The Daily Try

Forget the fertility “superfood” checklist. In this episode of *The Daily Try*, registered dietitian and nutritionist Rachel Swanson shares a practical, science-backed framework for building meals that consistently support your physiology and fertility.

Using your hand as a simple, tracking-free guide, Rachel explains how to balance vegetables, protein, fiber-rich carbohydrates, and healthy fats—then adjust portions based on your individual needs, whether you’re an athlete, managing insulin resistance, or working to gain weight.

You’ll also discover what matters more than any single ingredient: a consistent dietary pattern built around whole, low-glycemic, high-fiber, micronutrient-rich foods and omega-3s. Rachel explores the hidden impact of added sugar, ultra-processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and other everyday choices that can compound over time.

With sample meal plans, easy swaps, and an empowering approach to nutrition, this episode helps you move beyond restriction and guilt toward a more intentional way of eating for your fertility journey. Think of it as learning the compass—not memorizing the map.

For the entire month of October, Rachel is matching every single book sale with a dollar-for-dollar donation to breast cancer prevention. If you buy a copy of Trying this month, DM a picture of your receipt on Instagram @rachelsrx. (While we are working to optimize our health to create life, together we can also support other women who are fighting to reclaim theirs!)

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription

https://hoopsy.com/fertility-snail-mail

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-testIn the USA and want to try out Hoopsy Hold handle for free?  FIll in this form Free https://hoopsy.com/free-hoopsy-holdRead our review of Rachel's fertility book Trying https://hoopsy.com/book-review-trying-by-rachel-swansonGot a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me anemail [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

Ovulation strips, basal body temperature, wearable tech, and cervical mucus can offer valuable insight into your cycle—but they can also fuel anxiety when every tiny fluctuation feels like a warning sign.

In this episode of *The Daily Try*, with Dr Jill she takes an honest look at what each tracking method can—and can’t—tell you. Learn why an LH surge predicts ovulation but doesn’t guarantee it, why BBT confirms ovulation only after it happens, how wearables can misread your unique physiology, and why cervical mucus remains one of the most useful real-time fertility signals.

Most importantly, discover how to stop treating your data like a medical monitor. We explore the difference between meaningful patterns and harmless daily variation, why human bodies aren’t Swiss watches, and how stress and over-analysis can undermine the very peace of mind tracking is meant to provide.

You’ll also learn how to use fertility data as a compass—not a crystal ball—and when it’s worth bringing persistent patterns to your healthcare provider. Tune in for practical, reassuring guidance to help you understand your cycle without letting it take over your life.

For more support, check out my ⁠Monthly Fertility Snail Mail letter subscription https://hoopsy.com/fertility-snail-mail

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test

In the USA and want to try out Hoopsy Hold handle for free? FIll in this form Free https://hoopsy.com/free-hoopsy-hold

Got a question/comment or feedback? Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

Confused by ovulation tests—or unsure how to use them? This episode of *The Daily Try* breaks down everything you need to know about tracking your fertile window.

Learn what ovulation tests actually measure, how the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge signals that ovulation may happen within the next day or so, and why a positive result is a “time to have sex” heads-up—not proof that ovulation has already occurred. You’ll also discover why ovulation tests differ from pregnancy tests, what those two lines really mean, and how sperm can survive for several days.

We cover when to start testing, why your cycle may not follow the textbook day-14 pattern, the benefits of testing consistently (sometimes twice a day), and simple ways to track your results using apps or a notebook. Plus, find out why more sex doesn’t always mean better chances of conception.

If using test strips feels awkward, you’ll also hear about Hoopsy Hold, a handle that turns a strip test into a midstream test.

A practical, reassuring guide to understanding your body and timing conception with more confidence.

For more support, check out my ⁠Monthly Fertility Snail Mail letter subscription https://hoopsy.com/fertility-snail-mail

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test

Got a question/comment or feedback? Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

In the USA and want to try out Hoopsy Hold handle for free? FIll in this form Free https://hoopsy.com/free-hoopsy-hold

In this deeply personal episode of *The Daily Try*, founder Lara shares the fertility journey that inspired her to create Hoopsy.

At 45, after years of hoping she would meet the right partner and have children, Lara pursued egg freezing and IVF with donor sperm—only to discover how many steps must go right for treatment to succeed. She opens up about low egg numbers, an embryo that stopped developing, donor embryos, unsuccessful transfers, miscarriage, and the emotional and physical toll of treatment.

With honesty and vulnerability, Lara reflects on the lack of information she received, the choices she would make differently, and the heartbreak of hoping so intensely for something that doesn’t happen. She also explains why fertility journeys deserve more support, understanding, and compassion.

Whether you’re navigating IVF, considering donor conception, supporting someone through treatment, or simply feeling alone in your experience, this episode is a reminder that your feelings are valid—and that you’re not the only one who understands how hard this can be.

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order onlinehere: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test/
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

Tracking can offer helpful insight during your fertility journey—but it can also turn one unexpected temperature, test result, or app prediction into a source of overwhelming anxiety.

In this episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara explores how to step back from chart anxiety, separate what you know from what you’re assuming, and remember that a graph is information—not a diagnosis, a verdict, or a measure of your worth. You’ll hear gentle strategies for breaking spirals, knowing when to reach out to your care team, and using small daily “wins” to support a more positive mindset.

Because your fertility isn’t a competition, your body isn’t a homework assignment, and you are so much more than a line on a graph.

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order onlinehere: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test/
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

The two-week wait can feel like an emotional roller coaster—hopeful one moment, anxious the next. And being told to “just relax” rarely helps; it can feel like yet another thing to worry about.In this supportive episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara explores practical ways to make the wait a little easier without putting pressure on yourself to stop thinking about trying to conceive. Discover how choosing your testing day in advance can quiet the daily negotiations, and why giving yourself a personal project, walk, book, film, or other distraction can help you feel more grounded while you wait.There’s no “right” way to approach the two-week wait, and whatever emotions come up, you’re not doing anything wrong. Lara also shares a reassuring reminder from her own experience: even the hardest waits do eventually end.If you’re navigating the uncertainty after ovulation, this episode offers understanding, encouragement, and a few gentle ideas to help you get through it—without needing to “relax” on command.

For more support, check out my ⁠Monthly Fertility Snail Mail letter subscription

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test/

Got a question/comment or feedback? Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

When you’re trying to conceive, enjoying a good day can sometimes bring an unexpected wave of guilt. Should you be happier to be suffering? Does laughing, making plans, or enjoying life mean you want a baby any less?In this gentle, reassuring episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara offers an important reminder: you don’t have to be sad every moment for your longing to count. Wanting to become a parent with your whole heart can exist alongside joy, pleasure, friendships, laughter, and everything else that makes you who you are.Fertility journeys can make life feel like it’s on pause—but living in the present doesn’t mean giving up on your dream. You’re allowed to take a break, have fun, and carry your hopes alongside the rest of your life. Your happiness is not a betrayal of your wish to become a parent. It’s part of caring for yourself while you wait.For more support, check out my ⁠Monthly Fertility Snail Mail letter subscription

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test

Got a question/comment or feedback? Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

When fertility becomes a competition, someone else’s “it happened immediately” can feel like a personal defeat. In this episode, we explore why stories of effortless conception can sound like a badge of honour—and why taking longer can leave you feeling broken, behind, or somehow less.We look at the difference between protecting your privacy and making someone else feel foolish for needing support, tracking, or treatment. We also unpack how different people define “trying,” and why a short conception story doesn’t always tell the whole story.From ancient Rome to Tudor England, fertility has long been tied to status, power, womanhood, and expectations. Those beliefs may look different today, but the pressure remains: the idea that a “good” or healthy woman should become a mother easily.Your fertility is not a measure of your worth. Needing information, help, time, or treatment does not make your experience less valid—and getting pregnant quickly is not an achievement that makes anyone else’s journey a failure.Because getting pregnant is not a competition.

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test/
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

Here is the link to the reddit post that inspired this episode https://www.reddit.com/r/TryingForABaby/comments/1wyhyjq/do_people_lie_about_how_long_it_took_them_to/

When ovulation arrives later than expected, it’s easy to worry that something is wrong—but a delayed ovulation doesn’t necessarily mean your fertility is failing.In this episode of *The Daily Try*, Dr. Jill Palco explains why the first half of your cycle can vary and how factors like illness, stress, intense exercise, surgery, medications, and normal cycle fluctuations can temporarily press pause on ovulation. You’ll also learn why a single longer cycle is usually nothing to panic about, and when consistently late ovulation may point to an underlying hormonal issue worth discussing with your OBGYN.Dr. Jill shares practical guidance on what symptoms to watch for—including weight changes, acne, unwanted hair growth, fatigue, or skipped periods—and how to prepare for a productive appointment. Discover which tracking information can help your doctor spot patterns, from app records and ovulation tests to basal body temperature charts.Your cycle is a vital sign, and understanding its changes can help you feel more informed and empowered on your fertility journey. Have a question for Dr. Jill? Send it our way via the email in the show notes.For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test/
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

Trying to conceive can be an emotional, isolating journey—and even well-meaning friends don’t always know what to say. In this episode, Lara explores the comments and “solutions” that can hurt more than help, from “just relax” to unsolicited advice, and shares what genuine support can sound like instead.Discover how to set kind, clear boundaries with friends, ask for the support you actually need, and protect your relationships while navigating fertility treatment. Whether you want someone to listen, check in, offer a distraction, or simply say, “I’m here,” you’re allowed to communicate what feels right for you.Lara also reflects honestly on friendships she lost during her own IVF journey and why speaking up about your needs can make all the difference.Plus, there’s exciting news: Dr. Jill continues her weekly Wednesday episodes, and fertility nutritionist Rachel is joining The Daily Try every Thursday to answer your food and fertility questions. Submit your questions anonymously via the email in the show notes.For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription

For pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and you can order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test/
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast