Stork'd

1 in 8 Americans struggle with infertility. Of those, 75% simply cannot afford the financial burden that comes with infertility treatments. The truth is when it costs this much for fertility treatment, building a family by carrying a child is not a given. In this episode of Stork'd, Julia is joined by Carmela Rea, founder and CEO of EggFund, a company helping more people afford a baby, no matter their path to parenthood. EggFund is America's largest network of lenders specializing in fertility loans. Carmela knows first hand what the challenges of infertility can bring. She shares her own story of infertility and how the struggles she faced in her journey to build a family left her wanting to help others and create meaning in her life. Stay tuned to the end when Carmela shares her own twist ending. https://www.storkdpodcast.com/season2

In This Episode:

• [2:20] An introduction to Carmela Rea
• [3:00] The start of Carmela's journey with infertility is discussed
• [7:00] Carmela seeks advice from friends regarding the process of fertility treatments
• [8:05] Carmela discusses the costs that can be associated with fertility treatments
• [13:35] The process of surrogacy becomes an option for Carmela and her husband
• [15:40] Carmela's husband gives her "permission to fail"
• [20:27] How the idea for EggFund was born
• [28:25] How is EggFund different from anything else out there?
• [33:00] Carmela's commitment to health and the wonderful surprise of pregnancy
• [37:20] Looking back at her journey, Carmela shares what she wants listeners to learn about the fertility process
• [38:40] Carmella shares her thoughts about having a baby later in life
• [40:00] Carmela's definition of family

Key Takeaways:

• Having a biological baby is not a given. There can be infertility challenges when they are not expected.
• Fertility treatments in America are extremely expensive, leading many people to not attempt the processes.
• EggFund is America's largest network of lenders specializing in fertility loans, helping many people afford their dream of having a baby.
• EggFund is patient focused, allowing borrowers freedom and flexibility in their journey in starting a family.

Links:

https://www.myeggfund.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.

Childfree by choice is a growing community of people whose definition of family does not include having children. In this episode, we are joined by a woman who runs an Instagram account called Drunk Aunt Overseas. Her mission is to normalize and create a community of people who are choosing to be childfree. It is important to include all definitions of family building and today we are focusing our attention on the people who are defining their lives and definitions of a family outside of children. This episode aims to share one woman's decision to remain childfree. In this podcast, we debunk the stigma, address some of the misunderstandings, and validate the decision many make to be child-free. Drunk Aunt Overseas chose to remain anonymous because when she is voicing the thoughts of so many, it goes beyond her own name, to a collective voice of a community.

https://www.storkdpodcast.com/season2

In This Episode:

[ 2:42 ] The creation of Drunk Aunt Overseas Instagram account [ 4:03 ] Drunk Aunt's journey to be childfree [ 7:11 ] Ending a relationship because of their different perspectives on family building [ 11:22 ] Who are the childfree community and what types of people engage with The Drunk Aunt on her Instagram page [ 14:42 ] How she gives advice to people whose family members are not supportive of their childfree life [ 16:22 ] Why there tends to be hostility towards people who do not want children [ 22:02 ] Addressing myths around being childfree [ 28:38 ] Dating when you've declared yourself childfree [ 32:10 ] Her family's reaction to choosing to not have children [ 34:56 ] How Drunk Aunt shows up as an aunt and what that means for her [ 38:27 ] Navigating friendships who are choosing to have children when you're childfree [ 41:44 ] Drunk Aunt's definition of family [ 46:45 ] Where to find Drunk Aunt

Takeaways:

• Breaking away from the old-fashioned traditions that women are put on this earth to birth and take care of children
• Addressing myths that are directed to individuals who choose to be childless
• Dealing with hostility from others who do not understand the decision to live without children
• Creating a community for like-minded individuals who need a place to talk and feel included in their childfree decisions
• Finding peace and certainty in your decision to not have children

Links:

Instagram - Drunk Aunt Overseas

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.

After seeing a close relative go through infertility, Emily Westerfield discovered that surrogacy was her calling. Not only has Emily been a gestational surrogate three times, but she is also a Director of a surrogacy agency helping match families with surrogates and helping to facilitate the process before, during, and after the birth of a child. The perspective Emily offers as a mother, as a surrogate, and as a facilitator really sheds a light on the fertility options that are available now. Emily talks about what the families might be feeling as they work with their surrogate, what it's like for her own family as she carries another couple's child, and how this affects all of their lives. In this episode, Emily takes us through the science and process of gestational surrogacy and how this offers a couple the chance at a family they've been on a journey to build. https://www.storkdpodcast.com/season2

In This Episode:

• [ 7:50 ] The IVF Process for the surrogate
• [10:50] How taking on the role as a surrogate impacts your own family and the other people in your life
• [15:55] Talking about the surrogacy journey with your own kids and how the process might affect them
• [23:00] Creating connections with the family you surrogate for and the process of choosing to work with them
• [25:30] Facilitating special lifestyle requests intended families may have of their surrogates
• [33:30] Emily's work as the Directory of a Surrogacy Agency, gift of life, and what supporting intended parents looks like
• [39:30] Walking intended parents though the surrogacy process
• [42:30] The process of interviewing to be a surrogate and what the agency looks for in a candidate.
• [45:05] One thing Emily wants others to understand surrounding the stigma of surrogacy. Educating yourself and understanding why people choose this route as either the surrogate or the intended family is important in this process.

Takeaways:

• Choosing to be a surrogate is a calling to some people to help others create the family they've always dreamed of. Surrogacy is quite the commitment and requires a lot of your time and adds restrictions in order to complete the process.
• Becoming a surrogate includes a lot of science, strict medication regime, and timing in order to create a healthy baby to carry. The process takes at least a full year, if not more.
• As a surrogate, you not only need to be physically prepared for carrying a pregnancy, but also mentally prepared with your role in the process of carrying a child for another family. Before beginning your journey, you need to be in it for the right reasons.
• Choosing a good match for families and surrogates requires a detailed screening process. A surrogate will generally want the intended family to be involved in the process and pregnancy as much as possible.
• The definition of family does not need to be blood. It's love, support, care, and putting others needs before your own. Surrogacy is just one way that helps people build the families they've dreamed of when traditional ways did not work out as planned.

Links

• Instagram Emily Westerfield : https://www.instagram.com/emilywesterfield
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/emwesterfield
• Website: https://giftoflifesurrogacy.com
• Instagram Gift of Life: https://www.instagram.com/giftoflifeohio/

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 Two of the Stork'd Podcast! In this episode, we revisit host Julia Karol's family-building journey and learn more about what has transpired in her story since the last season. This episode will also introduce Season 2 and provide an overview as to the purpose of the podcast and why it was created. I'm thrilled to take you on this exciting season two journey, exploring the many different ways in which people build and define family. https://www.storkdpodcast.com/season2

In This Episode:

• [ 0:51 ] What Stork's podcast is all about.
• [ 4:11 ] My family building journey.
• [7:58] Navigating fertility clinic closures due to the COVID -19 pandemic
• [ 9:20 ] Standing up for myself in my own fertility journey.
• [ 12:06 ] What my chances of intrauterine insemination (IUI) working for me were.
• [ 15:09 ] The emotions I had going into a solo parent journey.
• [ 17:45 ] How I am getting the support and love I need on this family building journey.
• [ 20:35 ] Everyone deserves to have a family.

Takeaways:

• An introduction to host Julia Karol and what to expect from season two of Stork'd
• "Find out who you are and do it on purpose" - Dolly Parton
• "Live life for the story value" - a motto which underscores the importance of our personal stories
• An update of the twists and turns in my own family building journey.
• The range of emotions I felt when I embarked on a solo parent journey.
• The calmness and certainty that one can feel when making the right choice for yourself
• Feeling the love and support from an amazing community of people who have my back in family building journey.
• Encouragement to rush in and show love to others
• "Someone once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me a while to realize that this too was a gift" - Mary Oliver

Links

• Instagram - Stork'd Podcast Instagram
• Facebook - Stork'd Podcast Facebook
• Twitter - Stork'd Podcast Twitter

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 11 special guests from Season 1 answering the question, "What Does Family Mean To You?" 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 Molly, Arden O'Connor, Christian & Jamie, Suman, Brooke James, David Vendetti, Keren Eldad, Ashon Avent, Raven, Mia, and Maureen Brown.

Keep up with Stork'd at https://www.storkdpodcast.com/

Follow on Instagram @storkd_podcast

Mia is 39 and pregnant with her first child after becoming diagnosed with PCOS and having a few miscarriages along her fertility journey. She joins Julia on this episode of Stork'd to speak on the challenges of being divorced in her mid-thirties and not letting her biological clock stop her from making her dreams of becoming a mother a reality. Mia describes the transformation she has undergone in the past few years before becoming pregnant, detailing the roles of emotional intuition and logic in her journey to accepting her past, letting go of old dating patterns, and finding her current partner.

She shares her experience with emotionally exploring alternative paths to parenthood, the struggles of dating people who don't want to have kids with you, and having two consecutive miscarriages. Please tune in to hear powerful, yet comforting words from Mia as she shares a message about the challenges, anxiety, and fear during the fertility journey and how pregnancy has helped her overcome those fears and build trust.

For show notes & more visit: www.storkdpodcast.com/podcast

Raven and her wife are expecting their first child, due any day now! In this episode,we follow Raven through her fertility journey, including the decision to try for a baby, creative ways of finding and choosing a sperm donor, and how she and her wife, Brittany, decided at home-insemination was right for them.

Raven shares the anxieties they experienced as well as how Brittany was able to be physically and emotionally involved in the process. We also talk about the influence of her wife's upbringing in an adopted family and the closeness of their families on how they want to create and build their family. You'll hear what it meant to have a DNA connection between Raven's wife, Brittany, and their child, as well as how they felt after her brother-in-law's sperm was not successful in getting her pregnant.

For show notes & more: www.storkdpodcast.com/podcast

Maureen and her husband experienced unexplained infertility as they were trying to conceive their first born. With fewer support groups and products on the Internet to ease their experience, they felt extremely frustrated and isolated. They created a product, the Mosie syringe, to add a low risk, low intervention option to the market for people experiencing the same thing. Their first child was the inspiration for that product and their second child was the result of that product. In this episode, we discuss removing the shame around artificial insemination and empowering people to embrace this path. Maureen speaks on getting familiar with your body, the power of words, and how their company, Mosie Baby, works to create a space that talks about artificial insemination in an honest, respectful, educational, and supportive way.

For many people, there's a desire to love something that we haven't met yet, and there's many different journeys we can choose to pursue in an effort to find that. Tune in to hear Maureen's hope for the future and ways we can destigmatize this love-filled method of conception.

For show notes & more: www.storkdpodcast.com/podcast

Ashon Avent's family building journey started at the age of 16. Now, at 41, with five children, he is the Owner of Main Event Sports & Apparel, as well as I 2 Can Be Healthy LLC, where he helps people who have diabetes and obesity make healthy choices.

In this episode, Ashon shares the story of his journey from a high school athlete and dad to businessman and family man. Detailing monumental moments of growth and learning, he describes what it's like to feel the pressure to provide for his child and figure out what to do with his life as a teenager, as well as navigate adulthood with an unconventional family dynamic. Ashon shares powerful lessons he's learned from his time as an athlete, his college brotherhood, and his own parents. He also emphasizes the importance of creating and maintaining bonds with family members and apologizing when you know you've made a mistake.

For show notes & more visit: www.storkdpodcast.com/podcast

Are you ready to get clear on your vision? Keren Eldad is here to help us get over our mental roadblocks.

Keren Eldad encourages us to let go of the template, stop thinking that your life needs to look a certain way, and accept the many different varieties in which families come. A family may look one way to you, or you may think it should look one way, but everyone has a different path. Keren invites us to ask the question, "what am I afraid of?"

You will hear Keren describe her coaching philosophy and why we all need to be the master of our destiny. Stay tuned as Keren speaks about the exploration points that we should all discover, how to enter the realm of self-love, and the importance of kindness.

For show notes & more visit: www.storkdpodcast.com/podcast