E166: The Truth About Babies, Big Families, And Happiness w/Catherine Pakaluk

Is overpopulation truly a threat to society, or should we be more concerned about the U.S.'s declining population growth? Does having more children lead to greater happiness? Today, I sit down with Dr. Catherine Pakaluk, Professor of Political Economics at the Catholic University of America, to explore these questions. Rather than focusing on those choosing not to have children, Catherine shifts the spotlight to women who defy the trends—mothers of large families.

In this thought-provoking discussion, we delve into what drives these women to grow their families, the surprising ways babies can contribute to mental health and healing, and an unexpected take on the link between resources and population growth.

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:58 - What was it like starting marriage with 6 children?

00:08:60 - People told us not to have children

00:14:52 - Population in the West/globally?

00:16:26 - What are the consequences of population decline?

00:19:55 - Is overpopulation real?

00:22:23 - People are minds, not just stomachs

00:24:42 - Resources are unlimited

00:26:59 - People don’t breed like rabbits

00:30:05 - I think this is one of the hardest topics I've ever thought about

00:40:04 - Who’s having children today?

00:48:09 - Learning about things we can’t see by the things we can

00:50:20 - God intended economic growth

01:13:53 - Awkward question for America