Episodios

  • Regretful Parents: "I Don't Enjoy Eating Anymore" | Reddit Stories

    Regretful Parents: "I Don't Enjoy Eating Anymore" | Reddit Stories
    Apr 5 2026
    In this episode of the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a viral Reddit post from the Regretful Parents subreddit written by a mom who loved cooking — until she had a child. From cold meals and high-pitched screaming at the dinner table to losing her passion for the kitchen entirely, this mom's story hits different for anyone who lives for food.We break down the emotional toll of meal time battles with picky toddlers, why the mental load of feeding a child falls disproportionately on moms, and what it really means when parents say motherhood is their "favorite job." Plus, the dinosaur documentary comes up again (naturally), Desperate Housewives makes a surprise appearance, and the girls share their completely unqualified parenting advice — chicken nuggets, blended vegetables, and Flintstones vitamins included.

    In this episode:
    A mom who loved cooking loses all joy in the kitchen after having a toddler
    The reality of meal time with picky eaters and what actually works
    Why so many parents lie when asked if they love being a mom
    The mental load imbalance at the dinner table (and everywhere else)
    Erika's ongoing dinosaur documentary arc and what it says about modern life

    Take a trip with us! South of France in June: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/france/france-with-erika-abdelatif-jun-2026

    Christmas Markets trip in December: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/germany-and-austria/germany-with-erika-abdelatif-dec-09-2026?earlybird=true

    Support the pod and get even more content: patreon.com/dinkypod

    Keywords: regretful parents reddit, parenting regret stories, picky eater toddler, mom burnout, stay at home mom mental load, parenting honest conversations, childfree podcast, reddit reactions, parenting stress, cooking for kids, toddler meal time struggles, child free by choice

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
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    22 m
  • Regretful Parents: "I'm German. She's Japanese." | Reddit Stories

    Regretful Parents: "I'm German. She's Japanese." | Reddit Stories
    Mar 26 2026
    This week on the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a Reddit post from a 34-year-old German father who says he never wanted kids, claims his Japanese wife lied about being on birth control, and now regrets both his marriage and his baby — while living in a completely different country from them.The post is equal parts heartbreaking and baffling.

    In this episode:
    • A German man describes his marriage to a Japanese woman and the culture clash that followed
    • Why "you have to read the air" is the most iconic line of the episode
    • The baby was born in Japan — while he was in Germany
    • What you need to know about international custody laws when one parent is Japanese
    • Why living together before marriage matters (especially across cultures)
    • Our hottest take: get a vasectomy, babe
    Whether you're here for the relationship drama, the cultural commentary, or just two women yelling "you're not even in the same country!" — this one's for you.

    Take a trip with us!

    South of France in June: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/france/france-with-erika-abdelatif-jun-2026

    Christmas Markets trip in December: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/germany-and-austria/germany-with-erika-abdelatif-dec-09-2026?earlybird=true

    Support the pod and get even more content: patreon.com/dinkypod

    Tags / Keywords:regretful parents, baby regret reddit, parenting regret, reddit relationship advice, german japanese couple, international custody laws, baby trapped reddit, marriage regret, childfree reddit, reddit react podcast, parenting podcast, divorce advice, cross-cultural marriage, Japan custody laws, reddit stories reacted

    Chapters:

    0:00 Intro
    0:27 Reading the post — "I just need a channel to let out despair"
    1:21 The birth control lie
    2:09 "I regret many things" (very German)
    2:52 "You have to read the air" — Germany vs. Japan culture clash
    5:29 Wait… she gave birth in JAPAN?
    6:45 International marriage: are they even legally married?10:15 Reddit comments react
    11:36 Japan's strict custody laws explained
    13:21 Our verdict: snip snip, bitch
    14:19 Outro + how to find us

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
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    15 m
  • The Most Hated Dad On The Internet: Inside The DaddyOFive Scandal

    The Most Hated Dad On The Internet: Inside The DaddyOFive Scandal
    Mar 24 2026
    Want more exclusive content from Dinky? Join the Patreon!

    This week, Erika takes Kristen down a rabbit hole she wishes she could un-visit — the disturbing story of Mike and Heather Martin, the couple behind the infamous DaddyOFive YouTube channel. What started as a "family prank" account quickly became one of the most notorious examples of child exploitation on the internet.

    We cover:
    • How the DaddyO5 channel grew to 750,000 subscribers and an estimated $200K–$350K annually — and what was really happening behind the camera
    • The "invisible ink" prank video that broke the internet
    • The role of biological mom Rose Hall and the custody battle that followed
    • What actually happened in court (spoiler: not enough)
    • Where the family is now

    SOURCES: BBC, NYMag, Wikipedia, People

    TRIPS:
    TIME IS RUNNING OUT: Lavender Dreams & Riviera Nights With Erika
    Christmas Markets 2026!!!

    GET MORE FROM DINKY:Treat yourself to new merch!

    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 support the show.

    Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.

    If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.com

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
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    1 h y 10 m
  • Regretful Parents: "I Don't Wish This On Any Woman" | Reddit Stories

    Regretful Parents: "I Don't Wish This On Any Woman" | Reddit Stories
    Mar 20 2026
    Erika is joined by friend of the pod and special guest Ashton to react to a Reddit post from a woman who is absolutely DONE being pregnant — stretch marks in places she didn't know could stretch, a partner telling her "your body will be better than ever," and a mom who just keeps saying "focus on the baby." YIKES.

    We get into why pregnancy horror stories are kept so quiet, the evolutionary reason human childbirth is uniquely dangerous, why women's pain gets minimized the second there's a baby involved, and the man on Instagram who came home for 1-2 hours a day and considered himself a parenting expert.

    Also: Ashton makes a great case for Dinky trips. Speaking of which, seats are still available for these two Dinky trips:

    South of France in June: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/france/france-with-erika-abdelatif-jun-2026
    Christmas Markets trip in December: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/germany-and-austria/germany-with-erika-abdelatif-dec-09-2026?earlybird=true

    Support the pod and get even more content: patreon.com/dinkypod

    In this episode:
    • Reacting to "I WANT THIS PERSON OUT" — a viral r/regretfulparents post
    • What actually happens to your body during pregnancy that no one tells you
    • The evolutionary reason human childbirth is so much harder than other mammals
    • Why lying on your back during labor might not actually be best for women
    • 800 women die in childbirth every day — and some men still minimize it
    • Morning sickness so bad her doctor waited SIX MONTHS to mention there was medication
    • Vagina pain, butthole cramps, and getting screamed at from a car while 8 months pregnant
    • The man who spent 1-2 hours/day with his baby and got on the internet to explain uteruses to women
    • Why Ashton thinks Dinky trips might be one of the best decisions of her life
    Chapters: 0:00 – Welcome & introducing guest Ashton 0:42 – Ashton's honest Dinky trip review (unprompted, unsponsored) 3:34 – The post: "I WANT THIS PERSON OUT" 4:33 – Can you actually be pregnant for 365 days? 6:19 – Stretch marks in places she never expected 7:08 – The mental whiplash of your body changing that fast 9:01 – "You might not even get a healthy baby. You just get a baby." 10:15 – Her partner & mom completely dismiss her feelings 12:34 – Why society keeps pregnancy realities hidden 14:31 – Ashton on being childfree since childhood 18:41 – Why human childbirth is uniquely dangerous (evolution explainer) 20:23 – Were women never supposed to give birth on their backs? 21:54 – Comment section: 800 deaths a day & the Instagram man 24:39 – Vomiting for 6 months before anyone offered medication 25:14 – Not every woman is built for this — and that should be okay 26:42 – Final thoughts & trip links


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
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    28 m
  • ‘Love Is Blind’s Emma Betsinger Sets The Record Straight

    ‘Love Is Blind’s Emma Betsinger Sets The Record Straight
    Mar 17 2026
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    Dinky listeners have been flooding our inboxes lately pressuring us to watch Season 10 of Love Is Blind — because it featured not one, but TWO storylines about women choosing non-traditional paths when it comes to kids. One of those women was Emma Betsinger, who is our guest today! Emma is a 28-year old who was adopted from China at age three, and raised in a white family in Ohio. Emma endured 10 surgeries before the age of 7 to remove high-risk birthmarks and expressed concerns about having biological kids as a result. She got engaged to Mike Gibney on the show, but their relationship ended at the altar. Today, we’ll be talking to Emma about her experience sharing her story on the show and where she stands on kids now.

    TRIPS:
    Christmas Markets 2026!!!
    Lavender Dreams & Riviera Nights With Erika

    GET MORE FROM DINKY:
    Treat yourself to new merch!

    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 support the show.

    Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.

    If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.com

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
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    1 h y 15 m
  • Regretful Parents: "Birth Destroyed My Vagina & No One Will Fix It" | Reddit Stories

    Regretful Parents: "Birth Destroyed My Vagina & No One Will Fix It" | Reddit Stories
    Mar 15 2026
    Erika and Kristen react to one of the most harrowing posts from the r/regretfulparents subreddit — a woman's decade-long battle with serious birth injury damage after a midwife failed to suture a second-degree tear, leaving her with permanent physical damage, no sensation during sex, and a medical system that keeps turning her away.

    This one is NOT for the faint of heart. (You've been warned. 💀)

    We get into it all: the midwife vs. hospital birth debate, how the medical system routinely dismisses women's pain, why this would be treated as an emergency if it happened to a man, and the absolutely devastating moment where this woman has to choose between fixing her body and buying her kid braces.

    ☕ Support the pod: patreon.com/DinkyPod (Help Kristen pay her 450-euro electricity bill in her Georgian-era icebox apartment. She deserves it.)

    In this episode:
    • Reacting to a viral r/regretfulparents post about long-term birth injury
    • The midwife vs. hospital birth debate — what does the data actually say?
    • Prolapse, perineal tears, and why the medical system calls it "cosmetic"
    • Why women's pain and sexual dysfunction are chronically under-treated
    • "Braces or my vagina" — the impossible choices mothers are forced to make
    • Childfree commentary on why childbirth risks are still under-discussed
    Chapters:

    0:00 – Welcome & intro to the post 0:42 – The midwife who didn't suture the tear 1:34 – Midwife vs. hospital births: Erika's hot take 3:24 – The tear that went unrepaired for years 5:08 – "It was gaping open" 6:38 – The surgeon who refused to fix it 8:25 – A decade of rejections from the medical system 10:32 – Braces vs. surgery: the impossible choice 12:26 – Top comments + our final thoughts 15:12 – Wrap up & how to support Dinky

    Don't get pregnant. 💅

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
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    18 m
  • Regretful Parents: Am I Overreacting To My Husband Interrupting My Solo Shower? | Reddit Stories

    Regretful Parents: Am I Overreacting To My Husband Interrupting My Solo Shower? | Reddit Stories
    Mar 12 2026
    This week, Erika and Kristen take a brief detour from the usual Regretful Parents subreddit and dive into a viral post from the “Am I Overreacting?” corner of Reddit. The situation? A mom who hasn’t had a solo shower in four days after caring for two sick kids alone while her husband enjoyed a bachelor party weekend. She finally gets a moment to herself… only to have it interrupted.

    When her husband returns home, things quickly spiral from mildly inconsiderate to fully infuriating. Instead of watching their one-year-old for five minutes while she showers, he places the baby in a playpen and leaves the house to run an errand. The result is a text exchange so ridiculous that Erika and Kristen perform a dramatic reenactment — and have plenty to say about communication, mental load, and weaponized cluelessness in parenting partnerships.

    Is the original poster overreacting… or is this guy just the worst?

    What We Talk About
    • The realities of parenting while your partner is away
    • Why moms so often feel like they need to “ask permission” for basic self-care
    • Whether the OP should have been more direct—or if the husband should have used common sense
    • A dramatic reading of the couple’s painfully awkward text exchange
    • The absolute audacity of leaving a baby alone during a shower
    • The difference between a partner and an extra child you have to manage
    • The fantasy revenge scenarios we’d personally consider in this situation
    • Reddit’s best comments roasting this guy
    MORE FROM US

    Website: https://www.dinkypod.com/
    Patreon: https://patreon.com/dinkypod

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
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    16 m
  • Author Nicole Louie On The Women Who Inspired Her Childfree Life

    Author Nicole Louie On The Women Who Inspired Her Childfree Life
    Mar 10 2026
    Want more exclusive content from Dinky? Join the Patreon!

    Today we are chatting with Nicole Louie, a writer and translator originally from Brazil and now based in Ireland. She is the author of Others Like Me: The Lives of Women Without Children. Others Like Me chronicles her own journey towards embracing a life without children while weaving in stories from women around the world she found in her search for community and guidance. Nicole’s essays have appeared in Oh Reader Magazine, The Walrus, The Guardian, and Literary Hub.

    More info about the giveaway can be found on our Instagram!

    Book Synopsis
    Others Like Me: The Lives of Women Without Children by Nicole Louie (published by House of Anansi in North America)

    In a world that expects all women to become mothers, what happens to those who circumvent motherhood?

    Now and throughout history, women without children have been misunderstood and even vilified for not conforming to the prescriptive path of daughter, wife, mother, whether by choice, circumstance, or ambivalence. But with an increasing number of people choosing to forego children, Nicole Louie knew she was not alone. As she recounts her own journey toward embracing a life without children, Louie weaves in stories from the women around the world she found in her search for community and guidance, from their pasts to their presents to their hopes for the future.

    TRIPS:
    Christmas Markets 2026!!!
    Lavender Dreams & Riviera Nights With Erika

    GET MORE FROM DINKY:
    Treat yourself to new merch! 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 support the show.

    Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.

    If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.com

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
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    1 h y 2 m