The Full Stop
Episodes
Childless at the End of Life: What Nobody Tells You
22 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of those episodes that takes a little courage both to make, and perhaps to listen to. But we think you'll come away from it feeling more i...
Imagine If: Writing the Unspoken
21 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a writer decides to break the silence around childlessness, but not with a neat resolution, but through the voices of two women whos...
Childless Voices: Celebrating Civilla Morgan
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Full Stop, we are joined by Civilla Morgan, one of the earliest and most influential voices in the childless not by choice podc...
Letting Go of the Perfect Holiday Season
20 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this reflective end-of-year episode, we - Berenice, Sarah, and Michael - look back on the past year, the growth of the Full Stop, and the conversat...
Childlessness and LGBTQ+:Identity, Activism and Belonging
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australian activist Michael Barnett joins us to talk about identity, queer visibility, childlessness not by choice, and what it means to advocate fi...
Childless and Changing Relationships
11 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this heartfelt episode of The Full Stop, counsellor and author Meriel Whale joins the team to discuss how childlessness reshapes love, identity, an...
Owning Our Otherness
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Reframing ‘Otherness’: A Conversation with Lana Manikowski In our latest episode, we talk with author and coach Lana Manikowski about the experi...
Empowering the Childless Menopause
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, we’re joined by Anne Barratt from Empowering Health who discusses her holistic approach to health, focusing on kinesiology and...
The Silence After IVF: What Happens When It Doesn’t Work
12 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 76, Berenice, Michael, and Sarah have the conversation they’ve avoided for six years: what happens after failed IVF. With raw honesty and...
I Can’t Not Do It: Storytelling, Grief and Identity
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome Professor Gayle Letherby, a pioneering sociologist whose deeply personal and academic work has transformed how we think about childlessness...
Episode 74: Being a childless aunt, uncle or godparent
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to this episode of the Full Stop podcast, where we’re joined by our guests John and Ben to explore the joys and complexities of being a chil...
Friendship and Found Family
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Full Stop podcast, hosts Berenice, Michael, and Sarah are joined by returning guest Robert Nurden to discuss the complex and of...
International Women's Day: Breaking the Silence on Childlessness and Gender Equality
08 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome Anne Altamore, founder and owner of Life After IVF Counselling, Psychotherapy and Coaching. Anne shares her insights on the importance of v...
Childless and Pregnancy Loss
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
 In this deeply moving episode, Sarah and Michael open up an honest and heartfelt conversation about miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and the isolation ...
Alternative Approaches to Resolutions
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the 70th episode of the Full Stop Podcast! We’re joined by returning guests Bindi Shah and Lisa Kissane, alongside co-hosts Berenice and ...
Triggers and Tackling Festive Celebrations
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are thrilled to be joined by Karin Enfield De Vries from Pure Transformations and Scared Woman Retreats for an honest exploration of boundaries, gr...
Childless Men’s Experiences in Society
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Drawing from their panel discussion at the Storyhouse Childless event in Chester, we explore what it means to navigate society and self-perception as ...
Childlessness and money explained
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Dr Jay Zigmont discusses the unique financial planning needs of childless people. He emphasises the importance of understanding ...
Ageing with experience
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Michael discusses the challenges and fears associated with aging and the need for planning and preparation. He emphasises the im...
Making a noise with World Childless Week
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
World Childless Week is an annual event that aims to give a voice to the childless community. It was started by Stephanie Joy Phillips because she fel...
Telling Stories with Storyhouse
07 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Storyhouse is an independent arts centre and creative hub in Chester, UK. It offers a range of events, including Storyhouse Childless, which focuses o...
The Spaces Between Us: Childfree and Childless
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are joined by Ali Hall and Dr. Dawn Llewellyn to discuss the perceptions of childfree and childless individuals. We explore the challenges of visib...
Episode 62: Ask Us Anything: Five Years of The Full Stop
28 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Full Stop are joined by members of the online community to discuss personal growth, the importance of inclusivity and diversity within the childle...
Childlessness and loneliness
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Joanne Lawrence-Bourne, founder of Natal Instincts Reproductive Psychology, and Dr. Robin Hadley, an independent research consultant and as...
Episode 60: Save Me from the Waves
17 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we catch up with Jessica Hepburn, who shares insights from her life as an author and adventure activist. Jessica discusses her upcomin...
Managing the workplace as a non-parent
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Sophie Hunter from S E Hunter Associates joins us for thoughtful discussion about the challenges that people without children...
Boundaries and care at Christmas
16 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Full Stop hosts Sarah, Michael and Berenice, reflect on their year and discuss the challenges and highlights they've experience...
Why is nobody talking about childless men?
18 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The 57th episode of The Full Stop podcast is recorded to raise awareness of childless men on International Men's Day, 19th November, #IMD2023 The reco...
Hidden Stories of Childlessness with Danielle and Nina
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for an incredibly moving conversation with Nina Thair and Danielle Hines, as we explore the impact of disability on childlessness. Listen in a...
I Always Wanted To Be A Dad
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Please note that this reading contains a piece called The Babies Next Door and references maternal instinct. Join us as we welcome our friend and auth...
Changing attitudes to medical care and childlessness
20 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This month meet Gail Miller. She is a coach, and medical doctor working in healthcare in the USA. She’s made it her mission to challenge insensitivi...
Community, Friendship and childlessness
23 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our July 2023 guests are Janine Ford and Cecilia Rebild who talk to us about community and friendship. They met in Copenhagen in Denmark and generousl...
The Circle of Transformation with Karin Enfield De Vires
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This June 2023 episode is with Karin Enfield De Vries who many of you know a supportive moderator and counsellor. She is the founder of Pure Tranforma...
Securing our future
21 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the three of us invite you into our space as we share three pieces of exciting news that will inspire and empower you. They may con...
Solo Ageing and Inclusion
23 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are delighted to bring you our next episode on solo ageing with Patricia Faulks and Denise Jackson (whom you may recall from our first year of broa...
Childless Step Parenting
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re joining by two guests who you’ve met before. Catch up with Ken and Lisa as we talk about step parenting when childless not by choice. We cov...
The Childless Menopause
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’d like to introduce you to Anastasia MacDonald who many of you may already know from her constant and reassuring presence online. We gather to ...
New Beginnings: January 2023
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’d like to introduce you to our guests who are rather marvellous company, as you’ll find out in our 47th episode. Mike Sparks restores vintage e...
A year in review, December 2022
28 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we were joined by your words. We were delighted to receive messages from our community which we’ve shared with you. And it was a cha...
Hidden childless stories of being single, November 2022
27 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we were joined by Penny Rabarts from The Childless Wanderer and Elaine Ritchie, who works for the NHS; she provided palliative care du...
Hidden childless stories, the unseen grief of invisible illness: October 2022
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we were joined by Charlie Bishop, Palo Barker and Steph Penny. Often the wider world can assume that the only reasons we do not have c...
Struggle well with Jessica Hepburn, September 2022
24 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When we met up with Jessica Hepburn for episode 43, two things came to mind. The first is how we met her, which you’ll discover in the recording whi...
The Hollow Sea by Annie Kirby, August 2022
21 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Annie Kirby lives on the south coast of England where she works part-time as a university researcher. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the Unive...
Downriver Nomad, July 2022
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 41, meet Rob Hutchings, a seasoned endurance athlete and author of Downriver Nomad. In his autobiography, Rob tells tales of his nomadic ad...
Chasing Creation, June 2022
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 40, we were honoured to share spacing with Katy Seppi who joined us in early June to talk about the forthcoming Childless Collective Summit...
A new support hub, May 2022
21 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 39, we put our own Sarah Lawrence in the hot seat with coach Sarah Bagg. They've teamed up to launch the Childless Mental Health Hub and sh...
The power of grief with Stella Duffy, OBE; April 2022
17 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 38, we were reunited with Sarah who was recovering from Covid, and Stella Duffy OBE joined us. It's fair to say that when we asked Stella t...
Do childless men need a community? March 2022
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We invited a few guys from the Clan of Brothers to discuss this topic, we were lucky enough to get guys from three different continents and cultures. ...
Empowerment, February 2022
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Empowerment can be a big act or something personal. In this episode we share our podcast episode with Judy Graham and Sarah Roberts who run their own ...
Evolution: a full stop future, January 2022
23 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we share the details on our plans. The background to the change is future proofing our work and making it more streamlined so that we...
The Alternative Kings and Queens speech, December 2021
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we are joined by past guests from the podcast to share messages of hope and coping techniques to help you through the festive season. ...
Past, present and future reflections, November 2021
14 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss the healing properties of The Full Stop, what we’ve learned from our guests and share the episodes that made an impact on...
Childlessness and work, October 2021
15 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we were joined by Katy Schnitzler who is a trainer, researcher and lecturer, studying for a PhD. She’s doing amazing work as the fou...
Let‘s talk about sex and intimacy, September 2021
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join us - Michael, Berenice and Sarah - as we talk about sex and how being childless affects mental health, perception and worth. We discuss the trigg...
World Childless Week preview, August 2021
14 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we were joined by the founder of World Childless Week, Stephanie Joy Phillips to get the inside information on the plans for the 5th ...
Men and mental health, July 2021
17 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"No feeling is good or bad, right or wrong. I don't get to judge, but I can sit with you and help you know you are not alone and that there is support...
The joy in the everyday, June 2021
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Please be aware that we discuss failed pregnancy and suicide in this episode. If you would like further support you can find resources here on our too...
It’s our second birthday! May 2021
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join us - Sarah, Michael and Berenice - as our guests turn the tables on us. We were not able to have an in-person party because of COVID and travel r...
Celebrating 10 years of Gateway Women, April 2021
10 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Jody asked us if she could celebrate 10 years of Gateway Women with The Full Stop podcast, we were delighted. All three of us are proud to call J...
Simply Us, March 2021
13 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode actually began as an ‘admin’ chat! We hit record and we realised there might be a few nuggets of wisdom. Join us as we riff about scr...
Navigation with Kate Kaufmann, February 2021
13 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are delighted to share with you, our next episode with Kate Kaufmann in another cross-continent broadcast - we get very excited about making connec...
Making connections, January 2021
09 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We wanted to use this episode to discuss how we’ve had to adapt in this current climate of online communication. Who better than Helen Louise Jones ...
The Alternative King’s and Queen’s Speech 2020
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we were joined by Sarah Roberts from The Empty Cradle, Stephanie Phillips from World Childless Week, Andy Harrod from Invisible Child...
Worthiness, November 2020
22 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we were joined by our good friend Andy Harrod who is the voice behind Invisible Childlessness. He’s one of many new, powerful contr...
Grief and childlessness, October 2020
11 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we were joined by artist Helen Segal who is the founder of Empowered Childlessness. Helen shares her inspiring life journey, discussi...
LGBTQI+ and childlessness, September 2020
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ab...
Ageing Without Children, August 2020
16 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Facing Up To Change, July 2020
12 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
"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 m...
Coping using EFT, June 2022
21 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we’re joined by Rosalind Bubb, a therapist and EFT International 'Accredited Certified Master EFT Trainer’. Rosalind has been volu...
Single and childless in a pandemic
17 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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, wit...
The Clan of Brothers, men and childlessness, April 2020
19 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Friendship in a time of need, Covid-19 and our community, March 2020
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 reco...
Alternative Approaches to Mothering Sunday with Civilla Morgan and Allie Anderson, March 2020
15 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Inspiring Stories with Suzan Muir, Feb 2020
16 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“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 o...
Kicking Off with Bibi Lynch, January 2020
19 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We hope this wonderful episode with Bibi Lynch, broadcaster and journalist, will inspire you. As many of you will know, Bibi has written and spoken op...
The Alternative Kings and Queens Speech, 2019
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas is hard work at the best of times, but being part of this community only makes it harder. Yes, we get it and that’s why we’ve done somet...
F**k Festivities, coping during the holiday season, November 2019
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Michael, Sarah and Berenice were joined by Emily Scott from IVF Fairness to talk about coping during the holidays. We shared our own e...
The Full Stop podcast on Mental Health with Meriel Whale
13 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Michael, Sarah and Berenice were joined by Meriel Whale to talk about Mental Health as the world pauses to acknowledge World Mental He...
World Childless Week, September 2019
15 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This Full Stop podcast episode was almost called ‘how many Champions can you fit in a podcast’! We think we’ve done a cracking job of getting th...
Men and Childlessness, August 2019
17 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Michael, Sarah and Berenice were joined by Dr. Robin Hadley, actor and writer Rod Silvers and PhD researcher Andy Harrod. Robin comple...
Writing It Out with Tessa Broad and Lesley Pyne, July 2019
14 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talked about Writing It Out with Tessa Broad who chatted to us about her experiences of writing Dear You and Lesley Pyne, author of...
Writing it Down with Lorna Gibb and Annie Kirby, June 2019
14 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We are joined by Dr Lorna Gibb who shared her experiences of writing and researching Childless Voices and Dr Annie Kirby, winner of the Asham Award 20...
Speaking Out May 2019
08 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, hosts Michael, Sarah and Berenice are joined by Jody Day from Gateway Women to talk about speaking out about infertility and share wh...
Meet the presenters
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A childless not by choice community podcast. Inspired by you. Featuring you. Made for you. Find out about our three presenters in our own unique Q&A....