As part of our Going the Distance for Family series on the Pregnantish Podcast — featuring elite athletes opening up about infertility and modern family building — international soccer star Carli Lloyd, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, and one of the most decorated players in U.S. soccer history, shares the deeply personal story behind her IVF journey, and why she ultimately decided to go public with it.

In this candid conversation, Carli reflects on the disappointment of failed transfers, the mental toll of multiple retrievals, the isolation of struggling in silence, and the unexpected vulnerability of feeling like her body was “failing” her after a lifetime of peak performance.

She opens up about navigating fertility over 40, learning to surrender when hard work wasn’t enough, and leaning on her high school sweetheart and husband, Brian, throughout the journey. Today, the couple are parents to their daughter, Harper – a chapter Carli describes as the greatest accomplishment of her life.

Through Carli’s voice, we’re reminded that even champions have to learn how to let go; and why vulnerability is ultimately a sign of strength. 

This episode, presented by Fertility Out Loud, made possible by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, features a midroll interview with Women's Health Advocate and Fertility Out Loud Partner, April Christina, who shares her personal fertility journey story and how fertility coaching has helped her navigate her own path to parenthood. Learn more about fertility coaching at no cost and find additional resources at FertilityOutLoud.com.

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On this episode of the pregnantish podcast, we sit down with U.S. sprinter, Olympic 2024 Bronze Medalist and Athlos Champion, Brittany Brown, for an honest conversation about what it means to go the distance when your body is both your instrument and your battleground.

Brittany shares her unconventional path to the Olympic podium—and how that journey led her to speak openly about the realities women, especially Black women, face in medicine and in sport.

At the heart of this episode is Brittany’s experience living with endometriosis: years of debilitating pelvic pain, medical dismissal, and the long road to diagnosis. She opens up about realizing something wasn’t normal, the dead ends she hit searching for answers, and the alarming medical advice she received before finally being diagnosed in 2023 through the USOPC network. She also reflects on the emotional journey that followed- the relief at being validated, paired with difficult questions about fertility, egg freezing, timing, and access, even as an elite athlete in the middle of a competitive season.

Perhaps most powerful is Brittany’s honesty about the risk of telling the truth publicly. In a world where contracts, sponsorships, and perception matter, she shares the very real fear of disclosure and the unexpected reward: connection, community, and a flood of women and athletes also navigating infertility diagnoses. 

Presented by Tru Niagen, the episode also features a special mid-roll conversation with Dr. Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, Global Director of External Research at Niagen Bioscience, exploring mitochondrial health, NAD+, inflammation, and why cellular energy matters for both athletic performance and reproductive health.  Use code EGGS20 for 20% off at TruNiagen.com 

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Infertility crosses borders, cultures, and backgrounds—and in this special holiday episode, voices from around the world come together to reflect that shared reality.

Presented by The World Fertility Project, this episode of pregnantish spotlights global advocates and thought leaders recently honored at the World Fertility Awards 2025, whose long and varied paths to parenthood highlight both the challenges of infertility and the resilience required to overcome them.

In this candid conversation, pregnantish founder Andrea Syrtash, who welcomed her daughter through gestational surrogacy after eight years of trying to conceive, sits down with Becky Kearns in the UK and Nathalia Bastos in Brazil. Both women navigated complex fertility journeys and, after years of persistence, are now proud mothers of three.

Becky, the voice behind Defining Mum, is a passionate advocate for destigmatizing egg donor IVF. She shares the realities of raising three donor-conceived children and works to expand fertility access in her region through Fertility Matters at Work, the company she co-founded.

After seven years of infertility, Nathalia transformed her experience into advocacy. Through N. Tentativas, she has built a nationwide movement in Brazil that has already helped nearly 150 couples access the support they needed to build their families.

This inspiring episode explores resilience, persistence, and connection—how to hold onto hope, protect relationships, and navigate the twists and setbacks of a long TTC journey. And it’s a reminder that even though we live in different corners of the world, we are united as one powerful global fertility community.

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On this episode of the pregnantish podcast, we’re joined by someone who knows what it means to evolve, pivot, and take ownership of her path, personally and professionally. Jordyn Taylor Braff is a bi-coastal real estate agent helping clients find their dream homes in both New York and Los Angeles. 

Some may know her from the reality show Selling the City, from her music career with Interscope Records, or as Trevor Noah’s ex; but what they may not know is how much Jordyn dreams of motherhood, and why she’s empowered to share her fertility journey of freezing her eggs publicly. As a 35th birthday gift, Jordyn made the decision to preserve her fertility. In this candid conversation, she shares the real story behind that choice – the fears, the empowerment, and the emotional roller coaster that so many can relate to but rarely talk about.

This episode also features Dr. Kate Devine, Medical Director and Chief Research Officer at US Fertility, who brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation. Dr. Devine shares the newest published research on egg freezing and undergoing fertility treatments over 35 years old, and how modern medicine continues to expand the possibilities for family building.

This timely conversation is about what’s next for Jordyn in life and love, why she’s sharing her decision to freeze her eggs, and why there should never be shame attached to admitting that you dream of parenthood in your future. 

This episode is presented by Shady Grove Fertility, a clinic in the US Fertility network. Shady Grove Fertility offers cutting-edge fertility treatments to help you grow your family. Explore the Shady Grove Fertility difference and their exclusive 100 percent refund for IVF at ShadyGroveFertility.com.

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In this powerful episode of our Going the Distance for Family series, international soccer star and fertility advocate, Ali Riley, opens up about how a recent injury — while physically and emotionally challenging — became an unexpected turning point in her life. 

For the first time in years, Ali had space to pause. And in that pause, she found clarity about her future, including her family-building goals. In a real talk and hopeful conversation, she shares how she and her husband are now exploring IVF, due in part to his diagnosis of Marfan Syndrome, and what she wishes for ahead. 

Ali also reflects on the lack of fertility education and access in elite athletics, and the change she's trying to bring not just to the soccer field -- but to the women's health field.

This episode includes a special midroll segment with Dr. Asima Ahmad, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot Fertility, who talks about the importance of reducing the financial barrier to access care, and why preparing your body for pregnancy during the 'premester' period is worth focusing on.

Ali’s story is one of resilience, perspective, and hope. It’s proof that going the distance for family isn't something to be ashamed of, but to celebrate. 

This episode is sponsored by Carrot Fertility, a global fertility and family-building platform whose comprehensive care drives clinical outcomes that create industry-leading cost savings. Learn more at get-carrot.com

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For years, Jenna Wolfe was a familiar face on NBC’s Today Show and Weekend Today, delivering news with humor and heart. Behind the scenes, she was on a deeply personal journey—building a family with her partner, fellow NBC journalist Stephanie Gosk. Over a decade ago, Jenna made headlines when she came out publicly on the show and announced she was expecting their first child. What the headlines didn’t reveal were the intimate realities behind that moment—from navigating fertility treatments to selecting a sperm donor and not knowing how the national viewing audience would react to her coming out. 

In this inspiring episode, Jenna speaks with pride about her family and stepping into motherhood, a role she never imagined but deeply cherishes, living with the BRCA gene, and the resilience she’s built through life’s challenges. 

We’re also joined by Dr. Nicole Ulrich, Reproductive Endocrinologist and Director of Advocacy at The Fertility Institute, part of the First Fertility Network. She offers fertility education that so many of us wish we knew and insights on the importance of self-advocacy in reproductive health.

This episode is presented by First Fertility, a network of clinics in 14 states supporting all paths to parenthood. For more, visit FirstFertility.com.

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In this special Pregnantish Pride episode, we’re honored to welcome Trystan Reese — speaker, educator, and trailblazing trans dad — for a candid conversation about parenthood, advocacy, and what it means to build a family in a non-linear way. 

Trystan made headlines as a transgender man to publicly share his journey of carrying a biological child. But behind the media frenzy was a deeply personal decision — rooted in love and the desire to expand his family with his partner, Biff. While his story was often sensationalized, Trystan has remained committed to educating others and speaking out, not just for himself, but for the broader trans community — especially trans women, who he says too often bear the brunt of bias and misinformation.

In this episode, Trystan reflects on how his family — which includes three beautiful children, two through adoption — is both ordinary and extraordinary. He opens up about the need for fertility clinics to better understand trans patients, the harmful assumptions people make, and why it’s so important to amplify positive stories about trans families, especially in a time of rising negativity and erasure.

As Trystan puts it, his family — like so many others — took the broken shards of glass life gave them and turned them into a beautiful mosaic. 

Thanks to our episode sponsor, Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ Fertility Out Loud and Director of Fertility Coaching, Connie Stark, for sharing the importance of fertility coaching for all aspiring parents, including LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. Explore personal stories, expert insights, and helpful tools at fertilityoutloud.com

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What happens when reality TV stars face the reality of infertility? 

In this powerful pregnantish podcast episode, recorded live at our annual “Reality of Infertility” event, Andrea is joined by three bold voices/former and current reality stars: Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez (now seen on Bravo’s “The Valley”), Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, and Whitney Bischoff Angel, a former “Bachelor” winner and longtime fertility nurse. 

Together, they pull back the curtain on the funny and strange parts of recording their lives for millions to see, and the reality of family building despite the setbacks and challenges they faced.

In this candid conversation, our guests get real about pregnancy loss, secondary infertility, mental health, egg freezing, life after IVF and the silence that still surrounds reproductive struggles that they’re determined to break.

Also featured in this episode is Kathy Lee-Sepsick, Founder & CEO of Femasys, sharing insights about FemaSeed, a next gen insemination innovation that’s helping people conceive safely and affordably.

Whether you're on your fertility journey or supporting someone who is, this compelling episode shares the highs, the lows and the reality of navigating stressful life chapters and getting pregnant “with help” ...even when the cameras are rolling.

Today's episode is presented by FemaSeed, a breakthrough in insemination that delivers sperm where conception naturally happens - in the fallopian tube. Clinically backed by data, this safe and affordable option showed doubled pregnancy rates over IUI as a step before IVF. Learn more at femaseed.com

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In this insightful and informative episode of the pregnantish podcast, first airing in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week '25, we're joined by Dr. Karen Tang, a board-certified gynecologist and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon and the author of "It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told)" 

From media stories to medical discussions, fertility and infertility is full of misconceptions! This episode delves into how and why we should shift the conversation from fear-based, negative messaging about reproductive health to one that's positive, empowering, and focused on achieving the reproductive goals people desire. 

This episode's Midroll features Dr. Lucky Sekhon, Board Certified OBGYN & Fertility Doctor who practices at RMA of NY, the episode sponsor, to tackle some of the more common myths and why sexual and reproductive health education needs a major overhaul. 

Both doctors in this conversation have used their platforms, including on social networks like Instagram and TikTok, to educate audiences and tackle misinformation. After all, in a recent pregnantish survey of over 800 people, we learned that social media is the #1 way people today access fertility information and education. 

With 1 in 6 facing infertility and 1 in 4 navigating pregnancy loss today, there's nothing niche about this topic. This episode is a celebration of breaking down barriers, busting myths and encouraging people to take control of their fertility so they can best advocate for their health. 

Thank you to episode sponsor RMA of New York, a global leader in reproductive medicine who is partnered with US Fertility and its network of premier reproductive medicine practices. Get the facts about your reproductive health at rmany.com.

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Former Bachelor star, In the Wild Dating founder, and passionate endometriosis advocate Lexi Young joins the Pregnantish Podcast to share her deeply personal journey with fertility, health struggles, and the power of speaking out. Lexi opens up about how endometriosis shaped her relationships—including the end of a long-term partnership—and why she chose to use her platform on The Bachelor to bring awareness to reproductive health challenges.

In this episode, Lexi reflects on the physical and emotional toll of living with endometriosis while filming reality TV, from managing ovarian cysts to dealing with “endo belly” under the scrutiny of cameras. She also discusses her decision to freeze her eggs with the guidance of Dr. Valerie Libby, MD, MPH, FACOG—a double-board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at Shady Grove Fertility in Atlanta. Dr. Libby joins the conversation to break down why fertility awareness is critical, how endometriosis impacts reproductive health, and why a diagnosis doesn’t mean giving up on the dream of parenthood.

This episode is a candid conversation about love, fertility, and the importance of advocating for your health. Tune in to hear more about Lexi's journey and why sharing your story can be a powerful tool in supporting others.

Thank you to Dr. Libby and her team at Shady Grove Fertility, who sponsored this episode. Shady Grove Fertility offers cutting-edge fertility treatments to help you grow your family. Explore the Shady Grove Fertility difference and their exclusive 100 percent refund for IVF at ShadyGroveFertility.com

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