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Award-winning, monthly podcast for those who are childless not by choice, their friends, family and relatives supported by an online community open to all who are childless not by choice. We share hidden stories related to childlessness for any reason. We welcome known voices and new speakers.
Episodes
Sunday Oct 11, 2020
Sunday Oct 11, 2020
In this episode, we were joined by artist Helen Segal who is the founder of Empowered Childlessness. Helen shares her inspiring life journey, discussing openly her grief and impact of IVF, and change in her life. It’s an incredible episode and we loved chatting to her, and there’s so much to take away from this.
On 15th October 2020, it’s the Wave of Light for Baby Loss Awareness Week. Helen will be running a free workshop on this date, and a longer one on 26th October. To find out more please visit her website here and also check out her Facebook group here too.
Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
In this episode we were joined by Victoria Firth and Meriel Whale as we continue to explore the unheard voices in our community. We wanted to learn about what it means to be LGBTQI+ and involuntarily childless. Please join Michael and Berenice on this powerful and moving episode with our two amazing guests.
Trigger: This episode discusses alternative parenting including adoption and IVF.
Victoria is a performer, theatre maker and director, born in Yorkshire in the UK. She makes plays that embrace the physical and playful. ‘How To Be Amazingly Happy’ was shown at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018 and an extract performed at Fertility Fest in 2019, and explores how you find a new ‘once upon a time’ after the ‘happy ever after’ never turned up. We were delighted to welcome Victoria to The Full Stop podcast!
Meriel Whale is a counsellor and much welcomed return guest to the podcast. She works compassionately with people in great distress to help them to move forward with their lives and has a particular empathy with involuntary childless community.
Resources and reading
Penguin Random House LGBTQIA and Pride reading list
Helpline details
You can find lots of resources in our Toolkit here.
UK: Contact the Samaritans on freephone 116 123, they're open 24 hours and are there to listen and Mind.
USA: Suicide Prevention
Canada: Canada Crisis
Australia: Beyond Blue
Covid-19 resources
European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (links to worldwide Government resources)
The International Association of National Public Health Institutes
Sunday Aug 16, 2020
Sunday Aug 16, 2020
In this episode, we were joined by Kirsty Woodard, a leading figure in raising awareness in ageing without children and founder of Ageing Well Without Children, Ming Ho, a screenwriter who writes, speaks, and campaigns on dementia and carer issues at Dementia Just Ain’t Sexy and Denise Jackson, a experienced carer and only child.
Please go to our website for show notes and more information
Sunday Jul 12, 2020
Sunday Jul 12, 2020
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." James Baldwin
Trigger: motherhood and birth are briefly mentioned in this episode.
Our community has heart. The warm welcome and kind words that we’ve heard in response to the many incredible stories of pain, recovery and hope from our guests never fails to move us. We know that there is a lot of compassion in our audience, and strength to adapt and change.
The world took a breath at the senseless murder of George Floyd this summer. Some broke lockdown to express pain and many of us felt compelled to learn. We wanted to bring the Full Stop podcast into this conversation and use our channels to show support. We thought hard about how to do this. It’s so much more than a hashtag. We wanted to change with empathy. There was no question that us three white presenters would lead this episode but we had every confidence when we handed over the podcast to Yvonne John, friend to many and author of Dreaming of a Life Unlived.
You’ll hear a lot less of us talking but we’re there and we are learning with you. As Michael says in the introduction, some of the conversations may make you uncomfortable but we’re used to seeing that in others and how that feels, and we’re also well versed in empathy. We really hope you’ll get as much from this episode as we did.
Yvonne is joined by her guests Haneefah Muhammad, Krista Cooper PhD, LLMSW, Bindi Shah and Civilla Morgan and they’re talking about the impact of the murder of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter on them, how we all need to face up to change, and how childlessness and racism have affected their lives. We were also thrilled to have our first poetry reading on the podcast by Haneefah.
Resources
Our guests were keen to share resources with us, but you’ll hear a common theme in the episode. Education is down to the individual. We hope that you’ll find this episode part of your journey to understanding.
Books
White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
Natives: Races and Class in the Ruins on Empire by Akala
How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Slay in your Lane by Elizabeth Uviebinené and Yomi Adegoke
The Hate U Gave book and film by Angie Thomas
White spaces, Missing faces by Catrice M. Jackson
Websites, podcasts and blogs
Films
Arts
Norman Rockwell ‘The problem we all live with’
Sunday Jun 21, 2020
Sunday Jun 21, 2020
In this episode we’re joined by Rosalind Bubb, a therapist and EFT International 'Accredited Certified Master EFT Trainer’. Rosalind has been volunteering her skills to NHS workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this episode she shares her story with us, and guides us through an EFT Tapping Session and we hope you’ll join in.
You can find out more about EFT and Rosalind’s work at her website
On our website we have a video where Rosalind talks us through the technique, you can watch this here
Sunday May 17, 2020
Sunday May 17, 2020
In this special episode recorded during lockdown in Spain, UK and Ireland, we reflect on the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus and our community, with a focus on what it’s like to be single and childless in the pandemic.
We are joined by Rod Silvers, Jody Day with Julie and Joss from Gateway Women.
Trigger: we discuss our journey to childlessness and adult themes.
Sunday Apr 19, 2020
Sunday Apr 19, 2020
In this episode Michael, Sarah and Berenice were joined by Dr Robin Hadley, PhD researcher Andy Harrod, Ken Fenton and Kevin Roberts, husband of Sarah Roberts who runs The Empty Cradle.
One of the most rewarding parts of running a regular podcast is that we have many opportunities to meet new and old friends, We were delighted to welcome Andy back onto the show - he joined us on our first men and childlessness episode in August 2019. You can read more about Andy on his website, Decoding Static.
We were also delighted to catch up with Dr Robin Hadley, a supporter of the podcast since we first began. Many of you may already know Robin through his valuable research work, and personal experience, of male infertility. You can read more about Robin here
It’s also good to hear new voices and new stories. Ken Fenton is a good friend of Michael’s and he discusses being a step parent. Kevin Roberts joined us from Australia where his wife Sarah, supports the community through The Empty Cradle.
In this episode, we discuss men and involuntary childlessness, being a step parent and how to handle Father’s Day
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
We have been checking in daily with each other to make sure we’re okay. We decided that we’d catch up on Zoom and ended up doing an impromptu recording. So here’s Episode 13, recorded on the eve of the UK lockdown. We reflect on the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus and our community, and Michael tells some stories! We also ask how we can help you through our podcast. Can we use our resources to support your work, mental health… please do tell us.
Please do note that we talk briefly about the impact of ending IVF treatment during the crisis, this may be a trigger for you.
We promised a twist when we talked about this on social media and here it is! This episode is audio and video. We decided to include video as we felt you’d like a bit more of a connection with us and some friendly faces, you can head to our website to watch us recording.
Sunday Mar 15, 2020
Sunday Mar 15, 2020
Mother’s Day is a day of mixed emotions. We can feel a sense of loss and perhaps conflict too. In this episode, join Michael, Sarah and Berenice in conversation with fellow podcaster, Civilla Morgan (listen to her podcast Childless Not By Choice here) who shares her views on faith, the loss of her mother and how she’s inspiring churches to take a new approach. We welcomed Allie Anderson, a freelance journalist, editor & writer specialising in health to the podcast. She shares her advice on tackling the day and we discuss new activities and… Colin Firth!
You’ll also find out how to win a copy of Jody Day’s fabulous revised edition of ‘Living The Life Unexpected’. (read our review here)
We do mention miscarriage and parental loss so this episode maybe triggering.
Sunday Feb 16, 2020
Sunday Feb 16, 2020
“Could your concept of who you are be expanded to include the plants and animals around you? Could it include mountains, rain and wind? What would our lives feel like if we started to include non animate elements as part of our family?” Suzan Muir
Join Michael, Sarah and Berenice in conversation with Suzan Muir and hear more about her extraordinary and inspiring life.
To find out more about Suzan’s retreats please visit her website by clicking here
Helpline details
You can find lots of resources in our Toolkit here.
UK: Contact the Samaritans on freephone 116 123, they're open 24 hours and are there to listen and Mind.
USA: Suicide Prevention
Canada: Canada Crisis
Australia: Beyond Blue