Hey everyone, it's Allison.

We're taking a break from publishing a new episode this week, and instead, we're featuring

an episode from one of my favorite podcasts, Embodied.

It's hosted by Anita Rao, and it's a production of WUNC.

Embodied and bodies are truly kindred spirits.

The podcast covers all kinds of body and health-related topics, and they publish every week.

Recently, they've done episodes about the history of vibrators, circumcision, OCD, and dreaming.

Today, we've chosen to play you a recent episode of theirs about the decision to go child-free.

I like how this episode really brought a lot of nuance and fresh insights to the decision

of whether or not to become a parent.

I hope you enjoy this episode by the Embodied podcast, and we'll be back next week with

a brand new episode of Bodies.

It's the only decision I can think of that we ask people to justify over and over again,

choosing to not have children.

One of my all-time favorite writers and patch it has been vocally child-free for decades,

and she's written about some of the most common responses she's gotten to this choice.

She describes the intensity of inquiry around this topic as a prime example of how uncomfortable

it makes us when people don't want the same things we do.

So what is it that makes us so sure that parenting a child is the default?

And anyone choosing to stray from this path should be treated with skepticism.

This is Embodied, our show about sex, relationships, and your health.

I'm Anita Rao.

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