Why Smart Women Still Choose Motherhood (And Why So Many Kids?) | Dr. Catherine Pakaluk
Brave New Us: Choosing Human in the Age of Biotechnology
Why are highly educated, ambitious women choosing large families in an age of falling birthrates, frozen eggs, and fertility tech? In this episode, Dr. Catherine Pakaluk joins Brave New Us to unpack her groundbreaking book Hannah’s Children: The Women Who Defied the Birth Dearth.We explore:What drives women to embrace motherhood as a vocation—not a fallbackHow the fertility crisis and biotech age shape our cultural assumptions about children, work, and worthWhy choosing family is the most radical—and future-focused—choice a woman can make today About the guest: Dr. Catherine Pakaluk is a professor of social research and economic thought at the Catholic University of America and a mother of eight.Mentioned in the EpisodeGet Hannah’s ChildrenA Catholic Guide to Infertility with John DiCamilloLeave a Review + Share the Show Rate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctorKeep the conversation going at bravenewus.substack.comGrab a copy of Samantha’s book Reclaiming Motherhood—a theology of the body for motherhood in the age of reproductive technologies.
About Podcast
From gene editing and artificial wombs to brain implants and digital immortality—what does it mean to be human in a world trying to remake us?
Brave New Us explores how emerging technologies are reshaping what it means to be human. Hosted by Catholic bioethicist and author Samantha Stephenson, the podcast sits at the crossroads of faith, science, and ethics, featuring expert interviews and incisive commentary on biotechnology, AI, transhumanism, reproductive technologies, human enhancement, and the moral questions they raise.
Whether you're questioning the ethics of cutting-edge science, navigating a rapidly changing technological world, or simply seeking clarity in an age of unprecedented innovation, Brave New Us will help you think critically, live intentionally, and choose what is deeply human.
Samantha Stephenson holds master's degrees in theology and bioethics, served as a Paul Ramsey Fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Culture, and taught for the McGrath Institute at the University of Notre Dame. She is the author of several books helping readers grow in faith and navigate the spiritual and ethical questions shaping our rapidly changing world. In addition to hosting the Brave New Us podcast, Samantha writes the Choosing Human newsletter on Substack where she explores faith, family, and the future of being human. Learn more at www.snstephenson.com.
Subscribe now—and stay human in an age that’s forgetting how.