Create A Happy Family

Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions
  • 4.9 (48)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Who knew it could take more than two people to have a baby?  Create A Happy Family is a weekly podcast for anyone exploring surrogacy or egg donation — hopeful parents, surrogates, and egg donors alike.   This show brings you real stories, expert insights, and honest conversations from people who’ve lived it.   Hosted by Whitney Hall — a two-time surrogate and surrogacy coordinator with Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions — each episode offers the clarity, transparency, and support you need to explore your family-building options with confidence.   You’ll hear from intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, and professionals, each sharing their unique perspective to help guide yours.   Whether you’re just beginning or deep in the decision-making process, Create A Happy Family will equip you with the knowledge, encouragement, and reassurance to move forward — feeling truly informed and supported.   💫 Creating Happy Families via Egg Donation & Surrogacy, one relationship at a time. Please click -->  Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions to find out more!

  1. 6d ago

    What Should You Know Before Becoming an Egg Donor?

    Egg donation may begin with a decision someone makes today but what could that decision mean years from now?In this episode of Create A Happy Family, psychotherapists Kristin Maljean and Leslee Murphy join Whitney to talk about preparing egg donors for both the process in front of them and the future implications of their decision.What does it mean to know there may be a person in the world who shares your genetics? What happens if that person wants contact someday? What might you tell a future partner or your own children? And in a world of consumer DNA testing, what does "anonymous" donation even mean anymore?Kristin also shares her perspective as an intended parent who built her family through egg donation and why the donor's story can become a meaningful part of a child's own story.In this episode, we discuss:What happens during an egg donor psychological evaluationInformed consent and donor readinessGenetic and mental health historyFuture contact and donor-conceived peopleThe changing meaning of anonymous egg donationTalking with partners, family, and future children about donatingWhat intended parents should know about donor screeningSubscribe for more conversations about egg donation, donor conception, IVF, surrogacy, and family building.#EggDonation #EggDonor #DonorConceived #DonorConception #FamilyBuildingCONNECT WITH MEMORIAL WELLNESS & COUNSELINGhttps://memorialwell.com/CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    What Should You Know Before Becoming an Egg Donor?

  2. Sep 16

    How Do You Find an LGBTQ-Friendly Fertility Clinic?

    How do you find an LGBTQ-friendly fertility clinic?Over three decades in reproductive medicine, fertility specialist Dr. Michael Guarnaccia has watched both fertility science and society's definition of family evolve. In this episode, he shares what LGBTQ individuals and couples should look for in a fertility clinic, and why personalized, relationship-centered care can make all the difference when building your family.Whether you're just beginning to explore IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, or other family-building options, this conversation offers practical guidance on choosing a fertility team that understands the needs of LGBTQ families and supports you every step of the way.In this episode, we discuss:How to choose an LGBTQ-friendly fertility clinicWhy personalized fertility care mattersBuilding a fertility team you can trustEgg donation and surrogacy for LGBTQ familiesFinding support throughout your family-building journeySubscribe for more conversations about IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, fertility, and family building.#LGBTQfamilybuilding #fertility #IVF #surrogacy #eggdonationCONNECT WITH NEW ENGLAND FERTILITY INSTITUTEhttps://www.nefertility.com/@nefertilityCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://www.createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    How Do You Find an LGBTQ-Friendly Fertility Clinic?

  3. Sep 9

    What Happens When Surrogacy Makes The Headlines?

    What does ethical surrogacy actually look like, especially when something goes wrong?Recent conversations surrounding the Baby Rumi case have raised difficult questions about surrogacy: Who protects the surrogate? Who protects the intended parents? And what happens when people disagree after a pregnancy has already begun?In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Whitney is joined by Katy Encalade, President & CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, and Crystal Chaing, Vice President of Surrogacy Program & Client Content Development. But before leading and supporting families through surrogacy professionally, Katy was a surrogate herself, and Crystal built her own family as an intended parent through surrogacy.Together, they move beyond one headline to explore what ethical surrogacy looks like in practice, and the safeguards that should be in place before a journey ever begins.Because ethical surrogacy isn't defined by what happens when everything goes according to plan. It's revealed in what happens when it doesn't.In this episode, we discuss:- What ethical surrogacy actually means- Thoughtful matching and hard conversations before pregnancy- Surrogate autonomy and intended parent rights- Independent legal counsel, screening, and professional support- What happens when surrogates and intended parents disagree- The role of an agency when a journey becomes complicated- Red flags to look for when choosing a surrogacy agencySubscribe for more conversations about surrogacy, IVF, egg donation, intended parenthood, and family building.#EthicalSurrogacy #Surrogacy #GestationalSurrogacy #IntendedParents #FamilyBuildingCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    What Happens When Surrogacy Makes The Headlines?

  4. Sep 2

    The Birth Didn't Go as Planned... The Moment Was Better.

    Birth rarely goes exactly as planned.When Jessica's surrogacy journey unexpectedly ended in an emergency C-section, the moment she had been envisioning all along didn't happen the way she expected, but it became even more beautiful.In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Jessica shares how trust, communication, and a genuine relationship with her intended parents transformed an unexpected birth into one of the most meaningful moments of her life. From matching and pregnancy to delivery and life after surrogacy, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the best journeys are built on connection, not perfection.In this episode, we discuss:Finding the right intended parentsBuilding trust throughout a surrogacy journeyWhen birth doesn't go as plannedCreating meaningful relationships through surrogacySupporting intended parents during deliveryLife after a successful surrogacy journeyCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily#surrogacy #gestationalcarrier #birthstory #intendedparents #familybuilding

    The Birth Didn't Go as Planned... The Moment Was Better.

  5. Aug 26

    When Should You Tell Your Donor-Conceived Child?

    When should you tell your donor-conceived child their story?Not "if," but "when." In today's world, donor conception is no longer something families can, or should, keep secret. More importantly, experts and donor-conceived adults agree that children benefit from growing up knowing their story.In this episode of Create A Happy Family, reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Danny Shapiro and donor-conceived adult Josh McLaurin share why early disclosure matters, how it shapes identity, and why DNA isn't destiny. Together, they offer practical guidance and reassurance for parents navigating donor conception with honesty, love, and confidence.In this episode, we discuss:When to tell your donor-conceived childWhy early disclosure mattersIdentity and donor conceptionMeeting your biological donor as an adultCommon concerns intended parents haveWhy DNA doesn't define a familySubscribe for more conversations about donor conception, IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, and family building.#donorconception #ivf #eggdonation #familybuilding #intendedparentsCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    When Should You Tell Your Donor-Conceived Child?

  6. Aug 19

    When I Couldn't Be a Surrogate Anymore

    What happens when a surrogacy journey doesn’t go the way you hoped?In this episode, our host Whitney Hall gets vulnerable and shares the part of her story she rarely talks about: her third surrogacy journey ending after two failed transfers and the emotions that followed.After two successful journeys, Whitney never expected how much her identity had become tied to being a “successful surrogate” until that role suddenly changed. What followed was a complicated mix of grief, anger, loss, and questioning where she still fit within a space that had once felt so deeply connected to her purpose.This conversation explores:* the emotional impact of failed transfers in surrogacy* how identity can become tied to outcomes* unnamed grief and loss after a journey ends* what happens when hope no longer feels certain* learning to hold both heartbreak and meaning at the same time* why support matters even when a journey doesn’t move forwardThis episode is an honest reflection on surrogacy, loss, identity, and the quieter parts of this work that often go unseen.And for anyone navigating disappointment, grief, or an unexpected ending in this space, this conversation is a reminder that your story, your effort, and the hope you carried still matter.

    When I Couldn't Be a Surrogate Anymore

  7. Aug 12

    You Want to Build Your Family, But Do You Know Your Options?

    Many people know they want to build a family, but they don’t fully understand the options available to them, or even where to start.In this episode of Create a Happy Family, Justine Witzke, PhD, MPH, Founder & CEO of Aligneage Fertility, shares how understanding your fertility can bring greater clarity to the family-building process.From semen analysis and male fertility preservation, to donor sperm, and coordinated care, Justine explains how better information can help intended parents make more informed decisions about their next steps, and why fertility care is about more than test results. It’s about understanding the whole person, their goals, and the path their path to parenthood.In this episode, we discuss:• What a semen analysis can tell you• Common misconceptions about fertility• Fertility preservation and future planning• Donor sperm and care optionsWhether you’re exploring IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, or sperm donation, this conversation offers practical insight to help you better understand your options and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.CONNECT WITH ALIGNEAGE FERTILITYhttps://www.aligneagefertility.comCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://www.createahappyfamily.com@createahappyfamily

    You Want to Build Your Family, But Do You Know Your Options?

  8. Aug 5

    How Surrogacy Psych Evaluations Really Work

    In this episode of Create A Happy Family, psychotherapists Leslee Murphy and Kristin Malejan explain how surrogacy psych evaluations really work, why clinics require them, and what they're actually looking for. Rather than searching for perfection, they're looking at the whole person to help set surrogates and intended parents up for a healthy, successful journey.In this episode, we discuss:What happens during a surrogacy psych evaluationCommon misconceptions about psychological clearancesHow ASRM guidelines are used in real lifeWhy psychologists look beyond a checklistWhy communication, support, and expectations matterCONNECT WITH MEMORIAL WELLNESS & COUNSELINGhttps://memorialwell.com/CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily#surrogacy #psychologicalevaluation #gestationalcarrier #intendedparents #familybuilding

    How Surrogacy Psych Evaluations Really Work
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4.9
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

Who knew it could take more than two people to have a baby?  Create A Happy Family is a weekly podcast for anyone exploring surrogacy or egg donation — hopeful parents, surrogates, and egg donors alike.   This show brings you real stories, expert insights, and honest conversations from people who’ve lived it.   Hosted by Whitney Hall — a two-time surrogate and surrogacy coordinator with Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions — each episode offers the clarity, transparency, and support you need to explore your family-building options with confidence.   You’ll hear from intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, and professionals, each sharing their unique perspective to help guide yours.   Whether you’re just beginning or deep in the decision-making process, Create A Happy Family will equip you with the knowledge, encouragement, and reassurance to move forward — feeling truly informed and supported.   💫 Creating Happy Families via Egg Donation & Surrogacy, one relationship at a time. Please click -->  Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions to find out more!

Information

  • Creator
    Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    148
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions. All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Create A Happy Family