becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation

When you move thousands of miles away, start over in a new city, and finally find friends who feel like home, life starts to click into place. For Jess Walker, that journey took an unexpected and beautiful turn when she met a new roommate — who would soon become the love of her life.

In this heartfelt episode, Jess shares her story of self-discovery, embracing her sexual identity, and building a Queer family through RIVF — with Jess carrying their child. It’s a story about love, courage, and the magic of creating family, your way.

The fertility clinic in Vancouver that Jess mentioned is: https://www.olivefertility.com

Follow Jess on Instagram: @jessica_alexis 💜

(PS - the two businesses that Jess mentioned to add to the show notes are: Olive Fertility = https://www.olivefertility.com/ and Rowena's Inn on the River (now called Sandpiper Resort) = https://sandpiperresort.ca/stay/ )

What happens when three adults choose to build and raise a family together—under one roof, sharing every joy, challenge, and decision equally?

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Markus Harwood-Jones, who co-parents alongside his husband, Andrew, and their co-parent, Hannah, in a small Ontario city. Together, they’re raising their children in a home that celebrates collaboration, love, and the many ways families can take shape.

Markus brings deep reflection and warmth to our conversation. He’s a writer, public speaker, and now a PhD graduate in Gender Studies—and, of course, a devoted dad.

Join us as we explore what it means to parent as a trio, how decisions get made, what community looks like in their home, and why their story helps expand our understanding of what family can be.

Learn more about Markus and his work at mharwoodjones.com (on social media as @markusbones)

Many things in life can be true at the same time.
You can have a uterus and know you never want to use it to give birth.
You can know deep in your soul that you were meant to be a parent.
You can also know that the sex you were assigned at birth doesn’t reflect who you truly are.

How do you bring all of that truth into your life — especially after you’ve fallen in love with your person?

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Logan Blackburn-Issitt, a trans dad, husband, and father of six. Our conversation explores identity, parenthood, love, and the beautiful, messy realities that come with being human. The joy radiating from Logan is undeniable, and his openness is sure to resonate.

You can find Logan on TikTok @dad.business, on Facebook, or on Reddit where he runs the Transdads community.

🎙️ After Seamus and his husband got married, they set out on a journey familiar to so many queer couples — figuring out how to build their family.

What began as a hopeful research project quickly became a crash course in the complexities of Irish law, parental rights, and the many barriers faced by LGBTQ+ parents. From comparing routes to parenthood to navigating the emotional and financial realities of family creation, Seamus’ story highlights both the challenges and the deep determination behind Queer family building in Ireland.

Today, Seamus joins us to share his family’s journey — the joy, the advocacy, and the ongoing fight for equality. As the Chair of Irish Gay Dads, he’s at the forefront of education, reform, and support for future parents navigating the same path.

👉 Learn more and connect with Seamus’ work:
@IrishGayDads | @LGBTIreland | @equalityforchildren

www.irishgaydads.ie and equalityforchildren.ie 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t forget to follow for more real stories of Queer family creation around the world. 🌈

#QueerParenting

#LGBTQFamily

#QueerFamilies

#InclusiveParenting

#FertilityJourney

#QueerParentPodcast

#2SLGBTQFamily

#LoveMakesAFamily

#becomingbabyREADY

When it comes to family creation, the legal side can feel overwhelming — but Toronto-based fertility lawyer Sara Cohen has made it her mission to change that.

Sara works with intended parents, donors, surrogates, and agencies to help make family-building possible — and she’s also one of the most respected voices advocating for modern, inclusive updates to reproductive law in Canada and beyond.

In this episode, Sara and I dive into the world of fertility law, reproductive rights, and the importance of legal clarity and compassion for everyone dreaming of a family — especially in our 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Her passion for her work is infectious, her wisdom is boundless, and her approach is deeply human. Whether you’re at the start of your family-building journey or just curious about the legal landscape, this episode is packed with insight, warmth, and hope.

✨ Learn more about Sara’s work at: www.fertilitylawcanada.com
Follow her on social media @fertilitylaw

🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts and join us as we unpack what it really means to make family possible — legally and lovingly.

A Divine Future — Stef Vachon’s Journey to Fatherhood

✨ Sometimes, you hold onto the dream of becoming a parent… until the years pass and you gently let that dream go. That was true for Stef Vachon and his husband — until one unexpected moment changed everything.

After years focused on their careers and relationship, one movie night set a new path in motion. Within 24 hours, they made the life-changing decision to begin their foster-to-adopt journey. ✨

More than two years later, they met the child who would become their son — and Stef says he knew instantly that this was meant to be.

In this episode of becoming babyREADY, Stef shares the emotional, inspiring story of how he and his husband created their family, the moment he first laid eyes on his son, and what it means to trust the timing of your life. 💙

👉 You can also find Stef sharing powerful Queer stories on his own podcast, @togethermovingforward 🎙️

Meet Jameel—a dad, podcaster, author, and all-around powerhouse. He and his husband Nicholas have been together for 22 years, and eight years ago, they began their foster-to-adopt journey, welcoming their now 12-year-old son into their lives.

In our chat, Jameel opens up about the raw vulnerability of navigating the foster care system in Arizona, and what it really meant to open their hearts and home.

But that’s not all—Jameel also hosts the podcast Fathernetics, where he dives into modern Queer fatherhood, and he's written two books: one is a moving memoir of their family-building experience, and the other is a sci-fi adventure with a Queer protagonist at its heart.

Follow him on Instagram @fathernetics and learn more about his work at jameelmayers.com

✨ Chances are Rowan Jette Knox + Dani Gaede have already touched your Queer life — through their words, their work, or their fierce advocacy.

I had the honour of sitting down with them to talk life, love, family, and the BIG dreams they’re cooking up next.

Between the two of them, they’ve written powerful books, driven DEI initiatives, slayed in marketing, and fought for equity across so many spaces. And now? They’re onto something brand new: a cozy, community-rooted café + wine bar in the heart of Toronto’s Queer Village.

📍 Church + Wellesley
📲 Follow their journey: @understorytoronto
🌐 Check out their site: understorycafe.com

Honestly… is there anything these two can’t do? 💫

✨ What happens when you’re both an adoptee and an adoptive parent?
You gain a powerful perspective — one that can challenge, reshape, and rewrite the narratives we’ve all been told about adoption.

Today I’m sitting down with Allison Olsen, who never set out to become an author. But when she couldn’t find children’s books that told the adoption story with honesty, compassion, and balance… she wrote them herself. 📚💡

Now, Allison is on a mission to shift the way adoption is talked about — for adoptive parents, adoptees, and birth parents alike. Her work is opening hearts, changing conversations, and giving kids (and adults) words that truly honour their experiences.

✨ Learn more about Allison’s inspiring journey:
📲 Follow her on IG: @kidsbooksbyallisonolson
🌐 Visit: ouradoptionbooks.com

✨ Life has a way of sparking the most wonderful things. ✨

Take Kirsty Loehr for example 👇
A chance to study creative writing abroad inspired her first book, A Short History of Queer Women — a brilliant tribute to the Queer women who came before us and walk alongside us today. 🌈📚

Then, choosing to grow her family with her (now) ex-wife opened up even more questions: How exactly do Queer women navigate parenting?
That journey gave birth (pun intended 😉) to her newest book: A Short History of Queer Parenting, out October 2, 2025 with One World Publications. 👶🏻✨

Today, we’re diving into Kirsty’s story of becoming a mother — and how she weaves Queer history + lived experience into powerful, true tales that remind us: our families have always been here. 💜

📖 Follow Kirsty on IG: @kirsty_loehr
🌍 Explore her work via One World Publications: https://oneworld-publications.com/work/a-short-history-of-queer-women/

What Queer parenting stories do you wish were told more often? Drop them below ⬇️