For journalist Gina Rushton, the question arrived as a sudden and unbearable cramp. Should I become a parent? In the debut episode of The Dilemma we explore why this question feels so complicated in 2024. 

This episode of The Dilemma was made possible with the support of The Victorian Women’s Trust, a feminist agency that has been amplifying women and their concerns for almost four decades now. To learn more, follow @VicWomensTrust on social media or head to their website. 



Host: Gina Rushton

Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon

Guests: Chris Cheers

Extra reading: You can read more about why we created the show here. You can find Chris’ book here and Gina’s books here.

For journalist Gina Rushton, the question arrived as a sudden and unbearable cramp. Should I become a parent? In the debut episode of The Dilemma we explore why this question feels so complicated in 2024. 
This episode of The Dilemma was made possible with the support of The Victorian Women’s Trust, a feminist agency that has been amplifying women and their concerns for almost four decades now. To learn more, follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vicwomenstrust/?hl=en">@VicWomensTrust </a>on social media or head to their <a href="https://www.vwt.org.au/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwmYCzBhA6EiwAxFwfgJlT8QT_IQKDSoxNmhIeNJH0K974VwjriWjwtVmbx4d7Nz3uJhySXxoCyvkQAvD_BwE">website</a>. 
 
Host: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ginarushtonauthor/">Gina Rushton</a> 
Executive producer: <a href="https://www.karajm.com/">Kara Jensen-Mackinnon</a>
Guests: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chrischeerspsychology/?hl=en">Chris Cheers</a>
Extra reading: You can read more about why we created the show <a href="https://www.vwt.org.au/inertia-millennials-and-the-mother-of-all-questions-why-weve-created-a-new-podcast-in-defence-of-dithering/">here</a>. You can find Chris’ book <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460762868/the-new-rulebook/">here</a> and Gina’s books <a href="https://www.ginarushton.com/books-and-essays/">here</a>.

Should we become parents? The Dilemma is here to explore all of the questions that come up when we're asking the mother of all questions. In a series of funny, uncomfortable and inspiring conversations journalist Gina Rushton speaks to psychologists, political observers, activists, philosophers and fertility specialists who all share the load in carrying a dilemma that can feel all too heavy at a time of uncertainty. 

Should we become parents? The Dilemma is here to explore all of the questions that come up when we're asking the mother of all questions. In a series of funny, uncomfortable and inspiring conversations journalist Gina Rushton speaks to psychologists, political observers, activists, philosophers and fertility specialists who all share the load in carrying a dilemma that can feel all too heavy at a time of uncertainty.

The Dilemma is here to ask all of the questions that come up when we're asking the mother of all questions: should we become parents?

The Dilemma

Episode one: The Dilemma

In this extra special bonus episode, Gina is joined by one of her best friends Gyan Yankovich, author of Just Friends. They discuss how the question of parenthood can transform friendships for better or worse.

Host: Gina Rushton

Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon

Guests: Gyan Yankovich

Extra reading: You can read Gyan’s book here, catch up on the viral essay by Allison P. Davis in The Cut here and find Gina’s books here.

Money Power Freedom is a six-part series hosted by beloved late comedian Cal Wilson and award-winning author and filmmaker, Santilla Chingaipe. In each episode, Cal and Santilla work together to decode money and power, and what it means for our freedom.

Created by the Victorian Women’s Trust, Money Power Freedom digs into our collective money story, reminding listeners that the financial hurdles so many women face aren’t personal — it’s political.

In this extra special bonus episode, Gina is joined by one of her best friends Gyan Yankovich, author of Just Friends. They discuss how the question of parenthood can transform friendships for better or worse.
Host: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ginarushtonauthor/">Gina Rushton</a> 
Executive producer: <a href="https://www.karajm.com/">Kara Jensen-Mackinnon</a>
Guests: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gyanyankovich/?hl=en">Gyan Yankovich</a>
Extra reading: You can read Gyan’s book <a href="https://ultimopress.com.au/collections/gyan-yankovich">here</a>, catch up on the viral essay by Allison P. Davis in The Cut <a href="https://www.thecut.com/article/adult-friendships-vs-kids.html">here</a> and find Gina’s books <a href="https://www.ginarushton.com/books-and-essays/">here</a>.
<hr>
<a href="https://www.vwt.org.au/podcast/about-money-power-freedom/">Money Power Freedom</a> is a six-part series hosted by beloved late comedian Cal Wilson and award-winning author and filmmaker, Santilla Chingaipe. In each episode, Cal and Santilla work together to decode money and power, and what it means for our freedom.
Created by the Victorian Women’s Trust, Money Power Freedom digs into our collective money story, reminding listeners that the financial hurdles so many women face aren’t personal — it’s political.

BONUS EPISODE: How do friendships survive this decision?

In the final episode The Dilemma, Gina talks to a philosopher and mother who isn’t convinced a pros and cons list can ever solve the question of parenthood. Stay subscribed to this channel as we’re not going anywhere! 

Host: Gina Rushton

Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon

Guests: LA Paul, Chris Cheers

Extra reading: This is the paper from Paul that changed Gina’s thinking and this is her book. You can find Gina’s book, where she writes deeper on this concept, here. You can find Chris’ book here.

To support young people to navigate their teens with confidence, the Victorian Women’s Trust has created Rosie, a space for young feminists. From relationships advice to study tips, Rosie provides answers to teens’ most pressing questions.

In the final episode The Dilemma, Gina talks to a philosopher and mother who isn’t convinced a pros and cons list can ever solve the question of parenthood. Stay subscribed to this channel as we’re not going anywhere! 
Host: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ginarushtonauthor/">Gina Rushton</a> 
Executive producer: <a href="https://www.karajm.com/">Kara Jensen-Mackinnon</a>
Guests: <a href="https://lapaul.org/">LA Paul</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chrischeerspsychology/?hl=en">Chris Cheers</a>
Extra reading: <a href="https://lapaul.org/papers/transformative-experiences-rp.pdf">This</a> is the paper from Paul that changed Gina’s thinking and this is her <a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/7934">book</a>. You can find Gina’s book, where she writes deeper on this concept, <a href="https://www.ginarushton.com/books-and-essays/">here</a>. You can find Chris’ book <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460762868/the-new-rulebook/">here</a>.
<hr>
To support young people to navigate their teens with confidence, the Victorian Women’s Trust has created <a href="https://www.vwt.org.au/projects/rosie/">Rosie</a>, a space for young feminists. From relationships advice to study tips, Rosie provides answers to teens’ most pressing questions.

Episode seven: Has this all been a waste of time?

Many people are trying to make decisions about their futures while holding both hope and fear. In this episode of The Dilemma we’re talking about climate guilt, who should be panicking and whether you can make hope from scratch. 

Host: Gina Rushton

Executive producer: Kara Jensen-Mackinnon

Guests: Tom Whyman, Mary Annaïse Heglar

Extra reading: Tom’s book Infinitely Full of Hope can be found here. Mary’s novel can be found here and her latest book, the one for children, can be found here. Gina, who has written a lot about hope here, would also like to recommend reading Notes from the Apocalypse by Mark O’Connell.

This episode of The Dilemma was made possible with the support of The Victorian Women’s Trust. Inspirational speeches from across history are far more likely to have been made by a man, than a woman. It’s time to change that. Madam Speaker is a new initiative by feminist advocate the Victorian Women’s Trust to collate and record important and historic speeches by women and gender diverse people from Australia and beyond.

Many people are trying to make decisions about their futures while holding both hope and fear. In this episode of The Dilemma we’re talking about climate guilt, who should be panicking and whether you can make hope from scratch. 
Host: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ginarushtonauthor/">Gina Rushton</a> 
Executive producer: <a href="https://www.karajm.com/">Kara Jensen-Mackinnon</a>
Guests: <a href="https://tomwhyman.com/">Tom Whyman</a>, <a href="https://www.maryannaiseheglar.com/">Mary Annaïse Heglar</a>
Extra reading: Tom’s book Infinitely Full of Hope can be found <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/infinitely-full-of-hope-9781913462253">here</a>. Mary’s novel can be found <a href="https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/9781400248117/troubled-waters/">here</a> and her latest book, the one for children, can be found <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/709869/the-world-is-ours-to-cherish-a-letter-to-a-child-by-mary-annaise-heglar-illustrated-by-vivian-mineker/">here</a>. Gina, who has written a lot about hope <a href="https://www.ginarushton.com/books-and-essays/">here</a>, would also like to recommend reading <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/558414/notes-from-an-apocalypse-by-mark-oconnell/">Notes from the Apocalypse</a> by Mark O’Connell.
<hr>
This episode of The Dilemma was made possible with the support of The <a href="https://www.vwt.org.au/">Victorian Women’s Trust</a>. Inspirational speeches from across history are far more likely to have been made by a man, than a woman. It’s time to change that. Madam Speaker is a new initiative by feminist advocate the Victorian Women’s Trust to collate and record important and historic speeches by women and gender diverse people from Australia and beyond.

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