Stork'd

What do you do when the two things that you want most in life are in conflict with one another? When Tammy had to decide between staying married or not having a family, she chose divorce and received an embryo donation from her friend, Michael. Although her heart-wrenching situation was unique to her, it's something we can universally relate to. It's the harsh reality that we rarely get everything we want. Tammy's story highlights the difficult trade-offs we often make but also reveals the beautiful experience of becoming a mom – something she had dreamed of for decades.

This is the second part of our two-part episode where we look at the complicated, interwoven and beautifully connected nature of family through Michael and Tammy's stories. If you haven't listened to Michael's story, go check it out in Episode 8.

In This Episode:

• [ 1:50 ] Tammy's introduction
• [ 3:03 ] Roadblocks of being gay in the 70s - 80s
• [ 5:05] What is it like to have a deep desire to have a child without any way to achieve it
• [ 7:50 ] Tammy's overwhelming joy when she learned that gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts
• [ 13:46 ] Choosing between her marriage and her desire for children
• [ 19:11] Tammy's path to surrogacy
• [ 24:14 ] The legal and emotional process of surrogacy
• [ 29:52 ] Pre-birth orders and the risk of surrogacy
• [ 31:35 ] Becoming a parent at 53
• [ 34:32 ] The complicated connection between her daughter's biological siblings
• [ 38:34 ] Tammy's definition of family

Takeaways:

• Tammy faced an unbelievable ethical conundrum when having to choose between becoming a mom, which she had dreamed of for years and staying married to her partner whom she deeply loved and cared for.
• When gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004 where Tammy lived, it was a momentous day for her. In one day, the possibility of marriage and children went from a far-off dream to reality!
• Tammy's motto, "Live your life and don't stop for anyone;" means that although life will rarely turn out like we pictured, when you are true to yourself it will turn out exactly how it should be.
• The science and options in which we are able to build families is changing more rapidly than our language can keep up with. Even our ability to articulate and imagine the possibilities for ourselves is oftentimes held back by how we were raised. Tammy's story inspires us to refrain from letting original constructs determine what we could be doing or what we should be doing.

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

In this week's episode, we speak with Michael Mills about how he and his partner pioneered the path for gay people in the UK to grow their families. They did so during a time when family building options were fairly limited in the US and almost non-existent in the UK. As a gay man, Michael always believed that having a family or children was beyond the realm of possibility. It wasn't until the early 2000s after meeting his now husband, did he hear about surrogacy and gestational carrier options for same-sex couples. After a few setbacks, some great leaps forward, and a chance encounter with an egg donor, Michael and his partner now have two beautiful children. Later, Michael makes the decision to give two remaining embryos to a friend.

Michael shares about their family building experience, the unique connections his children have with their other half siblings, and Michael's own story of being an egg donor for a close friend.

This is a 2-part episode featuring Micheal and Tammy's stories which demonstrate just how complicated, interwoven and connected our families can be.

In This Episode:

• [ 2:50 ] Michael's introduction
• [ 3:25 ] Michael and his partner's family building story
• [ 4:29 ] Pursuing family building in US in the early 2000s
• [ 5:14 ] Examining old and new family "templates"
• [ 12:10 ] As a gay married couple with children, what happens with the children if there is a divorce?
• [ 14:04 ] Family building through egg donors
• [ 23:25 ] Choosing a gestational carrier
• [ 24:49 ] Michael's advice to help couples with similar family building paths in the UK
• [ 29:45 ] Family building process for gay couples in the UK
• [ 33:46 ] Michael and Tammy's connection and the connection between their children
• [ 38:18 ] How to feels to watch your biological child raised by another person
• [ 43:37 ] Fears in parenting Michael has experienced
• [ 46:14] Nature vs nurture between Michael's two biological children
• [ 48:35 ] Michael's definition of family

Takeaways:

• In the mid 90s and early 2000s, the US was just starting to legalize gay marriage and there was a small uptick in agencies and medical treatments available to support gay couples in growing their family. Up until this time, many gay people, like Michael, never dreamed that having a family was possible.
• At the same time, in the UK there was even less opportunities for gay people to get married and non-traditional family building options were almost non-existent.
• After growing their family through an egg donor and gestational carriers, Michael and his partner were trailblazers in the UK and provided vital information and resources for gay people who wanted to grow their family in the UK.

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

In this week's episode, we have the pleasure of talking with spiritual coach and healer, Gwen Dittmar. Gwen shares the incredible journey of healing her body and soul through holistic medicine and how despite being told she would never have children because of PCOS, is now a mom of two. She teaches us that sobriety can be a tool to find an access to who you are at your core. She illustrates the complexities of co-parenting children with two different fathers, and talks about her experience of rediscovering her femininity through creative expression. Her story is one of healing, community, and finding clarity and surrender within yourself.

In This Episode:

• [ 1:57 ] Gwen's introduction
• [ 4:25 ] Gwen shares dynamics of how her family is composed and how community became a part her family
• [ 8:57 ] How to create community outside of family
• [ 10:27 ] Gwen's journey to sobriety and spiritual healing
• [ 11:57 ] Embracing her femininity, creativity, and healing her body
• [ 20:47 ] Gwen's unexpected pregnancy
• [ 26:38 ] Recognizing miracles and being okay when they don't come to fruition
• [ 28:52] The power of clarity and surrender
• [ 33:07 ] Balancing being a single mom and co-parenting
• [ 41:00 ] Advice for introducing new partners or parental relationships to your child
• [ 43:09 ] Final thoughts on Gwen's healing, parenting, and enjoying simple pleasures

Takeaways:

• Family, whether it's something we're born into or something we choose to create ourselves, is a powerful incubator for learning and growth.
• Gwen experienced a miraculous healing of PCOS through her own pursuit of intellectual and emotional well-being.
• Even if you have clarity, you can't control the form in which it comes. The miracle may arrive on different paths than what you envision.
• Gwen's whole mission in life is to use everything for her learning, for her healing, for her growth and for her expansion. So however that shows up in life, she is learning to accept it with grace and with ease.
• Co-parenting and bringing new partners or relationships into your children's lives takes a lot of courage and a lot of self-awareness to navigate.

Links:

GwenDitmar.com

The Beautiful Grit Podcast

Instagram

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

In this week's episode, I speak with Tara Krueger about building a family and making a meaningful life in the context of having a long-term health condition. Tara has epilepsy and shares how that has impacted the way in which she is raising her children and the family structure they have created around her epilepsy. This is an important episode because there are not enough conversations about health conditions and how they impact ourselves, our self identity and our family building. Tara is passionate about educating people about epilepsy, silencing the shame around the illness and proving that just because you have a health condition doesn't mean that you're less of a person or can't accomplish what you want to accomplish. You can do anything that you want to.

In This Episode:

• [ 2:40 ] Tara Krueger's introduction.
• [ 4:20 ] How Tara built her family.
• [ 8:10 ] What is epilepsy?
• [ 10:29 ] Why Tara is inspired to share her story.
• [ 11:13 ] Tara's diagnosis and first experience with epilepsy.
• [ 15:04 ] Hiding her diagnosis.
• [ 15:35 ] What Tara would tell her own kids if they had this type of a health issue.
• [ 16:45 ] The path to openness about her condition.
• [ 18:50 ] How epilepsy plays a role in family building.
• [ 20:23 ] Medication while being pregnant.
• [ 25:46 ] Medication and other forms of healing.
• [ 26:37 ] How epilepsy and parenting have shaped Tara's family.
• [ 29:00 ] Structuring family life around health conditions.
• [ 33:54 ] Why Tara is sharing her story now.
• [ 35:20 ] What to say to someone who recently has been diagnosed with a health condition .
• [ 37:29 ] How Tara defines family.
• [ 38:18 ] Resources and tools for people who have epilepsy or know someone with epilepsy.

Takeaways:

• Epilepsy affects over 3 million people in the US, that means 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime.
• There are different forms of epilepsy, with the frequency and intensity of seizures differing for everyone.
• People with epilepsy often hide their illness or feel ashamed to share with others. Tara shares her own story to educate people about the illness and to end the stigma and silence around epilepsy.
• If you have a health condition it does not mean that you are less of a person. You can accomplish anything that you want to accomplish. You can do anything that you want.
• Step into your worthiness. Decide you're worth it and decide you're worthy of having whatever it is you want – whether that's a certain job or family, or children.
• It's important if you are in a relationship and you have epilepsy, for example, to be able to have strong communication about what to do, if you're having a day where you're off. Having a support system in place is crucial.

Links:

https://tarakruegerhealing.com

@tarakruegerhealing

www.epilepsy.com

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

In this week's episode, we talk with Aaron Kartchner about fatherhood and what it's like to be a non-stereotypical stay at home dad. Aaron's first daughter was born extremely premature at 27 weeks resulting in a 135-day stay in the NICU. She was born weighing just one point 5.5 ounces. As a result, Aaron chose to step into the role of primary caretaker. Aaron discusses how parenting impacts self-identity, how he approaches gender roles and how much of the world is set up to support moms who are often the primary caretaker. We discuss the experience of parenting a child in the NICU and with special medical needs in her early months and Aaron gives us a lot of insights through his own stories about not just what it's like to be a NICU parent, but also how to show up and support those who are going through it.

In This Episode:

• [ 2:24 ] Aaron's introduction
• [ 4:26 ] Aaron and his wife's decision for him to become a stay at home dad
• [ 6:05 ] Transitioning from corporate America to being a stay at home parent
• [ 8:10 ] Aaron's woodworking business
• [ 9:18 ] Highs and lows of stay at home parenting
• [ 10:46 ] Finding purpose and self-identity outside of parenting
• [ 12:27 ] Aaron defines what fatherhood means to him
• [ 14:38 ] Stereotypes of gender roles with parenting
• [ 18:05 ] Aaron shares his wife's perspective and journey to step into parenting
• [ 21:29] How parenthood impacts self-identity
• [ 24:30 ] How his daughter being in the NICU changed Aaron's perception of family planning
• [ 31:00 ] How being a 'NICU parent' shapes you as a parent
• [ 36:41 ] Aaron shares his wife's traumatic birth story
• [ 45:15 ] Growing their family after the traumatic birth of their first child
• [ 46:26 ] Aaron defines family

Takeaways:

• Our culture still has a long way to go with breaking down stereotypes related to gender roles and parenthood.
• A person's identity is often shaken when they become a parent. It can be really important to find things to enjoy outside of parenting to help give new purpose and identity.
• Everyone's journey in parenting and family-planning is different. Because of this it requires a great amount of sympathy, understanding, and respecting one's privacy.
• Having a child in the NICU – whether for a few hours or several months – changes your entire perspective on life. It gives a new appreciation to life and finding the beauty within it.
• One of the best ways to support and help a parent with a child in the NICU is simply ask, "What do you need now?"

Links

http://www.stayathomewoodworks.com/

@stayathomewoodworks

https://www.facebook.com/StayAtHomeWoodworks/

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

In this week's episode, we chat with Annie Compton, a mom, storyteller, and Emmy nominated writer and producer. Annie shares a beautiful narrative of choosing adoption as her first priority in her family building. We hear of her experience with private domestic adoption and the joy of becoming an adoptive parent. We discuss the experience of having an open adoption and a relationship with her daughter's biological family as well as address some of the myths and misconceptions about adoption, specifically the myth that an adopted child should feel "lucky" to have been adopted, when it is the parents who are lucky. We also discuss Annie's efforts to parent with intention and activism in a multi-racial family.

Annie's company, Cuore Mio, which she runs with her cousin, Julia, helps prospective families write adoption profiles. We discuss the important work they provide in helping babies and families connect and using her storytelling skills to support families to grow through adoption.

In This Episode:

[ 4:55 ] What it means to be storyteller to Annie

[ 6:42 ] Annie's journey to adoption

[ 8:40 ] Why Annie and her husband chose adoption first

[ 14:21 ] Surprising moments Annie's adoption process and raising an adopted child

[ 17:43 ] How do you raise a child to know how to claim their adoption story, and what to communicate and to whom and how?

[ 19:15 ] How to raise a child who looks a little different from you

[ 20:51 ] How Annie is intentional about her daughter surrounded by a diverse community and opportunities

[ 22:26 ] Annie's advice for others parenting in a similar way or places to reach out for resources

[ 24:00 ] How to translate understanding and education around adoption and put it into parenting action

[ 25:05 ] Misconceptions about the adoption community or the adoption process

[ 27:35 ] Dispelling the negative narrative about birth mothers and birth families

[ 30:28 ] How Annie's daughter came into her and her husband and she reflects on when they were officially matched with their daughter

[ 39:20 ] "Placing" vs "Giving Up:" The history of adoption

[ 42:11 ] Storytelling for prospective adoptive families' adopting profiles

[ 44:05] Annie's definition of family

[ 45:38 ] Information for Annie's storytelling services for families looking to adopt

Takeaways:

• When couples choose adoption as their first choice for growing their family it goes a long way in communicating to their child that they are not "second best."
• The importance of education within the adoption journey; educating yourself by listening and learning from others in the adoption community.
• There is a misconception that adopted children are" lucky" to have been adopted. That's wrong. Adoptive parents are the lucky ones, not the child. Every child has the right to be born and loved.
• It's important to dispel the negative narrative surrounding birth families and their choice to participate in adoption. Many birth mothers show incredible strength, courage, bravery and unconditional love when they choose to place their children with an adoptive family.
• Understanding the correct use and history of terms associated with adoption.

Links

Cuoremioc.com

Instagram @Cuoremio.co

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

In this week's episode, we talk with Paige Pieroni about Turner Syndrome and the incredible family building journey she and her husband are on. Turner Syndrome is a genetic condition which affects female chromosomes at birth, and one of the main ways it impacts Paige is that she is unable to have children as a result of underdeveloped ovaries. Knowing this at a young age, Paige was very open about her inability to have children and she and her husband always planned to pursue non-traditional means of family building. However, they never imagined that two separate women who knew Paige and her dream to have a family would step up to support their family building with selfless gifts of egg donation and surrogacy. It's an amazing story of selflessness and community.

The symbol for Turner's Syndrome is a butterfly and a group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope, which describes Paige's story in such a beautiful way. A kaleidoscope has a myriad of different colors coming together to make something really amazing - much as Paige and her husband are putting together the pieces to build their beautiful family.

In This Episode:

• [ 2:40 ] Paige's introduction of this interim season of family building
• [ 4:52 ] What is Turner's Syndrome and what are the symptoms or indicators
• [ 9:50 ] How Turner's Syndrome impacts identity
• [ 12:40 ] Discovering your infertility at a young age
• [ 17:37 ] Paige's amazing story with family building
• [ 25:10 ] Paige's experience using a know fertility donor
• [ 28:12 ] Paige's indescribable gratitude for her donors
• [ 30:55 ] The medical, financial and legal components using a fertility donor
• [ 33:55] Deciding how involved the donor will be in the child's life
• [ 35:36 ] What is the next steps in their family building journey
• [ 37:52 ] Surrogacy or gestational carrier agencies
• [ 40:27 ] Managing the overwhelming details and emotions of family building
• [ 45:14 ] Paige defines what family means to her

Takeaways:

• Turner Syndrome is a women's medical condition with a wide array of symptoms that impacts women in many different ways. One consistent symptom is infertility.
• The legal component for gestational carriers and egg donors is one of the most important components to get in place first, before beginning any of the other medical treatments.
• Medical insurance will not cover a majority of the medical or legal expenses associated with family building like this.
• In Paige's experience, the egg donation process and embryo creation was more expensive than the carrier implantation.
• In order to balance the emotions associated with their complex family building journey, Paige and her husband keep gratitude at the center of their conversations as they dream and plan for a child.

Links:

@themurderdiariespod

@paige_919

https://turnersyndromefoundation.org/

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

In this episode, I speak with Saundra and Susan who have built a community which they lovingly call their village family. Filled with friends, family and neighbors, the village family was composed to create a diverse and rich environment for their daughter to grow and thrive in. We talk about community as family and how to build your community. We also explore a fertility journey including considering adoption and using a known sperm donor. This episode highlights the joys and value in having a community to reach out to in order to navigate the highs and lows of parenthood.

In This Episode:

• [ 2:18 ] Saundra's introduction.
• [ 3:30 ] Susan's introduction.
• [ 5:11 ] The Village Community.
• [ 7:20 ] Diversity in community.
• [ 13:34 ] How their community looks now.
• [ 15:47 ] Is it harder to build community now?
• [ 20:27 ] How to curate a community?
• [ 22:11 ] Family building for Susan and Saundra.
• [ 29:59 ] Their relationship with the sperm donor.
• [ 32:47 ] Legalities of sperm donors.
• [ 34:48 ] Complexities of same-sex family building in the 90s.
• [ 36:21 ] Values of community and parenting.
• [ 42:38 ] Pursuing family building and knowing when to stop.
• [ 47:44 ] How Saundra and Susan define family.

Takeaways:

• Saundra and Susan have been together for around 28 years and have one daughter who is now in her early 20s.
• Creating a community now is not any more difficult than it was in the 90s when Susan and Saundra were building their "village," but it takes intentionality, love and commitment.
• Building a community usually takes one person who is willing to make it happen.
• Susan and Saundra's parenting has shifted since their daughter has become a young adult. This means giving one hundred percent support, even if you don't understand or agree with some of the decisions. It also means not to tell them to do things differently, but simply ask the questions and try to understand the decision.
• Age or careers don't matter so much when choosing your community – it's more important to find people with the same values as you.
• There were certain legalities that Saundra and Susan had to navigate in the 90s during their family building process – like Saundra having to adopt their daughter in order for her parental rights to be recognized officially.
• The process of family building – whether through adoption, pregnancy, or sperm donation – is extremely personal and can also be painful.
• It's not about the quantity of relationships in your life. It's about the quality.

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

Welcome to season 3! Today, we discuss the upcoming Season 3 and I share an important life update. In many ways, the start of Stork'd and my own family building journey have run parallel to each other. I share my journey behind choosing to become a single mom through sperm donation and how Stork'd began from my own exploration of different family building experiences. I share about single parenting, community, self-care, and how this is just the beginning of my story. I'm so excited for you to listen to Season 3 and I'm thrilled to share the special and unique stories we have lined up with our amazing guests.

In This Episode:

[00:40] Starting Stork'd and building a family

[03:49] The otherside: Being a new mom

[05:24] The challenge of self care

[07:00] How this podcast can validate your family building choices

[08:20] Finding your purpose and applying it to your family building journey

[11:50] Relationship to community evolving

[15:00] The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, a book by Charlie Mackesy

[17:19] A turning point and crossroads in life right now

[19:41] Season 3 sneak peek

Takeaways:

• Julia reflects back on the timeline of starting Stork'd and her parallel journey of becoming a mom.
• Stork'd began from Julia's investigatory personality and her desire to build a family. As she began asking friends and family about their family building stories, she started to record their conversations.
• After becoming a new mom, Julia is learning that practicing self care is a challenge, and something that will be discussed in Season 3.
• At the core of family building decisions, is identifying your values and who you are at a core level.
• Julia's family building journey started with a lot of introspection through therapy, life coaches, a purpose coach, various healing sessions, acupuncture, Reiki and a lot of difficult conversations with family and friends.
• Her fertility journey was just as complicated and included multiple doctors, two surgeries, selecting a sperm donor, trying at home insemination and ultimately having an IUI in a medical facility.
• Julia shares a sneak peek of what's to come in Season 3 episodes.

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

This special edition episode is a compilation of 13 special guests from Season 2 answering the question, "how do you define family?" This compilation is pulled from informative interviews with a range of everyday friends, family, neighbors, and experts sharing their own journey to define and create a family. This episode features Emily Westerfield, Drunk Aunt Overseas, Carmela, Laney, Jorge, Jenna Guadagni, Caroline, Dara Kurtz, Ambi Kavanagh, Ali Vander Baan, Tom Webb, Kelly Fay and Ashe Hornsby.

In this episode:

• [00:18] Emily Westerfield
• [00:48] Drunk Aunt Overseas
• [01:42] Carmela
• [02:23] Laney
• [03:49] Jorge
• [04:08] Jenna Guadagni
• [05:17] Caroline
• [06:00] Dara Kurtz
• [07:14] Ambi Kavanagh
• [07:25] Ali Vander Baan
• [08:33] Tom Webb
• [09:00] Kelly Fay
• [09:17] Ashe Hornsby

www.storkdpodcast.com

Quotes

"Family is where life begins and love should never end." - Jorge

The thing I can say is it's just love and connection. I mean, that's what family is to me. It's just that unconditional love and it's really that commitment and that connection. - Ambi Kavanagh

I've always called my friends "Framily". So we're like friends and family put together. I think family is what you make it and it doesn't need to be blood. It just needs to be connection. - Ashe Hornsby