{"podcast":{"title":"Relationships Made Easy","slug":"relationships-made-easy-1024411","podcast_index_feed_id":1024411,"rss_url":"https://feeds.redcircle.com/bd33039b-b884-4970-bd89-6881f41a5d29","website_url":"https://redcircle.com/shows/relationships-made-easy3126","image_url":"https://media.redcircle.com/images/2026/4/20/17/6f48509d-422d-4312-a081-99aa4ba8fbe0_195046423-d2603bd6-db7f-4989-8e1e-80fa7e3d3c7c.jpg","author":"Dr. Abby Medcalf","episode_count":398,"summary":"The research says the key to a happy life is happy relationships. But how exactly do you make your relationships better? That’s what this show is all about. I’m Dr. Abby Medcalf, psychologist, best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and (according to my kids) the bossy Jewish mom you didn’t know you needed. With decades of experience and millions of listeners in over 180 countries, I give you the no-fluff, research-backed strategies to make all your relationships better: with your partner, your family, your friends, and (most importantly) yourself. Every week on the Relationships Made Easy podcast, I mix straight talk, humor, and science to help you communicate effectively, set healthy boundaries, and stop second-guessing yourself. Because great relationships aren’t built in a day. Great relationships are built daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-23T12:19:04.825234+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/relationships-made-easy-1024411"},"episode":{"title":"370. Should You Have Kids or Not? The Psychology Behind One of Life’s Biggest Decisions","slug":"370-should-you-have-kids-or-not-the-psychology-behind-one-of-life-s-biggest-decisions","published_at":"2026-02-17T00:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/relationships-made-easy-1024411/370-should-you-have-kids-or-not-the-psychology-behind-one-of-life-s-biggest-decisions","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/relationships-made-easy-1024411","url":"https://abbymedcalf.com/how-to-decide-whether-to-have-kids","audio_url":"https://audio4.redcircle.com/episodes/165840b4-7f38-40eb-9491-8f688183b178/stream.mp3","summary":"Deciding whether to have kids isn’t just a practical decision. It’s one of the few choices in life that can feel irreversible, identity-shaping, and loaded with expectations you never asked for. Maybe part of you imagines a future with children and feels something warm and meaningful. And another part of you imagines the same future and feels panic, grief, or a quiet sense of “I’m not sure this is for me.” In this episode, I’m breaking down what the research actually says about parenthood, happiness, and meaning, why this decision feels so emotionally charged, and the five questions that genuinely help you figure out what you want, not what you’re supposed to want. If you’ve ever felt stuck between fear, pressure, and honesty about your own life, this episode is for you. ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/how-to-decide-whether-to-have-kids     Download The Kids Decision Snapshot. It will help you start to think this through in a grounded way without pushing you toward any answer: https://abbymedcalf.com/kids-decision-snapshot   Join my online community, One Love Collective, on Substack: https://abbymedcalf.com/substack .   You'll get... ✨ Early drops + ad-free podcast episodes ✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations ✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby _________   Subscribe to the Love Letter and get my little messages each week!  https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/    👉 Pick up a copy of my new book, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Easy and Joy: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries   👉 Pick up The Workbook: Boundaries Made Easier to use as a companion to the book or as a standalone masterclass: https://abbymedcalf.co…","meta_description":"Deciding whether to have kids isn’t just a practical decision. It’s one of the few choices in life that can feel irreversible, identity-shaping, and loade…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2309,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/relationships-made-easy-1024411/episodes/370-should-you-have-kids-or-not-the-psychology-behind-one-of-life-s-biggest-decisions/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/relationships-made-easy-1024411/370-should-you-have-kids-or-not-the-psychology-behind-one-of-life-s-biggest-decisions.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}