In this episode Jennifer talks with Zsofia Jamieson and Marta Han about the Aviva Method, a specialized fertility movement practice, and how they built The Fertility Class to make it accessible to women around the world. 

Zsofia Jamieson is a certified Aviva Method teacher, entrepreneur, and former fashion executive who was diagnosed with severe PCOS as a teenager and told she might never conceive. She healed naturally through movement and nutrition and, after leading global strategy for brands like Net-a-Porter, introduced the Aviva Method from Hungary to the UK and US.

Marta Han is a health coach, certified yoga teacher, and Aviva Method instructor. After navigating infertility and hormonal imbalance following years as a competitive ballroom dancer, she restored her health naturally through movement, nutrition, and holistic practices.

Together, Zsofia and Marta are the founders of The Fertility Class.

Key topics discussed: 

• Zsofia and Marta's personal fertility journeys and how they met and joined forces to create The Fertility Class.
• The history and origins of the Aviva Method, developed by Aviva Steiner and practiced for decades in Israel and Eastern Europe.
• What a Fertility Class session looks like, from the warm-up sequence to the 30-minute pelvic-focused movement practice.
• How the movements support blood flow, circulation, and the endocrine system around the reproductive organs.
• Specialized modifications for different stages of fertility treatment, including IUI, IVF, and endometriosis.
• Why matching the right type of movement to your nervous system matters, especially for "Type A" women prone to overexercising.
• How the practice builds body awareness and helps women better understand their own cycles and symptoms.
• Why they measure progress through cycle regularity and ovulation signs, not just pregnancy outcomes.
• What's included in a Fertility Class membership: personalized plans, nutrition classes, meditations, and a supportive community.
• Cost and accessibility of the program, including a 7-day trial and scholarships for those who need them.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Fertility Class
• The Fertility Class 7-day free trial
• The Aviva Method, the specialized movement practice at the root of The Fertility Class program

Connect with Zsofia and Marta

• Website: thefertilityclass.com
• Instagram: @thefertilityclass

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Jessica Katz, LICSW, PMH-C, CCFP, about the intersection of sexual trauma and infertility, exploring how survivors can navigate fertility treatment with greater safety, agency and self-compassion. Jessica is a clinical social worker, certified perinatal mental health specialist and clinical supervisor specializing in infertility and reproductive mental health. She is the founder of Empress Counseling, a private practice dedicated to supporting individuals and couples navigating IVF and other family-building pathways. Jessica has worked with trauma survivors and individuals with complex infertility histories for over a decade, and is a committed advocate for reproductive justice.

Content Warning: This episode includes a discussion of sexual assault and trauma. Some content may bring up difficult feelings, so please take care of yourself and feel free to pause or skip this episode at any time. Resources are listed below, and support is always available if you need it.

Key topics discussed: 

• How Jessica's background in trauma and sexual violence work, combined with her own infertility journey, led her into reproductive mental health
• The significant overlap between infertility and sexual trauma, and why the two are so rarely discussed together
• Why fertility treatment can cause previously healed trauma symptoms to resurface unexpectedly
• How the invasive, exposing nature of IVF procedures and exams can feel especially difficult for trauma survivors
• Practical ways to reclaim a sense of safety, choice and consent during treatment, including asking questions and setting boundaries around disclosure
• What "trauma-informed" care actually means, and how patients can find and vet trauma-informed providers and clinics
• The role of therapy in this work, including modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR and Internal Family Systems
• Why self-blame and shame are common during infertility, and how naming vulnerable feelings can interrupt that cycle
• Grief as a through-line connecting trauma and infertility, including loss of timeline, community and the life once imagined
• Reclaiming agency and rebuilding trust with your body, and how partners and couples counseling can support the journey

Resources Mentioned:

• AllPaths Family Building. Directory that can help connect patients with trauma-informed reproductive providers,
• Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. Support resources and trauma training
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). National sexual assault hotline and resources 
• Maternal Trauma Support. An emerging directory of trauma-informed perinatal care providers 
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association. Therapist and provider directory
• Trauma therapy modalities: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, and Cognitive Processing Therapy

Connect with Jessica Katz:

• www.empresscounseling.com
• Instagram: @EmpressCounseling

Connect with Jennifer Redmond:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Jodi Tolman, author, keynote speaker and online course creator devoted to helping others navigate the path to parenthood. After marrying her husband Jay at 40, and faced with infertility, Jodi spent six years pursuing treatment, adoption and donor egg IVF, ultimately building a family of three children. Jodi now helps others find their own best path to parenthood. Her story is shared in her best-selling memoir, “One From Each Column: My 46-Year Trek from Abusive Childhood to Elusive Motherhood.”

Key topics discussed: 

• Jodi’s discovery, at age 40, that she had age-related infertility, and how her resilience helped her face it
• Why couples should identify their true priority - genetics, pregnancy, or parenting - early in the journey
• How Jodi and her husband “double-tracked” treatment and adoption at the same time
• The importance of building a trusted team - doctor, social worker, genetics counselor and mental health practitioner
• Why relying on trusted professionals, rather than “Dr. Google” or AI tools, matters for fertility education
• Staying hopeful and keeping an open mind through a long, uncertain journey
• Learning to grieve the dream of a genetic child while embracing the wonder of however your child arrives
• Ways male partners can stay engaged and feel involved throughout the process
• Preparing thoughtful questions before every medical appointment
• Jodi’s upcoming digital course, “From Powerless to Parenthood and Points Beyond”

Resources Mentioned:

• Jodi’s memoir: “One From Each Column: My 46-Year Trek from Abusive Childhood to Elusive Motherhood”
• Jodi’s upcoming digital course, “From Powerless to Parenthood and Points Beyond,” is launching soon 
• All Paths Family Building, a New England-based nonprofit offering support groups, including for men

Connect with Jodi

• JodiTolmanSpeaks.com
• Contact information for speaking engagements and consulting is available on her website

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Dr. Maya Barsky about the recent renaming of PCOS to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome), what it means for diagnosis and treatment, and how this shift can empower women to better understand and manage their health. 

Dr. Barsky is a double board-certified physician in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She serves as a Lead Physician at the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, at UConn School of Medicine. Dr. Barsky also holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Investigation, where her thesis research focused on Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). She is passionate about helping individuals and couples from all walks of life navigate their family-building journeys with compassionate, evidence-based care.

Her clinical interests include PMOS, reproductive surgery, diminished ovarian reserve, recurrent pregnancy loss, fertility preservation, and third-party reproduction.

Key topics discussed: 

• Why PCOS was renamed to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome) and what the new name better reflects about the condition.
• The history of the condition from Stein-Leventhal syndrome (1935) through its evolution as an endocrine, metabolic and genetic disorder.
• The three diagnostic criteria for PMOS (hyperandrogenism, polyfollicular ovaries/elevated AMH, and irregular cycles) and why only two of three are needed for diagnosis.
• How PMOS affects the whole body throughout life, including endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular, mental health and reproductive systems, not just during reproductive years.
• Why up to 70% of women were diagnosed late under the previous name, and the challenges of diagnosing PMOS in adolescents and in women approaching menopause.
• PMOS and fertility: why it is not a diagnosis of infertility, how irregular ovulation affects conception, and the range of treatment options from lifestyle changes to letrozole, IUI and IVF.
• The role of lifestyle changes in managing PMOS: high-protein diet, reduced carb load, at least 150 minutes of movement per week, hydration and sleep. 
• GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound) and their potential benefits for PMOS, and why they must be discontinued 1–2 months before trying to conceive. 
• Supplements for PMOS: the importance of prenatal vitamins with folic acid for those trying to conceive, and inositol as an alternative to metformin.
• Dr. Barsky’s message to women who suspect they may have PMOS: there is no “typical” PMOS patient, the condition is not your fault and every woman deserves a clear diagnosis and a whole-person care plan

Resources Mentioned:

• Center for Advanced Reproductive Services (UConn Fertility) 

Connect with Dr. Maya Barsky

• Instagram: @MayaBarskyMD
•  Website: uconnfertility.com

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Kayla Branstetter about the Greek myth of Medusa and Athena as a lens for understanding medical gaslighting, reproductive trauma and the cultural expectation that women endure their pain in silence. 

Kayla is an English instructor at Crowder College, where she teaches literature, creative nonfiction, and composition. She is a published writer whose work has appeared in more than 40 journals worldwide, and the author of the creative nonfiction book Off With Her Head. A TEDx speaker and educator, her work centers on women’s health, narrative medicine, reproductive trauma, and the cultural expectations placed on women’s bodies and resilience. She is currently completing a Doctorate of Education in Healthcare, with research focused on narrative medicine and women’s healthcare. 

Her forthcoming book, Don’t Be an Athena, examines reproductive health, medical gaslighting and the myth of silent endurance through storytelling, research and at times, dark humor.

Key topics discussed: 

• The Greek myth of Medusa and Athena, and how it shaped the title and framework of Kayla’s book, Don’t Be an Athena
• How society tends to demonize women’s reproductive choices and experiences, from teen pregnancy and miscarriage to IVF, abortion and choosing not to become a mother
• Kayla’s own experiences with infertility, miscarriage and medical gaslighting
• The idea of “silent endurance” and where the centuries-old expectation that women must suffer quietly comes from
• Missouri’s maternal and infant mortality rates, restrictive abortion laws and the challenges of accessing reproductive healthcare in rural areas
• The need for comprehensive sex education and more supportive, paid parental leave policies
• Kayla’s dissertation research on narrative medicine, the role of AI in healthcare and improving doctor-patient communication
• The difference between treating “the chart” versus “the human,” and how storytelling builds trust between doctors and patients
• What folk medicine traditions can teach modern medicine about accessibility and human connection
• Endometriosis, the importance of self-advocacy, and how cultural expectations can make it harder for women to seek care

Resources Mentioned:

• Don’t Be an Athena: Women’s Stories of Surviving Medical Misogyny. Kayla’s forthcoming book, releasing July 20th and available for pre-order now
• Ozark Hollow Press
• Kayla’s TEDx talk, “Don’t Be an Athena” (TEDxMSSU)
• “Blood,” a short story by Zdravka Evtimova that Kayla discussed with her class while talking about folk medicine
• The work of Dr. Rita Charon, a founding figure in the field of narrative medicine

Connect with Kayla Branstetter

• https://kaylabranstetter.wordpress.com/
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook (personal profile — she welcomes friend requests!)

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Alicia Abdella, MSW, LICSW,  about the emotional and psychological dimensions of third-party reproduction, including egg donation and gestational surrogacy. Alicia is the founder of On the Path Counseling and Consultation, a specialized psychotherapy practice supporting individuals and couples through the emotional challenges of reproductive health. With 15 years of clinical experience, Alicia and her team of licensed therapists provide compassionate counseling for those navigating fertility struggles, IVF, pregnancy loss, third-party reproduction, and complex family-building decisions. Her practice is based in Andover, Massachusetts, with virtual services available in New Hampshire, Maine, Florida, and Massachusetts.

Key topics discussed: 

• What egg donation and gestational surrogacy are, and who uses them
• The wide range of emotional starting points when considering donor egg or surrogacy
• Why partners are rarely at the same emotional place at the same time, and how to navigate that
• Normalizing ambivalence – you don’t have to be 100% on board right away
• How the loss of a genetic connection reshapes feelings about bonding and parenthood
• Disclosure decisions: navigating social stigma, family, culture and religion
• Known vs. anonymous donors and surrogates: short-term and long-term considerations
• Why true anonymity is no longer realistic in the age of direct-to-consumer DNA testing (23andMe, Ancestry.com)
• Bonding with a baby you didn’t carry - what gestational surrogacy looks like emotionally for intended parents
• The role of community and peer connection as a coping tool
• What to expect from a therapy session or formal consult with a reproductive mental health professional
• ASRM guidelines for mental health professional involvement in donor and gestational carrier cycles

Resources Mentioned:

• Fertility Forward — a support program in partnership with Terra Fertility (Boston area)
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) — asrm.org (practice guidelines for third-party reproduction)

Connect with Alicia:

• On the Path Counseling and Consultation
• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Janene Oleaga, a family formation lawyer and reproductive rights advocate, about the legal side of building a family through assisted reproduction. Janene demystifies the role of a reproductive attorney and offers clear, grounding guidance for anyone navigating surrogacy, egg donation or donor conception.

 Key Topics Discussed:

• Janene explains what a reproductive attorney does and why reaching out before you begin your family-building journey - before selecting a surrogate, donor, or signing with an agency - can make a meaningful difference.
• She describes what to expect from an initial consultation, and why her goal is for clients to leave feeling informed and more settled amid the uncertainty of the fertility journey.
• Surrogacy law is governed at the state level and varies widely. Janene breaks down what that means for intended parents, especially when surrogacy arrangements cross state lines.
• She walks through what a gestational surrogacy agreement covers and why she describes it as the roadmap for the entire journey, from embryo transfer through establishing legal parentage.
• Janene addresses surrogacy in the news honestly, distinguishing between bad actors and the hundreds of ethical arrangements that never make headlines.
• For those using an egg or sperm donor, Janene explains the difference between closed, semi-open and fully open arrangements, and why true anonymity is no longer a realistic promise in the age of consumer genetic testing.
• She offers practical guidance on how to find a reproductive attorney, what questions to ask, and why - beyond credentials - trusting your gut matters most when building your team.
• Janene speaks to the importance of legislative advocacy and reminds listeners that your personal story is your most powerful tool when talking to representatives.

 Resources Mentioned:

• Oleaga Law LLC
• AllPaths Family Building
• American Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA)
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
• New England Fertility Society (NEFS)
• The Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS)

Connect with Janene Oleaga:

• IVFESQ.com
• Instagram: @IVFESQ
  

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhcI 

Episode Summary

In this episode Jennifer shares a check-in and love note to her community as Mother's Day approaches. She knows how difficult the holiday can be for women on a fertility journey, and offers gentle, practical ideas for navigating the day in a way that honors wherever you are.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Mother's Day can be an incredibly painful time for women who are trying to conceive or have experienced pregnancy loss, and it's okay to feel all of it.
• The holiday comes with unavoidable noise - ads, emails, store displays - and Jennifer wants you to give yourself permission to opt out, unsubscribe and step back from social media if you need to.
• Mother's Day brings its own complicated layers when it comes to our relationships with our own mothers, and Jennifer speaks openly from personal experience.
• If you can't sit the day out, Jennifer offers practical strategies for getting through it,  from limiting your time to planning ahead for the moments when feelings hit hard.
• Ways to spend the day that feel nourishing and restorative, including leaning on your comfort list, spending time in nature and connecting with your support system.
• Jennifer reminds listeners who have partners to let that person in, because they're navigating the day too.
• She closes with a loving challenge and journal prompts to help you reflect on how you can mother yourself this Mother's Day.

Journal Prompts:

• This Mother's Day, I can mother myself by ________________________________.
• My ideal way to spend this Mother's Day is ________________________________.
• My ideal day is _________________________________________________________________.

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer sits down with Nicole Tanionos, an 18-year-old high school senior, patient advocate and co-founder of The Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts (TEAM). Nicole shares her deeply personal journey living with endometriosis since middle school, and the remarkable advocacy work that has grown from it. Nicole's story is a reminder that the signs may be there long before a diagnosis, and that understanding your history can be a powerful part of navigating your path forward.

Key topics discussed: 

• Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age and can take 4 to 11 years to diagnose, a reality Nicole knows firsthand.
• Nicole's symptoms began in middle school and included migraines, severe bloating ("endo belly"), constipation, and increasingly painful, irregular periods - symptoms she initially thought were unrelated.
• Nicole shares an all too common, long and frustrating road to diagnosis, including being dismissed by doctors, seeing nearly a dozen specialists, and learning to fight to be believed. 
• She opens up about the emotional and psychological toll of living with a chronic, underdiagnosed illness, and why mental health is an inseparable part of the conversation. 
• Nicole talks candidly about what life looks like after treatment, including the ongoing challenges and what it has meant for her future plans. 
• Driven by her own experience, Nicole co-founded TEAM to advocate for better education, improved medical training, and legislation that could shorten the diagnostic journey for others. 
• She shares a story about a chance conversation at a backyard gathering that may have changed a young woman's life, and explains why that kind of ripple effect keeps her going.
• Nicole speaks honestly about the fears and uncertainties that come with an endometriosis diagnosis at a young age, including what it may mean for her future fertility.

Resources Mentioned:

• Survey for Endometriosis Patients
• Swinging for Hope, Golf Tournament to Support Endometriosis Awareness, supported by TEAM 
• Endometriosis Conference, October 24, 2026, Save the Date
• Below the Belt documentary

Connect with The Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts:

• endoteam.org

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Lauren Hart Clancy, Executive Director at All Paths Family Building, about National Infertility Awareness Week. Lauren is a public health professional, maternal health and family building advocate, pediatric sleep and development practitioner, and perinatal behavioral health coach. After spending her career in the hospital and healthcare industry she founded The Village Advocate to support individuals navigating fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. She also co-founded and led the Boston Chapter of Chamber of Mothers for two years. Lauren first came to AllPaths seeking support during her own family building journey and then spent several years as a volunteer, leading peer support groups and annual fundraising efforts, before assuming her current role.

Key Topics Discussed

• Lauren's family-building journey: a male factor infertility diagnosis, multiple IVF cycles, failed transfers, pregnancy loss and changing clinics
• How Lauren found AllPaths  and the moment she, "first experienced what it felt like to find my people"
• Her path from support group participant to AllPaths peer group leader to Walk Committee volunteer to Executive Director
• National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) 2026 theme "More Than" 
• Losing your identity on the journey
• Participating in NIAW when you're not comfortable being public about your story
• AllPaths peer-led support groups, how they work and why lived experience leadership matters.
• Finding support when you don't know what your path is going to look like
• What gives Lauren hope: Growing openness and a shift toward patient-focused care
• How to get involved with AllPaths: support groups, the podcast, the Walk and board committees

Words to Remember

• "The sooner that you find your people, the easier this is going to be, no matter what the outcomes are."
• "There's no medal or award for doing this alone."
• "There are people and organizations out there that will hold you how you need to be held."

Resources Mentioned

• #NIAW. Search on social media for events, Instagram Lives and resources
• AllPaths Family Building. Support groups, advocacy, professional directory, podcast and programming
• AllPaths Podcast. Family-building stories, searchable by topic
• Chamber of Mothers. Non-partisan nonprofit and grassroots movement uniting moms for a better America; Boston chapter co-founded by Lauren Hart Clancy
• Footsteps for Family Building Walk. AllPaths annual fundraising event
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association.  Empowers people navigating their fertility journey through trusted information, community support, and grassroots advocacy
• The Village Advocate. Supports individuals and families from preconception through early parenthood; founded by Lauren Hart Clancy

Connect with Lauren:

• Instagram: @villageadvocate
• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow her on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.