completely incorrect. Melanie talks about women freezing their eggs in their mid to late 30s even 40+ in order to have children once they find a man. It’s quite an expensive process that women are doing. Two major companies, Apple and Facebook, said that they would fund up to $20,000 for women to freeze their eggs, which is an extraordinary gift. Melanie calls it “The Dating Bermuda Triangle” where women are between the ages of 35 to 40 and men often think that the women are desperate for children. The truth is that she could be feeling desperate and can be a challenging and tough time for her. One should know that this whole process reverses itself. Once the woman is in her 40s, all of a sudden a man who is in his 40s or 50s, starts to wonder why isn’t that woman desperate for me and he becomes more desperate for the woman who was once the confident one. However the woman of the “otherhood” will never settle for lesser love because if they were to have done that, it would have been at age 22 when their eggs were much fresher. What do you think is the way forward and how do you think we can address this? Are there more women than men in that age group? Melanie thinks that it can be very helpful to be more honest. We have to be the ones to expect something different from ourselves. Once we start doing this, the conversation will start to change and the way the conversations are told back to society, through media, marketing, etc, that’s when things will start to change. There are so many women leading fulfilled lives creating things for themselves when they come to a point where: They either didn’t choose to have children by choice. It just did not happened due to circumstance. “Babies are born from the womb, maternity is born form the soul, and there are many ways to mother.” Melanie states that this was not the life she expected but it is in many ways a life beyond her expectations. She is doing things she never expected to do. People have asked her if she had any regrets. Her response is no but beyond that, the way she looks at life is, “Regret is behind me and my love and my life is ahead of me and if I’m back there in regret, I’ll never meet him and I’ll never life the life I was meant to live.” The only advice she gives to “otherhood” is to the reader to turn the page and start her next chapter. She wants everybody to move forward. What happens to many of us is that we get stuck. Many of us live on this “borderline regret.” “Do I choose A or B?”  Melanie wants every listener to make a choice and once you’ve done that, you’ll be free and you’ll be living the authentic life you’re meant to live. Be honest with yourself/ Have honest conversations with others. Don’t live in that regret and try not to be stuck in that grief. As children, we’d imagine and dream what our future would be like. We do that today as adults and we don’t let go of what our imagination had decided our life to be. Whoever is feeling stuck and that their life isn’t the way they want, write down 10 things that you appreciate abut yourself and the accomplishments you’ve made. Then you’ll realize all of the things you actually have rather than what’s missing.  Who would you say are your most inspirational role models of women? Diane Von Furstenberg – her mother is a Holocaust survivor. Elizabeth Gilbert – childfree by choice No matter how you feel, there are women like Diane who are born out of the ashes. Sometimes it takes those low moments to realize that change is about to happen. What would you like to leave the world as your legacy? “Move forward and keep going.” You can find out more about Melanie’s work here.

February 10, 2015 Savvy Aunties Melanie Notkin & Iconoclast Noreena Hertz

Melanie Notkin is America’s premier Savvy Auntie, empowering the nearly 50% of American women who are not moms to celebrate all they do for the children in their lives, while living their own lives to the fullest. She launched SavvyAuntie.com, the first online community for aunts and godmothers, in the summer of 2008 to wide-acclaim. The website includes expert content designed specifically for aunts, activities, community and trendy gift ideas.Melanie will share the secrets of how to get the best from our relationships with children. Whether you are an aunt, great aunt, or godmother.  Photo Credits: Ana Schecter

Will teens be penalized for their crazy postings as they apply for college and jobs? Admission officers and recruiters are checking online information in this technological age. What do your postings say about you? Cynthia Brian and Heather Brittany look into the dynamics of online hiring and firing. This ultimate guide for cool women who love kids, Savvy Auntie by Melanie Notkin is the perfect gift for any aunt. Filled with expert tips and advice on everything from “What to expect when she's expecting,” how to throw a savvy-chic baby shower as well as money and gift giving suggestions, Savvy Auntie celebrates the nearly 50% of American women who may not have children of their own, but unconditionally love and support moms. Flowers talk. Floriography is the language of flowers. One can send secret coded messages expressing feelings that my not be communicated in person or by words. Resident Garden Goddess, Cynthia Brian, explains the significance of flower speak!

Melanie Notkin is America’s premier Savvy Auntie, empowering the nearly 50% of American women who are not moms to celebrate all they do for the children in their lives, while living their own lives to the fullest. She launched SavvyAuntie.com, the first online community for aunts and godmothers, in the summer of 2008 to wide-acclaim. The website includes expert content designed specifically for aunts, activities, community and trendy gift ideas.Melanie identified this influential segment of women, which she has dubbed PANKs (Professional Aunts No Kids), when she herself became an aunt. In February 2009, she guest posted for Lisa Belkin’s parenting blog in The New York Times to explain the value of aunts and godmothers in family life. The term has also appeared in More Magazine, TrendCentral.com, Washington Post, The Record, The Star Ledger, Dallas Morning News among others. On July 26, 2009, she launched Savvy Auntie’s Day, the first national holiday to honor aunts and aunt-hood.As child lifestyle expert and tastemaker, Auntie Melanie has been featured numerous times on NBC, CBS, ABC, CW, FOX News and Better TV showcasing the coolest kid trends of the season. She was also contributing editor at Toy Wishes Magazine and serves on the Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Nomination Committee. read more

Melanie Notkin is America’s premier Savvy Auntie, empowering the nearly 50% of American women who are not moms to celebrate all they do for the children in their lives, while living their own lives to the fullest. She launched SavvyAuntie.com, the first online community for aunts and godmothers, in the summer of 2008 to wide-acclaim. The website includes expert content designed specifically for aunts, activities, community and trendy gift ideas.Melanie identified this influential segment of women, which she has dubbed PANKs (Professional Aunts No Kids), when she herself became an aunt. In February 2009, she guest posted for Lisa Belkin’s parenting blog in The New York Times to explain the value of aunts and godmothers in family life. The term has also appeared in More Magazine, TrendCentral.com, Washington Post, The Record, The Star Ledger, Dallas Morning News among others. On July 26, 2009, she launched Savvy Auntie’s Day, the first national holiday to honor aunts and aunt-hood.As child lifestyle expert and tastemaker, Auntie Melanie has been featured numerous times on NBC, CBS, ABC, CW, FOX News and Better TV showcasing the coolest kid trends of the season. She was also contributing editor at Toy Wishes Magazine and serves on the Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Nomination Committee. read more

Business Innovation: Starting your own business is workable even if you lack marketing capital. Listen as Melanie Notkin tells you what she's learned about social-networking sites and how they can help you get your message out there.