Explore every episode of the podcast FriedEggs Podcast

What happens when your fertility doctor goes through IVF herself?

We’re talking to Dr. Sasha Hakman, an OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist, about her own fertility journey and how being a patient has shaped the way she practices medicine.

We get into what personalized fertility care actually looks like, the emotional reality of failed cycles, nutrition and lifestyle, family history, preventative care, and why finding good information online can be harder than it sounds. We also talk about access to fertility care, getting a second opinion, and the questions researchers are still trying to answer.

Plus, Dr. Sasha shares her IVF rituals, favorite snacks, and what she wishes more patients knew before starting treatment.

About Sasha Hakman, MD

Dr. Sasha Hakman is a double board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) specialist with more than 15 years of experience helping patients navigate fertility and reproductive health. She practices at Beverly Hills Fertility and is also a leading voice in online women’s health education.

She hosts Trying with Dr. Hakman, where she covers fertility, hormones, reproductive medicine, and patient stories, and serves as a medical advisor for BabyCenter and Bird & Be. She’s also the Vice Chair of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Social Media Special Interest Group.

Dr. Hakman brings both clinical expertise and personal experience with the fertility journey to her work — making her a particularly thoughtful voice in this space.

Connect With Us

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

It’s our final episode of the summer with just the two of us! We’ll be back with a guest next week, and then we’re taking a few weeks off while Amy travel and Kayti works on her book. See you in October!

This is part two - listen to part one of this episode here.

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Tempdrop, a wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your own wearable BBT device and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

Let’s connect!

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

What if your fertility could tell you something about your overall health? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Natalie Crawford, OB-GYN, reproductive endocrinologist, and author of the bestselling book The Fertility Formula, to talk about fertility as a health marker—and why fertility isn’t just about getting pregnant.

We get into metabolic health, inflammation, hormones, and the clues our bodies can give us long before we’re trying to conceive. Dr. Crawford breaks down what’s actually worth paying attention to, what we tend to normalize, and how understanding your fertility can give you more information and agency when it comes to your health.

We also talk about the tricky line between knowing what you can influence and accepting what you can’t, especially if you’re already navigating infertility, IVF, recurrent pregnancy loss, or another complicated fertility journey.

And because we love a behind-the-scenes publishing story, Dr. Crawford shares what it was like to turn her years of medical knowledge into The Fertility Formula and go from doctor to bestselling author.

About Natalie Crawford, MD

Today's guest is Dr. Natalie Crawford, a double board-certified fertility doctor, educator, and author of The Fertility Formula. You may know her from her podcast, “As a Woman”, social media, or the countless educational resources she's created to help people better understand their bodies and reproductive health. Dr. Crawford's work bridges the gap between fertility medicine and overall health, asking not just how we get pregnant, but how we can better understand and support our bodies throughout our lives. We’re so excited to have this conversation and dive into topics like fertility as a health marker, the power of knowledge, and what we can actually do to improve our fertility.

Website: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/

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

The Fertility Formula: https://bookshop.org/a/126795/9780593994306

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Tempdrop, a wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your own wearable BBT device and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

Connect With Us

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.friedeggspod.com

In this week’s episode, we’re chatting about Amy’s work sabbatical and upcoming voyage to Europe, plus Kayti’s book (manifestation!) and getting back into writing.

We share a surrogacy update and talk about returning to the gym after years of the physical and mental exhaustion that came with infertility and IVF. Amy opens up about feeling disconnected from her body after so much treatment, and why getting stronger has become less about how she looks and more about feeling like herself again. Of course, there’s a pull-up goal involved.

Let’s connect!

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

In this week’s episode, we’re chatting about Amy’s work sabbatical and upcoming voyage to Europe, plus Kayti’s book (manifestation!) and getting back into writing.

We share a surrogacy update and talk about returning to the gym after years of the physical and mental exhaustion that came with infertility and IVF. Amy opens up about feeling disconnected from her body after so much treatment, and why getting stronger has become less about how she looks and more about feeling like herself again. Of course, there’s a pull-up goal involved.

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Tempdrop, a wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your own wearable BBT device and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

Let’s connect!

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

In this episode, we’re joined by writer and author Amy Gallo Ryan to talk about her memoir, You May Feel a Bit of Pressure, and what it means to make sense of infertility through writing.

We talk about the ways IVF can shape your identity, the pressure to tell a certain kind of infertility story, and why the emotional impact can stick around long after treatment ends. Amy also shares why she chose a nonlinear structure for her book and what it was like to turn such a personal experience into a story.

We get into the messy reality of writing and publishing, including finding your voice, dealing with rejection, and putting something deeply personal out into the world. Amy also reads an excerpt from You May Feel a Bit of Pressure.

About Amy Gallo Ryan

Amy Gallo Ryan is a Brooklyn-based author, essayist and former magazine editor whose personal essays have appeared in Vogue, Lit Hub, Hippocampus and Pregnantish, among other publications. Her debut memoir-in-essays, You May Feel a Bit of Pressure, was named a critic’s recommendation by Kirkus Reviews and called “a riveting examination of infertility” by The Book Life Prize.

Her website: https://www.amygalloryan.com/

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Tempdrop, a wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your own wearable BBT device and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

Connect With Us

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

It’s been a couple of weeks since our last proper catch-up, and woah! So many fertility news headlines.

Kayti shares highlights from a whirlwind family trip, her move into a new home, and the chaos of unpacking (or... not unpacking). And we dive into what they’ve been seeing in women’s health and fertility news, including IVF policy debates, teen pregnancy prevention funding cuts and why that’s critical for fertility education, testosterone screenings and menopause care, and a promising new swab test that could make diagnosing endometriosis much easier.

We wander from infertility advocacy to climate change, shark sightings, ADHD vs. luteal phase energy, why both of us use home projects as emotional coping mechanisms, and back to fertility advocacy. We also tease at what’s upcoming.

Thanks for joining the chaotic energy!

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Tempdrop, a wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your own wearable BBT device and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

Fact Check

Teen pregnancy prevention program cuts: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) canceled 53 out of 67 grants totaling roughly $68 million under the federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP) in June 2026 in order to promote “conservative-leaning priorities, specifically emphasizing abstinence-only education and marriage.” Source: NPR and NYT

Britain’s NHS Endometriosis saliva test, “Endotest”: New research into less-invasive testing for endometriosis could help women get diagnoses sooner. The average time to diagnosis is 7-10 years from symptom onset, and with endo impacting as many as 25-50% of women with infertility, we hope faster diagnosis means faster treatment. Source: BBC and World Health Organization: Endometriosis

United States’ DOD policy introducing mandatory testosterone screening for servicemen and women, and “optional” treatment for “low” testosterone. This news was particularly surprising since at the same time, women continue the uphill climb to get much-needed, evidence-backed HRT support during perimenopause and menopause, and gender affirming care for trans people continues to be under attack. Side note: for those of us worried about infertility — testosterone supplementation is a preventable cause of male factor infertility. Sources: PBS, New York Times, NIH and PubMed

Correction: More great whites in our SoCal oceans may be a good sign that Southern California’s coastline is healing from years of DDT contaminants. Source: LA Times

But the oceans are warming and warming faster than historically observed, which is impacting oceanic animal life, and climate warming is the primary driver. Source: AP News

And super El Niño “winter is coming” (queue GOT) with warmer-than-average conditions across portions of the northern tier of states, and Kayti needs to install gutters ASAP. Source: Newsweek and The Weather Channel

More FriedEggs episodes you’ll love

Ep 59: How to advocate for your fertility and recognize hormone imbalances with Sam Diamond, Co-Founder. We could all use a little encouragement on advocating for our health and care! And tons of good info on PCOS/PMOS.

Ep 60: How to track your cycle when trying to get pregnant. With women’s health care under attack and fertility education getting cut in favor of abstinence-only programs, it’s more important than ever to understand our unique cycles.

Coming up on the pod:

Dr. Natalie Crawford on our fertility health as a biomarker, the uniquely powerful role of our metabolic health, PCOS/PMOS.

Dr. Sasha Hakman on becoming the IVF patient herself and setting yourself up for success.

Author of You May Feel a Bit of Pressure, Amy Gallo Ryan, joins us to talk about her memoir.

Deep-diving into Amy’s surrogacy journey so far, from finding a match to medical clearance and legal to what it takes to finally get to transfer! 👀

Let’s connect!

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

Did you know that cycle tracking apps are only about 20% accurate at predicting your ovulation window? This week, Kayti sits down with sex therapist Laura Federico, LCSW CST and midwife Morgan Miller, CPM LM (authors of The Cycle Book) to talk about cycle tracking during IVF and infertility, data privacy, sex during infertility, how a midwife can help during an IVF pregnancy, and so much more! It’s a packed conversation, and we really need to have them both back on to share more of their expertise. Until then, enjoy this conversation and grab yourself a copy of The Cycle Book here.

About The Cycle Book

A midwife and sex therapist combine their clinical expertise with mindful self-care to help you move from confusion and fear to confidence and direction. No apps, no subscriptions, just you, your body, and science-backed tools. Whether you’re trying to conceive, managing chronic health symptoms, or simply seeking balance, The Cycle Book empowers you to reconnect with your body and live in sync with your natural cycles. No more wondering if it’s "just in your head."

About Laura Federico

Laura Federico (LCSW CST) is a US-trained Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been working in the mental health field for over 10 years. She holds an MS from Columbia University in Clinical Social Work, a BA from Marquette University in Social Welfare + Justice and Sociology, and a post-graduate sexologist certification in Holistic Sex Therapy from the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment.

About Morgan Miller

Morgan Miller (CPM, LM, IBCLC) is a midwife, lactation consultant, and unapologetic advocate for reimagining perinatal care. As the founder of Soft Corner Midwifery & Birth Center, Morgan has built more than just a practice—she’s created a space where people can heal and be seen. Her work blends clinical expertise with deep listening, radical compassion, and a fierce commitment to autonomy.

Follow Laura + Morgan: https://www.instagram.com/itslauraandmorgan/

Connect With Us

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

This week, we’re joined by Sam Diamond, co-founder of Bird&Be, for a conversation about hormone imbalances and why reproductive health should never be treated as just a women’s issue. Sam shares the personal experiences that led her to build Bird&Be, the science behind the brand’s evidence-based fertility supplements and at-home tests, and how products like inositol can support people navigating ovulation challenges and PCOS (now called PMOS).

We also talk about the importance of advocating for your health, recognizing the signs of hormonal imbalances, what sets Bird&Be apart in the fertility space, and why being proactive about reproductive health matters. Plus, we wrap things up with some fun rapid-fire questions for Sam!

About Bird&Be

Bird&Be offers science-backed supplements, personalized prenatal vitamins, and convenient at-home fertility tests designed to help you better understand your reproductive health, whether you're just starting to think about growing your family, actively trying to conceive, or navigating IVF and fertility treatment. By making expert-backed care and information more accessible, Bird&Be empowers people to take proactive steps on their fertility journey from the comfort of home.

About Samantha Diamond

Samantha Diamond is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bird&Be, a fertility and reproductive health company dedicated to making evidence-based care more accessible. Inspired by her own experience navigating pregnancy loss and the challenges of trying to conceive, she created Bird&Be to provide science-backed supplements and at-home fertility testing that empower people with better information and support.

Follow Sam

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/samantha-diamond

Connect With Us

Have questions about donor eggs, egg freezing, infertility, or family building? Check out Cofertility on Instagram at @cofertility.

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

We’re so excited to bring you part two of this episode! Kayti continues sharing her birth story after a long journey to pregnancy via IVF. This is part two of a two-part episode (We recommend catching up on the first half if you haven’t already!). Disclaimer: these episodes include discussions of a traumatic birth experience. Please guard your heart and skip them if you’re not in a place to listen right now. 🩷

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

Kayti shares her birth story after a long journey to pregnancy via IVF. This is part one of a two-part episode and includes discussions of a traumatic birth experience.

This episode is sponsored by Tempdrop, a wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your own wearable BBT device and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

This week, we’re joined by Lauren Makler, co-founder and CEO of Cofertility, to talk about the future of egg freezing, egg donation, and fertility access. Lauren shares the personal health journey that inspired her to build Cofertility and explains how the company is making fertility preservation more accessible through its innovative egg-sharing model (and also why she believes egg donation is fertility’s last taboo).

We dive into the emotional realities of donor conception, the stigma surrounding donor eggs, and what it means to navigate grief and hope at the same time while building a family.

Whether you’re considering egg freezing, exploring donor-egg IVF, or simply curious about modern family-building, we’re so excited to share this conversation about the many ways families are created today.

About Cofertility

Cofertility is a human-centered fertility platform helping women freeze their eggs while helping other families build theirs.

Through their innovative Split Program, eligible women can freeze their eggs at no cost by donating half of the retrieved eggs to intended parents. CoFertility also takes a modern approach to donor conception by prioritizing transparency, education, optional known donation, and limiting the number of families a donor can donate to.

About Lauren Makler

Lauren Makler is the co-founder and CEO of Cofertility. After being diagnosed with an extremely rare abdominal disease and facing uncertainty about her own fertility, Lauren experienced firsthand the gaps in fertility preservation and donor egg options. She later became a mother and launched Cofertility to create a more transparent, ethical, and accessible path to egg freezing and egg donation.

Lauren has been recognized on the Inc. Female Founders 500 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business lists and has become a leading voice in conversations around fertility access, donor conception, and reproductive healthcare.

Follow Lauren

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmakler/

More valuable nuggets in this episode

Fertility Tracking & Cycle Health with Tempdrop: A wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

Fertility Financing with Sunfish: Helping make fertility treatment, IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, and family building more financially accessible. joinsunfish.com

Fertility Mental Health with Mavida Health: Mental health support designed specifically for fertility patients. Our episode with Dr. Sarah Oreck on fertility & mental health. Check out mavidahealth.com to learn more.

Needle-Free IVF as a less invasive approach to IVF. A newer IVF approach discussed in previous FriedEggs episodes that may reduce the number of injections required during treatment. Talk with your fertility specialist about whether newer protocols may be appropriate for your situation. Learn more at needlefreeivf.com.

Related Fried Eggs Episodes

* Ep 32: Surrogacy 101 and how to find a surrogate with Carly Joseph

* Ep 49: How to care for your mental health while going through IVF with Dr. Sarah Oreck, founder of Mavida Health

Connect With Us

Have questions about donor eggs, egg freezing, infertility, or family building? Check out Cofertility on Instagram at @cofertility.

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

It’s the moment we’ve all waited for: the embryo transfer. Do you tell your family and friends? Do you keep it a secret until you know if it worked, or until the end of the first trimester? In today’s episode, we’re talking about support systems, celebrating small joys, and the emotional labor that comes with sharing your infertility and IVF journey publicly.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Tempdrop, a basal body temperature sensor with an accompanying fertility app to help you identify your fertile window. Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your order.

This is a free, shorter version of the episode for all subscribers. Paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club) can also listen to an extended, ad-free version of this episode (learn more here). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community.

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre:

It's the moment we've all waited for: the embryo transfer. Do you tell your family and friends? Do you keep it a secret until you know if it worked, or until the end of the first trimester? In today's episode, we're talking about support systems, celebrating small joys, and the emotional labor that comes with sharing your infertility and IVF journey publicly.

This is an extended, ad-free version of The FriedEggs Podcast for paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community. Learn more here.

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre

In today’s episode, Amy shares her PGT-A results from her 5th egg retrieval! She also answers listener questions and shares notes from her conversation with her doctor after her egg retrieval.

This is an extended, ad-free version of the episode for paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community. Learn more here.

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre

In today’s episode, Amy shares her PGT-A results from her 5th egg retrieval! She also answers listener questions and shares notes from her conversation with her doctor after her egg retrieval.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Tempdrop, a basal body temperature sensor with an accompanying fertility app to help you identify your fertile window. Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your order.

This is a free, shorter version of the episode for all subscribers. Paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club) can also listen to an extended, ad-free version of this episode (learn more here). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community.

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre

In today’s episode, Amy shares the results of her 5th IVF egg retrieval. She reflects on her new STIMs protocol, insurance battles to get medications covered, and how this round compared to previous cycles.

This is part one of a two-part episode as she waits for PGT-A results. She’ll be answering listener questions about this retrieval in the next episode, so drop any qs you have in the comments!

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre

Today, we’re joined by Angela Rastegar, Co-Founder and CEO of Sunfish (www.joinsunfish.com), a fertility fintech company focused on making family building more financially accessible and a lot less overwhelming.

We talk about the surprising and hidden costs of IVF, and how the financial side of fertility care can feel just as overwhelming as the treatments themselves. Angela shares how Sunfish is helping patients navigate their options more clearly, including those using donor eggs or sperm, surrogacy, reciprocal IVF, and increasingly, people looking to freeze their eggs.

We also get into what shifts when you don’t have to carry all of that financial stress alone, and how better tools and guidance can make the entire experience feel more manageable.

We know you’ll appreciate this conversation with Angela as much as we did. If you’re comfortable sharing, we’d love to hear how the financial side of IVF or fertility care has impacted your own journey — drop your thoughts in the comments below. x

About Angela Rastegar:

Angela Rastegar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sunfish, a fertility fintech company focused on making family building financially accessible and predictable. Angela brings a rare combination of venture capital fluency, healthcare operating experience, and deeply personal “lived experience” to the fertility space. She previously founded and exited two companies and served as a venture capital investor at Village Capital, focusing on early stage health tech and fintech businesses.

Angela holds a BA in Human Biology and an MBA from Stanford University. Her commitment is deeply personal: she has navigated her own fertility journey, which solidified her belief that everyone deserves a “Family Planning Advisor”. She is now a leading voice on how data autonomy and financial innovation can democratize reproductive rights. She resides in Los Angeles with her family, continuing her own journey while helping thousands of others start theirs.

*

About Sunfish:

Sunfish is a trusted guide for anyone navigating IVF, surrogacy, egg/sperm donation, or fertility preservation. They help self-pay IVF patients with transparent pricing, bundled discounts, and a partial money-back guarantee.

Sunfish provides personalized financial plans using proprietary software to estimate costs for each Program. If actual costs exceed projections, eligible patients may receive a partial refund under program terms. Sunfish is not a medical provider. Terms and conditions apply.

*

Resources:

💰 Sunfish financial planning calculator: https://www.joinsunfish.com/ivf-financial-planning

💰 Database of grants and discounts for fertility care: https://www.joinsunfish.com/grants

🥚 **Newly launched egg freezing packages: https://www.joinsunfish.com/success-program/egg-freezing

Instagram (@joinsunfish)https://www.instagram.com/joinsunfish/

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre

We’re so thrilled to welcome Dr. Lucky Sekhon — double-board certified OBGYN and reproductive endocrinologist, fertility expert, educator, and author of The Lucky Egg — on the podcast this week for a conversation that feels like a reset button on everything you’ve heard about fertility.

Because let’s be honest: the internet is loud.

And not all of it is helping.

🥚 What this episode will help you do:

* Spot misinformation fast: why anecdotes aren’t evidence and how to tell what’s actually legit

* Focus on what matters: what AMH, IVF, and egg freezing really mean (no fluff, no fear)

* Navigate your care better: what your doctor should be explaining and how to advocate for yourself

* Stay grounded in the process: how to make smart next moves without chasing every “solution”

The takeaway? Fertility isn’t just about biology — it’s about information. And most people are navigating this without the full picture.

Resources:

📘 The Lucky Egg: your fertility roadmap https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/lucky-egg-9781250408716/

🌐 theluckyegg.com: expert guides + calculators https://theluckyegg.com/

Instagram (@lucky.sekhon) https://www.instagram.com/lucky.sekhon

🎧 Call Your Doctor: podcast on women’s health, hormones & fertility, no fluff https://open.spotify.com/show/1oTFJrB6hK9pb2aJsdXnqh?si=90e82aa7556a4b75

We’re back!! 💛 Welcome to Season 3 and Episode 50 (how did that happen?!). We’re so, so glad you’re here.

After a 2 month-ish “break” (read: planning, recording, and recording some more), we’re finally back at the mic for a long overdue catch-up!

In episode 50 of the pod, we’re sharing about all the things that have been happening for us this spring, e.g., Amy’s egg retrieval and ongoing insurance saga, Kayti’s plans for an IVF cycle later this summer, and Amy’s progress toward finding a gestational carrier match.

Since this episode is dropping during National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), we also want to share a few organizations we love that are doing incredible work in this space. This community is the reason we’re here — your stories, your honesty, your resilience, your willingness to keep showing up for yourselves and for each other.

If you’re listening, you’re likely living this, or loving someone who is. And we want to say this clearly: the more stories we share, the louder we become. The louder we become, the more we normalize these conversations. And the more we normalize them, the closer we get to better access, better care, and better systems for all of us. We all deserve comprehensive, proactive, and compassionate fertility and women’s healthcare. Be sure to check out these organizations—and give them a follow for more education and to show your support.

* RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association empowers people navigating their fertility journey through trusted information, community support, and grassroots advocacy that make family-building options accessible to everyone.

* Sunfish: an LA-based organization helping self-pay IVF patients with transparent pricing, bundled discounts, and a partial money-back guarantee.

* Cofertility: an LA-based company reimagining a more ethical and transparent egg-freezing process, and providing a ton of education around the process.

* Babyquest Foundation, BabyList IVF Grants: Providing financial assistance through fertility grants to support the high costs of IVF (in vitro fertilization), gestational surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, egg freezing, and embryo donation. ✨BONUS✨ research astronaut and IVF warrior extraordinaire, Kellie Gerardi, has generously funded a grant to help more families welcome their own space baby.

* Paid Research Opportunity: If you’re about to start an IVF cycle, you may be eligible for a research study led by Auburn University and Purdue University on how treatment affects work and daily life. Compensation up to $70. Participation is fully online and confidential. Learn more and see if you’re eligible: tinyurl.com/workandIVF

Got an organization supporting and advocating for fertility and women’s health care? We’d love to share it! 🧡

And finally (but certainly not least!!) we have to shout out our wildly talented, magical, all-around iconic friend Clayre for our new show music. Check her out on Spotify. We’re obsessed. 💫

Surprise! Ahead of our Season 3 premiere next week (April 24, mark your calendars and hit follow), we’re dropping a very special bonus episode today. We’re talking about the Costco fertility news everyone’s been buzzing about and how this offering actually works for IVF patients.

We first sat down with David Goldhill, the Co-Founder and CEO at Sesame, and then spoke to Lynn Mason, the CEO of IVI RMA North America. Both of them helped us to unpack the three-way partnership between Costco, Sesame, and IVI RMA North America, and how it’s working to bring more transparency and lower costs to fertility care and IVF treatment this year.

And because yes, this involves Costco: no, you don’t need to buy IVF meds in bulk. No, there aren’t free samples (unfortunately). And yes—you can still grab your rotisserie chicken, paper towels, and snacks while picking up your prescriptions.

We get into why Costco is entering the fertility space, how this model is designed to reduce one of the biggest barriers in IVF (cost) and what it looks like to simplify a system that’s traditionally been expensive, gatekept by insurance, and nearly impossible to navigate.

We also talk about how this partnership actually works, who it’s for (currently and how they hope to expand it in the future), and what it means for the future of reproductive healthcare. It’s IVF, Costco-style. 🤪

Have you used Sesame, IVI RMA, or Costco yet for fertility benefits? Let us know in the comments x

Today’s guests:

David Goldhill (Co-Founder & CEO, Sesame) is a nationally recognized healthcare reform advocate and the co-founder and CEO of Sesame, the leading cash-pay healthcare platform connecting patients directly with top-rated doctors at transparent, up-front prices.

His journey into healthcare transformation began in 2009 with his groundbreaking Atlantic cover story, “How American Healthcare Killed My Father.” The piece sparked a national conversation and led to his bestselling book, Catastrophic Care: Why Everything We Think We Know About Health Care Is Wrong, establishing David as a leading voice in rethinking how healthcare is financed and delivered in America.

Today, those ideas power Sesame’s mission to expand access to affordable care for millions of Americans shut out of the traditional system — from primary care to specialty services.

David previously served as Chair of The Leapfrog Group, the nation’s leading advocate for healthcare transparency and patient safety, a role closely aligned with Sesame’s mission. He termed off the board two years ago. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow in Health Care Policy at the Manhattan Institute, where he remains deeply engaged in efforts to reform how care is delivered in the United States.

Prior to his work in healthcare, David built a distinguished media career as President and CEO of Game Show Network and President of Television at Universal Studios.

*

About Sesame: Sesame is the only cash-pay healthcare platform connecting patients directly with top-rated doctors at transparent, up-front prices. By removing insurance, Sesame unlocks lower cost, more convenient access to high-quality clinicians for everyday care. Sesame has served over 1 million patients to date, offering more than 380 services across all 50 states. Learn more at sesamecare.com.

Lynn Mason (Chief Executive Officer, IVI RMA North America) is leading a revolution in reproductive medicine—one built on science, scale, and deep compassion. As CEO of IVI RMA North America, Lynn oversees one of the largest reproductive health networks in North America with 27 labs and 73 locations across the U.S. and Canada. This vast network has helped deliver more than 220,000 babies over the last 20 years to loving families using groundbreaking IVF techniques and compassionate, patient-centered care. But her mission is far from complete.

Under her leadership, IVI RMA North America has expanded access to world-class fertility care for millions of Americans pursuing their fertility preservation and family-building goals, adding 13 labs and 37 new locations and setting new standards in outcomes, innovation and equity. Lynn is a trailblazer redefining what fertility care looks like at scale: more inclusive, more accessible, more research-driven, and more personalized.

A seasoned healthcare executive, Lynn has spent her career driving systemic change in complex care environments. At Broadstep Behavioral Health, Lynn doubled the company’s size and expanded care delivery across seven states. Her leadership at DaVita Kidney Care, DaVita RX, ChenMed, and United Allergy Services also reflects a consistent theme of her strength at building bold, patient-first models that scale nationally, grow rapidly and close critical gaps in care.

Lynn is President-Elect of Fertility Providers Alliance and contributes to the boards of ConvenientMD, Stella Behavioral Health, Shoes That Fit and the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative. She is also an active member of Stanford Women on Boards and the Stanford Black Alumni Association and holds degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration (DHA) from Virginia University of Lynchburg.

*

About IVI RMA North America: IVI RMA North America, comprises Reproductive Medicine Associates, Boston IVF, and Toronto-based TRIO. It spans 27 IVF laboratories and has helped women and couples achieve pregnancies which have led to the birth of over 220,000 babies to date. Pioneers in innovative care, including PGT-A, single embryo transfer, fertility preservation, LGBTQ+ care, and more, the network has published over 1,000 papers which have pushed the fertility industry forward. IVI RMA North America is part of IVI RMA Global, the world’s leading reproductive medicine group committed to providing evidence-based fertility solutions to patients seeking treatment anywhere in the world. IVI RMA Global employs more than 6,000 people across 200+ locations in 15 countries. Learn more at rmanetwork.com and https://www.bostonivf.com/

From the archives: Today's bonus episode is a flashback to October 2024, the day of Kayti's embryo transfer. After recording an episode for the pod, Amy and Kayti talk about how the transfer went, Kayti's valium nap, and whether she plans to test early or not.

For more content, visit www.friedeggspod.com

Come hang with us after we hit “stop” on the recording! In the first episode of We Should Cut This, we’re talking AI sperm, IVF insurance chaos, our summer egg retrieval plans, and how to field telemarketers in 2026 (really—one comes to the door during the call). It’s our first unedited, unfiltered bonus content episode for listeners who want a little extra!

For more content and our weekly IVF and infertility newsletter, visit www.friedeggspod.com

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Sarah Oreck, founder of Mavida Health and a reproductive psychologist specializing in infertility, IVF, pregnancy, and postpartum mental health. We talk about the emotional impact of infertility and fertility treatments, why mental health care is such a critical — and often missing — part of reproductive healthcare, and how therapy and emotional support can improve the fertility journey.

Dr. Oreck shares expert insight from her clinical work, common struggles she sees in patients going through IVF, and practical ways to support mental health during fertility treatments.

Follow Dr. Oreck on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahoreckmd

Learn more about Mavida Health: https://www.mavidahealth.com/

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel less alone in infertility or IVF, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — it helps more people find support!

💌 Join the worst club with the best members: friedeggspodcast.substack.com

🎶 music by Fog Chaser🎥 photography by 20Twenty Productions

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Let’s talk about sex, bb — minus the babies. Today’s episode starts a conversation we hope to keep going: how infertility and IVF impact sex and physical intimacy. When everything is timed to ovulation and driven by pressure, how do you keep romance alive?

Thank you to our listeners who vulnerably shared their stories — listen through the end of the episode to hear from the community.

For more content, visit www.friedeggspod.com

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care

In today’s episode, we’re taking it back to the early days of IVF and sharing what we wish we’d known before our first egg retrieval.

💌 Join the worst club with the best members at www.friedeggspod.com

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care

Today we’re talking with Rosie Nestingen, co-founder of Rebloom Health, a space for families navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and adoption loss. Rosie shares her personal journey—from late-term pregnancy loss to having her daughter to navigating secondary infertility—as well as some major health challenges along the way, including a brain aneurysm and surgery.

Follow Rosie on social media (https://www.instagram.com/rosienest/) and at https://rosienest.substack.com/

Learn more about Rebloom Health: https://www.rebloomhealth.com/

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us.

💌 Join the worst club with the best members: friedeggspodcast.substack.com

🎶 music by Fog Chaser

🎥 photography by 20Twenty Productions

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care

We’re back for 2026 and diving straight into the deep end of IVF and infertility. In today’s episode, we’re talking about SB 729, Amy’s surrogacy journey, and the very obvious answer to whether we still pee on a stick before every period. 

We also talk through what might be coming in 2026 for our fertility journeys—possible egg retrievals, mounting insurance nonsense, balancing postpartum hormones, and the specific mix of angst, dread, and cautious hope that defines infertility.

join the worst club with the best members: friedeggspodcast.substack.com

🎶 music by Fog Chaser🎥 photography by 20Twenty Productions

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care

Should you freeze your eggs in your 20s? How many rounds should you do? Why don't more OBGYNs talk about fertility preservation as health care? Today, we're asking key questions about egg freezing and getting answers from one of the top experts in the field, Jaime Knopman, MD.

Dr. Jaime Knopman is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and Director of Fertility Preservation at CCRM Fertility in New York. A leading expert in fertility preservation and egg freezing, especially for cancer patients, she’s been recognized on New York Magazine and Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors lists. Dr. Knopman also serves as the medical director of Chick Mission and as a member of the medical advisory boards of CoFertility and The Breasties. Her new book, Own Your Fertility: From Egg Freezing to Surrogacy, How to Take Charge of Your Body and Your Future, is scheduled for release on January 13, 2026, and offers a science-based guide to modern reproductive options. 

📚 Preorder Own Your Fertility

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us.

💌 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, “Everyone’s Getting Pregnant Without Me,” for infertility stories, episode updates, and thoughtful TTC-frontline recommendations.

🎶 Intro music by Fog Chaser
🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

2025 came at us hard. Kayti navigated life with a newborn, Amy faced the unpredictable world of surrogacy, and together we kept running the IVF and infertility marathon. In this episode, we reflect on the lessons this year taught us — the emotional highs and lows, the moments of resilience, and the ways we’ve grown stronger and softer in equal measure.

We share practical strategies for handling infertility in the new year, from building your support system to creating tools that make the chaos more manageable. We talk about the challenges of parenthood, the emotional work of surrogacy, and the victories — big and small — that remind us why community matters. Plus, stick around for a surprise at the end of the episode you won’t see coming.

We’ll be taking a short holiday break and will be back with new episodes on January 9, 2026.

⭐️ If this episode resonates, follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — it helps others in the IVF and infertility community find us and feel less alone.

💌 Subscribe to our ⁠⁠weekly newsletter "Everyone's Getting Pregnant Without Me"⁠⁠ for stories from the TTC frontlines, episode highlights, and practical tips.

🎶 Intro music by ⁠⁠Fog Chaser⁠⁠

🎥 Photography by ⁠⁠20Twenty Productions⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

In this episode, we spill the truth about how infertility and IVF mess with our body image, from surprise weight shifts to feeling like we don't recognize our own bodies. We’re keeping it honest, funny, and real, celebrating the ways our bodies are resilient while still owning that it’s okay to want a few tweaks. Plus, we share our favorite self-care hacks (everything shower, anyone?) and why leaning on our people makes the chaos a lot more manageable.

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to our ⁠⁠weekly newsletter "Everyone's Getting Pregnant Without Me"⁠⁠ for infertility stories, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by ⁠⁠Fog Chaser⁠⁠

🎥 Photography by ⁠⁠20Twenty Productions⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Our favorite acupuncturist — and Kayti’s personal fertility fairy godmother — is on the pod today! Dr. Bento (Dr. Sarah Bentolila), DAIM, L.Ac, who treated Kayti for two years and played a huge role in helping her get pregnant, joins us for a deep and grounded conversation about acupuncture for fertility.

We get into all the big questions: how acupuncture supports IVF and infertility, how Chinese herbal medicine can complement IVF and Western medicine, the truth about eating liver, and the mystery of whether you really need to wear socks.

Dr. Bento brings so much clarity, compassion, and humor to a topic that’s often overwhelming — and if you’ve ever sat on an acupuncture table wondering what on earth is happening, this episode will hopefully give you answers and ease your mind.

❤️ Follow Dr. Bento and her work at https://www.instagram.com/_taproot and https://www.acupuncturetaproot.com

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us.

💌 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, “Everyone’s Getting Pregnant Without Me,” for infertility stories, episode updates, and thoughtful TTC-frontline recommendations.

🎶 Intro music by Fog Chaser
🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

We’re crying, we’re laughing, and we’re surviving the holidays without losing it. Amy’s egg retrieval got canceled (spoiler: insurance companies can kick rocks), and we’re talking getting lapped by friends with pregnancy announcements, plus all the messy emotions infertility brings. We get real about feeling left behind, share how we find small joys, practice self-care, binge our favorite holiday movies, and lean on each other (and you!) to get through it.

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to our ⁠⁠weekly newsletter "Everyone's Getting Pregnant Without Me"⁠⁠ for infertility stories, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by ⁠⁠Fog Chaser⁠⁠

🎥 Photography by ⁠⁠20Twenty Productions⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Our favorite embryologist is back! Allison Anderson is here to kick off a new real-time IVF series as Amy begins another cycle. We’re starting at square one: how to choose the right clinic, doctor, and embryology lab, and how to communicate with the team who will be caring for your embryos.

Allison demystifies what actually happens in the lab, shares empowering patient advocacy tips, along with funny behind-the-scenes stories (yes, embryologist nicknames are real).

Follow Allison on Instagram @askanembryologist and Tiktok.

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to our ⁠⁠weekly newsletter "Everyone's Getting Pregnant Without Me"⁠⁠ for infertility stories, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by ⁠⁠Fog Chaser⁠⁠

🎥 Photography by ⁠⁠20Twenty Productions⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎃 It’s Halloween, and the vibes are mystical. ✨ This week, Amy and Kayti welcome the enchanting Ferin Petrelli — actor, writer, intuitive, and tarot card reader — for a conversation that blends fertility talk with a touch of the magical.

Ferin shares her experience with egg freezing, the deeply personal story behind why she chose to do it, and how we can use intuition, spirituality, and a dash of cosmic timing to navigate big life transitions. Then she turns the tables (and the cards!) for live tarot readings with Amy and Kayti — pulling insights that are as spooky-accurate as they are inspiring. 🃏💫

This episode will leave you reflecting, laughing, and maybe even reaching for your own deck.

Follow Ferin on Instagram ⁠@ferinpetrelli

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to our ⁠⁠weekly newsletter "Everyone's Getting Pregnant Without Me"⁠⁠ for infertility stories, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by ⁠⁠Fog Chaser⁠⁠

🎥 Photography by ⁠⁠20Twenty Productions⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

This week on the FriedEggs podcast, we’re answering listener questions like when to seek out a doctor for infertility, coping strategies during the two-week wait, and how to manage work with IVF.

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to our ⁠⁠weekly newsletter “Everyone’s getting pregnant without me”⁠⁠ for infertility stories, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by ⁠⁠Fog Chaser⁠⁠

🎥 Photography by ⁠⁠20Twenty Productions⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

This week on the FriedEggs podcast, we’re diving into the weird and wonderful world of liver juice, supplements, red light therapy, and a nostalgic throwback to the Preseed era (life before fertility treatments, iykyk). Amy shares the new therapy she’s trying for her hip and how IVF makes it nearly impossible to deal with any other medical issue because, honestly, who has the time? Plus, Kayti celebrates baby girl’s transfer anniversary and her very first Halloween. 🎃

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to our ⁠⁠weekly newsletter “Everyone’s getting pregnant without me”⁠⁠ for infertility stories, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by ⁠⁠Fog Chaser⁠⁠

🎥 Photography by ⁠⁠20Twenty Productions⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Today’s episode is a very special one—we’re sharing more of your stories on the pod, and we’re so honored that you trusted us with them. These stories cover the full spectrum of this journey: donor eggs, missed miscarriage, menopause, cancer diagnoses, and everything in between. Your courage and honesty on this brutal, beautiful, complicated road are nothing short of inspiring.

Our hearts are with every one of you. We see you, we love you, and we are so grateful for your voices.

A gentle heads-up: today’s episode includes stories that touch on miscarriage, infertility, menopause, cancer, and other deeply personal experiences. Please listen in a way that protects your heart.

🤩 If you’re enjoying the podcast, please follow and rate the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more listeners in the infertility community.

💌 Subscribe to FriedEggs Fridays
Get our weekly newsletter for updates on IVF, infertility, product recommendations, and a little humor to keep us going. Sign up here: https://friedeggspodcast.substack.com/

Intro music by Fog Chaser, https://www.fogchaser.net/

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized care.

We’re back! 🙌 This week on FriedEggs pod, we’re catching up on summer breaks, Amy’s surrogacy updates, and how Kayti’s settling into motherhood after the birth of her IVF baby and maternity leave.

We also get into infertility realities, the small but important practice of letting ourselves feel joy, and the ongoing mess of insurance barriers. Plus, a look at what’s ahead for the pod this fall—more conversations on IVF, infertility, and surrogacy (with our usual unfiltered energy).

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to our ⁠⁠weekly newsletter “Everyone’s getting pregnant without me”⁠⁠ for infertility stories, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by ⁠⁠Fog Chaser⁠⁠

🎥 Photography by ⁠⁠20Twenty Productions⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Amy sits down with her longtime friend Marken Greenwood Bellows to share her journey through an unexpected diagnosis of a Fragile X premutation and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) at just 36. Together, they unpack the emotional rollercoaster of infertility and IVF, how the FMR1 gene premutation impacts fertility and risk for POI, and the reality of navigating the financial and insurance barriers so many face when pursuing treatment. They also dive into experimental options like ovarian PRP, the gaps in women’s healthcare, and why early fertility testing matters.

Marken also shares about her resilience, self-advocacy and the message she wants others to hear: the sooner you have information, the more choices you have when it comes to family-building.

🔗 Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠About the Fragile X Premutation⁠⁠

About the Fragile X Premutation⁠⁠ and FXPOI⁠⁠

Fragile X Syndrome Genetic Testing

⁠⁠Journal of Ovarian Research Study⁠⁠

⭐️ If the pod has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to our ⁠⁠weekly newsletter⁠⁠ for honest talk, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by ⁠⁠Fog Chaser⁠⁠

🎥 Production by ⁠⁠20Twenty Productions⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

This week, Amy chats with Carly Joseph (https://www.carlypjoseph.com/), a Surrogacy Concierge, about the real side of surrogacy—especially when it comes to choosing between an agency and a concierge model. Carly shares her winding journey from IVF heartbreaks to finding the right surrogacy path, and why the concierge approach can make all the difference. From the importance of consultations to preparing for match calls, she breaks down what intended parents really need to know.

❤️ If you're considering going through surrogacy, schedule a free consult with Carly to help guide you through the process: https://www.carlypjoseph.com/

✨ If FriedEggs has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for honest talk, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by Fog Chaser

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Amy has a deep and real chat with Aliza Sir on navigating the complex realities of infertility, IVF, miscarriage, secondary infertility, and Asherman’s syndrome. Aliza is the co-founder of the beloved Platonic Love newsletter, a beautiful, smart, heartfelt project all about friendship and connection.

🔗 Read Platonic Love here: https://platonicloveletter.substack.com/📩 Subscribe to their newsletter: https://platonicloveletter.substack.com/subscribe

💛 Subscribe to FriedEggs for more IVF and infertility.

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

In this episode, we dive into pregnancy after infertility and IVF. Kayti gets real about the emotional rollercoaster that follows a positive test as she awaits the arrival of her first child – the anxiety, the gratitude, the shifting expectations, and all the unexpected emotional challenges that come with a long-awaited pregnancy.

This conversation is an honest look at the messy middle. It’s raw and real, but also funny, heartfelt, and full of the kind of truth you don’t always hear about this stage of the journey. We're grateful you're here!

💛 Subscribe for more IVF and infertility conversations.

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

In this episode of the FriedEggs Podcast, we share some personal updates. Amy talks about where things are at in her surrogacy journey, and Kayti reflects on the final weeks of pregnancy as she prepares for maternity leave. We also share our plans for a short summer break and what’s ahead for the podcast while Kayti steps away. This is part one of a two-part conversation.

✨ If FriedEggs has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us.

💌 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for honest talk, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by Fog Chaser

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

In this episode of the FriedEggs Podcast, we chat with Ali Ramos about living in Costa Rica, doing IVF abroad, and her history with endometriosis. We also cover pregnancy after IVF, male factor infertility, and PGT-M testing. Enjoy! ❤️

Ali is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and the founder of Nueva Rama Wellness (https://www.nuevaramawellness.com/). Follow her on Instagram and Tiktok at @itsthatalgal

If you’re tired of the usual infertility stories and want something raw, relatable, and honest, this one’s for you.

✨ If FriedEggs has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others in the infertility community find us.

💌 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for honest talk, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by Fog Chaser

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Happy National Egg Day! Today’s episode is a special one—we’re sharing your stories for the very first time on the pod. We’re so honored and grateful to everyone who called in. It takes real courage to speak openly about this brutal, beautiful, complicated road, and we don’t take that lightly.

Our hearts are with each and every one of you. We love you so much.

A gentle heads-up: today’s episode includes stories that touch on miscarriage, infant loss, and successful pregnancies. Please listen in a way that protects your heart.

🤩 If you’re enjoying the podcast, please follow and rate the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more listeners in the infertility community.

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Get our weekly newsletter for updates on IVF, infertility, product recommendations, and a little humor to keep us going. Sign up here: https://friedeggspodcast.substack.com/

Intro music by Fog Chaser, https://www.fogchaser.net/

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized care.

Order your copy of The Empty Nest on Amazon or TikTok shop: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@the.empty.nest.bo⁠

In this episode of FriedEggs, we sit down with Jared Walker, author of The Empty Nest—hands down one of the best books on infertility and grief. Jared gets real about the male infertility experience (because yes, guys feel all the feels too) and the messy, complicated emotions that both partners face but don’t often talk about. We dive into how he and his wife turned years of infertility struggle into an illustrated book that’s as honest as it is heart-wrenching.

Jared also spills the tea on self-publishing, the unexpected flood of support from the TikTok infertility community, and how writing can be a powerful way to cope, connect, and maybe even heal a little.

If you’re tired of the usual infertility stories and want something raw, relatable, and honest, this one’s for you.

✨ If FriedEggs has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It really helps others in the infertility community find us.

💌 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for honest talk, episode updates, and thoughtful recs from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by Fog Chaser

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

In this follow-up episode, Amy shares part two of her IVF update—including what comes next after uncovering chronic uterine infections that may have been impacting her fertility for years. We talk about the emotional weight of finally having answers, the quiet relief of clarity, and the strength it takes to pivot.

Amy opens up about the decision to explore surrogacy—not as a last resort, but as a different expression of resilience and love. We unpack the layered grief and fragile hope that come with shifting your vision of parenthood, and how she’s learning to move forward with softness and strength.

We also share thoughtful messages from our listeners and give a peek into how the podcast will evolve while Kayti is on maternity leave this summer.

✨ If FriedEggs has helped you feel seen, please follow and rate the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more people in the infertility community find us.

💌 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter with IVF updates, favorite recs, and honest talk from the TTC frontlines.

🎶 Intro music by Fog Chaser

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Fertility isn’t a solo mission—and this week on the pod, we’re talking about what it really means to show up as a team. We’re joined by Ronit Menashe and Vida Delrahim, the co-founders of WeNatal, a doctor-backed prenatal supplement brand that’s putting male fertility and sperm health where it belongs: at the center of the conversation.

We cover what sets WeNatal apart—clean, bioavailable supplements for men and women, couple-centered design, and an approach that treats fertility as a shared journey, not a solo project. Ronit and Vida also share their own stories of pregnancy loss and starting over, and how those experiences led them to reimagine what support should look like—physically, emotionally, and relationally.

If you're deep in the IVF process, just starting out, or wondering if male supplements are worth it (spoiler: they are), this episode is a refreshingly honest look at fertility, partnership, and what’s possible when we stop thinking in silos.

Find out more info & follow WeNatal:

• Web: https://wenatal.com/
• Social: https://www.instagram.com/we_natal/

🤩 If you’re enjoying the pod, please follow and rate the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It helps other people in the infertility community find us!

💌 Subscribe to FriedEggs Fridays: Get our weekly newsletter for IVF updates, recommendations, and real talk from the TTC frontlines. Sign up here: https://friedeggspodcast.substack.com/

Intro music by Fog Chaser, https://www.fogchaser.net/

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized care.

In this deeply personal episode, Amy shares her EMMA/ALICE test results—and what they revealed about chronic uterine infections that may have been silently impacting her body since her miscarriage two and a half years ago. We talk about the emotional whiplash of paying $1,200 out of pocket for a test insurance won’t cover, the frustrating standard of care for Asherman’s syndrome, and how this newly uncovered information might change her IVF path going forward.

We also dive into the role of AI in fertility research, how Deep Research from ChatGPT helped Amy validate her medical concerns, and the exhaustion of self-advocacy when your uterus becomes a case study.

Other things we cover are friendship during fertility treatment, Kayti's baby shower, and entering the third trimester of an IVF pregnancy, how to stay grounded when your body feels like a medical mystery.

🤩 If you’re enjoying FriedEggs, please follow and rate the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It helps other people in the infertility community find us.

💌 Subscribe to FriedEggs Fridays: Get our weekly newsletter for IVF updates, recommendations, and real talk from the TTC frontlines. Sign up here: https://friedeggspodcast.substack.com/

Intro music by Fog Chaser, https://www.fogchaser.net/
Recorded live with support from Twenty20 Productions in Culver City.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized care.