Surrogacy can be a deeply meaningful path to parenthood and it can also be a billion-dollar industry. In this episode, we unpack what happens when “building a family” starts looking like a marketplace, and who actually gets protected when money, contracts, and power enter something as serious as pregnancy and birth.

We talk about why the U.S. has become a major global destination for surrogacy, and how inconsistent, state-by-state rules can create a system where the wealthy get options and the vulnerable take on the risk. When an industry grows faster than the guardrails, it’s not just messy, it can become exploitative.

We also dig into the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship, and the uncomfortable question it raises: what happens when a right designed to protect the vulnerable becomes a tool the powerful can leverage? This isn’t about demonising parents or children - it’s about whether citizenship and reproduction are being treated like commodities.

Finally, we ask what regulation could look like without being “anti-family”: stronger protections for surrogates, clearer standards that prioritise the well-being of the child, and real accountability when things go wrong. If you’re pro-surrogacy, anti-surrogacy, or somewhere in the middle, we hope this episode helps you ask better questions and keeps the conversation honest.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Billionaires and US Surrogacy

00:49 The MO News Podcast and Initial Reactions

02:47 Understanding the 14th Amendment and Birthright Citizenship

04:40 The Surrogacy Industry: Agencies and Regulations

05:20 International Billionaires and Surrogacy

06:40 Ethical and Social Implications

08:17 Legal and Regulatory Challenges

10:16 Personal Stories and Opinions

11:34 The Role of Money and Power

12:59 Conservative and Liberal Perspectives

21:36 Potential Solutions and Legislation

26:07 Peter Thiel's IVF Agencies in Southeast Asia

26:24 Religious Views and Surrogacy Ethics

27:20 Surrogacy Laws and the 14th Amendment

28:11 Protecting Surrogates and Babies

30:47 Bipartisan Efforts for Surrogacy Regulation

33:52 Global Surrogacy Practices and US Regulations

36:47 The Future of Surrogacy and Legal Recourse

41:22 Call to Action: Advocating for Surrogacy Laws

45:10 Good for the Soul: Kindness Army

46:31 Would You Rather: Surrogacy and Citizenship

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Instagram Reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSWnB_xjRZc/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

1. Chinese Billionaires, Surrogacy, Pregnancy: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/chinese-billionaires-surrogacy-pregnancy-7fdfc0c3?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
2. What to Know: Surrogacy + China + Billionaires: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/what-to-know-surrogacy-china-billionaires-3734339e?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
3. Surrogacy Unregulated: Debts + Profits: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/surrogacy-unregulated-debts-profits-b9fdd987?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
4. Fortune (Xu Bo + children + video game empire): https://fortune.com/2025/12/25/xu-bo-children-video-game-empire-guangzhou-duoyi-network/
5. WSJ (Pavel Durov + children + fertility/sperm donation): https://www.wsj.com/world/pavel-durov-children-fertility-sperm-donation-3d6d5231?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

1. ItsSozer (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/itssozer/?hl=en

LINKS:

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On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/