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Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
After many years of working at egg donor agencies and helping people find matches outside of the agency she was working for, Gail Sexton Anderson decided to formalize the process and become a donor concierge full time. That is when Donor Concierge was born.
After receiving her master’s degree in counseling from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Gail worked in research and developmental testing. She also has two children of her own and loves parenthood.
In this podcast, you will see how Gail’s personal and professional experiences have helped her bring insight and sensitivity to the needs of people who want to build their families. She, and her team, clearly go the extra mile to help people find what they are looking for and educate them when they need guidance.
If you are looking for a donor or a surrogate and need help finding “the right one”, Gail Sexton Anderson and her team at Donor Concierge are a great resource.
Hope you enjoy the episode
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
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Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
As we enter National Infertility Awareness week, we are grateful to share the wisdom of two wonderful guests, Elizabeth Grill, PsyD, the incoming Chair of RESOLVE, the National Infertility Organization, and Barbara Collura, RESOLVE’s President and CEO.
In this episode (2 of 2), we meet with Barbara Collura. Barbara is a nationally recognized expert on infertility and the family building journey with a special emphasis on the personal experience of those struggling to build their family. Barbara has worked with the World Health Organization on infertility definitions and clinical guidelines, ACOG on their clinical definitions for infertility, and served a four-year term on the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at NIH.
We are so fortunate to speak with Barbara today. She is a leader in our field and someone upon whom we all depend to guide us in our fight to maintain reproductive freedom for everyone.
If you want a high-level view of the subjects that are most pressing today and what you can easily do to help, make sure you listen to this episode. It is full of valuable information distilled from hundreds of bills, tons of policy information, medical summaries and legal documents. Barbara is truly a voice of calm and focus at a time when there is so much at stake and so much to do to protect our families and families-to-be.
If you didn’t know much about Barbara before you will certainly see why she is the leader of RESOLVE, and why we all appreciate her so much.
#NIAW #NIAW2023 #IFAwareness #NationalInfertilityAwarenessWeek #FindYourVoice
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
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Sunday Apr 23, 2023
Sunday Apr 23, 2023
NIAW-Double Episode Week!
As we enter National Infertility Awareness week, we are grateful to share the wisdom of two wonderful guests, Elizabeth Grill, PsyD who is incoming Chair of RESOLVE, the national infertility organization, and Barb Collura, RESOLVE’s President and CEO.
In this episode (1 of 2), we meet with Elizabeth Grill, PsyD. She is the Director of Psychological Services at the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine and is Associate Professor of Psychology in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine, and Psychiatry at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. She is experienced as a counseling psychologist and medical researcher with a special focus on the emotional aspects of infertility, IVF treatment, third party reproduction, oncofertility, fertility preservation, sexual dysfunction, and stress and infertility. She is the President for the Society for Sex Therapy and Research and Secretary and Chair for RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association. Dr. Grill is also the co-owner of FertiCalm and FertiStrong, the first digital apps developed to treat the daily stressors faced by individuals and couples experiencing infertility, using research proven modalities.
In this episode, Dr. Grill and I discuss the transition from infertility to donor conception, the shame faced by so many who use donor conception, the differences between men and women using donor conception, isolation and how to treat it and more. We address many of the issues that are at the heart of what can make using donor conception to build your family so stressful.
Take these words of wisdom to heart, replay when you need a reminder you are not alone and join RESOLVE, if you haven’t already.
And…tune in for our second episode in two days. See you there!
#NIAW #NIAW2023 #IFAwareness #NationalInfertilityAwarenessWeek
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familybuildingcenter
Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
Sunday Apr 16, 2023
Sunday Apr 16, 2023
In this episode, we meet Kiara Schuh. She is a Donor Conceived Person who was raised by a Single Mom by Choice. She recently published her memoir, Chosen Family, and is trying to redefine society's notion of the traditional family.
She is an accountant by trade but felt that she had to tell her story to the world and enlighten people about the many ways people feel about being donor conceived. Her story is different, and also and the same as many others, which sheds light on the fact that we can no longer make assumptions about how anyone defines family.
Kiara shares amazing insights on the importance of openness in donor conception and why she does not want to call her genetic father “dad”. She opens our eyes and helps us see biology, and friendships, in a different way.
Enjoy!
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familybuildingcenter
Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
In this episode, I welcome three guests, Gina Davis, Jennifer Vesbit and Maya Grobel. These three amazing women joined forces in 2019 to create a company called Empower with Moxi!Their mission was, and is, to transform the landscape of embryo donation. They have different stories and took different career paths, but were all touched by embryo donation, either as a donor or a recipient. All three of these ladies share the perspective that there is not enough support and guidance in embryo donation. They also believe that there is too much emphasis on getting pregnant and not enough on planning for a lifetime as a family touched by embryo donation. These perspectives, and more, will be shared with you in this episode. You will learn about how embryo donation works, the difference between embryo donation and embryo adoption and why having an open relationship with your donor or recipient does not need to be scary.Even if you are not planning to use embryo donation to build your family, this episode will give you insight on openness, disclosure and more.I hope you enjoy it.
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familybuildingcenter
Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
Sunday Apr 02, 2023
Sunday Apr 02, 2023
Today’s episode is so important. All of our guests are important, but if you are considering donor conception to build your family this episode is a must.
Few people understand what should go into donor screening or why. Several elements are important, including psychological testing. It is essential to ensure your donor has not only had a psychological interview, but an objective personality test before you consider them as a genetic contributor for your future child. This test, the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), is currently the most widely accepted and utilized in our industry.
You have little control over this process. Why not do the best you can to help prevent mental health issues for your future child?
John Kurtz, PhD is one of the people who worked on the original crafting of this test and has published research and taught many professionals (like me) about its importance and how to use it. He is a professor at Villanova University and a PAI specialist.
In today’s episode, he will share some of the reasons why the right type of psychological testing is important, and some of the problems that can be prevented by ensuring that this important step is part of your criteria in choosing a donor.
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
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Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
Sunday Mar 26, 2023
Sunday Mar 26, 2023
Melissa B. Brisman graduated Valedictorian from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with honors from Harvard Law School. If that is not impressive enough, Melissa first started helping couples become parents in 1996 when she was her own first client when she and her husband, Dan, became parents of twin boys carried by a gestational carrier. A few years later, they had a daughter who was also carried by a gestational carrier.
Melissa is considered a true pioneer in this field who advocates for changes in the law in this area and lectures to physicians, potential parents, and other lawyers around the world. She has argued and won landmark gestational carrier cases before the Supreme Court of Massachusetts in 2001 and the State Supreme Court of New York in 2004.
Melissa has been the recipient several awards and is the author of numerous articles on the subject of gestational carriers and reproductive law.
In this episode she will give us insight on some of the difficulties people face when they don’t have proper legal counsel. She will talk about some of the key things to know when embarking on a known donor arrangement, why it’s important to get counsel on things you may have not thought of when meeting someone on line and how, over the years she has seen problems that could have been avoided with the right contracts. Her advice sheds light on many important topics. I’m sure you will find it valuable.
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familybuildingcenter
Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
Today I welcome Eric Garcia and Artemio Gaza. They are two men who I counseled years ago to help them on their journey to have a family. Eric and Art have a beautiful son and another one is on the way! They love to help others on their journeys because they know how tough it can be to be a same sex couple and navigate family building.
From struggling to figure out how the process works, to choosing a donor, a doctor, an agency and a surrogate to dealing with a pandemic in the middle of their process, I would say they have had their fair share of trial by fire! And they want to share their story with you so you can feel supported and helped with your journey. Eric has gone so far as to create a story book for children who are donor conceived.
They will tell you about the process, about managing relationships with family members who don’t share the same values, and about the benefit of learning all you can before you start your journey.
Enjoy!
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familybuildingcenter
Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
Sunday Mar 12, 2023
Sunday Mar 12, 2023
Ivan Fatovic is the founder and CEO of Modamily, an on line website that helps people build their families through donor conception. Modamily provides three services, a dating service, a co-parenting matchmaking service and a known sperm donor matching service. In this episode, Ivan will share a perspective that is different from many of my guests as he sees clients that are different than many of the clients we see at clinics, agencies and banks. And as we know, when it comes to donor conception, it is important to hear as many perspectives as possible.
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familybuildingcenter
Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Jane Mattes: Therapist, single mother by choice and the founder of Single Mothers by Choice. For over 40 years, Jane’s on-line and in-person groups have been providing a welcoming community for single women around the world who are considering single motherhood, pursuing single motherhood or are actively parenting. When Jane was pursuing single motherhood and wanted support but couldn’t find any, she decided to form her own support group. Since that time, more than 30, 000 women have been helped by her program. Jane Mattes is an icon and a warm and thoughtful person and I am so glad to have her on the show.
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familybuildingcenter
Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
About Lisa
As an author, researcher, licensed mental health professional and an expert in donor conception, Lisa Schuman is passionate about helping people on their donor conception journeys. After decades of work on staff at some of the world’s best fertility clinics, running workshops for donor conceived children and meeting with thousands of donors and recipients, she has had the opportunity to help so many people find an easier path to parenthood.
She began her podcast to help people on a larger scale. Lisa and her guests will
will share the tools and truths they have learned and help you get the information you need to have a better path to parenthood or manage tough parenting issues.
Lisa has personally struggled with almost every type of fertility treatment and has committed her career to helping others avoid regret, manage stress and find better ways to build the families of their dreams. There is so much to know and it is all too important to leave up to chance.
Donor Conception Conversations is the one podcast devoted to people who have used, or are considering using donor conception to build their family. You are not alone. We are here to provide information, support and maybe even entertain bit along the way.
To learn more about Lisa or to find more resources check out www.familybuilding.net