The Home of Fertility with Liz Walton & Helen Zee

Ever wondered what really makes the difference in fertility treatment success? Lucy Lines pulls back the curtain on the fertility industry with unparalleled insider knowledge from her 25 years as a clinical embryologist and fertility educator.

The conversation shatters common misconceptions, particularly the myth of "the best" fertility specialist. Lucy explains why personal connection with your doctor, laboratory quality, clinic accessibility, and staff responsiveness collectively impact your fertility outcomes more than a specialist's reputation alone. Her apple cake analogy brilliantly illustrates how the fertility process relies on multiple factors working in harmony—from the quality of your eggs and sperm to the skill of laboratory scientists handling your precious embryos.

Lucy helps to fill critical knowledge gaps, empowering individuals to understand their bodies, ask informed questions, and advocate for themselves throughout treatment. 

Ready to become your own fertility advocate? Lucy's resources in this episode guides people become collaborative partners in their fertility care rather than passive recipients.

You can follow Lucy's active and engaging content on instagram www.instagram.com/twolinesfertility and her work at https://www.twolinesfertility.com.au/

Lucy Lines Bio:

Over Lucy’s first 17 years in the fertility ‘industry’ (12 of those as a clinical embryologist and global customer support embryologist and 5 in GP education) Lucy became increasingly frustrated over the ‘business’ aspect that was creeping in to much of the decision making within large IVF companies and the huge gaps that was creating for patients accessing those services.  Making patients feel like a ‘number’ on a conveyer belt of fertility treatment.   After a redundancy rather late in a rainbow pregnancy, (at 44 years old) she saw an opportunity to fill those gaps - with education, care, support, guidance and space for women and couples experiencing difficulties with their fertility - totally independent of the big businesses!  As a fully qualified and experienced embryologist, Lucy now offers her services through Two Lines Fertility - with her website, blog, courses and, of course, her 1:1 support, Lucy now helps women and couples feel empowered, and more importantly EDUCATED and in control of their fertility, whether they are right at the beginning of considering growing their families, or in the depths of IVF treatment.

The psychological burden of fertility treatment is largely preventable with the right support, yet nearly half of patients discontinue IVF due to stress rather than medical or financial reasons.

• Alarming statistics show 76% of women experience anxiety and 56% experience depression at clinical levels during fertility treatment
• Traditional advice to "just relax" is harmful when your nervous system is in fight-or-flight mode
• Dr. Alice Domar's research shows women who completed her mind-body program achieved 52-55% pregnancy rates versus 20% in control groups
• Trauma history and neurodivergence are two hidden factors that make fertility treatment particularly challenging for some individuals
• Green flags for emotional readiness include self-advocacy skills and effective stress management tools
• Red flags suggesting additional support is needed include panic attacks, procedure avoidance, and relationship strain
• Group interventions are more effective than individual counseling because isolation is a major challenge
• Skills-based approaches consistently outperform traditional talk therapy for fertility patients
• EMDR therapy shows significant reductions in anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms in fertility contexts
• Early psychological intervention can prevent treatment discontinuation and improve overall outcomes
• Breaking generational cycles begins with healing trauma before conception

The shocking reality behind fertility treatment often goes unaddressed—nearly 50% of patients abandon IVF early due to psychological distress rather than medical or financial limitations. This powerful conversation with psychologist Liz Bancroft reveals why emotional support isn't just a luxury but a critical factor in treatment success.

Liz shares groundbreaking research showing that proper psychological support can triple pregnancy success rates, with women receiving mind-body interventions achieving 52-55% pregnancy rates compared to just 20% in control groups. This isn't about "just relaxing" or positive thinking—it's about evidence-based techniques that address the nervous system's fight-or-flight response during treatment.

The discussion explores two hidden factors that make fertility treatment particularly challenging: trauma history and neurodivergence. With 70% of the population having encountered trauma and Bancroft's research finding 90% of her fertility patients show elevated neurodivergent traits, these underlying factors significantly impact how patients experience treatment. Female presentations of autism and ADHD are often missed, yet autistic women have double the rates of PCOS and higher rates of endometriosis.

Listeners will learn practical ways to assess their emotional readiness for fertility treatment through Bancroft's green flag/red flag framework. Green flags include self-advocacy skills and effective stress management tools, while red flags like panic attacks or procedure avoidance don't mean you're not ready for treatment—they mean you're ready for targeted support.

Ready to transform your fertility journey? Discover how early intervention with the right psychological tools can prevent treatment burnout and create lasting positive change. This isn't just about having a baby—it's about breaking generational cycles of trauma and becoming the best version of yourself in the process.

You can find details about Liz Bancroft's evidence-based support program at www.hopeaffirmthrive.com.au, designed specifically for fertility populations with flexible scheduling to work around IVF and work commitments.

In this heartfelt episode of The Home of Fertility, host Helen Zee speaks with Julia Macken, mama, business owner, and IVF warrior, who courageously shares her story of fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, resilience, and ultimately hope. Julia opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of unexplained infertility, IVF cycles, and the devastating loss of her baby Thomas — and how she and her husband found strength, healing, and love through grief. She shares candid insights on partner support, the impact of hormones and injections, navigating setbacks, and celebrating even the smallest milestones along the way. Together, Helen and Julia highlight the importance of honest conversations, community, and holistic care for anyone on a fertility journey. This conversation is raw, real, and infused with compassion, offering comfort and encouragement to anyone navigating IVF, loss, or the dream of becoming a parent.

*Sensitive content in this episode regarding pregnancy loss.

Ever felt like your body's fertility is a mystery you're supposed to somehow figure out on your own? Dr. Sam Sturrock is changing that narrative by empowering patients through knowledge and compassionate care.

As a fertility specialist at Monash IVF, Dr. Sturrock brings both medical expertise and a refreshingly approachable presence to conversations about reproductive health. In this illuminating discussion, he dismantles the common misconception that consulting a fertility specialist means committing to intensive treatments. Instead, he reveals how early consultations provide valuable information that puts you in control of your reproductive future.

"By presenting early, it allows us time for knowledge gaining and understanding that we sometimes don't have the luxury of if people present to us later," Dr. Sturrock explains. This perspective shift—viewing fertility as something to understand proactively rather than reactively—could transform your relationship with your body and your reproductive choices.

The conversation delves into conditions like PCOS, exploring how holistic approaches including lifestyle factors can make significant differences. Dr. Sturrock emphasizes the importance of assembling the right team of healthcare professionals to address all aspects of reproductive health, from metabolic considerations to emotional wellbeing.

Perhaps most eye-opening is the discussion about egg freezing and reproductive autonomy. Dr. Sturrock describes how this technology has evolved from experimental to essential, offering women unprecedented control over their family planning timeline. He provides candid insights about timing—why your late 20s to early 30s might be optimal for preservation, and why waiting until your late 30s significantly changes the equation.

"It's not about pushing people toward having a baby sooner than they're ready," Dr. Sturrock says, "but about helping people achieve flexibility and maintain autonomy until they are ready." This patient-centered philosophy runs throughout his practice, where education and empowerment are paramount.

Whether you're actively planning a family, considering your options for the future, or simply want to understand your body better, this conversation offers valuable perspectives from a doctor dedicated to putting the power back in your hands. Listen now, and discover what it means to truly own your fertility journey.

About Sam: Dr Sam Sturrock is a Fertility Specialist at Monash IVF, based in Brighton and Cremorne. He supports people with fertility care, egg freezing and reproductive planning, and works closely with patients to help them feel informed and supported. With a strong belief in open and honest conversations, Dr Sturrock focuses on helping people understand their bodies and feel more in control of their next steps. He continues a family legacy in fertility care and brings a calm, approachable presence to the Monash IVF team.  Connect with Sam at drsamsturrock.com.au and Insta: @drsamsturrock

The fertility journey is never one-size-fits-all. It’s personal, messy, miraculous—and often misunderstood. In this season opener, Liz Walton and Helen Zee reunite to launch Season 2 of The Home of Fertility podcast, weaving together science and soul, lived experience and professional expertise, in a space where all stories are welcome.

What began as a connection at the Australian Fertility Summit has evolved into a shared mission:
To reimagine how we speak about fertility, how we support one another, and how we hold the full spectrum of what it means to create family.

Together, Helen and Liz bring decades of experience—both professionally and personally—to this new chapter. Liz shares her decade-long fertility path, including six rounds of IVF before conceiving naturally at 46, after surrendering to a child-free future. Helen’s work as a fertility lifestyle practitioner is deeply rooted in a lifelong calling to motherhood and her passion for conscious conception.

This podcast is for anyone navigating fertility and family creation: Solo parents and same-sex couples

 Donor-conceived and surrogacy journeys Those just beginning and those who’ve been trying for years Those who carry grief, hope, uncertainty—or all three at once

Each episode brings together voices from both medical and holistic fields—IVF specialists, naturopaths, somatic therapists, and people with lived experiences—to bridge the gap between conventional care and whole-person healing. This is a place where:

• Vulnerability meets knowledge
• Medical meets integrative
• Personal stories become medicine
• No one walks the path alone

Whether you're navigating your own journey or walking beside someone you love, we invite you in.

Subscribe, share, or leave a review to help more people find this space of truth, tenderness, and transformation.

Subscribe, share, or leave a review to help more people find this space of truth, tenderness, and transformation.

Follow along @AustralianFertilitySummit on Instagram and Facebook.
To learn more about Helen’s work, visit helenzee.com

To learn more about Liz's work visit www.lizwalton.org

Find us on Instagram and Facebook @AustralianFertilitySummit. 

Please share this podcast, leave a review, or subscribe to help us support more people on this path. 

Helen Z explores the profound connection between women's bodies, conscious conception, and the spiritual journey of fertility through her unique approach blending somatic therapy, relationship coaching, and lifestyle medicine.

• Helen's journey began as a fitness professional and yoga teacher invited to work with an IVF clinic, where she achieved a 70% pregnancy success rate
• Conscious conception involves bringing awareness to all aspects of fertility—physical, emotional, spiritual—and honors the sacred transformation into parenthood
• The womb is more than a physical organ—it's an "oracle of innate intelligence" that serves as the first home for developing babies
• Matricense (the "seventh sense") describes the profound mind-body-spirit rewiring that happens when maternal instinct awakens
• Spirit babies in the "soul cradle" may communicate with potential parents through sensations, visions, or intuitive knowing
• Healing past trauma and creating safety in your body creates the frequency that allows conception to occur
• Babies choose their parents, seeking the human experience through the unique vessel of your body and spirit
• Our bodies provide more than physical space—they're the first sensory experience our children will have

Find Helen at helenz.com and join us at the Melbourne Fertility Expo on November 8, 2025.

What if conception isn't just biology, but a profound spiritual calling that awakens what Helen Z calls our "seventh sense"? In this soul-stirring conversation, we explore the hidden dimensions of fertility through the lens of conscious conception—a holistic approach that honors the sacred connection between body, spirit, and the babies waiting to be born.

Helen shares her remarkable journey from pharmaceutical executive to fertility expert, revealing how her lifelong connection to the mysteries of conception began at just two years old. Through her work combining somatic therapy, relationship coaching, and lifestyle medicine, she's discovered that fertility challenges often reveal deeper stories waiting to be healed—from past trauma and fears about parenthood to profound spiritual awakenings.

The conversation takes us into the concept of "matricense"—the mysterious maternal calling that rewires our entire being—and the fascinating world of the "soul cradle" where spirit babies await the right frequency to enter human experience. Helen's insights completely transform how we understand fertility, suggesting that conception involves not just creating the right physical conditions, but opening energetic and spiritual pathways that welcome new life.

For anyone navigating their fertility journey, this episode offers a profound reminder: your womb is more than a physical organ—it's an "oracle of innate intelligence" and the first sacred home your child will know. Whether you're actively trying to conceive, healing from loss, or simply curious about the spiritual dimensions of parenthood, Helen's compassionate wisdom creates space for mystery and wonder in the creation of new life.

Listen as we explore how conscious conception bridges ancient wisdom with modern science, and discover how connecting to your body's deepest intelligence might be the missing piece in your fertility puzzle.

Find Helen at www.helenzee.com and join us at the Melbourne Fertility Expo on November 8, 2025.

Julie Tenner shares her journey of understanding the womb as more than just a reproductive organ, but as a center of feminine power, creativity, and ancestral wisdom that can transform our relationship with ourselves.

• The womb represents our capacity to receive in life, not just create babies
• Disconnection from our wombs comes from patriarchal conditioning that values static functioning over cyclical feminine nature
• The vagina and womb hold memories and even traumas that affect our current experience
• "De-armoring" releases tension in the pelvis that develops as protective mechanisms
• Simple practices like breath work and visualization create "micro-moments" of womb connection
• Julie's hysterectomy journey demonstrates that womb energy remains even when the physical organ is gone
• Most women excel at masculine energy (output, production) but struggle with feminine energy (receptivity, intuition)
• Connecting with the womb allows access to ancestral wisdom and the collective knowledge of generations
• The body is our "eternal consort," always waiting for us to orient toward her

Julie Tenner takes us on a profound journey into womb wisdom, revealing how our relationship with this sacred center reflects our capacity to receive, create, and connect with our deepest feminine power.

Growing up in a culture that often treats women's cycles as inconveniences or weaknesses, many of us develop a disconnected relationship with our wombs. Julie shares how shifting from this patriarchal paradigm to a womb-centric perspective transformed her understanding of feminine power. Rather than seeing hormonal fluctuations as flaws, she discovered they were actually superpowers that enhance creativity, intuition, and connection when properly honored.

The conversation explores how chronic stress and disconnection create conditions unfavorable for fertility and overall wellbeing. When constantly pushed into "masculine energy" of productivity and performance, we lose access to the receptive feminine energy essential for conception and creation. Julie offers beautiful, practical micro-practices to reconnect with womb wisdom without adding more to our already full plates.

Perhaps most powerfully, Julie shares her personal hysterectomy journey, demonstrating that even without the physical organ, the energetic essence of the womb remains. Her story highlights the importance of intentionality in our relationship with our bodies, showing that feminine power isn't diminished through physical changes but can actually deepen through conscious connection with our ancestral feminine wisdom.

Whether you're on a fertility journey, navigating hormonal shifts, seeking deeper embodiment, or simply curious about feminine power, this conversation offers profound insights about coming home to yourself through honoring the sacred wisdom of your womb. Connect with Julie @julietenorlove on social media or through her podcast "Nourishing the Mother" to continue exploring this transformative work.

For more information about Julie Tenner's work, find her on social media @julietenorlove, through her podcast "Nourishing the Mother," or download her free Resentment Decoder at julietenorlove.com/resentment.

Find Julie here:
https://www.instagram.com/julietenner.love/ https://www.facebook.com/julietenner.love/photos

We explore the sacred journey of womb connection and how disconnection from our feminine essence impacts fertility, physical health, and overall wellbeing. Kat Wheeler shares profound insights about the womb as our center of creativity, intuition, and feminine power.

• The womb is more than a reproductive organ—it's our seat of intuition, creativity, sensuality, wisdom, and pleasure
• Many women are disconnected from their womb space due to lack of education, trauma, and societal conditioning
• Our words are spells—the language we use about our bodies directly impacts our fertility and wellbeing
• Menstrual cycles offer opportunities to release emotions, patterns, and beliefs that no longer serve us
• Womb massage provides nurturing touch that isn't medical or sexual, helping women reconnect with their bodies
• Simple daily practices like self-touch, creative play, and speaking kindly to your body foster womb reconnection
• The fertility journey can be a profound initiation into deeper self-knowledge and feminine power
• Your birthright as a woman is strength—reconnecting with your womb helps you access this inner power

Remember to go gently with yourself. Place your hands on your heart and womb today and simply say "thank you" to honor all that your body has done for you.
What if your fertility journey is actually an invitation to reconnect with the forgotten wisdom of your womb? In this soul-stirring conversation, womb massage therapist Kat Wheeler reveals how our disconnect from feminine essence impacts not just fertility, but our entire relationship with ourselves.

"Our womb space is actually our seat of intuition, creativity, sensuality, wisdom, sexuality, and pleasure," Kat explains, illuminating why so many women struggle with fertility despite doing "everything right" medically. The missing piece? A loving relationship with the womb itself.

Kat's own fertility journey began from a place of disconnection – constantly working, pushing, judging herself. Like many women, she viewed her body mechanically, expected it to perform on demand, then criticized it when pregnancy didn't happen immediately. This pattern creates precisely the environment where conception becomes challenging.

The language we use about our bodies emerges as a powerful fertility factor. "Our words are spells," Kat reveals, explaining how negative self-talk literally programs our bodies. When we attack ourselves for menstruating instead of conceiving, we're sending confusing messages to our reproductive system. Instead, Kat offers a revolutionary perspective: view your menstrual cycle as "a physical release of things you're holding onto that you can let go of" – a monthly cleansing ritual preparing your womb for new possibilities.

Particularly illuminating is Kat's explanation of womb massage – often the first time women experience touch to this area that isn't medical or sexual. Through this sacred practice, emotional blockages stored in pelvic tissues release, creating space for new energy and possibilities.

Whether you're actively trying to conceive, healing from reproductive trauma, or simply seeking to reclaim your feminine power, this episode offers gentle yet profound guidance for coming home to yourself. As Kat beautifully reminds us: "Your birthright is strength. You're strong because you are here, because you are a woman."

Ready to transform your relationship with your womb? Subscribe now and join our community of women reclaiming their sacred feminine wisdom.

To find Kat Wheeler http://www.reconnectedwoman.com

On instagram https://www.instagram.com/reconnected_woman/

Liz and Sharna explore the concept of fertility trauma, how it manifests in the body as a trauma response, and pathways to healing through acknowledging our experiences and finding safety within ourselves.

• Fertility trauma is real and often comparable to receiving a cancer diagnosis in terms of emotional impact
• The body cycles through fight, flight, and freeze responses during fertility struggles
• Trauma disconnects us from being present in our bodies and creates patterns of anxiety and shutdown
• The power of pausing the fertility journey can reset the nervous system and create space for healing
• Physical release of emotions is essential - screaming into pillows, using weighted blankets, or applying heat packs
• Healing requires meeting emotions at their intensity rather than trying to think them away
• The journey often requires a "rebirth" - letting go of who you were before the fertility struggle
• Epigenetics shows how unresolved trauma can be passed to children, making healing important before conception
• Permission to acknowledge trauma is the first step toward genuine healing

What happens when the fertility journey becomes a source of deep trauma? In this raw, illuminating conversation, Liz Walton and Sharna Southerne dive into the often unacknowledged world of fertility trauma—where the emotional impact of struggling to conceive or experiencing pregnancy loss can be as devastating as receiving a cancer diagnosis.

Sharna shares her personal journey through four years of trying to conceive, followed by a heartbreaking miscarriage, and the dismissive "just try again" response that failed to acknowledge her profound grief. Together, they explore how fertility struggles create a trauma response in the body, causing it to cycle between fight-or-flight and complete shutdown modes that make it impossible to be present. This conversation brings to light how many women question their entire identity and worth when fertility challenges arise, turning inward with thoughts like "I'm broken" or "I'm the problem."

The transformative concept of "the power of the pause" emerges as a crucial turning point. Both women discuss how stepping back from the relentless pursuit of pregnancy—which often resembles a gambling addiction with its "just one more try" mentality—can reset the nervous system and, paradoxically, create the safety that allows conception to occur naturally. They offer practical tools for releasing trauma physically, not just mentally, through somatic practices that help the body feel safe again.

Perhaps most powerful is their discussion of the "rebirth" that fertility trauma can initiate—the process of letting go of who you were before and discovering a new identity beyond the fertility struggle. As Liz puts it, "It was like a death of the self... I had to unzip her, take her off, because I had to find the next me that was going to survive." This journey ultimately leads to a homecoming to oneself, with a deeper understanding of personal values, stronger relationships, and sometimes, unexpectedly, the very thing that seemed so unattainable.

Has your fertility journey left you feeling broken or isolated? Join us to discover how acknowledging your trauma, giving yourself permission to feel deeply, and finding practices that help your body feel safe again can lead not just to healing, but to a profound rediscovery of self.

 Find Sharna here;

@instituteofhealing_pl
For the soul-led woman building (or rebuilding) a sustainable business in sensitive spaces like grief, fertility, and pregnancy loss. 

 @instituteofhealing.losssupport

PLUS: www.sharnasouthan.com

www.sharnasouthan.com

https://www.sharnasouthan.com/epigensignup

Sarah Roberts shares her personal journey through ten years of trying to conceive, including IVF, and her eventual transition to permanent, involuntary childlessness. After healing and growth, she founded The Empty Cradle to create supportive spaces for women navigating similar paths.

• Early desire for motherhood emerged during a pregnancy scare in her late teens
• Tried for a decade to have children, feeling her life was "on hold" during fertility treatments
• Found little professional support when transitioning to childlessness, discovering it's an "invisible" experience
• Walked the Camino de Santiago after her final IVF attempt, marking the end of her fertility journey
• Grief involves multiple "mini losses" throughout the fertility journey
• Western culture lacks literacy around grief, treating it as a problem to solve rather than an experience to carry
• Grief oscillates between active mourning and restoration periods
• Creating connections with others who share similar experiences validates feelings and reduces isolation
• Healing involves questioning internalized beliefs about motherhood and worthiness
• The goal isn't to "get over" childlessness but to integrate it into a whole, expanded self

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast and consider leaving a review. Connect with Liz at LizWalton.org or on social media @lizwalton_fertility_coach, and share this podcast with anyone who might find healing from it.

What happens when your journey through fertility treatments doesn't end with a child? Sarah Roberts of The Empty Cradle joins us to explore the profound transition to permanent childlessness that one in five women will experience.

Sarah shares her deeply personal story of spending a decade trying to conceive, including multiple rounds of IVF, before eventually accepting that motherhood wasn't her path. With raw honesty, she describes the complex emotions she navigated – from the monthly "mini griefs" that accumulated over years of trying to the profound identity shift required when stepping away from fertility treatments. Most poignantly, she reveals how the medical system and society at large often fail to provide adequate support for this significant life transition.

This conversation expands beyond personal narrative to challenge cultural myths about grief and childlessness. Sarah explains how grief isn't something to "get over" but rather to integrate, describing it as an oscillating process between active mourning and restoration. She offers practical wisdom for processing loss while rebuilding a sense of identity and worth independent of parenting status. For women questioning their value in a society that often equates womanhood with motherhood, Sarah's perspective is both validating and liberating.

Drawing from her extensive counseling background and lived experience, Sarah explains how she created The Empty Cradle to fill the gap in support services. Her approach combines psychological understanding with deep compassion, acknowledging both the heartbreak and the possibility of transformation through this journey. The process she describes isn't about erasing grief, but expanding oneself to hold both the pain of what wasn't and the potential of what might be.

Whether you're personally navigating fertility struggles, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking greater understanding of diverse life experiences, this episode offers profound insights into resilience, identity, and finding meaning after loss. As Sarah reminds us in her closing thoughts: "You matter" – three simple words that carry immense healing power for anyone whose life hasn't followed the expected script.

You can find Sarah;

Website - The Empty Cradle is a healing community for childless women

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theemptycradle?utm_source=ig