Curious Life of a Childfree Woman

Emily Paulsen
  • 4.8 (36)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join Emily Paulsen for curious conversations on culture, wellness, self-expression, and ideas to make the world better, all explored from a childfree perspective.

  1. 4D AGO

    Self-Expression: What If Being Fully You Is the Most Powerful Thing You Can Do? | Emily Paulsen 

    In this solo episode, Emily Paulsen reflects on her recent live event in Chicago centered around the theme of self-expression. She explores why living fully expressed isn’t indulgent, it’s essential, and how alignment, not perfection, is what creates real impact. From creativity and personal style to nervous system regulation and perfectionism, Emily connects the inner work of knowing yourself to the ripple effect it creates in leadership, relationships, and community. She also shares research showing that when women are self-aware and self-expressed, they build stronger, more resilient systems around them. This episode is an invitation to stop conforming, start questioning, and get curious about what fuller expression could look like in your own life. Key Takeaways: Self-expression is not selfish. Research shows that when women are self-aware and aligned, they prevent conflict, build community, foster emotional intelligence, and strengthen the environments around them. Being a “limitless creator” isn’t about hustle,  it’s about removing internal barriers and questioning the assumptions that quietly shape how you spend your time, energy, and money. What you wear, what you buy, and how you consume are reflections of your self-expression. Alignment in small, everyday choices creates more confidence and presence in bigger moments. Growth requires nervous system support. Expanding into new levels of visibility, wealth, or leadership can trigger fear, sustainable self-expression happens through steady, intentional expansion. Perfectionism is one of the biggest blocks to authentic expression. Holding back because something isn’t flawless limits both your own fulfillment and your impact on others. Conformity is often rewarded, but it rarely creates change. Self-expression challenges inherited narratives about what it means to be “good” and invites more honest participation in the world. Curiosity is the starting point. You don’t have to know your fullest expression yet,  you just have to be willing to explore it. Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily's power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com and about her brand business: www.electriccollab.com  Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman

    31 min

  2. FEB 19

    Childfree Stepmom: What if you fall in love with someone Who Already Has Kids? | Emily Paulsen & Kerry Cook

    What if being childfree by choice and being a stepmom aren't mutually exclusive? In this episode, Emily Paulsen sits down with Kerry Cook, a woman who embraced the childfree path and is married to a man who has a child. Kerry shares her journey from never planning to be childfree to having an epiphany moment when she asked herself: what if the answer was just no? She opens up about the resentment she felt watching her stepson get free love from his dad, feeling like the backup dancer in family dynamics, and not recognizing herself in her wedding photos. Kerry also shares the plot twist of reaching out to her stepson's biological mom one-on-one, which became a genuine friendship that changed everything. They discuss jealousy as a compass, the importance of having safe people to crash out with, listening to your nervous system when living in internal conflict makes you sick, and why Kerry created a Childfree Collective that grew from 4-5 women to 19-20 strong. This episode is a reminder that you can be childfree by choice and love someone who already has kids. Key Takeaways: The epiphany moment: Kerry realized there was this constant moving target she never wanted to achieve. Feeling like the backup dancer: Stepmoms seek validation from people who are safe to them. The plot twist of friendship: Kerry's relationship with her stepson's biological mom became an authentic friendship. Listen to your nervous system: Living in internal conflict makes you sick. Community changes everything: Find your people who you can cut loose with. We're bringing the podcast into the real world with our first ever in-person event! An evening of curiosity and conversation hosted in downtown Chicago, February 19th, 2026. Picture an intimate dinner party stacked with speakers, all guests from some of your favorite episodes, and space to make new childfree friends. Seats are limited so you can read all the details and get your ticket by visiting curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com/2026-event. Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily's power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman Guest Kerry Cook has journeyed through and leaned into embracing childfree life and defining what that freedom means. She’s done this while figuring out how to navigate the intricacies of “step mom” life and building a girl tribe of fellow childfree women through the launch of her “Women’s Childfree Collective”. Enjoy a vulnerable and unfiltered take on step-momming and the power of community! Connect with Kerry: kerry@childfreecollective.com

    50 min

  3. FEB 12

    Fashion Psychology: Are Your Clothes Changing The Way You Think? | Emily Paulsen & Ellie Richards

    What if the disconnect between who you are and what you're wearing is holding you back from being your best self? In this episode, Emily Paulsen sits down with Ellie Richards, a stylist and founder of Nuude Studio who approaches fashion through the lens of psychology. Annual spending on women's apparel is over $1 trillion globally, yet women aren't reporting feeling more stylish or confident than ever. Ellie helps women understand not just what to wear, but why we wear it, and the positive role style can play in self-expression. Emily and Ellie discuss the white coat study that shows how clothing influences thoughts, feelings, and behavior. They explore cognitive dissonance, the disconnect between who you are and what you're wearing, and how the pandemic accelerated style disconnection. Ellie introduces her minimalist wardrobe formula, a pyramid with four tiers: foundation pieces, capsule basics, personality basics, and dopamine pieces. They also discuss Ellie's sustainable fashion boutique experience, why people say they want to shop sustainably but default to cheap options, the paradox of choice and why too many options leave us dissatisfied, how social media makes us look more like everyone else, and why getting rid of clothes that don't fit properly is rule number one. This episode is a reminder that your clothing sends signals to your brain every single day, first impressions happen in a split second, and investment in personal style can be life-changing. Key Takeaways: Clothing influences how you think, feel, and behave: The white coat study showed that when people believed they were wearing a lab coat, they significantly outperformed those told it was a painter's coat. Your clothes send signals to your brain. Cognitive dissonance happens when your wardrobe doesn't match your identity: When pieces represent a past version of you, there's discomfort. If your identity changed but your wardrobe didn't, you're not showing up as your best self. The minimalist wardrobe formula creates mental clarity: Four tiers - 1-2 foundation pieces, 16 capsule basics, 12 personality basics, 6-8 dopamine pieces. Limiting choice makes you more satisfied with what you wear. Social media makes us look more like everyone else: When you're not making your own decisions, you're buying pieces that don't represent you. The disconnect starts when you consume other people's style. Get rid of clothes that don't fit properly: If something makes you feel bad, it taunts you every time you open your closet. Saving clothes for when you lose weight is toxic. We're bringing the podcast into the real world with our first ever in-person event! An evening of curiosity and conversation hosted in downtown Chicago, February 19th, 2026. Picture an intimate dinner party stacked with speakers, all guests from some of your favorite episodes, and space to make new childfree friends. Seats are limited so you can read all the details and get your ticket by visiting curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com/2026-event. Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily's power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman Guest Ellie Richards is a stylist and founder of Nuude Studio who approaches fashion through the lens of psychology. She helps women understand not just what to wear, but why we wear it, and the positive role style can play in self-expression. Learn more about Ellie at: https://www.nuude-studio.com/ Follow Ellie on Instagram: @ellierichards.intel Watch Ellie's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Ellie.Richards

    50 min

  4. FEB 5

    Porn Addiction: What's Going on with Modern Men? | Emily Paulsen & Craig Perra

    What if the cure isn't sobriety, but the aggressive pursuit of a great life? In this episode, Emily Paulsen sits down with Craig Perra, founder of The Mindful Habit System, to discuss dopamine addiction and men's mental health. Craig helps high-performing men build awareness around behaviors without shame, working at the intersection of mindfulness, self-trust, and habit change. His vulnerability makes this a judgment-free conversation about what's really going on with men. Craig opens up about his past as what he calls an abusive husband, lying and gaslighting his wife while maintaining a secret pornography habit for decades. He shares how his childhood trauma shaped these behaviors and how he's spent years doing the work to change. Emily and Craig discuss dopamine as the chemical of want (not happiness), why we're not wired for the constant hits available through social media and pornography, and shocking statistics about porn consumption. They explore how young boys are learning about sex from pornography, the normalization of sexual violence, and why this generation is having less sex than any generation in recorded history. Craig explains that men's oldest habit of turning to sex to alleviate discomfort collides with women's deepest wound around feeling chosen second. The conversation turns to what women can do as partners and the importance of men's communities. This episode is a reminder that dopamine is fuel not fulfillment, people who love themselves don't lie, and sustainability requires community. Key Takeaways: Dopamine is the chemical of want, not happiness: It creates drive and fuels pursuit. The anticipation is often stronger than the payoff. Protecting your dopamine means sitting in the discomfort of its absence. We weren't wired for constant dopamine hits: Social media, pornography, gambling, and other quick hits are hijacking this chemical. The exposure starts younger and younger, with devastating impacts on mental health. Men's oldest habit collides with women's deepest wound: The habit of turning to sex for relief and doing it in secret intersects with women internalizing it as not being enough. This collision impacts birth rates and divorce rates. Focus on integrity issues, not just sexual behavior: Partners get better results focusing on the lying and gaslighting rather than getting lost in shame around sex. Speak to how behaviors make you feel. Men need community and brotherhood: Most men say they have nobody to reach out to when they're down. Sustainability requires accountability, vulnerability, and support from other men. We're bringing the podcast into the real world with our first ever in-person event! An evening of curiosity and conversation hosted in downtown Chicago, February 19th, 2026. Picture an intimate dinner party stacked with speakers, all guests from some of your favorite episodes, and space to make new childfree friends. Seats are limited so you can read all the details and get your ticket by visiting curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com/2026-event. Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily's power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman Guest Craig Perra is the founder of The Mindful Habit System, where he helps high-performing men build awareness around behaviors without shame or pressure. His work sits at the intersection of mindfulness, self-trust, and habit change for people tired of white-knuckling their way into a better life. Learn more about Craig at: www.themindfulhabitonline.com

    59 min

  5. JAN 29

    Career Pivots: What If Something That Looks Perfect on Paper No Longer Feels Like You? | Emily Paulsen & Meghan Houle

    Have you ever felt like something in your life no longer fits even though it's not necessarily bad? In this episode, Emily Paulsen sits down with Meghan Houle, founder and CEO of CONCÈ, a new hiring platform built on authenticity and purpose. After decades building a successful career in luxury retail recruitment, Meghan decided to start over to build something that felt more aligned, more alive, and more her. Together, they explore what happens when you trust the pull to pivot even when everything looks perfect on paper. Emily and Meghan discuss the courage it takes to separate your identity from your career, why getting into new rooms accelerates growth, and how to know when it's time to make a change. Meghan shares her philosophy of flow not force, why gratitude practices can shift your entire mindset, and what it's like to become a tech founder solving problems you've experienced firsthand. They also talk about releasing shame around resume gaps, why jealousy can be a powerful indicator of what you want, and how to give yourself permission to try something new. This episode is a reminder that you don't have to stay stuck just because you've invested time in something, and that sometimes the simplest shifts create the biggest transformations. Key Takeaways: Identity gets tied to career, but you can separate: Spending years in one role can make it feel like that's who you are. Making a proactive choice to pivot helps you mature and rediscover yourself. Get into rooms with people who've done what you want to do: Investing in yourself and getting into proximity with people ahead of you is game-changing, even when imposter syndrome shows up. Flow, not force: Chasing titles and forcing moves creates frenzy. Taking time for clarity and intentional action leads to better outcomes. Gratitude practice shifts everything: Starting each day with gratitude journaling, even just one thing, resets your mindset and helps you ask for more from a place of abundance. Jealousy is a powerful indicator: Instead of seeing it as negative, ask why you're envious of someone. It reveals what you want and where you might need to evolve. Want more from this conversation? Meghan and Emily continue their discussion on Substack, where Meghan shares her childfree journey, her powerful conversation with Gloria Steinem, and why she never felt maternal after spending her childhood as a caretaker. Join the Curious Life Club for free at curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.substack.com to access this bonus content. ----------------- We're bringing the podcast into the real world with our first ever in-person event! An evening of curiosity and conversation hosted in downtown Chicago, February 19th, 2026. Picture an intimate dinner party stacked with speakers, all guests from some of your favorite episodes, and space to make new childfree friends. Seats are limited so you can read all the details and get your ticket by visiting curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com/2026-event. Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily's power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman Join the Curious Life Club on Substack @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman Guest Meghan Houle is the founder and CEO of CONCÈ, a hiring platform built on authenticity and purpose. With over two decades of experience in luxury retail recruitment, Meghan has staffed some of the most iconic brands on Fifth Avenue, Rodeo Drive, and beyond. She believes in flow not force, investing in yourself, and creating meaningful connections that transform lives and businesses. Connect with Meghan and learn more about CONCÈ at: www.meghanhoule.com Follow Meghan on Instagram: @allthingsmeghoule

    51 min

  6. JAN 22

    Comedy & Choice: What If Ambivalence About Kids Doesn't Mean You're Broken? | Emily Paulsen & Natasha Vaynblat

    What if making a thoughtful decision is actually more mature than following the prescribed path? In this episode, Emily Paulsen sits down with Natasha Vaynblat, a comedian and writer whose work has appeared on The Tonight Show, Comedy Central, and The New Yorker. Natasha's current live show, Childless Freak, uses humor to explore the reactions, assumptions, and pressure that show up when a woman decides not to have kids. Together, they discuss what it's like to put unconventional choices out in public and why representation of childfree women matters. Emily and Natasha talk about Natasha's journey from improv to standup comedy, why freezing her eggs felt like a wake-up call, and how she spent years reading every book on maternal ambivalence to educate herself on life outside the traditional framework. Natasha also shares how embracing her decision has opened her life to hosting dinner parties, building found family, and living more intentionally. This episode is a reminder that ambivalence doesn't mean you're broken, that you don't get to have it all, and that choosing a path means sacrificing some things so the things you are rewarded with feel even richer and more special. Key Takeaways: Ambivalence is normal and doesn't mean you're broken: Years of uncertainty about having kids doesn't mean something is wrong with you. It means you're thoughtfully considering both options. We lack representation of happy childfree women: The only examples in media are crazy cat ladies or wild partiers. We need more examples of well-adjusted, normal women living this path. Making a proactive choice creates maturity: Choosing to be childfree requires self-awareness, standing up to questions, and sustaining your decision. That's growth. You don't get to have it all: Choosing a path means closing doors on some things and opening others. The things you're rewarded with feel richer when you've made an intentional choice. Comedy reflects culture and creates space for nuance: More women are talking about motherhood and childfree life through comedy, creating space for the middle ground and complicated decisions. _____________________________________________________________ We're bringing the podcast into the real world with our first ever in-person event! An evening of curiosity and conversation hosted in downtown Chicago, February 19th, 2026. Picture an intimate dinner party stacked with speakers, all guests from some of your favorite episodes, and space to make new childfree friends. Seats are limited so you can read all the details and get your ticket by visiting curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com/2026-event. _____________________________________________________________ Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way. Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman Join the Curious Life Club on Substack @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman The guest on this episode, Natasha Vaynblat is a NYC based writer/performer/director with frequent flyer miles seen on The Tonight Show, A Little Late with Lilly Singh, and Comedy Central. Her current live show, Childless Freak, uses humor to explore what it's like to make choices that don't fit into other people's expectations, including her decision not to have kids. Connect with Natasha and learn more about Childless Freak at: www.natashavaynblat.com Follow Natasha on Instagram: @natashavaynblat See Natasha live on April 28th at Joe's Pub in NYC.

    42 min

  7. JAN 15

    Women's Health: What If Better Healthcare Started With a Real Conversation? | Emily Paulsen & Dr. Denise Au

    Have you ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting health information while simultaneously unsure how to actually take care of your body? In this episode, Emily Paulsen sits down with Dr. Denise Au, a fellow of the American College of Physicians who has spent over two decades focusing on women's health, wellness, prevention, and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Au believes good health is about understanding how your body works and caring for it in ways that are sustainable and empowering without fear or restriction. Emily and Dr. Au discuss the state of women's health and whether we're well-informed or overwhelmed by information from every direction. They explore how to build better relationships with healthcare providers, what's happening to our bodies during midlife and perimenopause, and the recent removal of the black box warning on hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Au also shares insights on preventative measures like full body MRI scans, why sleep is critical for everything from brain health to metabolism, and what the future of women's healthcare could look like. This episode is a reminder that good healthcare requires ongoing conversation, not just annual checkups, and that the simplest interventions like sleep might be the most powerful. Key Takeaways: We're both well-informed and overwhelmed: There's an overabundance of health information from friends, media, and the internet, making it hard to identify the best course of action for yourself. Healthcare needs ongoing conversation, not just annual exams: Easily accessible appointments, longer appointment times, telehealth, and patient portals create opportunities for shared decision making. Perimenopause symptoms originate in the brain: Hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, mood changes, depression, and anxiety are centered in the hypothalamus, not just reproductive organs. The black box warning on hormone replacement therapy was removed: The original study had major flaws. Women closer to menopause can benefit from hormone therapy for hot flashes, night sweats, and quality of life. Sleep is foundational to health: Sleep removes waste from the brain, consolidates memory, regulates metabolism, improves heart health, decreases risk of obesity and diabetes, and boosts immune function. -------------------------------------------------------------------- We're bringing the podcast into the real world with our first ever in-person event! An evening of curiosity and conversation hosted in downtown Chicago, February 19th, 2026. Picture an intimate dinner party stacked with speakers, all guests from some of your favorite episodes, and space to make new childfree friends. Seats are limited so you can read all the details and get your ticket by visiting curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com/2026-event. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily's power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman Guest Dr. Denise K. Au, MD brings more than two decades of experience in internal medicine and medical education to her role at BIÂN Medical. A Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Au focuses on women’s health, wellness, prevention, and lifestyle medicine, blending evidence-based care with a holistic approach. Before joining BIÂN, she served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, where she trained future physicians and earned numerous teaching awards. Learn more about Dr. Au at https://livebian.com/  and @bianmedical

    46 min

  8. JAN 8

    Human Design: What If Understanding Your Energy Could Help You Stop Self-Sacrificing? | Emily Paulsen & Sam Nelson

    Have you ever wondered if you're working hard or just working against your natural flow? In this episode, Emily Paulsen sits down with Sam Nelson, a certified life and health coach and human design analyst. Sam helps people reconnect with their energetic blueprint and move through life with more ease. Together, they explore what human design actually is, how it synthesizes ancient wisdom with modern science, and why understanding your type, strategy, and authority can help you stop forcing things and start flowing. Emily and Sam discuss the five human design types and what they mean for how you work, rest, and relate to others. They explore why we minimize our own gifts, how deconditioning helps strip away who we think we should be, and why doing less might actually be the key to accomplishing more. Sam also challenges the cultural obsession with self-sacrifice and encourages listeners to start celebrating ease instead of struggle. This episode is a reminder that you don't have to believe in human design to benefit from experimenting with being yourself, and that sometimes the fastest way to age is to keep doing the same thing every single day. Key Takeaways: Human design is a practical map for being yourself: It synthesizes astrology, the I Ching, Kabbalah, chakras, and quantum physics to create a user manual for your energy and how you're designed to operate. We minimize our gifts because they feel easy: If something comes naturally, we assume it's not valuable when in reality ease is a sign you're aligned with your strengths. Deconditioning means stripping away who you were told to be: From childhood, we mold ourselves to fit perceived expectations, and human design helps identify what was never yours to begin with. Doing less can accomplish more: Instead of adding more modalities and to-do lists, removing what doesn't serve you creates space for what genuinely brings you joy and energy. Self-sacrifice shouldn't be celebrated: We bond over hardship and compete over who's most exhausted, but there's no prize for running yourself into the ground. Want more from this conversation? Sam and Emily continue their discussion on Substack, where Sam shares her childfree journey, her experience with tube removal, breast implant illness, and the medical system's treatment of women's bodies. Join the Curious Life Club for free at curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.substack.com to access this bonus content. We're bringing the podcast into the real world with our first ever in-person event! An evening of curiosity and conversation hosted in downtown Chicago, February 19th, 2026. Picture an intimate dinner party stacked with speakers, all guests from some of your favorite episodes, and space to make new childfree friends. Seats are limited so you can read all the details and get your ticket by visiting curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com/2026-event. - Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily's power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman - The guest on this episode, Sam Nelson from Human Aligned, is a certified life and health coach and human design analyst who helps people reconnect with their energetic blueprint. With expertise in identity refinement, Sam guides clients to move through life with more ease and clarity by understanding their unique design. She's also childfree by choice, a topic she explores in depth in the bonus Substack conversation. Find your free human design chart and connect with Sam at: www.humanaligned.com Follow Sam on Instagram: @humanaligned

    55 min
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Join Emily Paulsen for curious conversations on culture, wellness, self-expression, and ideas to make the world better, all explored from a childfree perspective.

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