About this episode
The episode discusses the myth that having children leads to greater happiness, supported by recent studies and expert opinions.
We’re always warned we’ll end up unhappy if we don’t have children, but a recent study’s shown that parents are no happier than non-parents - and that’s SCIENCE! Cue the pronatalist backlash from self-proclaimed experts, including a bunch of dumb dads, claiming that what we’re really missing out on is meaning. But what’s the purpose of “Purpose” if it doesn’t make you, or anyone else, happy? Listen in to hear the parental happiness myth busted, how you don’t have to earn your place on the planet and why hedonism is a good thing, actually 🍾 Having children DOESN'T make you happy: Becoming a parent provides no boost to wellbeing, study claims – but it does ruin your relationship Dinky Podcast: stories from regretful parents Parents are not happier but have a greater sense of meaning in life We are Childfree podcast: No regrets, with 78 year-old childfree trailblazer Marcia Drut-Davis Am I a happier person for having a child? It’s the wrong question to ask We are Childfree podcast: You are enough, with Dr Kate Tomas Join the waitlist for Hearth , an intimate live programme for childfree women who are ready to stop carrying the questions alone, and start finding answers together…
People in this episode
Host: Zoë Noble
Topics covered
- parental happiness myth
- childfree lifestyle
- meaning in life
- hedonism
- wellbeing
- relationships
Keywords
- happiness
- children
- parenting
- wellbeing
- meaning
- childfree
- hedonism
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Hearth, We are Childfree, Dinky Podcast
More episodes of We are Childfree
- Childfree Elder Rae: “Be Your Own Best Friend” · June 2, 2026 · 1h 25m
- Birth Rate Panic! Not our problem. · May 19, 2026 · 1h 27m
- Childfree Elder Judi: “I Feel Joyful Every Day” · May 5, 2026 · 1h 3m
- Childfree Elder Esther: "Every decade gets better!" · April 7, 2026 · 1h 33m
- Gen Z Men are Not OK · March 24, 2026 · 1h 29m
- "You'd Be a Great Mom!" - Reacting to Love Is Blind · March 10, 2026 · 1h 25m
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