Infertile AF: Infertility and Modern Family Building through ART

Alison Prato
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Unfiltered, honest, and deeply human—Infertile AF is the podcast that tells the real stories behind infertility and modern family building. Hosted by journalist, Fertility Rally co-founder, "Work of ART" books author and mom-of-two Ali Prato, who went through secondary infertility and IVF herself, the show dives into the messy, frustrating, painful, heartbreaking, absurd, and sometimes even funny realities of trying to have a baby—or pivoting in a different direction. Each episode spotlights a different journey, path or topic, covering everything from miscarriages, egg freezing, sperm and egg donation, IUIs, IVF, endometriosis, and male factor infertility to adoption, surrogacy, genetic testing, termination for medical reasons, single parenting by choice, LGBTQ+ family building, living childless not by choice, depression, relationship struggles, financial stress, jealousy, PTSD, trauma and beyond. In this safe, non-judgmental space, Ali explores all the outcomes: the joyful, the soul-crushing, and the stories still unfolding. Infertile AF is here to remind you that no matter where you are on your journey, you’re not alone.

  1. 1 HR AGO

    When a Fertility Doctor Does IVF: Dr. Lucky Sekhon, Author of The Lucky Egg

    Today’s episode is a special one — it’s a replay of Ali's 2023 conversation with Dr. Lucky Sekhon. Lucky is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and OB-GYN at RMA of New York. She’s also one of the most trusted voices on social media and TV when it comes to fertility, IVF, and reproductive health, breaking down complicated topics with clarity, compassion, and actual science. In this conversation, Lucky opens up about her own family-building journey — including how, when it came time to start her family, she chose to create embryos and go through IVF herself. Ali and Lucky talk about what it’s like when the fertility doctor becomes the fertility patient, how that perspective shapes the way she treats her own patients, and why she’s so passionate about helping people understand their reproductive options. Since this interview originally aired, Lucky has also written a fantastic book called The Lucky Egg, which helps people better understand fertility, IVF, and reproductive health. So whether you’re hearing this conversation for the first time or coming back to it, it’s a really thoughtful look at fertility from both sides of the exam table. EPISODE SPONSORS:  THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology  https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books The 3-book bundle is now just $49 (normally $79)! The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them. PHERDAL IG: @pherdal_science PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com. Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off. BELI IG: @belibaby www.belibaby.com  Are you thinking about growing your family? Whether you're just starting to plan or are actively trying to conceive, preconception health is key. Beli has vitamins to help both women and men optimize their health before pregnancy. With essential nutrients like Folate, Iodine, and Zinc, Beli ensures your body is ready for this exciting next step. Give yourself and your future baby the best foundation for a healthy start. Visit Belibaby.com today and use code IAF15 for 15% off your first order.  Our Sponsors: * Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    40 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    Listen Again: Infertility in the Ballet World: The Taboo No One Talks About with Mathilde Froustey

    What happens when one of the most disciplined bodies in the world can’t do the one thing everyone assumes it should? On this episode -- one of our most downloaded of all time -- Ali sits down with Mathilde Froustey, principal dancer at the San Francisco Ballet and widely considered one of the most extraordinary dancers in the world.Born in Bordeaux, France, Mathilde began dancing at just nine years old, training at the prestigious Marseille National School of Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet School before rising to the top of the international ballet world. Onstage, her body is her instrument — powerful, precise, and seemingly unstoppable. But behind the curtain, Mathilde has been fighting battles that almost no one in the dance world talks about. In this candid and emotional conversation, she opens up for the first time about her experience with infertility — a subject she says remains deeply taboo in professional dance. Mathilde shares what it was like to go through IVF while performing at the highest level, navigating intense body scrutiny, and hearing painful comments about her appearance during one of the most vulnerable periods of her life. She also talks about her past struggle with an eating disorder, the pressure dancers face to maintain a certain body type, and the silent toll of trying to build a family inside a culture that rarely makes space for it. “In the dance world, infertility is a taboo subject,” Mathilde says. Not anymore. This is a powerful conversation about perfection, pressure, and what it means to reclaim your body — both onstage and off. EPISODE SPONSORS:  THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology  https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books The 3-book bundle is now just $49 (normally $79)! The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them. PHERDAL IG: @pherdal_science PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com. Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off. BELI IG: @belibaby www.belibaby.com  Are you thinking about growing your family? Whether you're just starting to plan or are actively trying to conceive, preconception health is key. Beli has vitamins to help both women and men optimize their health before pregnancy. With essential nutrients like Folate, Iodine, and Zinc, Beli ensures your body is ready for this exciting next step. Give yourself and your future baby the best foundation for a healthy start. Visit Belibaby.com today and use code IAF15 for 15% off your first order.  Our Sponsors: * Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 3m

  3. 2 MAR

    Holly Abel had a 10% Chance to Live: Stage 4 Endo, Sepsis and the Hysterectomy That Saved Her Life

    It's Endometriosis Awareness Month. Ali's guest this week, Holly Abel, was eleven years old when her debilitating periods started. For decades, doctors told her it was “normal.” That she was dramatic. Hormonal. Sensitive. It wasn’t normal. In early 2023, Holly was finally diagnosed with severe stage 4 endometriosis — affecting multiple organs throughout her body. Shortly after, she experienced a miscarriage. In December 2023, she underwent major surgery. Then in March 2024, after a routine HSG, everything began to unravel. By early May, she was in septic shock and given a 10% chance to live. In July, a total hysterectomy saved her life… and ended her ability to carry children. Holly talks about all of this and more in an educational, emotional episode about medical trauma, advocacy and survival. EPISODE SPONSORS:  THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology  https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books The 3-book bundle is now just $49 (normally $79)! The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them. PHERDAL IG: @pherdal_science PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com. Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off. BELI IG: @belibaby www.belibaby.com  Are you thinking about growing your family? Whether you're just starting to plan or are actively trying to conceive, preconception health is key. Beli has vitamins to help both women and men optimize their health before pregnancy. With essential nutrients like Folate, Iodine, and Zinc, Beli ensures your body is ready for this exciting next step. Give yourself and your future baby the best foundation for a healthy start. Visit Belibaby.com today and use code IAF15 for 15% off your first order.  Our Sponsors: * Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    33 min

  4. 23 FEB

    Seven Years Later: From Frozen Eggs to Baby on the Way with Barbara Ginty

    Today, Ali talks to Barbara Ginty, host of the Future Rich podcast, for a special crossover episode to share her deeply personal fertility journey — and to talk honestly about the emotional and financial realities of IVF. Barbara froze her eggs in her 30s, not knowing exactly when or how she might use them. Seven years later, she returned to those frozen eggs and went through IVF — and now, as this episode airs, she’s on the brink of welcoming her first baby. Barbara shares what it was like to trust a decision she made years earlier, the uncertainty of the process, and the surreal feeling of finally reaching this moment. Barbara also turns the mic on Ali, who opens up about her secondary infertility and IVF journey, including the complicated emotions that can come with trying to grow your family after already having a child. For more, check out www.futurerichpodcast.com EPISODE SPONSORS:  THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology  https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books The 3-book bundle is now just $49 (normally $79)! The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them. PHERDAL IG: @pherdal_science PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com. Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off. Our Sponsors: * Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    53 min

  5. 13 FEB

    Becoming a Mom at 45: Alexis Allegra’s IVF and Embryo Donation Story

    Today’s guest is Alexis Allegra, and her path to motherhood is one of those stories that reminds you just how many twists and pivots this journey can take. Alexis met her person later in life and, like so many of us, thought, okay — let’s go, let’s start trying right away. But what followed was nearly three years of fertility treatments… chemical pregnancies… failed IVF transfers… and a whole lot of heartbreak and regrouping. In her mid-40s, when things weren’t unfolding the way she’d imagined, Alexis made a brave pivot to embryo donation — a decision that ultimately led her to her healthy baby. In this episode, Ali and Alexis talk about trying to build a family on a timeline you didn’t plan for, grieving the losses you don’t always talk about, redefining what motherhood can look like, and staying open to a path that might be different — but just as beautiful. EPISODE SPONSORS:  WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology  https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them. Order "Work of ART," "Beautiful Bird" and "You Are a Work of ART," now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books FERTILITY RALLY IG: @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership PHERDAL IG: @pherdal_science PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com. Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off. BERRY FERTILITY IG: @berry.fertility The Berry Fertility app is packed with support: dozens of injection tutorials, over 100 articles, 200 FAQs, and if you still have questions, the Berry team is literally a tap away through in-app chat. Berry has a free version, and you can try Premium free for seven days. After that, it’s $12.99 a month or $99 for the year. InfertileAF listeners get 30% off an annual membership with the code INFERTILEAF when you sign up at berryfertility.com or in the Berry Fertility app. Our Sponsors: * Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    44 min

  6. 7 FEB

    For the Egg Freezing Girlies: Influencer Lily Montasser’s Fertility Journey

    If you're considering freezing your eggs: This one's for you. Fashion influencer and writer Lily Montasser built her platform sharing effortlessly cool style, NYC life, and sharp, honest storytelling. But recently, she opened up about something far more personal: her decision to freeze her eggs. Instead of keeping it private, Lily brought her followers along for the ride — partnering with Extend Fertility for her treatment, documenting the appointments, the hormones, the doubts, and the unexpected empowerment of taking control of her fertility timeline. In this episode, Ali and Lily talk about what it really feels like to make proactive choices about your future, how Lily felt sexier than ever going through the process, how sharing vulnerably online changed the experience, and why more women are rethinking the “someday” conversation around family-building. Follow her on IG: @lilymontasser Substack: lilymontasser.substack.com Check out Extend Fertility: www.extendfertility.com EPISODE SPONSORS:  WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology  https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them. Order "Work of ART," "Beautiful Bird" and "You Are a Work of ART," now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books FERTILITY RALLY IG: @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership PHERDAL IG: @pherdal_science PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com. Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off. BERRY FERTILITY IG: @berry.fertility The Berry Fertility app is packed with support: dozens of injection tutorials, over 100 articles, 200 FAQs, and if you still have questions, the Berry team is literally a tap away through in-app chat. Berry has a free version, and you can try Premium free for seven days. After that, it’s $12.99 a month or $99 for the year. InfertileAF listeners get 30% off an annual membership with the code INFERTILEAF when you sign up at berryfertility.com or in the Berry Fertility app. Our Sponsors: * Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    18 min

  7. 29 JAN

    Infertility, Intrusive Thoughts, and Three Kiddos Through ART: Ruby Smoot’s Story of Surviving the Dark and Finding the Light

    On today's episode, content creator and mama of three Ruby Smoot gets real about the parts of infertility and pregnancy after infertility we don’t talk about enough — the mental health spiral, the obsessive thoughts, the fear, and the quiet, heavy darkness that can creep in while you’re trying so hard to become a parent. In this deeply candid conversation, Ruby opens up about pregnancy after infertility while battling OCD and intrusive thoughts, navigating severe nausea called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and what it felt like to hold hope and despair at the same time, and how becoming pregnant didn’t magically erase the mental health struggles she was carrying. Because as many of us know: having babies doesn’t fix everything — you still have to heal. She also talks about getting pregnant again, and having HG a second time. Now a mom of three kiddos, Ruby reflects on what she wishes she’d known, how she got support, and why talking honestly about maternal mental health might be the most important thing we can do for each other. Follow her on IG: @rubydu91 And TikTok: ruby.du EPISODE SPONSORS:  THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology  https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them. Order "Work of ART," "Beautiful Bird" and "You Are a Work of ART," now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books FERTILITY RALLY IG: @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership PHERDAL IG: @pherdal_science PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com. Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off. BERRY FERTILITY IG: @berry.fertility The Berry Fertility app is packed with support: dozens of injection tutorials, over 100 articles, 200 FAQs, and if you still have questions, the Berry team is literally a tap away through in-app chat. Berry has a free version, and you can try Premium free for seven days. After that, it’s $12.99 a month or $99 for the year. InfertileAF listeners get 30% off an annual membership with the code INFERTILEAF when you sign up at berryfertility.com or in the Berry Fertility app. Our Sponsors: * Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    48 min

  8. 20 JAN

    Revisiting Fertility Rally Live: The Science of Whole-Body Fertility with Top Nutritionist Rachel Swanson

    Today’s guest is Rachel Swanson — MS, RD, LDN — one of the most in-demand nutritionists in the country, known for helping people optimize performance using deeply science-backed, totally personalized care. She’s also the author of the brand-new book Trying!: A Science-Backed Plan to Optimize Your Fertility. On today's episode, Ali and Rachel flip the fertility conversation on its head with what Rachel calls Fertility 2.0 — a proactive, preventative approach that goes way beyond eggs and sperm to focus on the whole body: your gut, metabolism, sleep, oral health, even your partner’s kissing hygiene (yes, really). This convo was originally aired as part of Fertility Rally Live #10. For more on Fertility Rally, follow IG: @fertilityrally For more on Rachel, go to www.rachelswanson.com IG: @rachelsrx EPISODE SPONSORS:  THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology  https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them. Order "Work of ART," "Beautiful Bird" and "You Are a Work of ART," now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books FERTILITY RALLY IG: @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership PHERDAL IG: @pherdal_science PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com. Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off. BELI IG: @belibaby www.belibaby.com  Are you thinking about growing your family? Whether you're just starting to plan or are actively trying to conceive, preconception health is key. Beli has vitamins to help both women and men optimize their health before pregnancy. With essential nutrients like Folate, Iodine, and Zinc, Beli ensures your body is ready for this exciting next step. Give yourself and your future baby the best foundation for a healthy start. Visit Belibaby.com today and use code IAF15 for 15% off your first order.  Our Sponsors: * BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up today and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com Our Sponsors: * Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    31 min
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About

Unfiltered, honest, and deeply human—Infertile AF is the podcast that tells the real stories behind infertility and modern family building. Hosted by journalist, Fertility Rally co-founder, "Work of ART" books author and mom-of-two Ali Prato, who went through secondary infertility and IVF herself, the show dives into the messy, frustrating, painful, heartbreaking, absurd, and sometimes even funny realities of trying to have a baby—or pivoting in a different direction. Each episode spotlights a different journey, path or topic, covering everything from miscarriages, egg freezing, sperm and egg donation, IUIs, IVF, endometriosis, and male factor infertility to adoption, surrogacy, genetic testing, termination for medical reasons, single parenting by choice, LGBTQ+ family building, living childless not by choice, depression, relationship struggles, financial stress, jealousy, PTSD, trauma and beyond. In this safe, non-judgmental space, Ali explores all the outcomes: the joyful, the soul-crushing, and the stories still unfolding. Infertile AF is here to remind you that no matter where you are on your journey, you’re not alone.

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