Building your family

Most people naturally focus on photos and eye color when choosing a donor. It’s the first thing you see and it feels concrete. But if that’s all you focus on, it’s easy to overlook some of the genetics and long‑term implications that may matter even more for your family.

In Part 2 of my conversation with social scientist and philosopher Jonathan Anomaly, we talk about how to think about donor eggs, donor sperm, and genetics in a wa...

If you’re in IVF and being offered a menu of embryo tests – PGT‑A, PGT‑M, PGT‑P – it can feel overwhelming. What do they actually tell you? How much is genetics vs environment? And how do you think about ethics, money, and risk for your family?

In this two‑part series, I’m joined by Jonathan Anomaly, a social scientist and philosopher who works with a company developing and researching embryo testing tools, including PGT‑P.

In Part...

Journalist Pedro Andrade joins me to talk about his new documentary series Somewhat Familiar – a global journey through surrogacy, adoption, foster care and modern LGBTQ+ families, including his own path to fatherhood with his husband and their daughter via surrogacy.

From “illegal” same‑sex parenthood in Italy to adoption in Korea and foster families in the U.S., we explore how love, law and culture shape who gets to be a family.

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This special Best of 2025 Learn episode brings together the most powerful insights on IVF, donor conception, and surrogacy to help you feel more prepared, informed, and less alone in your 2026 fertility journey.

Inside this episode, we revisit key moments from conversations with leading voices in reproductive medicine, psychology, and lived experience. Using my Zoom Theory (regulate vs learn), this is the Learn episode:

Part 1 – Ne...

Struggling with PCOS and trying to understand your fertility options – and all the talk about PGT‑A, PGT‑M and PGT‑P?

In this episode, fertility specialist Dr Steven Palter walks through how he approaches PCOS treatment and lifestyle, then explains the differences between PGT‑A, PGT‑M and PGT‑P in IVF embryo genetic testing.

I frame this as a kind of “second opinion” conversation – not to replace your own doctor, but to give you an...

Many people using donor conception or surrogacy feel “different” and quietly wonder what family really means when genetics aren’t shared in the way they expected.

In this episode, I talk about chosen family in the context of donor conception and surrogacy: how to see yourself not as “other,” but as part of a growing, very real type of family.

We’ll explore: • How the concept of family has changed – and where you fit in • Why grief ...

If you’ve been reassured that your donor will only create a “small number” of families, or even that they’re effectively “just for you,” this episode is important.

In this conversation, I unpack: – What clinics and banks usually mean when they talk about “family limits” – Why those limits often don’t work the way intended in real life – How donor siblings can appear over time, even when you were told the donor wouldn’t donate again...

If you’re in IVF and quietly wondering, “How many more rounds can we do before we have to think about donor eggs?” this conversation with Dr. Moomjy is for you.

In this episode, we talk about: – Why IVF fails for some people even when everything looks “normal” – How many tries – at different ages – actually make sense before you seriously consider donor eggs – When donor eggs are one option vs when they’re realistically the only pa...

Luteal phase defect is one of the most hotly debated topics in fertility right now. Do you actually have it? And do you really need progesterone support… or not?

In this episode, I sit down with reproductive endocrinologist and researcher Dr. Parry to unpack what the science actually says about luteal phase defects, progesterone supplementation, and fertility treatment.

We cover: what a luteal phase defect is (and what it isn’t), w...

Intimacy and sperm health made clear—Dr. Rena Malik, MD explains sex and intimacy while you're trying to conceive, evidence‑based lifestyle factors, timing, when to seek urology care, and how to think about next steps across IVF, IUI, and at‑home TTC. 

Confusion around intimacy and “sperm quality” stalls a lot of TTC journeys. In this episode, Dr. Rena Malik, MD (urology and sexual health) breaks down:

What “sperm health” actually ...

In this episode, we make legalese usable. You’ll get the operating rules to protect your surrogacy/donor journey when things get messy, so decisions are fast, fair, and aligned.

What you’ll learn fast:

• Alignment vs Agreement: principles first, everything else second, so contracts don’t crumble under stress.
• The Two Buckets: value essentials vs detail clauses, and why mixing them derails deals.
• Contract Decoder: translate dense...

There’s a lot of strong advice about nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle. This episode shows how to make it work for your season of life—without “doing it all.” Dietitian and intuitive eating specialist Sam Previte explains gentle nutrition for TTC and pregnancy, so you can make steady improvements with less all‑or‑nothing pressure.

You’ll learn:

Intuitive eating: what it is (and isn’t) for TTC/pregnancy Gentle nutrition basics—how ...

The most‑asked question: “If I don’t use my genetics, will the baby be mine?” Lauren Tassi (Your IVF BFF) shares her three‑year journey—how she moved from repeated IVF to choosing donor embryos—and what finally made the decision feel 100% hers.     Practical insights on identity, language, epigenetics (carrying/parenting), hidden costs/expectations, and what to consider if you’re weighing donor embryos vs more IVF or donor eggs.

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Cut through fertility misinformation. Dr. Lowell Ku (REI; leads ASRM’s technology professional group) separates myths from facts so you know what to trust online, from influencers, and in clinic—plus how to think about supplements and opinion vs evidence.   We cover TTC with IUI/IVF and decisions using donor conception or surrogacy—what matters most and where to find reliable guidance.

  - What to trust online: source hierarchy (gu...

You don’t need to stop exercising before or during fertility treatment—pause near the end of the cycle and right after retrieval. Here’s how to train smart, read your body, and know when it’s too much (or not enough)—plus high‑level pregnancy guidance.     Dr. Sheeva Talebian (REI and competitive athlete) breaks down what’s safe, when to modify, and the signs you need more fuel, sleep, or hydration.

- You’ll learn     - What’s safe...

Get evidence‑based answers on endometriosis—what it is (and isn’t), how it’s diagnosed, and what actually helps, so you know where to start today. Dr. Jessica Ryniec explains symptoms, diagnosis (what to expect from imaging vs surgical confirmation), treatment options (medical vs surgical), pain management, and fertility considerations—practical steps you can use now.

You’ll learn:

What endometriosis is (and common misconceptions) ...

What genetic tests actually do—and what they don’t—so you know when to use them (and when not to). Practical next steps. Chapters below. For step-by-step guides + live Q&A, join the community: https://familybuilding.net/building-your-family-community/

You’ll learn:

Screening vs diagnostic: what each actually tells you Carrier testing, NIPT, and embryo testing (PGT‑A/M): when it helps vs overkill Limits: false positives/negative...

If you could reduce medical risks for your future child, would you? A reproductive medicine doctor + geneticist explains what actually helps before pregnancy—so you know where to start today. You’ll learn: what genetic screening covers (and doesn’t), how to think about carrier testing and embryo testing, practical preconception steps to lower risk, and how to talk with your care team. Want live workshops and Q&A? Join the commu...