The Kids or Childfree Podcast

We're kicking off Season 9 of the podcast with a conversation with researcher and clinical psychologist, Dr. Imogene Smith, discussing her studies on men who choose to be childfree.

Hear about:
How many men are choosing not to have kids — and the commonalities between those who choose this path.


Why even the men who say they definitely don't want kids, leave a little room for doubt.


The lack of communication between the men Imogene interviewed and their partners, about these men's desires not to have children.


The reasons childfree men choose not to have kids — and the societal stereotypes and pressures they face.
Plus, additional insights on the men who become fathers. 
(2:12) Meet Imogene and her research about childfree by choice men; (10:31) Survey of childfree men; (21:09) Partnership & the childfree decision; (33:47) Pressure & push-back for not wanting children; (48:07) Masculinity and the Kids or Childfree decision; (51:13) Longevity and aging for childfree men; (59:16) Men who defer to their female partner for the decision to have kids
About Imogene:

Dr. Imogene Smith is a Clinical Psychologist, lecturer, and researcher based in Australia. Her research has explored the experiences of men who choose to be childfree, the social pressures surrounding reproductive decisions, and men's experiences of becoming fathers. She currently works as both an academic and practicing psychologist in Australia. Her research has attracted national media attention, with appearances across ABC Radio, newspapers, blogs and television - SBS, and Channel 9 - discussing childfree identities, parenthood, and men's mental health.


As mentioned in the episode: 

Find Dr. Imogene Smith on LinkedIn. 

The publications her work appears in can be found here. 

Sign up for our October 26th No Wrong Choice Workshop. 


MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION:
Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop
Join a GROUP PROGRAM
🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program
🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive
Access an ON DEMAND class 
🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand
Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 
🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series
🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series
Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching

FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources
CONNECT ONLINE
💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com
📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree
⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree
📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 
👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com
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In this wrap-up episode of Season 8 of the podcast, Keltie is interviewed by her marketing assistant, Nicole. Tune in to hear them talk about Season 8 highlights, what else is happening with Kids or Childfree, and some fun and personal stuff about Keltie that you probably don't know!


(1:43) Introducing Nikki and her role in Kids or Childfree; (11:25) Reflecting on lessons learned from Season 8 guests; (34:58) Personal questions for Keltie; (36:40) Behind the scenes of the Kids or Childfree business; (45:58) Random questions
 
As mentioned in the episode:

Hear Keltie's episode of Nicole's The Expat Cast Podcast where they talk about "home" here, and the episode about deciding whether to have kids while living aboard, here. 

Tune into Episode 106 with Tyece, here.
 
Listen to Episode 111 with Caroline from @elsewherewithcare, here. 

Join the next round of the same Confidently Childfree Group Intensive that Caroline took part in. 

Find Episode 112 with Tess Pereira, here. 

Want to be one of our 50 decision conversations? Email Keltie at hello@keltiemaguire.com.

Get details on private coaching: kidsorchildfree.com/coaching


MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION:
Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop
Join a GROUP PROGRAM
🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program
🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive
Access an ON DEMAND class 
🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand
Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 
🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series
🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series
Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching

FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources
CONNECT ONLINE
💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com
📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree
⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree
📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 
👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com
Love what you're hearing? 💕 Subscribe | Like | Comment | Share with a friend

In this episode, Keltie is chatting with couples therapist, Elizabeth Earnshaw (a.k.a. @lizlistens on social media) all about how couples can discuss and navigate the choice to have — or not have — kids.

Liz shares:
How to start and have conversations with your partner about the Kids or Childfree choice.


Why curiosity is often the best starting point when it comes to a conflict of desires between partners.


How to handle fears and uncertainties about parenthood.


How trust — and your partner's past and present behavior — fits into this decision.


Her take on some of the most common myths regarding couples and the Kids or Childfree decision.
(1:17) Meet Liz and her Kids or Childfree decision;  (5:06) Advice for talking about the kids topic in your relationship; (12:31) Liz's motherhood journey (20:00) The role of trust and fears; (38:48) True/false about common myths

About Liz:

Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT is a marriage and family therapist and the author of I Want This To Work and Til Stress Do Us Part. She is the founder of A Better Life Therapy and The Intensive Couples Therapy Institute. Elizabeth frequently speaks about the impact of stress on couples and parents and has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, US Today, and many international publications.

As mentioned in the episode:

Find Liz online at www.elizabethearnshaw.com.

She's @lizlistens on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. 

Read her books, 'Til Stress Do Us Part and I Want This to Work

Get your All-Access Pass or individual session tickets for our latest Confidently Childfree Support Series.


MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION:
Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop
Join a GROUP PROGRAM
🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program
🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive
Access an ON DEMAND class 
🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand
Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 
🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series
🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series
Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources
CONNECT ONLINE
💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com
📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree
⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree
📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 
👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com
Love what you're hearing? 💕 Subscribe | Like | Comment | Share with a friend

In this conversation, Keltie is speaking with executive coach, career counsellor, and international speaker, Helen Krug von Nida about her brand-new book, Closing the Fulfillment Gap, as well as Helen's personal decision to remain childfree.
 
You'll hear them discuss:

Why so many women are feeling less lit up by their careers and lives than they'd like.


How women can find greater fulfillment no matter which Kids or Childfree choice they make.


Helen's MOVE framework for personal growth and fulfillment, which emphasizes motivation, opportunities, vision, and empowering community.


The importance of "diversifying" one's fulfillment, and the risk we run if we look to motherhood to be the one fulfilling thing. 


Helen's own journey of choosing a childfree life, including the fulfillment she finds in her autonomy and the importance of grace in decision-making.

(0:34) Meet Helen & her work on fulfillment; (10:36) The gap between feeling stuck & feeling fulfilled; (17:02) Fulfillment & the Kids or Childfree decision; (29:26) MOVE framework & the Kids or Childfree decision; (40:22) Helen's choice to be childfree
About Helen:

Dr. Helen Krug von Nidda is an executive coach, international speaker, and advisor who delivers keynotes and workshops on leadership development, career empowerment for women, and strengthening workplace culture. With over 20 years of global HR experience spanning the United Nations system and Fortune 500 companies. Her clients include Morgan Stanley, Dell, LinkedIn, Google, Oracle and Sony Music. Helen holds a Doctorate in Education from Columbia University. She is a certified executive coach and licensed career counselor, and holds an MA in Human Resources Management and a BA from Smith College. She is currently an instructor at Stanford University and has taught at IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland and INSEAD France. Her forthcoming book, Closing the Fulfillment Gap, published by Post Hill Press will be released 15 September 2026.

As mentioned in the episode: 

Purchase Closing the Fulfillment Gap 

Helen's website is www.with-helen.com

Find Helen on Instagram at @with.dr.helen and on LinkedIn

Sign up for our September 16th Kids or Childfree Group Program start. 
 




MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION:
Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop
Join a GROUP PROGRAM
🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program
🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive
Access an ON DEMAND class 
🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand
Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 
🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series
🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series
Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources
CONNECT ONLINE
💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com
📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree
⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree
📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 
👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com
Love what you're hearing? 💕 Subscribe | Like | Comment | Share with a friend

"What if my partner and I want different things?" — that's the question we're tabling in this episode of the podcast. If you and your partner are at different ends of the Kids or Childfree decision spectrum, or one of you is clear, and the other is on the fence, this one is for you. 

Keltie is dishing out her topic advice including...
Why being at odds about this choice doesn't have to mean a break-up.
The fact that your relationship can absolutely inform what you want and how you feel about this choice.

When being on a different page about this decision is actually a symptom or manifestation of bigger issues at play in your relationship.

Why decision that's only for the other person is likely to bring up future resentment.

The key red flags in relationships who are in disagreement about this decision.

(0:45) It's not an automatic break-up; (4:48) Identifying priorities; (10:26) Bigger issues come to light; (15:14) Compromise; (25:35) Separate your desire from the decision; (28:00) Red flags
As mentioned in the episode:

Check out our On Demand class, A Difference of Opinion, for further support on the topic of being at odds with your partner about this choice.

You can find the full On Demand line-up here. 

The following Kids or Childfree Podcast episodes feature guests or the topic of being at odds with your partner about this choice:

Episode 112
Episode 99
Episode 85
Episode 75
Episode 45
Episode 32
Episode 30
Episode 29
Episode 8

Sign up for our September 16th Kids or Childfree Group Program start. 


MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION:
Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop
Join a GROUP PROGRAM
🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program
🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive
Access an ON DEMAND class 
🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand
Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions 
🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series
🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series
Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING 
🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources
CONNECT ONLINE
💻 Website ▸ http://kidsorchildfree.com
📸 Instagram ▸ http://instagram.com/kidsorchildfree
⏰ Tiktok ▸ https://tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree
📽️ YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@KidsorChildfree 
👉 Brought to you by Keltie Maguire, Clarity Coach ▸ http://keltiemaguire.com
Love what you're hearing? 💕 Subscribe | Like | Comment | Share with a friend