Expectant is a podcast that asks a perplexing question-is it OK to have children in times of climate crisis? Writer Pippa Johnstone explores this personal question through a six-part creative project.

The podcast features a mix of interviews and monologues. Pippa encounters confusion and grief as she decides whether to become a parent. In each episode, she explores the question from a different angle. Pippa speaks to both expectant parents and childfree families. She hears about the highs and lows of the birth experience and postpartum life. She speaks to researchers and ecological experts. She wants to answer one question-should she become pregnant?

A pregnancy podcast with a difference, there are no easy answers here. Pippa's goal is not to deliver a solution but to explore challenging questions. Alongside interviews, she goes about her day-to-day life. Listeners hear her visit a cabin in the woods and go to a dinner party with friends. She speaks with her parents about her birth story and thinks of her birth plan. All the time, the question lingers. She wonders if she could live with the guilt of having children. Then, she wonders if she could live with the regret if she didn't.

The podcast mixes Pippa's discussion with sound effects and creative editing. As a result, Expectant brings listeners on a unique parenting journey. Pippa holds an MA in media production and has worked as a producer for radio and documentaries. Her background as a creative producer is evident here. Yet, this podcast is about her own story. Her emotional delivery of the script is touching and brave. She doesn't avoid challenging topics. Despite trying to answer an impossible question, she leaves listeners with moments of hope. Expectant is an artistic exploration of a major question in today's world.