The Home of Fertility with Liz Walton & Helen Zee

Liz Walton and Helen Zee

The Home of Fertility – Podcast Description Where science meets soul, and your fertility story matters. Welcome to The Home of Fertility, hosted by Liz Walton and Helen Zee — two mothers, practitioners, and passionate advocates for reimagining how we talk about fertility, healing, and creating family. 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 a family. Each episode offers heartfelt insight, inclusive wisdom, and practical tools across the emotional, physical, spiritual, and medical dimensions of fertility. Whether you're on a fertility journey, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about what family can mean today — you're welcome here. This is a place where: Vulnerability meets knowledgeMedical meets integrativePersonal stories become medicineNo one walks the path aloneWhether 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. Find us on Instagram & Facebook @australianfertilitysummit Visit: www.australianfertilitysummit.com.au To learn more about Liz's work , visit www.lizwalton.org facebook visit (20+) Facebook Instagram visit @lizwalton_fertilitycoach To learn more about Helen’s work, visit helenzee.com 💛 Find us on Instagram & Facebook @australianfertilitysummit 💛 Visit: www.australianfertilitysummit.com.au

  1. 1d ago

    Female Infertility Basics From Testing To Treatment with City Fertility Dr Anne Poliness

    We talk with fertility specialist Dr. Anne Poliness about what infertility means, when to seek help, and how early testing can replace months of uncertainty with a clear plan. We break down AMH, age-related egg quality, and the practical first steps that support you whether you are trying now or still planning. • infertility definitions and why the 12-month rule does not fit everyone • reasons to seek fertility advice early including painful periods and irregular cycles • preconception health checks with your GP including rubella and chickenpox immunity • folic acid, vitamin D, and iron as part of basic fertility wellness planning • AMH explained as ovarian reserve and why it does not measure egg quality • how age impacts egg quality even with regular ovulation • common causes including endometriosis, PMOS/PCOS, ovulation disorders, and male factor • first-line testing including pelvic ultrasound, hormone profile, and semen analysis • when to consider further investigations such as tubal testing • treatment pathways including ovulation induction, laparoscopy for endometriosis, IUI, IVF, and ICSI If you'd like to learn more about City Fertility and the services that they offer, please visit cityfertility.com.au. Trying to conceive can turn into a calendar-counting spiral fast and one of the hardest questions is also the simplest: when should we ask for help? Liz Walton sits down with fertility specialist Dr. Ann Poliness to make that moment feel clearer, calmer, and far less lonely, with practical guidance you can use whether you’re just starting to plan or already deep into the trying phase. We talk through how infertility is defined (and why the “12 months under 35” or “6 months over 35” rule is not one-size-fits-all). Dr. Poliness explains why symptoms like painful periods or irregular cycles are a reason to seek fertility advice earlier, not later. We also dig into what a smart preconception health check can look like with your GP: immunity to rubella and chickenpox, checking vitamin D and iron, and starting folic acid to reduce the risk of spina bifida. Then we tackle the testing buzzwords people hear online. AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) can help estimate ovarian reserve and predict response to IVF or egg freezing stimulation, but it does not measure egg quality. Age, however, does affect egg quality over time, even when you’re ovulating regularly. From there, we map the most common causes of infertility, including endometriosis, PMOS/PCOS (formerly PCOS), ovulation issues, and male factor infertility, plus the first investigations many clinics start with: pelvic ultrasound, hormone testing, and semen analysis. We end with treatment options that match the cause and the person, from ovulation induction and considering laparoscopy for endometriosis to IUI, IVF, and ICSI, with a consistent message running underneath it all: you deserve clear information early and a real voice in the decisions. If this helps, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find support sooner. City Fertility website - City Fertility Dr Anne Poliness - Dr Anne Poliness | City Fertility

  2. Sep 25

    Eight Losses To Two Children And The Work Of Holding Space a deep discussion with Stacey June Lewis

    We sit down with psychotherapist and storyteller Stacey June Lewis to talk about pregnancy loss, fertility grief, and what it means to hold life and death in the body at the same time. We move from lived experience to practical support, including nervous system regulation and permission to stop trying to “fix” feelings on a timeline. • Stacy’s path from broadcaster to psychotherapist and miscarriage support work • How fertility “trenches” can begin before trying to conceive • The reality of acute grief after miscarriage and early pregnancy loss • Why being truly seen matters more than the right words • How grief shows up in identity shifts, relationships, career changes, and monthly cycles • Lived experience in therapy without making the session about the therapist • Somatic support, breathwork, and rebuilding connection with the body • Decision fatigue in IVF and how disconnection drives external searching • Practical ways to find Stacy’s work through The Well Hub in Melbourne and online Grief after miscarriage or a failed IVF cycle doesn’t just live in your thoughts, it lives in your body. One day you’re imagining a baby, the next you’re navigating loss, numbness, anger, or a strange feeling of disconnection that’s hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t been there. We’re joined by psychotherapist and longtime storyteller Stacey June Lewis, whose own fertility journey spans six years, two children, and eight losses. Stacy shares what changed for her after pregnancy loss, how that experience shaped her work with the Pink Elephants miscarriage support charity, and what she’s learned from sitting with women in the most acute moments of early pregnancy loss. We talk about why grief can start long before you ever “try,” why people around you may struggle to sit with pain, and how therapy can help you feel truly seen without forcing silver linings. Then we get practical about nervous system regulation and somatic support. Stacey explains fight or flight after loss, why the body can “switch off” as a survival response, and how decision fatigue during fertility treatment can pull you toward external answers when self-trust is shaken. She also shares how her Melbourne practice at The Well Hub in Spotswood blends counseling (including telehealth) with body-based supports designed to help you feel safe again. If you’re in the thick of fertility grief, take this as permission to slow down and breathe.  Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find real miscarriage support and grounded fertility counseling when it matters most. Stacey June Lewis details: email - stacey@thewellhub.com.au website - https://www.thewellhub.com.au Socilas; @staceyjune @thewell_hub @thewell_spotswood

  3. Sep 18

    From Ten Failed IVF Cycles To An Open Donor Family a beautiful discussion with Fiona O,Neil

    We sit down with Fiona O’Neill to trace a complex fertility journey that moves through endometriosis, repeated IVF failure, donor pathways, and finally embryo donation that leads to motherhood and an open donor family relationship. We talk honestly about the anxiety and fertility trauma that can follow you into pregnancy and parenting, plus the boundaries and support that make the road feel less isolating. • Fiona’s path through IVF, missed endometriosis, and the turning point to stop retrievals • Donor eggs, donor sperm, overseas treatment, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy realities • Embryo donation explained, plus why many people do not learn it exists • The case for open donor relationships and early age-appropriate disclosure • Meeting donor siblings and building a healthy ongoing connection between families • Expectations, guilt, and pressure around pregnancy, birth, bonding, and feeding • Boundaries that protect mental health, including baby events and social media • Fertility trauma and why support can still matter years later Ten IVF cycles. No embryos to transfer. A stage four endometriosis diagnosis that arrives far too late. Then a private-number phone call with words Fiona O’Neill never thought she’d hear: you’ve been matched, and there are 11 embryos. Liz Walton sits with Fiona, founder of The Fertility Framework, to tell the full story of a long fertility journey that includes pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy, donor eggs, donor sperm, and ultimately embryo donation that leads to the birth of her son. We get practical about what people wish clinics explained sooner, including Fiona’s “menu of options” idea and the delicate balance between being informed and being overwhelmed. We also go deeper into donor conception and what an open donor family relationship can look like when everyone leans in with care. Fiona shares why early, age-appropriate disclosure matters, how identity questions can shape decisions around anonymous versus open donation, and what it was like for her son to meet his donor siblings. Then we talk about the part that rarely gets airtime: what happens emotionally after success. Anxiety during pregnancy after infertility, pressure to be “perfect,” fear about bonding, and the ongoing patterns of bracing for bad news. We break down supportive boundaries, why the “stress causes infertility” myth can be so damaging, and how lived-experience support can change the day-to-day reality of IVF, endometriosis, and fertility trauma. If you know someone feeling alone on a fertility journey, share this conversation with them, subscribe for more, and leave a review so more people can find the support they deserve. Fiona O,Neil's details -  Founder, Fertility Coach & Workplace Educator Email - fiona@thefertilityframework.com.au Website - www.thefertilityframework.com.au https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-o-neil-864971172/    https://www.instagram.com/fertilityframework/?hl=en

  4. Sep 11

    The Invisible Team: An Embryologist on What Patients Never Get to See talking with Alice Lee

    We talk with embryologist and author Alice Lee about what IVF really looks like inside the lab, and why a little biology knowledge upfront can reduce stress later. We share how the book “Egg Plus Sperm Equals Babies?” helps patients feel calmer, ask better questions, and understand that outcomes can vary even with great care. • why “egg plus sperm equals baby” is not always true • the basic IVF and embryology terms that help most before starting treatment • what embryologists do behind the scenes and why patients rarely meet them • how illustrations make embryo stages and lab updates easier to grasp • why slow learning beats scrolling when you’re overwhelmed • asking questions at every stage and avoiding panic-Googling • remembering every fertility journey is personal and different Egg plus sperm equals baby sounds simple, until you’re living through IVF and learning that biology doesn’t follow a straight line. I’m joined by embryologist Alice Lee, who has spent two decades in IVF labs across Malaysia, New Zealand, and Australia, and who now co-authors an illustrated guide that opens the lab doors for patients and families: “Egg Plus Sperm Equals Babies?” (yes, with a question mark). We get practical about what patients should understand before starting a cycle, so you’re not trying to learn brand-new terminology while juggling injections, hormones, and the emotional highs and lows. Alice explains why it helps to know the difference between an egg and an embryo, what the main embryo development stages mean, and why outcomes can change along the way even when everyone is doing their best. We also talk about the often-invisible role of the embryology team, the short lab update calls on key days, and how visuals can help you truly understand what’s happening under the microscope. You’ll also hear our strongest “IVF sanity” tip: write your questions down and ask them, instead of assuming or getting lost in search results. Alice shares where to find the book worldwide and how to connect.  If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a friend on a fertility journey, and leave a review so more people can find clear, human support. Egg = sperm? book - https://zygoteink.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eggspermbabies/

  5. Sep 4

    Acupuncture and Naturopathy support for your IVF journey a deep discussion with Juanita Jolly

    We talk with Dr. Juanita Jolly about how naturopathy and acupuncture support fertility and IVF by improving health foundations while working alongside your fertility specialist. We share practical steps for egg and sperm quality, reducing overwhelm, and building belief and support during a tough journey. • Juanita’s personal path into fertility care through supporting a friend with recurrent miscarriage • When to start naturopathic and acupuncture support for IVF, including the three month window for egg and sperm quality • What a tailored treatment plan can include, from diet changes and supplements to gentle weekly acupuncture • Working as a team with IVF clinics, including safety around herbs and treatment timing • Core lifestyle factors for fertility, including greens, protein, healthy fats, and realistic changes that stick • Endocrine disrupting chemicals and simple swaps to reduce plastic exposure • Male fertility basics, including heat, phone and laptop placement, exercise, weight, and stress • Cellular health testing with bioimpedance analysis to assess muscle mass and body composition • Why more supplements is not always better, plus simplifying to what you actually need IVF can feel like your whole life is measured in appointments, numbers, and waiting. So we sat down with Dr. Juanita Jolly, a naturopath and doctor of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, to talk about what helps when you want support that is grounded, realistic, and truly focused on you as a person, not a protocol. She shares how her fertility work began by helping a close friend through recurrent miscarriage, and how that experience shaped the way she supports patients today.  We dig into IVF support and preconception care timing, including why starting about three months before a cycle can be powerful for egg quality and sperm quality. Juanita explains what treatment can look like in practice: individualized nutrition changes, carefully selected fertility supplements, and gentle acupuncture for fertility that many people use to feel calmer and more resourced during treatment. We also talk about why integrated care matters, and how she collaborates with fertility specialists so complementary medicine supports IVF rather than interfering with it.  You’ll hear simple lifestyle strategies that don’t require perfection: prioritizing a healthy fertility diet with greens, protein, and healthy fats, reducing alcohol and smoking, and making small changes to lower exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals like plastics. Juanita also brings much needed attention to male fertility, including practical steps around heat, phones and laptops, exercise, and stress. She breaks down cellular health testing through bioimpedance analysis and why body composition and muscle mass can connect to hormones and fertility for both men and women.  If you’ve been drowning in advice and supplement stacks, this conversation will help you simplify and focus on what’s most likely to move the needle. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs steadier support, and leave a review so more people can find these tools. What’s one change you’re willing to start with this week? Juanita's Details; email - info@balancemed.com.au website - https://www.balancemed.com.au/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/balance_comp_med/ FB -  https://www.facebook.com/BalanceCompMed/

  6. Aug 28

    Ten IVF Cycles To Two Children And A Book Series That Helps Families Talk wonderful chat with Stephanie Boag

    We sit down with author and fertility advocate Stephanie Bogue to talk about building a family through IVF, coping with miscarriages, and what it takes to keep going when answers don’t come. We also dig into how to talk to children about IVF with warmth and honesty, and why community support matters as much as medical care. • Stephanie’s path through unexplained infertility and 10 IVF cycles • Writing the Sticky Pineapple books for adults and children • Normalizing assisted reproduction and reducing infertility stigma • Pushing for investigation and asking about endometriosis • Supporting mental health with acupuncture, yoga, meditation, retreats, and trusted people • Miscarriage grief, different coping styles in partners, and delayed trauma • Helping friends, family, and colleagues show up with simple check-ins like “Are you okay?” Ten IVF cycles can change how you see your body, your relationships, your work life, and your future. We’re joined by Melbourne author and fertility advocate Stephanie Bogue, who tells the raw truth of navigating unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and the long stretch of treatment that finally led to two IVF-born daughters. Along the way, we talk about the moments people don’t always say out loud: the fatigue, the fear, and how hope can feel both essential and exhausting.  Stephanie shares what helped her protect her mental health and physical wellbeing during fertility treatment, from acupuncture and a fertility naturopath to yoga, meditation, and retreats, plus the reality of juggling IVF appointments while trying to keep a growing career on track. We also get into self-advocacy and investigation, including her experience discovering endometriosis later in the process, and why asking persistent questions can matter even when nothing is “obvious” on paper. If you’re looking for IVF support, miscarriage support, and practical ways to stay steady through uncertainty, this conversation offers grounded guidance without false promises.  We also dive into the Sticky Pineapple book series and why Stephanie wrote both an adult book and a children’s book to help families talk about IVF with warmth and clarity. She explains the meaning of the pineapple symbol in the infertility community and why being more open, at home and in the workplace, can reduce stigma and help people feel less alone. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people on the fertility journey can find real support. Stephanie Boags details: http://www.stickypineapple.com www.stickypineapple.com/abouttheauthor Socials: Linked In: Stephanie Boag Instagram: stickypineapple2025 or Stephanie..Boag.1 TikTok: Sticky.pineapple.b Facebook: Stephanie Boag

  7. Aug 21

    How Self-Love Replaces Diet Culture During Fertility Struggles deep discussion with Marleen Mour

    We sit down with Marleen Mour to redefine self-love as the way we stay with ourselves through disappointment, stress, and negative tests, not a feel-good phrase. We connect that mindset to fertility, emotional eating, and sustainable weight loss that supports the body without diet punishment. • Self-love as staying present with ourselves when things go wrong • Checking self-talk by asking whether it sounds loving or abusive • Why TTC stress can trigger emotional eating and self-sabotage • The difference between weight loss for health and dieting through restriction • How self-judgment, cortisol, and shame can worsen the internal environment • Marlene’s story of losing 49 kilos and maintaining it for 13 years • The “mirror moment” that ends self-loathing and starts real healing • Building trust with cravings and focusing on nourishment over rules • Epigenetic testing as a personalized blueprint for food and lifestyle • What coaching looks like: group support, practical tools, and emotional processing A negative pregnancy test can flip a switch from hope to self-blame in seconds. We feel it in our chest, we question our bodies, and the inner voice gets sharp. That’s why this conversation with Marlene Moore hits so deep: she reframes self-love as what happens after disappointment, not what we post when life is going well. We talk about trying to conceive, fertility stress, and the messy middle where diet culture promises control but often delivers restriction, bingeing, guilt, and more shame. Marlene explains why women don’t need another punishing diet layered on top of appointments, hormones, injections, and grief. Yes, health and weight can matter for fertility, but the path there changes everything: moving from “I’m broken” to “I’m worthy of care” can shift habits, reduce chronic stress, and support a healthier internal environment. We also explore “fertile thinking,” how self-judgment impacts cortisol, and why emotional eating is often a signal that we need support, not stricter rules. Marleen shares her powerful personal story: growing up in Egypt, surviving a high-stress home, using food to cope, and eventually losing 49 kilos and maintaining it for 13 years. We get into what actually made the difference, healing the relationship with herself, learning to process emotions instead of eating them, and creating a lifestyle that feels sustainable. She also explains epigenetic testing and how personalized insights can guide food, timing, exercise, and daily choices without generic one-size-fits-all advice. If you want a calmer, kinder, and more effective approach to fertility wellness, press play. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more women can find this kind of support. Marleen's Details; email - maeen@fittheroes.com website - http://www.fittheroes.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/marleen-mour-216b55149?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios    https://www.facebook.com/share/1DTj5FMnHD/?mibextid=wwXIfr    https://www.instagram.com/marleen.mour?igsh=amdpMmN4ZXNteGR6&utm_source=qr

  8. Aug 13

    You Cannot Bypass The Root Cause With IVF deep discussin with Dr Gabriela Rosa

    We sit down with Dr. Gabriella Rosa to name what often gets missed in fertility care and why “unexplained” can be a signal that testing and root-cause work stopped too soon. We talk honestly about male factor, IVF realities, metabolic health, and the simple mindset shifts that help couples take back agency without carrying the journey alone. • “Unexplained infertility” as a sign investigations have stopped short • Fertility testing basics that get skipped, including semen analysis • Why fertility is a team sport and why partners need education together • IVF as powerful technology that is often overused and misunderstood • How sperm quality and DNA fragmentation change with male age • Acting pregnant now to get pregnant later as a practical framework • Lifestyle, nutrition, stress, inflammation, and long-term health links • Insulin resistance, PCOS and metabolic screening beyond fasting glucose • Endometriosis, immune and environmental factors, and individualized timing • Building a personalized fertility plan based on evidence, values, and access If this podcast resonated, please share it. Leave a review or subscribe. This helps us support more people that are on this path. “Everything looks normal, just keep trying” can be one of the most painful sentences to hear when you’re doing everything you can to build a family. We’re joined by Harvard-awarded fertility specialist Dr. Gabriella Rosa, founder of the Rosa Institute, to unpack why so many couples end up labeled with unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriage, or failed treatment when the real issue is that the workup often stops too early. We dig into the overlooked basics that can change outcomes fast, especially male factor infertility. Dr. Rosa explains why semen analysis is frequently delayed, how sperm quality and DNA fragmentation shift with male age (often starting around 35), and why fertility truly is a team sport. We also talk about the emotional reality many women describe: carrying the burden alone, feeling dismissed, and losing precious time that can’t be replaced. IVF comes up with refreshing honesty. We respect how miraculous assisted reproductive technology can be, while also confronting the “silver bullet” myth and the per-cycle failure rates that many people are never clearly told. Dr. Rosa shares why IVF is sometimes overused to bypass problems that should be investigated first, and how optimizing egg quality, sperm health, inflammation, and metabolic function can improve both natural conception and IVF success. You’ll also hear why insulin resistance can hide behind normal labs, how it can affect ovulation, implantation, and miscarriage risk, and why fertility symptoms can be early warning signs for long-term health. We touch on endometriosis, immune and environmental factors, and how to build a personalized fertility plan that fits your biology, values, and timeline. We close with two practical anchors: get your partner educated with you, and “act pregnant now to get pregnant later.” If this conversation helps you feel clearer or less alone, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more couples can find support. Dr Gabrila Rosa details; Email - gabriela@rosainstitute.com Website - https://fertilitybreakthrough.com/ Socials - https://www.facebook.com/FertilitySpecialistGabrielaRosa   https://www.instagram.com/dr.gabrielarosa/   https://x.com/gabrielarosa   https://www.tiktok.com/@gabrielarosafertility?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

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About

The Home of Fertility – Podcast Description Where science meets soul, and your fertility story matters. Welcome to The Home of Fertility, hosted by Liz Walton and Helen Zee — two mothers, practitioners, and passionate advocates for reimagining how we talk about fertility, healing, and creating family. 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 a family. Each episode offers heartfelt insight, inclusive wisdom, and practical tools across the emotional, physical, spiritual, and medical dimensions of fertility. Whether you're on a fertility journey, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about what family can mean today — you're welcome here. This is a place where: Vulnerability meets knowledgeMedical meets integrativePersonal stories become medicineNo one walks the path aloneWhether 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. Find us on Instagram & Facebook @australianfertilitysummit Visit: www.australianfertilitysummit.com.au To learn more about Liz's work , visit www.lizwalton.org facebook visit (20+) Facebook Instagram visit @lizwalton_fertilitycoach To learn more about Helen’s work, visit helenzee.com 💛 Find us on Instagram & Facebook @australianfertilitysummit 💛 Visit: www.australianfertilitysummit.com.au

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