On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Shirel Korobkin, joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about...

-her deeply personal fertility journey

-the stillbirth she experienced four years ago, a recent miscarriage, and the ongoing pain and resilience that define life after loss

-the powerful parallels between her own struggles and the journey of the Jewish people in Egypt

-what it means to seek liberation while still walking through grief

-tangible ways to care for yourself and “fill your cup” this holiday season—especially if your heart feels heavy during a time that celebrates freedom and renewal

More about Shirel: 

Shirel, with a background in colour management and graphic communications, made Aliyah (moved) to Israel in 2020. During her first few months as a new immigrant (olah chadashah), Shirel discovered she was pregnant. After a healthy pregnancy, at 26 weeks, Shirel found out there was no heartbeat and had to deliver her baby. Shirel felt she had no one to turn to for support. Shortly after her loss she moved to a remote city with no English-speaking resources, friends, or family, which created a void for the support she desperately sought. She found IWSTHAB who helped guide her through her loss, a pregnancy after that loss (PAL), and eventually welcoming a healthy rainbow baby. Shirel currently resides in Harish, Israel, and is very involved with developing events and support for the English-speaking community there. She is very grateful to be working with IWSTHAB and looks forward to giving back to the very same community that helped her through her most difficult moments. Shirel understands the challenges new immigrants and members of English-speaking communities face while navigating their fertility journeys in Israel and looks forward to providing support with compassion, empathy, and understanding.

Connect with Shirel:

-Send her an email

-Join one of Shirel's support groups 

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On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Chaya Kasten RN, BSN, joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about...

-her deeply personal journey through antepartum and postpartum depression

-hyperemesis gravidarum, and debilitating blood loss

-the relentless storm that made daily life unbearable

-how in the end, a hysterectomy was the only path forward, a choice that gave her back her health, her energy, and her sense of self

-the grief that came along with her hysterectomy and the knowledge that there would be no more children

More about Chaya: 

I'm a 35 year old mother of 2. I'm a nurse who's passionate about women's health and education in the Healthcare field. I made aliyah with my family as a 20 year old single girl. I went to nursing school in Netanya and met my husband who's American there. We lived there for a few years and moved back. I had to do the American nursing boards which I did in February 2020. After a couple of nursing jobs, I now work at a juvenile detention center which I really enjoy. I like decorating cake and cupcakes and have recently discovered the fun of resin. In sharing my story, I hope to give chizuk and help out even one person who feels alone.

Connect with Chaya:

-Send her an email

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On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Chaya Hott joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about...

-grief, resilience, and the power of turning personal tragedy into a source of healing for others

-her experience navigating secondary infertility, a devastating stillbirth, and an early loss

-how each heartbreak deepened her grief and after years of heartbreak, pain and healing, she welcomed her rainbow baby, but her story didn’t end there

-how she took her pain and transformed it into purpose

-her journey of becoming a grief educator, dedicating herself to helping others navigate the unbearable weight of loss Chaya will be running our Second/Third Trimester Loss group and the new Recurrent Loss group, which will be starting in May 2025.

More about Chaya: 

Chaya is a Certified Grief Educator, trained by renowned expert David Kessler, and a Certified Trauma Coach through Daniel Schonbuch at the Torah Psychology School for Coaching and Counseling. She founded Jewish Grief Groups to support bereaved women after the loss of a pregnancy, baby, child, parent, spouse, sibling, or loved one.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chaya endured the stillbirth of her baby boy after a decade of infertility due to a medical condition. Months later, a miscarriage compounded her grief, leaving her isolated and lost—until she found IWSTHAB, whose support carried her through her losses and a subsequent pregnancy with her rainbow baby. Inspired by the healing she experienced, Chaya now helps others navigate grief with compassion and understanding.

Chaya lives in Pomona, NY, with her husband, three children, and one forever in her heart. She finds joy in working out, hiking, and cake decorating.

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-Send her an email

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On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Carly Joseph joins Aliza Konig, IWSTHAB's surrogacy consultant, to speak with Carly Joseph, to explore the deeply personal and emotional journey of surrogacy. From the initial struggles of building a family to the life-changing decision to pursue surrogacy, Carly is excited to normalize conversations around surrogacy and share her story in a vulnerable way in hopes that it will offer hope and comfort to others. They talk about... -the journey to parenthood before considering surrogacy

-the emotions and uncertainties of choosing surrogacy

-navigating the first steps—agency vs. independent surrogacy

-building a relationship with a surrogate and staying connected throughout pregnancy

-the highs, the doubts, and the life-changing moment of holding her baby

-lessons learned and advice for intended parents

-how this experience led to the creation of a surrogacy concierge business to support others on this path

More about Carly: 

Carly Joseph is a surrogacy concierge helping Intended Parents match with the right surrogates quickly. Having navigated her own two surrogacy journeys, Carly knows firsthand how overwhelming the process can be. Her mission is to combine personal experience with established relationships to help make the path to parenthood smoother. Carly works with intended parents who are ready to explore surrogacy, providing real, personal support from someone who's been there. Through her comprehensive support package, she handles the complex parts so you can focus on the excitement of growing your family. 

Connect with Carly:

-Follow her on Instagram

-Send her an email

-Check out her website

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On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Aliza Abrams Konig joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about...

-the complex and deeply personal journey of surrogacy—one that comes with unique challenges, especially within the Jewish community

-the realities of surrogacy, the emotional and halachic considerations, and the questions that so many intended parents struggle with

-finding a “kosher” surrogate—how hard is it, and what are the costs? Are grants available?

-the emotional and relational aspects—how involved are partners, and how does that shape the bond with the baby?

-preparing for someone else to carry your child—what if disagreements arise?

-explaining surrogacy to your child—when and how to tell them, and do some parents choose not to? This conversation is honest, raw, and full of insight for anyone exploring surrogacy or supporting someone on this path. Whether you’re considering surrogacy yourself or just curious about the experience, this episode sheds light on the deeply personal and communal aspects of building a family through surrogacy.

More about Aliza: 

Aliza Abrams Konig is the Director of Student Leadership at Yeshiva University. Throughout Aliza’s career, she has worked within areas of student life, team building, creating curricula, and enriching the experiences of thousands of students through Experiential Education. Earlier in Aliza's career she served as the YU Director of Alumni Engagement, Assistant Principal at Central, Yeshiva University High School for Girls, Director of Student Life at Stern College, and as the Director of Jewish Service Learning for the University, where she built the service learning curriculum and established chessed missions around the world. Aliza is a member of the inaugural Wexner Field Fellows program through the Wexner Foundation. She has spoken worldwide in synagogues, community centers, and schools about leadership, education, faith, prayer and issues related to the contemporary Jewish family, dating, infertility, surrogacy and family, and is a sought-after consultant on surrogacy. Aliza holds a BA in Judaic Studies from Stern College, and a Master’s in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and is now a doctoral candidate at Wurzweiler. Aliza, her husband Samuel, and their family live in Riverdale, New York, where they are very involved with their community, synagogue, and other local organizations.

Connect with Aliza:

-Send her an email

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On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Dr. Aliza Ancier joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about...

-mindfulness and how this technique can ground people during times of stress or anxiety (hello fertility journey)

-what mindfulness is and isn’t, some misconceptions, how she personally found it helpful after her loss stillbirth, and some practical suggestions on how to incorporate pieces of it into your own life

-learning new ways to cope with the ups and downs

*For practical solutions, jump to the end of the episode (36:21)

More about Aliza: 

Dr. Aliza Ancier PT, DPT, PCES specializes in helping women navigate their motherhood journey. She has a doctorate in physical therapy with a special interest in maternal health and is a trained mindfulness teacher and educator. Aliza is a mother to three wonderfully rambunctious children at home and one of her twins, in her heart.

Connect with Aliza:

-Send her an email

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On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Rachel Polans, MS, CGC joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about...

-her years helping others navigate the complexities of genetic disorders

-her life as a woman facing infertility, longing for the moment she’d finally carry a child

-the unimaginable turn life took when she did get pregnant

-her journey through her very-wanted pregnancy, and the ultimate decision to terminate for medical reasons (TFMR)

More about Rachel: 

Rachel Polans lives in New York, New York with her husband and their dog. She works as a pediatric genetic counselor at a major academic medical center in NYC, where she sees patients affected by genetic disorders and helps them to navigate genetic testing and genetic diagnoses. Rachel started her own fertility journey in the summer of 2023 and since then has been struggling with pregnancy loss and infertility. She feels strongly about sharing her fertility struggles in hopes to bring awareness and to help others who may find themselves in similar situations.  

Connect with Rachel:

-Follow her on Instagram

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On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, an anonymous guest joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about...

-being a “normal” frum (religious) woman—living the life she always imagined…until everything changed

-the agonizing journey of facing a devastating diagnosis, weeks of uncertainty, and the unbearable weight of an unthinkable decision

-her story of pain, grief, and resilience

-a glimpse into the realities of TFMR (Termination for Medical Reasons) in the frum community

Disclaimer: The voices in this episode have been altered using AI to ensure anonymity of our guest.

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On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Natalie Richeimer, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor, Education and Outreach Manager at Jscreen, Bat-Sheva L. Maslow MD, REI, RMA, and Rena Fox, RNC-OB, BSN, join Aimee Baron, MD to talk about genetics and Infertility.

The introductory episode of our 5-part IWSTHAB x JSCREEN Podcast series dives into the genetic aspect of fertility and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) workups, setting the stage for an engaging and informative series that blends expert knowledge with deeply personal stories.

Moderated by Dr. Aimee Baron of IWSTHAB, in this epsiode, we speak to Natalie, a reproductive genetic counselor, will explain what a genetic counselor does and how genetics factor into infertility evaluations. Dr. Batsheva Maslow (REI) will provide a medical perspective on infertility evaluations and how certain diagnoses and/or findings can help direct treatment. And finally, 

Rena Fox will share her personal journey as part of a carrier couple who chose IVF for genetic reasons, shedding light on the real-life implications of genetic fertility challenges. 

More about Natalie: 

Natalie Richeimer, MS, CGC, is a board certified genetic counselor at jscreen with clinical experience in adult, pediatric, and reproductive genetic counseling. She holds a master's degree in human genetics and genetic counseling from the Keck Graduate Institute. Natalie is a native Torontonian, who lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two boys. She has published research in the Journal of Genetic Counseling on the impact of orthodox Jewish clergy’s role in prenatal genetic counseling. Prior to her work as a genetic counselor, Natalie worked as a high school STEM teacher for 7 years in Los Angeles. She is passionate about reproductive health education and community engagement. Natalie has a special interest in outreach, with the goal of increasing awareness of and access to genetic counseling. Natalie has partnered with local organizations and high schools to provide community education.

More about Dr. Maslow:

Dr. Bat-Sheva Lerner Maslow is double board-certified in OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility and is the lead physician at the Reproductive Medical Associates of New Jersey - Jersey City office. Dr. Maslow has a special interest in education, research, and the clinical care of single women considering proactive fertility preservation. 

Outside of the office, Dr. Maslow lectures and writes on the intersection of halakha and reproduction. She serves as the Director of Medical Education for the North American Yoatzot Halacha Program and is a board member of several organizations related to Jewish women and health. She maintains an active educational presence on social media discussing issues related to reproduction in the Jewish community. 

Dr. Maslow attended Barnard College and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She completed residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania and fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at the University of Connecticut, where she also completed a master’s degree in clinical and translational research

More about Rena: 

Rena is an experienced nurse with 6 years in labor and delivery and 2 years in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). Having personally gone through IVF, she combines professional expertise with personal insight to provide compassionate care and support to those navigating fertility challenges.

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On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Chani Melamed joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about...

-our last conversation, around Mother's day, where she shared her fervent belief that she would one day be a mother...even after 14 years of marriage

-how 5 months ago, her daughter was born! (I sobbed when she told me). And I knew, that when she was ready, I wanted her to share the story of her pregnancy -the years of infertility, this time with the lens of what kinds of things they did to try to have a child

-numerous medical procedures, doctor appointments, looking into adoption, waiting, waiting, and more waiting, and davening (praying)

-the anxiety of finally being pregnant, parenting after infertility and some of the comments that people (still) make to her. Sigh.

Connect with Chani:

-Follow her on Instagram

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