It’s a question rarely posed in public: do I want kids?
It’s also one that Laura Henshaw from the highly successful LiSTNR podcast KICPOD co-hosted with Steph Claire Smith, is pondering.
After raising the subject on a recent KICPOD episode to overwhelming support from people across the world, Laura has recorded a limited series podcast with people from all walks of life; from parenthood mentors to child-free advocates, career-driven professionals, stay-at-home mums, young and older parents, relationship experts, medical specialists and her own husband Dalton Henshaw, about this sensitive and incredibly personal decision.
“I have never been inundated with more messages than after I spoke about the issue for the first time on the podcast. For women and people between the ages of 20 and 40, who don’t feel ‘born’ to be a mother or parent, there is so much shame around their decision and so many women feel alone in this feeling, when it is incredibly common,” said Laura.
“The fear of losing ourselves, giving up a life we love, the impact children can have on our relationships, our inner selves, are all so very common. And if we do decide to have kids, is it even possible for us? Although parenthood is a choice, it’s not always guaranteed,” she said.
Do I Want Kids? discusses the question in a safe and honest space and begins on LiSTNR TOMORROW Wednesday 15 May 2024 with episodes every Wednesday and Friday for seven episodes – listen to the trailer here
“Across the world more women and couples are choosing not to have children, and that’s OK. In a pro-natal society, it still feels taboo to speak about the decision to have, or not to have, children,” said Laura.
“I wanted to create a safe space in this mini-series to ask the questions we feel we can’t ask but are so important in shaping our decision. Having children is a very personal choice, one that isn’t guaranteed, and through this limited series I hope to give people going through this process some breathing space, and conversations, to bring the question into the open, because it’s one of the biggest decisions we will ever make,” she said.
“Yes, this is a decision that is close to my heart right now. I have my own thoughts and reservations about having children and I wanted to create a platform for people like me to hear a wide range of different perspectives and feel less alone and better informed. I want to normalise this conversation.
“Throughout the limited podcast series, with insights from experts and people’s real stories, we are able to really break through the misconception that having children is essential for a ‘successful’ life full of love and joy. Life can be beautiful both with and without children, and exploring this was incredibly freeing. I hope listeners are able to feel the same way.”
Laura and Steph are two of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs, authors and healthy living advocates and together have created one of the world’s most holistic wellness empires, in Kic. The KICPOD launched five years ago and is one of Australia’s top 50 most listened to podcasts*. It’s a D&M with your besties on the stuff that matters.
Listen to regular episodes of KICPOD here and the limited series Do I Want Kids? from tomorrow.
Source: *Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 All Australian Podcasts – March 2024