Each month we host informal chats in Zoom across time zones for our Full Stop Community members. Join with your first month free, via our website. Fill in the form. Michael will send over your personal link where our moderators, us and a group of new friends are waiting to say hello. #childless

How can you practice everyday allyship toward LGBTQIA+ childless people so that the emotional labour doesn't rest solely on them? Activist Michael Barnett talks about identity, queer visibility, childlessness, and what it means to advocate for others while holding a private grief. #LGBTQIA+

"The biggest thing for me is not that I'm childless, it's that people don't talk to me about it" said Michael in our current episode. Listen to Michael on the Full Stop podcast on your favourite listening channel. Learn why this hurts and the changes he'd like to see in society. #LGBTQIA

Each month we host informal chats in Zoom across time zones for our Full Stop Community members. Join with your first month free, via our website. Fill in the form. Michael will send over your personal link where our moderators, us and a group of new friends are waiting to say hello. #childless

In Memory of Nina. Many of you knew her for her warmth, honesty and courage. She shared her story with her dear friend Danielle, a recording that now feels even more precious. You can find her episode and blog on our site. On Saturday we raised a glass to Nina. Thank you, dear friend.

In episode 80 of the Full Stop podcast we are joined by activist Michael Barnett to explore identity, queer visibility, childlessness not by choice, and what it means to advocate fiercely for others while holding private grief.

Holiday support from the Full Stop 7th Join the Podcast, 24th - Culture Club, 25th we host a holiday chat. It takes place in our Full Stop Community for childless not by choice. https://bio.site/thefullstop #MentalHealth #ChildlessNotByChoice #HolidaySupport #

How have assumptions about your identity or circumstances shaped the way people respond, or don’t respond, to your childlessness?

“When I say I’m in a relationship with a man that people don’t have to think you’re a gay man in a gay relationship. I’m just married to Gregory.” — Michael Barnett In episode 80, activist Michael Barnett talks about loneliness, and invisibility that queer childless people face.

We share our appreciation of the male voices who support the Full Stop. It takes courage to be seen, but in doing so, they are changing the narrative and society expectations. We are proud to know you and call you our friends. Thank you. #InternationalMensDay

In episode 80 of the Full Stop podcast we are joined by activist Michael Barnett to explore identity, queer visibility, childlessness not by choice, and what it means to advocate fiercely for others while holding private grief.

Meriel talks about being a translator in her counselling work as the language we use between us and our loved ones matters, and we may not know the right words. Have you felt that the language around childlessness is complex? What words or terms have worked for you?

Childlessness changes us as profoundly and permanently as being a parent changes people, and this aspect of childlessness is often overlooked. By us childless people, as we may not want to feel that intense impact, and by others who can dismiss the loss of parenthood based on life experiences.

“Sometimes there’s no going over or under the situation — you just have to go through it, together.” Meriel explains how she is a translator. There's a lot about language here - how we speak to ourselves, each other and how we can use new words. Tune in on our favourite podcast app. #childless

Menopause Awareness Month shines a light on the experiences of women going through menopause. Often, the experiences of childless women are overlooked - we may find our grief comes to the surface, or it may come as a relief. It's complex and often a different experience. #MenopauseAwarenessMonth

“Sometimes there’s no going over or under the situation — you just have to go through it, together.” Meriel Whale, childless counsellor, shares advice on how to bring empathy to healing in partnerships. Listen on your favourite channel or via our website.

Menopause Awareness Month shines a light on the experiences of women going through menopause. Often, the experiences of childless women are overlooked - we may find our grief comes to the surface, or it may come as a relief. It's complex and often a different experience. #MenopauseAwarenessMonth

“No two people, even if they’ve had the same experience, will have the same experience.” When you speak to one childless person, you speak to one childless person. So within partnerships, we have our own feelings and when they differ that may lead to feelings of instability.

Global Wave of Light is an annual observance. Across the world, at 7pm local time, we may choose to light candles to commemorate the lives of our children whom we did not meet or spent too little time with. We'll be in our Community space to hold a welcome for those who need it. #WaveOfLight

Our podcast rollback takes us to our episode on Pregnancy Loss to honour Baby Loss Awareness Week which runs from 9-15th October. "We think we can have it all, until suddenly we realise we can't' If that feels like you, we invite you to listen or read the transcript. You are not alone. #BLAW

“Sometimes there’s no going over or under the situation — you just have to go through it, together.” Meriel explains how she is a translator. There's a lot about language here - how we speak to ourselves, each other and how we can use new words. Tune in on our favourite podcast app. #childless

“When we face childlessness, we’re not on the same timeline. We move through grief, healing, and understanding at different paces.” Here's our latest episode, with counsellor Meriel Whale on the impact of childlessness on relationships. On your preferred podcast channel & our website

We are worthy of celebrating each other. Even without children, we are not in the background of life. Listen to the podcast on your favourite channel and our website. Celebrate you and chat with others who are childless not by choice, in the Full Stop Community free month on us. Link in our bio

We loved the affirmation that @lana.manikowski shared with us - I am enough. Do you have words that help you? Berenice says she is 'more, not less for her experiences' for example. #Childless

"I pull up a chair and sit next to her, I reach out to hold her hand. In that brief moment, the room fills with ghosts." A new blog post from Michael on a life that could have been - link in the comments. https://www.thefullstoppod.com/married-and-childless-blog/ghosts

Have you felt othered as a result of your childlessness? What would you like those people who did that to know? We're also talking about this in our Full Stop Community - not shouldering the discomfort of others, responding with dignity and kindness to ourselves are themes on our minds.

Learning to love ourselves again when we're childless is a tough ask and it can be hard work to get to that space, but it can be a springboard to new ideas, thinking and restoration. We love this quote from Lana and honour the path she's walked to talk so freely about this in our podcast

“I carried a lot of shame about my story for so long, but sharing it aloud showed me the power of connection.” — Lana Manikowski We are enough and we have the power to decide what our “otherness” means. #childlessness

We loved spending time with Lana who is so generous with her advice and wisdom on Othering. Wherever you are landing with childlessness, you'll find comfort and inspiration. Head to our bio link to read more.

Sarah, co-founder of the Full Stop and a qualified counsellor creates a prompt to support wellbeing. If you'd like to see how it works for you, then you can join us with a month free. Send a DM to us. #ChildlessNotByChoice

Midlife and menopause is tough, we know. Add in childlessness and invisibleness, and we totally get the grief. We love Anne's vibrancy - she was stoked to be on the pod - her words! And the reminder that your body can be your greatest ally.

In case you need to hear this today or any day. #ChildlessSupport #ChildlessNotByChoice #FoundFamily

It's 1 month until Storyhouse Childless for childless, childfree people and anyone who wishes to learn more. Ep 64 from 2024 sets the scene for anyone wanting to get a feel for the event. Head to our biosite for a link to Storyhouse Live website. Already booked, let us know in the comments.

How do you feel about the menopause if you're not a mother? The phrase 'full stop' feels appropriate since life change chimes with us but we'd like to know - how does that comparison feel for you? https://bio.site/thefullstop #Menopause #ChildlessNotByChoice

Our guest Anne Barratt shares how she turned a life chapter into a new beginning—by listening to her body’s wisdom and creating her own wellbeing ‘toolbox.’ https://bio.site/thefullstop

Othering: View or treat (a person or group of people) as intrinsically different from and alien to oneself. Have you experienced this as a childless person? It's the topic of our next recording which takes place with our special guest tomorrow and we can't wait to share it with you in September.

Are you childles not by choice for any reasons? You’re not alone and your voice matters. We're looking for guests to join us on the Full Stop Podcast, a safe, supportive space where we explore life as childlessness not by choice. Join our collection of brave voices.

Read Sarah's words on our website blog and in our Medium channel, and learn about how friendship changed for her as she learned more about herself and childlessness. #Childless

“I’ve known you both for years so why am I finding this so hard to talk about? I’ve forgotten the words, that land of loss, the terms and fenced it off.” #Childless

Are you childles not by choice for any reasons? You’re not alone and your voice matters. We're looking for guests to join us on the Full Stop Podcast, a safe, supportive space where we explore life as childlessness not by choice. Join our collection of brave voices.

"I am angry because the IVF industry leaves this chaos in their wake as they drive forward. People and society have a succes bias. We cannot mention failure." Michael Hughes. We believe that those for whom IVF fails should have space to share their voices. You are not alone. #WorldIVFDay

“From what I hear and what I see you two talk about, it puts you through mental, physical, emotional, even spiritual hardship, and then there's nothing at the end ...” Sarah Lawrence #IVF

You can hear the emotions. Those feelings, while they may diminish, don’t go away because they are a commentary on what they have been through. Those feelings can be hard to sit with, but they need to be listened to, and they need to be respected, because the story is important." Sarah Lawrence

“I’ve had awkward exchanges with people whose IVF worked first time. They insisted I use their clinic, following me around the room. Where can we talk about this?” #MFHA #Childless #Family #IVF

Sarah, co-founder of the Full Stop and a qualified counsellor creates a prompt to support wellbeing. If you'd like to see how it works for you, then you can join us with a month free. Send a DM to us. #ChildlessNotByChoice

Our Medium channel features articles themed around podcast episodes. We hope you enjoy reading. Is there an episode you'd like us to cover? https://medium.com/@berenice_fullstop/navigating-the-friendship-gap-finding-connection-beyond-childlessness-9463f0079fe5?sk=dfca0faa798afa7b14010d0c9cf53ace

Are you a childless not by choice healthcare worker? Would you be interested in connected with a member of our Full Stop community with a view to creating a webinar on exclusions and patient care on the theme of childlessness? Drop us a DM or comment below and we'll connect you

“There’s no manual for this. No one prepares you for the grief, the guilt, the identity loss. You have to find a way to live and adjust again.” Michael Hughes

The Silence After IVF: What Happens When It Doesn’t Work. In our latest podcast we reflect on grief, lost identities, anger at misleading success rates, the mental and financial toll, and the uncomfortable silence after IVF. #Childless https://www.thefullstoppod.com/listen/episode76

In our current episode Professor Gayle Letherby shares how she went through intense and personal loss and that created changes. What's something you've gained through grief or loss that surprised you?