Is It Too Soon For Seth Rogen to be a Childfree Icon?
Cody Hetzel of Childfree Media Ltd. weighs in. Plus the latest happenings in the childfree community.
Actor Seth Rogen is trending for a recent interview where he stated how choosing not to have kids has contributed to his personal and professional success. As you can imagine, this interview is celebrated throughout the online childfree community. Given the minuscule representation of our chosen lifestyle, any time anyone says anything about not wanting to have kids, we tend to elevate them to icon status. And then, some end up having kids. *Cough* Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lawrence, John Mulaney. This topic came up during one of our meetings at Childfree Media Ltd, so I asked Cody to share his thoughts.
As a Childfree man, I applaud him for being vocal about the decision he and his wife have made. Though, is it too soon to crown him as a “Childfree Icon”? He has said all the right things to fit in with the Childfree community - except saying that he is “Childfree.” Maybe it's just a lack of knowing the community exists. Perhaps he's a “Fencesitter” (someone unsure about having/not having a child in the future) and purposely avoids the title.
In an interview with Howard Stern in 2021 regarding the topic for Rogen and his wife (Lauren Miller), he said, "I would say she wants kids less than I do; I could probably be talked into it. She's like, ‘no.'"
We’ve created a panel for the 2023 Virtual Childfree Convention titled Building Up A Childfree Icon (Discussion on Childfree Celebrities and Historical Figures). I look forward to hearing the community's thoughts!
Cody Hetzel, Co-founder of Childfree Media Ltd.
Upcoming Events
Join our live-stream podcast recording on Wednesday, March 15th, at 8:30 PM EDT. Cody and LeNora react to all the latest articles about the #childfree lifestyle. Most of them are probably going to be about Seth Rogen this week! Join our live-chat audience and share your thoughts! Link to live chat!
p.s. If you have any events you’d like us to promote, send the details to ChildfreeMedia@gmail.com.
Childfree Film
My fellow Canadians, we can now rent My So-Called Selfish Life!
My So-Called Selfish Life is a provocative and striking journey through one of society’s greatest social taboos: choosing not to become a mother. With brisk, cheeky humour and engaging personal stories—woven together with pop culture, history, and politics–the film dismantles myths about motherhood and misconceptions about childfree people. Reproductive rights are increasingly under threat, and My So-Called Selfish Life offers a refreshing and much-needed approach to understanding full reproductive agency—whether we want biological children or not.
I have seen this film three times now, including an in-person screening event in Toronto! Director Therese Shechter hosted a marvellous evening, and I had the pleasure of moderating the post-film panel discussion and audience Q&A.
We’ll keep you posted when more streaming options become available in other countries!
Childfree Podcasts: latest episodes
Childfree Media
Cody and LeNora react to random articles about the childfree lifestyle and a few articles misusing the term. This week's articles include a D.I.N.K (dual income no kids) couple "lying flat", and a childfree woman who tells her pregnant sister to clean up the mess her child made while visiting her home.
What does life look like when you don't have kids after 40? It looks like your retired dad sending you a text during the podcast wondering if other grandparents are complaining about having to raise their children's children due to poor family planning. Hosted by LeNora Faye.
Cody (Founder of Childfree Family) and Dr. Jay, CFP (Founder of Childfree Wealth), discuss the financial decisions that are unique to the Childfree lifestyle. This episode will cover Debt Management & The Cycle of Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck.
In this episode, Evan "sings" about men's mental health and how he got comfortable bottling up his feelings about loneliness in relationships and parenthood. LeNora asks Evan if he felt joy coming home at the end of the day. They also discuss how Evan kept his mental health struggles a secret. LeNora shares her experience going to therapy as a teen. Accidental Parenthood is created in allyship with the childfree community.
The three co-hosts of Childfree Girls share the ins and outs of creating their international podcast and web series on the panel Childfree Collaborations: Why They are Important and How to Start. A replay of the 2021 Virtual Childfree Conference live stream. Moderated by Cody Hetzel.
Claiming Zero
Our first Reddit episode of the season is a good one! A NJ restaurant has decided not to serve children under 10, and the movement of more adult-only spaces has begun! Be sure to show some love to Nettie’s House of Spaghetti
No Bibs Burps Bottles
Tamara Evans, 43, was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, and currently lives in Highland, California, with her husband Dennis. Tamara earned a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Alabama-Huntsville in 2003 and a Masters degree in Library in Information Studies from the University of Alabama in 2009. Tamara is the oldest of three siblings and growing up, she was often responsible for caring for her younger brother and sister. Tamara currently works as an adult services librarian at a special district public library, and when not at work, she enjoys reading, exercising (especially participating in running events), traveling with her husband, and eating vegan food. In this episode, Tamara offers humor and realness about her childfree life and how she came to fully embrace who she is, a childfree Black woman within a childfree marriage.
We're Not Kidding
Antara Sarkar is the creator of Sunday Class, a free STEM school for underprivileged youth. Her passion for volunteering turned into a mission to help students stay in school through the creation of Sunday Class. For this work, she was named the iVolunteer Hero Winner in 2022. Antara is also the co-founder of The Pink Engine, which makes 3d-printed Indian Railway scale models.
Childfree Spotlight
This week’s subscriber spotlight! Would you like to be featured? Email us at ChildfreeMedia@gmail.com.
Where can we keep up with you? (Relevant social media, etc.)
Instagram: @unfertilizedeggs, YouTube: @unfertilizedeggs, Facebook: Unfertilized Eggs, Website: www.unfertilizedeggs.com
Childfree YouTube
Childfree Book Release
I wrote about the realities of living with endometriosis — and how the medical system often fails people with this condition — in a new book titled BLEED: Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care.
Tracey Lindeman, Author
Pre-order here!
Final thoughts
The other day, my teenage nephew sent me a screenshot of an Instagram comment thread where people with kids and people without kids argued about the concept of kid-free flights. He thought it was funny. I then told him the exciting news about Childfree Media Ltd. being named the new leadership team behind International Childfree Day (August 1st). He said he would “celebrate the day extra hard now.”
LeNora Faye, Co-founder of Childfree Media Ltd.
As always, if you have content ideas or submissions for the newsletter, including Childfree Spotlight, or are interested in getting involved with Childfree Media Ltd., email us at ChildfreeMedia@gmail.com.
Not too soon at all. This isn't new. I've seen or read a few interviews of him in the past talking about the advantanges of not having children. I just can't put my hands on them.