Dinky

This one has a twist ending! In this episode of the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a Reddit post titled “I genuinely hate my baby.” What starts as a familiar story about parenting regret, sleep deprivation, and postpartum mental health quickly turns into total chaos when the hosts realize the post wasn’t written by a mother — but by a first-time father (FTF). This episode div...

In this episode, Erika and Kristen read and discuss a post from the Regretful Parents sub titled “Don’t Do It Folks.” The post details a chaotic day of parenting young children and offers practical advice for people who are considering having kids. Our conversation covers the realities of daily childcare, loss of free time, unequal caregiving labor, financial strain, and how resentment can build....

Want more exclusive content from Dinky? Join the Patreon !  Today we are joined by TJ Bozarth, the creator, writer, and director of DINK: The Musical — a dramedy satire on the state of our world sung through the eyes of three DINK couples. We talk with TJ about the inspiration behind the musical, why satire feels important right now, and how this project has been received around the world. TRIPS:...

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses self-harm, mental health crises, sexual content, and parental regret. A parent of a 17-year-old daughter with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts describes years of burnout, crisis management, and reaching a breaking point. From phone restrictions to parental PTSD, this story raises uncomfortable questions about autonomy, responsibility, mental hea...

Welcome back to the Regretful Parents series. This episode tackles what motherhood does to women’s bodies, mental health, and sense of self. Erika and Kristen read a post from the Regretful Parents subreddit titled “Never Felt as Ugly as I Do Now as a Mom.” A woman reflects on how pregnancy, postpartum life, chronic sleep deprivation, stress, and mental load have aged her physically and emotionall...

In this episode, Kristen and Erika dive into a wild Reddit post from a working mom dealing with a stay-at-home husband who refuses to actually parent their 28-month-old (that's 2 years and 4 months, people!). What We Cover: A stay-at-home dad who won't take his toddler to the playground, feed her, or play with her Why OP hired a house cleaner because he couldn't handle the basics The depression an...

What happens when the love you’re promised as a parent never shows up? In this episode, Erika and Kristen dive into one of the most taboo and honest conversations about parenthood: regret, ambivalence, and not loving your child the way society says you should. Reading directly from the Regretful Parents subreddit, we unpack a post from a mother who admits she doesn’t love her baby and can't figure...

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK: Shop Herself Collections to snag you or someone you love a gorgeous gift this Valentine’s Day!!  It’s the listener question episode! Don’t miss your chance to join me in VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy person's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last. Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and...

Welcome back to the Regretful Parents series. This week, Erika and Kristen read and react to a post from the Regretful Parents subreddit titled “Feel Like I’ve Ruined My Life.” Spoiler alert: he kind of has. A 29-year-old man agrees to an ultimatum — have a baby before 30 or never — and now finds himself exhausted, resentful, intimacy-deprived, and being pressured for more kids he absolutely does...

We're sitting down with Rachael Eckles. In this conversation, Rachael shares her journey to becoming child-free, her career evolution from law and bioethics to fiction writing, and her advocacy for women's health. She discusses the impact of her education and health experiences on her life choices, the importance of diverse voices in publishing, and her desire to empower women through her writing...

In this episode, Erika and Kristen dive into a jaw-dropping Reddit post titled “I Am A Roller Coaster Of Regret And Acceptance.” From religious guilt to missed abortions, dating struggles as a single parent, and the crushing realities of living with family, this story sparks one of our most chaotic discussions yet. We unpack: Why people banking on miscarriage is not a life plan The real statistics...

In today’s Regretful Parents episode, Erika and Kristen dive into a viral story from the I Regret Having Children Facebook page — and this time, it’s not a confession but a financial horror story. An Ohio mom’s TikTok exploded online after revealing the NICU bill for her premature quadruplets: $4.04 million.  Erika and Kristen unpack the wild reality of childbirth costs in America, why one medical...

Today we are joined by the hilarious Liza Treyger, otherwise known as Glitter Cheese on social media. Liza is a comedian you may know from Netflix’s The Degenerates and Survival of the Thickest or her hit podcast That’s Messed Up: An SVU Podcast , where she dives deep into Law & Order episodes, true crime, and pop culture. She’s hilarious and if you love Dinky, you’ll love Liza. Connect with L...

Welcome back to our Regretful Parents series. In this episode, Kristen and Erika react to a Reddit post titled “ Motherhood Has Been Hell As An Anxious Person ,” where an overwhelmed mom explains how becoming a parent completely destroyed her mental health, sleep, and sense of stability. This is one of the most honest Reddit parenting stories we’ve covered. Before having kids, the original poster...

Welcome back to another episode in our Regretful Parents series — where we dive deep into stories from the Regretful Parents subreddit. Today’s post comes from a woman who is 7 weeks pregnant, spiraling with anxiety, and realizing she may not actually want a baby — even though her husband does. She’s 35, terrified of change, and suddenly questioning everything. In this episode, we talk about: ✨ F...

This episode’s returning guest is Maggie Dickens, licensed therapist and the host of Unapologetically Childfree. Maggie’s built an incredible space for childfree women who are done holding it all together for everyone else and ready to feel as supported as everyone else. She’s got a mix of therapy smarts, real talk, and a calming energy that makes you want to exhale and finally stop carrying every...

Welcome back our Regretful Parents series! In this episode, Erika and Kristen react to a viral Reddit post from a parent who openly regrets having kids — and his reasons why will make your jaw drop. From religious guilt and peer pressure to capitalism and walkable cities, this conversation breaks down why so many parents are speaking out about regret, exhaustion, and the myth of “the village.” We...

Select Regretful Parents episodes are being uploaded to the podcast feed — to watch the full series, visit Dinky Podcast on our YouTube! Welcome back to our Regretful Parents series, where hosts Erika and Kristen read and react to posts from parents who regret having kids. This episode dives into a Reddit confession titled “4 A.M. Thoughts” — a raw look at the exhaustion, resentment, and grief tha...

Today we’re joined by the hilarious Natasha Vaynblat, a New York–based comedian and writer embracing the childfree life. You’ve seen her work on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , and her debut stand-up album We’re All Dads Here was named one of Paste’s Best Comedy Albums and featured in Vulture’s “5 Albums to Watch Right Now.” Natasha is also the creator and star of the award-winning digita...

In the spirit of Halloween, Kristen and Erika decided to give you ALL the bonus Halloween content! Enjoy!!! If you don’t immediately recognize her name, you may know the famous nursery rhyme: Lizzie Borden took an axe, she gave her mother 40 whacks; when she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41. Besides her infamy in American crime history, she was also a woman who never had kids. In this...

In the spirit of Halloween, Kristen and Erika decided to give you ALL the bonus Halloween content! Enjoy!!! This past summer, Kristen visited Salem, MA — the city best known for one of the most devastating events of early American history: the Salem Witch Trials. Given some parallels and stereotypes between witches and childfree women (i.e., childless cat ladies), Kristen + Erika wanted to revisit...

For nearly 175 years — from 1563 until its repeal in 1736 — this act stood as part of Scotland’s law. In that time, it is estimated that 3,000 to 5,000 people were accused of witchcraft. Of those, a staggering 84 percent were women. Torture, often in the form of sleep deprivation and relentless interrogation, was routine. Executions followed — frequently by strangulation or burning — and their bod...

It’s October, which means it’s the start of Spooky Season. If you’ve been listening to Dinky for the past three years, you know we always do a Halloween episode – two of which have included our favorite, recurring guest star, Sapphire Sandalo . You might recognize her as a co-host on the Travel Channel TV shows ‘ Ghost Town Terror ’ or from her appearances on ‘Paranormal Caught on Camera.’ She als...

In this episode, Erika and Kristen dive into the complexities of marriage, exploring whether it is truly hard or if it depends on circumstances. They share personal experiences, discuss societal expectations, and analyze YOUR feedback via Instagram Stories. Plus, we touch on the impact of children in marriage and the importance of communication and compatibility. Soft re-launching MERCH! (Shh.) Ge...

Today we are talking through one of our favorite topics: DEATH. Kristen and Erika talk about the importance of making a will, the ins and outs of what happens with your property after you die, and how to make a will today for free. (For legal purposes this is not legal advice. Consult a lawyer for verifiable information.) Timestamps: 2:33 - Dink Yourself 11:46 - Let’s talk about wills 18:36 - Who...