On this episode, Ali talks to Broadway star and motivational speaker Sarrah Strimel Bentley, whose story is as powerful as it is vulnerable. After dazzling audiences in seven Broadway shows, Sarrah’s life took a shocking turn when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. The treatment plan didn’t just mean chemotherapy and a double mastectomy—it also came with the devastating news that her fertility would be at risk.

Sarrah opens up about the whirlwind that followed: racing to freeze embryos before starting chemo, navigating “funky sperm morphology” with her husband, experiencing the raw, messy emotions of IVF in the face of a cancer diagnosis, and what happened when they pivoted to a surrogacy journey. She shares the moments that broke her—like crying so loudly her neighbors called security—and the humor and grace that carried her through (“Prayer and Pinot Grigio”).

Follow Sarrah on IG: @sarrahstrimelbentley

EPISODE SPONSORS: 

BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ART

Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology 

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

The latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.

Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.

When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn’t about how you start—it’s about how you grow.

Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

For bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request

FERTILITY RALLY

IG: @fertilityrally

www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

PHERDAL

IG: pherdal_science

PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com.

EXTEND FERTILITY 

IG: @extendfertility

www.extendfertility.com

Fertility shouldn’t be dictated by a timeline. Extend Fertility offers cutting-edge egg and embryo freezing, infertility care, and IVF—all designed to put you in control. Their approach? Research driven, transparent, and personalized. With a world-class lab, exceptional verified success rates backed by nearly a decade of egg freezing results, and pricing lower than the national average, Extend Fertility is making reproductive care more accessible and effective than ever. Whether you’re preserving fertility for the future or actively trying to conceive, they’re here with expert support every step of the way. 

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations

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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy