This episode introduces the next of 12 letters from their collaborative visual arts project “Letters to Our Unborn Children: An Exploration of a Woman’s Decision to Remain Child-Free by Choice.” They discuss the “Nurturer” archetype behind the letter, and share their research and insights around the themes in the letter. They are joined by guests Samantha Frances and Andrea Wood, who both participated in the survey and are members of the private video chat group.

Samantha Frances is a relationship and communication life coach, musician, and actor who integrates her personal experiences with recovery, polyamory, spirituality, and an artistic career to empower individuals and couples and groups in building strong, meaningful connections. With a deep understanding of the complexities of modern relationships, Samantha offers transformative workshops and personalized sessions that guide clients in navigating challenges with confidence and clarity. As a talented musician and actor, she infuses her artistic expression into her coaching, creating a unique platform for healing and self-discovery. Through her journey, Samantha inspires others to embrace love, authenticity, resilience, and spiritual growth in their lives.

Andrea Wood is a proud childfree woman who finds joy in the richness of the life she gets to live as a result of her decision not to have children. As a lifelong learner and dedicated public servant, she built her career organizing to improve the lives of others. Currently serving as a public school administrator, she is passionate about education policy and empowering young minds for our future. Beyond her professional role, Andrea prioritizes investing her time and energy in personal growth, civic engagement, and fostering meaningful connections with others. She’s a devoted dog and chicken mother and a nurturer at heart, and finds raising her furry and feathery babies brings the perfect amount of joy to her life. Andrea has a strong connection to nature and commitment to ethical living, and loves animals enough to not eat them. Driven by a deep passion for social justice and political activism, she actively works to create a more equitable and compassionate world for all. Her life is enriched by her loving partner who doubles as her favorite travel buddy and best friend. In her freetime, she is working on writing a book about her childfree choice and intentionally networking with the childfree community.

Additional Links (for listeners to learn more)
– Find Samantha Frances online:
— TikTok: @samanthafrancess
— Instagram: @samanthafrancess
— The Estuary
– Find Andrea Wood on Instagram: @childfree_andhappy
– Find more about the Letters project at letterstoourunbornchildren.com

This episode introduces the first of 12 letters from their collaborative visual arts project “Letters to Our Unborn Children: An Exploration of a Woman’s Decision to Remain Child-Free by Choice.” They discuss the “Strategist” archetype behind the letter, and share their research and insights around the themes in the letter. They are joined by guest Meghan Daum, author of “Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on the Decision Not to Have Kids.”

Meghan Daum is the creator and host of The Unspeakable Podcast and the author of six books, most recently The Problem With Everything: My Journey Through The New Culture Wars, a New York Times Notable Book for 2019. Her collection of original essays, The Unspeakable: And Other Subjects of Discussion, won the 2015 Pen Center USA Award for creative nonfiction. A Los Angeles Times opinion columnist from 2005 to 2016, she has written for numerous magazines, including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, and Vogue. Meghan is the recipient of a 2015 Guggenheim Fellowship and a 2016 National Endowment for the Arts grant. She has taught graduate writing students at Columbia University and The University of Iowa and now teaches private workshops in personal essay, memoir and op-ed. In 2022, she founded The Unspeakeasy, an intellectual community for freethinking women (and occasionally men). Her next book, a collection of essays entitled The Catastrophe Hour, will be published in April 2025.

Recorded on Oct 8, 2024.

Additional Links (for listeners to learn more)
– Learn more about Meghan Daum’s “The Unspeakeasy” community at theunspeakeasy.com
– Follow Meghan on Substack at meghandaum.substack.com
– Pickup Meghan’s books at Bookshop
– Check out The Unspeakable podcast on YouTube.
– Find more about the Letters project at letterstoourunbornchildren.com

This episode introduces the next of 12 letters from their collaborative visual arts project “Letters to Our Unborn Children: An Exploration of a Woman’s Decision to Remain Child-Free by Choice.” They discuss the “Inner Parent” archetype behind the letter, and share their research and insights around the themes in the letter. They are joined by guests Danielle Shields and Erin Watt, who both participated in the survey and are members of the private chat group.

Erin Watt is a holistic relationship coach based in Nashville, TN, dedicated to helping individuals discover their Inner Radiant Authentic Energy. With a strong foundation in neuroscience, psychology, and holistic healing—and drawing from her own personal journey of recovery and growth—she founded Inner RAE™ Coaching in January 2022. Erin offers personalized coaching, intensives, workshops, and retreats, guiding clients toward authentic connections and meaningful transformation. She also shares her insights through the Inner RAE Podcast and a growing library of courses.

Danielle Shields is a lifestyle photographer based in Fort Collins, CO. With a background in mental health, Danielle strives to create safe spaces for her clients to not only look their best but feel their best in front of the camera. Since launching her photography business in 2015, Danielle has built a reputation for helping people embrace their authenticity and connect with their personal strengths. Danielle is also deeply passionate about political activism, advocating for social justice causes and using her platform to amplify marginalized voices. She believes in the power of community and strives to create work and change that reflects her commitment to human dignity, equity, and representation. Danielle’s child-free lifestyle allows her to channel her passion and energy into her art, activism, and empowering others to feel at home within themselves.

Recorded on Oct 15, 2024.