The Full Stop cover art

The Full Stop

The Full Stop

By: Michael Hughes Berenice Smith and Sarah Lawrence
Listen for free

Award-winning, monthly podcast for those who are childless not by choice, their friends, family and relatives supported by an online community open to all who are childless not by choice. We share hidden stories related to childlessness for any reason. We welcome known voices and new speakers.Copyright 2019 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Childless, Holidays, Boundaries & Belonging: Navigating Workplace Equity

    Childless, Holidays, Boundaries & Belonging: Navigating Workplace Equity
    Jun 20 2026
    Katy Schnitzler returns to The Full Stop five years on — now fresh off submitting her PhD — to dig into one of the thorniest workplace issues for people who are childless not by choice: holidays, leave, and boundaries. The conversation moves from the personal (the strange non-celebration of finishing a PhD, the "full stop" feeling of an ending without ceremony) into the structural: school-holiday leave bias, rota and shift unfairness, "informal favours" for parents, and the particular pressures faced by teachers, midwives and nurses who are childless. Katy shares findings from her doctoral research and her Pronatalism at Work project, and the group works through practical, non-judgemental ways organisations can make leave, language and culture fairer for everyone, without taking anything away from parents. We're talking about ... Holiday and school-term leave bias against childless employees"Informal favours," rota unfairness and the assumption that childless staff have nothing to rush home forTeaching, midwifery and nursing as flashpoints for childless professionalsAmbiguous and disenfranchised grief — why childlessness grief isn't always recognised, even by therapistsPronatalism in the workplace: baby showers, scan photos, "doing it for the kids" cultureThe intersection of childlessness with disability, chronic illness, singleness and bereavementPractical, low-cost fixes: transparent leave/booking systems, anonymous feedback, external training, first-come-first-served leave policies Takeaways Holidays are emotionally loaded for people without children — naming that openly (without banning the topic) helps everyone."Gentle challenge" responses ("that's not always how it feels") put the work back on the person making assumptions, not the person experiencing them.Transparent, first-come-first-served leave systems can remove parental status from the equation entirely.Anonymous feedback on workload and leave can surface disparities before they become resentment.External, MIST training takes the emotional load off the person going through it — they don't have to "out" themselves to get change.This isn't bashing parents. It's about making space at the table for everyone's story. Guest Katy Schnitzler — academic and corporate trainer specialising in reproductive health and childlessness (pregnancy loss, infertility, menstrual health, menopause). Founder of MIST Workshops (est. 2020), and author of doctoral research including the Pronatalism at Work project. Listen to the Full Conversation We cover a lot of ground, from anticipatory grief and adoption to the specific dynamics of shift work, IVF and rota fairness. Learn about the Full Stop on our website and donate to our work at KOFIChildless people are invited to join the Full Stop Community for support, episode discussion and conversation.Learn more about Katy’s work and book training for your organisation at MIST Workshops. The Full Stop is a podcast for people who are childless not by choice, and for everyone who loves, works alongside, or supports someone who is. New episodes drop regularly — subscribe wherever you listen.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Pull Up a Chair: Seven Years of The Full Stop

    Pull Up a Chair: Seven Years of The Full Stop
    May 24 2026
    Seven years ago, Michael hit record, Sarah spoke and Berenice published episode 1 of the Full Stop pressed publish on the first episode. It was 20 minutes and 20 seconds long. There were 108 downloads. And neither of us had any idea what we were doing. Episode 86 brings us together to mark seven years of honest conversation about childless life. Join us to listen back, reflect, and look forward. In this episode: Hear clips from the very first Full Stop episode including the actual first words ever spoken on the podcast How each of us and our relationship with our own childless grief has changed over seven years Sarah talks about the concept of grief as a companion rather than an enemy and how that shift changes everything, with examples from Michael and Berenice on where their grief sits right now. Masking behind humour, anger that softens, and the wisdom that comes with time The childless landscape since 2019, and we talk about what's changed, what still needs to change, and why the conversation matters more than ever What the next seven years might look like — and how you can be part of them Why "you are not alone" was the phrase coined by Michael in Episode 1, way back in 2019 and why his words still say everything Guests and community mentioned in this episode: The Full Stop has been built on the generosity of its guests over seven years. Here are some of the key voices and resources referenced in this episode and throughout our library: Jody Day — Gateway Women — the original community and resource for childless women, founded by our first-ever guest Dr Robin Hadley — researcher and advocate for childless men Bibi Lynch — journalist and childlessness advocate - search Bibi Lynch, The Guardian Dr Stella Duffy, OBE — writer, activist, psychotherapist and theatremaker Jessica Hepburn — author, arts producer and activist and founder of Fertility Fest Sarah Lawrence — counsellor at After The Storm, specialising in childless grief World Childless Week Ageing Without Children (AWOC) Meriel Whale — Neurodivergent, childless and queer specialist counsellor for permanently childless people and celebrant Storyhouse Childless – an event held in Chester, UK for childless and childfree people Find us: All episodes: bio.site/thefullstop Community: thefullstoppod.com/fullstopcommunity Support us: ko-fi.com/thefullstop hello@thefullstoppod.com The Full Stop is a podcast for childless people and everyone who cares for them. Helpline details UK: Contact the Samaritans on freephone 116 123, they're open 24 hours and are there to listen and Mind. USA: Suicide Prevention Canada: Canada Crisis Australia: Beyond Blue Meriel Whale Counselling Sarah Lawrence After The Storm Pink Therapy (UK): Directory of LGBTQIA+ friendly therapists. Many of our guests have channels online and blogs so you can follow what they do and read their words. Head to our podcast page, and click on the episode image to access the show notes and further reading. Disclaimer The Full Stop podcast and content posted by The Full Stop Community CIC is presented solely for general information, and educational purposes. The guests’ views may not represent those of the Full Stop Community CIC, online community members or the co-directors. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 11 mins
  • You Don't Have to Explain Yourself: Boundaries for Childless People

    You Don't Have to Explain Yourself: Boundaries for Childless People
    Apr 19 2026

    This is the episode for anyone who has ever frozen when someone asked an inappropriate question. For anyone who has said yes to something that cost them far more than it should have. For anyone who is tired of absorbing other people's thoughtlessness and is ready to do something about it.

    Sandy Langhart-Michelet has spent over a decade building one of the most supportive online communities for childless people in the world — The Childless Life, now 3,500 members strong across the globe. She is also an HR professional with decades of experience in inclusion, a speaker at national conferences, and the author of My Family Tree Stops With Me: A Guide to Purpose and Possibility. She joins us from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with warmth, humour and a toolkit that will genuinely change the way you navigate the hard conversations.

    In this episode we cover:

    • How Sandy went from freezing at inappropriate questions to building a question and answer bank and why preparing your responses in advance changes everything

    • Scripts for the situations that catch us off guard: the baby shower invitation, the family day at work, the colleague who won't stop asking

    • Why saying no doesn't need a reason and how to get comfortable with that

    • The concept of consequences in boundary-setting: not as punishment, but as self-protection

    • Legacy, family trees and what it means to be remembered when there is no one beneath you on the chart

    • Why Sandy's book title My Family Tree Stops With Me is about so much more than genealogy

    • The role of community in building confidence and how watching others find their words helps you find yours

    • Inclusion in the workplace: parental status, leave policies, and the questions we ask without thinking

    • Why "tell me about who matters to you" is a more inclusive question than "tell me about your family"

    • The anger stage of grief, and why it was the easiest chapter of the book to write

    • Finding and nurturing the allies in your life who will one day advocate for you without being asked

    About Sandy

    Sandy Langhart Michelet is an author, speaker, musician, and senior HR leader whose work bridges professional expertise with personal advocacy. Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, she helps women navigate life when children are no longer part of the future they envisioned.

    She is the founder of The Childless Life, a global private Facebook community of over 3,500 women offering connection, support, and honest conversation for women without children. Through The Childless Life (including its presence on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram) Sandy shares real stories, encouragement, and perspective for women learning to move forward when life takes an unexpected turn.

    Believing that humor belongs even in life’s hardest moments, she brings honesty and levity to every conversation. Her debut book, My Family Tree Stops With Me, is a bold, soulful guide for anyone learning to live beyond the life they imagined - offering a path forward that honors what’s been lost while embracing everything that’s still possible.

    Sandy lives with her husband, Craig, and their goldendoodle sidekick, Ryder.

    Sandy is …

    Reading: Brene Brown's Daring Greatly Listening to: MasterClass Mindy Kaling Watching: The Pitt

    Continue the conversation: Join The Full Stop Community at thefullstoppod.com/fullstopcommunity

    The Full Stop is a podcast for and about the childless not by choice community. New episodes available on all major podcast platforms

    Transcript available at https://www.thefullstoppod.com/listen
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet