In honor of World Population Day, we are joined by Robert Engelman, researcher, writer, and former newspaper reporter on environmental, demographic, reproductive health and gender-related topics. Through his deep learning experiences over three decades at leading environmental, journalism, and population organizations, Bob shines a light on the intimate links between reproductive autonomy and planetary health, which were also the subject of his seminal 2008 book, More: Population, Nature, and What Women Want. We discuss the fascinating trends over the last 10,000 years that have led to the progressive diminishment of women’s reproductive rights, and the accompanying growth in population and environmental degradation. We also discuss the positive trend towards gender equality and the subsequent reduction in fertility rates over the last century, and the concerted efforts that are needed to sustain and accelerate that trend for the sake of reproductive and ecological justice. 00:00 Opening 02:09 Introduction 04:18 Journalism to research advocacy 05:05 Environment and reproduction 10:35 Population Action International 11:40 Worldwatch Institute 15:39 More: Population, Nature, and What Women Want 22:27 Emmenagogues and pessaries 24:18 Women's role in reproductive process, midwifery 26:08 Rise in reproductive autonomy, family, media coverage 36:18 Trends, norms, coercion 42:15 Pushing back on pronatalist policies 43:20 Demography 48:52 Welcoming population decline 50:53 Consumption and population 54:44 Sustainababble 58:09 How to get better media coverage 1:02:22 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/robert-engelman ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance executive director Nandita Bajaj, researcher Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

In honor of World Population Day, we are joined by Robert Engelman, researcher, writer, and former newspaper reporter on environmental, demographic, reproductive health and gender-related topics. Through his deep learning experiences over three decades at leading environmental, journalism, and population organizations, Bob shines a light on the intimate links between reproductive autonomy and planetary health, which were also the subject of his seminal 2008 book, More: Population, Nature, and What Women Want. We discuss the fascinating trends over the last 10,000 years that have led to the progressive diminishment of women’s reproductive rights, and the accompanying growth in population and environmental degradation. We also discuss the positive trend towards gender equality and the subsequent reduction in fertility rates over the last century, and the concerted efforts that are needed to sustain and accelerate that trend for the sake of reproductive and ecological justice. 00:00 Opening 02:09 Introduction 04:18 Journalism to research advocacy 05:05 Environment and reproduction 10:35 Population Action International 11:40 Worldwatch Institute 15:39 More: Population, Nature, and What Women Want 22:27 Emmenagogues and pessaries 24:18 Women's role in reproductive process, midwifery 26:08 Rise in reproductive autonomy, family, media coverage 36:18 Trends, norms, coercion 42:15 Pushing back on pronatalist policies 43:20 Demography 48:52 Welcoming population decline 50:53 Consumption and population 54:44 Sustainababble 58:09 How to get better media coverage 1:02:22 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/robert-engelman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/robert-engelman</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance executive director Nandita Bajaj, researcher Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Robert Engelman | Reproductive Autonomy: A Human Right and a Foundation for a Healthy Planet

Amanda Janoo

We are joined by Amanda Janoo, Economics and Policy Lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance where we unpack the fundamentals behind the Wellbeing Economy. What happens when we stop treating people and the planet like they're here to serve the economy and start treating the economy like it's here to serve us? Through clear examples and policy strategies, Janoo illustrates the cultural and metaphysical transformation that can occur within communities when social and ecological wellbeing become our primary goals, and the economy becomes the means to help us achieve those goals by putting our fundamental needs for Dignity, Nature, Purpose, Fairness and Participation at the core of its activities and getting things right the first time around. We also discuss the work of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance in leading the collaboration of organisations, alliances, movements and individuals working to transform the economic system. 00:00 Opening 03:22 Introduction 05:06 Goals of global capitalism 05:47 Goals of wellbeing economy 07:20 Wellbeing Alliance's goals and policies 10:07 Experiences that led down this path 14:39 Commodity export model 18:05 Economic logic colonizing world 23:22 Confronting modern worldview 27:36 Notion of fairness 28:28 Process of economic policy design 33:06 Communities creating a Wellbeing Economy 34:57 Examples 39:23 Meaningful participation 43:20 La Paz, Bolivia; Citizens' Assembly; participation fatigue 46:12 WEGO economies 51:21 COVID and change 56:19 Role of political power in creating Wellbeing Economy 1:00:46 Using policy to push back against market forces 1:04:54 European Parliament and degrowth 1:10:13 Shift in policy discourse, well balanced media reporting 1:12:26 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/amanda-janoo ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance executive director Nandita Bajaj, researcher Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

We are joined by Amanda Janoo, Economics and Policy Lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance where we unpack the fundamentals behind the Wellbeing Economy. What happens when we stop treating people and the planet like they're here to serve the economy and start treating the economy like it's here to serve us? Through clear examples and policy strategies, Janoo illustrates the cultural and metaphysical transformation that can occur within communities when social and ecological wellbeing become our primary goals, and the economy becomes the means to help us achieve those goals by putting our fundamental needs for Dignity, Nature, Purpose, Fairness and Participation at the core of its activities and getting things right the first time around. We also discuss the work of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance in leading the collaboration of organisations, alliances, movements and individuals working to transform the economic system. 00:00 Opening 03:22 Introduction 05:06 Goals of global capitalism 05:47 Goals of wellbeing economy 07:20 Wellbeing Alliance's goals and policies 10:07 Experiences that led down this path 14:39 Commodity export model 18:05 Economic logic colonizing world 23:22 Confronting modern worldview 27:36 Notion of fairness 28:28 Process of economic policy design 33:06 Communities creating a Wellbeing Economy 34:57 Examples 39:23 Meaningful participation 43:20 La Paz, Bolivia; Citizens' Assembly; participation fatigue 46:12 WEGO economies 51:21 COVID and change 56:19 Role of political power in creating Wellbeing Economy 1:00:46 Using policy to push back against market forces 1:04:54 European Parliament and degrowth 1:10:13 Shift in policy discourse, well balanced media reporting 1:12:26 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/amanda-janoo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/amanda-janoo</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance executive director Nandita Bajaj, researcher Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Amanda Janoo | Wellbeing Economy: An Economy in Service of Life

Naomi Oreskes

We are joined by Naomi Oreskes, Henry Charles Lea Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University, and a world-renowned earth scientist, historian and public speaker. Using her latest book that she co-authored with Erik M. Conway, The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loath Government and Love the Free Market as the basis of our conversation, she explains how free-market fundamentalism has had a long history of undermining democracy and exploiting marginalized communities to benefit a small minority of elites. We also discuss the role that libertarian, techno-fundamentalist, and Catholic anti-choice think tanks such as the Cato Institute, Foundation for Economic Education, the Breakthrough Institute, and Population Research Institute have played in fueling anti-Science propaganda on overpopulation denialism, and why these forces must be vehemently opposed for a more just and sustainable planet. 00:00 Opening 02:44 Introduction 04:00 Eight Billion People in the World Is a Crisis, Not an Achievement 06:50 The Malthusians are Back 09:13 Mainstream media 10:00 Breakthrough Institute 11:37 Free market fundamentalism, overpopulation myth, planning 17:05 Disempowered people, overpopulation, labor 19:29 The Big Myth 25:20 Tripod of freedom 30:56 Population control, pronatalism, authoritarianism 34:29 Intellectual foundations of market fundamentalism 43:13 Major actors pushing market fundamentalism 49:20 Powell Memorandum, Reagan, Republican party 54:42 Monopolies, economic power to political 57:37 Citizens United 58:23 Role of government 1:01:13 Free market and wellbeing 1:02:52 Research on ecological overshoot and human overpopulation 1:04:40 Technology 1:05:03 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/naomi-oreskes ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

We are joined by Naomi Oreskes, Henry Charles Lea Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University, and a world-renowned earth scientist, historian and public speaker. Using her latest book that she co-authored with Erik M. Conway, The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loath Government and Love the Free Market as the basis of our conversation, she explains how free-market fundamentalism has had a long history of undermining democracy and exploiting marginalized communities to benefit a small minority of elites. We also discuss the role that libertarian, techno-fundamentalist, and Catholic anti-choice think tanks such as the Cato Institute, Foundation for Economic Education, the Breakthrough Institute, and Population Research Institute have played in fueling anti-Science propaganda on overpopulation denialism, and why these forces must be vehemently opposed for a more just and sustainable planet. 00:00 Opening 02:44 Introduction 04:00 Eight Billion People in the World Is a Crisis, Not an Achievement 06:50 The Malthusians are Back 09:13 Mainstream media 10:00 Breakthrough Institute 11:37 Free market fundamentalism, overpopulation myth, planning 17:05 Disempowered people, overpopulation, labor 19:29 The Big Myth 25:20 Tripod of freedom 30:56 Population control, pronatalism, authoritarianism 34:29 Intellectual foundations of market fundamentalism 43:13 Major actors pushing market fundamentalism 49:20 Powell Memorandum, Reagan, Republican party 54:42 Monopolies, economic power to political 57:37 Citizens United 58:23 Role of government 1:01:13 Free market and wellbeing 1:02:52 Research on ecological overshoot and human overpopulation 1:04:40 Technology 1:05:03 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/naomi-oreskes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/naomi-oreskes</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Naomi Oreskes | How Free-Market Fundamentalism Fuels Population Denialism & Undermines Democracy

Richard Heinberg

We are joined in this episode by Richard Heinberg, one of the world’s foremost experts on energy and sustainability. Using his latest book, Power: Limits and Prospects for Human Survival as the basis of our conversation, we unpack how humans have come to overpower Earth's natural systems and oppress one another and how we might address this. Richard challenges the techno-utopian absurdity of “green growth” and explains how unfettered human expansionism, even with a “green” tint, is incompatible with natural limits. We discuss how we might deliberately rein in our power, starting with an urgent transition away from fossil fuels, and move from a culture of unabated growth toward a culture of sufficiency, simplicity, and resilience. 00:00 Opening 03:54 Introduction 06:35 Definition of physical power 11:57 Maximum Power Principle 14:06 Fire, tools, and language 17:08 Introduction of fossil fuel energy 21:39 Challenges to transitioning to renewable energy 30:57 Reduction in energy use 32:34 Population growth 35:30 Responses to population discourse in ecological sustainability movement 40:04 Childfree and alternative family models 42:26 Horizontal social power and greater social equality 49:07 Optimum Power Principle 52:55 Limiting power 54:41 Beauty 56:08 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/richard-heinberg ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

We are joined in this episode by Richard Heinberg, one of the world’s foremost experts on energy and sustainability. Using his latest book, Power: Limits and Prospects for Human Survival as the basis of our conversation, we unpack how humans have come to overpower Earth's natural systems and oppress one another and how we might address this. Richard challenges the techno-utopian absurdity of “green growth” and explains how unfettered human expansionism, even with a “green” tint, is incompatible with natural limits. We discuss how we might deliberately rein in our power, starting with an urgent transition away from fossil fuels, and move from a culture of unabated growth toward a culture of sufficiency, simplicity, and resilience. 00:00 Opening 03:54 Introduction 06:35 Definition of physical power 11:57 Maximum Power Principle 14:06 Fire, tools, and language 17:08 Introduction of fossil fuel energy 21:39 Challenges to transitioning to renewable energy 30:57 Reduction in energy use 32:34 Population growth 35:30 Responses to population discourse in ecological sustainability movement 40:04 Childfree and alternative family models 42:26 Horizontal social power and greater social equality 49:07 Optimum Power Principle 52:55 Limiting power 54:41 Beauty 56:08 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/richard-heinberg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/richard-heinberg</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Richard Heinberg | Powering Down: Beyond Growth, Toward Simplicity

India has just surpassed China as the most populous country in the world. What role has patriarchal pronatalism played in spurring this growth? If autonomy is a basic human right, why do many women have little or no choice when it comes to motherhood? Do women know they have a choice? Why roles do patriarchy, religion, and the free market play in institutionalizing marriage and motherhood, and what influence does that have on women's lives and identities? And how might we reimagine the widest sense of family-making and spiritual kinship that includes our love for all humans and more-than-humans? These are some of the questions we explore in this episode with Dr. Amrita Nandy, India-based feminist, research, and writer and author of the book Motherhood and Choice: Uncommon Mothers, Childfree Women. 00:00 Opening 02:56 Introduction 04:24 Researching motherhood 09:58 Definition of maternormativity 11:07 Motherhood, nation, morality 13:07 Motherhood iconography 14:01 Maternormativity, choice, autonomy 16:22 Internalized patriarchy 17:21 Institution of marriage in India 19:42 Interviews with outliers of motherhood 28:30 Unconventional mothers 31:37 Strength of unconventional mothers 34:49 Fertility industry reinforcing biases 36:15 Patrilineal society 36:51 Ethical issues in fertility industry 38:35 Adoption rates in India 41:19 India as global hot spot for baby making 44:39 Ethics of procreation, other beings, environment 49:05 Oxfam report on gender inequality 51:32 Gendered expectation of unpaid care work 53:04 Role of mockery 53:57 Responsibility to care for husband's parents 55:20 Education, caste, economic status - marriage market 1:00:23 Pronatalism and population growth 1:08:37 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/amrita-nandy ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

India has just surpassed China as the most populous country in the world. What role has patriarchal pronatalism played in spurring this growth? If autonomy is a basic human right, why do many women have little or no choice when it comes to motherhood? Do women know they have a choice? Why roles do patriarchy, religion, and the free market play in institutionalizing marriage and motherhood, and what influence does that have on women's lives and identities? And how might we reimagine the widest sense of family-making and spiritual kinship that includes our love for all humans and more-than-humans? These are some of the questions we explore in this episode with Dr. Amrita Nandy, India-based feminist, research, and writer and author of the book Motherhood and Choice: Uncommon Mothers, Childfree Women. 00:00 Opening 02:56 Introduction 04:24 Researching motherhood 09:58 Definition of maternormativity 11:07 Motherhood, nation, morality 13:07 Motherhood iconography 14:01 Maternormativity, choice, autonomy 16:22 Internalized patriarchy 17:21 Institution of marriage in India 19:42 Interviews with outliers of motherhood 28:30 Unconventional mothers 31:37 Strength of unconventional mothers 34:49 Fertility industry reinforcing biases 36:15 Patrilineal society 36:51 Ethical issues in fertility industry 38:35 Adoption rates in India 41:19 India as global hot spot for baby making 44:39 Ethics of procreation, other beings, environment 49:05 Oxfam report on gender inequality 51:32 Gendered expectation of unpaid care work 53:04 Role of mockery 53:57 Responsibility to care for husband's parents 55:20 Education, caste, economic status - marriage market 1:00:23 Pronatalism and population growth 1:08:37 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/amrita-nandy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/amrita-nandy</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Amrita Nandy | Patriarchy, Motherhood, and the Search for Meaning

Vegard Skirbekk

To counteract the increasingly alarmist fears of population decline, we have a sobering conversation with population economist and author of the book, Decline and Prosper! Changing Global Birth Rates and the Advantages of Fewer Children, Dr. Vegard Skirbekk. Dr. Skirbekk takes us through decades of demographic research to lay to rest apocalyptic forecasts and insecurities around exploding healthcare costs, high shares of people dependent on others for care and economic support, labor shortages, and economic and cultural stagnation, and explains why instead a declining birth rate is not only a positive trend but one that can lead to more prosperity. Dr. Skirbekk provides key ideas on how governments can and should embrace and adapt to an aging population through citizen-centered policies and attitudes. 00:00 Opening 03:43 Introduction 05:37 Why are people choosing to have fewer children? 12:35 Education-fertility linkage 13:54 Choice in partner, pickiness, family formations 14:28 Trends over time 17:02 Old-Age Dependency Ratio and Health-Adjusted Dependency Ratio 22:54 Physical and cognitive health of aging population 26:06 Worker shortages, technology, automation 30:37 Benefits of population stabilization and decline 32:48 Pronatalist policies effect on childbearing 40:27 Chinese population decline 42:49 Embracing low fertility 45:28 Environmental and ecological awareness among demographers 46:26 Infinite growth paradigm 47:59 Reasons for increase in people without children 50:24 Childfree, childless, culture 54:07 Government interest in research on coping with aging 55:21 Wellbeing Alliance 58:45 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/vegard-skirbekk ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

To counteract the increasingly alarmist fears of population decline, we have a sobering conversation with population economist and author of the book, Decline and Prosper! Changing Global Birth Rates and the Advantages of Fewer Children, Dr. Vegard Skirbekk. Dr. Skirbekk takes us through decades of demographic research to lay to rest apocalyptic forecasts and insecurities around exploding healthcare costs, high shares of people dependent on others for care and economic support, labor shortages, and economic and cultural stagnation, and explains why instead a declining birth rate is not only a positive trend but one that can lead to more prosperity. Dr. Skirbekk provides key ideas on how governments can and should embrace and adapt to an aging population through citizen-centered policies and attitudes. 00:00 Opening 03:43 Introduction 05:37 Why are people choosing to have fewer children? 12:35 Education-fertility linkage 13:54 Choice in partner, pickiness, family formations 14:28 Trends over time 17:02 Old-Age Dependency Ratio and Health-Adjusted Dependency Ratio 22:54 Physical and cognitive health of aging population 26:06 Worker shortages, technology, automation 30:37 Benefits of population stabilization and decline 32:48 Pronatalist policies effect on childbearing 40:27 Chinese population decline 42:49 Embracing low fertility 45:28 Environmental and ecological awareness among demographers 46:26 Infinite growth paradigm 47:59 Reasons for increase in people without children 50:24 Childfree, childless, culture 54:07 Government interest in research on coping with aging 55:21 Wellbeing Alliance 58:45 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/vegard-skirbekk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/vegard-skirbekk</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Vegard Skirbekk | Embracing an Aging Population & Declining Fertility with Dignity

Carl Safina

We are joined by ecologist and author Carl Safina, whose writing explores the human relationship with the natural world. We discuss how human supremacy keeps us from appreciating the incredible beauty and complexity of other creatures, and has led to the diminishment of most wild beings and places. Carl's work fuses scientific understanding, emotional connection, and a moral call to action; he sees that the durability of human dignity and survival of the natural world will depend on each other; we cannot preserve the wild unless we preserve human dignity, and we cannot preserve human dignity while continuing to degrade nature. 00:00 Opening 04:29 Introduction 06:17 Anthropomorphizing 11:56 Motivation for career choice 14:18 Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel 20:35 Complexity of animal communication 24:20 Becoming Wild - study of animal cultures 29:48 Dynamics, relations, cultural change 34:54 Insights from bonobos and chimpanzees 35:54 New book themes 43:48 Importance of beauty 44:41 Motivation and perception 47:37 Nature Needs Half paper response 50:38 Impacts of human expansionism on nonhumans 56:16 What has kept you going all these years? 59:34 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/carl-safina ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

We are joined by ecologist and author Carl Safina, whose writing explores the human relationship with the natural world. We discuss how human supremacy keeps us from appreciating the incredible beauty and complexity of other creatures, and has led to the diminishment of most wild beings and places. Carl's work fuses scientific understanding, emotional connection, and a moral call to action; he sees that the durability of human dignity and survival of the natural world will depend on each other; we cannot preserve the wild unless we preserve human dignity, and we cannot preserve human dignity while continuing to degrade nature. 00:00 Opening 04:29 Introduction 06:17 Anthropomorphizing 11:56 Motivation for career choice 14:18 Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel 20:35 Complexity of animal communication 24:20 Becoming Wild - study of animal cultures 29:48 Dynamics, relations, cultural change 34:54 Insights from bonobos and chimpanzees 35:54 New book themes 43:48 Importance of beauty 44:41 Motivation and perception 47:37 Nature Needs Half paper response 50:38 Impacts of human expansionism on nonhumans 56:16 What has kept you going all these years? 59:34 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/carl-safina" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/carl-safina</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Carl Safina | The Beauty and Complexity of Animal Cultures

In this illuminating episode, we talk with Dr. Kristyn Brandi, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist, proud abortion provider, and board chair with Physicians for Reproductive Health, where she debunks the “biological clock” among other pronatalist myths and shares how the medical institution in one of many that fuels pronatalism. We also discuss what the overturning of Roe v Wade means in terms of safe abortion care for the already marginalized communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty, within the U.S.. We end the conversation by unpacking the dark history of reproductive control, including slavery, eugenics, and population control, and why centering reproductive autonomy through a deep understanding of Critical Race Theory (CRT), Reproductive Justice (RJ), and pronatalism, is essential to upholding reproductive rights and a sustainable environment. 00:00 Opening 04:02 Introduction 05:26 Pronatalist myth of a biological clock 09:56 Pronatalism in health care 12:51 Spectrum of care, options 13:51 CERCLFP initiative 14:56 Biases in research and care 17:56 CRT and RJ in medical community 19:57 Clip from Senate hearing 20:48 Reflection on commentary 24:17 Another clip from Senate hearing 25:17 Effects of abortion bans on marginalized groups 30:21 Logistics for abortion care, state bans, restrictions 33:29 Organizations offering assistance 34:08 Contraceptive coercion 36:45 Patient-centered counseling 39:00 Advice, authority, oppression 40:52 Common reasons for seeking reproductive health support 43:12 Sexual education 44:18 Working with school districts 45:14 Trials and coercion in Puerto Rico 53:02 Reproductive justice and injustice 56:35 Pronatalism within RJ framework 59:19 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/kristyn-brandi ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

In this illuminating episode, we talk with Dr. Kristyn Brandi, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist, proud abortion provider, and board chair with Physicians for Reproductive Health, where she debunks the “biological clock” among other pronatalist myths and shares how the medical institution in one of many that fuels pronatalism. We also discuss what the overturning of Roe v Wade means in terms of safe abortion care for the already marginalized communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty, within the U.S.. We end the conversation by unpacking the dark history of reproductive control, including slavery, eugenics, and population control, and why centering reproductive autonomy through a deep understanding of Critical Race Theory (CRT), Reproductive Justice (RJ), and pronatalism, is essential to upholding reproductive rights and a sustainable environment. 00:00 Opening 04:02 Introduction 05:26 Pronatalist myth of a biological clock 09:56 Pronatalism in health care 12:51 Spectrum of care, options 13:51 CERCLFP initiative 14:56 Biases in research and care 17:56 CRT and RJ in medical community 19:57 Clip from Senate hearing 20:48 Reflection on commentary 24:17 Another clip from Senate hearing 25:17 Effects of abortion bans on marginalized groups 30:21 Logistics for abortion care, state bans, restrictions 33:29 Organizations offering assistance 34:08 Contraceptive coercion 36:45 Patient-centered counseling 39:00 Advice, authority, oppression 40:52 Common reasons for seeking reproductive health support 43:12 Sexual education 44:18 Working with school districts 45:14 Trials and coercion in Puerto Rico 53:02 Reproductive justice and injustice 56:35 Pronatalism within RJ framework 59:19 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/kristyn-brandi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/kristyn-brandi</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Kristyn Brandi | An OB-GYN Unpacks the "Biological Clock," Abortion, & Medical Pronatalism

Haydn Washington

We were scheduled to speak with Dr. Helen Kopnina and Dr. Haydn Washington on December 16th when this episode was recorded. We are very sad to report that Haydn died on December 10th after a battle with cancer. We are grateful to be joined by his friend and colleague, Helen, and we dedicate this episode to the memory of Haydn Washington. 00:00 Tribute to Dr. Haydn Washington 03:03 Introduction 04:19 Friendship and work 07:39 Ecocentric worldview 12:06 Growing up 24:23 Describing ecojustice 38:09 Interconnected justice framework 44:33 Overpopulation denialism 53:35 Wrap up Highlights of this episode include: - Helen’s tribute to Haydn and his uncompromising commitment to sustainability and justice - The definition of ecocentrism and Helen’s personal introduction to an eco-centric worldview through nature’s healing power - Helen’s personal experiences of living in Soviet Union, the US, Europe, and India and how those informed her views on degrowth and sustainability - The social and ecological costs of population denialism, and the loss of academic integrity on this topic - A recognition of our need to unite efforts across the different liberation movements in order to maximize our impacts against systems of oppression See episode website for show notes and links: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/helen-kopnina ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

We were scheduled to speak with Dr. Helen Kopnina and Dr. Haydn Washington on December 16th when this episode was recorded. We are very sad to report that Haydn died on December 10th after a battle with cancer. We are grateful to be joined by his friend and colleague, Helen, and we dedicate this episode to the memory of Haydn Washington. 00:00 Tribute to Dr. Haydn Washington 03:03 Introduction 04:19 Friendship and work 07:39 Ecocentric worldview 12:06 Growing up 24:23 Describing ecojustice 38:09 Interconnected justice framework 44:33 Overpopulation denialism 53:35 Wrap up Highlights of this episode include: - Helen’s tribute to Haydn and his uncompromising commitment to sustainability and justice - The definition of ecocentrism and Helen’s personal introduction to an eco-centric worldview through nature’s healing power - Helen’s personal experiences of living in Soviet Union, the US, Europe, and India and how those informed her views on degrowth and sustainability - The social and ecological costs of population denialism, and the loss of academic integrity on this topic - A recognition of our need to unite efforts across the different liberation movements in order to maximize our impacts against systems of oppression See episode website for show notes and links: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/helen-kopnina" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/helen-kopnina</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Helen Kopnina | In memory of Haydn Washington | The Social and Ecological Costs of Population Denialism

Jeremy Lent

In this episode, we speak with deep and integrative thinker and writer Jeremy Lent, whose work integrates science and traditional wisdom to lay out a solid foundation for a life-affirming worldview of deep interconnectedness. By dismantling the dominant narrative that we are machines driven by selfishness and competition, Jeremy helps us reconsider our human identity in the context of the deep intelligence and cooperativeness that animates life both within and around us. Such a recognition behooves us to drop the veil of supremacy that keeps us separate from the rest of nature and to embrace a path in which we can participate in changing the course from that of potential collapse to one of regenerating the Earth for symbiotic flourishing. 00:00 Opening 03:14 Introduction 04:25 The Web of Meaning - Uncle Bob 07:54 Yuvel Noah Harari, story, meaning 09:56 Worldview of separation 16:33 Animate intelligence 23:04 Deep connection with nature 26:07 Eco-modernist mindset 30:39 Cooperation and competition 36:24 Indigenous wisdom and human supremacy 44:08 Symbiocene 45:23 Motivation for books 49:19 Searching for new meaning 52:23 Dominant worldview, hope, ecological civilization 58:39 Deep Transformation Network 1:00:20 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/jeremy-lent ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

In this episode, we speak with deep and integrative thinker and writer Jeremy Lent, whose work integrates science and traditional wisdom to lay out a solid foundation for a life-affirming worldview of deep interconnectedness. By dismantling the dominant narrative that we are machines driven by selfishness and competition, Jeremy helps us reconsider our human identity in the context of the deep intelligence and cooperativeness that animates life both within and around us. Such a recognition behooves us to drop the veil of supremacy that keeps us separate from the rest of nature and to embrace a path in which we can participate in changing the course from that of potential collapse to one of regenerating the Earth for symbiotic flourishing. 00:00 Opening 03:14 Introduction 04:25 The Web of Meaning - Uncle Bob 07:54 Yuvel Noah Harari, story, meaning 09:56 Worldview of separation 16:33 Animate intelligence 23:04 Deep connection with nature 26:07 Eco-modernist mindset 30:39 Cooperation and competition 36:24 Indigenous wisdom and human supremacy 44:08 Symbiocene 45:23 Motivation for books 49:19 Searching for new meaning 52:23 Dominant worldview, hope, ecological civilization 58:39 Deep Transformation Network 1:00:20 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/jeremy-lent" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/jeremy-lent</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Jeremy Lent | Weaving Meaning Back into Life

The Overpopulation Podcast is produced by Population Balance and features enlightening conversations between Population Balance executive director Nandita Bajaj, researcher Alan Ware, and expert guests to discuss this often misunderstood subject. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental sustainability, as well as individual and collective solutions.

While those of us without children are frequently warned of the possibility of regretting their absence, a story we don’t often hear is of the parents who regret having children. In this episode with Israeli sociologist Dr. Orna Donath, we unpack her groundbreaking work on this highly stigmatized topic of motherhood regret. Orna helps us understand the distinctions between ambivalence and regret, as well as non-natalism and anti-natalism. We also discuss her thoughts on the stringent control that society has over our emotions and actions, specifically as they relate to procreative decisions. From voluntary childlessness to the influence of neoliberalism on feminist thought, we end with reflection on how pronatalism is inherently oppressive and a cause for much confusion and suffering for parents and non-parents alike, while also being ecologically destructive. 00:00 Opening 03:54 Introduction 05:19 Research pathway 07:51 Triangle of regret 10:26 Challenging pronatalism 13:01 Not My Thing 18:05 Childfree stigma 21:33 Antinatalism, nonnatalism, pronatalism 24:35 Regretting motherhood vs. maternal ambivalence 31:13 Emergent themes from socio-political analysis 35:25 Feeling rules, linear story, influence of society 38:57 Motherhood for transformation and liberation 42:31 Subsidization of assisted reproduction in Israel 47:30 Neoliberal feminism 54:20 Research on the horizon 56:45 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/orna-donath ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

While those of us without children are frequently warned of the possibility of regretting their absence, a story we don’t often hear is of the parents who regret having children. In this episode with Israeli sociologist Dr. Orna Donath, we unpack her groundbreaking work on this highly stigmatized topic of motherhood regret. Orna helps us understand the distinctions between ambivalence and regret, as well as non-natalism and anti-natalism. We also discuss her thoughts on the stringent control that society has over our emotions and actions, specifically as they relate to procreative decisions. From voluntary childlessness to the influence of neoliberalism on feminist thought, we end with reflection on how pronatalism is inherently oppressive and a cause for much confusion and suffering for parents and non-parents alike, while also being ecologically destructive. 00:00 Opening 03:54 Introduction 05:19 Research pathway 07:51 Triangle of regret 10:26 Challenging pronatalism 13:01 Not My Thing 18:05 Childfree stigma 21:33 Antinatalism, nonnatalism, pronatalism 24:35 Regretting motherhood vs. maternal ambivalence 31:13 Emergent themes from socio-political analysis 35:25 Feeling rules, linear story, influence of society 38:57 Motherhood for transformation and liberation 42:31 Subsidization of assisted reproduction in Israel 47:30 Neoliberal feminism 54:20 Research on the horizon 56:45 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/orna-donath" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/orna-donath</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Orna Donath | Breaking the Taboo on Motherhood Regret

Partha Dasgupta

In this episode with world renowned economist Sir Partha Dasgupta, we are taken on a journey of how the current growth-based economic models came to be, and why their Nature-destructive policies have turned our planet into a house of cards. We unpack Sir Partha’s most recent publication The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review from 2021, a 600-page study that was commissioned by the UK Government, which examines the economic benefits of biodiversity and the cost of losing it. He also explains how he arrived at his approximation of 3.2 billion as a sustainable human population at a decent standard of living, and how using a behavioral economics approach, we can achieve such a goal. Dasgupta ends off by appealing to social scientists to embrace an integrative approach to academic thinking that is not encumbered by political correctness, which has led to such widespread denialism of the population factor and, as a result, a perilous situation for us and the rest of the planet. 00:00 Opening 04:10 Introduction 06:07 Three categories of ecosystem services 09:54 Maintenance and regulating services 10:20 Inclusive wealth 12:37 Depreciation 15:02 Measuring natural capital 17:03 Natural and inclusive wealth, capitalism 20:16 Regulation, global commons, restraint 25:41 Demands on nature, limits to growth 28:38 Population, standard of living, efficiency, GDP 33:52 Inequality factor 34:57 Nature doesn't have a check-out counter 37:30 Dismissing population concerns 46:21 Questioning continuous growth 51:27 Government sponsorship for work 56:58 Qualitative measurements, biodiversity, trashing nature 1:00:12 Importance of collective action 1:02:43 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/partha-dasgupta ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

In this episode with world renowned economist Sir Partha Dasgupta, we are taken on a journey of how the current growth-based economic models came to be, and why their Nature-destructive policies have turned our planet into a house of cards. We unpack Sir Partha’s most recent publication The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review from 2021, a 600-page study that was commissioned by the UK Government, which examines the economic benefits of biodiversity and the cost of losing it. He also explains how he arrived at his approximation of 3.2 billion as a sustainable human population at a decent standard of living, and how using a behavioral economics approach, we can achieve such a goal. Dasgupta ends off by appealing to social scientists to embrace an integrative approach to academic thinking that is not encumbered by political correctness, which has led to such widespread denialism of the population factor and, as a result, a perilous situation for us and the rest of the planet. 00:00 Opening 04:10 Introduction 06:07 Three categories of ecosystem services 09:54 Maintenance and regulating services 10:20 Inclusive wealth 12:37 Depreciation 15:02 Measuring natural capital 17:03 Natural and inclusive wealth, capitalism 20:16 Regulation, global commons, restraint 25:41 Demands on nature, limits to growth 28:38 Population, standard of living, efficiency, GDP 33:52 Inequality factor 34:57 Nature doesn't have a check-out counter 37:30 Dismissing population concerns 46:21 Questioning continuous growth 51:27 Government sponsorship for work 56:58 Qualitative measurements, biodiversity, trashing nature 1:00:12 Importance of collective action 1:02:43 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/partha-dasgupta" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/partha-dasgupta</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Partha Dasgupta | Accounting for Nature: The Economics of Biodiversity

Robert Jensen

In this episode with Robert Jensen, retired journalism professor, prolific author, and life-long social and environmental justice advocate, we discuss his latest book An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity that he co-authored with his colleague and elder, and Land Institute’s co-founder Wes Jackson. Against the backdrop of cascading ecological and social crises of subjugation of people and nature under the dominion of patriarchy, capitalism, imperialism, and anthropocentrism, we engage in a humbling dialogue about what it would mean for us to grapple with difficult questions and to consciously embrace limits, as a pathway to a more graceful and meaningful co-existence with Nature. 00:00 Opening 02:58 Introduction 04:52 An Inconvenient Apocalypse with Wes Jackson 08:54 The term apocalypse 13:35 Green growth and technological fundamentalism 16:12 Complexity, knowledge, limits 19:01 Energy rich fossil fuels, consumption, capitalism 24:44 Interconnection, relationship, nature 26:10 Journey to identity as Earthling 30:15 Generalists, engagement, identity, collective challenge 30:52 What does it mean to live a good life? 33:33 Love in action 37:02 Four hard questions 41:03 Era of abundance is over 42:50 Degrowth, localization, decentralization 46:17 Coercion, reproductive autonomy, family planning 51:59 Collective denial, responsibility, courage 57:09 Is there any reason to hope? 1:00:44 Three enduring questions 1:03:07 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/robert-jensen ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

In this episode with Robert Jensen, retired journalism professor, prolific author, and life-long social and environmental justice advocate, we discuss his latest book An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity that he co-authored with his colleague and elder, and Land Institute’s co-founder Wes Jackson. Against the backdrop of cascading ecological and social crises of subjugation of people and nature under the dominion of patriarchy, capitalism, imperialism, and anthropocentrism, we engage in a humbling dialogue about what it would mean for us to grapple with difficult questions and to consciously embrace limits, as a pathway to a more graceful and meaningful co-existence with Nature. 00:00 Opening 02:58 Introduction 04:52 An Inconvenient Apocalypse with Wes Jackson 08:54 The term apocalypse 13:35 Green growth and technological fundamentalism 16:12 Complexity, knowledge, limits 19:01 Energy rich fossil fuels, consumption, capitalism 24:44 Interconnection, relationship, nature 26:10 Journey to identity as Earthling 30:15 Generalists, engagement, identity, collective challenge 30:52 What does it mean to live a good life? 33:33 Love in action 37:02 Four hard questions 41:03 Era of abundance is over 42:50 Degrowth, localization, decentralization 46:17 Coercion, reproductive autonomy, family planning 51:59 Collective denial, responsibility, courage 57:09 Is there any reason to hope? 1:00:44 Three enduring questions 1:03:07 Wrap up See episode website for show notes and links: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/robert-jensen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/robert-jensen</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Robert Jensen | Embracing Limits With Ecospheric Grace

Bill Ryerson

We are joined by Bill Ryerson, the founder and long-time leader of one of the most effective sustainable population organizations in the world—Population Media Center. A nonprofit leader internationally for the past two decades, Population Media Center's TV and radio shows have promoted important social and cultural changes and have helped 500 million people in more than 50 countries. Bill discusses the inspiration for PMC’s groundbreaking edu-entertainment—the Sabido-Bandura method, a combination Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory—that people learn from role models whose behavior they wish to emulate, and Miguel Sabido’s serialized dramas that make use of such role models through mass media. We also hear about some of the most uplifting success stories Bill has witnessed over his 50-year long career in the field, as well as PMC’s exciting future plans. As someone who, along with his wife, chose not to have children decades before the childfree choice was popular, we are excited to also add Bill to our “Celebrating the Childfree Choice” page! 00:00 Opening 02:56 Introduction 04:27 Sabido Method and Population Media Center 12:55 Family planning and reproductive health programming 14:15 Results 16:28 Cultivating self-efficacy and confidence 17:53 Hum Log 19:30 Bottoms-up norm shifting impact 21:47 Forms of violence against women and girls 25:16 Pronatalism, fertility rate, human and reproductive rights 26:57 Our biggest weakness 27:20 Why women aren't using modern contraceptives 32:26 Nigeria, Muslim fertility rates, Qur'an 36:18 Conformism, challenging pronatalist norms, destigmatizing 41:01 Programming to change rigid gender roles 42:04 Role of religion and religious institutions 44:19 Backlash from religious authorities? 45:35 Power of story to change behavior 47:38 Can be used for good or bad 49:04 Influence, advertising, propaganda 53:28 Initiatives on overconsumption in over-developed nations 56:14 What keeps you going? 58:55 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/william-ryerson ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

We are joined by Bill Ryerson, the founder and long-time leader of one of the most effective sustainable population organizations in the world—Population Media Center. A nonprofit leader internationally for the past two decades, Population Media Center's TV and radio shows have promoted important social and cultural changes and have helped 500 million people in more than 50 countries. Bill discusses the inspiration for PMC’s groundbreaking edu-entertainment—the Sabido-Bandura method, a combination Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory—that people learn from role models whose behavior they wish to emulate, and Miguel Sabido’s serialized dramas that make use of such role models through mass media. We also hear about some of the most uplifting success stories Bill has witnessed over his 50-year long career in the field, as well as PMC’s exciting future plans. As someone who, along with his wife, chose not to have children decades before the childfree choice was popular, we are excited to also add Bill to our “Celebrating the Childfree Choice” page! 00:00 Opening 02:56 Introduction 04:27 Sabido Method and Population Media Center 12:55 Family planning and reproductive health programming 14:15 Results 16:28 Cultivating self-efficacy and confidence 17:53 Hum Log 19:30 Bottoms-up norm shifting impact 21:47 Forms of violence against women and girls 25:16 Pronatalism, fertility rate, human and reproductive rights 26:57 Our biggest weakness 27:20 Why women aren't using modern contraceptives 32:26 Nigeria, Muslim fertility rates, Qur'an 36:18 Conformism, challenging pronatalist norms, destigmatizing 41:01 Programming to change rigid gender roles 42:04 Role of religion and religious institutions 44:19 Backlash from religious authorities? 45:35 Power of story to change behavior 47:38 Can be used for good or bad 49:04 Influence, advertising, propaganda 53:28 Initiatives on overconsumption in over-developed nations 56:14 What keeps you going? 58:55 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/william-ryerson" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/william-ryerson</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Bill Ryerson | Soap Operas For Social Justice

Eileen Crist

In this enlightening interview with Dr. Eileen Crist—a deep, profound, and compassionate systems thinker—we are led through a journey on how to reframe our relationship to the planet for a more harmonious co-existence with all life on earth. We discuss the biodiversity crisis and destruction of wild places, pathways to halt these trends, and ways forward toward creating an ecological civilization. Dr. Crist shines a light on the worldview of human supremacy that foregrounds our relationship of dominion towards non-human animals and all of nature, and the role that human expansionism plays in driving a multitude of ecological crises. She concludes the discussion with a grounded, yet inspiring vision of how to protect this incredible life-giving planet by shifting our language, our identities, and our actions—through pulling back and scaling down—so that we are more in alignment with our indigenous-inspired roles as Earthlings. 00:00 Opening 02:55 Introduction 04:58 Definition of biodiversity 07:54 Ways biodiversity is imperiled 09:47 Effects of agriculture 13:21 Remedy for destructive agricultural model? 15:45 Human supremacy 18:36 Different from anthropocentricism 23:15 Less supremacist cultures 27:20 Human expansionism 30:32 Capitalism and wealth accumulation 35:33 Fabricating desire for children 37:49 Ecological concerns of growing middle class 41:03 How to find a balance 47:25 Sustainable population level 50:22 How do we scale down and pull back? 52:58 Earthling (we/us) essay 57:54 Critical role of language 1:01:51 Ecological civilization 1:06:54 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/eileen-crist ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

In this enlightening interview with Dr. Eileen Crist—a deep, profound, and compassionate systems thinker—we are led through a journey on how to reframe our relationship to the planet for a more harmonious co-existence with all life on earth. We discuss the biodiversity crisis and destruction of wild places, pathways to halt these trends, and ways forward toward creating an ecological civilization. Dr. Crist shines a light on the worldview of human supremacy that foregrounds our relationship of dominion towards non-human animals and all of nature, and the role that human expansionism plays in driving a multitude of ecological crises. She concludes the discussion with a grounded, yet inspiring vision of how to protect this incredible life-giving planet by shifting our language, our identities, and our actions—through pulling back and scaling down—so that we are more in alignment with our indigenous-inspired roles as Earthlings. 00:00 Opening 02:55 Introduction 04:58 Definition of biodiversity 07:54 Ways biodiversity is imperiled 09:47 Effects of agriculture 13:21 Remedy for destructive agricultural model? 15:45 Human supremacy 18:36 Different from anthropocentricism 23:15 Less supremacist cultures 27:20 Human expansionism 30:32 Capitalism and wealth accumulation 35:33 Fabricating desire for children 37:49 Ecological concerns of growing middle class 41:03 How to find a balance 47:25 Sustainable population level 50:22 How do we scale down and pull back? 52:58 Earthling (we/us) essay 57:54 Critical role of language 1:01:51 Ecological civilization 1:06:54 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/eileen-crist" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/eileen-crist</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Eileen Crist | A Profound Vision For An Ecological Civilization

Mechai Viravaidya

Affectionately known in Thailand as “Mr. Condom,” one of TIME Magazine’s “Asian Heroes,” and the winner of many awards including the United Nations Gold Peace Medal and the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health, today’s guest Mechai Viravaidya is the founder and chair of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA).  Using creativity, humor, and unassailability in finding partners and allies, Mechai championed the most successful family-planning, AIDS prevention, and poverty reduction programs ever known. With condom-blowing competitions, vasectomy festivals, the Cops and Rubbers program, and condom salads at his Cabbages and Condoms restaurant, Mechai made condoms so cool that condoms in Thailand came to be known as “Mechais.” Through his innovative efforts, Mechai not only brought prosperity to millions by helping to lower the Thai Total Fertility Rate (TFR) from 7 to under 2, but also was responsible for preventing upwards of 10 million AIDS-related deaths. He now runs some of the world’s most successful social enterprises, including the UN-endorsed Mechai Bamboo Schools, the goal of which is to use schools as a hub for education, community projects, and citizen-engagement. 00:00 Opening 01:40 Introduction 04:40 Background and life course 06:54 Advocacy for family planning in Thailand 09:03 Bottom-up approach 11:10 Population and Community Development Association 12:08 Family planning for children 13:14 Making vasectomies fun 14:47 Buddhist monk allies 16:34 What sparked creativity and humor for campaigns? 18:42 Result of campaigns, trust, destigmatization 19:52 AIDS epidemic 23:41 Non-Pregnancy Agricultural Credit 25:11 Maternal Child Health Program 25:47 10 million AIDS infections prevented 26:42 Replication of efforts 28:47 Mechai Bamboo schools 35:56 UN's SDGs omits need for family planning 36:26 Agreement with UN 37:26 Opportunity to visit Bamboo schools 38:58 Planting trees for tuition 39:34 Major environmental issues in Thailand 40:04 Agricultural methods, learning math to benefit community 41:56 Current state of family planning in Thailand 42:35 Coping with aging population 43:28 Worry about population decline, community partnerships 44:59 What keeps you inspired and energized? 45:53 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/mechai-viravaidya ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

Affectionately known in Thailand as “Mr. Condom,” one of TIME Magazine’s “Asian Heroes,” and the winner of many awards including the United Nations Gold Peace Medal and the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health, today’s guest Mechai Viravaidya is the founder and chair of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA).  Using creativity, humor, and unassailability in finding partners and allies, Mechai championed the most successful family-planning, AIDS prevention, and poverty reduction programs ever known. With condom-blowing competitions, vasectomy festivals, the Cops and Rubbers program, and condom salads at his Cabbages and Condoms restaurant, Mechai made condoms so cool that condoms in Thailand came to be known as “Mechais.” Through his innovative efforts, Mechai not only brought prosperity to millions by helping to lower the Thai Total Fertility Rate (TFR) from 7 to under 2, but also was responsible for preventing upwards of 10 million AIDS-related deaths. He now runs some of the world’s most successful social enterprises, including the UN-endorsed Mechai Bamboo Schools, the goal of which is to use schools as a hub for education, community projects, and citizen-engagement. 00:00 Opening 01:40 Introduction 04:40 Background and life course 06:54 Advocacy for family planning in Thailand 09:03 Bottom-up approach 11:10 Population and Community Development Association 12:08 Family planning for children 13:14 Making vasectomies fun 14:47 Buddhist monk allies 16:34 What sparked creativity and humor for campaigns? 18:42 Result of campaigns, trust, destigmatization 19:52 AIDS epidemic 23:41 Non-Pregnancy Agricultural Credit 25:11 Maternal Child Health Program 25:47 10 million AIDS infections prevented 26:42 Replication of efforts 28:47 Mechai Bamboo schools 35:56 UN's SDGs omits need for family planning 36:26 Agreement with UN 37:26 Opportunity to visit Bamboo schools 38:58 Planting trees for tuition 39:34 Major environmental issues in Thailand 40:04 Agricultural methods, learning math to benefit community 41:56 Current state of family planning in Thailand 42:35 Coping with aging population 43:28 Worry about population decline, community partnerships 44:59 What keeps you inspired and energized? 45:53 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/mechai-viravaidya" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/mechai-viravaidya</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Mechai Viravaidya | Cops, Cabbages, and Thailand’s Mr. Condom

Paul Ehrlich

To commemorate the 32nd World Population Day on July 11, 2022, we are honored to be joined by the legendary Paul Ehrlich, who also celebrates his 90th birthday this year. Author of over 40 books, including the best-selling book The Population Bomb, published in 1968, Dr. Ehrlich was made more famous by numerous appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson - the largest late night show in the 1960’s and 70’s. We got the rare opportunity to chat with him about his decades-long career in sustainable population advocacy, his studies on natural butterfly populations, as well as his interest in cultural evolution with respect to environmental ethics. We delved into: - Why the population bomb was not a dud - A 50,000-ft view of humanity’s evolution over the last 300,000 years and the misunderstood and manufactured “normal” that currently defines us - The need to end the unhelpful consumption vs. population debate - Optimal population size and wealth redistribution for a decent standard of living for all - The ethics of nation states and borders - Rights to nature - The threat of a nuclear war - The impacts of the agricultural revolution on the human jaw - The maddening rate of planetary degradation and biodiversity loss - A variety of urgent solutions that must be undertaken 00:00 Opening 02:32 Introduction 02:53 Population Bomb 04:18 Misperceptions and misassumptions on overpopulation 08:39 Population growth in high fertility countries 12:17 Fewer people consuming less 13:57 Impact of overconsumption and overpopulation on other species 17:17 Dependence on growth 19:26 Interdisciplinary study in academia 21:41 Advice for pushing back against pronatalism 24:57 Nation states, borders, tribalism 29:49 Circumscription theory, massive religions 31:40 Interest in natural world 33:14 Emotional impact of species loss 39:12 Jaws 42:28 Small group living 44:00 Relationship, care, access to nature 47:16 Financialized human beings, unnecessary consumption, happiness 51:18 Depopulation of species, population extinctions 55:57 Advice for sustainable population advocates 59:10 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/paul-ehrlich ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

To commemorate the 32nd World Population Day on July 11, 2022, we are honored to be joined by the legendary Paul Ehrlich, who also celebrates his 90th birthday this year. Author of over 40 books, including the best-selling book The Population Bomb, published in 1968, Dr. Ehrlich was made more famous by numerous appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson - the largest late night show in the 1960’s and 70’s. We got the rare opportunity to chat with him about his decades-long career in sustainable population advocacy, his studies on natural butterfly populations, as well as his interest in cultural evolution with respect to environmental ethics. We delved into: - Why the population bomb was not a dud - A 50,000-ft view of humanity’s evolution over the last 300,000 years and the misunderstood and manufactured “normal” that currently defines us - The need to end the unhelpful consumption vs. population debate - Optimal population size and wealth redistribution for a decent standard of living for all - The ethics of nation states and borders - Rights to nature - The threat of a nuclear war - The impacts of the agricultural revolution on the human jaw - The maddening rate of planetary degradation and biodiversity loss - A variety of urgent solutions that must be undertaken 00:00 Opening 02:32 Introduction 02:53 Population Bomb 04:18 Misperceptions and misassumptions on overpopulation 08:39 Population growth in high fertility countries 12:17 Fewer people consuming less 13:57 Impact of overconsumption and overpopulation on other species 17:17 Dependence on growth 19:26 Interdisciplinary study in academia 21:41 Advice for pushing back against pronatalism 24:57 Nation states, borders, tribalism 29:49 Circumscription theory, massive religions 31:40 Interest in natural world 33:14 Emotional impact of species loss 39:12 Jaws 42:28 Small group living 44:00 Relationship, care, access to nature 47:16 Financialized human beings, unnecessary consumption, happiness 51:18 Depopulation of species, population extinctions 55:57 Advice for sustainable population advocates 59:10 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/paul-ehrlich" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/paul-ehrlich</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Paul Ehrlich | Sawing off the Limb on Which We are Perched

In this interview with community advocate, sociologist and criminologist, educator, and researcher, Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis (Keem-ya New-ru Dennis), we discuss the findings of her research on the Black childfree diaspora in countries around the world, as well as the unique challenges of being Black and childfree. We also touch upon the role that patriarchy and male domination plays in the relative powerlessness of women to take control over their reproduction, especially in BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities. Dr. Dennis ends off by discussing the need to have uncomfortable and real conversations in order to engage in authentic equity and justice work. 00:00 Opening 01:13 Introduction 03:07 Research on the Black childfree diaspora 05:51 Missing racial variants 09:29 Main takeaways 12:09 Differences of experiences, religion, individualism 15:32 Learned behavior, assimilation, choice 20:07 "Love surpasses everything" 22:12 Patriarchy, male domination, powerlessness 26:36 Part-time or full-time parenting 27:42 Norms, identity, acceptance 33:25 Deeply rooted psychological structures 36:05 Why people choose to be childfree 39:42 Tax incentives, academia, politics 41:40 Consulting, conversations, change 44:05 Background understanding and work 47:48 Inequities in health care 50:40 Accountability 55:22 Solution to empower change 58:01 Motivation to change 59:12 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/kimya-dennis ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

In this interview with community advocate, sociologist and criminologist, educator, and researcher, Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis (Keem-ya New-ru Dennis), we discuss the findings of her research on the Black childfree diaspora in countries around the world, as well as the unique challenges of being Black and childfree. We also touch upon the role that patriarchy and male domination plays in the relative powerlessness of women to take control over their reproduction, especially in BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities. Dr. Dennis ends off by discussing the need to have uncomfortable and real conversations in order to engage in authentic equity and justice work. 00:00 Opening 01:13 Introduction 03:07 Research on the Black childfree diaspora 05:51 Missing racial variants 09:29 Main takeaways 12:09 Differences of experiences, religion, individualism 15:32 Learned behavior, assimilation, choice 20:07 "Love surpasses everything" 22:12 Patriarchy, male domination, powerlessness 26:36 Part-time or full-time parenting 27:42 Norms, identity, acceptance 33:25 Deeply rooted psychological structures 36:05 Why people choose to be childfree 39:42 Tax incentives, academia, politics 41:40 Consulting, conversations, change 44:05 Background understanding and work 47:48 Inequities in health care 50:40 Accountability 55:22 Solution to empower change 58:01 Motivation to change 59:12 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/kimya-dennis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/kimya-dennis</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Kimya Nuru Dennis | The Unique Challenges of Being Black and Childfree

Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. S.Y. Quraishi discusses his latest book The Population Myth: Islam, Politics, and Family Planning in India. Dr. Quraishi debunks the myth around exaggerated fears of Muslim numbers, born out of right-wing Islamophobic political propaganda, while also sharing that lack of socio-economic empowerment rather than religiosity fuels higher fertility rates. The Population Myth reveals how the right-wing spin to population data has given rise to myths about the 'Muslim rate of growth', often used to stoke majoritarian fears of a demographic skew. Dr. Quraishi uses facts to demolish these, and demonstrates how a planned population is in the interest of all communities. 00:00 Opening 03:52 Introduction 04:26 Motivation to write Population Myth 09:25 Historical background of Muslims and Hindus in India 14:26 Fertility rate, polygamy, family planning 20:04 Myths and interpretations of Qur'an 27:30 Disparities in educational opportunities 30:18 Rural-urban divide, variation across Muslim cultures, leadership 35:01 Stoking ethnic replacement fear 39:08 Timeliness of book 41:56 Positive reception of book 42:55 Obstacles to achieving a more equitable democracy in India 46:17 Determinants of failing democracy 47:56 Music 50:41 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/sy-quraishi ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. S.Y. Quraishi discusses his latest book The Population Myth: Islam, Politics, and Family Planning in India. Dr. Quraishi debunks the myth around exaggerated fears of Muslim numbers, born out of right-wing Islamophobic political propaganda, while also sharing that lack of socio-economic empowerment rather than religiosity fuels higher fertility rates. The Population Myth reveals how the right-wing spin to population data has given rise to myths about the 'Muslim rate of growth', often used to stoke majoritarian fears of a demographic skew. Dr. Quraishi uses facts to demolish these, and demonstrates how a planned population is in the interest of all communities. 00:00 Opening 03:52 Introduction 04:26 Motivation to write Population Myth 09:25 Historical background of Muslims and Hindus in India 14:26 Fertility rate, polygamy, family planning 20:04 Myths and interpretations of Qur'an 27:30 Disparities in educational opportunities 30:18 Rural-urban divide, variation across Muslim cultures, leadership 35:01 Stoking ethnic replacement fear 39:08 Timeliness of book 41:56 Positive reception of book 42:55 Obstacles to achieving a more equitable democracy in India 46:17 Determinants of failing democracy 47:56 Music 50:41 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/sy-quraishi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/sy-quraishi</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

S.Y. Quraishi | Tackling Islamophobic Population Myths

Columbian-born American award-winning Family and Reproductive Health Specialist, Dr. Esgar Guarín (goo-ah-reen) talks about his journey that led him to becoming a full-time vasectomist. Using a mobile vasectomy clinic as his advocacy vehicle to drive around the US spreading humor and activism, while offering free on-site mobile vasectomies, Dr. G is on a mission to help destigmatize male reproductive responsibility for the love of their partners and the planet. In this episode, we discuss the simplicity of a non-scalpel out-patient vasectomy procedure, the statistics and stigma surrounding sterlization, and the need to reclaim the procedure for reproductive liberation and responsibility. 00:00 Opening 03:00 Introduction 04:54 Becoming a surgical vasectomist 13:32 Mobile vasectomy clinic 19:55 Vehicle of activism 23:33 No scalpel, no needle surgery and Dr. Li Shunqiang 26:49 10-15 minute procedure 28:10 Access to reproductive health services 29:36 Disproportionate number of tubal ligations 32:34 Male participation in reproductive health matters 35:35 World Vasectomy Day 40:03 Positive impacts of vasectomies 43:54 Validation, normalization, assumptions 45:42 Philosophical conversations, stories, care 52:05 Involuntary sterilization, eugenics, vasectomies for empowerment 54:29 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/esgar-guarin ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/

Columbian-born American award-winning Family and Reproductive Health Specialist, Dr. Esgar Guarín (goo-ah-reen) talks about his journey that led him to becoming a full-time vasectomist. Using a mobile vasectomy clinic as his advocacy vehicle to drive around the US spreading humor and activism, while offering free on-site mobile vasectomies, Dr. G is on a mission to help destigmatize male reproductive responsibility for the love of their partners and the planet. In this episode, we discuss the simplicity of a non-scalpel out-patient vasectomy procedure, the statistics and stigma surrounding sterlization, and the need to reclaim the procedure for reproductive liberation and responsibility. 00:00 Opening 03:00 Introduction 04:54 Becoming a surgical vasectomist 13:32 Mobile vasectomy clinic 19:55 Vehicle of activism 23:33 No scalpel, no needle surgery and Dr. Li Shunqiang 26:49 10-15 minute procedure 28:10 Access to reproductive health services 29:36 Disproportionate number of tubal ligations 32:34 Male participation in reproductive health matters 35:35 World Vasectomy Day 40:03 Positive impacts of vasectomies 43:54 Validation, normalization, assumptions 45:42 Philosophical conversations, stories, care 52:05 Involuntary sterilization, eugenics, vasectomies for empowerment 54:29 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/esgar-guarin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/esgar-guarin</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a>

Esgar Guarín | Vasectomy: One Small Snip For Man, One Giant Leap For Humankind(ness)

This podcast is an excellent source of well thought out discussion around the issues of overpopulation. After reading &#34;Countdown&#34; by Alan Weisman, I became fascinated with this topic. This is the best and most professional podcast you&#39;ll find on the subject!

The most important underreported issue in the world

I would just like to take moment and give some acknowledgement to the producers of this podcast. it’s very encouraging to see this message on the monstrous overpopulation be discussed, one cannot discuss climate, wars, poverty crime and even idiocy without the mention of overpopulation within same sentence. Loveless relationships and marriages only for status or business, who embark on having children foolishly do a disservice and a lack reliability for not only themselves, but of their fellow human being and all forms on this planet.

“Salome” (Peace) for your efforts

I haven’t listened to the podcast yet

The Overpopulation Podcast

Today, family planning decisions tend to be all about the desires of parents, with little or no regard for the rights and living conditions of the prospective child and people who are already here. Do two adults have the right to bring a child into a world that’s a dystopian hell? Or do they at least have some responsibility NOT to? If the number of children you decide to conceive will have a direct impact on the quality of life those children experience, should that consequence be factored into your family size decision? These questions are more relevant now than ever. Today, more and more young women and couples are questioning whether having children is the right thing to do in a world destined for tough times. A new paper in the journal, Social Change, proposes a more child-centered and community-centered approach. A Human Rights Approach to Planning Families was authored by our guests on this podcast, Sarah Bexell and Catharina Graff-Hughey, along with attorney and Having Kids founder Carter Dillard and animal rights attorney Matthew Hamity. This episode is the first of several that will share content from – or suggested by – the April 2019 forum Tackling the Population Taboo: Creating a Sustainable Future. The forum was organized by Maureen Cohen Harrington, special projects manager at the nonprofit, Having Kids. 00:00 Opening and introduction 03:41 Excerpt from population taboo forum and discussion 07:16 Authors of paper 10:40 Isolation model 15:54 Quality of life 19:44 Density 20:53 Human rights approach to planning families 28:02 Fair Start Model 32:15 Passage from paper and discussion 37:36 Political pronatalist pressures 39:32 Long-acting reversible contraceptives 40:32 Dependency ratio, universal income, wealth gap 47:10 How do we get there? 51:23 Access to resources 52:36 Having this conversation 55:41 Having Kids and Carter Dillard 59:28 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/sarah-bexell ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/ *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Today, family planning decisions tend to be all about the desires of parents, with little or no regard for the rights and living conditions of the prospective child and people who are already here. Do two adults have the right to bring a child into a world that’s a dystopian hell? Or do they at least have some responsibility NOT to? If the number of children you decide to conceive will have a direct impact on the quality of life those children experience, should that consequence be factored into your family size decision? These questions are more relevant now than ever. Today, more and more young women and couples are questioning whether having children is the right thing to do in a world destined for tough times. A new paper in the journal, Social Change, proposes a more child-centered and community-centered approach. A Human Rights Approach to Planning Families was authored by our guests on this podcast, Sarah Bexell and Catharina Graff-Hughey, along with attorney and Having Kids founder Carter Dillard and animal rights attorney Matthew Hamity. This episode is the first of several that will share content from – or suggested by – the April 2019 forum Tackling the Population Taboo: Creating a Sustainable Future. The forum was organized by Maureen Cohen Harrington, special projects manager at the nonprofit, Having Kids. 00:00 Opening and introduction 03:41 Excerpt from population taboo forum and discussion 07:16 Authors of paper 10:40 Isolation model 15:54 Quality of life 19:44 Density 20:53 Human rights approach to planning families 28:02 Fair Start Model 32:15 Passage from paper and discussion 37:36 Political pronatalist pressures 39:32 Long-acting reversible contraceptives 40:32 Dependency ratio, universal income, wealth gap 47:10 How do we get there? 51:23 Access to resources 52:36 Having this conversation 55:41 Having Kids and Carter Dillard 59:28 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/sarah-bexell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/sarah-bexell</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a> *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Sarah Bexell and Cat Graff-Hughey | Family Size Decisions that Consider Welfare of Children

Maxine Trump

Is motherhood an essential part of womanhood? Some think so, and it might surprise you how much societal pressure remains today for women to have children. Mothers hope for, and some pressure their children to give them) grandchildren. Friends ask newlyweds when they’re going to “start a family” (aren’t the newlyweds already a family?). Even the attitudes of some medical professionals can lack sophistication. Some couples make the decision to have children as an automatic default – just the next step in life. Maxine Trump gave this decision much more careful and thorough consideration. She documents this in her new film, To Kid or Not to Kid. The filmmaker shares her thoughts and observations on the subject with the World Population Balance team. 00:00 Opening 01:43 Introduction 04:45 60 Minutes Marcia Davis 07:00 Timing of film 09:21 Clip from film 10:22 Commentary/judgement about choosing to be childfree 13:36 Pronatalism 14:59 Discussion with economist 16:48 Difficulty in understanding choice to be childfree 18:13 Clip from film 21:23 Option to decide, acceptance of choices, needs of children 24:16 Victoria Elder, regret 27:28 Clip from film 29:42 Celebrating childfree choice 32:10 Including sister in film 35:19 Baby products 37:21 Baby showers 38:14 Parenting in isolation 41:18 Judging large families, embarrassment, contraception 47:05 Control over when women can get tubal ligations 48:28 Opportunities to see film 51:06 Independent Lens 52:29 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/maxine-trump ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/ *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Is motherhood an essential part of womanhood? Some think so, and it might surprise you how much societal pressure remains today for women to have children. Mothers hope for, and some pressure their children to give them) grandchildren. Friends ask newlyweds when they’re going to “start a family” (aren’t the newlyweds already a family?). Even the attitudes of some medical professionals can lack sophistication. Some couples make the decision to have children as an automatic default – just the next step in life. Maxine Trump gave this decision much more careful and thorough consideration. She documents this in her new film, To Kid or Not to Kid. The filmmaker shares her thoughts and observations on the subject with the World Population Balance team. 00:00 Opening 01:43 Introduction 04:45 60 Minutes Marcia Davis 07:00 Timing of film 09:21 Clip from film 10:22 Commentary/judgement about choosing to be childfree 13:36 Pronatalism 14:59 Discussion with economist 16:48 Difficulty in understanding choice to be childfree 18:13 Clip from film 21:23 Option to decide, acceptance of choices, needs of children 24:16 Victoria Elder, regret 27:28 Clip from film 29:42 Celebrating childfree choice 32:10 Including sister in film 35:19 Baby products 37:21 Baby showers 38:14 Parenting in isolation 41:18 Judging large families, embarrassment, contraception 47:05 Control over when women can get tubal ligations 48:28 Opportunities to see film 51:06 Independent Lens 52:29 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/maxine-trump" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/maxine-trump</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a> *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Maxine Trump | New Film: To Kid Or Not To Kid

Carter Dillard

Karin Kuhlemann

We need to put our children first. Carter Dillard and Karin Kuhlemann of the non-profit, Having Kids, join host Dave Gardner for a very candid conversation explaining "child-first" family planning and how it will benefit our children and make human civilization more sustainable. 00:00 Opening and introductions 01:31 Having Kids 03:26 Child-centered 10:29 Talking about overpopulation 12:59 Ethics, responsibility, morality 13:49 Sustainable Families campaign 17:09 Letter to Prince William and Kate Middleton 18:39 Celebrities promoting smaller families 22:00 Attention, cultural messaging, examples 29:46 Future plans/focus 34:12 How to reach young people 36:36 Responses to letters 38:38 Still soliciting stories? 38:50 Prince William's concern about overpopulation 41:50 Ethics of putting children in danger 44:08 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/dillard-kuhlemann ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/ *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

We need to put our children first. Carter Dillard and Karin Kuhlemann of the non-profit, Having Kids, join host Dave Gardner for a very candid conversation explaining "child-first" family planning and how it will benefit our children and make human civilization more sustainable. 00:00 Opening and introductions 01:31 Having Kids 03:26 Child-centered 10:29 Talking about overpopulation 12:59 Ethics, responsibility, morality 13:49 Sustainable Families campaign 17:09 Letter to Prince William and Kate Middleton 18:39 Celebrities promoting smaller families 22:00 Attention, cultural messaging, examples 29:46 Future plans/focus 34:12 How to reach young people 36:36 Responses to letters 38:38 Still soliciting stories? 38:50 Prince William's concern about overpopulation 41:50 Ethics of putting children in danger 44:08 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/dillard-kuhlemann" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/dillard-kuhlemann</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a> *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Carter Dillard and Karin Kuhlemann | Child-First Family Planning

Philip Cafaro

News reports and economists exhibit collective angst about declining birth rates and the resulting aging of populations in many nations. They worry about labor shortages, upside-down pension programs, rising health care burdens and stagnating GDP. A research team at The Overpopulation Project wondered if these challenges are outweighed by the ecological advantage of a population shrinking back to a level that won’t crush the Earth. In this episode World Population Balance Executive Director Dave Gardner visits with one of the researchers, Philip Cafaro, professor of philosophy at Colorado State University and affiliated faculty member of CSU’s School of Global Environmental Sustainability. Up for discussion: Can a contracting population work economically and socially? 00:00 Opening 02:09 Overpopulation Project 04:23 What prompted review article? 08:34 Dependency ratio, increased health care expenditures, mortality 10:31 Planning for aging societies, pensions, immigration 15:52 Finances, endless growth economy 17:39 Japan 20:47 Smaller economy, per capita wealth, satisfaction 23:09 Agriculture and trade 24:11 Benefits of smaller population 27:21 Mainstream media coverage 30:29 Fertility and strength of national economy 31:54 Countries resisting population degrowth 34:07 Support for parents, Sweden 37:43 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/philip-cafaro ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/ *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

News reports and economists exhibit collective angst about declining birth rates and the resulting aging of populations in many nations. They worry about labor shortages, upside-down pension programs, rising health care burdens and stagnating GDP. A research team at The Overpopulation Project wondered if these challenges are outweighed by the ecological advantage of a population shrinking back to a level that won’t crush the Earth. In this episode World Population Balance Executive Director Dave Gardner visits with one of the researchers, Philip Cafaro, professor of philosophy at Colorado State University and affiliated faculty member of CSU’s School of Global Environmental Sustainability. Up for discussion: Can a contracting population work economically and socially? 00:00 Opening 02:09 Overpopulation Project 04:23 What prompted review article? 08:34 Dependency ratio, increased health care expenditures, mortality 10:31 Planning for aging societies, pensions, immigration 15:52 Finances, endless growth economy 17:39 Japan 20:47 Smaller economy, per capita wealth, satisfaction 23:09 Agriculture and trade 24:11 Benefits of smaller population 27:21 Mainstream media coverage 30:29 Fertility and strength of national economy 31:54 Countries resisting population degrowth 34:07 Support for parents, Sweden 37:43 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/philip-cafaro" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/philip-cafaro</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a> *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Philip Cafaro | Dropping Birth Rates are Good News

Colin Hickey

Are there ethical and moral ways for governments to accelerate the move to smaller families in order to contract population? Ethicists Colin Hickey and Jake Earl weigh in on why this should be done, and how we might do it fairly, in order to shrink our carbon footprint. 00:00 Opening and introductions 01:27 Altering public policy to influence family size decisions 02:32 Climate change 04:01 How did you reach conclusion about importance of population? 07:03 Other ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 12:41 Obsession with economic growth 13:27 By 2050 15:11 Reluctance to discuss population policy 16:57 Four types of interventions 21:22 Incentives 23:46 Coercion 26:15 Urgency 28:23 Low carbon footprint, high fertility rate 32:21 Strategies in context 33:04 Preference adjusting interventions 38:58 Most controversial part of project 41:01 Influencing family size of wealthier families 43:24 Fairness 46:47 Wrong kinds of incentives, welfare of children 49:29 Reactions to paper 51:48 Having this conversation 57:44 How to start making things happen 1:06:22 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/earl-hickey ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/ *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Are there ethical and moral ways for governments to accelerate the move to smaller families in order to contract population? Ethicists Colin Hickey and Jake Earl weigh in on why this should be done, and how we might do it fairly, in order to shrink our carbon footprint. 00:00 Opening and introductions 01:27 Altering public policy to influence family size decisions 02:32 Climate change 04:01 How did you reach conclusion about importance of population? 07:03 Other ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 12:41 Obsession with economic growth 13:27 By 2050 15:11 Reluctance to discuss population policy 16:57 Four types of interventions 21:22 Incentives 23:46 Coercion 26:15 Urgency 28:23 Low carbon footprint, high fertility rate 32:21 Strategies in context 33:04 Preference adjusting interventions 38:58 Most controversial part of project 41:01 Influencing family size of wealthier families 43:24 Fairness 46:47 Wrong kinds of incentives, welfare of children 49:29 Reactions to paper 51:48 Having this conversation 57:44 How to start making things happen 1:06:22 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/earl-hickey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/earl-hickey</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a> *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Colin Hickey and Jake Earl | Small Family Campaigns and Incentives

Lauren Sandler

Lonely, selfish and maladjusted? NOT. Careful consideration of all the ramifications of your family-size decision is smart. Perhaps you’re leaning toward having only one child; there are plenty of good reasons to stop there. But you’ve heard only children are spoiled and selfish, or can be peculiar. It turns out these are myths. Journalist Lauren Sandler did a lot digging, and in this episode she tells us there is “a lot of data supporting the one-child family as a healthy, important choice.” Lauren wrote a Time magazine cover story on the subject, The Only Child: Debunking the Myths. She followed up two years later with the book, One and Only: The Freedom of Having an Only Child, and The Joy of Being One. 00:00 Opening 02:33 Introduction 03:39 Current focus 05:48 One child family, only child, singleton 08:45 Great Depression, religiosity, support 15:15 Family size decisions 20:58 Pressure to have children 30:10 Pros and cons of one child families 40:55 Experience as an only child 42:40 Conflict, defensiveness, examining choices 48:28 Benefits of being an only child 50:35 Happiness of family size 53:27 Having children for old age care, pain, reasons 58:29 Efficacy of stories 1:01:55 One and Only, Bill McKibben, Maybe One 1:03:43 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/lauren-sandler ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: https://www.populationbalance.org/ *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Lonely, selfish and maladjusted? NOT. Careful consideration of all the ramifications of your family-size decision is smart. Perhaps you’re leaning toward having only one child; there are plenty of good reasons to stop there. But you’ve heard only children are spoiled and selfish, or can be peculiar. It turns out these are myths. Journalist Lauren Sandler did a lot digging, and in this episode she tells us there is “a lot of data supporting the one-child family as a healthy, important choice.” Lauren wrote a Time magazine cover story on the subject, The Only Child: Debunking the Myths. She followed up two years later with the book, One and Only: The Freedom of Having an Only Child, and The Joy of Being One. 00:00 Opening 02:33 Introduction 03:39 Current focus 05:48 One child family, only child, singleton 08:45 Great Depression, religiosity, support 15:15 Family size decisions 20:58 Pressure to have children 30:10 Pros and cons of one child families 40:55 Experience as an only child 42:40 Conflict, defensiveness, examining choices 48:28 Benefits of being an only child 50:35 Happiness of family size 53:27 Having children for old age care, pain, reasons 58:29 Efficacy of stories 1:01:55 One and Only, Bill McKibben, Maybe One 1:03:43 Wrap up See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/lauren-sandler" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/lauren-sandler</a> ABOUT US The Overpopulation Podcast features enlightening conversations between Population Balance Executive Director Nandita Bajaj, cohost Alan Ware, and expert guests. We cover a broad variety of topics that explore the impacts of our expanding human footprint on human rights, animal protection, and environmental restoration, as well as individual and collective solutions. Learn more here: <a href="https://www.populationbalance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.populationbalance.org/</a> *Episodes from 2016-2021 were hosted by former executive director Dave Gardner and later with co-host Erika Arias, and then with co-host Nandita Bajaj.

Lauren Sandler | Busting Only Child Myths

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