Kate's off sunning herself in Spain, so this week Gemma's joined by Laurie from the Female Childfree Collective for a one-topic special. We're talking about a very modern pressure: the idea that if you're childfree, you should be visibly, impressively productive about it. Five businesses, six holidays a year, a new hobby every fortnight. When did freedom stop meaning you get to choose and start meaning you have to optimise? We make the case for lying on the sofa with a book and a pug instead.

Follow us

• The show: @FridayImInBed
• Gemma: @GemmaSeager
• Kate: @FearlessAt50
• This week's guest: the Female Childfree Collective, @femalechildfreecollective (events in London and Manchester via Instagram and Meetup)

Topics covered
Childfree by choice, childfree women, midlife, pronatalism, falling fertility rates, hustle culture, the pressure to optimise, workplace bias, representation, building community.