becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation

International love stories have a special way of capturing our hearts, sparking that hopeful question: Can love truly conquer distance? Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Sarah about the incredible journey she and her wife embarked on—one that spanned continents and oceans. Despite living on opposite sides of the world, they built not only a deeply loving relationship, but also a beautifu...

It felt like it should have been easier, especially since they were both perfectly healthy.  Today, I’m excited to introduce you to Michael and Dan, two Melbourne-based IPs (intended parents). Their journey to parenthood took them around the world in search of the perfect egg donor and surrogate — a journey that ultimately helped them build the beautiful family they have today. You can learn more...

Over the past 100 episodes, I’ve had the absolute privilege of connecting with some truly remarkable Queer Professionals and Queer Parents. Each conversation has opened my mind, challenged my assumptions, and left me inspired in ways I never could have imagined. Together, we’ve explored the beautiful, messy, courageous, and deeply personal journeys of family creation in our community—and it’s been...

Cyndel and Kendra have navigated nearly every challenge a Queer couple can face in the early stages of building a family — including living in a tiny house in a deeply conservative area.  Today, we dive into their experiences with surprise pregnancies, induced lactation, co-lactation, La Leche League support, and so much more. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. You can learn more about...

For many, the dream of starting a family with a partner comes with the hope—and expectation—that it will last a lifetime. But sometimes, that dream changes. Relationships end. Dynamics shift. And you're left wondering: What now? How do you make choices that keep your children at the centre, while also honouring your own heart, your hopes, and your vision for the future? Today on the show, I’m...

Choosing a donor is a deeply personal process—you carefully sift through profiles, searching for the one that feels like the perfect fit for your family. But what happens when that donor backs out at the last minute? If you’re Tanner and his husband, you pivot. You find another incredible person, then connect with the surrogate who will help bring your child into the world—and in the process, you...

When you know deep in your heart that you’re meant to be a parent and carry a child, all you truly need are the ingredients to make it happen — unless, of course, challenges with ovulation arise.  Today, I’m excited to introduce you to Amy and Alyson, who set out on their family-building journey, full of hope and curiosity about how their story would unfold. You can learn more about this beautiful...

Through their family creation journey, Morgan and her wife learned just how important it is to understand who might be the best fit to carry a pregnancy. They worked with a wide range of practitioners along the way—but it wasn’t until much later in the process that someone finally slowed things down and shared the types of testing that could actually support their decision-making. Today, Morgan is...

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Bethan. She and her wife just became parents to baby number two only five days before we recorded this conversation. Bethan and I take some time to talk about how they made the decisions that they did as they set about creating the family of their dreams. Now they have two gorgeous children and some decisions to make.

Gabrielle always knew she wanted to become a parent—but what she didn’t expect was meeting someone who would join her on that journey. She had imagined becoming a solo parent by choice, but life had other plans. Soon after meeting her wife, they embraced co-parenting together. Now, they’re raising a ten-year-old and a one-year-old—and they have a feeling their story is still unfolding. You can fol...

I have a special place in my heart for those who choose to grow their families through the public system. They step into a process where rules can change at any moment, yet they open their hearts time and time again. With unwavering love, guidance, and support, they welcome children into their homes—sometimes as a temporary refuge, and sometimes as the forever family those children deserve. Today,...

So many people dream of having a baby and building a family, only to be met with the harsh reality of how financially out of reach the process can feel. So what do you do? If you're Sabrina and her wife, you start by exploring online donor profiles—searching for someone who feels like the perfect fit for your future family. Today, Sabrina shares their incredible journey to parenthood, includin...

One of the most painful challenges in parenting can be navigating the breakdown of a relationship, especially when it feels like the world—and the system—isn't on your side. Today, I have the honour of introducing you to Tiq Milan. His story is deeply moving. Right now, Tiq doesn't have a relationship with his daughter, after the courts in Texas ruled in favour of his ex. Despite the heart...

Sometimes, the most important conversation isn’t just about how we’ve built our families—it’s about how we shape the world in which we raise them. Today, I’m honoured to welcome Joanna Johnson to the podcast. We discuss the state of the world today and why every vote in every election truly matters. Learn more about Joanna and her insights by following her across social media @unlearn16.

If there is an up or a down that a two uterus parent household can face than Sarah and Gina have faced them all!  Today I introduce you to a pair of moms living in Cyprus, who have been through it to create their three gorgeous children.  You can learn more about Gina & Sarah by checking out their IG page @you.me.our3 **There were some delays as we recorded so you will find that I didn’t ask a...

When Pasan and Damian met, well over a decade ago, they weren’t necessarily both on the same page about becoming parents.  Flip that switch to when they started dating some time later, and Pasan showed Damian that this was an amazing idea for them.  They have had their struggles with determining the best and safest path forward for their family.  Today I get to introduce them to you as they sat in...

The moment you become a parent, you understand that if you want your own children to live authentically, you have to model by example.  Today, I am honoured to be able to share my conversation with Danielle Venne. We talk about separation and divorce, transitioning and embracing our own queerness as well as re-coupling, and how our children benefit from watching us live authentically. You can lear...

Today, I'm stepping outside the norm to introduce you to Dr. Sue Ellen Carpenter. While she is not a member of the Queer community, she works closely with and supports Queer individuals and couples in their journey to create families. Through her expertise and the innovative use of INVOcell technology, Dr. Carpenter helps people with uteruses achieve their family-building dreams. You can learn...

If you have been listening to this podcast you know that I have been excited to introduce you to two incredible Canadians, Jen and Shawnee Kish. They joined me today to share their family creation story and explain how they made the decisions that they made on their path to becoming parents.  You can learn more about these Canadian icons by following them on social media. You can find Shawnee on T...

Full disclosure, not only have I been a fan of mombian.com and it’s creator, Dana Rudolph for two decades, but I also love chatting with both Dana and her wife Helen about women’s sports and specifically the PWHL.  Today I share with you my chat with both of them. We talked about their family creation journey, and about choosing a donor. We also discussed the evolution of mombian.com (IG: @mombian...

Rebecca Nayak is many things; a mom, a step parent, a coparent, a lawyer. Today we have a chance to learn from her about some of the legal framework as it exists for Queer parents in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She offers insight into questions hopeful, expectant, and new parents may want to ask their own legal teams as they navigate family creation. You can learn more about Becca by emailing her...

When you ask Mathew Boudreaux how he feels about being a parent to 11 year old Helena, you can feel the excitement through the screen. Their journey to family creation came by way of public adoption. It was not a traditional way along that pathway though and it was intriguing to hear Mathew lay out all that transpired to allow them to be the family they are today. You may also know Mathew as @mxdo...

It’s true that Ben Ptashinsky-Skinner is likely best known for his acting and comedic prowess but for the last 7 years he has shifted his focus to be dad to Charlotte. Ben and his husband Aaron adopted Charlotte by way of public adoption. They had considered all of the options available to them, as ways of building their family, and adoption felt like the path the resonated most.  We were also abl...

One of the most entertaining and engaging facts about chatting with Sa’iyda Shabazz is that you never know where the conversation will go but you DO know that you will love every second of it! Today we chat about coming into one’s own sexuality after becoming a parent as well as then navigating the world of parenting during times of huge international upheaval and turmoil. You can learn more about...

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Calvin Ozzi. We know a little bit about Calvin's current living arrangements and family dynamics from the conversation I had with his spouse Dr. Jeni Wahlig in season two. This time we dive into Calvin's family creation story from before he partnered with Jeni. He talks about his relationship with his ex-wife and stepping into the role of bo...