Fertility Forward

Joining us on the Fertility Forward podcast today is Trystan Reese, an award-winning author, facilitator, and longtime advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion with nearly two decades of experience in the trans community. Trystan is the author of the acclaimed memoir How We Do Family (2021) and co-author of the children’s book The Light of You, written with his partner, Biff Chaplow. A Lambda Literary Fellow, Trystan first captured national attention with his viral storytelling performance on The Moth’s mainstage. He is also the founder of Collaborate Consulting, LLC, where he leads training on LGBTQ+ inclusion, and his work has been featured in multiple anthologies focused on mental health and social justice. In today’s conversation, Trystan shares his powerful story of navigating pregnancy as a transgender man. He reflects on how he researched and prepared for the experience, offers thoughts on current “best practices” around hormones and gestational care, and unpacks both internal and systemic barriers to trans-inclusive fertility support. Most importantly, he leaves listeners with a message of hope, resilience, and deep wisdom. Don’t miss this inspiring and eye-opening episode, tune in now! 

The journey from trying to conceive, to pregnancy, to postpartum, can be the most beautiful time of someone’s life, but also the hardest, and that’s where finding the right support is key. Dr. Catherine Birndorf is a reproductive psychiatrist, the co-founder, CEO, and Medical Director of The Motherhood Center of New York, and the Founding Director of the Payne Whitney Women’s Programme at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital. She is also a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology, and the author of multiple books, including What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood. During this episode, we dive into a huge variety of topics, including perinatal, mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS), medication, and more. From how to know when something is wrong and where to seek the necessary support to understanding treatability, we cover it all. Thanks for listening!  

Today’s guest is leading the charge in raising awareness for perinatal mental health (PMH). On the Fertility Forward podcast today is Hamish Magoffin, Founder of the Pranaiya & Arthur Magoffin (PAM) Foundation. Hamish established the PAM Foundation in memory of his late wife, Pranaiya, and their son, Arthur. The foundation is dedicated to raising awareness, improving care, and supporting research on (PMH) conditions. Hamish has taken on remarkable challenges to promote PMH awareness, including running and cycling across the UK. Beyond his philanthropic work, he is also the Co-Founder of Break Off Capital, which has been investing long-term capital in companies commercializing cutting-edge science for over a decade. Tune in to hear the story behind the PAM Foundation, the people and projects driving its mission, and the foundation’s goals as it expands into the US. Hamish also discusses the importance of developing better awareness and follow-up care for PMH and how his endurance challenges tie into this critical cause. Don’t miss it! 

Here on the Fertility Forward podcast, we often say that knowledge is power — and that you are your own best advocate! Joining Rena and Dara on the show today are two passionate guests who are dedicated to educating women about infertility, fertility benefits, healthcare coverage, and women’s health. We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Taraneh Nazem, a double board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, Infertility Specialist, and Obstetrician-Gynecologist at RMA of New York’s Westside office, along with Carissa Simek, one of Dr. Nazem’s patients. In today’s episode, Carissa opens up about how her desire for better fertility coverage led her to change jobs — and the incredible fertility journey she’s walked with Dr. Nazem. They discuss the panel discussions they’ve led, the catalyst behind Carissa’s decision to preserve her fertility, and how advocating for fertility education has empowered Carissa in her own life. We also explore the conversation around freezing eggs versus embryos, the biggest challenges Dr. Nazem faces in her field, and how infertility treatments can impact daily life. For all this and much more, don’t miss this insightful conversation! 

How can data enable doctors to best support their patients? Reproductive endocrinologist and associate research director Dr. Phillip Romanski joins us in conversation to discuss the annual Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Conference (PCRS), everything he learned, and what he spoke about. Tune in to hear Dr. Romanski’s perspective on mosaic embryo transfers before we dive into the complex world of segmental mosaic embryos and fully segmental aneuploid embryos. We discuss Preimplantation Genetic Testing, how to personalize care on an ongoing basis, and how in vitro maturation and in vitro gametogenesis will shape the future of fertility. Join us today to hear all about the topics covered at this year’s conference, the developments RMA doctors are focused on today, and more. Thanks for listening.  

When is the right time to have children? What if you put having a family on the back burner and then something tragic happens that prevents you from conceiving? Today, we are joined by cancer survivor and RMA client Alexandria Touris and her doctor, our very own Matthew Lederman, to discuss navigating fertility with cancer. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how Alexandria’s life was turned upside down when she received her cancer diagnosis, her egg retrieval process, the kind of support system she had, and her personal opinion (and words of wisdom) about freezing your eggs if having a family may ever be on the cards for you. Dr. Lederman also explains that cancer is affecting younger women before sharing some of the difficult questions he asks his patients to individualize their care. Finally, we discuss what we are grateful for today. To hear all this and even be reminded to be kind and pay it forward, be sure to press play now!

An infertility journey comes with many stressors, from emotional and social challenges to family pressures and the unavoidable financial strain. Today’s guest, Jenn Leffell, co-founder and COO of the Stardust Fertility Foundation, is working to ease one major hurdle—cost. Stardust Fertility Foundation helps bring more Jewish babies into the world by alleviating the financial burden of fertility treatments through its Stardust grants. These grants are available to all Jewish individuals and couples in the tri-state area, regardless of background, identity, or level of observance. As a passionate fertility advocate, Jenn is dedicated to helping individuals and couples achieve their dreams of building a family. In this episode, Jenn shares the journey and inspiration behind founding Stardust Fertility, how they select grant recipients, and their unique partnerships with clinics and pharmacies in the area. She also unpacks what makes for a strong grant candidate and how they approach marketing their organization, and she gives us a sneak peek into their upcoming annual gala. Don’t miss this insightful conversation with Jenn Leffell! 

Every single fertility journey is unique and often, things don’t go as planned. Today on Fertility Forward, we are joined by ovarian cancer survivor and mom of twins, Jess Jata to hear all about her unexpected journey and how infertility actually saved her life. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how Jessica’s IVF experience led her to being diagnosed with ovarian cancer and having an emergency hysterectomy. We delve into how she managed to start a family through surrogacy, what gave her strength during such a challenging time, what Jess shares on her Instagram community, and so much more! Finally, our guest discusses the path to getting stronger in the face of hardship and as always, shares what she’s grateful for today. To hear all of this and so much more from such an inspirational and resilient woman, press play now!  

Could the secret to better fertility and lasting health be hidden in the tiny world of your gut microbiome? Cheryl Sew Hoy, CEO and Founder of Tiny Health, shares how her children’s health challenges inspired her mission to empower families through microbiome testing. Tiny Health offers the first-ever at-home gut and vaginal microbiome tests for mothers and babies during the crucial first 1,000 days. In this episode, Cheryl explains how microbiomes shape fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and a baby’s immune system. She offers practical tips for addressing imbalances through diet, probiotics, and lifestyle changes, while highlighting links to conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and gestational diabetes. Cheryl also reveals how personalized health decisions can help prevent chronic issues and improve outcomes for future generations. Tune in for this informative conversation and discover how understanding your microbiome could transform your family’s health journey! 

During your infertility journey, it’s important to align yourself with an ethical physician who is going to be honest with you about when your plans need to pivot. Today, we’re joined by the wonderful Dr. Matthew Lederman and one of his former patients, Jaclyn Fieberg, to discuss her experience of family building. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Jaclyn's complex infertility story, what led her to Dr. Lederman, how she decided to consider donor eggs and eventually chose to use her sister as a surrogate, and more! We delve into the power of changing your mind as you evolve through your fertility journey before discussing the importance of finding a physician who is going to be open and honest with you and advocate for your best interests. Jaclyn even shares some tools she used to help her get through this incredibly challenging time. Finally, Dr. Lederman reminds us of the power of perseverance. To hear all this and be inspired to be open to new ideas, press play now!