No Straight Lines

Jacky Maughan & Eleanor Maughan

No Straight Lines is a conversation led by married couple Eleanor and Jacky - founders of aloomah, an online community built for anyone navigating the ups and downs of fertility. After years of our own fertility journey, we realised how rarely people really talk about it - especially the stuff that hurts, confuses, or leaves you feeling alone. This space is about breaking that silence. We're sharing our own story, the stuff we wish we’d heard sooner, and chatting with people who’ve helped us along the wa - from friends to experts. It’s honest, raw, sometimes heavy, sometimes hopeful. Because not every path is straight. But that doesn’t mean you have to walk it alone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. “This Destroyed My Relationship” - Jonathan Kluwagga

    4 days ago

    “This Destroyed My Relationship” - Jonathan Kluwagga

    Jacky sits down with Jonathan Kluwagga to discuss his experience with male infertility caused by undescended testicles, the impact it had on his relationship, and the emotional toll that followed. They also explore cultural expectations around masculinity and how Jonathan turned his pain into purpose by becoming a male fertility advocate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  2. “It was like having your heart carved out of you” - Eleanor & Jacky

    12 May

    “It was like having your heart carved out of you” - Eleanor & Jacky

    We open up about year 3 of our fertility journey. The hardest one yet. From emotional strain to the impact on our relationship, this is an honest look at how tough things really got. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  3. "Sh*t...Everything I'm doing is wrong!" - Ro Huntriss

    28 Apr

    "Sh*t...Everything I'm doing is wrong!" - Ro Huntriss

    We sit down with Ro Huntriss to break down the fundamentals of diet and lifestyle in fertility, combining real-life experiences with science-backed guidance. From major lifestyle changes to simple daily habits, this episode covers what actually makes a difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  4. What Acupuncture Actually Does For Fertility - Hannah Pearn

    7 Apr

    What Acupuncture Actually Does For Fertility - Hannah Pearn

    We sit down with Hannah Pearn to explore the role acupuncture can play in fertility, breaking down common misconceptions and sharing what we’ve learned along the way. From initial scepticism (from Jacky) to a deeper understanding, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on a topic more people are starting to take seriously. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  5. Hyperemesis, Bulimia & The Pregnancy We Didn’t Expect to Survive - Jess & Harry

    24 Mar

    Hyperemesis, Bulimia & The Pregnancy We Didn’t Expect to Survive - Jess & Harry

    We sit down with Jess and Harry to share a fertility journey that didn’t go how they expected. After months of trying, Harry received a poor fertility test result, adding another layer of uncertainty and loss of hope. As they prepared for IVF and a fresh start abroad, Jess then fell pregnant naturally…but that wasn’t the end of the struggle. Jess experienced Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), being sick up to 16 times a day and needing hospital treatment, while also navigating her mental health and past struggles with bulimia. This is an honest conversation about the side of fertility and pregnancy people don’t talk about. The physical toll, the mental strain, and the reality behind the “happy ending”. They now have a beautiful little girl, but getting there was anything but simple. ________ Resources mentioned in this episode: If anything in this conversation around fertility, pregnancy, IVF or mental health resonated with you, these may help: • NHS self-referral (fertility & mental health support): https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/self-refer • Support for dads / male fertility & fatherhood: https://futuremen.org/fatherhood/future-dads/ • NHS Perinatal Mental Health Support (pregnancy & postnatal care): https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/05/record-numbers-of-women-accessing-perinatal-mental-health-support Over 57,000 new and expectant mums received specialist mental health support last year, with services now available across all of England. • PANDAS Foundation (UK-wide fertility & postnatal mental health charity): https://pandasfoundation.org.uk Free support for prenatal and postnatal mental health, including: – WhatsApp support – Call-back service – Email + peer support groups A safe, non-judgmental place to start if you’re struggling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  6. The Trainer Helping Men Take Fertility Seriously - The Male Fertility PT

    10 Mar

    The Trainer Helping Men Take Fertility Seriously - The Male Fertility PT

    In this episode, we’re joined by our friend Ciaran Hannington, also known as The Male Fertility PT. Ciaran works with men to improve fertility through training, lifestyle, and honest education - an area still surrounded by stigma, silence, and misinformation. We talk about why male fertility is so often overlooked, the mistakes men commonly make when trying to “optimise” health, and how exercise, stress, diet, and mindset all play a role. A straight-talking conversation about responsibility, awareness, and why men need to be far more involved in the fertility conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 1min
  7. The Male Fertility Wake-Up Call No One Talks About - Ian Stones

    24 Feb

    The Male Fertility Wake-Up Call No One Talks About - Ian Stones

    In this episode, we sit down with Ian Stones, founder and co-director of testhim, to talk about the side of fertility that’s too often overlooked: men. With over 15 years supporting couples through fertility challenges, Ian shares why male fertility is frequently neglected, how it impacts outcomes, and why change is long overdue. We also talk about the unexpected way we crossed paths with Ian — a moment that set off a chain of events that played a significant role in their journey to pregnancy. A powerful, honest, full-circle conversation about timing, trust, and the conversations that can change everything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  8. "What the F is actually going on?!" - Year Two Trying To Conceive

    6 Jan

    "What the F is actually going on?!" - Year Two Trying To Conceive

    After a year of no luck trying naturally and frustration with vague answers from doctors, we decided to take things into our own hands. Eleanor’s discovery of Ian Stones through acupuncture led us to explore Jacky’s sperm health, and that’s when we uncovered DNA fragmentation. It opened up a whole new chapter we never saw coming. We unpack the emotional, physical, and mental toll of year two, and everything we learned along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  9. Missed diagnoses and constant pregnancy news - Year One Trying To Conceive

    16/09/2025

    Missed diagnoses and constant pregnancy news - Year One Trying To Conceive

    We reflect on the first year of this fertility journey. A time that felt like stepping into the abyss. We talk about the shock of early diagnoses that were missed, the uncertainty that followed, and the emotional toll of watching friends and family fall pregnant easily while we quietly struggled behind the scenes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
  10. Why Your Diet Might Be Delaying Pregnancy - Ro Huntriss

    19/08/2025

    Why Your Diet Might Be Delaying Pregnancy - Ro Huntriss

    In this episode, we’re delighted to introduce Ro Huntriss, renowned UK fertility dietitian and founder of Fertility Dietitian UK. With years of clinical and research experience, Ro brings evidence-based, actionable advice that genuinely changes the game when trying to conceive. We kick things off with her story, explore how nutrition and lifestyle can actually shorten the waiting time to get pregnant, and unravel the facts from the myths. Tune in to learn: • How diet influences egg and sperm quality • Lifestyle adjustments that make a real difference • Real ways to empower yourself when the medical route feels out of control Ro is also now the "Official aloomah Resident Dietitian" - this will be the first of many! Every topic stems from YOU—our community. So please, feel free to comment and let us know what you want to know and we will do our best to ensure to ask Ro the questions YOU want the answers to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  11. Why We Built 'aloomah'

    29/07/2025

    Why We Built 'aloomah'

    We’re Eleanor and Jacky, and after 5 years of navigating infertility, IVF, loss, and everything in between, we knew something was missing. In this first episode, we share our story, why we created aloomah, and what No Straight Lines is really here to do. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

No Straight Lines is a conversation led by married couple Eleanor and Jacky - founders of aloomah, an online community built for anyone navigating the ups and downs of fertility. After years of our own fertility journey, we realised how rarely people really talk about it - especially the stuff that hurts, confuses, or leaves you feeling alone. This space is about breaking that silence. We're sharing our own story, the stuff we wish we’d heard sooner, and chatting with people who’ve helped us along the wa - from friends to experts. It’s honest, raw, sometimes heavy, sometimes hopeful. Because not every path is straight. But that doesn’t mean you have to walk it alone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Jacky Maughan & Eleanor Maughan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jacky Maughan & Eleanor Maughan
  • Show Website
    No Straight Lines

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