Childfree During The Reagan Administration (With Childfree Trailblazer Marie Bernardy)

It’s time to talk about STEPPARENTS! Pop culture references like ‘Cinderella’s evil stepmother and the  ‘Parent Trap’s Meredith Blake have given us a negative perception of the role. Stepparents – and stepmothers in particular — have been painted as cruel, home-wrecking villains. But realistically, if you’re not interested in having biological kids of your own, perhaps being a stepparent is the best of both worlds: you get the joys of raising a child, without ever having to suffer through pregnancy — and with only a fraction of the responsibility! Today, we’ll be joined by Chloe Steinhoff-Smith. Yes, that’s right — the design mastermind behind our podcast cover art, and a bonafide, honest to goodness stepmom. We’ll talk to her about her experience, the ups and downs of stepparent-hood, and get her best advice for people who might be considering becoming stepparents themselves. To read about the illustrious Jeff Conaway, visit his Wikipedia.  Take the quiz!: What Kind Of Stepparent Are You? To follow Chloe Steinhoff-Smith, check her out on Instagram. To support this show, visit https://anchor.fm/dinky-podcast Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Instagram and TikTok at @dinkypod. If you have a question or comment, email us at dinkypod@gmail.com. For the love of god, please share the show with friends.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

24 Jan 20231h 7min

The decision to be childfree might leave you with one big question: how do I meet childfree friends? You’re not alone; it’s one of the most commonly searched childfree topics on Google. In this episode, we’re talking about our own journeys and struggles to form childfree community – plus offering advice on how to take the first step in finding like-minded friends. Tap HERE to watch the TikTok about Kim Kardashian’s dogs.  To support this show, visit us on Anchor.  Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Instagram and TikTok at @dinkypod. If you have a question or comment, email us at dinkypod@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

10 Jan 202350min

According to ‘The Atlantic’, millennials recently overtook boomers as the largest pet-owning cohort of Americans; by some estimates, more than half of them have a dog. The pet-ownership rate is even higher among those with a college education and a stable income—the same people who are most likely to delay marriage and parenthood beyond the timelines set by previous generations. So should you just stop at pet ownership or continue down the path of human parenthood? In this episode, we will review how pets vs. children impact your health, happiness, and more. To learn more about the effects children and pets have on health and life expectancy, check out these articles: https://www.health.com/condition/pregnancy/reproductive-history-health-risks https://www.mrhc.org/blog/news/does-not-having-kids-cause-health-issues-in-women/ https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/understanding-how-having-children-can-affect-your-health/ https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/keeping-pets-and-people-healthy/how.html https://www.parents.com/news/giving-birth-later-in-life-could-mean-you-live-longer-according-to-a-new-study/ https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/gyxqxw/how-having-kids-could-affect-your-lifespan https://www.verywellhealth.com/pets-and-longevity-2223874 For more info on brain changes when interacting with kids or pets, visit: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/understanding-how-having-children-can-affect-your-health/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/many-same-brain-regions-are-activated-when-mothers-look-their-pets-or-their-children-180952946/ To support this show, visit https://anchor.fm/dinky-podcast Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Instagram and TikTok at @dinkypod. If you have a question or comment, email us at dinkypod@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

27 Des 202247min

Nothing defines the holidays more than brutal conversations with family. Going home for the holidays leaves you especially vulnerable to parents asking when you’re gonna settle down and pop out a couple grandchildren. On this special episode, we’re joined by Gabrielle Moss, author of How To Tell Your Parents You Don’t Want Kids on Bustle.com, as well as Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction, and GLOP: Nontoxic, Expensive Ideas That Will Make You Look Ridiculous And Feel Pretentious. Moss joins to breaks down her top tips on how delivering the news with compassion. If you’re sweating the conversation, this episode is for you. To buy one of Gabrielle’s books, visit Bookshop.org.  For the full story on Kylie Jenner’s son, Wolf, check out this story at People.  Tap HERE to support this show.  Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Instagram and TikTok.  If you have a question or comment, email us at dinkypod@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

13 Des 202252min

Black Friday and Cyber Monday might be over — but the residual effects of capitalism will stick with you for a lifetime! It’s the most anticipated time of year, so it’s only appropriate that we release one of our most anticipated episodes, and the topic that’s America’s #1 friend: capitalism. What do capitalism and choosing to be childfree have in common? Actually, a lot! Tune in to hear us unpack the topic and dig deep on why billionaires are really counting on procreation. For the full list of the most popular toys of the 90s, read the full list HERE.  To learn more about the history of capitalism, visit Wikipedia. Yes, really.  For more on Jennifer Aniston’s journey with IVF and childlessness, read her feature in Allure.  To support this show, give back by clicking HERE.  Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Instagram and TikTok at @dinkypod. If you have a question or comment, email us at dinkypod@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

29 Nov 202241min

The holidays are right around the corner and that means one thing: people are about to say some really awful sh!t to you about your decision to remain childfree. If you’re bubbling with anxiety about how to respond when people ask “who will take care of you when you’re old?” or tell you “you’re selfish” — we’ve got you covered. It’s high tide to prep your reactions so you’re in peak position to clap back at Aunt Kathy. To learn more about the $25k necklace Tristan Thompson gave to his daughter, god speed.  To see Brittany Mahomes “sexy maternity shoot” visit People.com:  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

15 Nov 202255min

We’re talking about children who see dead people, kids who believe they’re reincarnated, and the stressed out parents who birthed them. Kristen and Erika also introduce a brand new segment: The Celebrity Playground! Tune in to hear it all — but warning: you might wanna leave the lights on and your IUD in. If you want to learn more about the psychology of why kids see ghosts, read this article from WaPo.  If you want to hear more horrifying stories from parents, there are several articles where parents share creepy things their kids said. There's also a Reddit thread on the topic.  Click here to buy ‘Return To Life: Extraordinary Cases Of Children Who Remember Past Lives’.  To learn more about time slips, we recommend this article on Medium. To learn more about how babies’ brains look similar to a person on LSD, check out this article.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

28 Okt 202258min

Welcome back to Season 2 of Dinky! In this season premiere, Kristen and Erika catch up on what happened during the break — from weddings, to health scares, and beyond. We introduce some new changes and cover what’ll be new in this season, including more celeb content, and a deeper dive on antinatalism and being childfree. Plus, we’re joined by Matt Simpson, the creator of the Parenting Simulator from Season 1. Listen in to hear him reveal the real reason he created the game, his takes on how to know if parenting is right for you, and more. ‘My Five Wives’ is available to stream on Discovery+ To follow Matt Simpson, find him on Twitter To play the Parenting Simulator yourself, download the app HERE. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

25 Okt 202246min