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

It’s not uncommon for people to say they didn’t grow up with a strong, deep-seated desire to become a parent. For some, that longing doesn’t emerge until later in life—once they’ve found their footing professionally, or after hearing the powerful, personal stories of others who’ve built their families in different ways.

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to Jay Chapman. He and his partner are the proud dads of two vibrant preteens, and they make their home just outside Melbourne, Australia. You can follow their family’s journey and catch glimpses of their everyday joy on Instagram: @twodadsandtwins

This episode airs with a trigger warning.

Cassie and Marissa, as a two-uterus household, made a decision familiar to many lesbian couples—they agreed that the eldest, Marissa, would be the first to carry a pregnancy. By her own account, Marissa experienced a relatively smooth and uncomplicated pregnancy. It was the labour, birth, and recovery that proved to be the most difficult and traumatic part of her transition into parenthood. Cassie was left feeling helpless through the process which was deeply distressing.

It’s important to say that today, the whole family is thriving and doing beautifully. But getting to this place has required time, healing, and the support of therapy to fully process the intensity of their early experience.

Watch this family evolve over time on Instagram: @cassie.maggiore

International love stories have a special way of capturing our hearts, sparking that hopeful question: Can love truly conquer distance?

Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Sarah about the incredible journey she and her wife embarked on—one that spanned continents and oceans. Despite living on opposite sides of the world, they built not only a deeply loving relationship, but also a beautiful, growing family. Their story has taken them across the Atlantic more than once, but for now, they’ve found a home in Germany.

To learn more about Sarah and her family, you can follow their journey on Instagram: @sarah.beste_simmler

It felt like it should have been easier, especially since they were both perfectly healthy. 

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to Michael and Dan, two Melbourne-based IPs (intended parents). Their journey to parenthood took them around the world in search of the perfect egg donor and surrogate — a journey that ultimately helped them build the beautiful family they have today.

You can learn more about their beautiful family by following them on Instagram @aussiedadzdream

Over the past 100 episodes, I’ve had the absolute privilege of connecting with some truly remarkable Queer Professionals and Queer Parents. Each conversation has opened my mind, challenged my assumptions, and left me inspired in ways I never could have imagined. Together, we’ve explored the beautiful, messy, courageous, and deeply personal journeys of family creation in our community—and it’s been nothing short of transformative.

Saying I’m honoured doesn’t even begin to cover it. These guests have shared their stories with vulnerability and strength, and I am endlessly grateful.

And to you—yes, you—thank you for tuning in, sharing, and growing with me. Your presence and support are what keep me going. Here's to the next 100 episodes and all the powerful stories still to come. 💖

Cyndel and Kendra have navigated nearly every challenge a Queer couple can face in the early stages of building a family — including living in a tiny house in a deeply conservative area. 

Today, we dive into their experiences with surprise pregnancies, induced lactation, co-lactation, La Leche League support, and so much more. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

You can learn more about this family by following Cyndel on IG @cyndel.celestil or her cooking page @cynless_eatz

For many, the dream of starting a family with a partner comes with the hope—and expectation—that it will last a lifetime. But sometimes, that dream changes. Relationships end. Dynamics shift. And you're left wondering: What now?

How do you make choices that keep your children at the centre, while also honouring your own heart, your hopes, and your vision for the future?

Today on the show, I’m speaking with a parent who is navigating this complex terrain. To protect their privacy—and that of their former partner—pseudonyms are being used.

Choosing a donor is a deeply personal process—you carefully sift through profiles, searching for the one that feels like the perfect fit for your family. But what happens when that donor backs out at the last minute?

If you’re Tanner and his husband, you pivot. You find another incredible person, then connect with the surrogate who will help bring your child into the world—and in the process, you gain a lifelong friend.

Today on the podcast, Tanner shares the journey he and his husband took to build their family through surrogacy. You can follow their story on Instagram @our.missing.piece and also check out Tanner’s amazing baking business @bakewithtanner

When you know deep in your heart that you’re meant to be a parent and carry a child, all you truly need are the ingredients to make it happen — unless, of course, challenges with ovulation arise. 

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to Amy and Alyson, who set out on their family-building journey, full of hope and curiosity about how their story would unfold.

You can learn more about this beautiful family by following them on Instagram @aecud

Through their family creation journey, Morgan and her wife learned just how important it is to understand who might be the best fit to carry a pregnancy. They worked with a wide range of practitioners along the way—but it wasn’t until much later in the process that someone finally slowed things down and shared the types of testing that could actually support their decision-making.

Today, Morgan is a Queer TTC (trying to conceive) support coach and Doula, using her experience to guide others through similar paths.

You can learn more about Morgan and the incredible work she’s doing by following her on Instagram @iam_mamomhk