Stop. Sit. Surrogate.

Kenedi & Ellen Smith

A mother and daughter podcast educating others on surrogacy from a surrogates point of view. And the point of view from the intended parents, children born from surrogacy, the agency, legal professionals and IVF doctors for the science behind it all. Together we have brought 8 beautiful children into this world and it’s been an insane rollercoaster ride! Good and bad, the sweet and the sour, all coming to light about the truths behind the best and worst surrogacy journeys. Stop. Sit. Surrogate. Is a podcast that is able to give well rounded information about surrogacy from every point of view. We hope to give as much education as we can provide, to those who want to learn and know more about surrogacy. 

  1. 1d ago

    Surrogacy Boundaries

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  Sara’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surrornsara?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==   Sophia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiaawohl?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  A surrogacy journey can look perfect on paper and still fall apart in real life if nobody talks about boundaries. We’re Kenedi and Ellen, and we’re joined by repeat guests Sophia (experienced surrogate and agency owner) and Sara (currently on her second journey) to get brutally practical about what boundaries actually mean when you’re living it: match calls with strangers, vulnerable medical appointments, emotional setbacks like failed transfers, and the high-stakes intensity of delivery day. We compare how “old school” surrogacy often treated carriers like a vessel with little control, then move into what healthy boundaries look like now, especially in the hospital. Sara shares what it means to be the patient first, how labor and delivery teams protect the birthing space, and why simple consent practices like introductions and limiting observers matter. We also talk about ongoing communication, how to leave room for expectations to change, and how mutual respect makes boundaries easier because you aren’t constantly policing basic decency. Then we get into the modern headache nobody can ignore: social media. Do you follow each other, post bump updates, share ultrasounds, or keep everything offline? We cover oversharing risks, accidental privacy leaks (names, DOB, clinic info), and how to ask for consent without making it awkward. Finally, we address agency boundaries, HIPAA and medical record access, and the questions every surrogate should ask before signing anything, including how much an agency is involved and who they’re really representing. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with someone considering surrogacy, and leave a review so more intended parents and surrogates can find these real-world tips. Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    59 min

  2. May 17

    Creating Families Through Egg Donation & Surrogacy

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  Sara’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surrornsara?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  Meghan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghan.bestlife?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==   Quick clarification/correction: During this episode, I mistakenly mixed up my wording regarding mitochondrial donation. The donated genetic material discussed is mitochondrial DNA, not nuclear DNA. My apologies for the confusion, and thank you for the grace as we continue learning and having these important conversations around IVF and reproductive medicine. 💛  Someone can carry a baby and feel zero “that’s mine” energy. Another person can donate eggs and feel totally at peace never knowing what happened next. That contrast is exactly what we dig into with our guests Sara and Meghan, and it’s the kind of honesty we wish more people heard before they form opinions about IVF, surrogacy, or egg donation. Sara is on her second gestational carrier journey, and she shares what it looks like to move through transfer prep, meds, and the day-to-day reality of being pregnant for intended parents. Meghan brings a rare perspective as an egg donor who stepped into the fertility world through clinical training, then later became a mom to triplets after IUI. We talk about the practical side of the process, but we also go straight for the big questions: Do you feel attached? Should donor identity be open? What does “genetic connection” mean to the kids created this way, especially now that consumer DNA testing can connect families whether anyone plans for it or not? Then Meghan drops a story that stops us in our tracks: she also donated a kidney to save a coworker’s teenage son. That launches a deeper conversation about altruism, risk, health screening, recovery, and the kind of boundaries you have to set when you’re a lifelong giver. We also touch on emerging reproductive tech like mitochondrial donation and why the ethics can get complicated fast. If you’re researching surrogacy, egg donation, IVF, or how intended parents and carriers build healthy agreements, you’ll leave with clearer language, better questions to ask, and a stronger sense of what your non-negotiables might be. Subscribe, share this with someone who has opinions about IVF, and leave a review with the moment that challenged your perspective most. Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    1h 1m

  3. May 10

    Surrogacy And Adoption Are Not The Same Thing

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  Amanda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandas.progression?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  Rachel's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlsoven?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==  “Why don’t they just adopt?” gets thrown at intended parents and surrogates like it’s a simple fix. We slow that down and tell the truth: adoption and surrogacy can both lead to a child, but the process, the power dynamics, the legal risk, and the lifelong identity questions are not the same thing.  We’re joined by two guests who bring real lived experience to the table. Amanda is a mom, stepmom to adoptees, and a surrogate mom, with a front-row seat to how foster care adoption can be loving and still incredibly complicated. Rachel is a surrogate and an adoptee who found out she was adopted at 17, and she does not sugarcoat what it feels like when strangers try to assign you “trauma” or tell you who your “real” family is. Together, we talk open adoption vs closed adoption, the reality that “open” is often not legally binding, and how reunion can be healing and messy at the same time.  We also get practical about the stuff nobody warns you about: missing medical history, sealed records and amended birth certificates, and why surrogacy often has more structure around expectations, consent, and support. We push back on the “selling babies” myth, unpack how celebrity narratives distort surrogacy, and explain why adoption is not some free, easy alternative.  If you care about ethical family building, adoption ethics, gestational surrogacy, and honest origin stories for kids, this conversation will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a better framework than hot takes, and leave us a review with the biggest myth you want us to tackle next. Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    1h 22m

  4. Apr 26

    What Makes A Surrogacy Journey Feel Like Family

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  Tayler’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taytate6?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== She was 17 when a doctor told her she might never carry a child and the fear followed her for years. Then Tayler finds herself on the other side of the table: a first-time gestational surrogate, one month postpartum, telling the kind of surrogacy story that feels almost scripted because everything lines up. We sit down with Tayler to trace the full surrogacy process from the beginning, starting with her endometriosis diagnosis, the second opinion that changed everything, and how two easy pregnancies still didn’t erase the anxiety. When she and her husband decide their family is complete, she admits a surprising truth: she doesn’t want another baby, but she wants pregnancy again and she needs closure. That honesty leads her into research, an advocacy community, and eventually choosing a surrogacy agency that supports her through matching, clinic travel, and the long list of IVF medications. Tayler also shares what made her match so special: two intended dads in Los Angeles who wanted a real relationship, not a transactional arrangement. We talk embryo timelines, ERA testing, progesterone in oil shots, and the reality of coordinating care across time zones, including a coworker helping with injections at school. From the 12-week ultrasound to the baby shower and a redo 3D scan after a disappointing OB visit, Tayler shows how trust and communication can carry a journey. Then comes an induced labor, a delivery room playlist with perfect timing, and a fast birth that ends with everyone getting exactly what they hoped for: a healthy baby girl and a bond that feels like family. If you’re a potential surrogate, intended parent, or just want a true surrogacy success story with real details, hit play, then subscribe, share, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What question about surrogacy do you want us to tackle next? Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    1 hr

  5. Apr 19

    Match Meeting Basics

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  US Surrogacy LLC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/us_surrogacy/ Match calls can feel like a first date, a job interview, and a medical consult all rolled into one and that mix is exactly why people dread them. We wanted to take the mystery out of the surrogacy match meeting, so we brought on Kimberly Hennessy, program director at US Surrogacy LLC, to walk us through how thoughtful agencies actually build a match that can last from first call to delivery day.  We get specific about what’s inside a surrogate profile (pregnancy history, recovery, medications, prior complications) and what intended parents share on their side, including the letter to the surrogate, clinic details, embryo creation, genetic testing, and what kind of relationship they hope to have. Kimberly explains why some agencies match one surrogate at a time, how records review and psychology screening reduce surprises, and why state by state surrogacy laws can affect whether a match is truly safe and doable.  Then we break down the match call itself: the icebreakers that calm nerves, the questions that actually matter, and the topics people are often afraid to say out loud. We talk diet and lifestyle requests, how often updates should happen, when parents should travel for appointments like the anatomy scan, and how to discuss delivery room boundaries honestly without making promises you cannot guarantee. We also cover the big hard conversations, like embryo splitting risk, termination decision making, and what to do when a surprise request pops up mid call.  If you’re a surrogate, an intended parent, or just trying to understand the surrogacy matching process, this one is a practical roadmap with real world language. Subscribe, share this with someone preparing for a match meeting, and leave us a review with the one question you think every match call should include.  Website: https://us-surrogacy.com/become-a-surrogate-today/  Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    56 min

  6. Apr 12

    How To Screen A Surrogate Without An Agency

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogateSurrogate  Screening Solutions’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surrogate.screening.solutions?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  Surrogacy can feel like an all-or-nothing choice: pay full agency fees or try an independent match and hope nothing goes wrong. We wanted to explore the missing middle and what it looks like when intended parents and surrogates get real professional support without the full-service price tag.  We’re joined by Molly, founder and executive director of Surrogate Screening Solutions, who’s spent a decade in the surrogacy space on both the clinic and agency sides and has completed four and a half surrogate journeys herself. She walks us through what “surrogate screening” really means in practice: HIPAA releases, medical record collection, clinic approval, psychological evaluations, background checks, and insurance review. We also talk about case management for independent surrogacy, including help with attorneys, escrow, and the many details that have to be right before transfer can even happen. If you’re searching for independent surrogacy guidance, affordable surrogacy support, or how to screen a surrogate you found through a friend or Facebook group, this conversation lays out the steps clearly.  A big thread running through our chat is mental health in surrogacy. Molly shares why social work check-ins and support groups can change the tone of a journey, especially when timelines run long, transfers fail, or emotions get sharp on both sides. We also tackle myths that still scare people off, including the fear that a surrogate will want to keep the baby, and we explain how screening and communication reduce that anxiety.  If this helped you, subscribe, share with someone considering surrogacy, and leave a review so more families and surrogates can find these conversations.  Website: https://surrogatescreeningsolutions.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092664109600&mibextid=wwXIfr  Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    47 min

  7. Apr 3

    Pelvic Floor Power For Surrogates

    #surrogacy  #ivf  #surrogate Jessica’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vibrantcoastpt?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Surrogate Wellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surrogatewellness?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Leaking when you laugh. Back pain you’re told to “accept.” A recovery window that feels like a mystery. We wanted better answers, so we brought on Jessica, a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in pelvic floor health and works with surrogates across the US through virtual coaching. She breaks down what pelvic floor physical therapy really looks like today, how it connects to your core and glutes, and why “common” pregnancy symptoms are not automatically “normal.” We dig into the practical stuff surrogates and intended parents care about: when to start pelvic floor support during a surrogacy journey, how virtual assessment works, and what changes actually reduce prolapse risk. Jessica also shares how postpartum recovery can begin with breath work and gentle mobility well before the classic six-week clearance, plus what to consider after a vaginal birth versus a C-section, including scar support and abdominal rehab. Then we zoom out to the data behind prenatal exercise and pelvic health. We talk research-linked outcomes like lower risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, prenatal depression, and C-section, along with benefits that support baby outcomes and placental health. If you’re a surrogate building your support team, an agency updating benefits, or an intended parent who wants the healthiest possible journey, this conversation is full of actionable, evidence-based takeaways. Sponsored by U.S. Surrogacy LLC. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a surrogate or intended parent, and leave us a review so more families can find these resources. Links: The website: vibrantcoastpt.com The App: vibrantcoastpt.com/vibrantstrength The Surrogate Wellness Program: vibrantcoastpt.com/surrogate-wellness-program Surrogate Wellness: https://surrogatewellness.com/meet-jessica/ Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    55 min

  8. Mar 29

    My Surrogacy Journey: A Safer, Smarter Path

    #surrogacy  #ivf  #surrogate  My Surrogacy Journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialmysurrogacyjourney?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Mexico City surrogacy gets talked about like it’s a gamble, but the details tell a very different story. We sat down with Michael Johnson Ellis, a dad of three through surrogacy and the co-founder of My Surrogacy Journey, to unpack what’s actually happening on the ground and why so many intended parents are rethinking where and how they build their families. We walk through how My Surrogacy Journey was created after a bumpy early experience in the UK, and why their mission is to make the journey feel equal for everyone involved. Michael explains their “membership” approach and what full support looks like in practice: clinical coordination, legal guidance, counseling, and real continuity of care so you’re not bounced between clinics, lawyers, and third parties. We also get into the problem he calls financial infertility, where the cost of surrogacy forces people to delay parenthood or give up completely, and why accessibility matters just as much as ethics. Then we go deep on Mexico City. Michael breaks down the legal framework, including procreational will and a pre-birth order pathway, along with the safeguards they use to prevent exploitation. We also cover what strong surrogate screening looks like, how matching timelines can be shortened when clearance happens upfront, and why their milestone-based payment structure is designed to reduce risk and increase transparency. If you’re researching ethical surrogacy, the cost of surrogacy, LGBTQ family building, or international surrogacy options, this conversation gives you better questions to ask and clearer signals to look for. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with someone exploring surrogacy, and leave a review so more intended parents and surrogates can find these stories. What’s the biggest surrogacy myth you want us to tackle next? MSJ Website: https://us.mysurrogacyjourney.com LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/MySurrogacyJourney?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAQ2O7NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadzJCJgYWwb8mIXmIexfkeU6vh8QusssKYGF2T6-w5wFoSjlmXrZoWrqE5taA_aem_oSUVgoBOYDuZJLUI8zn_2g Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    59 min
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4.9
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

A mother and daughter podcast educating others on surrogacy from a surrogates point of view. And the point of view from the intended parents, children born from surrogacy, the agency, legal professionals and IVF doctors for the science behind it all. Together we have brought 8 beautiful children into this world and it’s been an insane rollercoaster ride! Good and bad, the sweet and the sour, all coming to light about the truths behind the best and worst surrogacy journeys. Stop. Sit. Surrogate. Is a podcast that is able to give well rounded information about surrogacy from every point of view. We hope to give as much education as we can provide, to those who want to learn and know more about surrogacy. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kenedi & Ellen Smith
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    167
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Stop. Sit. Surrogate.
  • Show Website
    Stop. Sit. Surrogate.

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