The Home of Fertility with Liz Walton & Helen Zee

Your body is speaking in clear signals, are you listening? We sit down with Stephanie, a registered fertility nurse and founder of My Fertility Nurse, to decode the menstrual cycle as a true fifth vital sign and map out how small, steady changes can move the needle on conception and IVF success. From the real fertile window to what your flow’s color and consistency say about hormones, inflammation, and microbiome, we translate clinical insight into practical steps you can start today.

We get specific about what actually improves egg and sperm quality: consistent sleep aligned with your circadian rhythm, nutrient-dense meals that stabilize insulin and support hormones, and movement - especially resistance training - that boosts blood flow and mitochondrial function. Stephanie shares why supplements and lifestyle changes need runway, how PCOS responds to modest metabolic shifts, and why bleeding doesn’t always mean ovulation. We also tackle persistent myths: you can’t get pregnant any day of the month, male factor matters half the equation, and sperm can meaningfully improve in three months with the right plan.

For anyone cycling between hope and overwhelm, this conversation offers clarity and support. Learn how to confirm ovulation beyond app predictions, spot cycle red flags worth checking with your doctor, and navigate IVF with a stronger foundation—because retrieval outcomes reflect the prior months of care. Stephanie also explains how having a fertility nurse “in your back pocket” bridges the gap between brief clinic visits and the daily questions that shape confidence and next steps.

If the episode helped you breathe a little easier, subscribe for more science-meets-compassion guides, share with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review so others can find their way here. What’s one small change you’ll start this week?

We speak with Alicia Burns about solo motherhood by choice, moving from heartbreak and loss to agency and joy, and how planning, testing, and community transform the journey. A clear roadmap emerges for women weighing timelines, donors, budgets, and support networks.

• why more women choose solo motherhood now
• practical first steps with GP tests and fertility consult
• comparing fears versus reality of solo parenting
• options for donor sperm, eggs, and embryos
• scripts and boundaries for sharing your decision
• building a village through courses, meetups, and retreats
• simplifying the mental load without co‑parent conflict
• child outcomes and donor‑conception language
• details on Melbourne Fertility Expo appearance

What if waiting for the “right” partner is the only thing standing between you and the family you want? We sit down with Alicia Burns—solo mom by choice, community builder, and advocate—to map a different route to parenthood that’s intentional, informed, and deeply supported. From infertility and loss to a life designed around clarity and care, Alicia shows how agency changes everything.

We explore the real reasons more women are choosing solo motherhood: dating fatigue, shifting standards for partnership, and the simple truth that fertility has a clock. Alicia walks through the first critical steps—basic GP tests, fertility consults, and cycle literacy—to help you understand your timeline before options narrow. We unpack the practicalities of donor selection, clinic vs at‑home insemination, IVF, budgeting, and how to decide with confidence. Most of all, we talk about the fears that hold people back—loneliness, judgment, and “what if it’s too hard”—and compare them with the lived reality of a strong support network.

Alicia also opens the door to the Solo Mum Society: courses for every stage, WhatsApp and Zoom circles, local meetups, and restorative Bali retreats that normalize donor conception and diverse family structures. You’ll hear why solo parenting can feel simpler than expected—less compromise, fewer conflicts, and a home culture built on your values. We share language for telling your story, setting boundaries, and raising kids with openness and pride. Research points to equal or better outcomes for children in solo-by-choice families, and Alicia explains why intention, planning, and community are often the difference.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a partner to become a parent—or you’re simply curious about timelines, donors, or support—this conversation offers a clear, compassionate guide. 

Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find their path. Then tell us: what’s the one belief you’re ready to rethink today?

Contact Alisha

Website URL:
www.solomumsociety.com

Social Media Links :
www.facebook.com/solomumsociety
www.instagram.com/noneedforprincecharming
www.linkedin.com/in/alishaburns

In this episode of The Home of Fertility, Helen Zee speaks with Sophia Basietto, fertility specialist, scientist, and trainer at SuperCare, Australia’s leading service for helping families access their superannuation for fertility treatments.

Sophia brings over 25 years of experience as an embryologist, biochemist, and fertility coach — and shares how SuperCare lobbied to make IVF eligible for compassionate release of super, creating a pathway for thousands of families to continue their fertility journey.

Learn:

• How to apply for compassionate release of super (CRS)
• What costs are covered and how to avoid hidden out-of-pocket expenses
• When to apply and how SuperCare’s case managers simplify the process
• How IVF, donor treatment, and gynecological procedures can be funded
• What makes SuperCare’s emotional and case-by-case support so unique

This conversation is for anyone navigating the cost of fertility treatments and wanting clarity, compassion, and confidence in their next steps.

Sophia Baseotto is a Fertility Specialist Scientist with over 25 years of experience encompassing roles as an Embryologist, Andrologist, Biochemist, Chemist, Master Practitioner and Coach, Podcast Host, and National Clinic Auditor, Assessor, and Technical Expert. Sophia actively trains SuperCare staff and liaises with clinics to ensure optimal client outcomes.

https://www.mysupercare.com.au/our-services/ivf/

We explore the emotional, practical, and relational realities of choosing donor eggs, from naming grief to building a values-first path to parenthood. Adele O’Connor shares her story, evidence-based tools for nervous system regulation, and how community dissolves isolation.

• donor egg conception as a valid, hopeful path
• grief, identity, and the imagined child
• bonding fears and early, open family storytelling
• CBT, hypnotherapy, breath, and somatic tools
• one-day-at-a-time mindset and self-care
• partner timelines and communication
• online groups and IVF Support Space community
• reframing control and finding safety in the body
• lived experience informing professional support
• Melbourne Fertility Expo invitation and session giveaway

We are giving away five sessions at the Melbourne Fertility Expo.

The moment a doctor suggests donor eggs can feel like the ground shifting under your feet. We talk with counselor and hypnotherapist Adele O’Connor about what happens next: the grief of letting go of a genetic link, the relief of staying “in the game,” and the practical steps that make this path feel possible. Adele shares her lived experience of meeting her partner in her 40s, working through unsuccessful IVF attempts, traveling for a donor egg transfer, and becoming pregnant at 45—while offering grounded, evidence-based tools anyone can use today.

We unpack the big questions that keep many up at night: Will I bond with my child? How do we talk about donor conception with family and friends? What does identity look like when genetics and gestation are different? Adele explains how CBT, hypnotherapy, journaling, and somatic practices shift the nervous system from stress to safety, which supports reproductive health and resilience through treatment. We also explore partner dynamics, different processing timelines, and how to protect your relationship with honest, judgment-free conversations.

Community is the antidote to isolation. From online groups to specialized counseling to events that bring practitioners and patients together, there are more resources than ever to help you feel seen, supported, and informed. We focus on values-based parenting, early and open storytelling with children, and practical rituals—breathwork, grounding, rest—that bring control back to the present moment. Whether you’re at the decision threshold or deep in a cycle, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and tools you can use right away.

If this resonated, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show. Have a question or story to share? Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook at Australian Fertility Summit.

Connect with Adele 

www.ivfsupportspace.com

Instagram @ivfsupportspace

We meet Silla, who turned a Graves diagnosis and debilitating symptoms into a healing journey that led to Not Coffee, a caffeine-free ritual for hormone health and fertility support. We explore root-cause choices, social rituals, and practical steps for gentle change.

• What Not Coffee is and how it brews
• Graves disease, symptoms, and conventional advice
• Chinese medicine lens on liver balance and root causes
• Lifestyle shifts: no caffeine, better protein, more plants
• Caffeine withdrawal and craving the ritual, not the buzz
• Creating a chicory and carob blend without stimulants
• Hormones, fertility, and reducing nervous system stress
• Inclusion, choice, and responding to skeptics
• Vision for access, tastings, and community support
• Simple steps to cut caffeine without overwhelm

Beautiful Silla will be there with her, not coffee, and come and try it and come and chat to Scylla and you know find out who she is and enjoy this new wonderful way of having your ritual, but it works for you and your body.

What if the drink you love most is quietly working against your hormones, sleep, or fertility—and what if you didn’t have to lose the ritual to feel better? We sit down with Scylla Gatti, founder of Not Coffee, to trace her path from a Graves disease diagnosis and debilitating vertigo to a calmer nervous system, balanced habits, and a caffeine-free cup that still feels like “the real thing.”

Silla opens up about the frustration of normal test results alongside very real symptoms, and why a root-cause approach through Chinese medicine finally moved the needle. We get specific on the protocol—removing caffeine, alcohol, gluten, and dairy; prioritizing protein and vegetables; herbs, acupuncture, and hydration—and what made change stick: protecting the morning ritual without stimulants. You’ll learn how chicory and carob can mimic the taste and brew of coffee, why many decaf and “functional” drinks still stimulate the system, and how small, consistent swaps help prevent rebound fatigue and anxiety.

We dig into how caffeine can interact with thyroid health, stress hormones, sleep, and fertility outcomes. The conversation is practical and inclusive: coffee isn’t the villain, but different seasons require different tools. If you’re navigating hormone imbalance, trying to conceive, moving through menopause, or simply craving steady energy, this episode offers grounded insights, personal proof, and a viable alternative that keeps the comfort and community intact.

Join us for a story about intuition, evidence, and building something people truly need. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who’s rethinking caffeine, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your next great morning might be gentler than you think.

And if you'd like to connect or share your story, find us on Instagram and Facebook at Australian Fertility Summit

www.notcoffee.com.au
Social Media Links :
Instagram: @not_coffee_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notcoffee.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/not-coffee

We share Saara Jamieson’s path from recurrent miscarriage to creating a TGA‑registered testicular cooling device, and how everyday heat undermines sperm DNA, testosterone, sleep, and relationships. Practical steps, timelines, and intimacy advice give couples agency and options beyond a lab report.

• testicular heat as an overlooked driver of infertility and miscarriage risk
• why standard semen tests miss DNA fragmentation and quality
• sitting, BMI, synthetic fabrics, and athletic training raising scrotal temperature
• cooling design that repositions and ventilates for everyday wear
• sleep quality gains from fewer night wake‑ups and less heat
• four‑month timeline for spermatogenesis and practical prep tips
• ejaculation frequency guidance for clearing older sperm
• reframing IVF expectations and the importance of lifestyle changes
• testosterone, performance, and long‑term male health
• relationship practices to protect intimacy and reduce stress

Male fertility can falter for a surprisingly simple reason: heat. We sit longer, train harder, and wear synthetics that trap warmth where biology demands cool. Scientist and former medical researcher Sarah Jameson joins us to unpack how testicular temperature shapes sperm DNA, testosterone, sleep, and long‑term health—and how a homegrown idea became a TGA‑registered medical device helping couples conceive.

Sarah takes us inside her three‑and‑a‑half‑year journey through chemical pregnancies and late first‑trimester losses, the limits of “normal” semen tests, and the moment she and her husband prototyped a fix on their living room couch. We dig into the evidence on sitting time, padded chairs, driving minutes, BMI‑related insulation, and why athletes and military personnel see lower testosterone and fertility. You’ll hear how repositioning and ventilating the scrotum reduces heat load, why polyester and electrostatic friction are a bad mix for sperm, and what happens to REM sleep when your brain keeps waking you to cool down.

We get practical about timelines and habits. Spermatogenesis takes 72–74 days, so plan four months of cooling alongside lifestyle shifts: reduce alcohol and smoking, moderate caffeine, avoid HIIT and long cycling sessions, and maintain regular ejaculation every three days outside the fertile window. Sarah explains how improving sperm quality—not just count and motility—can lower DNA fragmentation linked to miscarriage, and why IVF still depends on the raw materials you bring. Beyond fertility, we explore testosterone’s ripple effects on mood, cardiovascular health, cognition, and athletic performance, and how smarter design can also ease skin irritation and post‑operative recovery.

This is a conversation about science, agency, and partnership. We share relationship strategies—like fertility‑free nights—to protect intimacy when calendars and clinics take over, and we highlight the power of educating men early so they’re not sidelined by a system that focuses only on her body. If you’re trying to conceive, preparing for IVF, or simply want better energy and long‑term health, these insights offer a clear path forward.

And if you'd like to connect or share your story, find us on Instagram and Facebook at Australian Fertility Summit Subscribe, share with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help more families find the missing piece. What change will you start today?

Saara Coolbeans underwear details 

http://coolbeansunderwear.com

Social Media Links :
https://www.facebook.com/coolbeansunderwear
https://www.instagram.com/coolbeansunderwear/?hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cool-beans-underwear-pty-l

We sit down with fertility nutrition experts Stefanie Valakas and Monique Cormack to explore how targeted food choices, evidence-based supplements, and body literacy support conception. Personal stories of endometriosis, egg freezing, IVF, and twins keep the science honest and practical.

• endometriosis diagnosis and advocacy through surgery and nutrition
• IVF lessons, system gaps, and identical twins from one embryo
• why nutrition shapes egg, sperm, pregnancy, and child health
• supplements as therapeutic tools, not quick fixes
• coq10 doses and what food cannot deliver alone
• foundations first: sleep, stress, hydration, movement
• common pitfalls: restrictive rules, under-eating, fear-based choices
• soy foods reality check and plant-leaning protein
• body literacy beyond apps: signals, cycles, timing
• two takeaways: eat seafood or omega-3s, three-color vegetables

Trying to get pregnant can feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces. We brought those pieces into the light with two fertility nutrition experts, Stephanie Valakas and Monique Cormack, who blend hard-won personal experience with clear, science-backed guidance. From an endometriosis diagnosis that reshaped a career to an IVF journey that delivered identical twins from a single embryo, their stories reveal what the data often can’t: timing, context, and compassion matter as much as protocols.

We unpack what truly moves the needle for preconception health—nutrition patterns that support egg and sperm quality, therapeutic supplements used at evidence-based doses, and the daily foundations that make it all work. You’ll hear why antioxidants and omega-3s play an outsized role, how CoQ10 can’t realistically be “eaten” to study-level dosages, and where a smart supplement can complement your prenatal rather than replace a solid diet. We also challenge common myths, including the fear around soy foods, and explain why restriction-heavy plans often backfire by driving under-eating, stress, and nutrient gaps.

This conversation doubles as a toolkit: body literacy beyond period-tracking apps, recognizing signs that deserve medical attention, and two simple, high-yield habits—eat oily fish or add an omega-3, and build plates with three different colored vegetables at lunch and dinner. If you’re navigating IVF, egg freezing, endometriosis, male factor issues, or just starting to plan, you’ll leave with practical steps and a calmer mindset.

If this podcast resonated, please share it, leave a review or subscribe, share with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help more people find evidence-based fertility support. Your next best step might be one colorful meal away.

Details for Arxi Stefanie and Monique,

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@from.arxi

Image Link:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0891/0389/2796/files/Arxi-145.jpg?v=1731132247

Links for Stefanie
Website: https://thedietologist.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_dietologist/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_dietologist
Fertility Friendly Food the Podcast: https://podcast.thedietologist.com.au/

Links for arxi
Website: https://fromarxi.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/from.arxi/

Links for Monique
Website: https://moniquecormack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniquecormacknutrition/

In this episode of The Home of Fertility, Helen Zee is joined by Leonie Tilley, Applied Health & Human Performance Specialist and Zinzino partner, and Rebecca Kunz, Ayurvedic wellness expert, to unpack the missing link between fatty-acid balance, fertility & postnatal well-being.

Leonie explains why omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential, how modern diets have shifted ratios from the ideal 3:1 to 15:1 or more, and how chronic inflammation silently impacts egg & sperm quality, implantation, and hormone regulation.

Rebecca shares her personal journey through postnatal anxiety and fatigue, revealing how cellular health and brain lipid balance transformed her recovery and energy.

Together they explore DHA and EPA’s role in fetal brain development, postpartum mental health, and whole-family resilience, plus how innovative polyphenol-stabilized omega formulations are changing outcomes worldwide.

A must-listen for anyone trying to conceive, recovering post-birth, or seeking natural ways to restore vitality from the inside out.

About Leonie and Rececca:

As an Independent Zinzino Partner, Leonie is passionate about helping others optimise their health and fertility through cellular restoration and omega 6:3 balance. She supports individuals throughout all stages of life, including those on their fertility journey as the science tells us that if the body is in biochemical harmony, it creates the ideal environment for healing, hormone balance and new life to thrive. 

Leonie’s mission is to guide all individuals back to trust in their body’s natural intelligence by testing for imbalance, providing essential nutrients and optimising cellular health and function using Zinzino's nutrition-based testing approach.

https://www.instagram.com/long_live_you_fitness (please use this one and not my personal insta as I never look at it!!)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonie-tilley-706748229

Yoga, meditation and life coach Rebecca Kuntz combines modern cellular health with ancient Ayurvedic wisdom to explore the missing link between brain health and postnatal wellbeing. Drawing on her own experience with postnatal depression, she shares how nourishing the brain through test based, personalised nutrition can restore emotional stability and vitality. Getting the foundations right is key. This helps everything else thrive. When mothers are healthy, strong and happy, so are their children, families and community.

@rebeccajoan.k
@nuk.life

Today Helen is joined by Dr. Sasha Edelstein, fertility specialist and co-founder of Thrive Fertility, to demystify what really drives success in fertility care—the team and the lab, not just the doctor. Dr. Sasha shares how his own IVF journey shaped a clinic built on compassion, transparency, premium science, and accessible pricing.

We unpack practical questions to ask any clinic: Is the Operating Room next to the lab? Do they use time-lapse incubators? Do they have electronic witnessing (e.g., RI Witness)? Who are the embryologists, and how do they collaborate with doctors, nurses, counsellors, and allied health?

You’ll also hear when to seek help (and when to wait), why it’s not always IVF, and what’s next in fertility: AI-assisted embryo assessment, genetics, and more personalised protocols. If you’ve ever wondered how to match with the right clinic and team—and keep costs sensible—this episode is your roadmap.

Topics covered include:
• Dr Sascha's lived experience with infertility and IVF and how this shaped shaped the clinic towards affordable fertility care
• Choosing a clinic through team, lab, and communication
• What to ask about OR‑lab proximity, incubators, witnessing
• Not every path leads to IVF; stepwise care
• Optimising health before conception
• AI, time‑lapse, and genetics in embryo selection
• recognising embryologists as unsung heroes

About Dr Sascha Edelstein
Dr Sascha Edelstein is a fertility specialist and the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Thrive Fertility, a purpose-built clinic in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. Alongside Co-Founder and Medical Director Dr Linda Walmsley, he has created a clinic that combines world-class technology with compassionate, accessible care. Having navigated infertility and IVF with his wife, Sascha brings both professional expertise and lived empathy to his work. He has overseen the development of Thrive’s state-of-the-art laboratory, where time-lapse incubators and electronic witnessing are standard, ensuring excellence in science delivered with care, transparency, and respect.

Social Media Links :
thrivefertility.australia

Today, Helen sits down with Dr. Mei Cheah—fertility specialist, surgeon, co-founder of Create Fertility, and endometriosis patient—to unpack the realities of endometriosis, adenomyosis, and fertility. Dr. Mei blends clinical precision with lived experience to explain why endometriosis has no single “cure”, how symptoms impact intimacy, identity, and daily life, and where surgery, medical management, pelvic physio, and IVF each fit in.

You’ll learn the difference between endometriosis vs adenomyosis, when (and when not) to consider laparoscopy, why high-quality endo ultrasound matters, and how to plan a personalised timeline (preconception, symptom relief, fertility goals). We also talk about building your care village, advocating for yourself, and creating connection-focused intimacy when sex is painful.

If you’ve ever been told to “toughen up” or “just have a baby,” this conversation returns the mic to you—with clear, compassionate guidance from a doctor who gets it.

ABOUT: Dr Mei Cheah is not your average fertility specialist. She’s a surgeon, co-founder of Create Fertility and a total powerhouse in women’s health. Based in Melbourne, Mei blends science, empathy and surgical precision to support people through some of the most personal chapters of their lives: fertility, IVF, endo and more. She’s trained across Australia, from neonatal intensive care to advanced reproductive surgery, and now mentors young doctors while still seeing patients across public and private sectors. Recognised in STEM leadership by the Victorian Government, Mei’s mission is clear: empower women with knowledge, options, and real, unfiltered support.

www.instagram.com/createfertility_aus
www.instagram.com/drmeicheah
www.instagram.com/createhealth_aus