Kids or Childfree? The Truth About Care, Parenthood & Why It Matters with Elissa Strauss (116)

Send us a text

In this follow-up to our most popular episode on the decision to have kids or remain childfree, we expand the conversation to explore the culture, politics, and personal experience of care with award-winning journalist and author Elissa Strauss.

Elissa is the author of When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others and a writer for The New York Times, The Atlantic, Glamour, and more. In this episode, she shares deep insights into why care is undervalued in society—from parenting and caregiving to the structural changes needed to support those who provide care.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

✅ What care really means (beyond parenthood and childfree choices)

✅ How culture and politics shape our views on caregiving

✅ Why care work is undervalued—and how we can change that

✅ The emotional and financial toll of caregiving

✅ How we can build a society that truly supports caregivers

About Our Guest: Elissa Strauss

Elissa Strauss is a journalist, essayist, and opinion writer covering parenthood, caregiving, feminism, and social change. She has contributed to The New York Times, The Atlantic, Glamour, Slate, and was a CNN contributing writer. Her book, When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others, examines the transformative power of care and why we must rethink how we support caregivers in modern society.

📖 Get her book here

🧡 Support care advocacy: Caring Across Generations

Related Episodes:

🎧 Episode 102: The Decision to Have Kids or Remain Childfree with Keltie Maguire (Part 1)

Support the Show & Stay Connected

📸 Follow on Instagram: @howthewiseonegrows @hollyzajur

🌿 Join the Community

⭐ Leave a Review (It helps so much!)

🔗 Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

•  Fair play Method— Eve Rodsky

Support the show

Follow @howthewiseonegrows and @hollyzajur on Instagram for more and check out more offerings online.

Join the ~*Dream Team*~ to support the podcast!

Get the 28 Day Creative Wellness Challenge E-Workbook- Use the code KEEPCREATING for 15% off!

Work 1:1 with Holly through mentorship & coaching

Join the FREE *Creative Wellness Collective* to continue the conversations we have on the podcast with fellow listeners!

Give the gift that keeps on giving-- Custom Meditations!

Episode sponsored by Connect Wellness. Connect Wellness empowers people with tools to connect with themselves, others, and the present moment.

Be wise-- sign up to be the first to know what's next!