AllPaths Podcast

AllPaths Family Building
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Building a family can be a complicated, messy, lonely, and sometimes heartbreaking process, but you don't have to navigate this challenging journey alone. Join the AllPaths Family Building community as we talk with people who are currently trying to grow their family, those whose family building journey has come to an end, and experts in the fertility and family building space. Together we'll: *Hear family stories, providing real-life perspectives that highlight the many different paths a family building journey can take. *Explore different fertility treatments and family building options with experts in this space. *Get connected to a variety of supportive resources so you feel better equipped to tackle any challenges that may arise in your family building journey. *Learn about ongoing advocacy work that promotes access to fertility care and family building options - and you can get involved. No matter what you encounter on your journey - struggles while TTC, IUI, IVF, donor conception, surrogacy, adoption, pregnancy loss, pregnancy and parenting after, or remaining childless not by choice - the real-life insights from people who have traveled those paths can provide connection, comfort, and hope.

  1. 2H AGO

    YOUR Advocacy Journey: Demystifying the Process and Finding the Power in Your Story

    This episode serves as a comprehensive guide to demystifying the advocacy process for those who want to support family-building issues, but are nervous or don’t know where to start. Hosts Kate and Emily share their own early anxieties about testifying and understanding policy to reassure listeners that even seasoned advocates started with the same fears. They emphasize that you do not need to be a policy expert or a professional lobbyist to be effective; in fact, your personal story is your "most powerful currency" because it provides a human frame of reference that can change a legislator's mind more effectively than statistics alone. To help you get started, the episode outlines practical steps such as identifying your state-level elected officials and building relationships with them at your local coffee shop, a friendly chance encounter at a sunflower field, and community office hours. And while personal connections with legislators can lead to significant policy wins, it’s important to remember that advocacy is a team sport. Organizations like AllPaths provide resources for tracking bills and preparing testimony, whether you choose to participate in person, virtually, or through written submissions. From the powerful impact of a physical "preemie diaper" held up during a Senate debate to the simple act of sending a thank-you note during the "off-season," every authentic relationship with officials and story shared helps advance the collective goals of our community. Visit https://allpathsfb.org/advocacy-work/ or reach out to us at admin@allpathsfb.org to get started on your advocacy journey! TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: family building, fertility advocacy, infertility support, share your story, personal advocacy, advocacy resources, family growth journey, advocate for change, family building community, fertility preservation, legislative advocacy, grassroots advocacy, emotional support for families, navigating infertility, state legislatures, writing to your representative, personal experiences in advocacy, infertility legislation, community support for families, becoming an advocate, advocacy 101 CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org Follow us on social media @allpathsfb Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at podcast@allpathsfb.org!

    37 min

  2. DEC 23

    Maya & Jen’s Journeys: From ‘One More Shot’ to Empowering Others

    In this episode of the AllPaths podcast, hosts Kate and Emily sit down with Maya and Jen, the founders of EM•POWER with Moxi, to explore their experiences with embryo donation. Maya, a psychotherapist and creator of the documentary One More Shot, shares her four-and-a-half-year struggle with infertility that, after multiple unsuccessful rounds of IVF and egg donation, culminated with the birth of her daughter conceived via embryo donation. Jen offers the perspective of a donor, recounting her experience as a former IVF patient with a complete family and single remaining embryo that she chose to donate to a recipient who now has an eight-year-old son. Together, they highlight how their personal histories informed the creation of Moxie Matching, a platform designed to provide the education and logistical support they found lacking during their own journeys. The discussion delves into the critical distinctions between directed donation and anonymous clinic programs when considering donor conception. Jen and Maya explain that "directed" donation allows for transparency regarding genetic origins, which they believe is essential for a child’s welfare as they grow. They also clarify the importance of terminology throughout the process, from why they prefer the term embryo donation over embryo adoption for important legal reasons, to how donor and recipient parents can normalize conversations about genetic origins and support children as they navigate their own definitions of family and connection. Ultimately, Maya and Jen’s own stories and work in this space, provide guidance into a unique and celebrated expansion of family while prioritizing the long-term well-being of the children involved. Learn more about Talking to Kids about Embryo Donation (webinar). Connect with Maya, Jen, and EM•POWER with Moxi at https://www.empowerwithmoxi.com/. Watch One More Shot, Maya’s film chronicling her family building journey https://www.onemoreshotfilm.com/. TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Fertility treatment, fertility clinic, IUI, IVF, diminished ovarian reserve, Clomid, donor egg, known donor, directed donor, embryo donation, embryo adoption, unsuccessful cycle, failed IVF cycle, insurance coverage, assisted reproduction, donor conception, genetic testing, DNA testing, genetics, One More Shot documentary, therapist, reproductive therapist, embryo donor, male factor infertility, ICSI, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, viable embryos, twin pregnancy, EM•POWER with Moxi, Moxi Matching, embryo disposition, donate to science, recipient, embryo donor support, emotional support, Embryo Donation Support, remaining embryos, family building, embryo donation, fertility journey, IVF experience, reproductive medicine, assisted reproduction, donor conception, parenting paths, support groups for infertility, emotional support for parents, family growth options, All Paths podcast, navigating fertility challenges, genetic counseling, embryo matching, donor egg cycles, community for fertility patients, parenting through IVF, connecting with embryo donors, family narratives in assisted reproduction, education, counseling, directed embryo donation, genetic counseling, mental health, legal counseling, donor conceived child, genetic connections, It’s Not the Stork book series, personhood rights CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: a href="https://allpathsfb.org" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    57 min

  3. DEC 16

    Karalyn’s Journey: YOU know when your family is complete.

    This episode features Karalyn Connolly, a longtime New Englander, parent of three, and professional in the fertility space. Over the course of the conversation, Karalyn recounts the unexpected challenge of facing unexplained secondary infertility after her first pregnancy was achieved easily. She describes the process as scary and isolating, leading to feelings of self-blame, immense pressure, and guilt. After initial conversations with her OBGYN and waiting the mandated 12 months of trying (as she was under 35), Karalyn moved through medicated cycles, timed intercourse, and eventually four unsuccessful IUI cycles. The lack of spousal agreement on continuing treatment added an additional layer of complication, forcing Karalyn to question if she should be satisfied with the family she already had. Karalyn’s eventual IVF journey was extensive and emotionally draining, involving travel outside of New Hampshire due to insurance mandates. She underwent four retrievals and seven transfers, four of which ended in chemical pregnancies. At her breaking point, she tried one last retrieval, and though the fresh transfer failed, she transferred her final two frozen embryos, which resulted in the birth of her healthy boy/girl twins. She notes that the worry and fear associated with the losses never fully disappeared until she held her babies. After the delivery of her twins, Karalyn felt closure and knew her family building journey was finally complete. Her personal journey came full circle when, years later, she joined Femasys, a biomedical company dedicated to women's health and fertility. Karalyn found this move fulfilling, giving her the opportunity to help families achieve their parenting goals. Learn more about Femasys and their work at https://femasys.com/. TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Femasys, secondary infertility, trying for another, unexplained infertility, infertility, self-blame, fertility treatment, medicated cycles, timed intercourse, IUI, unsuccessful cycles, fertility benefits, IVF, guilt, insurance mandate, not on the same page, reproductive endocrinologist, egg retrieval, transfer, chemical pregnancy, frozen embryo transfer, twin pregnancy, multiples, full-term twin, medical sales, women’s healthcare company, insemination, FemVue, Sono-HSG, FemaSeed, intratubal insemination, ITI, family building, secondary infertility, fertility journey, fertility challenges, emotional support, family growth options, infertility resources, reproductive health, women's health, fertility treatments, parenting multiples, IUI procedures, IVF alternatives, pregnancy loss, family planning, support for infertility, personal stories of infertility, overcoming infertility, fertility awareness, infertility advocacy CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org Follow us on social media @allpathsfb Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at podcast@allpathsfb.org!

    37 min

  4. DEC 9

    Dr. Crawford’s Journey: "I'm a Physician, But I'm a Person First"

    In this episode, we welcome Dr. Natalie Crawford, a board-certified OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) specialist who practices in Austin, Texas, and who many will recognize as being one of the most well-known fertility doctors on social media. She has been active on social media for over a decade, hosting the As a Woman podcast and maintaining a YouTube channel, alongside her debut book, The Fertility Formula, scheduled for spring 2026. Her efforts are driven by a passion to provide fundamental knowledge to patients who she felt were seeing her too late and lacked basic understanding of their reproductive health. Dr. Crawford opens up about her own family building story, which began during her residency and included multiple pregnancy losses and an ectopic pregnancy. Noting that she felt dismissed by her own doctor despite being an OB/GYN herself, this experience profoundly changed how she approaches patients, emphasizing compassion and the power of a physician's words. When conventional testing came back normal, leading to an unexplained infertility diagnosis, she decided to use her REI fellowship research to investigate natural fertility, focusing on topics like inflammation, vitamin D, ovarian reserve, and environmental toxins. Her personal "n of one study" involved anti-inflammatory lifestyle changes which, combined with Clomid, resulted in her pregnancy. Her later diagnosis of celiac disease served as a profound example of how autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, which are often overlooked, can impact fertility.  Considered an "OG of fertility doctors on social media" for having pioneered this space, when Dr. Crawford first started sharing her personal story and professional insights online, she received "so much hate from our field and my colleagues" who believed physicians should maintain separation between their personal and professional lives. However, she stood firm, believing that being open about her experiences with pregnancy loss and infertility was crucial for building trust and connection with her patients, emphasizing that she is a person first. Ultimately, her commitment to transparency and education has significantly influenced how fertility expertise is shared and received in the public domain. The conversation also touches on the debate surrounding Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM), with Dr. Crawford advocating for comprehensive care that includes conventional treatments like IVF, stressing that while root cause evaluation is crucial, it should not eliminate the option of IVF and that any method that seeks to eliminate or severely restrict standard fertility treatments should be concerning to patients and providers. Connect with Dr. Crawford at nataliecrawfordmd.com or on social media @nataliecrawfordmd. TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Reproductive Endocrinologist, OB/GYN, Fora Fertility, Dr. Natalie Crawford, pregnancy loss, infertility, unexplained infertility, ectopic pregnancy, fertility education, fertility treatment, IVF, restorative reproductive medicine, RRM, Celiac Disease, inflammation,  autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, fertility support, family building journey, pregnancy loss, infertility awareness, reproductive health education, natural fertility, hormone health, IVF process, cycle tracking, emotional support for infertility, lifestyle changes for fertility, fertility doctor insights, fertility and inflammation, understanding ovarian reserve, couples fertility health, patient advocacy in fertility, fertility resources, women’s health education, male fertility factors, compassionate care in fertility CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org Follow us on social media...

    51 min

  5. DEC 2

    Carrie’s Journey: Polypectomy, Peer Support, and Paying for IVF

    In this episode we welcome Carrie Van Steen, a parent through IVF and professional in the fertility field. Carrie details her personal family building journey, which began more than two decades ago and was not the straightforward path she had always envisioned. After initial testing failed to find issues, Carrie’s gut instinct prompted her to push for more comprehensive testing, revealing that she and her husband had a less than 5% chance of achieving pregnancy even with IUI, meaning IVF was their only option. Following an unsuccessful first IVF cycle which depleted their savings, she experienced a devastating chemical pregnancy that triggered anxiety and depression. Success finally came with her last two embryos, only after a polypectomy and D&C treated polyps that had previously gone undetected. Carrie notes that she did not truly exhale and release the worry and stress until her daughters were actually in her arms. Carrie’s own fertility journey started about a year after she entered the industry, initially working as an executive assistant for the president of a fertility company. Her professional role gave her close insight into the field, leading her to quickly advocate for more testing when her early attempts to conceive were unsuccessful. Driven by a desire to pay it forward every single day, Carrie found herself embedded in the fertility world even after her own family was complete, watching the industry "explode" in the early 2000s.  Carrie now works daily to pay it forward as the Manager of Patient Experience & Clinic Success of BUNDL Fertility, a multi-cycle IVF refund guarantee program that she helped launch. The program allows patients who qualify to purchase a money-back guarantee, returning 100% of their money if they are not successful. Carrie stresses that this option provides patients with financial control in a journey where they often feel they have none over their bodies or outcomes. She offers critical advice to listeners: advocate for yourself, understand that no two IVF cycles are alike, and be kind to yourself regardless of your emotional state during treatment, offering her own story as an example of the importance of community, communication, and self-advocacy in family-building journeys. Learn more about BUNDL at https://www.bundlfertility.com/. TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: patient advocate, IVF mom, fertility treatment, twin pregnancy, TTC, trying to conceive, diagnostic testing, clomid, IUI, insurance coverage, relationships, IVF, ICSI, grief, saline sonogram, failed cycles, medical debt, out-of-pocket expenses, anxiety, depression, uterine polyps, polypectomy, D&C, frozen transfer, pregnancy after infertility, community support, support groups, peer support, IVF journey, infertility support, emotional support for infertility, reproductive health, fertility clinic advice, parenting after IVF, fertility treatment options, patient advocacy in fertility, financial assistance for IVF, fertility community support, coping with infertility, egg freezing, fertility awareness, IUI cycles, mental health and infertility, navigating IVF, fertility resources, healthcare, Inception Fertility, BUNDL Fertility, multi-cycle IVF refund program, for friends and family, setting boundaries, family building  CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org Follow us on social media @allpathsfb Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at podcast@allpathsfb.org!

    44 min

  6. NOV 25

    Dr. Durant’s Journey: "I became my own case study"

    In this episode, we speak with Dr. Fallon Durant, a Laboratory Supervisor in the embryology lab at Boston IVF. Dr. Durant shares the seven-year journey that she and her husband endured while trying to grow their family, a path marked by recurrent pregnancy losses. As a scientist with a PhD and a subspecialty in Molecular Cell Biology and Development, she found herself becoming her own case study as she searched for answers regarding her unexplained recurrent loss, which she theorized was linked to her rare autoimmune diseases. Through it all, she turned to creative outlets like teaching yoga and using aerial circus arts to express the "unfathomable grief" she carried, even performing an entire act centered on the hurtful things people say to those experiencing loss. Driven by her personal experience, Dr. Durant decided to shift her research focus to fertility science, specifically studying regeneration and how it applies to fibrotic diseases like endometriosis and uterine scarring. She eventually moved into the clinic, wanting to apply her technical skills to help patients daily. Describing embryologists as the "unseen warriors" and the "beating heart of the clinic," Dr. Durant offers a glimpse inside the lab, from sharing the personal mantra she repeats during ICSI (injecting sperm into an egg) to remind herself and the team of the significance of the work to demystifying the complex process of embryo grading, clarifying that it is a snapshot in time based on expansion, the inner cell mass, and the trophectoderm, rather than a guarantee of success. And most importantly, Dr. Durant wants fertility patients to know that even if they never talk to or see the embryologists, their cases are never treated as "just another number" and that she hopes each patient feels “the positive vibes and all the love and care” that's coming from everyone in the embryology lab. If you are experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss and are looking for support, and/or are a professional looking for research opportunities, we recommend connecting with the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Association. TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Embryology, recurrent pregnancy loss, fertility challenges, IVF, embryologist, immunology, reproductive immunology, infertility, taboo, RPLA, aerial, circus, community, finding peace, science, medicine, hope, grief, vulnerability, holding space, family building, recurrent pregnancy loss, IVF journey, fertility support, emotional support, pregnancy loss experiences, fertility treatments, infertility journey, community support for infertility, embryo grading, IVF success stories, coping with miscarriage, fertility clinic insights, personal fertility journeys, Dr. Fallon Durant, All Paths podcast, navigating infertility, compassionate care in fertility, fertility science, support groups for loss CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org Follow us on social media @allpathsfb Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at podcast@allpathsfb.org!

    52 min

  7. NOV 18

    Rachel’s Journey: Knitting Him Into Existence

    This episode features a conversation with Rachel Wilson, a therapist, yoga and meditation instructor, coach, and most recently, a postpartum doula and intended parent support coach. Rachel shares the difficult journey she and her husband undertook to welcome their son, Remiel, the "archangel of hope." After struggling with disappointment for a year, and facing financial limitations that closed the door on IUI/IVF, the couple chose international surrogacy in the country of Georgia in their early 40s. Rachel recounts the myriad of emotional and logistical roadblocks they faced, difficulties finding an egg donor, navigating bureaucracy and cultural differences, and the stress of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine impacting the region. She describes how she maintained resilience and connection—bonding with her baby and the gestational carrier from thousands of miles away by sending music, recordings of her and her husband reading stories like Goodnight Moon, and knitting baby items. She leaned heavily on her husband’s solid support and her daily yoga and meditation practice, which helped her hold the paradoxical balance of having hope while being willing to surrender control and expectations. The journey culminated in a rush to a Georgian hospital where they met their surrogate for the first time during the birth. While her family is now complete, Rachel also shares the final chapter of her journey, donating her remaining embryo. This experience led Rachel to embark on a new mission as an intended parent support coach, offering what she felt she lacked during her own process. She now hopes to help others prepare mentally and emotionally for their child’s arrival, assisting in creating necessary support “villages,” and focusing on supporting the critical transfer moment between the carrier and the intended parents. Rachel is particularly passionate about helping intended parents bond with their babies, sharing more about her journey, practical suggestions, and a bonding meditation in a recent article on our blog:  https://allpathsfb.org/bonding-with-your-unborn-child-during-surrogacy/. Connect with Rachel at https://www.intendedparentssupportcoach.com/. TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC over 40, surrogacy, gestational carrier, international surrogacy, donor conception, egg donation, embryo donation, postpartum, postpartum support, parenting after infertility, parenting support, family building, surrogacy journey, intended parents support, postpartum doula, egg donation, infertility support, family growth, emotional rollercoaster of parenting, navigating family building challenges, bonding with unborn child, international surrogacy, personal journey to parenthood, overcoming obstacles in parenthood, connecting with gestational carrier, support for intended parents, coping with disappointment in family building, bonding from afar, yoga and meditation for parents, emotional support during pregnancy, building a family through surrogacy CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org Follow us on social media @allpathsfb Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at podcast@allpathsfb.org!

    43 min

  8. NOV 11

    Kristin’s Journey: Becoming the IVF “Fairy God-Sister”

    In this episode we welcome Kristin Dillensnyder to discuss her family building journey and her subsequent work in the fertility space. Kristin, a former military spouse now living in South Carolina, navigated the complicated, messy, and lonely process of IVF and infertility while living in a new city (Montgomery, Alabama) where social supports were scarce. She pursued several IUIs without success before moving on to three rounds of IVF, which ultimately resulted in the birth of her daughter, but also included experiencing a miscarriage. A significant challenge during her experience was having to pay 100% out of pocket for care, a realization that shaped her future advocacy efforts. Feeling a profound desire to stay in the fertility space and be the person she needed during her own struggle, Kristin developed the Two Week Wait Challenge, a free resource designed to help people stay busy, positive, and hopeful until they receive the results of their pregnancy test. Kristin’s business grew from there, becoming a self-proclaimed "Fairy God-Sister" who understands the specific lingo and emotional rollercoaster of IVF. In addition to her work as an IVF mindset coach through her business, Empowered Infertility, Kristin also hosts her own podcast, More Than Your Infertility, which focuses on reminding listeners that their fertility journey is not their only identity.  The conversation culminates in a discussion of Kristin's passionate advocacy work, which started by fighting against the limited access to care for those without insurance coverage or the ability to pay out of pocket. Her efforts have evolved into actively fighting to keep medical care available for everyone, regardless of where they live or what their family looks like. Currently, she is actively fighting against the dangerous South Carolina Senate Bill S.323, an extreme total abortion ban that threatens to criminally charge women and those who assist them, and if passed, could be used as an example for other states to follow. While acknowledging the need to start small and develop your “advocacy muscles,” Kristin encourages people everywhere to get involved, emphasizing that action is key to regaining a sense of control when everything else, like infertility, feels out of control. Small actions, such as contacting their legislators, sharing social media posts, and spreading awareness, can add up to make a big impact, and importantly reminds us all to keep having joy in our lives, describing joy as a form of resistance. Connect with Kristin at www.empoweredinfertilitycoaching.com or @kristindillensnyder on Instagram. And to get easy action items to help fight against SB. 323, join the SC Fertility Advocates Facebook Group.  TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: family building, infertility support, IVF journey, trying to conceive, reproductive health, family growth, assisted reproductive technology, emotional support for infertility, IVF coaching, military spouse infertility, parenting after infertility, infertility advocacy, two week wait support, coping with infertility, community support for parents, family planning resources, infertility awareness, mental health during IVF, navigating infertility, parenting stories, Military spouse, TriCare, TTC, IVF, coaching, life coach, infertility, Empowered Infertility, advocate, fertility advocate,...

    51 min
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About

Building a family can be a complicated, messy, lonely, and sometimes heartbreaking process, but you don't have to navigate this challenging journey alone. Join the AllPaths Family Building community as we talk with people who are currently trying to grow their family, those whose family building journey has come to an end, and experts in the fertility and family building space. Together we'll: *Hear family stories, providing real-life perspectives that highlight the many different paths a family building journey can take. *Explore different fertility treatments and family building options with experts in this space. *Get connected to a variety of supportive resources so you feel better equipped to tackle any challenges that may arise in your family building journey. *Learn about ongoing advocacy work that promotes access to fertility care and family building options - and you can get involved. No matter what you encounter on your journey - struggles while TTC, IUI, IVF, donor conception, surrogacy, adoption, pregnancy loss, pregnancy and parenting after, or remaining childless not by choice - the real-life insights from people who have traveled those paths can provide connection, comfort, and hope.

Information

  • Creator
    AllPaths Family Building
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © AllPaths Family Building
  • Show Website
    AllPaths Podcast