Zach French is a bar certified attorney in the State of New York and currently serves as Vice President of SeedTrust. He provides oversight and support to the legal, sales and marketing departments.

Zach’s diverse background encompasses entrepreneurship, enterprise software sales, legal expertise, and most recently consulting in business development for emerging technologies including blockchain and AI. His wealth of experience is united by a core philosophy of building better connections within thriving ecosystems through education, sales, and strategy. With a high-level perspective, he identifies shared goals, develops effective communication strategies, and leverages technology to drive progress.

Zach’s connection to the ART world began when he and his wife, Alexandra, embarked on their own surrogacy journey, after Alexandra’s battle with breast cancer. The tremendous mental and financial toll from their journey led them to establish the Gift of Surrogacy Foundation (GSF). Within just one year, GSF has raised $100,000 and has given away a grant for the full cost of surrogacy. Zach and Alexandra firmly believe in expanding the surrogacy ecosystem, and continue to grow GSF through education, emotional support, and financial assistance.

At SeedTrust, we help families grow without the financial stress of the escrow process. We provide secure, transparent, affordable and reliable escrow services to intended parents, surrogates and egg donors throughout their collaborative reproductive arrangements allowing everyone involved the ability to focus on what matters most — building families.

Listen as Zach discuss with Ellen and Jenn:

• Falling quickly for his wife… and his adorable proposal!

• While studying for the bar exam, his wife finding a lump and the two entering the world of Breast Cancer navigation.

• An oncologist recommending an egg retrieval before proceeding with cancer treatments.

• Learning about surrogacy from a movie.

• Finding an agency and matching with an amazing surrogate.

• Their faith guiding them to give back and start the Gift of Surrogacy Foundation.

• Hitting their goal on the first night of the Surrogacy Soiree!

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Zach and Alexandra’s Foundation: https://www.giftofsurrogacyfoundation.org

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Amy Beckley has a PhD in pharmacology and has been a hormone scientist for 15+ years. Amy suffered 7 miscarriages. After 3 years of infertility, she successfully conceived. She took her experience and created a new type of fertility diagnostic to help couples navigate their fertility at home to increase their chances of pregnancy.

Amy digs into the science of getting pregnant to help individuals and couples have better conversations with their medical team and potentially get pregnant faster.

Listen as Dr. Beckley discuss with Ellen and Jenn:

• After doing everything to prepare for a family, getting hit with unexplained infertility.

• Experiencing multiple miscarriages and being told IVF was the next step.

• Discovering that there was a lack of care and resources for those experiencing difficulty getting pregnant.

• Sharing her story through RESOLVE and connecting with a shocking number of women suffering with infertility.

• Using her scientific background and experience to create an at home urine test for women to track progesterone levels for a successful pregnancy.

• Making this test a companion diagnostic to support ovulation and pregnancy.

• Creating a Hers/His test to also run at home semen analysis!

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about the Proov: www.proovtest.com

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

David and James were united by love after meeting online in 2008. What began as a friendship slowly became a strong committed relationship that continues to grow. For the past six years they have been building a solid foundation for their future. As the years go by, they have created an amazing relationship that is unique and priceless by working together, sharing experiences with one another, mutual trust, understanding and love. While on their journey to parenthood, they experienced significant ups and downs, before finally bringing their beautiful Nia home.

Listen as David and James discuss with Ellen and Jenn:

• Finding out early on that they both had a strong desire to have a family.

• A few different friends offering to carry for them as a surrogate, but none working out.

• A smooth embryo creation process – the first time -- meeting a surrogate and having a successful transfer!

• The ultrasound technician’s demeaner changing.

• Finding that their baby’s brain was not developing and the doctor advising on termination

• Matching with a new surrogate and transferring embryos 3 different times with no luck

• Starting over with changing clinics, new embryos, and a different surrogate.

• One last go, getting that positive test paired with a sense of calmness.

• Honoring their first baby with her special name, and finally becoming parents!

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Mohsin Zaidi is an award-winning author and a criminal barrister. His coming-of-age memoir, “A Dutiful Boy,” explored growing up queer in a strict Muslim household in Britain. The memoir was named Book of the Year in The Guardian, GQ and New Statesman. Mohsin also won both the prestigious Lambda Literary Award and the Polari Prize in 2021. Mohsin is an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, BAME representation and social mobility. He sits on the board of Stonewall and is listed by The Financial Times as a top future LGBTQIA+ leader. Mohsin cannot wait to be a parent and for the chance to pretend he will do things entirely differently from his parents, before realizing they were right about more than he knew.

Dalia Iskander is a Medical Anthropology Lecturer at UCL. Her specialist research areas include the body and emotion; childhood and gender; and health related decision making. She and her husband recently had a child, and this experience has made her think differently about pregnancy and parenthood. Dalia comes from a British-Egyptian-Christian background and lives in London with her family.

Listen as Mohsin and Dalia discuss with Ellen and Jenn:

• Mohsin growing up in a devout Muslim family where being gay was not accepted.

• Meeting the love of his life, Matthew, and together wanting to be parents.

• Mohsin’s best friend, Dalia, offering to be a gestational surrogate for them, an offer they could hardly believe.

• This journey sparked their podcast, Tiny Huge Decisions, following two best friends making this relationship-altering choice.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Listen to Tiny Huge Decisions: https://link.chtbl.com/TinyHugeDecisions

Read Mohsin’s award-winning book, A Dutiful Boy: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-dutiful-boy-a-memoir-of-secrets-lies-and-family-love-winner-of-the-lambda-2021-literary-award-for-best-gay-memoir-biography-mohsin-zaidi/5716247?ean=9781529112207

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Kristin was born in Marlton, New Jersey and moved 9 times, including a stop in Denver where she discovered her love for performing at 11 years old. Creating shows in her driveway at a young age, she always knew she wanted to bring her creations to audiences everywhere. She was full of dreams and life and did everything in her power to make them come true.

Kristin and her husband started a non-profit organization in honor of their daughter, London Quinn, who was stillborn at 39 weeks in July 2021 through surrogacy.

Listen as Kristin discuss with Ellen and Jenn:

• Being from Los Angeles, dancing for famous stars, and living a fast-paced life.

• Moving to Oklahoma for her now-husband and experiencing a drastically different lifestyle.

• Having the conversation of starting their family and taking over 7 years to get pregnant.

• The heartbreak of their first ultrasound and the harshness of the medical staff.

• Experiencing extreme pain and receiving a diagnosis of endometriosis.

• Undergoing a hysterectomy, but still wanting a family.

• Finding surrogacy and being matched.

• Her surrogate’s flawless pregnancy,

• Feeling something wrong on delivery day.

• The worst imaginable moment.

• Through heartbreak, shock, and overwhelming pain, finding clarity and willingness to go on.

• Starting “London is the Reason” to support those going through loss through surrogacy -- both the Intended Parents and Surrogates

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about London is the Reason: https://www.londonisthereason.org

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Jeremy Hodges has worked for the San Diego Zoo for 19 years. Much of this time was spent as an aviculturist in Hawaii where he managed a captive population of some of the most endangered birds on the planet. He currently works as the lead zookeeper for the veterinary hospital of the zoo. He throws exceptionally fancy and delicious dinner parties. He has introduced the family to raising chickens, bees, rabbits, and finches.

Alan was raised in Colorado and earned his BS degree in Microbiology from Colorado State University and his MD degree from Harvard University. He completed residency in General Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. He enjoys working in both graduate medical education and as a psychiatrist specializing in treatment resistant depression and addiction medicine. He serves as the family handyman, plays guitar and piano, and collects antique stereoscopic viewing cards.

Ian Jenkins earned his MD from the University of VA and completed residency in internal medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center of Harvard University. Since 2004 he's served as a hospital doctor and faculty at UC San Diego Health, where he leads patient safety initiatives and teaches a medical school course and clinical practice to students and resident physicians. He's been active in healthcare quality on a national scale with his professional society and has given over 100 invited talks around the country. He writes as a hobby and published a memoir on his unique family, "Three Dads and a Baby," which made the news, podcasts, and morning shows on five continents. He's currently working on a hospital medicine memoir, "How to Die," and a young-adult romance, "Romeo and Julian." His home- made pizza is excellent.

Listen as Jeremy, Ian, and Alan discuss with Ellen and Jenn:

• The beginning of their romance story, with Alan and Ian meeting on the job.

• Jeremy entering the picture when he began dating Ian and Alan in a polyamorous relationship in 2012, the same year he officially came out to his parents.

• Coming out and coming to terms with the idea that they may never have children.

• Being approached by friends offering for them to adopt their remaining embryos to start a family, sparking the conversation about children!

• When the embryo donation journey did not end as hoped, pivoting in a new direction with a friend offering to be their egg donor.

• Pleading their case in court to each be legally recognized as parents of their child.

• Successfully being granted an order that all three of their names be included on their child's birth certificate!

• A few years later, having their second child through a much smoother process.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Check out their book Three Dads and a Baby: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Three-Dads-and-a-Baby/Ian-Jenkins-MD/9781627783101

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Kayla Weidner, a six-time egg donor, currently works as the Egg Donor Coordinator at The Genesis Group. Since joining the Genesis team, she has had the opportunity to connect with many other young women, share personal experiences, and guide them through the process of being a donor. Kayla has a passion for helping the LGBTQ+ community and has exclusively donated to gay men. Her experience as an egg donor and her three years in the industry have changed her life. Kayla looks forward to continuing to help others grow their families.

Listen as Kayla discusses with Ellen and Jenn:

• Her decision to become a donor; selection of an agency based on the rainbow on their website!

• A flawless first donation leading to a second.

• Serious overstimulation with her second donation, resulting in emergency surgery.

• Enduring 12 surgical needle placements to remove fluid in her abdomen.

• Despite everything she went though, still committed to helping others in this way.

• Recognizing how difficult the journey is for intended parents.

• Following her passion to work in the industry and help other donors and intended parents.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Kayla and her donor support through The Genesis Group: https://www.genesissurrogacy.com/our-team/kayla-weidner

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Episode 170: Surrogate Breastfeeding – Ashley Mareko by I Want to Put a Baby in You!

Ralph Tsong has primarily practiced assisted reproductive technology law since 2016 when he started Tsong Law Group. Ralph is licensed in California, Illinois, Washington and Arizona. Prior to practicing ART law, Ralph was a labor and employment lawyer with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (now the California Civil Rights Department) and California Department of Industrial Relations. Ralph also was an attorney at Legal Aid Society of Los Angeles, the Asian Law Alliance, Wilson Sonsini and Littler.

Liens are popping up in many insurance plans that cover surrogacy. What are liens? Do intended parents have to pay them? Could liens spread to other states?

Listen as Ralph discuss with Ellen and Jenn:

• His path to becoming a lawyer with a multi-state practice.

• Going through fertility treatment and adoption and seeing the difficulties firsthand.

• Shifted his practice to ART law and adoption.

• What liens are and why they are an increasing problem in surrogacy arrangements.

• Why these liens should be found discriminatory and illegal.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Ralph’s legal practice: https://www.tsonglaw.com/

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Sunshine Hanson is a driven and pragmatic mama, 3x gestational surrogate, and co-founder of Surrogacy Is alongside her amazing husband, Kyle. (And, as you may have guessed, her story is just as unique as her ever-changing hair!) She was a high school English teacher when she embarked on her first surrogacy journey, and she soon discovered that what the experience was lacking was both advocacy and direction. After working for two very different agencies, she realized that every agency (like every surrogate!) is unique, but some agencies are decidedly better than others! That’s where Surrogacy Is first began.

Built on the foundations of intention and community, Sunshine and Kyle brought Surrogacy Is to life and soon partnered with Casey Bojorquez to create the team and mission that’s thriving today. Sunshine currently lives in Georgia with her family. When she’s not guiding surrogates and sharing pieces of her story online, she can be found floating in the pool with her daughter or trying a new spot for brunch in Savannah!

Casey Bojorquez is a big-hearted wife, mama, two-time surrogate, and both Co-Owner and Vice President of Surrogacy Is… Which really means she’s the go-to lady for anything and everything related to surrogate connection and community. Casey joined forces with Sunshine and Kyle at the end of 2020 with the goal of providing a more comprehensive surrogate outreach and community focus to the company. Since the start of the partnership, she’s shifted the entire direction of Surrogacy Is and created a space where surrogates are truly advocated for and supported—every step of the way. When Casey’s not making waves for surrogates, she can be found spending time with her family, at the beach, or trying a new hiking trail!

Listen as Casey and Sunshine discuss with Ellen and Jenn:

• Sunshine’s lifechanging experience with surrogacy.

• Casey starting her surrogacy journey searching for agencies and seeing some red flags, but ultimately finding the perfect agency and couple.

• Sunshine and Casey finding that surrogates need more support than is often provided.

• Supporting both surrogates and individuals that were not able to become surrogates.

• Finding a mismatch at times with medical record and what a surrogate has knowledge of in her own medical history.

• The expansion of Surrogacy Is from a matching service into an agency.

• Recommendations for finding the right team along your surrogacy journey to have all of your needs met.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Get in touch with Surrogacy Is: https://surrogacy.is/

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/