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Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait
I’m in my 50s, Childfree and in Perimenopause - and I’m Tired of Being Judged
Season 8, Ep. 3
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Marnie Nash joins Real Women’s Stories to talk about something many women still keep to themselves - what it’s really like to be childfree in midlife.
Now in her 50s and navigating perimenopause, Marnie reflects on the questions, assumptions and quiet judgements that follow many women - and why she’s finally ready to say she’s had enough.
In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, Marnie and host Lisa Quait discuss:
💬 The realities of being childfree in a mother-centric world
🔥 How ageing, identity and perimenopause shape women’s sense of belonging
✨ Why it’s time to redefine womanhood beyond motherhood
This is a conversation for every woman - mother or not - who’s ever felt judged for her choices.
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00:00 – Intro: Why Marnie’s Speaking Out About Being Childfree
00:28 – The Unspoken Truth: Living Without Children in a Mother-Centric World
01:30 – Finding Community: Creating Space for Women Who Aren’t Mums
03:20 – The Constant Question: “So… Do You Have Kids?”
05:30 – Midlife Realities: Ageing, Expectations & Who Looks After You Later in Life
08:30 – How Life Unfolded: Engagement, Coming Out & Missed Motherhood
11:20 – Family Pressure: Conversations With Mum & the ‘Selfish’ Label
13:00 – Choosing Strength: Why Marnie Never Tried to Have a Baby Alone
15:00 – Regret and Relief: The Complex Emotions of Not Becoming a Mum
17:00 – You Can’t Win: How Women Are Judged Either Way
17:30 – 1 in 4 Women: The Unseen Reality of Non-Mothers
19:00 – How to Talk About It: Sensitive Conversations Without Judgement
21:00 – Freedom & Legacy: The Positives of a Childfree Life
22:50 – Redefining Purpose: What Legacy Means Without Children
24:00 – As a Woman, Not as a Mother: Reframing Identity in Midlife
26:30 – Final Reflections: Why These Conversations Matter
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Series Producer: Aaron Nelson
PR & Marketing: Kate Williams
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