Building your family

Considering surrogacy or supporting someone who is? In this expert-led episode of Building Your Family, I sit down with one of the country’s top surrogacy specialists, Dr. Susanna Park, to get answers to the questions intended parents ask most.

Dr. Park sees hundreds of surrogacy cases each year and brings clarity to some of the most important (and often misunderstood) parts of the process. We discuss:

🔹 Why using a surrogacy agen...

The Hidden Formula Behind Your Family-Building Choices One simple mindset shift that can change how you approach donor conception and life.

Why do we make the choices we do—especially when it comes to something as personal and complex as building a family through donor conception or surrogacy?

In this solo episode of Building Your Family, I share a powerful decision-making concept I’ve developed over nearly 30 years of working with...

What truly drives fertility success? Dr. Eric Widra, Chief Medical Officer at US Fertility, shares what patients need to know about IVF, success rates, and the role of lab quality in getting pregnant.

In this episode of Building Your Family, Dr. Widra offers clear, evidence-based insight into:

How success rates are calculated (and what to watch out for)

Why your clinic’s lab may be the most important factor in your outcome

The bigg...

What is it really like to meet your donor—or your donor siblings—as an adult, after your values and worldview are already in place? In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Freya Lyon shares her journey as a donor-conceived person who felt confident in her identity, only to experience a major shift when she met genetic relatives later in life.

Freya opens up about what surprised her, how these relationships shaped her views on f...

Two gay dads share their surrogacy journey and lessons on LGBTQ+ parenting, visibility, and love. Discover how they built their family—and a community—along the way.

In this heartfelt episode of Building Your Family, Mike and George open up about the joys and challenges of becoming parents through surrogacy. From navigating the process to raising two beautiful children, they offer honest insight and hope for others on similar paths...

This week’s episode may feel like listening in on a heartwarming chat between two fertility professionals — because it is. But it’s also full of meaningful insight on how to navigate some of the most complex and personal parts of family building.

My guest, Dr. Danielle Lane, is not only a brilliant fertility specialist — she’s also someone setting high standards for inclusion, diversity, access, and patient success. In this convers...

What happens when two donor-conceived women, raised in different families, discover they're genetic half-sisters?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with two women whose paths crossed thanks to DNA — not childhood. Raised by single parents in separate homes, they reflect on the moment they connected, what it was like growing up with questions, and why they chose to search as adults.

They open up about bonding more with donor sib...

This week on the podcast, we sit down with the brilliant Dr. Janelle Luk—fertility expert, Ivy League-trained physician, and co-founder of Generation Next Fertility. Though classically trained, Dr. Luk takes a deeply personalized approach to fertility care. She shares how she helps patients make deeply personal decisions—like using donor conception, freezing eggs or embryos, or even stepping back for a break—by truly listening to t...

Author Kate Davies, known for her novel Nuclear Family, joins us to share her personal and literary journey through donor conception. As a donor-conceived person who pursued donor conception with her wife, Kate reflects on the evolving meaning of family, identity, and connection. Her experiences offer a powerful perspective on the complexities and beauty of modern family-building.

Whether you're curious about donor conception, LGBT...

Thinking about choosing donor conception to build your family? Today’s episode is a must-watch! Dr. Melnick, Director of Third Party Reproduction at Cornell Fertility Center, shares expert insights on selecting a donor, making crucial fertility decisions, and balancing medical recommendations with personal values.

But this isn’t just a clinical perspective—Dr. Melnick used donor conception herself to become a single mother by choic...

How do two dads navigate the journey to parenthood through surrogacy and egg donation? In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Levin, a therapist and proud dad, to hear the real story behind his path to fatherhood. From choosing an egg donor and surrogate to overcoming unexpected challenges, Jeff shares the highs, the hurdles, and the heartfelt moments that led him and his husband to the family of their dreams.

If you’re a same-sex c...

Struggling with stress and fertility challenges? 🌱 Acupuncturist Dr. Susan Fox brings decades of experience blending Eastern and Western medicine to help you feel better. In this episode, she shares insights on managing stress, improving reproductive health, and finding balance on your fertility journey.

🔹 How Eastern medicine views fertility & well-being 🔹 Practical stress management techniques 🔹 The role of acupuncture in...

Ever wondered what really happens when fertility clinics screen egg donors? Dr. Rudick, Director of Third Party Reproduction at Columbia University Fertility Center, shares the essential steps she takes to protect the emotional and physical well-being of both donors and recipients. With complex decisions and sometimes conflicting interests, she reveals how she balances ethics, science, and care. If you or someone you know is consid...

Want to boost fertility? Sperm health plays a critical role, yet it’s often overlooked. In this episode of Building Your Family, we sit down with Dr. Justine Witzke, a Cornell-trained fertility expert and founder of Aligneage Fertility, to discuss sperm testing, preservation, and proactive fertility planning.

 Why should you test sperm?  How can you improve sperm health?  Who should consider sperm freezing and why?

With more people...

Before starting cancer treatment, fertility preservation can give patients the chance to have a family in the future. While many know this is possible, few understand what happens inside fertility clinics, how to navigate the process, or what questions to ask.

In this episode, I talk with a leading mental health professional—also a cancer survivor—who shares what really goes on behind the scenes, the emotional challenges, and how t...

Struggling to keep the spark alive while navigating family building? In this Valentine’s Day special, we sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Grill to talk about sex, intimacy, and recalibrating your expectations when life gets overwhelming. Whether you're trying to conceive, in fertility treatment, or just looking for ways to reconnect, this episode will give you real strategies to help you sustain love, desire, and emotional connection—ev...

Are you overwhelmed by social media advice on fertility and health? Dr. Camille Hammond joins Building Your Family to break down the basics of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle choices when trying to conceive. She exposes false claims, shares science-backed insights, and helps you focus on real, effective ways to support your fertility. If you’re tired of the noise and looking for expert guidance, this episode is for you!

Useful l...

In this heartfelt episode, Trisha Cornwell, also known as the Solo Mama, opens up about her journey into solo parenthood with one child. She shares her experiences navigating fertility treatments, the emotional and practical realities of raising a child on her own, and how she balances it all with grace. Whether you're considering solo parenthood or are already on the journey, this episode offers valuable insights and encouragement...

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Ginsburg, Medical Director of the ART Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, professor at Harvard Medical School, and President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), takes us behind the scenes of the ethical decision-making that shapes assisted reproductive technology (ART). Learn why it’s crucial to listen to organizations like ASRM, which work to ensure your safety, reproductiv...