Explore every episode of the podcast The Family Circle
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 20: All Things Being a Surrogate with Kelsey | 16 Oct 2023 | 00:40:30 | |
Kelsey, a dedicated lactation consultant from Cincinnati, Ohio, joins Kristin to share her remarkable journey as a gestational surrogate Through candid and emotional storytelling, Kelsey brings to life the profound impact surrogacy has had on her and her intended parents' lives. Themes of family, connection, and selflessness shine through as Kelsey narrates her experiences, offering valuable insights into the world of surrogacy. The episode explores the powerful process of matching with intended parents, overcoming initial awkwardness during Zoom calls, and the transformation of her relationship with her intended parents into a genuine connection. Kelsey's journey stands as a testament to the power of empathy and compassion in forming unbreakable bonds, highlighting the importance of intuition in surrogacy and the challenges surrogates may face with IVF medications. The discussion also delves into creating birth plans for surrogacy deliveries, sharing surrogacy stories with friends and family, and offering advice to potential surrogates. Overall, today’s episode reveals the emotional and physical aspects of surrogacy with candid conversations that shed light on a journey filled with intuition, challenges, and ultimately, profound fulfillment. Throughout, it showcases the extraordinary impact of surrogacy, where bonds are forged, families are created, and selflessness knows no bounds. Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 19: Surrogacy Makes Grandparenthood Possible, Too! | 11 Sep 2023 | 00:52:35 | |
In this latest episode, listeners are invited to join in a remarkable journey—the awe-inspiring tale of Stephen and JR, two loving souls who embarked upon the path of surrogacy and egg donation to fulfill their dreams of parenthood. Their story here today makes for a wonderful listen as a very special duo joins them for the discussion: Stephen's parents, Ann Marie and Tom. We hear from the grandparents as they lovingly share their unique perspective, shedding light on the remarkable bond that surrogacy has created within their family and expressing heartfelt gratitude for the extraordinary woman who brought their newest grandchild into the world. Throughout the episode, Stephen and JR recount their inspiring journey, revealing the origins of their desire for parenthood and the fortuitous involvement of close friends in the realm of surrogacy. Their unwavering determination and the obstacles they encountered while seeking the perfect match, including navigating the creation of embryos and searching for a trusted agency, are discussed. The fruition of their search is also revealed—the discovery of their truly extraordinary surrogate, Kristen—and their story becomes intricately woven with the threads of Kristen's selflessness, resulting in a celebration of love, parenthood....and grandparenthood. Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 10: Ali Prato x InfertileAF | 07 Nov 2022 | 00:37:57 | |
This month Kristin hosts Ali Prato! Ali is a journalist and mom of two, living in North Jersey. She's an infertility warrior and advocate, the founder and host of the Infertile AF podcast, and the co-founder of Fertility Rally, a community that offers 24/7 support, curated content and events for anyone going through infertility and family building through ART! Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 9: Surrogacy 101 | 17 Oct 2022 | 00:28:45 | |
This month Kristin and Lauren go back to the basics and hosted a Surrogacy 101 episode. This episode outlines the basics of surrogacy that you've always wanted to know. Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 8: Experienced Egg Donor Panel | 23 Sep 2022 | 00:38:41 | |
This month's episode of The Family Circle is a special panel episode featuring three experienced egg donors through Circle Egg Donation. Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 7: Progyny Fertility Benefits | 22 Aug 2022 | 00:28:26 | |
In our seventh episode, Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation Director of Marketing, Kristin Marsoli, sits down with Lissa Kline, SVP, Provider and Member Services at Progyny! Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 6: Nicola & Mandi | 18 Jul 2022 | 00:59:50 | |
Content Warning: This episode features a conversation about a miscarriage and how to share the news of pregnancy loss with intended parents. This may be triggering for some listeners, so if this is something you'd like to avoid hearing about, please be advised to skip over 24:30-32:09 Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 5: Roe v Wade Panel | 27 Jun 2022 | 00:29:15 | |
In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs Wade on June 24th, Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation saw the importance in providing information on how this decision will impact surrogacy at Circle Surrogacy and the industry. Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 4: Surrogacy Q&A | 13 Jun 2022 | 00:57:21 | |
This month's episode is the first of it's kind for The Family Circle as we do not have a guest! Our fourth episode features the Marketing team Dynamic Duo - Kristin and Lauren. Kristin is the Director of Marketing here at Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation and Lauren is the Social Media and & Culture Manager. Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 3: Brian Rosenberg | 15 May 2022 | 00:32:27 | |
In our third episode, Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation President, Sam Hyde, hosts our amazing guest, Brian Rosenberg! Brian is the founder of Gays With Kids which is a continuously growing community of dads, families and industry experts. They provide education, anecdotes and advice for wherever you might be in your journey to fatherhood. They chat about Brian's experience growing up during a tumultuous time for gay men surrounding the AIDs crisis, his own HIV status, meeting his husband, and becoming a dad. It's an emotionally charged episode with a beautifully happy ending. You won't want to miss it. Brian mentions the clinic partner, RMA CT and Dr. Mark Leondires. RMA CT has recently rebranded and is now called Illume Fertility. You can find more information on Illume here: https://www.illumefertility.com/ Brian also mentions his first blog post called "All You Really Need Is a Suitcase or a Drawer" which you can find here: https://www.gayswithkids.com/the-being-blog/all-you-need-is-a-suitcase-or-a-drawer To learn more about GWK Academy, you can check out the website here: https://www.gayswithkids.com/gwk-academy?hsCtaTracking=d03be9b9-52a0-4cfa-ac75-f77385808087%7C99dafa53-a596-4c53-ab83-61e15c93ce04 Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 2: Circle Surrogate Panel | 24 Mar 2022 | 00:58:22 | |
Content Warning: This episode mentions a failed embryo transfer. If that is going to be upsetting or triggering, we recommending skipping over the question about what can go wrong during a surrogacy journey. There is also an explanation of infertility in an age appropriate way for a small child. The reference to "having a sick belly" is in no way referenced to invalidate or demean the struggle with infertility and was specific to the situation. We hope you enjoy the episode! Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 1: John Weltman | 07 Nov 2021 | 00:34:40 | |
In the pioneer episode of The Family Circle, Kristin Marsoli, Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation's Director of Marketing, interviews Circle founder John Weltman. Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 18: Tara's Story of Secondary Infertility, Loss and Coming to the U.S. for Surrogacy | 10 Jul 2023 | 00:35:33 | |
This episode contains sensitive content about pregnancy loss. In recounting her experience after suffering the loss of her first surrogate baby, Tara also reflects upon what it was like working with an agency overseas and the difference in support she received compared to her first experience with surrogacy. The emotional journey of surrogacy, how it impacted her mental health, and the magical connection that was formed with her surrogate are also discussed. As you will hear, today’s episode provides powerful testimonies to the strength and determination of parents who go through infertility and surrogacy. Through the stories shared, the emotional and logistical challenges of these processes become clear, as well as the resilience and joy that come with finally having the family one has dreamed of. Listen in to today’s conversation for valuable insight and perspectives and witness the insurmountable power of perseverance and hope. Episode Highlights:
Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Welcome to The Family Circle | 30 Sep 2021 | 00:03:15 | |
We are excited to introduce, The Family Circle, Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation's podcast! This podcast will highlight different stories within the surrogacy, fertility, infertility, and egg donation space. We'll be chatting with partners, parents, intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, and those with incredible stories to tell. You wont want to miss it! Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 17: Family Building and Advocacy: Securing Rights for All Families | 05 Jun 2023 | 00:27:59 | |
Welcome to a very special episode of The Family Circle featuring guest host Dean Hutchison, Circle's Vice President of Legal, and his two exceptional guests: Kate LeBlanc, Executive Director of Resolve New England, and Polly Crozier, Director of Family Advocacy at GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD). Together, they delve into the Massachusetts Parentage Act, a groundbreaking bill that aims to establish gender-inclusive parentage statutes and champion the rights of diverse families. Their discussion here today stands as a profound exploration of the importance of advocacy, and provides invaluable insights on how individuals can actively engage in this noble cause and drive real change for children and families. Two vital themes are interwoven throughout their conversation: the immense significance of advocacy in the realm of family building and the enormous impact of the Massachusetts Parentage Act. Our trio sheds light on the essential role of personal narratives and grassroots movements in effecting lasting transformations and securing equal rights for families from diverse backgrounds. Taking a deep dive into the intricacies of the Massachusetts Parentage Act, they highlight its mission - to establish comprehensive and inclusive parentage statutes while safeguarding the rights of children born through assisted reproduction and surrogacy. They also emphasize the urgent need for this transformative bill, particularly in Massachusetts, which currently stands as the last state in the region to update its parentage laws. Rest assured that you are in for an enlightening and empowering experience as you listen in today as Dean, Kate, and Polly inspire you to take decisive action and lend your voice to the resounding chorus advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ families. The time for change is now. Episode Highlights:
Here are links to websites mentioned in this episode: GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders The Massachusetts Parentage Act Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 16: Meghan's Story: Surrogacy & The Ultimate Surprise | 01 May 2023 | 00:56:40 | |
This episode contains sensitive content about IUI, IVF and infertility. In today's episode of The Family Circle podcast, our very special guest, Meghan, shares her inspirational story of becoming a parent through surrogacy following unsuccessful experiences with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Despite the challenges she faced along the way, including the emotional turmoil of infertility, Megan persevered and found hope through surrogacy. Her journey to parenthood –made possible by an incredible surrogate who helped her realize her dreams – comes with a surprising twist when Meghan finds herself pregnant just days after finding out her surrogate had a successful embryo transfer and is pregnant! The emotional and physical rollercoaster of infertility treatment is explored, revealing the painful process of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and IVF, and highlighting the isolation that comes with it, as well as the importance of having support from loved ones throughout the journey. Meghan shares humorous anecdotes and personal stories, covering everything from interactions with different doctors to touching moments of being pregnant alongside her surrogate. Ultimately, Meghan’s tale, as told in today’s episode, reinforces that the journey to parenthood can be filled with challenges, that every journey is different, and sometimes you can get even more than you hoped for. Episode Highlights:
Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 15: Kristyn Hodgdon, IVF Warrior and Co-Creator of Rescripted | 17 Apr 2023 | 00:34:54 | |
Today's episode contains sensitive content about pregnancy loss. Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 14: Infertility: A Conversation with Dr. Meyer from Illume Fertility | 13 Mar 2023 | 00:36:14 | |
Dr. Laura Meyer, a Reproductive Endocrinologist at Illume Fertility, is the featured guest on the podcast today. She begins by sharing her personal journey and passion for reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and proceeds to provide an overview of the complex issues surrounding infertility and the options available to individuals and couples looking to start a family. Dr. Meyer delves into the topic of third-party reproduction, including egg donation and surrogacy, and looks at the relationships between doctors, patients, and agencies involved in the process, highlighting the importance of personalized care and decision-making based on individual circumstances. She goes on to explore the topic of egg donation and the different types available, and discusses the importance of ensuring that everyone involved in the process has aligned expectations, encouraging a relationship between the parties involved in the donation process. She notes as well that the advancements in genetic testing have changed the egg donation landscape, and how it is no longer realistic to expect eternal anonymity. An undisputed expert in the field, Dr. Meyer provides listeners here today valuable insight into the complexities of infertility, as well as sage advice regarding the many options available to those seeking to start a family. Episode Highlights:
About Dr. Meyer Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 13: What a Lawyer Does In a Surrogacy Journey | 06 Feb 2023 | 00:39:50 | |
Today’s special guest on The Family Circle podcast is Dean Hutchison, Vice President of Legal Services at Circle Surrogacy and the Immediate Past Chairman of the American Bar Association's Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology Law. Dean offers his perspective on why one might need a lawyer for surrogacy and the legal aspects of it that are important for both intended parents and surrogates to understand. He also shares his background and experience working in the field of surrogacy law and how it has evolved over the past two decades. Dean then goes on to review the legal complexities of surrogacy and the importance of working with a lawyer to ensure that the surrogacy process is done legally and ethically. Listeners will learn about the behind-the-scenes work that goes on during a surrogacy journey and how a legal team can support intended parents during the process. The challenges that arose during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the legal team at Circle Surrogacy helped intended parents during that time are also explored. Episode Highlights:
Quotes: "Pretty much trial by fire, learned very quickly the ins and outs of surrogacy law back in 2003-2004." "I didn't know anything about surrogacy law other than the kind of famous Baby M decision that every family law professor goes over in school." "A lot of the expectations for the journey are sort of worked out in that contract phase at the very beginning. So it's not something that's coming up at week 20, at week 24.” "The relationship between a lawyer and intended parents is one of support and guidance throughout the surrogacy journey." "A lot of it is negotiating those small things...making sure things are keeping kind of in the norms - that you're not having someone who's taking advantage." "And then you get kind of the more intense issues like termination or abortion or selective reduction when the parents have certain rights to request such things." "We were talking to contacts in the Senate and the House and the St Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 12: Surrogacy Support For Parents and Surrogates | 03 Jan 2023 | 00:35:19 | |
Today’s episode of The Family Circle is a special one, with guest host Jen Rachman, who’s a Parent Outreach Associate at Circle, a social worker, and a parent through surrogacy. She’s here to host a discussion of the types of support that can be helpful during a surrogacy journey, whether you’re an intended parent or a surrogate. Jen opens the episode by talking about the importance of having a support network when going into a surrogacy and how Circle can become part of that as a professional agency. She also emphasizes Circle’s role in connecting intended parents with a community of others going through the same process and introduces Carlos Dolan, another surrogate parent, who shares his experience of Circle’s communities. Next, Jen welcomes her colleague Alana Gorden, Manager of Surrogate Screening and Support at Circle, who’s here to discuss the surrogate’s side of the journey. Alana explains the support Circle provides for surrogates, emphasizing that their focus is understanding what the surrogate wants from the process in order to provide the best level of support. She talks through the team assigned to each surrogate and the hands-on support they provide, as well as other support channels, including Circle’s Facebook page and mentorship program. Alana then introduces Jessi, an experienced Circle surrogate, who shares her experiences of surrogacy and how Circle has supported her through them, especially the staff and the members of the Facebook community. Episode Highlights:
Quotes: “Regardless of where you are in your research, or your steps, or your planning, utilizing the supports that are there and being able to connect with others that get it, I think, is an important aspect of this experience because a sense of community on both sides of this equation is, I think, incredibly substantial and important.” “Everyone knows people who are going through pregnancy but going through surrogacy is different. And the fact that Circle gave us an opportunity to connect with other parents that knew or were feeling the same things as us was great.” “How Jessie might have utilized her support could be really different than how another surrogate utilizes her support. And that’s okay. We are here to really give our surrogates the experience that she is needing and that she is looking for to make all this happen. Because at the end of the day, we want her to have the best experience possible.” “I’ve been in other surrogacy Facebook groups before, but the communication and openness in the Circle Facebook group is unlike anything I have ever seen. So, Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||
| Episode 11: Kate - Mother Through Egg Donation | 05 Dec 2022 | 00:47:15 | |
This month’s episode of The Family Circle is hosted by Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation Marketing Director, Kristin Marsoli! Kristin hosts Kate, a mother through egg donation, and they discuss everything from IVF, deciding to use an egg donor, building a relationship with a donor, and advice for anyone going through infertility struggles. Interested in learning more about becoming a parent through egg donation? Check out the parents page on our website for more info: https://www.circlesurrogacy.com/egg-donation-process-for-intended-parents Don’t forget to Like/Subscribe/Follow wherever you listen to podcasts! Thank you for listening!
We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you. | |||