Dinky
two childfree pals who just won’t stfu about the DINK (dual income, no kids) lifestyle ✨the #1 followed childfree & DINK podcast✨subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and more: https://www.patreon.com/dinkypod/membershipBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
Inside Our Childfree Group Trips: France + Vietnam Recap
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Today we are recapping two recent Dinky trips: Vietnam in April and France in June. If you’re new to our trips, we partner with the company TrovaTrip who organizes the itinerary and manages all the logistics for us so we just get to show up and enjoy our vacation.
If you’re interested in taking more trips with Dinky, Kristen and I are hosting folks for our second Christmas Markets trip in December, and next year I’ll taking folks to...
The Childfree Author Writing The Rom-Coms No One Else Will: Meet Jaclyn Westlake
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We’re talking with author Jaclyn Westlake! Jaclyn is a former recruiter and career advice columnist who now writes novels about funny, flawed women doing their best to find their authentic way in the world. She is the author of Dear Dotty — a finalist for the Women's Fiction Writers Association Star Award — and Lucky Break, whose main character navigates grief, therapy, and the unexpected freedom of a life that didn't go according to plan. Jaclyn lives in California with her husband Brian and the...
Regretful Parents, Part 4 (Facebook Edition)
Today we are doing another dedicated Regretful Parents episode. This is our fourth full episode we’ve done on regretful parents and, if you didn’t notice by now, we also have a recurring series we try to do weekly available wherever you find podcasts and a whole lot more on our YouTube channel.
In today’s episode, I have compiled a ton of recent posts on Facebook’s I Regret Having Children, which as of recording has 105k members. Trigger warning that there is some talk of parricide (or the murder of one’s own family member) in today’s...
How To Decide If You Want Kids (With Clarity Coach Keltie Maguire)
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Today, we’re talking to the mind behind the Instagram account Kids or Childfree. Keltie Maguire is a Clarity Coach, and offers coaching, workshops, and a podcast dedicated to helping women navigate one of life's biggest and most underserved decisions: whether or not to become a parent. Now based in Germany, Keltie came to this work through her own uncertainty. In our conversation we’ll talk about what helped her feel good in her own choice, what to expect from her workshops, plus...
Gamer Cozy K On Why You Need More Hobbies
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Our guest today is Kennedy, who goes by Cozy K or just @cozy.games on social media, has more than 1.5 million followers across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Cozy K is your gaming and lifestyle bestie dedicated to creating a warm, welcoming space for all who appreciate games, hobbies and an overall cozy aesthetic – a true pioneer of the “cozy gamer” identity. From heartfelt game recommendations and game release play-throughs to cozy room tours and DIY projects, Kennedy’s content is a love letter to s...
Childfree Adventure YouTuber Eva Zu Beck Bought Horses To Quit Scrolling Instagram
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Today we are joined by Eva Zu Beck: an adventure YouTuber, host and director of the show Superskilled on NatGeo, and a self-proclaimed feral woman. We ask her about her experiences leaving corporate life to travel the world, her experiences with her dog Vilk, and what it’s like to be a woman in this industry.
TRIPS:Christmas Markets 2026!!!
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Can You Change Your Mind About Having Kids? Helena de Groot On Waffling, Divorce, And Moving On
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Today, we’re talking with Helena de Groot — creator, sound designer, storyteller, and the audio producer behind several beloved podcasts. Originally from Belgium, she's the producer of the Poetry Foundation's flagship interview show Poetry Off the Shelf, and the co-creator of the cult-classic Paris Review Podcast.
Her newest project, Creation Myth, is an eight-part audio memoir for CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) — a deeply personal account of her experience wrestling with the decision to have children, or not. The series fo...
[FREE BONUS] Forced C-Sections, Fetal Personhood Laws, & The Women Fighting Back
UPDATE: Hi folks, we're releasing this Patreon exclusive to all our listeners because the main story in this episode is now going to court + we want to share the story more widely. If you want to support her trial: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-fight-for-justice-after-a-courtordered-csection
Erika and Kristen dig into a deeply disturbing ProPublica investigation of two Black women in Florida who were subjected to emergency court hearings during active labor when they refused unwanted C-sections.
The hosts break down the cases in detail, including the murky statistics on uterine rupture risk, the medical racism baked i...
Rachel Cargle On Being Childfree & Curating A Life You Don't Need A Vacation From
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Today, we’re being BLESSED by the one and only Rachel Cargle. When we started this podcast, Rachel was one of our number one dream guests. Rachel is a founder, an organizer, an author, an activist. Her work focuses mostly on intersectionality and womanhood. She is the creator of the iconic community for childfree women Rich Auntie Supreme. She’s the author of A Renaissance of Our Own: A Memoir & Manifesto on Reimagining which is a very lovely book that I’d recommend to anyone who is working through a new p...
Regretful Parents: "I Let Him Have Full Custody" | Reddit Stories
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In this episode of our Regretful Parents series, Kristen and Erika react to a viral Reddit post from a mom who was *thrilled* when her ex-husband filed for full custody of their 3-year-old son — and immediately booked a flight.
We get into the messy reality of co-parenting, why dads get a pass for bad parenting while moms never do, the way society fails boys by refusing to discipline them, and why this woman packing her bags (and her cat) might actually be… the right call?
Louis Theroux's "Into The Manosphere" Explained: The Creepy Dudes Radicalizing Young Boys
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Erika and Kristen are joined by returning guest Neill Wolf to break down Louis Theroux's Netflix documentary Into the Manosphere — and the terrifying, infuriating, hilarious world it reveals. From 13-year-olds swarming influencers in the streets of New York to a pregnant girlfriend who may not know she's not legally married, this one is one for the books.
We chat about:
HSTikkyTokky (Harrison) — a 23-year-old who introduces women as his "dishwasher," streams seven hours a day, and has a very weird dynamic with his mom...
Regretful Parents: "I Don't Enjoy Eating Anymore" | Reddit Stories
In this episode of the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a viral Reddit post from the Regretful Parents subreddit written by a mom who loved cooking — until she had a child. From cold meals and high-pitched screaming at the dinner table to losing her passion for the kitchen entirely, this mom's story hits different for anyone who lives for food.We break down the emotional toll of meal time battles with picky toddlers, why the mental load of feeding a child falls disproportionately on moms, and what it really means when parents say motherhood is their "favorite jo...
Regretful Parents: "I'm German. She's Japanese." | Reddit Stories
This week on the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a Reddit post from a 34-year-old German father who says he never wanted kids, claims his Japanese wife lied about being on birth control, and now regrets both his marriage and his baby — while living in a completely different country from them.The post is equal parts heartbreaking and baffling.
In this episode:
A German man describes his marriage to a Japanese woman and the culture clash that followedWhy "you have to read the air" is the most iconic line of the episodeThe baby was bo...
The Most Hated Dad On The Internet: Inside The DaddyOFive Scandal
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This week, Erika takes Kristen down a rabbit hole she wishes she could un-visit — the disturbing story of Mike and Heather Martin, the couple behind the infamous DaddyOFive YouTube channel. What started as a "family prank" account quickly became one of the most notorious examples of child exploitation on the internet.
We cover:
How the DaddyO5 channel grew to 750,000 subscribers and an estimated $200K–$350K annually — and what was really happening behind the cameraThe "invisible ink" prank video that broke the internet The role of biolo...
Regretful Parents: "I Don't Wish This On Any Woman" | Reddit Stories
Erika is joined by friend of the pod and special guest Ashton to react to a Reddit post from a woman who is absolutely DONE being pregnant — stretch marks in places she didn't know could stretch, a partner telling her "your body will be better than ever," and a mom who just keeps saying "focus on the baby." YIKES.
We get into why pregnancy horror stories are kept so quiet, the evolutionary reason human childbirth is uniquely dangerous, why women's pain gets minimized the second there's a baby involved, and the man on Instagram who came home for 1-2...
‘Love Is Blind’s Emma Betsinger Sets The Record Straight
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Dinky listeners have been flooding our inboxes lately pressuring us to watch Season 10 of Love Is Blind — because it featured not one, but TWO storylines about women choosing non-traditional paths when it comes to kids. One of those women was Emma Betsinger, who is our guest today! Emma is a 28-year old who was adopted from China at age three, and raised in a white family in Ohio. Emma endured 10 surgeries before the age of 7 to remove high-risk birthmarks and expressed concerns about having biological kids as a result. She...
Regretful Parents: "Birth Destroyed My Vagina & No One Will Fix It" | Reddit Stories
Erika and Kristen react to one of the most harrowing posts from the r/regretfulparents subreddit — a woman's decade-long battle with serious birth injury damage after a midwife failed to suture a second-degree tear, leaving her with permanent physical damage, no sensation during sex, and a medical system that keeps turning her away.
This one is NOT for the faint of heart. (You've been warned. 💀)
We get into it all: the midwife vs. hospital birth debate, how the medical system routinely dismisses women's pain, why this would be treated as an emergency if it happened to a man...
Regretful Parents: Am I Overreacting To My Husband Interrupting My Solo Shower? | Reddit Stories
This week, Erika and Kristen take a brief detour from the usual Regretful Parents subreddit and dive into a viral post from the “Am I Overreacting?” corner of Reddit. The situation? A mom who hasn’t had a solo shower in four days after caring for two sick kids alone while her husband enjoyed a bachelor party weekend. She finally gets a moment to herself… only to have it interrupted.
When her husband returns home, things quickly spiral from mildly inconsiderate to fully infuriating. Instead of watching their one-year-old for five minutes while she show...
Author Nicole Louie On The Women Who Inspired Her Childfree Life
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Today we are chatting with Nicole Louie, a writer and translator originally from Brazil and now based in Ireland. She is the author of Others Like Me: The Lives of Women Without Children. Others Like Me chronicles her own journey towards embracing a life without children while weaving in stories from women around the world she found in her search for community and guidance. Nicole’s essays have appeared in Oh Reader Magazine, The Walrus, The Guardian, and Literary Hub.
More info about the give...
Regretful Parents: Love Is Blind — Emma, Mike, & The Childfree Debate | Reddit Stories
Is Love Is Blind accidentally telling a regretful parents story?
In this solo episode of the Regretful Parents series, Erika dives into the viral Reddit discussion about Love Is Blind Season 6 and the controversial engagement between Emma and Mike — specifically their major disagreement about having children.From pronatalist pressure to “you’d make a great mother” propaganda, this episode breaks down:Why you should NEVER “convince yourself” to have a childThe red flags in Emma and Mike’s engagementThe moment when Emma’s sister admitted she regrets having kids (and why the internet shamed...
Christmas Markets Are The Ultimate DINK Winter Getaway
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We’re kicking off Season 10 with a recap of our 2025 Christmas Markets trip and getting a sneak peek ahead at our next adventure. We cover what surprised us, what we loved, and what we’d do differently in, plus with some tips of what we’d do differently! PS: we also preview our upcoming 2026 Christmas Markets trip featuring stops in Vienna and Munich.Please forgive that we are both FULLY sick and FULLY ADHD.
TRIPS:
Christmas Markets 2026!!!
Lavender Dreams & Riviera Nights With Erika
GET MORE...
Regretful Parents: “I Thought Life Was Worth Living… Now I’m Not So Sure” | Reddit Stories (Ft. The Girl With The List!)
What happens when parenting regret doesn’t go away… it just evolves?In this episode, Erika is joined by fellow childfree girlie Abby Porter (aka z00mie, aka “the girl with the list”) to unpack a brand-new post from a parent whose regret has shifted from newborn exhaustion to something much heavier: existential anxiety, fear about the future, and the pressure of shaping a child’s entire life.
We discuss:
• Why regret can become more philosophical as kids grow
• The crushing pressure parents feel to “not mess up” their children
• Anx...
Regretful Parents: “My Kid Is Ruining My Mental Health” | Reddit Stories
In this episode, Erika and Kristen read and react to a viral post from Reddit about a parent struggling with a chronically unhappy, clingy, sleep-hating four-year-old — and the toll it’s taking on her mental health.From colicky babies to nonstop whining, sleep deprivation, and the reality of parenting advice that doesn’t always help, this conversation dives into the messy truth behind “it gets better.” Along the way, the hosts share personal stories, debate nature vs. nurture, question whether some kids are just born grumpy, and wonder if one tiny old-soul child simply belongs on a bench in New York compl...
Regretful Parents: “I've Been Scammed” | Reddit Stories
In this episode, Kristen and Erika dive into another brutally honest story from the Regretful Parents series — this time from a 39-year-old single mother by choice who spent thousands on fertility treatment… and now says she feels trapped, broke, constantly sick, and deeply regretful.
If you’ve ever felt pressure from society, family, media, or your “biological clock” — this episode is for you.
We’re talking about:The reality of being a single mom by choiceFertility treatment expectations vs. realityPostpartum depression & long-term mental health strugglesWhy parents say “it’s wort...
Regretful Parents: “My ADHD Wife Isn't Fun Anymore” | Reddit Stories
⚠️ Content Warning: Discussions of parental resentment, mental health crises, and implied threats of violence.
In this episode, Erika and Kristen dive a viral Reddit post from an Australian father overwhelmed by parenting two ADHD children with an ADHD spouse. What starts as complaints about mess, noise, and burnout spirals into resentment, misogyny, and an alarming confession.As two hosts with ADHD, we unpack the realities of living with ADHD and why so many parents seem shocked by… having to parent??? Along the way, we discuss weaponized incompetence, emotional labor, mental health stigma, ADHD medication debates, and why therapy is not...
What Is Project 2026? The New Right-Wing Blueprint For America
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Today, we’re talking about Project 2026.
Two years ago, we covered everything you needed to know about Project 2025, the dystopian right-wing plan from the Heritage Foundation that was largely considered the blueprint for the Trump administration’s first year back in office.
But the Heritage Foundation didn’t stop there — no, their nightmare for America knows no bounds. So today, we’re unpacking everything you need to know about Project 2026, their new plans for chaos and destruction.
SOURCES:
Projec...
Regretful Parents: “My Life Was Taken From Me” | Reddit Stories
⚠️Content Warning: This episode discusses disability, regret, resentment, and medical trauma. Listener discretion advised.
In this episode, Kristen and Erika dive into a post titled “I dislike my disabled child and I am ashamed.”
Pulled straight from Facebook — where it racked up over 5,000 likes — this anonymous post opens up an uncomfortable conversation about parenthood, disability, genetic testing, medical gaslighting, caregiver burnout, and the realities no one prepares parents for.
We react in real time to a mother describing life after learning her child will be profoundly disabled, require 24/7 lifelong care, and never be independent. From missed genet...
Regretful Parents: “I've Always Loved Kids — I Just Hate My Own” | Reddit Stories
This one has a twist ending!
In this episode of the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a Reddit post titled “I genuinely hate my baby.” What starts as a familiar story about parenting regret, sleep deprivation, and postpartum mental health quickly turns into total chaos when the hosts realize the post wasn’t written by a mother — but by a first-time father (FTF).
This episode dives deep into the realities of new parent burnout, baby sleep training, cry it out (CIO) methods, and the crushing isolation that comes with being an expat parent with no...
Regretful Parents: “Don't Do It, Unless...” | Reddit Stories
In this episode, Erika and Kristen read and discuss a post from the Regretful Parents sub titled “Don’t Do It Folks.” The post details a chaotic day of parenting young children and offers practical advice for people who are considering having kids.
Our conversation covers the realities of daily childcare, loss of free time, unequal caregiving labor, financial strain, and how resentment can build. We break down the post’s advice for fence sitters, including the importance of firsthand childcare experience, realistic expectations, financial support, and reliable help from partners or family.
The episode also explores...
TJ Bozarth On Creating A Musical About DINK Life + Reproductive Rights
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Today we are joined by TJ Bozarth, the creator, writer, and director of DINK: The Musical — a dramedy satire on the state of our world sung through the eyes of three DINK couples. We talk with TJ about the inspiration behind the musical, why satire feels important right now, and how this project has been received around the world.
TRIPS:
Artsy Adventure In Vietnam With Erika
Lavender Dreams & Riviera Nights With Erika
Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to...
Regretful Parents: “I Got Everything I Didn't Want In A Child” | Reddit Stories
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses self-harm, mental health crises, sexual content, and parental regret.A parent of a 17-year-old daughter with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts describes years of burnout, crisis management, and reaching a breaking point. From phone restrictions to parental PTSD, this story raises uncomfortable questions about autonomy, responsibility, mental health, and what happens when caregiving becomes all-consuming.💬 Topics include:Regretful parenting and caregiver burnoutNeurodivergence and adolescenceSexuality, boundaries, and harm reductionTherapy fatigue and parental PTSDWhy having kids isn’t the “default” choice we’re told it isMore Regretful Parents episodes available on YouTube and whereve...
Regretful Parents: “Never Felt As Ugly As I Do Now” | Reddit Stories
Welcome back to the Regretful Parents series. This episode tackles what motherhood does to women’s bodies, mental health, and sense of self.
Erika and Kristen read a post from the Regretful Parents subreddit titled “Never Felt as Ugly as I Do Now as a Mom.”
A woman reflects on how pregnancy, postpartum life, chronic sleep deprivation, stress, and mental load have aged her physically and emotionally — and how devastating it feels to no longer recognize herself in the mirror. From "saggy apron bellies to lifeless eyes", celebrity “bounce-back” culture, Botox discourse, and why men somehow escape all o...
Regretful Parents: "My Stay-At-Home Husband Won't Do His Job" | Reddit Stories
In this episode, Kristen and Erika dive into a wild Reddit post from a working mom dealing with a stay-at-home husband who refuses to actually parent their 28-month-old (that's 2 years and 4 months, people!).
What We Cover:
A stay-at-home dad who won't take his toddler to the playground, feed her, or play with her
Why OP hired a house cleaner because he couldn't handle the basics
The depression and isolation that can come with being a full-time parent
Why men often aren't...
Regretful Parents: "I Don't Love My Child" | Reddit Stories
What happens when the love you’re promised as a parent never shows up?
In this episode, Erika and Kristen dive into one of the most taboo and honest conversations about parenthood: regret, ambivalence, and not loving your child the way society says you should. Reading directly from the Regretful Parents subreddit, we unpack a post from a mother who admits she doesn’t love her baby and can't figure out why.
From postpartum expectations and hormonal myths to comparisons between loving pets vs. children, this episode explores:
Why some parents don’t feel instant love after b...
“Is It Normal To Fear The Regret Of Not Having Kids?” & More Listener Questions
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK: Shop Herself Collections to snag you or someone you love a gorgeous gift this Valentine’s Day!!
It’s the listener question episode!
Don’t miss your chance to join me in VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy person's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last.
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Regretful Parents: "My Girlfriend Gave Me An Ultimatum" | Reddit Stories
Welcome back to the Regretful Parents series. This week, Erika and Kristen read and react to a post from the Regretful Parents subreddit titled “Feel Like I’ve Ruined My Life.” Spoiler alert: he kind of has. A 29-year-old man agrees to an ultimatum — have a baby before 30 or never — and now finds himself exhausted, resentful, intimacy-deprived, and being pressured for more kids he absolutely does not want. The hosts break down the red flags, the insanity of reproductive ultimatums, and why choosing hypothetical future children over your actual partner is… deeply unwell behavior. Along the way, they discover one of the smart...
From Law to Literature: Rachael Eckles' Evolution
We're sitting down with Rachael Eckles. In this conversation, Rachael shares her journey to becoming child-free, her career evolution from law and bioethics to fiction writing, and her advocacy for women's health. She discusses the impact of her education and health experiences on her life choices, the importance of diverse voices in publishing, and her desire to empower women through her writing and publishing platform. Rachael Eckles discusses her journey as an independent author and publisher, emphasizing the importance of providing access to publishing for others. She shares her experiences in building Aphrodite Books, her motivations for writing, and the...
Regretful Parents: "I Scheduled Two Abortions But Chickened Out" | Reddit Stories
In this episode, Erika and Kristen dive into a jaw-dropping Reddit post titled “I Am A Roller Coaster Of Regret And Acceptance.” From religious guilt to missed abortions, dating struggles as a single parent, and the crushing realities of living with family, this story sparks one of our most chaotic discussions yet.
We unpack:
Why people banking on miscarriage is not a life plan
The real statistics about pregnancy loss
How religion traps people — especially women — in unwanted parenthood
Why telling single parents to “just make more money” is useless advice
The myth of “plenty o...
Regretful Parents: "Our NICU Bill Was $4 Million" | Reddit Stories
In today’s Regretful Parents episode, Erika and Kristen dive into a viral story from the I Regret Having Children Facebook page — and this time, it’s not a confession but a financial horror story. An Ohio mom’s TikTok exploded online after revealing the NICU bill for her premature quadruplets: $4.04 million.
Erika and Kristen unpack the wild reality of childbirth costs in America, why one medical complication can financially ruin a family overnight, and how unpredictable — and brutally expensive — pregnancy and birth can be.
Inside this episode:
• A NICU bill for quadruplets that hit $4 million
• Why child...
“They’re All Pedophiles”: Comedian Liza Treyger On Abuse, Power, And Protecting Kids
Today we are joined by the hilarious Liza Treyger, otherwise known as Glitter Cheese on social media. Liza is a comedian you may know from Netflix’s The Degenerates and Survival of the Thickest or her hit podcast That’s Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, where she dives deep into Law & Order episodes, true crime, and pop culture. She’s hilarious and if you love Dinky, you’ll love Liza.
Connect with Liza on Instagram.
Merch is here!
\Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itiner...
