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 family, and how they influenced her own approach to building a family. If you’ve ever wondered about late-in-life donor connections, identity, or the complexities of modern family-building, this episode offers rare insight and heart.

📌 Subscribe for more real-life stories and expert guidance on donor conception, surrogacy, and modern parenthood.

🔔 New episodes weekly on the Building Your Family podcast.

Follow Freya on Instagram: @thequeermama

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.

Now advocates for inclusion and education, they’re helping more LGBTQ+ families feel seen and supported.

📚 Learn more about Families Out Loud: https://www.familiesoutloudevents.com/

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 conversation, we talk openly about:

Donor conception

Surrogacy

Agency models and success rates

How to make empowered, informed decisions

What true inclusion in fertility care should look like

Whether you’re early in your journey or deep in decision-making, Dr. Lane offers wisdom that can help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

 Tune in, take what you need, and share with someone who could benefit from this powerful conversation.

 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Building Your Family podcast for more expert-led episodes.

📚 Learn more about Dr. Danielle Lane: https://lanefertilityinstitute.com

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 siblings than with their donor, and how their own experience of family is influencing how they build their future families. With honest stories and surprising insights, they explore what it means to share DNA — and how genetic connections can reveal both deep similarities and unexpected differences.

📚 Learn more about Kiara Rae Schuh: Website

📚 Learn more about Johnna Palic: Website

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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 their stories. Together, we explore how honoring patient autonomy can sometimes mean going against the expected medical path to create a future that truly fits the individual or couple. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating fertility or supporting others on that journey.

📚 Learn more about Dr.Luk: Generation next fertility

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, LGBTQ+ family building, or how personal stories inspire fiction, this conversation is a must-listen.

📚 Learn more about Kate's book on her website

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 choice. Her unique experience as both a fertility doctor and a parent through donor conception makes this conversation incredibly valuable.

In this episode, we cover:

Whether you're considering donor conception, in fertility treatment, or just exploring options, this episode will give you essential insights from a leading expert who truly understands the process—both professionally and personally.

Subscribe for more expert fertility insights!

Useful links from this episode

Dr. Alexis Melnick

Website

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 couple considering parenthood—or simply curious about the process—this episode is packed with honest insights, expert advice, and inspiration for anyone on their own family-building journey.

Useful links from this episode:

Jeff Levin:

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

Don't miss these expert tips to support your journey to parenthood!

Subscribe for more fertility insights!

Useful links from this episode:

Resolve website

Dr Susan Fox

Website

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 considering egg donation, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Useful links from this episode:

Dr. Briana Rudick

Website