Birth Rate Debate: Why Is No One Having Kids?

In this birth rate debate, we explore: - The cataclysmic impacts of the current birth rates for future generations. - Why so many young women are opting out of motherhood. - What can be done to fix declining birth rates globally. - and much more... Guests: - Lyman Stone is a demographer, researcher, and a writer. - Simone Collins is an author and pronatalist advocate focused on fertility and demographic decline. - Stephen J. Shaw is a data scientist and filmmaker. - Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom - 0:00 Why We Should Be Worried About Birth Rate Decline 5:20 The Shocking Reality of Falling Fertility 8:12 What Happens If the Population Shrinks? 17:40 Is Low Fertility a Threat to the Economy? 25:39 Why Are Birth Rate Debates So Controversial? 38:46 Is Having Kids Too Expensive Now? 51:45 Why People Are Delaying Parenthood 58:41 Would Marrying Younger Fix the Problem? 01:01:45 Do Kids Actually Make You Happier? 01:12:14 Does Age Predict Fertility Levels? 01:18:34 The Hidden Risks of Selection Pressure 01:27:52 How Does Education Impact Birth Rates? 01:35:05 Do Men Want Families More Than Women Now? 01:38:59 Are We Choosing Travel Over Children? 01:45:06 Do You Lose Yourself When You Have Kids? 02:07:20 Should Mothers Get Free Education? 02:10:20 Are Women Being Blamed for Declining Birth Rates? 02:20:51 Why Is Everyone So Offended? 02:29:51 Should Fathers Be Doing More at Home? 02:39:41 Birth Rates vs Climate Change: What Matters More? 02:46:29 Should Governments Pay People to Have Kids? 02:57:48 Are Families Getting Smaller? 03:07:50 Are Tax Policies Punishing the Child-Free? 03:12:51 Is Education the Answer? 03:19:36 The Most Shocking Birth Rate Facts 03:26:47 Does Contraception Actually Affect Birth Rates? 03:34:46 Will This Change Your Mind? - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Chris WilliamsonhostLyman StoneguestSimone CollinsguestStephen J. Shawguest

May 18, 20263h 43mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: May 18, 2026
Duration: 3h 43m
Channel: Modern Wisdom
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this birth rate debate, we explore:
The cataclysmic impacts of the current birth rates for future generations.
Why so many young women are opting out of motherhood.
What can be done to fix declining birth rates globally.
and much more...
Guests:
Lyman Stone is a demographer, researcher, and a writer.
Simone Collins is an author and pronatalist advocate focused on fertility and demographic decline.
Stephen J. Shaw is a data scientist and filmmaker.
- Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom - 0:00 Why We Should Be Worried About Birth Rate Decline 5:20 The Shocking Reality of Falling Fertility 8:12 What Happens If the Population Shrinks? 17:40 Is Low Fertility a Threat to the Economy? 25:39 Why Are Birth Rate Debates So Controversial? 38:46 Is Having Kids Too Expensive Now? 51:45 Why People Are Delaying Parenthood 58:41 Would Marrying Younger Fix the Problem? 01:01:45 Do Kids Actually Make You Happier? 01:12:14 Does Age Predict Fertility Levels? 01:18:34 The Hidden Risks of Selection Pressure 01:27:52 How Does Education Impact Birth Rates? 01:35:05 Do Men Want Families More Than Women Now? 01:38:59 Are We Choosing Travel Over Children? 01:45:06 Do You Lose Yourself When You Have Kids? 02:07:20 Should Mothers Get Free Education? 02:10:20 Are Women Being Blamed for Declining Birth Rates? 02:20:51 Why Is Everyone So Offended? 02:29:51 Should Fathers Be Doing More at Home? 02:39:41 Birth Rates vs Climate Change: What Matters More? 02:46:29 Should Governments Pay People to Have Kids? 02:57:48 Are Families Getting Smaller? 03:07:50 Are Tax Policies Punishing the Child-Free? 03:12:51 Is Education the Answer? 03:19:36 The Most Shocking Birth Rate Facts 03:26:47 Does Contraception Actually Affect Birth Rates? 03:34:46 Will This Change Your Mind? - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

SPEAKERS

Chris Williamson
host
Podcast host and interviewer (Modern Wisdom), moderating a panel discussion on fertility and birth-rate trends.
Lyman Stone
guest
Demographer and fertility researcher affiliated with the Institute for Family Studies (IFS).
Simone Collins
guest
Pronatalist advocate and writer/speaker focused on demographic decline and family formation.
Stephen J. Shaw
guest
Researcher and filmmaker behind The Birth Gap documentary, focusing on fertility timing and demographic decline.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Chris Williamson and Lyman Stone, Birth Rate Debate: Why Is No One Having Kids? explores a wide-ranging debate on falling fertility, culture, economics, and policy solutions The guests argue fertility decline is a compounding, slow-moving force that can rapidly hollow out communities, strain pensions and public services, and reshape geopolitics through shifting military-age populations.

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