The Dilemma

DM Podcasts
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • WEEKLY SERIES
The Dilemma

Should we become parents? The Dilemma is here to explore all of the questions that come up when we're asking the mother of all questions. In a series of funny, uncomfortable and inspiring conversations journalist Gina Rushton speaks to psychologists, political observers, activists, philosophers and fertility specialists who all share the load in carrying a dilemma that can feel all too heavy at a time of uncertainty. 

Season 1

  1. EPISODE 1

    Episode one: The Dilemma

    For journalist Gina Rushton, the question arrived as a sudden and unbearable cramp. Should I become a parent? In the debut episode of The Dilemma we explore why this question feels so complicated in 2024.  This episode of The Dilemma was made possible with the support of The Victorian Women’s Trust, a feminist agency that has been amplifying women and their concerns for almost four decades now. To learn more, follow @VicWomensTrust on social media or head to their website.    Host: Gina Rushton  Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon Guests: Chris Cheers Extra reading: You can read more about why we created the show here. You can find Chris’ book here and Gina’s books here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Episode two: Can you bribe people into having kids?

    People are having no children, fewer children or waiting longer to have children. What can politicians be doing to make people feel more confident in growing their families? And what does this have to do with reproductive rights?  This episode of The Dilemma was made possible with the support of The Victorian Women’s Trust. For almost 40 years, the Victorian Women’s Trust has pushed for critical social change to support women, girls and gender-diverse people to thrive. But there’s so much more to be done. Stand with the Victorian Women’s Trust in shaping a better tomorrow by making a contribution to the Equal Futures Endowment Fund and leave a lasting gift for generations of feminists. Host: Gina Rushton  Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon Guests: Sean Kelly, Diana Green Foster and Pragya Agarwal Extra reading: You can find Sean’s book here, Diana’s book here and Pragya’s books here. Gina has prepared a handy reading list of reproductive justice books and you can find her books here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Episode three: Who killed the girlboss?

    If not kids then what? For many people the answer is a consuming career. Like many millennial women, Gina entered the workforce during the rise of the #girlboss and spent the next decade watching and experiencing the death of a dream in which a job could be an identity. This week on The Dilemma we explore what we internalise about what makes a good worker, what makes a good mother and what makes a good life.  Host: Gina Rushton  Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon Guests: Gabrielle Moss, Amanda Montei, Hannah Ferguson Extra reading: Read Gabrielle’s girlloser essay here, find Amanda’s memoir here and follow Cheek Media here. Gina’s books can be found here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Episode four: Why are we scared of raising boys?

    You can’t consider parenthood without thinking about gender — your own, that of your partner and that of your potential child. This week on The Dilemma we’re talking about why some women don’t want to raise boys, why men don’t want to go to therapy and why there are so many memes about boyfriends as hapless children and girlfriends as tired mothers.  Host: Gina Rushton  Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon Guests: Zac Seidler, Bridie Jabour Extra reading: You can find Bridie’s latest book here and listen to Zac talking about masculinity here. Gina recommends reading On Heteropessimism by Asa Seresin and the chapter in her book that’s all about emotional labour.  This episode of The Dilemma was made possible with the support of The Victorian Women’s Trust. Digital skills enable women to gain better outcomes across employment, health, training, education and disaster recovery, whilst also providing life-affirming community connections. The Victorian Women’s Trust has created Rural Women Online. It teaches digital literacy skills, supporting women’s full participation in our community.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Episode five: Is egg freezing an insurance policy?

    In this week's episode of The Dilemma we are talking about fertility with two special guests. Sheree generously shares her personal story and Dr Tash tells us about the advice she gives patients. We talk about whether people are being pushed into egg freezing, what to do about time-wasting partners and what comes after the grief of infertility. Host: Gina Rushton  Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon Guests: Sheree Joseph, Dr Natasha Andreadis Extra reading: Sheree wrote about her experiences here and Dr Tash has her own podcast called The Fanny Mechanic. One of Gina's favourite books on all of this is The Seed: Infertility is a Feminist Issue by Alexandra Kimball and here's a piece Gina wrote about living with endometriosis. This episode of The Dilemma was made possible with the support of The Victorian Women’s Trust. They’ve created another podcast, The Trap, a series about love, abuse and power. Hosted by award-winning journalist Jess Hill, this podcast looks deeply at abuse that happens in private, and in public, searching the world for answers to the questions that continue to confound us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Episode six: How do we hope better?

    Many people are trying to make decisions about their futures while holding both hope and fear. In this episode of The Dilemma we’re talking about climate guilt, who should be panicking and whether you can make hope from scratch.  Host: Gina Rushton  Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon Guests: Tom Whyman, Mary Annaïse Heglar Extra reading: Tom’s book Infinitely Full of Hope can be found here. Mary’s novel can be found here and her latest book, the one for children, can be found here. Gina, who has written a lot about hope here, would also like to recommend reading Notes from the Apocalypse by Mark O’Connell. This episode of The Dilemma was made possible with the support of The Victorian Women’s Trust. Inspirational speeches from across history are far more likely to have been made by a man, than a woman. It’s time to change that. Madam Speaker is a new initiative by feminist advocate the Victorian Women’s Trust to collate and record important and historic speeches by women and gender diverse people from Australia and beyond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Episode seven: Has this all been a waste of time?

    In the final episode The Dilemma, Gina talks to a philosopher and mother who isn’t convinced a pros and cons list can ever solve the question of parenthood. Stay subscribed to this channel as we’re not going anywhere!  Host: Gina Rushton  Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon Guests: LA Paul, Chris Cheers Extra reading: This is the paper from Paul that changed Gina’s thinking and this is her book. You can find Gina’s book, where she writes deeper on this concept, here. You can find Chris’ book here. To support young people to navigate their teens with confidence, the Victorian Women’s Trust has created Rosie, a space for young feminists. From relationships advice to study tips, Rosie provides answers to teens’ most pressing questions.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    BONUS EPISODE: How do friendships survive this decision?

    In this extra special bonus episode, Gina is joined by one of her best friends Gyan Yankovich, author of Just Friends. They discuss how the question of parenthood can transform friendships for better or worse. Host: Gina Rushton  Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon Guests: Gyan Yankovich Extra reading: You can read Gyan’s book here, catch up on the viral essay by Allison P. Davis in The Cut here and find Gina’s books here. Money Power Freedom is a six-part series hosted by beloved late comedian Cal Wilson and award-winning author and filmmaker, Santilla Chingaipe. In each episode, Cal and Santilla work together to decode money and power, and what it means for our freedom. Created by the Victorian Women’s Trust, Money Power Freedom digs into our collective money story, reminding listeners that the financial hurdles so many women face aren’t personal — it’s political.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min
  • 8 Episodes

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About

Should we become parents? The Dilemma is here to explore all of the questions that come up when we're asking the mother of all questions. In a series of funny, uncomfortable and inspiring conversations journalist Gina Rushton speaks to psychologists, political observers, activists, philosophers and fertility specialists who all share the load in carrying a dilemma that can feel all too heavy at a time of uncertainty. 

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