What Scotland’s Witch Trials Can Teach Us Today

This episode’s returning guest is Maggie Dickens, licensed therapist and the host of Unapologetically Childfree. Maggie’s built an incredible space for childfree women who are done holding it all together for everyone else and ready to feel as supported as everyone else. She’s got a mix of therapy smarts, real talk, and a calming energy that makes you want to exhale and finally stop carrying everyone’s emotional baggage. In this episode, Maggie joins to talk through how to stop being the entire village and do it guilt-free. And today, just in time for the holidays, she’s sharing some strategies to regulate your nervous system. Connect with Maggie on Instagram.SMALL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK: Contact Taylor of Oxley Consulting Services for support in building personalized administrative solutions to help you make real progress in your life + in your business.Merch is here!!! New Dinky trip alert!! Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last. Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show. Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

18 Marras 1h 30min

Welcome back our Regretful Parents series! In this episode, Erika and Kristen react to a viral Reddit post from a parent who openly regrets having kids — and his reasons why will make your jaw drop. From religious guilt and peer pressure to capitalism and walkable cities, this conversation breaks down why so many parents are speaking out about regret, exhaustion, and the myth of “the village.”We dive into:The viral Reddit post titled “For the ones lurking and seeking answers”Why some people regret having kids — and what they wish they’d knownThe impact of religion, social pressure, and capitalism on family planningThe myth of “it takes a village” and what parents actually need: money, services, and walkable citiesWhy billionaires and late-stage capitalism are part of the parenting crisisGET MORE: Find us on YouTubeFollow us on Instagram & TikTok: @dinkypodJoin our community:Find childfree friends, connect with other fence-sitters, and join our next trip at dinkypod.com.Timestamps:00:00 Intro – The “Regretful Parents” series00:21 The viral Reddit post01:00 The “sex drive” rant03:00 Religion, guilt, and regret05:00 “You need a village” vs “You need services”06:00 Capitalism, billionaires, and burnout08:00 Dinky Pod community & PatreonKeywords: regretful parents, childfree podcast, childfree lifestyle, should I have kids, parent regret, Reddit parenting, childfree women, childfree couples, religious guilt parenting, capitalism parenting crisis, late stage capitalism, Dinky Pod, Erika and Kristen, fence sitters, walkable cities parentingBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

13 Marras 8min

Select Regretful Parents episodes are being uploaded to the podcast feed — to watch the full series, visit Dinky Podcast on our YouTube!Welcome back to our Regretful Parents series, where hosts Erika and Kristen read and react to posts from parents who regret having kids. This episode dives into a Reddit confession titled “4 A.M. Thoughts” — a raw look at the exhaustion, resentment, and grief that some parents feel behind closed doors.Erika and Kristen unpack it all:🐶 The dog that remembers the “before times”☕ The cold coffee and endless morning chaos😩 The invisible labor of motherhood🧠 The mental load and emotional burnoutTimestamps:00:36 – The “4 A.M. Thoughts” Reddit post06:00 – The emotional toll of motherhood10:00 – When parenthood feels like a prison sentence15:00 – Quiet mornings, lost freedom, and what-ifs18:00 – Unpacking lore about Charles Dickens' wife story (yikes)22:00 – Final thoughts💬 Join the Discussion:Would you go back to bed at 4 a.m.? Or stay up to savor the time with your dog? 💡 About the Show:Regretful Parents is part of the Dinky Podcast, where Erika and Kristen explore child-free living, parental regret, and the culture around choosing (or not choosing) kids. 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts!🌐 Visit DinkyPod.com for more information + to learn about our trips#RegretfulParents #ChildFreeByChoice #ParenthoodRegret #DinkyPodcast #ChildFreeCommunity #Antinatalism #ParentBurnout #MomRegret #RealParenthood #DINKLife #ChildFreeLiving #ParenthoodUnfiltered #PodcastClips #RedditStoriesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

6 Marras 24min

Today we’re joined by the hilarious Natasha Vaynblat, a New York–based comedian and writer embracing the childfree life. You’ve seen her work on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and her debut stand-up album We’re All Dads Here was named one of Paste’s Best Comedy Albums and featured in Vulture’s “5 Albums to Watch Right Now.” Natasha is also the creator and star of the award-winning digital Comedy Central series Your Worst Fears: Confirmed, which hilariously brings our most irrational anxieties to life. In this episode, Natasha opens up about her journey to embracing a childfree identity, how it’s shaped her comedy, and what it means to carve your own path. Catch Natasha Live: Natasha is currently performing her show “Childless Freak” at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NYC on November 8, 2025.Connect with Natasha on InstagramDon’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode — it helps people find the show!Merch is here!!! Get your merch NOW!New Dinky trip alert!! Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last. Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show. Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

4 Marras 55min

In the spirit of Halloween, Kristen and Erika decided to give you ALL the bonus Halloween content! Enjoy!!!If you don’t immediately recognize her name, you may know the famous nursery rhyme: Lizzie Borden took an axe, she gave her mother 40 whacks; when she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41. Besides her infamy in American crime history, she was also a woman who never had kids. In this episode, we’re going to review the case and the aftermath — and question: was she the killer? This is sure to be a fan-favorite among those who love our rambling. Want more bonus content? Sign up for the Patreon! Join now to support the show + gain access to weekly, ad-free episodes, chat with us & other childfree pals in the Dinky Discord, join our virtual book club, and more! Merch is here!!! Get your merch NOW!New Dinky trip alert!! Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last. Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show. Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

30 Loka 48min

In the spirit of Halloween, Kristen and Erika decided to give you ALL the bonus Halloween content! Enjoy!!!This past summer, Kristen visited Salem, MA — the city best known for one of the most devastating events of early American history: the Salem Witch Trials. Given some parallels and stereotypes between witches and childfree women (i.e., childless cat ladies), Kristen + Erika wanted to revisit this event in history and focus on some key details of the witches themselves.The Dinky Patreon is officially live! Join now to support the show + gain access to weekly, ad-free episodes, chat with us & other childfree pals in the Dinky Discord, join our virtual book club, and more! Wanna re-read the blog Kristen read about childfree witches? See it here. Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last. Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show. Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

30 Loka 54min

It’s October, which means it’s the start of Spooky Season. If you’ve been listening to Dinky for the past three years, you know we always do a Halloween episode – two of which have included our favorite, recurring guest star, Sapphire Sandalo. You might recognize her as a co-host on the Travel Channel TV shows ‘Ghost Town Terror’ or from her appearances on ‘Paranormal Caught on Camera.’ She also has her own award-winning podcast, Stories With Sapphire. Today, Sapphire rejoins the Dinky crew to chat about her new short film, as well as chat about witches. And this year we’re trying something new – we’re doing a whole month of spooky childfree tales across our Patreon bonus & regular episodes, including more stories spotlighting childfree witches and more spooky childfree/childless women. Learn more about Sapphire’s new short film, BREEDER, and support the film HERE.Soft re-launching MERCH! (Shh.) Get your merch HERE. New Dinky trip alert!! Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last. The Dinky Patreon is officially live! Join now to support the show + gain access to weekly, ad-free episodes, chat with us & other childfree pals in the Dinky Discord, join our virtual book club, and more! Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show. Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

7 Loka 1h 16min