• Joe | Every Earthling is My Family
    2025/07/01

    Growing up in rural England, Joe knew early in life that he didn’t want children and felt a deep connection to the natural world. While navigating pressures to conform to “normal” life, he lost that connection in his 20s. Now, alongside his partner, he’s built a purposeful childfree life rooted in love for nonhumans — founding and managing an ecocentric journal called The Ecological Citizen and working to protect biodiversity, specifically insects, in his local habitat.

    https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast/joe

    Interested in being on the show? Submit your story here: https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast.

    About Beyond Pronatalism

    To have or not have kids is one of the biggest decisions we make in our lives, and yet how many of us know that we even have a choice about how we define and create our families?

    Beyond Pronatalism host Nandita Bajaj interviews women and men from diverse backgrounds who are courageously and creatively navigating pronatalism - the powerful pressures to have children - whether from family, friends, or the culture at large. Through intimate conversations, they discuss how they are forging unconventional pathways to fulfillment, including redefining what family means to them - whether that means being childfree or childless, having biological children, adopting or fostering children or animals, or creating close-knit communities of friends and loved ones.

    Beyond Pronatalism is brought to you by Population Balance - the only nonprofit organization advancing ecological and reproductive justice by confronting pronatalism.

    Visit https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast to subscribe, learn more, and submit your story!

    Episodes released every two weeks. Find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms.

    Copyright 2025 Population Balance

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    23 分
  • Sonia and Aamer | A Conscious “One & Done” Choice
    2025/06/17

    Originally from Pakistan and now based in Canada, Sonia and Aamer met as adults. They decided together that they wanted to become parents, but were also deeply concerned about the environment. After spending a few years carefully weighing their emotional and financial readiness, environmental values, and desire for parenthood, they chose to have one child. Right after the birth of their son, they knew that their family of five, including two rescue dogs, was complete.

    https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast/sonia-aamer

    Interested in being on the show? Submit your story here: https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast.

    About Beyond Pronatalism

    To have or not have kids is one of the biggest decisions we make in our lives, and yet how many of us know that we even have a choice about how we define and create our families?

    Beyond Pronatalism host Nandita Bajaj interviews women and men from diverse backgrounds who are courageously and creatively navigating pronatalism - the powerful pressures to have children - whether from family, friends, or the culture at large. Through intimate conversations, they discuss how they are forging unconventional pathways to fulfillment, including redefining what family means to them - whether that means being childfree or childless, having biological children, adopting or fostering children or animals, or creating close-knit communities of friends and loved ones.

    Beyond Pronatalism is brought to you by Population Balance - the only nonprofit organization advancing ecological and reproductive justice by confronting pronatalism.

    Visit https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast to subscribe, learn more, and submit your story!

    Episodes released every two weeks. Find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms.

    Copyright 2025 Population Balance

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    26 分
  • Jennifer | From Divorce to Self-Discovery
    2025/06/03

    After nearly becoming a mother in a marriage that wasn’t right, Jennifer shares how divorce and a commitment to self-definition became her path to clarity. Starting over has been emotionally wrenching, but she's forging her own path of deep friendship, meaningful community service, and dedication to authentically being herself.

    https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast/jennifer

    Interested in being on the show? Submit your story here: https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast.

    About Beyond Pronatalism

    To have or not have kids is one of the biggest decisions we make in our lives, and yet how many of us know that we even have a choice about how we define and create our families?

    Beyond Pronatalism host Nandita Bajaj interviews women and men from diverse backgrounds who are courageously and creatively navigating pronatalism - the powerful pressures to have children - whether from family, friends, or the culture at large. Through intimate conversations, they discuss how they are forging unconventional pathways to fulfillment, including redefining what family means to them - whether that means being childfree or childless, having biological children, adopting or fostering children or animals, or creating close-knit communities of friends and loved ones.

    Beyond Pronatalism is brought to you by Population Balance - the only nonprofit organization advancing ecological and reproductive justice by confronting pronatalism.

    Visit https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast to subscribe, learn more, and submit your story!

    Episodes released every two weeks. Find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms.

    Copyright 2025 Population Balance

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    24 分
  • Kat | A Black Feminist Upbringing
    2025/05/20

    Raised in a Black feminist family of highly educated women committed to service, Kat Calvin grew up without the pressure to marry or have children. Single and childfree, Kat channels her time and energy into projects that make a difference - building a life of purpose, freedom, and joy.

    https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast/kat

    Interested in being on the show? Submit your story here: https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast.

    About Beyond Pronatalism

    To have or not have kids is one of the biggest decisions we make in our lives, and yet how many of us know that we even have a choice about how we define and create our families?

    Beyond Pronatalism host Nandita Bajaj interviews women and men from diverse backgrounds who are courageously and creatively navigating pronatalism - the powerful pressures to have children - whether from family, friends, or the culture at large. Through intimate conversations, they discuss how they are forging unconventional pathways to fulfillment, including redefining what family means to them - whether that means being childfree or childless, having biological children, adopting or fostering children or animals, or creating close-knit communities of friends and loved ones.

    Beyond Pronatalism is brought to you by Population Balance - the only nonprofit organization advancing ecological and reproductive justice by confronting pronatalism.

    Visit https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast to subscribe, learn more, and submit your story!

    Episodes released every two weeks. Find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms.

    Copyright 2025 Population Balance

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    31 分
  • Paddy | Joyfully Rejecting the System
    2025/05/06

    Paddy’s emotionally-detached boarding school upbringing left him distrustful of authority, including the unspoken expectation to have children. A growing awareness of ecological and social crises and the desire to break a cycle of generational family trauma led him to choose a vasectomy. Today, he and his wife enjoy a joyful life while standing up to oppressive systems.

    https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast/paddy

    Interested in being on the show? Submit your story here: https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast.

    About Beyond Pronatalism

    To have or not have kids is one of the biggest decisions we make in our lives, and yet how many of us know that we even have a choice about how we define and create our families?

    Beyond Pronatalism host Nandita Bajaj interviews women and men from diverse backgrounds who are courageously and creatively navigating pronatalism - the powerful pressures to have children - whether from family, friends, or the culture at large. Through intimate conversations, they discuss how they are forging unconventional pathways to fulfillment, including redefining what family means to them - whether that means being childfree or childless, having biological children, adopting or fostering children or animals, or creating close-knit communities of friends and loved ones.

    Beyond Pronatalism is brought to you by Population Balance - the only nonprofit organization advancing ecological and reproductive justice by confronting pronatalism.

    Visit https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast to subscribe, learn more, and submit your story!

    Episodes released every two weeks. Find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms.

    Copyright 2025 Population Balance

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    30 分
  • Luke and Stefanie | The Simple Joys of a Childfree Life
    2025/04/22
    Luke and Stephanie reflect on how, free from strong family or religious pressure and true to their own desires, they were able to make an early, mutual decision to live childfree. They reflect on the enormous emotional weight they've seen parents carry and express a profound relief and gratitude that they can enjoy meaningful, well-lived, childfree lives in kinship with the natural world.

    See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript:

    https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast/luke-stefanie

    Interested in being on the show? Submit your story here: https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast.

    About Beyond Pronatalism

    To have or not have kids is one of the biggest decisions we make in our lives, and yet how many of us know that we even have a choice about how we define and create our families?

    Beyond Pronatalism host Nandita Bajaj interviews women and men from diverse backgrounds who are courageously and creatively navigating pronatalism - the powerful pressures to have children - whether from family, friends, or the culture at large. Through intimate conversations, they discuss how they are forging unconventional pathways to fulfillment, including redefining what family means to them - whether that means being childfree or childless, having biological children, adopting or fostering children or animals, or creating close-knit communities of friends and loved ones.

    Beyond Pronatalism is brought to you by Population Balance - the only nonprofit organization advancing ecological and reproductive justice by confronting pronatalism.

    Visit https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast to subscribe, learn more, and submit your story!

    Episodes released every two weeks. Find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms.

    Copyright 2025 Population Balance

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    40 分
  • Elizabet | Confessions of a Regretful Mother
    2025/04/08

    Elizabet, the daughter of Bulgarian immigrants in the Czech Republic, shares her experience of coming out as gay in her teens and subsequently raising a child alone. She now speaks openly about her parental regret, rooted in her worry for both her child's future and her deep love for the natural world and concern for its destruction.

    See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript:

    https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast/elizabet

    Interested in being on the show? Submit your story here: https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast.

    About Beyond Pronatalism

    To have or not have kids is one of the biggest decisions we make in our lives, and yet how many of us know that we even have a choice about how we define and create our families?

    Beyond Pronatalism host Nandita Bajaj interviews women and men from diverse backgrounds who are courageously and creatively navigating pronatalism - the powerful pressures to have children - whether from family, friends, or the culture at large. Through intimate conversations, they discuss how they are forging unconventional pathways to fulfillment, including redefining what family means to them - whether that means being childfree or childless, having biological children, adopting or fostering children or animals, or creating close-knit communities of friends and loved ones.

    Beyond Pronatalism is brought to you by Population Balance - the only nonprofit organization advancing ecological and reproductive justice by confronting pronatalism.

    Visit https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast to subscribe, learn more, and submit your story!

    Episodes released every two weeks. Find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms.

    Copyright 2025 Population Balance

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    43 分
  • Chetana | The Gift of Biological Childlessness
    2025/03/25

    A childhood illness leaves Chetana unable to give birth. After enduring the pronatalist shame of biological childlessness for many years from both her Indian immigrant family and the broader Midwestern US culture, she reflects on the possibilities this opened up for her, and how many women are denied those possibilities by pronatalism.

    See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript:

    https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast/chetana

    Interested in being on the show? Submit your story here: https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast.

    About Beyond Pronatalism

    To have or not have kids is one of the biggest decisions we make in our lives, and yet how many of us know that we even have a choice about how we define and create our families?

    Beyond Pronatalism host Nandita Bajaj interviews women and men from diverse backgrounds who are courageously and creatively navigating pronatalism - the powerful pressures to have children - whether from family, friends, or the culture at large. Through intimate conversations, they discuss how they are forging unconventional pathways to fulfillment, including redefining what family means to them - whether that means being childfree or childless, having biological children, adopting or fostering children or animals, or creating close-knit communities of friends and loved ones.

    Beyond Pronatalism is brought to you by Population Balance - the only nonprofit organization advancing ecological and reproductive justice by confronting pronatalism.

    Visit https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast to subscribe, learn more, and submit your story!

    Episodes released every two weeks. Find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms.

    Copyright 2025 Population Balance

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    36 分