Welcome! My guest today is Carren Smith, an author, speaker, presenter, and podcast host. She’s an all-around amazing lady who has helped thousands transform their lives and businesses through her unique approach to self-leadership.

Carren believes that the magic happens when clarity, passion, and action are engaged. She has presented to over 450,000 people across the globe over the last seven years. She writes for many publications and delivers up to 18 live seminars across Australia each year.

Carren is the author of Soul Survivor, the account of her fight for survival in the 2002 Bali bombing. Carren loves leading others to find their voice and message through her philosophical approach to life.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Carren says it just “never occurred” to her that she wouldn’t have kids.
• She was always and interested in becoming an entrepreneur and wanted to pursue her career more than a family.
• Carren realised that the natural path to feeling fulfilled and satisfied didn’t include motherhood.
• At age 36, she was ready to focus on something other than herself, tried to get pregnant, but couldn’t.
• She had a tumour removed from her ovary, but couldn’t get pregnant. “The universe made the decision for me.”
• Often, it seems that the very thing we aren’t sure of, is what the world reflects back to us.
• Carren finds inspiration by tapping into time and space to figure out what is important to her for RIGHT NOW.
• Carren explains how to pick a random feeling and figure out where it came from.
• “We become the instructor for what we want the mind to experience.”
• Carren says look to do self-discovery work when you’re already in a good place.
• All the pressure we put on ourselves as women could be a reason why so many women struggle to become pregnant these days.
• Many of Carren’s clients are mothers, looking to “find themselves” and become a stronger role model for their kids.
• Some people want a way through the “parent guilt” and “mother guilt” of raising a family.
• Ultimately, we (women) are all the same, whether or not we have children.
• People who judge others most often feel inadequate in themselves.
• “Nobody has a crystal ball to see the future; if you feel right now that you want to start a family, then go for it!”
• We can’t control people and situations.
• “Get into the game and keep playing the game.”
• There are many paths available to us in this world if we step fully into it.
• Carren explains why the voice in your head should come with enthusiasm and excitement!
  
  Find out more about Carren and her inspirational work at www.carrensmith.com
  
  

If you enjoyed this episode, then please subscribe and share with another woman whom you feel would benefit. For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com

Welcome! My guest today is Alana Helbig, the host of the She Makes Magic podcast. Alana is a wild-hearted gypsy writer and blogger. She’s passionate about living life with purpose, and her musings on this topic have been featured in various publications.

Alana moved on from the corporate world for something more in tune with the life she wanted to live. Her podcast showcases real stories from real women who have left ill-fitting lives behind to follow their dreams and their wild hearts. Be inspired when you connect with Alana at www.shemakesmagic.com

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How witnessing firsthand that motherhood is NOT a “walk in the park” spurred Alana to make the personal choice to NOT have kids.
• For many years, Alana focused on building her career in the IT industry.
• Her life included a great relationship, great friends, and a great life—but too much alcohol and drugs.
• At age 28, Alana asked herself some big questions: “What am I doing? What good do I bring to the world?”.
• How volunteering to help sea turtles in Costa Rica changed the course of her life.
• How she felt that a career change would help her make a difference in the world.
• Why Alana needed to break off her relationship to embark on a healing journey to rediscover the part of her soul that had been forgotten.
• How Alana connected with her sexuality and tore down all walls to reveal her true self.
• In the past, Alana felt swayed and influenced into behaving in ways that were accepted and expected.
• How breaking off the bonds of conformity are necessary to align with what you were meant to be.
• Alana’s core message is that we each need to find ways to come back to what is true and right for each of us.
• Be careful what you say “NEVER” about!
• Alana is openminded with her friends who have children. Equally, she doesn’t want to be judged for her choices.
• Alana admits that she is non-conforming with her lifestyle choices in many ways, but she sticks with what is true for her.
• Alana shares her unique perspective on the personal creativity that she brings to the world.
• Why she was happy to quit her ten-year career and travel around Australia in a camper van!
• Alana now spends her time studying energy and soul medicine and working part-time.
• “NOT being a mother gives me the freedom to move in any direction and experience all that life has to offer.”

Connect with Alana at www.shemakesmagic.com

Thank you for listening! I do hope you enjoyed this episode. Subscribe to hear more unique and inspiring perspectives on this emotive topic at michellemariemcgrath.com or on Itunes.

Welcome! Today’s guest is Kelly Surtees, a consulting astrologer, teacher, writer, and editor. She works with clients and students around the world, sharing her infectious passion for astrology. With 14+ years in private practice, Kelly is warm, experienced, and insightful. She loves exploring astrology’s history and loves escaping into the ocean.

Kelly’s specialty areas include career, life direction, health, fertility, love, health, and happiness. Kelly meets clients and lectures throughout the US, Canada, and Australia, though she makes Canada her current home. Connect with Kelly at www.kellysastrology.com

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Kelly made a conscious choice in her early 20’s to NOT have children.
• She grew up as the oldest of six kids, never really wanted her own, and always felt like her siblings were, in a way, her “kids.”
• Kelly was fortunate to have two aunts who were terrific childless role models and made it seem NOT weird or unusual.
• Kelly later married a man with two children from a previous relationship, so she does fulfil the step-mothering role.
• Kelly asserts that childless women have an important role to play in society today.
• Within any population around the world, there is a consistent 10% of women who don’t have children; this number is higher in some places, like the US, where it is as high as 50%.
• In the astrological community, TIMING is the major issue and has to be perfectly aligned for a child to result.
• One of Kelly's specialities is working with women who want to conceive, using charts to predict fertility potential and other contributing factors.
• Two main astrological factors that influence fertility are the moon and the fifth house.
• In astrology, the moon is an important factor for health and vitality; the determinant is what the moon phase was when you were born. 
• Kelly explains the significance of the 5^th house and 11^th house and how the moon represents your unconscious self and private feelings.
• Start with knowing your moon’s sign.
• When we feel comfortable and safe, we have more confidence, strength, and courage to do more in the world.
• Kelly discusses the nuances of the stepmother role, knowing your partner has had the childbirth experience with another woman - a special experience that cannot be replicated.
• It’s unfair and inaccurate to call those without children “selfish.”
• From a young age, Kelly realised that being a parent and raising a family is extremely hard work.
• Kelly expresses her creativity through her astrology work and writing blogs, articles, and e-books.
• For Kelly, the major benefits of NOT having children are that she can delight in other people’s children, freedom with time and money, and overall flexibility.
  
  I do hope you enjoyed this fascinating episode with Kelly. For more about Kelly and her work, go to www.kellysastrology.com

For more episodes go to michellemariemcgrath.com and subscribe on Itunes!

Thank you!

Welcome! Today’s guest is Vienda Maria, who is a writer and mentor, currently based in New Zealand. She teaches women who want to do great things in the world, to choose freedom in life and work.

Vienda shares her message and insights through her blog and many magazine articles. Connect with her at www.viendamaria.com

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Vienda made a personal choice to not have children. Motherhood wasn’t something she really dreamed about or felt was a top priority.
• A couple of years ago, her mother let her know that her expectation was that Vienda should have children, to bring meaning into her life.
• Her mother was hurt and upset with Vienda’s choice, feeling it was a waste.
• This clarifying incident helped cement Vienda's choice and feel empowered about it, even though it was a confronting situation.
• It can be challenging when we have differing views on such emotive topics, from our families and friends.
• These huge life choices can change over the years. As the decades go by in your life, priorities also change.
• Vienda has never felt any social pressure from friends to have children, but feels that society at large seems to expect every single woman to have a child!
• The world is full of archaic thinking around families and what is expected.
• We, as Western women, are privileged to be able to make choices, because so many people in the world don’t have that freedom.
• There was a grieving process that Vienda experienced, complete with sadness and tears from letting go of the idea of motherhood—even though she knew it was the right decision.
• Whatever creative expression we choose is where fulfilment comes from. This is an extremely personal choice.
• Vienda’s mother chose to have her at age 21 so she could experience love; it’s a big responsibility for a child to bear.
• The decision to have/not have a child should be made from a place of wholeness and not from a place of lack or fear.
• People automatically assume that people without children have ZERO other responsibilities and commitments. We need to challenge our limited perspectives and perceptions.

To find out more about Vienda and her work, visit her at viendamaria.com

Thank you so much for listening to this episode. Subscribe for more at michellemariemcgrath.com

Welcome! My guest today is Jennifer Spaulding, a relationship coach, speaker, writer, and passionate supporter of single women. Her own journey from being single until her late 30’s, to finding real love with her husband helps her teach others about healthy and meaningful relationships.

Jennifer has been featured in several publications and has spent 20 years coaching clients with her relationship expertise. Jennifer lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and dog. Let’s talk with Jennifer!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Jennifer always assumed she would be a mother because that was what was modelled for her as she grew up.
• At age 16, she began having issues that she suspected would affect her fertility.
• At age 30, she was single and decided to adopt a dog (instead of a child.)
• She met her husband at age 39 but had recently discovered that she had premature ovarian failure, which meant early menopause symptoms. So often we never hear about these types of health issues, until we are investigating if there is a problem. 
• She later found out that two aunts in her family had also gone through menopause prior to age 40.
• Jennifer went through a grieving process to mourn the loss of the possibility of motherhood, but also because she was single and didn’t have the relationship she wanted.
• When you are single and childless, there is a heightened awareness of people around you who have what you do not. It can be very isolating.
• Jennifer was nervous about dating and having the difficult conversation with a potential spouse about having a child, so early on in the connection.
• Telling her then boyfriend (now husband) was a positive experience, as even though he had always wanted children too, but he valued their relationship first and he was very supportive.
• Immediately after their marriage, they felt the pressure and heard the questions about when they would start a family.
• Jennifer and her husband have both found other ways to love, nurture, and mentor people in other relationships besides parenthood.
• They both have the gift of more free time to serve others in various ways since they don’t have children.
• The benefits for Jennifer to not having children are having time to write, speak, coach, and mentor to help others.
• She also appreciates being able to cultivate a great relationship with her husband, since they started their lives together later in life than most people.
• She and her husband love to travel and explore together, and Jennifer loves to find joy in her own life and help others do the same.
• Find Jennifer at www.jenniferspaulding.com.
  
  I do hope you enjoyed this episode. Subscribe for more at michellemariemcgrath.com  Thank you!