Ky joins me again on the podcast to share the details of a summer reading challenge underway in WNK Club. We hope you'll join us in this fun summer reading contest. To do so, head to wnk-club.com to become a member if you aren't already. Then head to the Book Club section and you'll find the details there. To find your summer romance novel, here's the quiz Ky gives Anna in this episode: Find Your Summer Read Books mentioned in this episode: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover (Anna's accidental in...
Jun 14, 2023•32 min•Ep. 67
Ky Gerbush is a writer, a lowkey tree and flower farmer, a WNK-member, and the co-facilitator of a course we created together in the WNK community called Creating A Meaningful Childfree Life. Ky has added so much to both my life and WNK community. I'm forever grateful to her and honored to call her a friend. In this episode, she shares how her childfree identity unfolded and the terrible moment that awakened it. She also shares her less-than-straightforward sterilization process and we talk abou...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 4 min
In this episode, I sit down with the lovely Jess Ridder to talk all things childfree. We talk about losing our fathers at a young age and how this shaped our view of aging. Jess shares her excitement for what aging as a childfree person means and what opportunities might exist for communal living. I loved every second of this conversation and I think you will too! About Jess: Jess Ridder is a professional voice-over artist and has also worked as a journalist. She is the founder of a womxn’s inte...
May 31, 2023•45 min•Ep. 65
Brenda Brodie is an all-around fabulous human who I am grateful to consider a friend. In this episode, Brenda shares her experience advocating for her choice to be sterilized and her relatively easy experience getting approved for a bilateral salpingectomy. Brenda was incredibly helpful in my own personal journey of seeking sterilization and helping me with my pre-surgery angst. I'm incredibly grateful to her and it was an honor to have her as a guest on We're Not Kidding. Connect with Brenda on...
May 24, 2023•37 min•Ep. 64
It was an honor and a blast to interview Daina Bond for this episode of the podcast. At 52, Daina has no regrets when it comes to not having kids. She is a proud dog mom who understands the value of being selfish with her time. Having met Daina through a mutual friend in the small town that we live in, reminds me that we really aren't alone in this life path. Grab your spot in the Childfree Life Vision Program : https://annaolson.com/childfree-life-vision/...
May 17, 2023•28 min•Ep. 63
In today's episode, Veronica Weston shares her childfree experience and how she cultivated a community after moving from Canada to Mexico. Veronica is a personal development coach. She and her husband moved to Mexico in 2021. They have two sweet adopted pups named Lily and Layla. When she's not coaching, Veronica enjoys going to the beach, trying a new restaurant, or exploring all the ruins, cenotes Mexico has to offer. Connect with Veronica: https://veronicaweston.ca/ Grab your spot in the Chil...
May 10, 2023•41 min•Ep. 62
Diliana Gadjova is the creator of the Instagram account Childfree Blessings . Within the last two years, Diliana came to the realization that she didn't want to have kids. This inspired her to create an account and help others realize that parenthood is a choice. I've loved getting to know Diliana through WNK-Club and it's an honor to share her story with you all here on the podcast. Mentioned on this Episode Childfree by Choice by Dr. Amy Blackstone Without Children: The Long History of Not Bei...
May 03, 2023•42 min
In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Peggy O'Donnell Heffington to discuss her new book, Without Children: The Long History of Not Being a Mother . Peggy shares her insights from researching and writing this fantastic book. She also shares a bit about her own childfree story. I learned so much both from reading the book and having this conversation. Enjoy! About Peggy: Peggy O’Donnell Heffington is an Assistant Instructional Professor in the Department of History at the University of ...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 60
Nicole Louie is a writer, translator, and content curator based in Ireland. She has dedicated a great amount of time to finding and sharing the stories of amazing women without children through her social media accounts (@bynicolelouie). In our conversation, Nicole shares her personal journey of feeling isolated as a childfree woman which lead her to books, and in turn, she has written one of her own. Here are the resources she shared in our conversation, sorted by topic. Ambivalence Book: Beyon...
Apr 12, 2023•59 min•Ep. 59
Antara Sarkar is the creator of Sunday Class, a free STEM school for underprivileged youth. Her passion for volunteering turned into a mission to help students stay in school through the creation of Sunday Class. For this work, she was named the iVolunteer Hero Winner in 2022. Antara is also the co-founder of The Pink Engine which makes 3d-printed Indian Railway scale models. Connect with Antara on YouTube and Instagram . You can follow The Pink Engine on IG as well. Read more about Antara and h...
Mar 08, 2023•45 min•Ep. 58
Jewel Hohman is a life coach who specializes in helping people feel secure and confident, while also teaching them how to create deep, meaningful friendships. In this episode, she shares what she calls the connection formula, an intentional way to build fulfilling friendships. Did you know that research shows that roughly half of our friendships change and shift every seven years? Tune into this episode to learn more about that and so much more! Connect with Jewel: Website: jewelhohman.com Insta...
Feb 22, 2023•44 min•Ep. 57
In this episode, Jordan who runs the Instagram account, @violet_unexplained , shares her experience navigating IVF. After she and her husband decided to stop IVF treatments, they were faced wtih the question, "now what?" Tune into this episode to hear how they embraced being childfree after finding themselves childless. Follow Jordan on Instagram, @violet_unexplained , and her adorable dogs Lulu and Dexter, @dachshundduderanch . Want to join a childfree community? Check out wnk-club.com !...
Feb 15, 2023•39 min•Ep. 56
Lucy Meggeson is the creator of the incredible podcast, Spinsterhood Reimagined. Lucy is reclaiming and redefining the image of the spinster as something to be aspired to rather than pitied, feared, or avoided. She also coaches women and helps them lean into their solo lives and find freedom and fulfillment. Lucy is brilliant and this episode is not to be missed! Connect with Lucy: Email: lucy@lucymeggeson.com Website: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/ (Grab her free Top 10 Mindset Tips) Podcast: Sp...
Feb 08, 2023•52 min•Ep. 55
Margaret O’Connor has worked as a counselor and psychotherapist since 2011. She specializes in helping those who are unsure about parenthood make the right decision for them. Margaret has conducted two pieces of research regarding this topic. The first explored the role of personality factors and how they impact the decision to have kids. She also researched how women in Ireland make the decision whether or not to have children. In this episode, Margaret shares her insight and expertise in helpi...
Feb 01, 2023•45 min•Ep. 54
In this episode, I sit down with Jared Hansen the founder of the Facebook group, Best Childfree Life Possible , a community that is 9K strong. Jared co-created the Childfree Convention along with Cody Hetzel and LeNora Faye . He also created the Facebook group Childfree Runners and has organized an in-person childfree 5k walk taking place May 14th in Punt Gorda, FL at Laishley Park. Additional links mentioned in this episode: Jared's YouTube video from 2013 Laura Carroll Need a childfree t-shirt...
Jan 26, 2023•34 min•Ep. 53
Dane Reid is a Brooklyn, NY-born voice actor and author based in Atlanta. His voiceover work spans two decades, and his previous book, Dana the Procrastinator , was published in 2008. In his latest book, Forget Having Kids, I’m Having Fun , Dane collects anecdotes from his life and experiences from close friends. His life as the child of immigrants, his work as an after-school teacher, his passion for travel, and the complex responsibilities of raising a child are all critically examined in a ch...
Jan 18, 2023•43 min•Ep. 52
Dr. Morgan Levy is a psychologist and therapist who helps executives and professionals maximize their personal and professional development. In this episode, she shares tips for embracing all of who we are not just one aspect of our identities as well as how to create more balance and less burnout in our lives. This is a value-packed episode you won't want to miss! Connect with Dr. Morgan Levy: https://www.drmorganlevy.com/ __________________________ Don't forget to share, rate, and review this ...
Jan 11, 2023•28 min•Ep. 51
In this episode, I sit down with Eli Weissman, a Senior Private Wealth Advisor. Eli shares what to look for in selecting a financial professional as well as the top five mistakes he sees people without children making when it comes to their finances. If you’re wanting to improve your finances in 2023, don’t miss this episode. Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode: Choosing A Financial Professional: https://www.sec.gov/brokers-and-investment-advisers-tips-chairman-jay-clayton Top Tips fo...
Jan 04, 2023•48 min•Ep. 50
I finally got to sit down with the one and only Childfree Millennial. Marcela shares what it was like to realize she didn't want kids and navigate both cultural and religious pressures in doing so. She opens up about how loved ones responded to her choice and how she started her incredibly popular Instagram and YouTube accounts. We had a lot of fun recording this episode! Connect with Marcela on Instagram and YouTube . Don't forget to share, rate, and review this podcast! It helps the podcast re...
Dec 21, 2022•34 min•Ep. 49
In this special holiday episode, Lana Manikowski shares tips for navigating those dreaded questions over the holidays. Bio Lana Manikowski is a fertility survivor, dog mom, and life coach for women looking to create meaningful lives without motherhood. In this episode, she shares how she came to love her life without kids and how she helps clients do the same. Connect with Lana Instagram: @lana.manikowski Podcast: The So Now What Podcast Mastermind: Thrive After Infertility Connect with Anna (ho...
Dec 18, 2022•45 min•Ep. 48
Nikki is an artist, designer, photographer, entrepreneur, and podcaster. Nikki shares her childfree journey along with a pivotal moment in her life that lead her to ask the question "why?" Connect with Nikki: Her website: iloveinspirationavenue.com Email here: iloveinspirationave@gmail.com Connect with her in WNK-Club: wnk-club.com Shop the childfree merch collection from Nikki and me: https://www.iloveinspirationavenue.com/shop?Collection=Childfree...
Dec 14, 2022•43 min•Ep. 47
Maggie Dickens is a licensed professional counselor and childfree millennial in Texas. In addition to providing mental health support for her private practice clients, she’s also an online community builder for women who are childfree by choice or circumstances. Her online group, "the unapologetically childfree collective," is a place for women to find friends with similar values and encouragement to enhance and maximize their lives. She shares her personal decision to be childfree and the impor...
Dec 07, 2022•45 min•Ep. 46
Cody is the creator of the micro-networking site Childfree Family , where he launched the first interactive map to help childfree people find others around the world. He also co-founded the Childfree Convention as well as Childfree Media . Cody works to amplify the work of other childfree content creators to help broaden the reach of the childfree community. Connect with Cody via email at info@childfreefamily.com or join his micro-networking site Childfree Family and connect with him and other c...
Nov 30, 2022•54 min•Ep. 45
Jake Punimata originally thought he'd one day have kids, that was until he realized it was a choice. He is from Auckland, New Zealand, and of Niuean descent (Polynesian/Island in the South Pacific). Jake spends his days as a youth worker advocating for kids (Specialist in Mental Health) and is studying Social Work at University with the goal of creating policy change to better protect at-risk youth. Connect with Jake on Instagram: @jakepunimataphotos and @childfreenewzealand Resources: https://s...
Nov 23, 2022•37 min•Ep. 44
In this episode, Dr. Jay Zigmont shares his tips and expertise as a Childfree Financial Planner. If you've ever wondered who will take care of you when you're older. You won't want to miss this episode as he shares how to prepare for old age when you don't have kids. Dr. Jay Zigmont and his wife are childfree and live in Water Valley, MS. He has a Ph.D. in Adult Learning from the University of Connecticut and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Childfree Wealth Specialist. He is the founder of...
Nov 16, 2022•45 min•Ep. 43
Mireille Robinson is passionate about helping others know they are not alone. As a homeless domestic violence specialist, she has devoted her career to creating safe spaces for others. Her compassion, empathy, and faith fuel her. Mireille also makes time to podcast and empower others through Beauty With A Cause, Mentally Aspiring Podcast (available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts ). Connect with Mireille on Instagram: @wise_girl_dear_heart ___________________________________________________ Want t...
Nov 09, 2022•22 min•Ep. 42
LeNora is a childfree lifestyle advocate, speaker, and moderator who creates global platforms, both public and private, for people who are choosing not to birth or raise children. She is a co-founder of Childfree Media, a co-host of the international podcast and web series, Childfree Girls, and serves as PR manager and co-moderator for Childfree Convention. Connect with LeNora on Instagram: @childfreeblog Watch the Childfree Convention . Check out, Childfree Girls . ______________________ Want t...
Nov 02, 2022•59 min•Ep. 41
Rob had never given much thought to whether or not he wanted kids. After a turning point in his life, that changed. Not only did Rob realize he didn't want kids, but shortly after he made the choice permanent by getting a vasectomy. Rob is passionate about helping others in their times of crisis and improving their overall wellbeing. Having navigated his own mental health experiences, he is on a journey to help others ensure they live the life they want, instead of what society demands. Together...
Oct 26, 2022•45 min•Ep. 40
Zoë is a childfree woman living in Kentucky with her husband and their two corgis. She is the creator of a childfree-focused blog called "Not Kidding." Recently Zoë decided to make her childfree choice permanent by undergoing a bilateral salpingectomy. She shares her experience in this episode and how she arrived at this decision. Submit questions for the upcoming sterilization Q&A episode: Submit a voice memo through Anchor Submit written questions via email to anna@annaolson.com Resources ...
Oct 19, 2022•53 min•Ep. 39
Hamsa is a digital marketing professional from India. She is passionate about intersectional feminism and human rights. Hamsa shares her perspective and experience as a childfree woman living in India. It's a conversation you won't want to miss! Connect with Hamsa: hamsanandini97@gmail.com ______________________ Want to meet and connect with others who have also chosen not to have kids? Join a growing global network of childfree people: wnk-club.com...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 38
