Paidaxiology

About Paidaxiology

Hosted by Catherine Ruth Pakaluk, author of the acclaimed 2024 book Hannah’s Children, a page-turning account of American women choosing to have large families against the global trend to sub-replacement fertility. Paidaxiology—from the Greek *paidos* (of the child) and *axiology* (study of value)—economist and mother of eight Catherine Ruth Pakaluk continues the groundbreaking exploration begun in Hannah’s Children. Each episode features candid, thoughtful conversations with mothers whose families defy the norm in number and kind. Occasionally, special guests—demographers, philosophers, theologians, and cultural voices—join to deepen the dialogue. This isn’t a parenting podcast. It’s a podcast about meaning, purpose, and the future of humanity. Subscribe to *Paidaxiology* and join the conversation about the value of the child.

Publisher

Catherine Ruth Pakaluk

Category

education · kids & family · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Jan 2026

Latest episode

29 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 6 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   29 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Ep. 6 "College is the Best Time" with Rachel Cranney

   Host Rachel Cranney shares her perspective on the joys and gifts of raising a large family, emphasizing faith and sibling relationships.

2. 

   3 Mar 2026

   Ep. 5 "Baby on the Front Porch" with Abigail Ahrens

   In this next episode of the Paidaxiology Podcast, we are excited to introduce Abigail Ahrens from Wisconsin. Abigail has been happily married to Jerry for 25 years this June, and together they have 14 children (4 of them are saints in heaven). Abigail loves gardening, crocheting, embroidery, knitting, hiking, playing board games, and relaxing with her family. She is proud grandma to 2 sweet grandbabies so far and homeschools the 6 school aged children.

3. 

   16 Feb 2026

   Ep. 4 "A Noble Ambition" with Marcella Burke

   In this episode of the Paidaxiology Podcast, we are joined by Marcella Burke, an attorney, former senior government official, law firm owner, and mother of four with a fifth on the way. She and her husband started an oil company with now over 80 wells, and she sits on a number of boards including the University of St Thomas in Houston. Yet above all, her best piece of mom advice is to be at least as ambitious for your family as you are for your career--and to be at least as ambitious to become a great saint as you are for your family.

4. 

   2 Feb 2026

   Ep. 3 "We Don't Have Children with Money" with Amber Dahl

   In this episode of the Paidaxiology Podcast, we are joined by Amber Dahl, a mother of seven from Oregon who shares how marriage and children forged in her a new sense of identity—one more fulfilling, more loving, and more joyful than the one it replaced.

5. 

   26 Jan 2026

   Ep. 2 "Your Heart Doesn't Divide, it Just Grows" with Bethany Mandel

   In this episode of the Paidaxiology Podcast, Dr. Catherine Ruth Pakaluk interviews Bethany Mandel, a Jewish mother of 6 children and political commentator from Silver Spring, Maryland.  From one mom to another, Bethany shares how her teenage years shaped the spirited and driven mom she would become and the adventure of motherhood that would unfold.

6. 

   10 Jan 2026

   Ep.1 "The Trust Worked" with Shaunda Penny

   In the inaugural episode of the Paidaxiology Podcast, Dr. Catherine Ruth Pakaluk interviews Shaunda Penny, a Catholic mother of 13 children from Saratoga Springs, New York. From one mom to another, Shaunda shares the transformation of her ‘career identity’ to something deeper, revealing the keys to a happy marriage and a boisterous yet beautiful family life.

Inside a recent episode

Ep. 6 "College is the Best Time" with Rachel Cranney

Published 29 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Or like if we think about your, maybe like your description, and I see it too. the bar gets raised like you can't start your family till you have enough money you can't have your first kid you can't get married till you have enough money can have your first kid till you have enough security you can't have another kid if you feel overwhelmed like so the decision to have a child is subjected to an increasing set of qualifications and and it's not really obvious how to stop this like just keeps like the bar keeps going up So there is something to be said for walking that back a little bit or asking the question, how do we walk that back? […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

23 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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