The Full Stop blog
Find updates, reflections, and guidance on topics related to involuntary childlessness and our episodes.
If you're exploring what it’s like to be childless not by choice, or are already engaged and looking for connection, this page is a supportive, welcoming resource. Start with the most recent entry and scroll back to find posts, or use the search below.
Let's talk about work
We spent an extraordinary amount of time earning a living. You maybe in an office, factory or a key worker. Employed or working for yourself. Perhaps you left the office and set up alone only to find that there’s other forms of inequality (Digital Mums anyone?!) We’d love to hear from you about the challenge you’ve faced or continue to experience.
A cuppa with... Stephanie Joy Phillips from World Childless Week
Get to know our guests and us, our alternative Q&A! We’re catching up with friends, past and present to ask them about the important stuff in life. Y’know… cake, tea and biscuits. Here’s guest Stephanie Joy Phillips sharing a secret about scones!
Sarah’s next goal – a network of therapists for the childless not by choice community
“It’s time to put on my big girl pants and launch The CNBC therapists network. I have grand plans for this network, not least of all being able to ensure that we have enough qualified counsellors and therapists that can support our growing community’s mental health.” Read more from presenter Sarah on her new goal.
A cuppa with... Bindi Shah
Get to know our guests and us, our alternative Q&A! We’re catching up with friends, past and present to ask them about the important stuff in life. Y’know… cake, tea and biscuits. Here’s guest Bindi Shah talking about gluten-free cakes and rituals.
What happens when you've suggested a topic for a podcast episode?
You’ve had an idea for a topic you’d like us to cover on The Full Stop podcast! Fantastic! Here’s a post what happens after you’ve sent us an email!
Downloads or listeners? Celebrating 10k
The download numbers for any podcast are not the whole picture and only form a backdrop. The feedback received from listeners is more valuable than numbers can ever be and we love to hear from you.
A cuppa with... Berenice Smith
Get to know our guests and us, our alternative Q&A! We’re catching up with friends, past and present to ask them about the important stuff in life. Y’know… cake, tea and biscuits. Here’s presenter Berenice talking about scones and living a creative life.
A cuppa with... Helen Segal
Here’s our guest Helen Segal chatting about how she starts her day with mediation and all about Smash Books. You can listen to Helen on our podcast with Michael and Berenice here.
A cuppa with... Sarah Lawrence
Get to know our guests and us in our alternative Q&A! We’re catching up with friends, past and present to ask them about the important stuff in life. Y’know… cake, tea and biscuits.
Here’s presenter Sarah telling us all about direct talking and rock cakes!
More to Life/Fertility Network UK webinar on making a podcast
Way back in early March, before the world went on lockdown, we caught up with Heather and the team at More To Life, part of Fertility Network UK’s support group to record a webinar on the podcast.
Happy International Women’s Day and why we're challenging the stats
Happy International Women’s Day! Did you know that women make up just 1 in 3 of podcast presenters? On this IWD we want to thank all our female guests as it turns out men are more likely to be podcast guests too and say hurrah for going against that trend too! Special thanks to…
Why you need to be ‘Living The Life Unexpected' by Jody Day #LTLU
We’re always delighted to hear about new resources for our community. Some are long standing ones that have served us all well. So we - Sarah, Michael and Berenice - were delighted to hear that Jody Day, founder of Gateway Women was revising ‘Living The Life Unexpected’ and asked us to endorse it last year. Bluebird (an imprint of PanMacmillan) will be publishing this updated edition on 19th March.
It’s my birthday (soon) and I’ll party like I want to
There’s nothing like planning a birthday for a podcast, to make you reflect on your own and the meaning of celebration. I mean, who is it for really?
Mother's Day episode, can you help?
We confess that we’ve had a bit of an episode shuffle as we wanted to record an episode about Mother’s Day which falls in March in the UK. It’s the first time we’ve talked Mother’s Day on the podcast as we launched after the event last year. Can you help us? Read on to find out.
Stage fright and awe
I’ve got to admit that when we started this podcast, I had thought we’d largely be talking to ourselves initially, and so when I see Michael excitedly sharing the stats, showing that we’ve reached places like Cyprus, San Marino and Lativa, I have to take a deep breath, not just to keep the stage fright in check, but also because I have to admit to feeling a sense of awe.
Special offer from Empowering Childless
To help make 2020 your best year yet, Anne Barratt from Empowering Health in Sydney, Australia is offering a 15% discount on her emotional healing and wellbeing services. Anne specialises in helping people who are childless not by choice, and is CNBC herself.
Greetings from down under from Michael
Many of you would have seen the horrific scenes from the fires and the devastation that came with it. As the fires are coming under control, the sky is beginning to clear and there are many stories that warm the heart, showing us that, in this cynical world, there is humanity and lots of it.
The power of our community
Watch Michael’s Facebook Live in which he reflects on this year and how we’ve found strength from our community.