Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation

What happens when you're thrown into parenthood when an unexpected baby arrives 10 weeks early?

August didn't wait to find out. When his daughter arrived between 28 and 30 weeks gestation, he hit the ground running. Through a global pandemic, splitting hospital visitation schedules, and 66 days of NICU vigils, he showed up with unwavering love and determination.

And his little girl? She's defying every prediction doctors made. Every. Single. One.

In this episode, August opens up about what it truly means to advocate for a medically fragile child when the world feels like it's working against you. As a trans man with his own complex healthcare journey, he brings a uniquely powerful perspective on navigating systems that weren't always built with you in mind — and how to ensure your child's needs always rise to the top, no matter what.

This is a conversation about resilience, identity, love, and the fierce, unshakeable bond between a parent and a child who was never supposed to make it look this easy.

You'll walk away from this one differently than you came in.

Also — don't miss this: August is a seasoned voice actor and he's bringing his talents to a brand new podcast alongside co-host Jameel Mayers. Certified Bad Example is a weekly show dedicated to “turning bad examples into good lessons” — and it drops just in time for Pride Month. Trust us, you're going to want to subscribe immediately - if not sooner.

Follow August on IG: www.instagram.com/augustsinsta

Follow Certified Bad Example on IG: www.instagram.com/certifiedbadexample

What happens when a decorated Marine officer — who has faced deployments, cross-country moves, and the fight for the right to marry the woman she loves — discovers she's been quietly battling a stage four cancer diagnosis for years?

Ashley Christman's story is one of relentless resilience. She and her wife Melissa first met as active duty Marine Corps officers in 2012, marrying in August 2013 — just one month after DOMA was repealed. From the beginning, their life together was defined by change: coast-to-coast moves, overseas tours, and the unique sacrifices that come with serving your country side by side with your partner.

But for years beneath the surface, something was wrong. Ashley's symptoms were scattered, confusing, and easy to dismiss — yet she knew. She kept showing up to doctors, kept advocating for herself, kept trusting her instincts. In 2021, she finally received the answer she had been pushing for: a Neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis. Stage four.

And the hits kept coming. In the same year, Ashley and Melissa navigated a new baby, a cross-country move, and a global pandemic — all while processing one of the most devastating diagnoses a person can receive.

Rather than retreat, Ashley advanced. She retired from active duty and channeled her story into not one, but two powerful short films: The Commitment to Courage, her deeply personal account of the road to diagnosis (available on YouTube), and Forward, a testament to her extraordinary strength in charting a new life after a stage four diagnosis - currently being showcased at film festivals around the world.

In this episode, Ashley opens up meeting the love of her life, creating the family she dreamed of as well as the years of dismissed symptoms, the moment everything changed, and what it truly means to push forward when the mission is your own survival.

Links mentioned:

• The Commitment to Courage — https://youtu.be/kgdIc7ekZ3Y?si=WJQRH1GiojQGduly
• Forward — check it out on IG: www.instagram.com/forwardthefilm

• • Learn more about Ashley and her journey by following her on IG: www.instagram.com/abc_traveler 

Film Links:

Film: “The Commitment to Courage: The Ashley Christman Story”

https://youtu.be/kgdIc7ekZ3Y?si=BMNj5FDRO2OINcts

Film:  Forward

Instagram | @forwardthefilm

LinkTree | https://linktr.ee/AshleyBChristman 

Neuroendocrine Cancer Resources:

NCF - Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation | Resources for Patients & Caregivers

NCAN - The Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN)

NETRF - Better Treatments For Neuroendocrine Tumors NETRF

NANETS – https://nanets.net

ENETS - European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society - enets.org

Servicemember Resources:

JMMF - Home - Jimmy Miller Foundation - Ocean Therapy, CONUS West Coast and Hawaii

HunterSeven Foundation - Resources and Information for Servicemembers and Veterans with Cancer

Warrior Foundation Freedom Station - Warrior Foundation Freedom Station – SUPPORT FOR TRANSITIONING ILL AND INJURED WARRIORS

Invictus Games Foundation - Invictus Games

Semper Fi and America’s Fund - Help & Services - Semper Fi & America's Fund

Wounded Warrior Project - https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

What happens when a world-travelling filmmaker decides the most important story he'll ever tell is the one happening at home?

Sheldon Larry has spent decades behind the camera, shooting movies across the globe — but ask him what he's most proud of, and he won't mention a single frame of film. He'll tell you about his two daughters.

More than 35 years ago, Sheldon and his partner of nearly a decade made a decision that would change everything: they wanted to be fathers. As two gay men with no roadmap, no connections in the surrogacy world, and a whole lot of heart, they set out to build a family from scratch — putting their faith in the kindness of a stranger who would ultimately carry two babies and make their dream a reality.

Life, of course, had other plans. The romantic relationship didn't survive the journey to fatherhood — but Sheldon's commitment to his daughters? Unwavering. Absolutely steadfast.

In this episode, Sheldon opens up about navigating one of the most unique and deeply human roads through parenthood — one built on intention, resilience, and a fierce determination to raise children surrounded by love, dignity, and respect. His girls grew up knowing, without question, that love is love, and that family is whatever you make it.

This one will stay with you. 🎙️

Follow Sheldon on Instagram at www.instagram.com/sheldon.larry_

Conscious Leadership Academy: https://www.lorrisulpizio.com

Little Bond Co Baby Clothes: https://littlebondco.com

Birthmark Birth support: https://birthmarksupport.com

Everie Egg Donation: https://www.everiedonation.com

Fertility Law Canada: http://www.fertilitylawcanada.com

Understory Cafe: https://www.understorycafe.com

Gaddies Dad’s Wear: https://heygaddies.com

GWK Academy: https://gwkacademy.org

Informed Fertility (RSW/MSW support): https://informedfertility.ca

Knifey Spooney Vegan Catering: https://knifeyspooney.com

What happens when you match with someone incredible on Hinge — but they live in a completely different state? For Oscar, the answer was heartbreak... until it wasn't.

Oscar and Gavin connected on Hinge and immediately hit it off. The chemistry was undeniable. There was just one problem: Gavin was hundreds of miles away, and Oscar knew himself well enough to know long-distance wasn't for him. He craved something real, something local — someone he could actually build a life with. So, reluctantly, they went their separate ways.

Then Gavin did something Oscar didn’t see coming. He moved to Chicago — and surprised Oscar.

From the moment they finally met face to face, it was crystal clear: these two were meant to find each other. They'd already talked early on about building a family someday, so it came as no surprise that shortly after tying the knot, they were on that path. Today, Oscar and Gavin are the proud, beaming parents of two beautiful children — born just four months apart, in two different countries.

It's the kind of love story that makes you believe in taking the leap.

Follow Oscar and his family on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oscar_red/ to keep up with their incredible journey!

Conscious Leadership Academy: https://www.lorrisulpizio.com

Little Bond Co Baby Clothes: https://littlebondco.com

Birthmark Birth support: https://birthmarksupport.com

Everie Egg Donation: https://www.everiedonation.com

Fertility Law Canada: http://www.fertilitylawcanada.com

Understory Cafe: https://www.understorycafe.com

Gaddies Dad’s Wear: https://heygaddies.com

GWK Academy: https://gwkacademy.org

Informed Fertility (RSW/MSW support): https://informedfertility.ca

Knifey Spooney Vegan Catering: https://knifeyspooney.com

What started with a swipe became a love story for the ages. Shawn and Tyler met on Tinder during the chaos of Covid — and from the very beginning, they just knew. After a couple of years of dating, a proposal, and three years together total, they said "I do." But building their family? That's where the story gets really extraordinary.

From the moment they got serious, Shawn and Tyler were clear about one thing: they wanted to be dads. They explored every path to parenthood with open hearts and open minds — and adoption led them to their incredible son. Now, this summer, their surrogate is carrying their second child, and the excitement is absolutely electric.

What makes their story even more special? They've shared every single moment of it — the emotional milestones, the waiting, the joy, the hard parts — with their online community. You can follow along on 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnandtylerbond/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnandtylerbond

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shawnandtylerb

And now they've channeled all of that love and experience into something brand new: Little Bond Co. — a business born from their journey and built for families like theirs. Check them out at littlebondco.com.

This episode will make you laugh, maybe cry, and absolutely believe in love. Don't miss it.

Conscious Leadership Academy: https://www.lorrisulpizio.com

Little Bond Co Baby Clothes: https://littlebondco.com

Birthmark Birth support: https://birthmarksupport.com

Everie Egg Donation: https://www.everiedonation.com

Fertility Law Canada: http://www.fertilitylawcanada.com

Understory Cafe: https://www.understorycafe.com

Gaddies Dad’s Wear: https://heygaddies.com

GWK Academy: https://gwkacademy.org

Informed Fertility (RSW/MSW support): https://informedfertility.ca

Knifey Spooney Vegan Catering: https://knifeyspooney.com

Talking about money is uncomfortable. Planning for your financial future? Even more so. But here's the truth: for those of us in the queer community, financial empowerment isn't just a nice-to-have — it's the foundation that makes everything else possible, including building the families we dream of.

In this episode, I sit down with Parisa Pajooh, financial advisor and founder of Diverse Wealth Inc., for a conversation that is equal parts eye-opening and genuinely refreshing. Parisa brings a values-based, judgment-free approach to financial planning — one rooted in honesty, empathy, and real-world guidance that actually meets you where you are.

We dig into what a financial advisor really does (hint: it's so much more than picking stocks), what questions you deserveto have answered, and why inclusive financial planning isn't just a buzzword — it's a whole different way of showing up for clients.

Whether you're just starting to get your financial footing or you're a business owner ready to scale, this episode will leave you feeling like you finally have a seat at the table.

What we cover:

• Why the queer community faces unique financial barriers — especially around family building
• What holistic, inclusive financial planning actually looks like in practice
• The questions every client deserves to ask (and have answered!)
• Tax-smart investment strategies and long-term wealth building, broken down in plain language
• How Diverse Wealth's approach ditches the one-size-fits-all model for good

Connect with Parisa & Diverse Wealth:

• 🌐 Website: parisafinancial.com
• 📅 Book a free consultation: calendly.com/parisapajooh
• 📸 Instagram: @parisapajooh.diversewealth
• 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/parisapajooh
• 📩 Sign up for the Diverse Wealth Newsletter (no jargon, just real guidance): Sign up here

What does it look like when love becomes legacy? Jamie McGonnigal's story is proof that the most powerful families are built with intention — and a whole lot of heart.

Jamie and his husband Sean found each other in 2010, and when marriage equality finally became the law of the land in the US, they wasted no time making it official. But building their family? That was a journey all its own.

It started with a single class — Maybe Baby — offered through Rainbow Families in DC. Armed with knowledge, a clear vision, and serious determination, Jamie and Sean took every class, checked every box, and held on through three years of waiting, hoping, and dreaming.

Then came Malcolm. And everything was worth it.

But Jamie isn't slowing down. By day (and night), he's a professional voice actor with serious credits to his name. He's the PTA parent who actually shows up. And now? He's running for office — because if you want change, sometimes you have to be the change.

Jamie is funny, warm, fiercely real, and exactly the kind of voice our communities need amplified right now. You do not want to miss this one.

📲 Follow Jamie on Instagram: @jmcgonnigal 🌈 Learn more about Rainbow Families: rainbowfamilies.org

What happens when a globetrotting teacher finds love between adventures? Pure magic — and a story worth telling.

Danny Neville's life reads like the kind of book you simply cannot put down. While back home in Canada, on a break from teaching abroad, he met the man who would become his husband and the co-architect of an incredible life. Together, they dreamed of building a family — and when they discovered a class at Sherbourne Health designed specifically for dads-to-be, the path forward became clear. Through the help of two extraordinary women  for surrogacy and egg donation, Danny and his husband welcomed two beautiful daughters into the world.

But Danny wasn't done creating. A teacher, librarian, and author, Danny felt a story stirring inside him — one that needed to be told, and one that an oft-overlooked age group desperately needed to see themselves in. His book is tender, intentional, and groundbreaking in the best way.

You are going to want to hear Danny describe it in his own words. 

🔗 Learn more at dannyneville.com 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @dnevillebooks

Want to learn more about the Triggerfish Water Polo team where Danny met the love of his life? Visit: https://www.triggerfishwaterpolo.ca/

Businesses Danny was kind to refer listeners to include: 

Annick Press: https://www.annickpress.com

Sherbourne Health: https://sherbourne.on.ca

Egg Helpers: https://egghelpers.com

Surrogacy in Canada Online: https://surrogacy.ca

CReATe: https://www.createivf.com 

By the time Nate and Jason knew they wanted to become parents, one thing was already clear — adoption was their path. But choosing how to adopt is its own deeply personal journey, and for them, the emotional weight of the foster-to-adopt public system felt like more than they were ready to carry. So they did their research, trusted their instincts, and found their way to American Adoptions.

What drew them in wasn't just the process — it was the philosophy. American Adoptions centres the safety and well-being of not just the babies, but the birthing people too. For Jason and Nate, that commitment wasn't a checkbox. It was everything. (Find them here: https://www.americanadoptions.com)

Then came the pandemic. Becoming new dads in the middle of a global crisis brought its own mountain of challenges, but somewhere inside all of that uncertainty, there was a silver lining neither of them expected: uninterrupted time at home, together, figuring out fatherhood side by side.

Nate and Jason are proof that the road to parenthood doesn't have to look one particular way — it just has to feel right for you.

Want more from this incredible duo? They host their own podcast, 2 Gay Dads, where they continue sharing their story with honesty, humour, and heart.

🎙️ Find them on Instagram: @2_gay_dads | @jmburns83 | @nabrunner

🎧 Listen to their podcast: 2 Gay Dads on Apple Podcasts

Find them on YouTube also: https://www.youtube.com/@2Gay_Dads

What happens when you finally live your truth — but your truth comes with a marriage, kids, and a whole family dynamic that now needs to shift?

In this deeply honest and refreshing part two conversation, I have a chance to sit down with Dr. Lorri Sulpizio — relationship coach, leadership expert, and one of the most compassionate voices in the room when it gets uncomfortable. And today? We're leaning all the way into the uncomfortable.

We're talking about the conversations people whisper about and the situations that make even the most open-minded people squirm: coming out later in life after marriage, navigating the children caught in the middle of that transition, and figuring out how to co-parent with love and respect when everything has changed.

Dr. Lorri brings her signature blend of warmth, wisdom, and zero judgment as we dig into:

• What it really looks like to come out mid-life — and what your kids need from you during that time
• The art (and hard work) of co-parenting after a major identity shift
• How to set boundaries that protect your emotional wellbeing without dismissing the very real feelings of those around you
• Holding space for your children's experience of change while still honouring your own

This episode won't have all the answers — but it will make you feel far less alone, and a whole lot more equipped.

Want to connect with Dr. Lorri or book a session? 

• IG: @lorrisulpizio
• TikTok: @lorri_sulpizio
• Website: lorrisulpizio.com
  

This is the first of two powerful conversations with the incredible Dr. Lorri Sulpizio — and we are diving in. From blended families to birth certificates, this episode is equal parts heartfelt, eye-opening, and long overdue.

Dr. Lorri opens up about her beautifully complex family life — her current spouse, her ex-wife, and the four amazing adults they raised together. But this isn't just a story about family structure. It's a story about what it actually took to become a parent when the system wasn't built for you.

We get into the realities of queer parenthood before marriage equality — what it meant to have no space on a birth certificate for a same-sex partner, navigating IUI, choosing unknown ID donors, and doing it all without a roadmap or a single role model who looked like you. And perhaps most staggeringly: the 8–9 month window during the second-parent adoption process where the non-bio parent had zero legal rights to their own child. Let that sink in.

It's no wonder "who's the real mom?" hits like a gut punch. Parental rights have always been a fight — and this conversation honours everyone who fought it.

🎙️ Connect with Dr. Lorri Sulpizio:

• IG: @lorrisulpizio
• TikTok: @lorri_sulpizio

• • Website: lorrisulpizio.com

Some couples take years to talk about kids. Michael and Andrew needed exactly two dates. From the moment they knew they had a future together, becoming parents wasn't a question of if — it was a question of how.

Their path to parenthood began with conversations about surrogacy, but life had other plans. After watching a close friend navigate foster care in Missouri, they found themselves drawn into a story that would change everything. That friend was fostering a child who would eventually become one of two biological siblings that Michael and Andrew are now raising as their own — with adoption papers officially signed in December 2025.

In this episode, we sit down with Michael and Andrew to talk openly about what the foster-to-adopt process actually looks like in the state of Missouri — the paperwork, the uncertainty, the emotional weight, and the overwhelming joy on the other side of it. They also give us a glimpse into what family life looks like today as things continue to unfold beautifully.

Follow Michael and Andrew on Instagram to watch their family grow: @mlavanier and @drewster23

Sometimes the road to building a family is anything but straight — and Melissa Torres knows that better than most. In this deeply moving episode, Melissa opens up about the winding, emotional, and at times heartbreaking journey she and her wife Vanessa have traveled to become the family of three they are today.

When Melissa and Vanessa first met, they both knew they had inner work ahead of them — but that awareness didn't slow down the pull they felt toward each other. What followed was a love story shaped by complexity, courage, and an unwillingness to give up.

In this episode, Melissa speaks candidly about:

• Growing up in a deeply religious community and the impact that had on her sense of self
• Being raised in a home with foster children and how that shaped her understanding of family
• Coming out later in life — and what it means to finally acknowledge your sexual identity to yourself
• The financial and emotional weight of navigating fertility treatments
• The frightening discovery of polyps and pre-cancerous cells, and what that meant for their path forward

This episode is a reminder that family creation is rarely a straight line — and that the potholes along the way don't have to mean the end of the road.

Follow Melissa: 📸 Instagram: @mel.kay.torres 🎵 TikTok: @torresivf

What do you do when your job takes you away from the little person who needs you most? If you're Cory Allen, you write them a book.

Cory has spent 25 years serving the public — in the military, as a police officer, and in the Secret Service, where he worked alongside Michelle Obama on her iconic Becoming book tour. But ask him what he's most proud of, and the answer has nothing to do with any of that. It's being a dad.

Cory and his husband are parents to an almost two-year-old son, with a daughter set to join their family this spring. When Cory's work began taking him away from home, he found himself wrestling with a question so many travelling parents know all too well: How do I make sure my child feels my love even when I'm not there?

The answer came to him mid-flight to Washington, D.C. He settled in and wrote Dada Takes A Trip — a children's book born from pure parental love, somewhere above the clouds.

In this episode, we sit down with Cory to talk about his remarkable career, the tender heart behind the badge, and how one flight changed his family forever.

In this episode, we cover:

• Cory's 25-year journey through the military, law enforcement, and the Secret Service
• What it was like working alongside Michelle Obama on the Becoming tour
• The challenge of travelling for work as a devoted and present dad
• How and why he wrote Dada Takes A Trip — and what he hopes it means to his son
• Growing their family: welcoming a daughter this spring

Resources & links:

• 📖 Get your copy of Dada Takes A Trip at your favourite local or large chain bookstore
• 🌐 Learn more about Cory: www.coryallenbooks.com
• 📱 Follow Cory on Instagram: @authorcoryallen

⚠️ Content note: This episode includes a frank, detailed discussion of childbirth and the postpartum recovery period. If graphic descriptions of the birthing process aren't something you're comfortable with, you may want to skip this one — and that's completely okay.

We're back with Emily and Sarah for Part Two of their family-building journey — and this episode is the one we've all been waiting for. The baby is here.

In today's conversation, Emily and Sarah share their birth story in their own words, together. They don't hold back. They speak honestly about the full arc of labour and delivery, the rawness of recovery, and what it truly feels like when the person you love most in the world becomes a parent alongside you.

This episode also touches on something rarely celebrated openly: the beautiful, practical reality of having two people in the same household who can breastfeed and nourish their baby. It's a unique and joyful dimension of their family that deserves its own moment in the spotlight.

And through it all — the hard parts and the breathtaking parts — what shines brightest is just how completely and wonderfully all-consuming new parenthood is.

In Part Two, we cover:

• The full birth story, told by both Sarah and Emily
• Labour, delivery, and the recovery journey — spoken about honestly and without filters
• The joy of shared feeding and what that's meant for their family
• The beautiful overwhelm of becoming parents

Missed Part One? Go back and listen to Emily and Sarah's fertility journey — from egg retrieval to the final days of pregnancy — before diving in here.

What does it really look like to build a family through fertility treatments — from the inside? In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with Emily and Sarah, a couple whose path to parenthood began just after their September 2024 wedding. Their story is one of hope, patience, and the kind of love that finds a way.

Our host has known Emily since she was a little girl, which makes this conversation all the more meaningful. After Emily's mom reached out about the couple's plans to start a family, what followed was a year of check-ins, conversations, and a front-row seat to one of life's most profound journeys.

In Part One, we cover:

• Life after egg retrieval and the emotional waiting period before the first transfer
• The moment they found out they were pregnant
• What the final stretch of pregnancy really felt like - including a frank conversation about Lactation Induction

Emily and Sarah chose to work with Pollin Fertility — a clinic our host wholeheartedly recommended — and their experience there is woven throughout the conversation.

Don't miss Part Two next week, when we get to hear the story of their baby's arrival.

Resources mentioned:

• Polin Fertility Clinic: www.pollinfertility.com

Let's be real — when you're dreaming of building your family and things aren't going the way you hoped, it doesn't matter how many times someone says "you're not alone in this." It doesn't matter that others have walked this road before you. The pain is yours. It's in your body. It's in your bones. And it is completely valid.

You grieve. You feel the loss. You feel like your body isn't on your side, like the system was built for literally everyone except you. And yeah — sometimes you just feel completely, utterly lost.

This week, Catherine and Ana are getting into all of it. They're talking about a program they've developed specifically for queer individuals and couples who are navigating the very real, very heavy emotions that can come with an unsuccessful journey toward creating the family they've been dreaming of. The program runs through Birthmark in Toronto, and honestly? It sounds like exactly the kind of affirming, community-centred support so many of us didn't know existed — but absolutely deserve.

This one is tender. This one is important. Come sit with us.

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode: Symposium info & Family Building Canada: familybuildingcanada.com/symposium Birthmark LGBTQ+ programs: birthmarksupport.com/lgbtq Reach out directly: info@familybuildingcanada.com Instagram: @birthmarksupport

Ontario Arts Council: arts.on.ca | @ontarioartscouncil

Imagine wanting to give your eight-year-old child a sibling, only to discover that door after door slams in your face. For many prospective parents over a certain age—especially single ones—the path to surrogacy can feel like navigating a maze designed to keep you out.

This is the reality Oded faces. As a single parent by choice, he's encountered obstacle after obstacle in his quest to expand his family. Age restrictions? Check. Single parent status? Double check. It seems like every criterion works against him, every agency politely declining his application before even getting to know his story.

But here's where the journey takes an unexpected turn—halfway across the world in Armenia.

While many countries restrict surrogacy access based on marital status, age, or sexual orientation, Armenian surrogacy agencies have carved out a unique niche. They're willing to work with and support 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals who are building their families, offering hope where other doors have closed. There's just one requirement: you can't be married. For Oded, a proud single parent by choice, this isn't a barrier—it's finally a pathway forward.

Now, with determination and hope guiding him, Oded is looking toward a future where his family grows by one more. If everything goes according to plan, by this time next year, there will be a new baby bringing joy and chaos into their lives. It's a testament to persistence, the evolving landscape of family creation, and the unexpected places where dreams can still come true.

Summary

Oded, a single parent with an eight-year-old child, faces significant barriers in finding surrogacy agencies willing to work with him due to his age and single parent status. However, Armenian surrogacy agencies offer a solution by welcoming LGBTQ+ and single individuals—with the sole requirement being that clients aren't married. As a single parent by choice, Oded meets this criterion and is now on track to potentially welcome a second child within the next year, demonstrating how international surrogacy options are creating possibilities for non-traditional families.

Learn more about Oded's journey by following him on IG @dadlkg4surr

We are living in a time where headlines feel heavier than ever — rising hate, political division, threats to bodily autonomy, attacks on Queer and marginalized communities, and the quiet but persistent fear that nowhere is truly immune.

Even here in Canada, many of us feel the ripple effects of what is happening beyond our borders. The pain is real. The fear is real. And for parents and caregivers, the question becomes unavoidable: How do we raise emotionally safe, resilient children in a world that feels increasingly unsafe?

In this deeply honest and compassionate episode, we explore:

• What it means to parent through collective trauma and constant crisis

• The emotional toll of consuming relentless news cycles

• Why stepping away from the headlines may actually be a courageous act of protection — not avoidance

• How to stay informed without becoming emotionally flooded

• Practical ways to create safer emotional ecosystems inside our homes

• Supporting kids while also tending to our own nervous systems and mental health

This conversation isn’t about denial. It’s about discernment. It’s about protecting our capacity to show up as grounded, present caregivers — even when the world feels like it’s on fire.

If this episode stirs up difficult emotions or you find yourself struggling, you are not alone. Support exists. Consider connecting with:

• Postpartum Support International — postpartum.net

• Postpartum Support Canada — postpartum.org

Please reach out for help wherever you feel safest. Community care is real care.

As always, you and your family are being held in light and love.

At first glance, it looked like a postcard moment: two moms cuddled up on the couch, a newborn wrapped in blankets, love absolutely everywhere. And that’s exactly how my conversation with Reme and Jess began.

Their five-year-old daughter Jade was off at school, while three-week-old Jude soaked up quiet newborn time with her moms. But behind this picture-perfect scene is a story full of intention, resilience, and the many different ways queer families grow.

Reme and Jess have been together for twelve years, and it didn’t take long for them to know that parenthood was part of their future. When it came time to start their family, Jess—being older—carried first. Using an app to connect with a local sperm donor, they conceived quickly, enjoyed a smooth pregnancy, and welcomed Jade via a straightforward birth-centre birth. Easy. Empowering. Dreamy.

So naturally, when it was time for baby number two, they expected more of the same—especially with Reme being younger.

Reality had other plans.

This time, conception took longer, pregnancy was far tougher, and the peaceful home birth they’d envisioned didn’t happen. And yet—Reme wouldn’t change a single thing. Because Jude arrived exactly how she needed to, bringing with her a depth of gratitude, love, and perspective that reshaped their family in the most beautiful way.

This episode is a tender, honest look at queer conception journeys, shifting expectations, and holding joy alongside challenge. It’s a reminder that there is no “right” way to grow a family—only your way.

✨ Follow Reme and Jess on TikTok @alphabetmafiamoms to see more of the magic that is their family.

Content Note / Trigger Warning:
This episode includes discussion of fertility challenges, medical complications, pregnancy loss, and barriers to family expansion. Please listen in the way that feels safest and most supportive for you.

Today, I had the honour of sitting down with Michelle and Lisa Cast, a couple whose love story spans nearly 25 years and whose family-building journey has been anything but simple.

Michelle and Lisa first met in 2001, when they were just 18 years old and sophomores in college. What followed can only be described as a knowing. After only a few weeks of talking, Michelle shared, “If you were a guy, I’d marry you tomorrow,” to which Lisa replied, “Yeah… we need to talk about that. I think I’m falling in love with you.” They’ve been together ever since.

Over the years, Michelle and Lisa have navigated profound and intersecting challenges: significant weight-loss journeys, living with and managing PCOS, pregnancy and birth following serious medical complications, and the stress of not conceiving their second child in a timely manner. And still — their story is not finished.

What stands out most in this conversation is their honesty, their refusal to romanticize hardship, and their unwavering belief that their family may yet continue to grow. They speak openly about grief, resilience, love, and the complexity of holding hope after loss.

Michelle and Lisa also share their lived experiences on their own podcast, creating space for truth-telling, connection, and solidarity for others walking similar paths. This episode is a reminder that Queer family creation is rarely linear — and that persistence, love, and care can coexist with uncertainty.

🎧 Be sure to check out their podcast: The Cast Compass Podcast and follow them on social media @Castof2Moms to continue learning from their journey.

Website - https://thecastcompass.com/ (has been revised and has a blurb about our podcast here: https://thecastcompass.com/#podcast)

Podcast Links - Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cast-compass-podcast/id1812208043, Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mqkhiFYmENxbYP94u0ckU, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCastCompass

Sometimes family begins with timing, courage, and a leap into the unknown.

Nearly 15 years ago, fate brought Heitor and Wayne together when Heitor relocated to Ireland for work. From early on, they shared a quiet but steady knowing: they both wanted to become parents someday. What they didn’t yet know was how that dream would take shape.

With openness, intention, and a deep commitment to understanding what was involved, Heitor and Wayne embarked on a surrogacy journey. Working with an agency based in Cyprus — alongside a consultant who answered every question and supported them through each step — they found both their egg donors and surrogates through the same organization.

Their path was anything but simple. Choosing to keep their journey private, they didn’t share it with friends or family, and when they experienced the devastating loss of their first pregnancy at 11 weeks, they leaned solely on one another for support and healing.

Their contract was signed just before guidelines shifted to limit embryo transfers to one at a time. Because of this timing — and the significant financial realities of surrogacy — their care continued under previous protocols through a grandfathered agreement.

In 2024, after years of hope, grief, resilience, and trust, Heitor and Wayne finally welcomed their children, Blake and Blaire, into their family.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that Queer family creation is rarely linear — and always deeply human.

✨ Learn more and connect with Queer parenting advocacy in Ireland:
📲 @IrishGayDads | @LGBTIreland | @equalityforchildren
🔗 www.irishgaydads.ie | www.equalityforchildren.ie

🎥 Follow Heitor and Wayne’s family journey on YouTube or Instagram: @twindadlife_official

Today on the podcast, we’re joined once again by Christina Alicea — a familiar and deeply valued voice in conversations around fertility, donation, and ethical family creation.

When Christina first joined us a few years ago, she was working within a fertility clinic and sharing her experiences primarily as an egg donor. Since then, her professional journey has evolved in powerful ways. Today, Christina joins us in her current role as a Program Analyst with Everie, where her work centers on examining who is being well served by existing systems — and, just as importantly, where gaps remain that require thoughtful change.

Drawing from her lived experience as a multi-time egg donor and her current work with Everie, Christina reflects on the critical importance of open, ethical, and identity-affirming donation. This approach isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s foundational. Christina and the team at Everie believe deeply that everyone deserves the right to know their origins, and that transparency and respect must be built into the very framework of third-party reproduction.

Before we wrapped our conversation, Christina shared a practical and essential reminder for all hopeful parents: review your insurance policies carefully before beginning your family-building journey. Coverage, eligibility criteria, and requirements can vary widely by state, province, and country — and knowing what’s covered (and what isn’t) can help avoid unexpected financial stress along the way.

✨ To learn more about Everie and the services they offer, visit everiedonation.com
📲 Follow them on Instagram @everie.donation

In this special reflective episode of becoming babyREADY, Sam looks back on the conversations that shaped 2025 — a year defined by courage, complexity, and connection.

This season brought together Queer parents, hopeful parents, professionals, artists, advocates, and storytellers from around the world.

From filmmakers and authors to midwives, lawyers, coaches, and everyday families, each guest shared deeply personal stories of how their families came to be.

Across continents — from Canada and the U.S. to Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Australia, and beyond — one truth echoed again and again: there is no single way to build a Queer family.

Listeners are invited into conversations about surrogacy, IVF, reciprocal IVF, adoption, fostering, donor conception, solo parenting, co-parenting, poly-parenting, and more.

This episode also names a reality that often sits quietly in the background: the rising cost of Queer family creation.

Fertility care, medications, legal protections, adoption pathways, and surrogacy have become increasingly expensive — and increasingly out of reach for many.

Insurance coverage is often partial or inaccessible, leaving families to navigate systems that can feel deeply elitist and exclusionary.

Throughout the year, guests shared how financial barriers shaped their choices — forcing pauses, pivots, relocations, and, at times, heartbreaking decisions.

Alongside these realities, there was joy.

There was resilience.

There was laughter, healing, grief, advocacy, and hope.

This episode honours not only the families who were able to build — but also those still waiting, wondering, or redefining what family means for them.

As becoming babyREADY enters a new year, this reflection reaffirms the podcast’s commitment to honest storytelling, Queer affirmation, and holding space for both joy and truth.

Whether you’re dreaming, trying, parenting, grieving, or simply listening — you belong here.

Welcome to another year of ecoming babyREADY.

There are many ways to build a family with the support of a surrogate. Some people work with agencies; others move forward independently. Some are supported by gestational carriers or egg donors they know or are related to, while others aren’t. The possibilities are wide and deeply personal.

What is always true is this: this path is not fast. It is not inexpensive. And it is never without profound emotional highs and lows.

Today, we pause with heavy hearts and immense gratitude as we share a conversation with Bret Shuford (@bretshuford). Bret—who passed today—was an extraordinary human. Alongside his husband, Stephen, he navigated this complex and courageous journey with honesty, love, and intention, ultimately leading them to their beloved son, Maverick.

It is an honour to hold space for his story, his voice, and the legacy of love he leaves behind.

When you move thousands of miles away, start over in a new city, and finally find friends who feel like home, life starts to click into place. For Jess Walker, that journey took an unexpected and beautiful turn when she met a new roommate — who would soon become the love of her life.

In this heartfelt episode, Jess shares her story of self-discovery, embracing her sexual identity, and building a Queer family through RIVF — with Jess carrying their child. It’s a story about love, courage, and the magic of creating family, your way.

The fertility clinic in Vancouver that Jess mentioned is: https://www.olivefertility.com

Follow Jess on Instagram: @jessica_alexis 💜

(PS - the two businesses that Jess mentioned to add to the show notes are: Olive Fertility = https://www.olivefertility.com/ and Rowena's Inn on the River (now called Sandpiper Resort) = https://sandpiperresort.ca/stay/ )

What happens when three adults choose to build and raise a family together—under one roof, sharing every joy, challenge, and decision equally?

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Markus Harwood-Jones, who co-parents alongside his husband, Andrew, and their co-parent, Hannah, in a small Ontario city. Together, they’re raising their children in a home that celebrates collaboration, love, and the many ways families can take shape.

Markus brings deep reflection and warmth to our conversation. He’s a writer, public speaker, and now a PhD graduate in Gender Studies—and, of course, a devoted dad.

Join us as we explore what it means to parent as a trio, how decisions get made, what community looks like in their home, and why their story helps expand our understanding of what family can be.

Learn more about Markus and his work at mharwoodjones.com (on social media as @markusbones)

Many things in life can be true at the same time.
You can have a uterus and know you never want to use it to give birth.
You can know deep in your soul that you were meant to be a parent.
You can also know that the sex you were assigned at birth doesn’t reflect who you truly are.

How do you bring all of that truth into your life — especially after you’ve fallen in love with your person?

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Logan Blackburn-Issitt, a trans dad, husband, and father of six. Our conversation explores identity, parenthood, love, and the beautiful, messy realities that come with being human. The joy radiating from Logan is undeniable, and his openness is sure to resonate.

You can find Logan on TikTok @dad.business, on Facebook, or on Reddit where he runs the Transdads community.

🎙️ After Seamus and his husband got married, they set out on a journey familiar to so many queer couples — figuring out how to build their family.

What began as a hopeful research project quickly became a crash course in the complexities of Irish law, parental rights, and the many barriers faced by LGBTQ+ parents. From comparing routes to parenthood to navigating the emotional and financial realities of family creation, Seamus’ story highlights both the challenges and the deep determination behind Queer family building in Ireland.

Today, Seamus joins us to share his family’s journey — the joy, the advocacy, and the ongoing fight for equality. As the Chair of Irish Gay Dads, he’s at the forefront of education, reform, and support for future parents navigating the same path.

👉 Learn more and connect with Seamus’ work:
@IrishGayDads | @LGBTIreland | @equalityforchildren

www.irishgaydads.ie and equalityforchildren.ie 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t forget to follow for more real stories of Queer family creation around the world. 🌈

#QueerParenting

#LGBTQFamily

#QueerFamilies

#InclusiveParenting

#FertilityJourney

#QueerParentPodcast

#2SLGBTQFamily

#LoveMakesAFamily

#becomingbabyREADY

When it comes to family creation, the legal side can feel overwhelming — but Toronto-based fertility lawyer Sara Cohen has made it her mission to change that.

Sara works with intended parents, donors, surrogates, and agencies to help make family-building possible — and she’s also one of the most respected voices advocating for modern, inclusive updates to reproductive law in Canada and beyond.

In this episode, Sara and I dive into the world of fertility law, reproductive rights, and the importance of legal clarity and compassion for everyone dreaming of a family — especially in our 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Her passion for her work is infectious, her wisdom is boundless, and her approach is deeply human. Whether you’re at the start of your family-building journey or just curious about the legal landscape, this episode is packed with insight, warmth, and hope.

✨ Learn more about Sara’s work at: www.fertilitylawcanada.com
Follow her on social media @fertilitylaw

🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts and join us as we unpack what it really means to make family possible — legally and lovingly.

A Divine Future — Stef Vachon’s Journey to Fatherhood

✨ Sometimes, you hold onto the dream of becoming a parent… until the years pass and you gently let that dream go. That was true for Stef Vachon and his husband — until one unexpected moment changed everything.

After years focused on their careers and relationship, one movie night set a new path in motion. Within 24 hours, they made the life-changing decision to begin their foster-to-adopt journey. ✨

More than two years later, they met the child who would become their son — and Stef says he knew instantly that this was meant to be.

In this episode of becoming babyREADY, Stef shares the emotional, inspiring story of how he and his husband created their family, the moment he first laid eyes on his son, and what it means to trust the timing of your life. 💙

👉 You can also find Stef sharing powerful Queer stories on his own podcast, @togethermovingforward 🎙️

Meet Jameel—a dad, podcaster, author, and all-around powerhouse. He and his husband Nicholas have been together for 22 years, and eight years ago, they began their foster-to-adopt journey, welcoming their now 12-year-old son into their lives.

In our chat, Jameel opens up about the raw vulnerability of navigating the foster care system in Arizona, and what it really meant to open their hearts and home.

But that’s not all—Jameel also hosts the podcast Fathernetics, where he dives into modern Queer fatherhood, and he's written two books: one is a moving memoir of their family-building experience, and the other is a sci-fi adventure with a Queer protagonist at its heart.

Follow him on Instagram @fathernetics and learn more about his work at jameelmayers.com

✨ Chances are Rowan Jette Knox + Dani Gaede have already touched your Queer life — through their words, their work, or their fierce advocacy.

I had the honour of sitting down with them to talk life, love, family, and the BIG dreams they’re cooking up next.

Between the two of them, they’ve written powerful books, driven DEI initiatives, slayed in marketing, and fought for equity across so many spaces. And now? They’re onto something brand new: a cozy, community-rooted café + wine bar in the heart of Toronto’s Queer Village.

📍 Church + Wellesley
📲 Follow their journey: @understorytoronto
🌐 Check out their site: understorycafe.com

Honestly… is there anything these two can’t do? 💫

✨ What happens when you’re both an adoptee and an adoptive parent?
You gain a powerful perspective — one that can challenge, reshape, and rewrite the narratives we’ve all been told about adoption.

Today I’m sitting down with Allison Olsen, who never set out to become an author. But when she couldn’t find children’s books that told the adoption story with honesty, compassion, and balance… she wrote them herself. 📚💡

Now, Allison is on a mission to shift the way adoption is talked about — for adoptive parents, adoptees, and birth parents alike. Her work is opening hearts, changing conversations, and giving kids (and adults) words that truly honour their experiences.

✨ Learn more about Allison’s inspiring journey:
📲 Follow her on IG: @kidsbooksbyallisonolson
🌐 Visit: ouradoptionbooks.com

✨ Life has a way of sparking the most wonderful things. ✨

Take Kirsty Loehr for example 👇
A chance to study creative writing abroad inspired her first book, A Short History of Queer Women — a brilliant tribute to the Queer women who came before us and walk alongside us today. 🌈📚

Then, choosing to grow her family with her (now) ex-wife opened up even more questions: How exactly do Queer women navigate parenting?
That journey gave birth (pun intended 😉) to her newest book: A Short History of Queer Parenting, out October 2, 2025 with One World Publications. 👶🏻✨

Today, we’re diving into Kirsty’s story of becoming a mother — and how she weaves Queer history + lived experience into powerful, true tales that remind us: our families have always been here. 💜

📖 Follow Kirsty on IG: @kirsty_loehr
🌍 Explore her work via One World Publications: https://oneworld-publications.com/work/a-short-history-of-queer-women/

What Queer parenting stories do you wish were told more often? Drop them below ⬇️

✨ The journey to parenthood is rarely simple — and for single/solo parents by choice, it’s often a whole other level of complex. While there are beautiful overlaps with Queer family-building, solo parenting comes with its own unique set of emotional, financial, and logistical challenges. 🍼💸💪

Carrying, birthing, and raising a child on your own? That’s no small feat. And then come the big questions from our kids: “Where did I come from?” “Why is our family different?” 😅

That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce you to Sharon Leya, the brilliant mind behind the “My Donor Story” book series. 📚💖

These beautifully written and illustrated books help parents explain solo and Queer family creation in ways that are gentle, honest, and kid-friendly. ✨

Want to learn more? Give Sharon a follow over at @mydonorstory and check out this incredible resource for families like ours. 🌈👶🏽🌟

https://www.sharonleya.com

✨ Today I’m so excited to share the brilliance of editor Gail Schwarz and two of her powerful contributors, Lalita and Katherine — just a few of the many voices behind the groundbreaking new book, “Boyhood Reimagined.” 📖💫

Co-edited by Gail and Ada Malone, this collection brings together stories and reflections from Queer parents — cis, trans, and non-binary mothers — who are raising sons in a world that doesn’t always reflect our families back to us. 🌈👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏾

Together, we dive into what it means to parent boys as queer-identifying women: the beauty, the complexity, the resistance, and the reimagining. 💭💖

This conversation is bold, honest, and filled with wisdom for anyone thinking about gender, parenting, and what it means to raise thoughtful, compassionate humans.

Want to learn more? Keep an eye out for “Boyhood Reimagined” and follow the journey of this incredible collective. 🌟

Visit: https://www.gailmarleneschwartzauthor.com

🌍✈️ If you love Queer joy, globe-trotting adventures, and heartwarming family vibes — you need to follow @loveislovearoundtheworld 💕✨

Cristina & Adriana have known each other for over 20 years (most of that time as a couple!), but it’s only been in the past decade that they’ve finally shared the same city, the same home — and now, the same passport stamps. 🌎💌

These two fierce mamas are now travelling the world with their beautiful baby girl, proving that Queer family love truly knows no borders. 🧳👩‍👩‍👧💫

Today we chat about the ups and downs of building their family, the hurdles they’ve faced, and how they’re soaking up every magical moment together. 🥹💖

Hit that follow on @loveislovearoundtheworld for major inspo, adorable family content, and your daily dose of love without limits. 🌈

Becoming a gay parent can feel incredibly isolating.
How do you find other gay dads?
Where’s the sense of community?
And why does it often feel like nothing in the parenting world was designed with you in mind?

That’s where David Morgenstern comes in. A gay dad to a 4-year-old with a background in marketing, David set out to build something more than just a brand—he built a movement.

Gaddies is fun, stylish, and community-driven. What started as a line of apparel meant to make a statement has grown into a hub of connection and resources for gay dads everywhere. From t-shirts to tote bags to tools for navigating parenthood, Gaddies is helping dads feel seen, supported, and proud.

Check it out at heygaddies.com and follow along on Instagram @heygaddies.

Midwifery care looks vastly different depending on where you are in the world—and even from one region to another. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Ness Dixon, a passionate and multi-talented professional who, among many roles, serves as a Registered Midwife in Ontario, Canada. In our conversation, Ness shares insights into the traditional roots of midwifery and how the profession has evolved over the past few decades to meet the changing needs of birthing people and their families.

To learn more about midwives in Ontario visit: @ontariomidwives and for other areas of Canada, check out @canadianmidwives

When you ask someone on a first date, “Do you want kids?”—you likely have a clear vision of the future you're hoping to build.

For Kim and Aldo, that vision took a full decade, countless challenges, and unwavering commitment to bring to life. After exploring every possible path to parenthood, they’re now living the dream they once imagined.

In today’s episode, I speak with them from their home in the Netherlands about their incredible journey to family—navigating bureaucracy, overcoming obstacles, and, just days before our conversation, finally becoming the legal parents of their 23-month-old daughter.

You can follow their family story on Instagram @2gaydadsinnl and on TikTok as Two Gay Dads in NL.

What do you do when you’ve got young kids, thriving careers, and life already feels full?
If you're Lisa and Jaimee, you add twins to the mix—and start a podcast to capture it all.

Today, I’m chatting with the dynamic duo behind The Two Mom Edit, a podcast that’s honest, funny, and deeply relatable. From how they found each other, to building their beautiful family, to sharing the messy, magical moments in between—Lisa and Jaimee keep it real.

You can find their show on Apple Podcasts and follow them on Instagram @thetwomomedit.

Bonus: Lisa and Jaimee are also the founders of Limitless Slides, the company featured in this month’s sponsor spots on the babyREADY podcast!

Growing up during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic meant living with a deep, often paralyzing fear. So much was unknown, and the narrative at the time made it feel like a life sentence—especially for those of us who were Queer. The idea of creating a family, let alone using your own genetic material, felt impossibly out of reach.

But oh, how far we've come.

Today, I’m deeply honoured to speak with Brian Rosenberg, founder of GWK Academy. Brian is a gay, HIV-positive parent of three who generously shares the story of how he and his husband built their family through adoption and surrogacy. He also opens up about the mission behind GWK Academy—an organization dedicated to supporting Queer people on their path to parenthood.

To learn more about the organization he created, follow: @gwk_academy or visit: https://gwkacademy.org and @@gays_with_kids The organization he mentioned re: adoption for older children is found at: https://www.yougottabelieve.org

The last thing any hopeful parent wants to hear is, “You can’t move forward until you’ve had a counselling session.”
But in Canada, Implications Counselling is a required step for anyone using donor eggs or sperm to grow their family — and that includes all individuals and couples, not just Queer folks.

While it might sound like a barrier, for Dara Roth-Edney, it's actually an opportunity: a chance to ensure hopeful parents feel seen, heard, and supported as they navigate the complexities of assisted reproduction.

Today, Dara joins me to share more about this essential process and the work she and her team do at Informed Fertility.

Learn more at informedfertility.ca or follow Dara on Instagram at @dara.informedfertility.

When you finally pluck up the courage to come out to your parents, you cross your fingers and hope that, for the most part, nothing really changes. You want to feel that love and support. Sometimes you don’t think about the questions and concerns that your own parents may have. Do you give them space for that? Do they give you space to ask your questions and feel your feelings? 

Angela Briones is my guest on the show today and she talks about her podcast where she tackles this subject and so much more. 

You can learn more about Angela by visiting her website: and following her on Instagram: @thegaypodcast_foreveryone

It’s not uncommon for people to say they didn’t grow up with a strong, deep-seated desire to become a parent. For some, that longing doesn’t emerge until later in life—once they’ve found their footing professionally, or after hearing the powerful, personal stories of others who’ve built their families in different ways.

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to Jay Chapman. He and his partner are the proud dads of two vibrant preteens, and they make their home just outside Melbourne, Australia. You can follow their family’s journey and catch glimpses of their everyday joy on Instagram: @twodadsandtwins

This episode airs with a trigger warning.

Cassie and Marissa, as a two-uterus household, made a decision familiar to many lesbian couples—they agreed that the eldest, Marissa, would be the first to carry a pregnancy. By her own account, Marissa experienced a relatively smooth and uncomplicated pregnancy. It was the labour, birth, and recovery that proved to be the most difficult and traumatic part of her transition into parenthood. Cassie was left feeling helpless through the process which was deeply distressing.

It’s important to say that today, the whole family is thriving and doing beautifully. But getting to this place has required time, healing, and the support of therapy to fully process the intensity of their early experience.

Watch this family evolve over time on Instagram: @cassie.maggiore

International love stories have a special way of capturing our hearts, sparking that hopeful question: Can love truly conquer distance?

Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Sarah about the incredible journey she and her wife embarked on—one that spanned continents and oceans. Despite living on opposite sides of the world, they built not only a deeply loving relationship, but also a beautiful, growing family. Their story has taken them across the Atlantic more than once, but for now, they’ve found a home in Germany.

To learn more about Sarah and her family, you can follow their journey on Instagram: @sarah.beste_simmler

It felt like it should have been easier, especially since they were both perfectly healthy. 

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to Michael and Dan, two Melbourne-based IPs (intended parents). Their journey to parenthood took them around the world in search of the perfect egg donor and surrogate — a journey that ultimately helped them build the beautiful family they have today.

You can learn more about their beautiful family by following them on Instagram @aussiedadzdream

Over the past 100 episodes, I’ve had the absolute privilege of connecting with some truly remarkable Queer Professionals and Queer Parents. Each conversation has opened my mind, challenged my assumptions, and left me inspired in ways I never could have imagined. Together, we’ve explored the beautiful, messy, courageous, and deeply personal journeys of family creation in our community—and it’s been nothing short of transformative.

Saying I’m honoured doesn’t even begin to cover it. These guests have shared their stories with vulnerability and strength, and I am endlessly grateful.

And to you—yes, you—thank you for tuning in, sharing, and growing with me. Your presence and support are what keep me going. Here's to the next 100 episodes and all the powerful stories still to come. 💖