Stork'd Julia Karol

In this Stork’d Munchkin, Angela Rastegar discusses the shocking average amount it costs individuals to invest in IVF. She then discusses how her company, Sunfish can help provide financial support to those who need it.
 
If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!
 
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Julia sits down with Angela Rastegar, the driving force behind Sunfish, a company committed to dismantling financial barriers for hopeful parents navigating fertility challenges. Economic constraints often force individuals to abandon their dreams of parenthood. Sunfish steps in with personalized financial planning services and complimentary consultations. They are backed by a dedicated team of data scientists who analyze medical records and statistics to forecast fertility treatments’ duration and success rates, thus anticipating associated costs.
 
What truly sets Sunfish apart is their groundbreaking money back guarantee: in the event of a failed treatment, they offer a partial refund through their IVF Success Program. This pioneering approach empowers individuals to concentrate fully on their fertility journey, relieving the burden of financial worries. Please share this information with anyone facing a fertility journey, as access to resources on financing could make all the difference in continuing the journey or pursuing the next round of IVF.

 
IN THIS EPISODE: 

[0:20] Julia introduces the topic of affording your family-building journey 
[3:51] Angela explains the mission of Sunfish and how and why she started the company 
[10:29] Angela addresses the first steps in the family-building process, and she discusses how they can predict the exact cost of IVF and the guarantee they make to the prospective parents 
[17:34] Angela explains how costs vary and states they do have loan options and how she sees the fertility space evolving in the next five to ten years 
[26:03] Discussion of how lifestyle impacts results and all the other details that can be overwhelming on this fertility journey 
[30:49] Discussion of the demographics of those who are looking to use Sunfish services and where the name Sunfish came about 
[35:17] Angela describes what family means to her, and she tells a heartbreaking story of infertility and success stories 

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

Sunfish offers complimentary consultations to answer questions and provides educational material on their website. 
The average IVF baby costs $70,000, but that figure can vary. Sunfish helps aspiring parents with determining their family building goals (number of kids) and then helps each prospective family create a financial roadmap. 
Sunfish offers support and a money-back guarantee through its Gold IVF Success Program which includes an IVF Treatment Package, unlimited transfers, and up to one year of support and guidance. Through this program, Sunfish’s proprietary software calculates the expected financial costs for each family to achieve pregnancy based on a range of factors. If those projections underestimate the cost, Sunfish provides a partial refund. Eligible Sunfish customers can also finance this program with a loan.
 
Disclosures: Sunfish is not a Medical or Healthcare Provider, Insurer, or Financial Planner. Sunfish does not provide medical advice. Please consult your physician for details, as your unique needs may vary. Tools that Sunfish provides are for informational purposes only. All products are based on eligibility, for complete Terms and Conditions, please contact Sunfish.


 

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BIOGRAPHY: Angela Rastegar, CEO of Sunfish
Sunfish offers financial support, guidance, and guarantees for family building, including IVF, egg freezing, gestational surrogacy, and egg + sperm donors. The team has offices in California and New York.
Angela Rastegar, co-founder and CEO of Sunfish, has spent many years in the assisted reproductive technologies space, previously as a Director at North Star Fertility and Circle Surrogacy. Rastegar has worked with hundreds of aspiring parents. She is also an investor and mentor to early-s

In this Stork’d Munchkin, Dan Blevins discusses that he feels the loneliness or isolation that can be present in the LGBTQ+ community stems from a lack of trust. People in the LGBTQ+ community can have a hard time finding people they can wholeheartedly trust, which can lead to isolation and loneliness. Stand In Pride is a great resource for those who may be feeling that way.
 
If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!
 
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In this Stork’d Munchkin, Dan Blevins discusses the journey to creating “Stand In Pride”, an organization that connects people with "stand-in" family or friends. Whether it's attending a wedding, needing help with a life skill, or simply wanting a shoulder to lean on, Stand In Pride offers a powerful sense of belonging. 
 
If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!
 
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Have you ever felt you need someone to turn to or to show up for you? This episode of Stork’d explores Stand In Pride, a heartwarming community founded by Dan Blevins in 2021.  

Stand In Pride provides a vital support system for those within the LGBTQ+ community who may be estranged from their families. The show dives into the organization's mission and impact as well as what it really means to show up for someone else.  

With over 250,000 members worldwide on their Facebook group alone, Stand In Pride connects people with "stand-in" family or friends. Whether it's attending a wedding, needing help with a life skill, or simply wanting a shoulder to lean on, Stand In Pride offers a powerful sense of belonging. Tune in for an inspiring story about the importance of community and the beautiful act of a chosen family. 

 

IN THIS EPISODE: 

[3:00] Dan shares his history and discusses how Stand in Pride was created, and he gives examples of how it works 
[10:06] Dan talks about what contributes to the isolation of the LGBTQ population  
[17:28] Discussion of the political climate contributing to isolation within and outside the LGBTQ community 
[21:06] Dan’s advice on showing up for others: everyone is different 
[24:24] Dan shares his personal story and his hopes for his grandchildren 
[32:08] Dan talks about the app and how it came about 
[37:42] Dan explains what family is to him 

 


KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

When Stand in Pride was conceived, COVID-19 had already isolated people. Stand in Pride provided a vehicle for outreach to those who needed and wanted help. 
Showing up for another individual in a small way, like checking in on them, is a big way for the isolated person. 
Stand in Pride will soon be available in app form. 

 

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Stand in Pride - Instagram 

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In this Stork’d Munchkin, Shani Rogers how her daughter coped with her mother, Shani’s, miscarriage and Shani shares an interesting story about what her daughter drew a week before her miscarriage.
 
If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!
 
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Amazon -Blue and Pink Balloons Journey
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