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 smartest parenting arrangements they’ve ever seen, question why people keep doing this to themselves, and remind everyone (once again) that ultimatums are not love.Topics include:Reproductive ultimatums 🚩Regret after agreeing to parenthoodWhy “one and done” is a complete sentenceA surprisingly genius split-parenting strategyAnd yet another reminder to PLEASE use your brain🔗 Find everything we do at DinkyPod.com💸 Support us on Patreon (emotionally, financially, spiritually)And as always: don’t get pregnant.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
18 Dec 7min
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 impact of her childfree lifestyle on her creative process. Rachael also highlights the significance of empowering diverse voices in literature and the freedom to choose one's own path in life.Connect with Rachael on Instagram Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode — it helps people find the show!Merch is here!!! Get your merch NOW!Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last. Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show. Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
16 Dec 1h 17min
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 planThe real statistics about pregnancy lossHow religion traps people — especially women — in unwanted parenthoodWhy telling single parents to “just make more money” is useless adviceThe myth of “plenty of good men who will raise your kid”Dating with kids and the harsh math of shrinking romantic optionsWhat realistic support actually looks like for regretful parentsWhy child support and 50/50 custody are not as simple as Reddit makes it soundHow societal expectations sabotage women’s independencePlus:Erika threatens to hand out abortions like Oprah gives out carsKristen Googles miscarriage stats mid-episodeSpeculation on whether these Reddit commenters are botsA brief detour into Europe trips, face masks, and alleged co-host hatredA public reminder: STOP GETTING PREGNANTPerfect for listeners who:Are childfree or childfree-curiousLove dark humor, honesty, and chaosWant a realistic look at the consequences of accidental parenthoodEnjoy commentary on Reddit’s wildest regret-parent stories💬 Have a regretful parent story?Email us at dinky@dinkypod.com — we might read yours on a future episode.✈️ Want to travel with us?Check out upcoming trips at dinkypod.com.🎧 Listen or watch more of DinkyFind us on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.👉 Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, unfiltered commentary, and exclusive trip info.Final reminder:Don’t. Get. Pregnant.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
11 Dec 12min
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 childbirth and complications are financially catastrophic in the U.S.• Parents of twins facing $11 million in NICU charges• How insurance actually works (and doesn’t) for medically complex births• Hidden hospital costs, nonsense itemized charges & billing scams• Why “just have kids” ignores medical and financial reality• The emotional toll of raising premature or medically fragile infants• Why the childfree movement keeps gaining traction• The fear, uncertainty, and chaos behind “miracle baby” stories• Why influencers oversimplify parenthood into “children are a blessing”• U.S. healthcare vs. Europe’s systems — and who ends up paying📌 FOLLOW USInstagram & TikTok: @dinkypodTrips, events, and childfree meetups: DinkyPod.comThanks, Dink Squad — and remember: don’t get pregnant.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
4 Dec 11min
“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 itinerary! ONLY 12 SEATS REMAIN AT TIME OF PUBLICATION!Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show. Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
2 Dec 1h 44min
Regretful Parents: "I Don’t Want This Baby — But My Husband Does" | Reddit Stories
Welcome back to another episode in our Regretful Parents series — where we dive deep into stories from the Regretful Parents subreddit. Today’s post comes from a woman who is 7 weeks pregnant, spiraling with anxiety, and realizing she may not actually want a baby — even though her husband does. She’s 35, terrified of change, and suddenly questioning everything.In this episode, we talk about: ✨ Fear-based pregnancies and panic spirals ✨ Pressure from partners who want kids ✨ Why “children are funny” is NOT a reason to reproduce ✨ Abortion, guilt, intuition, and regret ✨ Why parenthood is a lifetime contract you cannot return ✨ The hard truth: You can divorce your husband… you cannot divorce your child If you're childfree, childfree-curious, or just fascinated by the realities people rarely talk about, this episode is for you.🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: Want more than just the heavy stuff? Our Dinky Pod podcast dives into travel, comedy, interviews, astrology, politics, and all things childfree life. Search Dinky wherever you get your podcasts.💬 LET’S CONNECT: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube — @DinkyPod 👇 Tell us in the comments: What would you do in her situation?#regretfulparents #redditstories #childfree #childfreebychoice #parentregret #childfreewomen #unexpectedpregnancy #abortionstories #relationshipadvice #pregnancyregret #redditreadings #dinkypodBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
20 Nov 15min
Self-Hypnosis For The Holidays: Childfree Therapist Maggie Dickens On Nervous System Regulation
This episode’s returning guest is Maggie Dickens, licensed therapist and the host of Unapologetically Childfree. Maggie’s built an incredible space for childfree women who are done holding it all together for everyone else and ready to feel as supported as everyone else. She’s got a mix of therapy smarts, real talk, and a calming energy that makes you want to exhale and finally stop carrying everyone’s emotional baggage. In this episode, Maggie joins to talk through how to stop being the entire village and do it guilt-free. And today, just in time for the holidays, she’s sharing some strategies to regulate your nervous system. Connect with Maggie on Instagram.SMALL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK: Contact Taylor of Oxley Consulting Services for support in building personalized administrative solutions to help you make real progress in your life + in your business.Merch is here!!! New Dinky trip alert!! Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last. Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show. Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
18 Nov 1h 30min
