You Are Not Alone

The Full Stop is a safe space for childless people and their cheerleaders.

Home of the monthly Full Stop Podcast, which brings stories to life through the unique, emotive voices of our guests, our content shares words with everyone so that people who are childless, childfree or a parent can learn about the many ways people are childless, not by choice and the challenges that may bring.

Our inclusive, online Full Stop Community is for childless people with behind-the-scenes access to the podcast, space to celebrate wins and grieve, and friendship with people who ‘get it’.

Presented and founded by Sarah Lawrence, Michael Hughes, and Berenice Howard-Smith, who are involuntarily childless.

Poster for the podcast 'Full Stop' featuring Berenice Howard-Smith, Michael Hughes, and Sarah Lawrence, with a photo of three people smiling. The poster describes the podcast as a community for childless people and their allies, includes website links, and has a red play button icon.

The Full Stop is the end. A start and a beginning.

Michael, Sarah and Berenice are all childless, not by choice, for different reasons, and we connected in our grief and anger to form a friendship across the miles.

The podcast was created in response to a brief by BBC Radio 4’s Rachel Bland Awards. We entered and got long-listed. By then, we could see an idea and decided to go for it. In February 2019, we asked for ideas for a name and Jody Day thought of the Full Stop. It’s the end and the start. A new beginning.

We released our first episode in May 2019 and our first guest was Jody. Our recordings are created monthly for childless individuals and their friends, family, colleagues, and cheerleaders, aiming to foster a better, inclusive world.

In 2023, we responded to requests for an online community with more access to the podcast. We opened the Full Stop Community for childless individuals, offering an intimate and friendly space where members can join in on the podcast audience. We also hold a wellbeing space, a place to grieve, celebrate life wins and more. It’s a conversational space with the ethos of support and growth.

In 2023 Michael flew to the UK and we were in the same space for the first time at Storyhouse Childless.

A woman with glasses and red coat, a woman with blonde hair and black top, and a man in front of a sign that reads Storyhouse Childless. The man has a beard and glasses.

  • Thank you for a safe online space. I love that we were part of the new design consultation, I felt seen and heard.

  • Thank you, I love the Full Stop. Brought tears to my eyes but also laughter. Ageing without children is the most awful thought ever and I loved the idea about having the group to support elderly childless and how to take that forward. Thank you again for helping on a lonely journey.

  • I'm getting so much from Sarah's weekly wellbeing chat. I have learned so much and appreciate her expertise as a counsellor, I know she holds a safe space for me, as you all do.

  • I love listening to your podcast, I often catch up with them on a Saturday morning when I'm off work and I feel like I know you all and I don't! Because it's that instant connection I feel because of our same devastating situation.

  • I always look forward when I get an email from you to say the next podcast is out as that hour sets me up for the day, just listening and know there are other people out there in the same situation.

  • I really enjoyed your podcast about the workplace. Although it made me sad and was very poignant, it actually addressed the many appalling issues I have experienced in the workplace with multiple pregnancy losses. It just really helped to know that I wasn't alone

  • I feel like I'm hanging out with friends in the Full Stop online community, and I haven't felt that in a long time. I'm not on Facebook and I worried I was missing out . I appreciate that you not only encourage us to share our work, you also include it in the newsletter and on the website too. Thank you, the Full Stop is such a cheerleader for us, leading by example to others.

  • It's a truly diverse online group, thank fuck for that. At last!

  • You seriously listen to the members - anyone who has been in a childless space and struggled with rules, come over here! I adore how you're all super proactive and everyone is helpful, kind and respectful. It shows that you thre hold these valves close to your hearts.

  • OMG, the hugs! I keep mine on my desk at work and everyone around me wants one but they can't have one! It makes me smile!

  • I simply love you for all you do. My favourite place in the comunity is Celebrate Your Wins.

  • It's such a range of voices. My favourite episode was with Stella Duffy now its also the ones about being single. I know the presenters are not single but Michael, Sarah and Berenice are incredibly empathetic, it must feel very safe as a guest.

  • It's a glorious celebration of voices that puts the guests at the heart of each episode. There's nothing more dull that hosts who take over or podcast that aren't helpful. Any guest of the Full Stop should share their appearance widely to educate parents who were once ignorant, like me.

  • I had no idea childless not by choice was a thing. My sister is childless and thanks to listening to the Full Stop after Berenice mentioned it at our coaching training, I feel better informed and will do my utmost to be respectful to her.

    From a parent with two children

  • I tuned in with caution. Was it okay to listen as a parent? I love my kids, I don't want to feel guilty for being a dad but how else am I going to learn about this? I wanted to let you know that I felt educated not attacked and as one of you wisely said childlessness is as life changing as being a parent.

  • Listened to the LGBTQ+ episode, more please. It was super.

Connect with us on social media

We’re also on BlueSky

View fullsize Hello, a little intro as we've welcomed new followers - it's good to have you with us. Sarah is a qualified counsellor at After The Storm, faciliator for Gateway Women and recently ran a retreat for Scared Women with Pure Transformations and Yvonne
View fullsize
View fullsize “Sometimes there’s no going over or under the situation — you just have to go through it, together.” @thechildlesscounsellor explains how she can be a translator and there's a lot about language in this podcast - how we speak
View fullsize Menopause Awareness Month shines a light on the experiences of women going through menopause. Often the experiences of childless women are overlooked - we may find our grief comes to the surface as we mourn a new chapter - or it may come as a relief.
View fullsize “Sometimes there’s no going over or under the situation — you just have to go through it, together.” @thechildlesscounsellor shares advice on how to bring empathy to healing in partnerships. We invite you to reflect on how
View fullsize
View fullsize Menopause Awareness Month shines a light on the experiences of women going through menopause. Often the experiences of childless women are overlooked - we may find our grief comes to the surface as we mourn a new chapter - or it may come as a relief.