That Fertile Feeling

That Fertile Feeling - The Podcast

That Fertile Feeling - The Podcast is your go-to podcast if you've been trying to get pregnant for a while and you feel like life has lost a bit of its spark in the process. Tune in each week for a new episode featuring inspiring talks with experts and fellow infertility warriors from around the globe. This is not a podcast about how to get pregnant - instead we focus on what you can do to shift your mindset and reframe your relationship with your body, your partner, and the fertility process. Your host is Françoise Molenaar - an award-winning researcher and meditation teacher who has turned her career around and now uses the experiences from her own decade-long fertility journey to inspire others. You can find more information on ThatFertileFeeling.com

  1. Episode 121 - Conceiving Through a Gestational Carrier w/ Andrea Ali-Panzarella

    10/16/2025

    Episode 121 - Conceiving Through a Gestational Carrier w/ Andrea Ali-Panzarella

    When you’ve tried everything to get pregnant—IVF, transfers, “just relaxing”—and it still doesn’t work, you start to wonder if your body is failing you and whether you’ll ever become a mother. This week on the podcast, I talk to pediatrician and mom of three Andrea Ali-Panzarella, who went through years of infertility, recurrent miscarriages, IVF failure, and ultimately made the courageous decision to grow her family through gestational surrogacy. We explore the emotional side of surrogacy, grief, identity, bonding, breaking the silence, and her beautiful children’s book Every Family is a Tree, which shows that there are many valid paths to motherhood About Andrea Ali-Panzarella Andrea Zorida Ali-Panzarella is a proud mom of three beautiful boys, who was inspired to write this book after a long journey with infertility and loss.  She is also a pediatrician, specializing in child abuse, who has cared for children from all walks of life. Andrea and her husband welcomed their sons with the help of compassionate physicians and caring gestational carriers. As they read to their children each night, she noticed the limited number of books that represented their unique family story and realized the missed opportunities to empower her children to know their worth.  Her hope with this book is that all people, especially children, will feel seen and accepted in this world no matter what their story is.  She is forever grateful to everyone, including her parents, family, and friends, who supported her family’s story along the way. You can find out more about her book and work here: https://www.andreaali-panzarella.com/

    39 min
  2. Episode 119: Womb Stories - Myth, Fertility & Loss w/ Maria Souza

    09/18/2025

    Episode 119: Womb Stories - Myth, Fertility & Loss w/ Maria Souza

    Have you ever felt like your womb holds more than just the hope of new life? This week on the podcast, I speak with mythologist Maria Souza about the deep wisdom encoded in fertility myths across cultures. We explore the stories of Demeter, Persephone, Baubo, and Gaia—not as entertainment, but as medicine. Maria shares her personal journey through abortion, miscarriage, and motherhood, and how mythology helped her transform grief into growth. Whether you’re navigating fertility struggles or seeking meaning in loss, this episode offers powerful archetypes, rituals, and reflections to guide you back to your inner sovereignty. Read more about the Sovereign Womb here: thatfertilefeeling.com/womb About Maria Souza: Maria Souza is a Comparative Mythologist, Poet, Historian, and Educator, with a deep commitment to exploring the rich tapestry of myths and their relevance in contemporary life. She holds a postgraduate degree in Comparative Mythology, a Master’s in Ecology and Spirituality, and an Advanced Training Certificate in Applied Mythology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Her poetry book, Wild Daughters, weaves together mythological themes and ancient tales, shedding light on the profound initiations women face. Maria offers a range of courses, workshops, and two mentorship programs, guiding women to connect with archetypal wisdom and integrate myths into the heart of their creative and professional lives. She also hosts the Women and Mythology podcast, part of the Joseph Campbell Foundation’s MythMaker℠ Podcast Network, where she explores the enduring relevance of myths in today’s world. You can find out more about her work on Instagram @womenandmythology or on her website womenandmythology.com

    1 hr
  3. Episode 117 - Thyroid Health for Fertility w/ Aggie McCabe

    07/31/2025

    Episode 117 - Thyroid Health for Fertility w/ Aggie McCabe

    Fatigue, brain fog, irregular cycles, or that nagging feeling something’s off—could it be your thyroid? This week on the podcast, I speak with trauma-informed functional thyroid nutritionist and somatic practitioner Aggie McCabe about the deep and often overlooked link between thyroid health, fertility, and nervous system regulation. We explore why thyroid issues—especially Hashimoto’s—are so common in women, how trauma and dysregulation contribute to autoimmunity, and what to do if your doctor says your labs are “normal,” but you still don’t feel like yourself. We also discuss pregnancy loss risk, how to prepare your body for conception with thyroid issues, and what a regulated nervous system has to do with baby-making. Packed with insights and practical tools like “physiological sigh” breathing and the glimmer practice, this episode will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and more attuned to your body’s signals. More info about my upcoming program Nourished: thatfertilefeeling.com/nourished  About Aggie McCabe: Aggie is a​ certified functional nutritionist & somatic therapist,  and UK leading thyroid expert.  She specialises in Thyroid Conditions, with a particular focus on Hashimoto’s Disease. Aggie is also a fellow thyroid warrior and reversed her own Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroiditis using a combination of nutritional & lifestyle science and somatic nervous system work. Aggie helped hundreds of women with thyroid issues in the UK and worldwide reverse their thyroid symptoms and THRIVE. Use the discount code CALM to save £20 on the monthly subscription to Aggie’s Thyroid Resilience Membership (£39 instead of £59): https://aggiemccabe.com/thyroid-resilience-membership

    46 min

About

That Fertile Feeling - The Podcast is your go-to podcast if you've been trying to get pregnant for a while and you feel like life has lost a bit of its spark in the process. Tune in each week for a new episode featuring inspiring talks with experts and fellow infertility warriors from around the globe. This is not a podcast about how to get pregnant - instead we focus on what you can do to shift your mindset and reframe your relationship with your body, your partner, and the fertility process. Your host is Françoise Molenaar - an award-winning researcher and meditation teacher who has turned her career around and now uses the experiences from her own decade-long fertility journey to inspire others. You can find more information on ThatFertileFeeling.com