Expectant
7
Episodes
3.7 / 5
Rating

Expectant

by Pippa Johnstone

Category
Fiction
Frequency
Complete series
Language
English
Expectant is a six-part audio series that muddies fiction and non-fiction as a woman faces the prospect of becoming a parent during the climate crisis. Through conversations with climate researchers, parents, mental health experts and childfree families, she grapples with grief, hope, and the biggest decision of her life: should she bring a child into this world? Expectant has been named an Apple Podcasts Series Essential. Written and performed by Pippa Johnstone. Music by Laura Reznek. Sound...

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Recent Reviews

Don’t worry

ṛọṇ11/3/2025

I don’t have a child. As a society we will reach equilibrium.

Uncomfortable but necessary

alimqq10/24/2025

This series will definitely make you uncomfortable. But it is extremely necessary to go through this discomfort if you're even slightly considering to have kids, no matter what your views are on the subject.

Powerful and beautiful

Maryam in Marrakesh10/5/2025

Gets better and better with a stunning end. Fantastic acting with so many interesting perspectives. This is a very important piece of work. Would be fantastic to be played in schools with discussions.

Excellent Production, Evocative, and Thought Provoking

B_man_57/2/2023

Wonderfully produced and very easy to listen to. I really liked the fiction/nonfiction blend aspect of the writing. I appreciate having something to spur my own thoughts on a topic such as this, which can be so tense to actually discuss with friends and loved ones. I do wish that the ending was left more vague. I can see that it was attempted to be vague but the narrators thoughts seem to lean heavily in one direction by the end of the last episode. Maybe that’s just my perspective bleeding into the words.

Sorely needed discussion, foregone conclusion

abby62796/20/2023

This series posed unique, arresting, evocative, and thought-provoking topics. I thoroughly enjoyed the first few episodes, which conscientiously and respectfully delved into various philosophical and environmental issues. However, the listener becomes made aware towards the end of the series of the speaker’s mother’s assumption that she “will” have children; the journey ends in a foregone conclusion. There are hints that this may also be due to peer/social pressures of loved ones also opting to move forward with having children. A bit of a disappointment that this combination of research, effort and thought seemingly ends after a conversation with her mother.