Podcasts about unclassified woman

Welcome to today's episode of Unclassified Woman. As we conclude Season 3, it seems fitting to share this conversation with Jody Day, who was the first ever interviewee on Unclassified Woman a few years ago. How do you combat society’s ideology about those who are on the “outside”? It’s not an easy task, but one that a few brave people are called upon to challenge. Today’s show is all about how we approach taboo topics, the dominance of pro-natalistic thinking and current trends in the way families are formed. Don’t miss this eye-opening conversation!   "I found myself in midlife as part of the 'out' group because of something that was not of my choosing." Today, we’re catching up with Jody and finding out what’s been happening in her work in the past few years. Jody is the founder of Gateway Women, the global friendship and support network for childless women and the author of Living the Life Unexpected: 12 Weeks to Your Plan B for a Meaningful and Fulfilling Future Without Children.  Jody’s a thought leader on the topic of women's involuntary childlessness and a founding member and former board member of AWOC, Ageing Without Children. She’s a former Cambridge Business Fellow in Social Innovation, a TEDx speaker, and a psychotherapist-in-training. She’s a very busy lady who takes great pleasure in helping childless women get their groove back and find their tribe via the Gateway Women workshops’ online communities and social meet-ups that happen all around the globe.  What you’ll hear in this episode: The update on the last four years: Jody’s blog, the feedback from her work, and finding her tribe. In the UK, 1 in 5 women reach midlife without having children. The difference in the UK and the US as far as making an impact. How Jody developed and branded her blog so that women can identify with it and not feel alone in their experience. How the topic of childlessness is a combination of taboo, painful subjects like grief and infertility. How millennials view childlessness, both chosen and involuntary. The changing narrative around discussions about our bodies, sexuality, and childbearing. One area that still needs a dramatic shift in openness---menopause. Another taboo topic is abortion and its accompanying shame, guilt, and grief. Something we need to discuss more openly... Why Jody says she talks about her personal abortion experience at every opportunity--simply because it’s a taboo topic. Jody’s studies that are ongoing so she can graduate next Spring. In 2016, the 2nd edition of her book came out, with many interviews with childless women and men. The next stages of the social change that will take place and how legacy will play into the grieving process. Legacy can be a lifetime of moments of connection and empathy What “Plan B” looks like and why it doesn’t always mean something different than what you already have. Jody’s fantasy and what it meant about her value of motherhood and the validation of her mother’s heart. The compassion Jody feels for all disenfranchised groups of people. How her eyes have been opened to those who have been judged for something they couldn’t control. Jody’s Fertility Fight Club talk at Fertility Fest (find it at www.fertilityfest.com). The pro-natal ideology: the belief that you are a more important person because you’ve had children. The message is that if you are a parent, your life has more value. The prediction for Australia that by 2030 there will be more non-traditional family units without children than with children. 25% of the adult population will age without having children, but often this sector of the population are ignored. The huge need for reorganisation in our social systems. The future of Gateway Women as they tackle two main issues: pro-natalism in the workplace and getting stories of childlessness into the mainstream with humour. The difficulty in challenging and changing belief systems: how do we get the rest of the world to understand us and shift their thinking? Resources: www.gateway-women.com Find Jody on Instagram and Twitter: @GatewayWomen 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. For information about more episodes go to: michellemariemcgrath.com I would love to hear what you found most helpful about this interview. Thank you.

Welcome to today's episode of Unclassified Woman. Today I'm speaking to Shanghai based Keturah Kendrick, who shares her perspective on being childfree by choice. Whose voice do you listen to most? When it comes to marriage and having children, it seems that everyone has an opinion regarding how YOU should live your life. Today’s show is all about listening to YOUR voice and making the choices that make YOU happy. Keturah Kendrick is an American writer, blogger and podcaster who has lived on three different continents and travelled to more than a dozen countries. For years she has written about her life as a single woman who sees being unmarried as a lifestyle choice like any other, as opposed to an “illness from which I must be cured.” She also writes about her lifelong disinterest in motherhood, critiquing the cultural expectation that black women, in particular, are destined to birth and raise children. An English teacher by trade, she has discussed her favourite books with her students in New York, Rwanda, and Shanghai. Her debut collection of essays, No Thanks: Black, Female, and Living in the Martyr-Free Zone, will be published in June 2019. Keturah enjoys food and travel, specifically, eating her way through her favourite countries---and who can blame her? What you’ll hear in this episode: Keturah calls New York and New Orleans home. She needed a break and wanted to travel, so spent 2 years in Rwanda teaching English and then found a position in Shanghai. Her not having a child is “absolutely by personal choice”---she always knew that motherhood would never be “her thing”. How she has felt the pressure just beneath the surface and has been told she is being silly, selfish, and must be a broken woman to not want children The mockery she felt when she voiced her desire to never have kids. How she was raised that the only thing that validated a woman's life was to be someone’s wife and mother. The subtle influences that she was “being unfair to her phantom husband” by not wanting children. Where is the logic in anyone trying to convince another person to have a baby? Why Keturah has become more vocal in her writing and her podcast. Why parenting should be a lifestyle choice that some people make and shouldn’t be tied to your gender. Many women around the world don’t have a choice and don’t have access to contraception. Why there should be tolerance for everyone’s right to individual choice about their roles. How Keturah uses her creative energy in her blog, writing, and being with other people. How she’s always been true to herself about what she wanted--”When I look back, I see that everyone was wrong but me.” The ways we encourage and blatantly tell young women that every other voice but their own is important. Why Keturah is glad she trusted in her own instincts and didn’t let anyone convince her to go against what she knew was right for her. How Keturah approached the topic of children with a longtime partner, who believed he may want children. The conditioning by society to fit the dominant narrative and how this plays out in relationships. Keturah’s advice: “Ignore everybody’s voice but your own, including your mother and your man. I want absolute joy and fulfilment for everyone. If motherhood is that for you, then do it, but if not, then listen to your voice until you make a decision.” Parting words from Keturah: Don’t get off the fence if you are undecided! Don’t be afraid to tell people to mind their own business! Listen to no one’s voice but your own! Find out more about Keturah and her work at www.keturahkendrick.com Find her on Twitter: @HappySingleGal Find Keturah’s blog: www.yetanothersinglegal.com Find Keturah’s podcast: www.unchainedandunbothered.com  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. For information about more episodes go to: michellemariemcgrath.com I would love to hear what you found most helpful about this interview. Thank you.  

Welcome to another great episode of Unclassified Woman! Today, I'm speaking to the lovely Kate Powe. Many people make assumptions about others without even realising it. We see a woman in her 40’s without children and assume she is selfish or too career-oriented to take time to raise children. Often there are circumstances playing out behind the scenes that we just aren’t aware of. Today’s show focuses on the problems that endometriosis can cause in terms of fertility and family-building and the need for women to have the knowledge about their bodies to make empowered choices. Imagine if we learnt about these subjects in school.... Kate Powe is an amazing naturopath based on the Northern Beaches area of Sydney, Australia. Kate has a passion for helping women balance their hormones and create happy, powerful lives. By integrating evidence-based medicine with mind-body principles and addressing underlying causes of cycle and hormonal disruption, Kate aims to support women mentally, emotionally, and physically to feel balanced and in control of their bodies, moods, and energy. Kate holds a BA in English from the University of Sydney, an Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy from Nature Care College, and a Diploma of Advanced Metaphysics from Chiara College. Kate’s a member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS) and regularly furthers her education in naturopathic medicine, particularly in women’s endocrinology, including thyroid disease, endometriosis, and PCOS. She has contributed to many podcasts on endometriosis and written articles on the topic for numerous magazines. She has an obsession with all things Italian and sneaks to Italy and the UK as often as possible. Who can blame her!  What you’ll hear in this episode: How both circumstances and choice played into Kate’s not having children. As one of six kids, she always assumed she’d meet a partner and have children---but it just didn’t happen How she suffered from endometriosis and adenomyosis during her reproductive years, which complicated matters and impacted her fertility. The factors involved when your life doesn’t follow the assumed “pattern” and the judgments that people make about you about being selfish and career-driven. Endometriosis is a real issue and taboo topic as a condition that impacts fertility and causes painful periods. Lesions, scar tissue, and inflammation impact the reproductive organs. Adenomyosis affects the muscle wall of the uterus and contributes to painful flooding periods. These conditions can take 7-13 years to correctly diagnose because everyone assumes having painful periods is completely normal. It isn't....and women should not suffer in silence. Both endometriosis and adenomyosis are not isolated conditions, but part of a larger inflammatory process in the body that can have a genetic component. Women in the past dealt with these conditions in silence, not knowing how to treat them. They weren’t aware of what was happening in their bodies and their doctors weren’t concerned. The cost of treating endometriosis can be higher than treating diabetes! Two keys to know about endometriosis: The only way to accurately diagnose it is with surgery--not a scan; It’s a moveable disease with sometimes silent and inconsistent symptoms. Endometriosis presents a wide variety of symptoms, including heavy and long, painful periods, pain in legs, discomfort after sex, and a connection with yeast infections. Now we know that endometriosis is a systemic inflammatory condition around an immune disregulation in the peritoneal fluid and much more than simply a reproductive issue. Naturopaths look at diet and lifestyle approaches to remove inflammation, detox the liver, and keep regular bowel function A key in endometriosis treatment is to guard against toxins in personal care products. How education can revolutionise women’s health, especially now that the driving force behind the push for more information is coming from women The old treatments for endo included “go on the pill” or “get pregnant”. Not very helpful is your endometriosis is causing infertility! The way Kate deals with grief now in her 40’s differently than in her 20’s and 30’s when there were lots of questions, suffering, symptoms, and surgeries. Dealing with the implication from others that “something must be wrong with you if you don’t have children”. How Kate has dealt with awkward social scenarios and the crazy assumptions people make about your personal life. How women can assume many different roles in life around caring and nurturing that don’t involve having a biological child. The added challenges for Kate in not having a partner and not feeling supported in that way. Statistics show that by 2030 in Australia, there will be more family units without kids, a changing family dynamic, and more global consciousness around “community”. Why “the pill” is not a good choice because it shuts down the female cycle, but women aren’t taught to question its use. Most of Kate’s clients are having post-pill problems and hormonal imbalances. How Kate shows creativity in her passion with women’s health, her energy medicine, and cycle essences to help women connect with their cycles. Find out more about Kate and her work at www.katepowe.com 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. For information about more episodes go to: michellemariemcgrath.com I would love to hear what you found most helpful about this interview. Thank you.  

Welcome to another episode of Unclassified Woman. Today I'm delighted to share my conversation with Adebisi Adewusi, based in Nigeria.  How much courage does it take to REALLY go against what society deems the norm? As far as women’s rights and feminism have come, we sometimes forget that there are places in the world where women don’t have independence and are truly stigmatised for making 'unusual' choices. Today’s show is about someone who walks her own path and shares her own truth with immense courage.  What was even more humbling is how modest she is about her choices. I truly hope you enjoy today's conversation with the inspiring Adebisi. "African tradition teaches that if someone doesn’t have a lineage to pass on then their life has no meaning or purpose." Adebisi Adewusi of Nigeria is a rockstar photographer, writer, and content consultant from startups in Israel to multi-million dollar companies in America. She’s helped various companies across the world improve their content strategy and marketing. Besides helping businesses succeed, Adebisi uses her skills to bust myths about women and bring issues that African women face to the forefront. Through her writing, Adebisi explores issues connected to feminism, gender, and other topics with strong social and political context. She’s written about child marriage in Uganda, ending sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, gender stereotypes at work, and other spaces. She’s been featured on numerous international platforms, including the Huffington Post, She Thinks, BBC’s Why Factor, African Feminism, and many others. Adebisi also runs a gender advocacy blog, The Female Orator, where she educates non-profits on how to get funding and interviews subject experts in the non-profit sector. She’s a feminist raised by women who climbed trees and spoke their minds when it wasn’t fashionable to do so. Adebisi’s feminism is shaped by the past and sustained by the present. What you’ll hear in this episode:  How Adebisi made the choice to be a writer and do her work--without being a mother. Adebisi’s path is VERY unusual for a Nigerian woman and some of her family think it’s odd to not have children. Breaking through traditional boundaries and creating her own path--and being at peace with it. How she handled the topic of children with her boyfriend, who was fine with the decision (even though men are expected to pass on their lineage). How African society’s attitudes dictate that marriage and having children is normal and not having them is not. How people believe that a childless women may be a witch. The connection between religion and African tradition in having children. If you speak openly about not wanting a child, people just assume you must be crazy. It is just not acceptable. Not having children is taboo and like placing a curse on yourself. The pressure for women of colour compared to a white woman--”It’s a grievous offence.” Being a role model for other young African women. Women in African culture are bound to the husband to do what he wants, so it takes an open-minded man to be OK with not having children. Adebisi is from an open-minded, educated family who understand her choices. Women who can’t have children will even buy them on the black market to avoid the stigma of being childless. Even though this is officially illegal, the buying and selling of babies happens more frequently than many realise. Adebisi is a strong voice who writes what she wants to, even about taboo topics, and she doesn’t care what other people think. How Adebisi is fulfilled by her writing, mentoring young women, and telling stories through photography. Adebisi’s words of encouragement: “It’s OK not to have children and to make choices about your own body. It doesn’t make you less of a woman. You can nurture other people and there are other women who will support you on your journey. It's also important financially support yourself, so you are not dependent on a man and can make your own decisions." Find about more about Adebisi and her work:  www.thefemaleorator.com Find her on Twitter: @biswag Email Adebisi: adebisiadewusi@yahoo.com 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. For information about more episodes go to: michellemariemcgrath.com I would love to hear what you found most helpful about this interview. Thank you.

Welcome to another fascinating episode of Unclassified Woman. It's a biggie so grab a cuppa and a journal ;-) Today I'm speaking with a treasured mentor of mine, Seren Bertrand. It's always such a pleasure to speak to her as she weaves together so many colourful threads of wisdom in what she shares. What do mermaids, swans, Isis, harps, and Cornwall have in common? You might be surprised---and you’ll never know if you don’t listen to this amazing conversation in today’s show. We’re talking about feminine consciousness, Celtic traditions, the interconnectedness between the human body and the earth, how we tell our stories from generation to generation---and much, much more. Get ready for some major “Aha” moments! Seren Bertrand is a womb mystic and midwife of feminine consciousness who has been a visionary leader in women’s empowerment for over two decades. She is the co-founder of The Fountain of Life Feminine Mystery School and the co-author of Womb Awakening: Initiatory Wisdom from the Creatrix of All Life, which has been described as a revelation and a masterpiece. It’s an amazing book and I highly recommend that you get yourself a copy!  "Often we are called to a lineage or a place and we don’t know why. We just have to surrender, listen and travel with it." - Seren Bertrand Seren graduated with a degree in English Literature and Modern Philosophy before embarking on the twin paths of a career in writing as well as journeying deeply into the spiritual feminine traditions. Her writing on female Tibetan refugees was nominated for an Amnesty International Award for human rights reporting. She is passionate about the practical embodied awakening of women and men in a mystical yet no-nonsense way which calls us into our true feelings, brings us back into the body, and roots us into the wisdom of the earth.  What you’ll hear in this episode: How the book-writing process felt like a pregnancy with a gestation of more than five years---and then a birth. Receiving the Silver Nautilus Award for the book, which covers many topics that were considered forbidden and heretical for thousands of years: menstruation, lunar consciousness, and birthing wisdom. For Seren, the book’s release has brought deep feeling states of the feminine consciousness. Allowing yourself to become the container for the primordial birthing energy in every part of nature. The next book that she and her partner, Azra are already working on and how it feels like a continuation of that birthing process. The academic reading and research that goes into the writing journey. Listening with your entire body and not just your mind and ears and how oral traditions factored into ancient Celtic Shamanism. Plans to create an audiobook version with harp accompaniment. How a book is connected to your voice and vibration, which is connected to your womb, transmitting waves of energy and sound. Discovering the path of the swan priestess in Celtic mythology The cellular memory in Seren’s DNA of the Druids and Celtic traditions. The tradition of the prehistoric, feminine, Shamanistic, earth-centric womb religion of the faery folk and their history. Stories as a connection and an intimate weaving of “patchwork consciousness”. Seren’s interest from a young age in having a great love for the land and a feeling that different places have different personalities and characteristics. The significance of Cornwall as a sacred site. How to explain ley lines, womb awakening, and the gift of the human body. Understanding that the human body is more than a “mechanical lump of flesh” and why it’s a sacred landscape. The benefit of spiritual lineage in how they transmit through an unbroken thread in epigenetic memory. The calling in Seren’s life of the harp and how she learned to play and find her teacher. Why womb consciousness is the key to all creation. The story of Cygnus and its significance, Seren’s “Star Swan” name, and the swan connections to ancient Celtic traditions. One of the foundations of womb witchcraft: developing a lineage with the earth. Why the swan is the symbol of feminine Shamanic traditions in cultures across the world. The portals of life and death and the common threads between the mermaid and the swan. The mermaid and the swan priestess: not just symbols, but the legacy of real-life women who are our ancestors who are transmitting to us. The significance of the 11th day of the 11th month in Pagan worship and the swan feast, which is based on the migratory patterns of the swan. The interconnectivity of each of us to the earth and the celestial realm. The importance of taking guidance from our ancient ancestors: “You have to connect backward before you can move forward.” How stories can find a voice to reveal themselves in succeeding generations, even in trauma: “If we don’t tell the story, then we pass it forward to the generations after us.” The courage that comes in the gift of going through the shadows Resources: www.thefountainoflife.org  - For more information about Seren and her work. Find Seren’s book at www.innertraditions.com or www.amazon.com  : Womb Awakening: Initiatory Wisdom from the Creatrix of All Life 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. For information about more episodes go to: michellemariemcgrath.com I would love to hear in the comments below what you found most helpful about this interview? Thank you.

Welcome to Unclassified Woman and today's episode features the very inspiring Azraella Raphael, a native of New Zealand, who is based in Sydney, Australia. Azraella is an angelic healer and activator of angelic consciousness. She began her journey many years ago when seeking fulfilment in life in understanding why she’s here, what purpose she offers, and with asking herself, “How can I serve others?”  Azraella’s journey began when she activated her own angelic consciousness and connected to her higher-knowing self to bring through a different set of life skills, using healing and reading sessions to support herself and humanity with growth and evolution. Azraella offers these sessions worldwide online, by phone, or in person, supporting those who have lost their way to align themselves to their highest path of potential purpose. Azraella also offers a range of healing and activation work in groups and is a mentor of the Divine University, offering happy life sessions, and provides charitable service to one of her deep loves that supports humanity: the Sirius Library project.  What you’ll hear in this episode: It was personal choice that led to Azraella’s childfree life, even though she always thought she would eventually have children. “Through walking my path of my divine consciousness, I came to this conclusion." Azraella’s divine path with two choices, the “crossroads”: she had the choice to become a divine healer OR become a family-maker. She has no regrets about the choices she’s made. Why she chose the path of bigger service to the planet, rather than service to her own children, and she gets to use her work to help women align to their higher purpose. The science of life is to love yourself and your purpose first and THEN love another, instead of thinking that finding a life partner is THE answer and will guarantee lasting fulfilment. A void and emptiness can eventually occur over time, when you keep yourself so busy with career and family, at the expense of focusing on any personal fulfilment. Why looking inward for answers goes against the cultural pressure we feel from society to follow the “normal” script for life and its purpose. Why it’s not impressed upon young people to look inward for their purpose, but to be constantly be distracted by the external. When Azraella experienced the deepest amount of hurt and pain in a relationship, but never became “desperate” to have a child. Having “the best of both worlds” occurs for Azraella as she enjoys a special relationship with her two nephews. “Not having children doesn’t mean that you don’t have children in your life.” The sudden loss of her sister last year catapulted her into a special mothering role for her nephews, being the bridge between them and the spirit world and their mother. Her role as aunt has changed, even though it’s a temporary change, but it’s one she couldn’t throw her full self into if she was mothering her own children at this time. Motherhood may be calling to you in a way much different than actually giving birth to your own children. We can 'mother' in many different ways, that we hadn't foreseen. Why there are many paths to fulfilment, and sometimes we don’t know what lies ahead or how circumstances may be working out for our good, even though it may not seem that way at the time. Azraella expresses herself creatively constantly, creating her healing programs and workshops. “I’m in constant creation mode.” To connect with Azraella and find out more about her work go to www.azraellaraphael.com f 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. For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com I also would love to hear in the comments below what you found most helpful about this interview? Thank you.  

Welcome to Unclassified Woman and today's episode is with another wonderful lady, Therese Shechter, whom I could have spoken to all day! How many people have children because it seems “the thing to do”? Most of us grow up with the pressure to follow what society deems “normal.” My guest today, Therese Shechter, was 40 years old when she realised she really could make her own decisions and follow her own path, and for her, it was feminism that helped her figure out what she wanted in life. Therese Shechter is a filmmaker, writer, and multimedia storyteller from Brooklyn, New York. Her work fuses humour and personal storytelling to disrupt what’s considered most sacred about womanhood. She’s currently writing and directing My So-Called Selfish Life, an in-progress documentary about women who choose not to have children in a culture where motherhood feels mandatory. Her previous documentaries include How to Lose Your Virginity, about the myth and misogyny around our most precious gift. She also curates the interactive crowd-sourced story collection, The VCard Diaries, which was recently exhibited at the Kinsey Institute. Her films, including the award-winning documentaries, I Was a Teenage Feminist and How I Learned to Speak Turkish, have screened in festivals, college classrooms, and on television from Rio to Seoul to Istanbul. Therese’s work has been covered in the Atlantic, Salon, Elle, Jezebel, The Guardian, and the Jakarta Globe, amongst others. In her spare time, she co-hosts Downton Gabby, a podcast that discusses media by and about women. What you’ll hear in this episode: Why it was a personal choice for Therese to not have children, to the point of her being vocal about it in high school. How Therese explored beliefs and desires that were very different than her sister’s about marriage, career, and family. How every woman feels the pressure to follow what the outside world thinks should be a woman’s identity. The liberating clarity and realisations at age 40 that she could create her own path. How Therese felt no pressure from friends and family as such, but felt pressure more from society and media about how she 'should' live her life. How feminism helped her figure out what she wanted in life. How a 70’s TV show defied all conventional wisdom and blew her mind with possibilities. The push to make My So-Called Selfish Life. The backlash and conversations that occur when people feel free to open up about their stories around motherhood. Why we should question society’s norms about womanhood. How womanhood and motherhood are NOT equivalent. How our economy, history, and the media perpetuate beliefs about what is “normal and accepted”. Some sensitive topics covered in the film are sterilisation, regret about motherhood, and fertility treatments. The messages sent to young women by cultural and religious groups and how limiting and damaging these can be. Why there is more than one path in life, but society presents only one that’s deemed “normal”. How talking about our beliefs provides a sense of community--”Telling the truth about our lives keeps us from feeling lonely.” said Sheila Heti. The film’s projected release date: August 1, 2019--and why that date is significant. How Therese shows her creative expression (and gains MUCH satisfaction) through singing show tunes, baking, paper engineering, graphic design, writing, and her podcast. Why not everything in life should be attributed to a “thwarted maternal drive”. Why it’s OK to be ambivalent about motherhood and to have a conversation with yourself about what you truly need and want Even skin colour affects the pressure we feel, because not everyone has the same privileges and some women don’t have the same level of control over their lives. The myth of “the urge of the biological clock”--”The desire for children is NOT innate within every woman.” The bottom line: We won’t all agree, but we need open and meaningful conversations about these topics.  Resources: www.myselfishlife.com www.trixiefilms.com A book we discussed, Motherhood by Sheila Heti Free to Be You and Me TV special: www.freetobefoundation.com 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. For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com I also would love to hear in the comments below what you found most helpful about this interview? Thank you.

Welcome! I'm delighted to share another great episode of Unclassified Woman. Today I'm speaking to the inspiring Dr Kimya N Dennis in Salem, North Carolina, USA. How much actual freedom are you willing to give people in their beliefs? Most people fall into the trap of trying to impose their beliefs on others in some way. Liberals, for example, will speak of freedom in many areas of life, but they still hold onto pro-natal opinions about people having children. My guest today explores with intellect, experience and research the topic of being childfree by choice. Dr. Kimya N Dennis is a consultant, speaker, community advocate, educator, and researcher who works with organisations and community members in the areas concerning mental health, suicidal self-harm, reproductive freedom, and being childfree by choice. Between 2013-2016, she conducted the first known study solely related to immediate African diaspora people who identify permanently as childfree by choice. There were 62 respondents, with 59 women and 3 men across the US, Canada, England, Kenya, Sweden and Switzerland. Dr. Dennis created and teaches the first known college course of its kind: The Childfree, about reproductive freedom and being childfree by choice. Her research and course are featured on sites such as werenothavingababy.com, lauracarroll.com, and thenotmom.com. Dr. Dennis is an associate professor and the creator and coordinator of the Criminal Studies program in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Studies at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. "There are people who believe that women exist only to reproduce, so those who are infertile are seen as failures. Those who are childfree by choice are seen as failing on purpose." - Dr. Kimya N Dennis What you’ll hear in this episode: Kimya’s decision to be permanently childfree, because she never wanted to have a child. Why her work addresses cultural variance because being childfree by choice impacts different cultures and communities in different ways. Why it is much less common to find black and Hispanic women who are not having children than it is for white women. African women are told that if they aren’t reproducing, that they are helping to “ethnically cleanse” their people. Why your beliefs are manifested in behaviour when you vote and in the policies you vote for. How most liberals are pro-natalists in their views. The definition of “childfree by choice”--those who have decided to not have biological or adopted children. “Bingos” and what that means. The best “bingos”---”Why do you exist?” and “Just have a child anyway, and others will help you take care of it.” Why pro-natalism is based on a trap and is used to prove male dominance. How to look at being childfree without “pros and cons”. How Kimya’s family is accepting and respectful of her decision, even though she is the only daughter in a family of boys. Kimya’s work and the way it is reaching across the nations Why child-free men are under-represented. Some ethnic groups see “childfree” as having a viewpoint that challenges your culture. Being childfree shouldn’t feel “lesser than” or like losers, or that their voice doesn’t matter. The hurtful comments that are directed at childfree people. Why most people have a narrow view and perspective of what love and family look like. We say we want freedom and equality, but that must include reproductive freedom for all women. How Kimya shows her creative expression and purpose: “I love being able to do what I want and have my own peace every day, doing my community work, working with my students, and living with my life partner.” How we can release the taboos connected with not having children and having reproductive choices To find out more about Kimya and her work: www.kimyandennis.com  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. For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com I also would love to hear in the comments below what you found most helpful about this interview? Thank you.

Welcome to another great episode of Unclassified Woman!  Can one person really make a difference? So many times, we resign ourselves to the fact that “it is what it is.” We want society’s perceptions or opinions to change, but what can we do to affect the change? In today’s show, you’ll meet a woman who decided to use her talents to create a film to help build awareness---and hopefully, change the narrative around living as a woman without children.  "Having a child is one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can have, but it is not the ONLY experience a woman can have." - Jennifer Miller Jennifer Miller is a writer and filmmaker who lives in California. I watched her film, A Womb With a View, which is available on Youtube, and I knew I had to talk to her. Jennifer grew up in New Jersey and worked in various positions throughout her corporate career, which took her from New Jersey to Wisconsin to New York. She moved to California in 2002, where she later married her husband, Peter. In 2012, Jennifer completed her first feature-length documentary film, which was screened at several film festivals, including the 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The film explores the lives of many women who either chose or evolved to not have children, and how that impacted their lives. Her second film was Hair Therapy, which she wrote and directed about the relationships between hair stylists and their clients. The film highlights how that relationship transcends other relationships for many people. Today, Jennifer is doing a lot of writing and is currently working on her novel.  "I had to look deep within myself because I felt very worthless. So much of my self-worth was tied to my ability to create another life." What you’ll hear in this episode: As one of five children, Jennifer absolutely expected to have children, but in her 30’s, she wondered if would ever happen. She battled uterine fibroids, which required a hysterectomy, so after this operation, she knew she would never be a mother. How she wasn’t prepared for the unexpected grief that took over her life and left her feeling worthless. How a comment from a complete stranger prompted her to say, “I need to change this dialogue.” Why she decided to make a film, interviewing 28 women who didn’t have children for various reasons. She calls it a “gentle conversation” and “a cathartic experience.” How she endured the horrible periods and much pain for years before letting go of her uterus----which meant also letting go of the pain. How she took control of the emotional grief and didn’t let it control her. How different cultures around the world view childless women with disdain, pity, ridicule, and judgment. How Jennifer wanted to redefine the conversation because there is SO much more to women than whether or not they have a child. Judgment vs. Wonderment The sweeping generalisation and common perception that if you don’t HAVE children, that you don’t LIKE children. The feedback from the film: that the women in the film were selfish because they chose another path for their lives. Why people make the decision to have an abortion or to have or not have a child, like finances, the responsibility, relationships, and more. The common thread with the interviews for the film: Several of the women had been told that they “would never know true love without having a child.” Supporting children in other ways, and how Jennifer likes to give an alternate perspective other than a parent would give. Creating other things besides children and giving beautiful gifts to people, showing that a woman’s worth is SO much more than having children. Why we have to debunk the myth around motherhood and womanhood. The courage it takes to say no to motherhood---we may never know the reasons behind the decision or the circumstances. You can never really know someone’s story unless they share it, but we are all too quick to make assumptions about other people. Why Jennifer “owns” herself a lot more at her age and holds her head up high and doesn’t need anyone’s approval. What she offers is different and unique compared to what society expects. The gift that these women can take away from a conversation--compassion in the approach to a stranger. Why the dialogue needs to change and how the numbers of women without children are increasing. Some women around the world don’t have birth control available to them. Besides the Hair Therapy film, Jennifer’s creative projects include writing a TV series and writing a novel. You can watch Jennifer's film 'A Womb with a view' on Youtube at her channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZmEeAXqCoI 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. For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com I also would love to hear in the comments below what you found most helpful about this interview? Thank you.  

Welcome to today's episode of Unclassified Woman. Today I'm speaking to one of my all time favourite bloggers and all round lovely lady, Susannah Conway in London, England. Just so you know there is much giggling and we discuss all sorts from tampons and technology -  to dating apps! Grab yourself a drink as this is a long one. ;-) How does it feel to approach mid-life realising that motherhood will never be yours? Would you have regrets? My guest today shares how her life’s path has taken her to places she never imagined, proving there is so much that we cannot control. The key is to enjoy the experience where you can, find peace with it, and use your journey to inspire others.  Susannah Conway is a photographer, writer, and teacher who has been sharing her heart online for over a decade. She helps people know, trust, and express themselves by sharing what has healed her own heart. Her work is steeped in self-compassion, kindness, and practicality, and her courses have been enjoyed by thousands of people from over 50 countries around the world. Her first book, This I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart, hit bookshelves in 2012. Her most recent book,  Londontown: A Photographic Tour of the City’s Delights, was published in 2016. I can personally highly recommend her courses, as I’ve taken a few of them. The first one was Blogging from the Heart that I enjoyed several years ago. She shared behind-the-scenes insights as to how she puts together her blog, ideas for blog topics and writing, and I was so inspired. You must also grab her amazing free PDF that she shares at the end of every year (something I’ve shared with many others) called Unraveling the Year Ahead, in which she teaches you to reflect on the past year and look to what’s ahead. It's an essential end of year ritual so definitely check it out at www.susannahconway.com What you’ll hear in this episode: It was a combination of circumstances which have led to Susannah being childless. At 45 now, she’s had 3 serious relationships, one of which lasted 10 years and a year of that was spent trying to conceive. A few years ago, Susannah had fibroids removed from her uterus and the surrounding area.  Even when women are unsure or ambivalent about having children, society conditions us to feel a certain way and to follow a prescribed timeline or 'the script'. The “joy” of being a woman, growing up with little to no sex education. We discuss the joys of tampons and sanitary towels ;-) Why it’s important to Susannah to understand and honour her cycle. How being a “mother” can take many forms other than giving birth to a baby. When you feel like “time is running out” and you wonder if a child is even a possibility. Becoming an auntie to her nephew--how it changed everything The disaster of pursuing a relationship solely for the purpose of having a baby, and how a partner usually feels in that position when they can feel that desperation. Being a mother for Susannah would have to be her biological child with shared DNA--there was no other option that felt right. “If it had been my soul path to be a mother, then it would have happened by now.” Why having her two nephews and sharing their lives is a reason she’s OK with not being a mother: “There are two little beings that have me forever.” Why you shouldn’t ask questions or make assumptions about the marriage or motherhood status of others--don’t show judgment and a lack of sensitivity. Why we are hyperconnected to technology, even to the point of ignoring the people around us, but we are constantly disconnected from each other. The difficulties of using dating apps when you’re in your 30’s and 40’s and how the subject of having children is approached when trying to meet someone. Always an interesting topic! Why Susannah doesn’t really want to have a relationship with someone who already has kids, but what she really demands is upfront honesty and transparency about the topic. How Susannah fills her life with passions and hobbies and does her journaling and photography all the time as she is “'livin’ the dream!” The “acorn” of dreaming of furnishing her hew home the way she wants, in a way that brings her peace, and how this can help to alleviate stress and anxiety of life. When she hits 50--and later, 60--she will reflect upon the fact that she hasn’t had children or grandchildren. “I know there will be a little piece of me that acknowledges what I didn’t have.” When your parents have to deal with the fact that they will not have grandchildren. The topic brings up a lot of reflection on our lives and our choices. The crazy ingrained standard in society of the glorification of motherhood, reflected particularly in celebrity lives. The extremes of the representations of womanhood presented in tabloids and online media: either you flaunt your body or you’re a mother. The growing demographic: in the last 10 years, the number of women over 40 without children has doubled, and that will only increase in the future. Why some people are intent on always adding more children--”Why would you have more than you can carry?” Remembering the obsession of trying for a baby for a whole year, after having an abortion with the same partner 10 years prior at age 21---no regrets! Why the decision to have a baby should be a conscious one. The myriad of thoughts and feelings - and coming to a place of awareness and acceptance, understanding the sadness in life is constantly changing and evolving. Looking forward to devoting time and care to her next loving relationship, and creating this very special connection together. Apparently The Guardian Soulmates is where it's all at for online dating in the UK ;-)  Find out more about Susannah's wonderful work at: www.susannahconway.com   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. For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com I also would love to hear in the comments below what you found most helpful about this interview? Thank you.

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

Welcome to a special episode of Unclassified Woman today with the inspiring Clare Dubois. Clare is the founder of TreeSisters, which is a feminine nature-based organisation inspiring the world’s women to take shared leadership around tropical reforestation. TreeSisters reflects Clare’s exploration of the links between feminine consciousness and nature’s intelligence. She and her team experiment overtly to figure out how to call forth the unique capacities and creativity of women on behalf of trees. They aim to be funding ONE MILLION trees per month by the end of 2017! Clare is known for her direct catalytic energy, her whole systems approach to behavioural change and her unending loyalty and love for the natural world.  There is only one truth - and that is our indivisibility from nature - Clare Dubois For two decades, Clare created behavioural change processes within the personal growth and social change sectors and volunteered for three years as the UK coordinator for a massive agro-forestry initiative in southern India called Project Greenhands. Her aim in life is to reclaim balance, rediscover freedom and health, and to be walking permission for those who are fed up with being held back and just want to “have a go.” I believe that Clare is a great example of this and a role model for us all. She’s someone who has thrown herself into her life mission, and for me, she explains eloquently how female leadership and eco-revolution are a natural partnership.   "I had a complete mind-bending experience realising the depth of ecological destruction that we’re in. I knew it was bad, but I had an educational experience that floored me. I knew I had to do something." Clare Dubois   What you’ll hear in this episode: Clare’s background as a business coach and intuitive, working in education and living her passion for consciousness and helping people find liberation; How she went to India to find enlightenment and found Project Greenhands; Why we must realise that our planet is in peril; The combination of spirituality, social justice, and ecology; What it will take to wake up humanity; Clare’s car accident as a catalyst and the personal message she received about reforesting the tropics through the women of the world; The link between women and reforestation within the female receptive space; How today’s people are stealing from future generations; The process of discovering how to engage and encourage; How we live as humans and as women; Embodying the intellectual changes that must come as we deepen our understanding; Cooling the planet by reforesting: all because of CO2 absorption; The mycelial network that links all the trees in a forest; The Amazon rainforest: it’s the size of the moon, but 40% degraded; The rising and falling of water vapour: the heartbeat of the forest that has disrupted the rainfall; Things that happen because of trees: Trees absorb CO2 and trap the heat that causes global warming. If the trees aren’t there, the CO2 dissolves in the oceans and harms the food chain there. We need kelp and trees because they are most effective at sequestering carbon. Why we need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels; Why staying plugged into technology means you can’t listen to your intuition; Clare’s 9-day nature awakening trip and its benefits and correlation to womb awakening; The reality of the blessed life of Western women compared to most women around the world—all amidst the destabilisation of our planet; Clare’s damage from childhood abuse; Yearning to be pregnant, but not wanting a child; Why TreeSisters is everything parenting is about;  The profound privilege of women in giving back; Exciting upcoming focus for TreeSisters. Humanity is running out of time, but it’s not over yet. It’s going to take everyone rising to the challenge to get through what is coming. "The single greatest threat facing humanity is fear of failure, but you can call everything you do 'an experiment'. You can’t fail at an experiment; you can only learn." Resources: www.billiontrees.me www.treesisters.org I do hope you enjoyed this episode with this important message from Clare. Please join us and become a Treesister! To help spread this message please leave us a review or rating on Itunes and share with your friends. Let's be more conscious of the future we are creating. For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com    

My guest today on Unclassified Woman is the fabulous Mary Reynolds, who is based in Ireland, one of my favourite places in the world. (I am 3/4 Irish so slightly biased!).  Mary lives and breathes her work as a landscape and garden designer, teaching others how to connect with the land beneath our feet and have a nurturing relationship with it. Her gorgeous book that is about much more than mere gardening. It's a call to action for all of us. The Garden Awakening highlights her role as “a guardian rather than a gardener.” She believes in cultivating a relationship with the land and working in harmony with Mother Nature. She views being a gardener/land owner as someone who is like a parent guiding a child. In creating vibrant and magical spaces, she displays her creative spirit where gardens are a partnership between sensitive souls and the earth that nurtures us. I highly recommend Dare to be Wild, a film inspired by a period in her life, when she became the youngest woman to win the gold medal at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. (Download after listening to this podcast on Google Play Movies).  What you’ll hear in this episode: Why Mary is a “custodian of the land” and a “creature of the forest”; Feeling at home and strongly connected to nature; A strong childhood memory of a field, sunshine, and butterflies; Belonging to the family of plants and creatures; Different places, different vibrations, and unique personalities; Our connection with places and bodies, mirroring the earth; Working in harmony with the land; Our role as guardians and light holders of the woodlands; Abuse of the land reflecting the abuse of women; How we treat the earth with industrial farming and chemicals; The synchronistic system between us and the earth; How Mary communicates with the earth, the plants, and the creatures; Her advice? Find some land to work with in your community; The unfair distribution of land; “Dismantle the ego-self and create the eco-self.” Evolving in the future and what's next for Mary; How the film came about; Remembering what’s important and finding your way home; How working with the land heals your heart. Order Mary's book: here:https://www.michellemariemcgrath.com/garden-awakening-designs-nurture-land/  To follow Mary on her journey as she works her gardens and her land, you can visit her website: http://marymary.ie  I do hope you enjoyed this episode and would be eternally grateful if you left us a testimonial or rating on itunes. Please subscribe and share with a friend who would enjoy. For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com

Welcome to Unclassified Woman. Today's episode is one that I know are you going to enjoy so much. Filled with so many nuggets of wisdom, so you may even want to grab a notebook! Laura Hollick is an award-winning Artist, Shaman, and Visionary Guide based in Canada. After walking 10,000 km on a vision quest, Laura clarified her purpose and dove headfirst into realising it and making it a reality. She is the founder of Soul Art Studio Inc., a business devoted to circulating love around the planet with creative inspiration and unique artistic creations. Laura’s life and art have been featured in a documentary produced by Bravo TV called "The Artist's Life: Laura Hollick. She’s hosted and produced over 500 radio shows, and given an inspiring TED talk called "You are the Art". She inspires audiences all over the world with global events that feature her art and insights, such as the upcoming International Soul Art Day (25th May), the Global Vision Quest, the Yoni Art Project and the nü Icon Movie. Do you yearn for more connection with your feminine energy? Women have the ability to harness that energy to express their creativity in so many ways, and Laura is an expert on the topic. She shares what she’s discovered about the connection between the menstrual cycle, sexuality, money, creativity, art, and the moon cycle. You don’t want to miss our fascinating conversation, that weaves together so much feminine wisdom! I had so many aha's listening to Laura. "There’s a changing point in the consciousness right now. Women are recognising their roles as not just being a wife and birthing babies, but that they have the capacity to create in wonderful ways." What you’ll hear in this episode: Your “Yoni”: the spiritual centre and sacred gateway to Divine Feminine energy; Laura’s background: how feeling a disconnection as a child, inspired her imaginative art and a way to bring these dreams into her physical life; Art as a “home for the soul”; The body’s physical connection to the energy of creation; A woman’s role—NOT just to create babies and how we can work with the womb energy to create anything and everything; Childless and childfree women can still harness this energy to create too. The biggest block in connecting with creative power can often be unresolved trauma of the past; Why we often can’t handle the healing required to create a “safety container” at certain times; What do you need to feel safe in your soul to have clarity in your life? The fully expressed woman in desire and truth; Connecting through orgasmic pleasure; Learning your unique seasons and rhythms; The menstrual cycle: New moon, day 1—higher levels of insights and visions that fuel action Full moon—ripening and receiving energies Waning moon—darker reflective energy Gleaning the nutrient energy of the life-giving menstrual blood and how to use this to support our creations. How Laura works very consciously with this energy. Connection between sex, money, and menstrual blood; How our energy moves in its natural flow of circulation; Either you’re on your true life-track or you’re not; An exciting time for women to be anchored and grounded; International Soul Art Day, May 25: a global event with virtual connection to women everywhere! Join this Soul event, wherever you are in the world! Resources: www.laurahollick.com (Learn more about Laura’s work and art, and don’t forget to take the Yoni Personality Quiz!)  Thank you so much for listening in. If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a review, subscribe and share with another woman who would love! For more episodes check out michellemariemcgrath.com

Welcome to today's episode of Unclassified Woman and today we have a special episode for moon lovers! It seems very apt with today's full moon. If you'd like to understand more about how the phases of the moon can affect your mood, mind, body and soul, join Michelle and her guest, Dr. Ezzie Spencer, with today's show.  Today we're going to be talking about Ezzie's new book, An Abundant Life, Flourishing With The Cycles Of The Moon, which is her concept of Lunar Abundance and also her personal practice. This practice partners intellect with intuition and it has helped many women throughout the world, through one to one coaching sessions and through the support of Ezzie's flourishing online community at Lunar Abundance.com Ezzie has trained as a lawyer, worked in government non-profit and research sectors and earned a Ph.D in Women's Wellbeing and Justice After Violence. As a result of feeling that something elemental was missing in the intellectual world of law, Ezzie began to explore the correlation that she noticed between her feelings and the phases of the moon. Listen in... I know that you're going to love this magical topic! On today's show, Ezzie and Michelle discuss: Ezzie's book- Ezzie starts out by giving a summary of the subject at hand, as in her book.  She says: “It's a step-by-step guide to working with the moon cycles, to be able to create your best version of your life - and it's really practical.” How it stood out for Ezzie in her cultural research, that different cultures, in their beliefs about the moon, would view it as either a Goddess or as a God.        As she says: “Often times we think about the moon as feminine and indeed it is Goddess-related in many cultures, but in other cultures, it may viewed as masculine. Ezzie's favourite phase within these cycles, with the understanding that things are constantly moving within the different stages and cycles of the moon, going between the yin and the yang.  She says: “I would find that those yin phases would really be welcome and really my favourite phases throughout the month- although they had their own sets of challenges.” Michelle and Ezzie discuss a particular time that people tend to struggle with the most during the cycle. People are familiar with the obvious setting of intentions at the new moon and the dramatic and visible impact of the full moon, but there's a lot more to working with the moon!                                 Ezzie says: “I would say that the number one phase which women tend to struggle with in the practice, is the Gibbous moon phase- a few days before the full moon.” The daily practice which is necessary to develop the awareness within you to assist you through the transitory phases, which may be really intense.        Ezzie says: “Just following that constant practice over time will render really great results and change.” Whether this is yet another example of how we have become disconnected from the cycles of nature. Ezzie says: “You're hear anecdotally all the time, even from people you wouldn't expect about the impact of the full moon...” The original meaning of lunacy, according to the Greek Triple Moon Goddess. Ezzie says: “Hecate was a very powerful Goddess and she was one of the very senior priestesses (or patron of priestesses, or patron of witches in Ancient Greece) and she represented wealth and magical powers.”  Whether Ezzie has found, in her working with women with her Lunar Abundance Practice, that they have become more in touch with their menstrual cycle. Ezzie says: “I would say that it's one of the things that women are most interested in with the moon work.” What is the best approach when working to deadlines, when one feels that the current moon phase is counter productive to what needs to be done?               “It's about working with these two principles (yin and yang) in tandem and harmony.” Working with non-negotiable principles and values during the moon cycles. Ezzie says: “To find those pockets of agency you have to be able to be very intentional about how it is that you live your life.” Ezzie shares some wonderful advice for those women who are still challenged with learning to receive.                                                                                “There is a whole chapter in the book on receiving and it is correlated in the Abundance Practice with the sixth of the eight lunar phases.” How working with the lunar cycles can have a really positive effect on your level of productivity.                                                                                       Ezzie says: “The yin cycle is key to being, I feel, highly productive, highly effective, but doing it in a way where you're really able to take care of yourself.” The greatest gift that Ezzie feels she's received in practising Lunar Abundance. She says: “I feel like...this sense of relaxing and being able to enjoy life a bit more has been central to my life now, vs my life before this practice.”   I hope you love this episode. Find out more about Dr Ezzie Spencer's work and her book at www.lunarabundance.com and for more episodes of Unclassified Woman with Michelle, please see www.michellemariemcgrath.com If you enjoyed this episode please share the love (and abundance) and leave us a rating or testimonial on Itunes, so more women can receive this valuable sharing.  Thank you!   

Welcome to a special episode! Today the tables are turned and I’m being interviewed by my close friend Mariana Rudan. I met Mariana when I first arrived in Sydney years ago and we worked together, and she’s been a close friend ever since. She’s a journalist, presenter, newsreader, singer songwriter, travel lover, mother of two adorable children, and an amazing cook! She also speaks a few languages, so is a very talented lady. Sharing a little of my personal story seemed like a great way to mark the first year of the podcast and to celebrate International ChildFree Day, which is August 1. Ready? What you’ll hear in this episode: Michelle’s pregnancy a few years ago, about which she had always felt ambivalent and resistant to the assumption of 'having to have children'. At 10 weeks, she knew something was wrong. Diagnosis: “molar pregnancy”—abnormal cell growth in the uterus, when the embryo doesn’t develop, but the placenta keeps growing. How a molar pregnancy is linked to a pregnancy-related cancer. How the pregnancy was a catalyst for ending Michelle’s marriage. The reason for the title of the podcast When women don’t follow the “normal” script of life How judgment of women has played out in the media recently. The feedback Michelle has received from the show over the past year. “We all have a different story—and that’s OK.” The incorrect assumption that every woman feels the “clock ticking” when Michelle hears all the time from women, who never have that experience. The statistics: Almost 25% of women over 40 don’t have children, and the numbers are steadily increasing worldwide. Around a third of couples in Australia don't have children. The many factors that play into the decision not to have children. “Every woman’s path is unique to her.” How society can change the perceptions and stop the judgment by supporting the choices of ALL women. Michelle’s current relationship and playing the role of stepmother. No right or wrong---it all comes down to individual beliefs and value systems “No children” doesn’t mean “no responsibilities” and often childless or childfree women can feel taken for granted in other areas of their lives. Opportunities to channel creative energy in a different direction. What do you love? What makes you angry? Where do you feel there is injustice? What are you curious about? What brings out the best in you? What if YOU are the one person in your circle that’s meant to create a different path that inspires others and opens their hearts and minds to a different possibility? Thank you so much for listening to this episode. If you enjoyed then please share with another woman who would find it beneficial. I would be eternally grateful if you could rate the show and leave a review on Itunes. For more episodes of Unclassified Woman check out michellemariemcgrath.com

Welcome! Today’s Unclassified Woman is Kristen Barnes from Melbourne, Australia. Kristen is in private practice as a registered psychologist and certified life coach. She has 25 years’ experience in counselling, therapeutic coaching, and using her supervisory skills to help coaches and therapists value themselves and carve out a passionate life. Kristen believes that you are most passionate and powerful when you simply dare to be yourself! Join us! What you’ll hear in this episode: Circumstances have combined to prevent traditional motherhood for Kristen. How she pursued motherhood via IVF and adopted embryos  over a 20 year period. Unexplained fertility prevailed, even though she tried everything humanly possible to have a biological child. How Kristen fostered homeless adolescents in a mothering role. “It was meant to be.” Her experience with an ongoing grieving process. Cultural expectations and stigmas that she has observed. “I felt like children were viewed as currency.” How Kristen dealt with inappropriate comments and questions. Why you need clear boundaries around how you discuss the topic with others. “Small talk” vs. “Big talk” How the terminology used about childless/childfree women implies a minority. How we define the “value” of our lives. How mothering skills are incorporated into many roles that women play. The sacrifices and “settling” that can lead to losing yourself. Selfishness vs. self-care. Kristen has seen a dramatic increase in women in their late 30’s whose window of opportunity for motherhood is closing. The assumptions that society makes about women and what they want Many support groups and communities have formed to support women without children and are doing marvellous work! Find out more about Kristen: www.kristenbarnes.com Thank you so much for listening to this episode. If you enjoyed then please share with another woman who would find beneficial. For more episodes check out michellemariemcgrath.com 

Back in 2003, Michelle Marie McGrath was living in Australia in a beautiful house on the water. She was excelling in her career and winning national awards. She appeared to be happily married. For an outsider looking in, it seemed Michelle was living the dream. On the inside, however, Michelle was miserable. She says she felt like she was living someone else’s life. One night, while deep in meditation, Michelle found herself asking “What do I most need?” "Self-love" was what she heard in return. This simple yet profound question propelled her down a path of deep introspection and awakening. As you’ll hear Michelle share in this interview, committing to self-love wasn’t easy. She suffered a miscarriage, her marriage broke-down and she battled with illness, anxiety and depression as she rediscovered her lost love for herself. Yet, what I adore about Michelle’s story, is her unwavering commitment to herself and her trust in her own intuition. You see, even though it seemed like her entire life was crumbling around her, Michelle still followed the soft whispers of her soul. Intuitively she developed a self-love range of alchemical oils which she used on herself to release old patterns and then eventually she began offering these oils to other women, forming the foundation of her intuitive-based business, Sacred Self. Now Michelle is a self-love mentor for other women and host of the ground-breaking podcast series Unclassified Woman. Michelle is passionate about helping other women commit to a loving relationship with themselves and create lives of purpose beyond traditional paradigms. In this interview, Michelle shares: + The story of her 10-year exploration and quest for self-love. + How she used meditation and her intuition to create her self-love range of alchemical oils. + Her battle with depression and the interesting experience in brazil which helped her to move through this. + Why seeking love externally rather than cultivating it within yourself can create confusion and anxiety. + How your relationships can change as you walk the soul-path and why this isn't necessarily a bad thing. + Why your relationship with your parents becomes a filter through how you perceive your relationships with others and with yourself. + Why she created her hugely popular podcast series – Unclassified Woman – which speaks to an audience of women who don't have or don't intend to have children. For links to all the resources mentioned in this podcast, head to http://shemakesmagic.com/podcast-027-michelle-marie-mcgrath.

My guest today, Meghan Daum, has been an Op Ed columnist for the Los Angeles Times since 2005. Meghan is also the author of four books, including The Unspeakable and Other Subjects of Discussion, which won the 2015 Penn Center USA Award for Creative Nonfiction. She edited the NY Times best–selling anthology Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed, which is a compilation of 16 writers’ essays on the choice to not have kids. This book has sparked wide ranging conversation around the topic of choosing to have or to not have kids. Meghan’s message is that opting out of parenthood is NOT a sign of laziness or immaturity, but a complicated and intensely personal decision. Join us to hear Meghan discuss the following: It was Meghan’s personal choice to not become a parent, and it was something she always knew deep-down, but didn’t realize that option existed. Having/not having a child is an interesting subject to write about and lends itself to a deeper look and deliberate thought about that life choice. Meghan became pregnant at age 41, miscarried, and actually felt relieved. “I would have, of course, loved that child, but I’m not sure I would have loved my life.” Even when you KNOW you’ve made the choice to not have kids, there still can be certain degrees of grief involved. Her anthology includes 13 women and 3 men who wrote about the topic, which is unusual because we don’t usually hear the male viewpoint. The fear of future regret is NOT a good enough reason to have a child. Many people who have chosen to live childfree lives have put much more thought into the decision than some who have chosen to be parents! It’s human nature to give our opinion and advice and look for commonality around the choice that WE make, including parenthood. We all seem to want others to make the choices we have made. Meghan’s goal is to change the conversation about which side of the issue is more/less selfish. It comes down to knowing yourself and giving yourself permission to know what you really want. Meghan’s creative energy is expressed in her writing and expressing opinions, but even people NOT in creative careers can make the choice for themselves and not based on society’s expectations. It’s important for kids today to have role models from all different perspectives and know that they don’t have to fit into a mold that is uncomfortable. For Meghan, the major benefit of choosing to not have kids is that she feels lucky to live in a time and place where she has the ability to make that choice for herself. To find out more about Meghan and her work, visit www.meghandaum.com.   For more episodes of Unclassified Woman go to michellemariemcgrath.com If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on Itunes and share with another woman who you feel would benefit. Thank you so much!

Welcome! Today’s Unclassified Woman is Stacey Copas, who is the author of How to be Resilient. She is Australian’s #1 keynote speaker and facilitator on turning adversity into an asset, and she has been featured in national media. Now taking on a new endeavour, Stacey is training for the 2016 Rio Para-Olympics after many years of inactivity. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Stacey has not had a child due to personal choice and never desired to be a parent; Stacey has a spinal cord injury and is in a wheelchair. People ask about her parenting/non-parenting intentions - often assuming incorrectly this is the reason for not having a child; How Stacey has experienced separation from some friends over the years as they began having children and led very different lives; Stacey discusses the “mythbusting” that goes along with daring to make a conscious decision to NOT have children; Stacey has become comfortable when she has to answer questions about her choices; Her advice for others is to have clarity about your values and what you find important in life; She knew that she was here to make a difference in the world, but had to overcome the “little old me” syndrome. The messages Stacey includes in her speaking about resilience as a growth opportunity include the following: Take responsibility Use empowering language Have a support system around you Resources: www.howtoberesilient.com www.staceycopas.com How to be Resilient by Stacey Copas I do hope you enjoyed this episode. Please subscribe and share with another woman who would benefit from this wisdom. For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com  

My guest today is Lisa Murray, who is the founder of Creativity Lab. She is an unconventional business coach and prolific writer. She invites you to collectively create a future to be inspired by via her live events and online programs. Join her for one of her free mini e-courses on Embracing Courage, Writing Wild, or Creating Money. Lisa also offers the Nurture Project and holds an MBA in entrepreneurship and leadership. Lisa is launching three books this year, including Stop Waiting, Start Creating. In this episode, Lisa covers the following topics: Lisa didn’t desire to become a mother, so she was actually relieved when she reached that realisation and was able to put the associated stress aside. Society “assumes” that every woman wants to become a mother. Many people feel obligated to give unsolicited advice to others about the choice they have made being the right thing for everyone! Having a child is only ONE kind of creative expression, but not the only one. Lisa asks, “What would I like the world to be like 1000 years from now?” “Exhaustion and burnout are the results of working hard for OTHER peoples’ dreams, and not your own.” When Lisa was facing burnout, she made a list of the things that made her happy, and was only able to list four things at first! “If you ever wonder if you are a leader, then go and play with a horse, because the horse will let you know if he is willing to follow you or not.” Lisa’s favourite way to express her creative energy is by writing. Lisa is inspired most by those who are kind and nurturing, especially when men show these qualities. We should all be more compassionate in embracing our differences instead of labeling them “right” or “wrong.” Lisa speaks about how we can encourage more tolerance in the world and eliminating stereotypes. “Whatever you choose, you can have a fantastic life if you are YOU!” Find out how focusing on the present moment can be the secret to happiness. Find out more about Lisa's work at www.creativitylab.tv  For more episodes of Unclassified Woman go to michellemariemcgrath.com If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on Itunes and share with another woman who you feel would benefit. Thank you so much!    

Welcome! My guest today is a fear-blasting, storytelling maven for entrepreneurs and people with a mission. Johanna Walker helps people put their stories out front to help change the world. Since 1997, she has helped hundreds break through their fears, step into leadership, and claim their place. She has worked with teenage girls, incarcerated women, fledgling entrepreneurs, and corporate executives, over and over witnessing the transformative power of telling our stories and speaking our truth. Johanna is the co-producer and co-host of Boulder’s bi-monthly storytelling series, Truth Be Told and Fearless Solos. She has performed almost everywhere---and yes, we DO mean, EVERYWHERE—and she is a certified public speaking coach. Join us for Johanna’s story! In this episode, you’ll hear: How a combination of circumstances and choice lead Johanna not to have a child. How she always assumed a child “would happen,” because that was the normal script to follow in life. How she began to question her beliefs, assumptions, and expectations—“If children aren’t going to give my life meaning, then where is the meaning?” How this decision has led her to be able to be connected to people and projects that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible. How she encountered pressure, judgment, and disappointment from her family. How she went through the grieving process for several years because she couldn’t see that anything else in life could make life worth living. How she felt alone and isolated for a period. How she even went through a time of not wanting to hear or celebrate other people’s joys around parenthood. “Bring forth what is IN you; if you don’t, then what is in you will destroy you.” How she learned to channel her creative life force and energy through storytelling and helping others express their creativity through speaking Ironically, she became a writer first and went through periods of silence, and then transitioned into speaking. Growing up, the best way she could be a “good girl” was just to be quiet. How she began to get a bigger picture of women’s voices, to tell her story, reclaimed her voice, and began speaking Johanna’s most fulfilling work is seeing people tell a story and hear their voice in a way they haven’t done before. Her advice to someone considering a “different” path is: “Use your voice. Tell your story in whatever your circle of influence may be.” The major benefits of her childfree life are the relationships with young people that are unique and different from the parent/child relationship. “I get to stand in my power as a woman separate from motherhood.” Johanna’s legacy is to be present for herself and others. “Show up, be curious, and then tell your story about it.” The lessons Johanna has learned are: “Let go of judgment and expectations and enjoy this extraordinary life. Be open to the possibility of the moment.” Resources: www.johannawalker.com www.storyslamboulder.com For more episodes of Unclassified Woman go to michellemariemcgrath.com If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share with another woman who you feel would benefit. Thank you so much!

Welcome! Today’s guest is Lesley Pyne, who is a leading coach for childless women in the UK, helping them to heal and create fulfilling lives. After unsuccessful IVF treatments, she spent ten years hiding from the truth of her life. She trained in techniques that helped her learn to let go of the grief and sadness. Lesley now uses her story, firsthand experience and professional skills to help other women heal. She facilitates them in being able to have a deep understanding of their experience, so they can embrace an adventurous, fulfilling life. Lesley's warmth and empathy shines through. In this episode, you’ll hear: Lesley pursued pregnancy through six rounds of IVF and then determined that “that was enough.” She is childless through circumstance. It took ten years of healing before she found herself in the place to be comfortable talking about her experience. “Childlessness is the biggest gift in my life because without it I wouldn’t have the fulfilling life I have now.” Lesley shares the lengths that she and her husband went through to “give it our all and be able to look back with no regrets.” As women, we don’t always realise the limits on our fertility as we get older. During Lesley’s grieving process, she felt dark and alone for about a year, but she and her husband drew together and grew closer. She joined a support group and found powerful encouragement from sharing stories with the other members. The more that you share your story, the stronger you become. Lesley recommends to others that they believe that their life can absolutely be fulfilling, even without a child. She advises that women take advantages of the resources available and search out the help that is right for them. Making a difference and helping other women gives her meaning and purpose. Being in a choir helps, as does exploring different things and expanding her comfort zone. The major benefits of a childless life for Lesley are flexibility and freedom to do the things she wants and enjoys. Find more more about Lesley's work at www.lesleypyne.co.uk For more episodes of Unclassified Woman go to www.michellemariemcgrath.com  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on Itunes and share with another woman who you feel would benefit. Thank you so much!

My guest today is Riikka Rajamaki, whose life passion is to help women unlock their creative and intuitive abilities after an experience of abortion or miscarriage. She teaches women how to move from fear to love by living out one of her life mottos: “It’s better to nourish the seed than to cry over the lost fruit.” Riikka is the creator of Womb Quest, a certified spirit coach, wellness coach, gifted body worker, trained intuitive, and holds a masters degree in sociology.  Now based in San Francisco, she is originally from Finland, and says it took her years to realise that “the greatest journey we take is inside ourselves.” Her happiness is dependent on personal growth and her ability to remain centered and connected to her spirit. Join us for Riikka’s inspiring story. In this episode, you can expect to hear: Riikka’s powerful and personal story of finding herself unexpectedly pregnant at age 36, married to a man who said that his life path did NOT include children; How Riikka was able, through meditation, to meet the spirit energy of her unborn child and experience a clear, guided moment of clarity; How Riikka, after that “miracle moment,” felt compelled to pursue a meeting with Richard Bartlett, whose metaphysical work she had followed; How her meeting with Mr. Bartlett resulted in an angelic visit in which her baby's soul chose to not come into physical creation; How Riikka subsequently suffered a miscarriage and entered a year-long grieving process, which was complete with shame, guilt, and blame for her husband; How Riikka and her husband found healing and a closer connection which led them to begin a business together, even though they are not together now; How Riikka’s experience taught her about dimensions of commitment to another person and how she had used and misused love; Riikka’s advice to others who suffer from guilt or shame:  DON’T rush out of the pain or try to avoid it.  Let pure tears have their time. Riikka supports the view that we, as a society, shouldn’t define each other based on whether they have children or not; Even though having a child expresses creative energy, there are other ways to express creativity also, like touch, writing, and movement; Riikka's advice for someone seeking meaning and purpose when they realise that a child won’t be a part of their lives: Connect with childhood passions, reconnect with happy moments from childhood, and find inspiration, passion and joy. Riikka shares her REAL definition of success and why she meditates to communicate with her spirit EVERY day; She created her home study course, Womb Quest, to teach others how to move from fear to love. The 16-week course is geared toward those who have lost an unborn child or are grieving some other loss. Find out more about Riikka's work at www.riikkarajamaki.com/wqinvitation and www.rikasf.comFor more episodes of Unclassified Woman go to www.michellemariemcgrath.com If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on Itunes and share with another woman who you feel would benefit. Thank you so much!

Welcome! My guest today is Anaiya Sophia, who is a mystic, author, and an initiator of Sacred Marriage and the Mystical Teachings of The Feminine Christ. A native of the UK, she is based at her guest house Amma Rosa in the South of France but teaches her transformational work worldwide. She is a wellspring of both wisdom and experience and is known for her role in birthing New Paradigm Relationships and Divinized Sexuality. Her desire is to help people transition from codependent relationships to a thriving union based on Love and Freedom, held within a holy sanctified container. Anaiya Sophia, is no spiritual lightweight. She is intensely committed to go through whatever humbling and fierce truth-telling is required to open to the full divinity that can, and will birth us. Her work is streaming forth through the Feminine aspect of Christ Consciousness, which includes the Tantric, Virgin and Mystical expressions represented by Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary and the Black Madonna. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Anaiya became interested in deep, spiritual things at age seven. How an angel experience transformed into a Christ-figure for Anaiya. How Anaiya couldn’t turn from the momentum of the spiritual longing to have a child and family. She never had a moment when she really wanted to have a child. How she confronted the decision to not have a child with some grief, but an overwhelming spiritual longing. How a health issue led Anaiya to confront her own vulnerability in writing her book, Womb Wisdom. How Anaiya had to learn to trust the masculine in the form of her writing partner. How Anaiya created a “womb” atmosphere on the outside, that was full of mothering energy. How focusing on her own nourishment overflowed into peace and presence in other relationships. How she found a “womb” quality in everything in the universe. Every woman should realize the creative force within her womb and ask, “What Am I Birthing?”. The choice not to have physical offspring doesn’t eliminate all forms of offspring. How people need to find the balance between feminine and masculine energy. There is a transformation called, “The Return to the Divine Feminine.” How Anaiya’s home in the south of France is the vortex and epicenter of the divine feminine. For Anaiya, the benefits to not having a child are emotional openness and the time to deepen who she is and what she is becoming. Find out more about Anaiya's work and retreats at www.anaiyasophia.com See her books: Open Your Heart with Kundalini Yoga, Womb Wisdom, Pilgrimage of Love, Sacred Sexual Union and The Rose Knight. I do hope you enjoyed this episode of Unclassified Woman. For more, go to www.michellemariemcgrath.com

My guest today is Christine Rose Elle, who is a business and life coach.  She is a certified Beautiful You life coach and the founder of The Heart-Centered Coach Community.  Her passions include styling, beauty, portrait photography, branding, marketing, and all things high-tech.  Her loves furnish her with the perfect set of skills to help other coaches discover their own skills and do meaningful work with their clients.  Christine offers free monthly online training for life coaches and soulful entrepreneurs who want to create and grow their dream business.  She lives and works in a tiny Victorian bungalow in Los Angeles with her husband and two amazingly spoiled dogs.   Christine shares the following about her life without motherhood: Christine is childless through a combination of choice and circumstances. She realised early in life that she didn’t want to have children in the same way as many of her friends. She married early and then divorced at age 30.  It was at age 35 that she had her “epiphany” moment and realised that her whole life to that point had been lived for someone else and not herself. Other factors played into her decision to not have children.  She carried baggage from a difficult childhood, a chronic health condition, and negative interactions with doctors.  Regarding the possibility of giving birth, she said, “I CANNOT be that vulnerable.” She moved to Italy and met her husband.  They are content with building their lives together, and the time never seemed right to have a baby. Christine has never felt intense pressure from family and friends to become a mother, nor has she experienced intense regret or grief over her life choices. The decision to have children is a huge responsibility, challenge, and commitment.  “It’s not like buying an expensive dress, where you can just take it back if it doesn’t work out.” Some of the advantages of the relationship between Christine and her husband are the self-actualization and support they can give each other.  Christine also loves the personal time she has to read, write and create.  This wouldn’t be possible if she were busy raising a child. Christine has many positive aspects to her life without children, and she says she is perfectly happy being “Auntie” to her nieces and nephews.  For her, having dogs also fulfils in a way, the nurturing, mothering instinct.  Join us for Christine’s story! Find Christine online: www.christineroseelle.com  (Her website, with links to her Heart-Centered Community and more.) For more episodes of "Unclassified Woman" see www.michellemariemcgrath.com  

Welcome! My guest today is Karen Wilmot, The Virtual Midwife.  She has assisted over 500 women in giving birth, but has never been pregnant or given birth herself.  Twice, she stepped away from her work when the desire to have her own baby overshadowed the joy she could feel at others’ birth experiences.  At age 47 now, Karen has found peace and a deep sense of purpose in her work.  She now says that NOT having children has been her greatest teacher and the driving force behind her work. In this episode, you’ll learn the following about Karen’s journey: How Karen always thought she would have children; How the death of Karen’s mother while she was young made her lose her sense of family and live a rebellious life; After years of traveling and several relationships, Karen reached the point in her early 40’s when she said, “That was it.”  Her window of opportunity had closed; How she went through a relevant and acute grieving process; How one patient helped her recognize her “mothering of mothers” as an outpouring of nurturing and maternal instinct; How Karen uses yoga, breathing, and chanting to help ground her emotions; Karen shares details about her “Finding the Mother Within” workshops and how they have helped her heal; How women are often deceived into thinking that the only path to fulfilment involves motherhood; How Karen took the first steps of moving forward through her disappointment; How she can express herself creatively in several specific ways, all because she does NOT have children; The benefits of not having kids are the freedom to travel, a deeper level of compassion for others, and the ability to inspire others through your circumstances; How Karen has drawn inspiration from every woman she has ever assisted in childbirth; Karen’s advice to women going forward:  respect each other and the path each one travels.  Celebrate creativity and the ability to nurture and love. Find Karen at www.expatsexpecting.com Respect each other’s choices.  We’re all great in our own way, but we don’t all have to travel the same path. For more episodes of "Unclassified Woman" see www.michellemariemcgrath.com  

Beata Alfoldi is a teacher, workshop facilitator, Shamanic practitioner, healer, speaker, and see-er.  She has an intuitive gift for assisting individuals to move through deep transformation.  She holds private classes, sessions, workshops, and international retreats in Australia, Bali, Thailand and Mexico.  She created the Integral Woman program for the Awareness Institute in Sydney and co-facilitated a transformational group journey to Peru where she lived and studied with various healers and shamans of the Amazon and the Andes.  Beata is passionate about inspiring others to find ways to live authentically with freedom and empowerment in life.  She is a dear friend of mine, and I’m thrilled to have her on the show today.  Join us! I'm sure you will find this conversation very moving and valuable.  In this episode, you’ll learn: How Beata, at age 45, is childless, not by choice, but through the unexpected tragedy and shock of her son’s stillbirth four years ago. How stillbirth, and death/loss in general, are topics that people find difficult to address. How a life-changing event, like Beata’s loss, brings up personal feelings of guilt and challenges your basic belief system. How Beata feels a soul-connection to her son, that assures her that death is not the end. How small rituals each day helped Beata grieve and heal from the loss of her son. How the support of friends, who allowed her space for her healing, helped her get through the painful loss and how she, in turn, can help others in grief. How Beata has insight and wisdom to help each of us be helpful in supporting those who are experiencing grief. Her experience as a Shamanic practitioner has given her a deeper understanding, compassion, and increased gratitude for life. How Beata finds ways to mentor and influence the lives of the children in her life even though she doesn’t have the opportunity to mother daily her own son. How Beata aspires to set up a children’s charity in the near future, and already donates a percentage of her profits to help the lives of children.  “If we can set up more networks of grace, then we can build a better world where there is not ONE PERSON without access to clean water, food, and shelter.”  Andrew Harvey Beata advises others who have experienced the loss of a child to take the time to grieve and then look for opportunities to serve others who are also healing. How Beata’s experience has liberated her from basic fears and intensified her appreciation for the sacredness of life. Thanks for joining me for Beata’s touching story.  I highly recommend her programs, workshops, and retreats.  Learn more at www.wildheartawakening.com.   Please share this episode with any friends who are dealing with or have experienced similar situations of stillborn birth, miscarriage and loss. My hope is that Beata's story will bring comfort and support as she's a wonderful role model of how we can gracefully and gently navigate these extremely challenging experiences. Thank you so much!  For more episodes of "Unclassified Woman" see www.michellemariemcgrath.com    

I’m excited to share this first episode of my new podcast,Unclassified Woman. This is a short audio where I explain why I am creating the podcast, what I hope to accomplish and who it is for! Unclassified Woman is for women who don’t have, or don’t intend to have children, but do intend to create a meaningful life they love. Unclassified Woman gives voice to the almost 25% of Western women who aren’t easily heard over the mother-focussed mainstream media. Part myth busting, part inspirational story sharing, the podcast features women living meaningful lives, sharing their experiences and insights, while questioning the expectations of women everywhere. I have a dream that one day, women who don’t have children – for whatever reason (and there are many) – no longer endure the unfair judgments placed upon them. My hope for these women, of which I am one, is that their worth as women isn’t measured by their ability to birth children, but rather by their ability to birth their true desires and contribute their gifts to the world. We have so much to look forward to and each episode will bring you the inspiring story of a woman who has chosen to birth the true desires of her heart. I will be sharing information that I hope is helpful and insightful. I would also love to hear any suggestions of any possible guests for future episodes. A new episode will be published weekly.