Create A Happy Family

Learning how to choose a surrogacy agency is one of the biggest decisions you'll make, whether you're hoping to become a surrogate or grow your family through surrogacy. But not all surrogacy agencies operate the same way. In this episode of Create A Happy Family, the Education and Matching Team at Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions shares what every surrogate and intended parent should know befo...

What happens after infertility… when you finally become a mom, but still find yourself struggling emotionally? In this episode, Blair shares her journey through recurrent loss, IVF, egg donation, and the unexpected reality of postpartum anxiety after finally welcoming her son, Archie. As a labor and delivery nurse, Blair spent years helping other families welcome babies into the world while naviga...

If IVF is so expensive, why would a fertility clinic recommend transferring just one embryo instead of two? It's a question many intended parents ask. After all, if you're investing so much time, money, and emotion into building your family, wouldn't transferring two embryos increase your chances of success? In this episode, reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Julian Escobar explains why modern IVF t...

Nick and Bailey met because of surrogacy. They never expected to become family. In this special Father's Day conversation, intended father Nick and surrogate spouse Bailey share how trust, vulnerability, and open communication transformed a surrogacy journey into a lifelong friendship. What started as supporting their wives became a relationship built on respect, honesty, and a shared commitment t...

Richard and Julio of IVF Daddies share what intended parents need to know about IVF, surrogacy, egg donation, international family building, and why community can make all the difference on your family-building journey. Through their podcast and family-building community, they've helped thousands of intended parents better understand the complex world of assisted reproduction and family building....

AI, embryo technology, and personalized fertility treatment are changing the future of fertility care, but what does that actually mean for patients? In this episode, reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Meir Olcha breaks down how fertility care is evolving through AI-assisted technology, precision medicine, embryo imaging, and more individualized approaches to IVF treatment. We also discuss why human...

Choosing an egg donor can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re navigating cost, timelines, and decisions that feel deeply personal. In this episode, Egg Donor Matching Coordinator Katie G. breaks down what intended parents are really facing at the beginning of the process, from sticker shock and insurance confusion to the emotional weight of finding the right donor. We also discuss: fresh vs...

In this episode, we’re joined by reproductive psychologist Dr. Julie Bindeman to explore one of the most difficult, and important, conversations that can arise in a surrogacy journey. Dr. Bindeman works with intended parents, surrogates, and donors navigating the emotional complexities of third-party reproduction. Together we discuss why some conversations feel hard to approach, why they matter ea...

What happens when both the intended mom and the surrogate choose joy over fear? In this episode, you’ll meet Maddison and Jesse, an intended mother and surrogate whose relationship was rooted in authenticity, vulnerability, and celebration from the very beginning. Instead of bracing for what could go wrong, they made a conscious decision to celebrate every milestone, every appointment, and every s...

We Kept Going… But Not in the Same Way Jen’s path to becoming a mom didn’t follow a straight line. After years of trying, multiple rounds of IVF, and not a single embryo, she made the decision to move forward with egg donation, hoping that would finally be the turning point. But even then, things didn’t go as expected. After four failed transfers, Jen found herself in a place so many women reach i...

In this episode, we’re sharing a conversation featuring Katy Encalade, President & CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, from the IVF Daddies Podcast. If you’re exploring surrogacy or egg donation, it’s easy to focus on the steps but having a clearer understanding of the bigger picture makes all the difference. In this conversation, Katy breaks down: • What a realistic timeline looks lik...

What happens after National Infertility Awareness Week ends? In this mini moment, Katy Encalade reflects on what it really means to carry this work forward, beyond a single week, a hashtag, or a moment. After nearly two decades in the surrogacy and egg donation space, Katy shares what most people don’t see: the everyday conversations, decisions, and support that shape how families are built. This...

Why does your insurance, or even your zip code, determine whether you can access fertility care? In this mini moment, Katy Encalade, CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, unpacks insights from Elizabeth Carr, the first baby born through IVF in the United States and a leading fertility advocate, on the hidden barriers that shape fertility journeys before most people even realize it. Katy expl...

1 in 6 people experience infertility, but access to IVF and fertility care still depends on where you live, your job, and your insurance. As we recognize National Infertility Awareness Week, this conversation matters more than ever. In this episode, we break down why infertility is becoming a national conversation, and what most people don’t see behind the scenes. I’m joined by Alise Powell from R...

Why does infertility feel so isolating, even when you know you’re not the only one going through it? In this mini moment, Katy Encalade, CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, unpacks Kelli Johnson’s powerful words on loneliness, fear, and the emotional weight of infertility. Katy shares what she sees every day working with intended parents, how isolation quietly shapes not just how you feel,...

For National Infertility Awareness Week , we’re honoring this year’s theme #MoreThan, starting with #MoreThanYourJourney . In this Mini Moment, Emily shares the sentence that helped heal years of shame she carried through infertility and reminded her that her worth was never defined by what her body could or couldn’t do. If you’ve ever wondered “Am I broken?” or “Did my body fail me?” this message...

Why is building a family still so hard—decades after IVF changed everything? In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth Carr, the first child born through IVF in the United States, to explore how far fertility medicine has come—and why access to care is still out of reach for so many. From insurance gaps and rising costs to the emotional realities of navigating IVF, egg donation, and surrogacy, t...

Surrogacy delivery day, what should you expect as an intended parent? Aaron and Lisa are back. When you first met them, they were just beginning their surrogacy journey. Now, they’re 7 weeks away from meeting their baby, with the same surrogate who carried their daughter. But this time, they’re preparing for delivery day as parents… with a 5-year-old at home. Which means new decisions, creating a...

Choosing surrogacy isn’t just about deciding to move forward — it’s about knowing who you can trust to support you through the process. In this episode, Monroe shares what he learned after going through two very different surrogacy journeys. Along the way, he offers perspective and advice shaped by what he experienced firsthand — including moments where transparency, ethics, and consistent support...

Advocacy is the heartbeat of Amy’s surrogacy journey. In this episode, Amy shares the wisdom she gained through her experience as a surrogate — from her commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ family building to the personal lessons she learned navigating a serious medical complication. Through her story, Amy reflects on how advocacy shows up at every stage of surrogacy: listening to your body, speaking u...

Are you overwhelmed by parenting advice — and wondering if you’re doing it wrong? In this episode, pediatrician Dr. Rebekah Diamond explains why modern parenting feels louder and more confusing than ever — and how to filter social media, marketing, and online parenting advice without losing confidence in yourself. You worked intentionally to become a parent. You want to do this right. But the cons...

Starting the surrogacy journey can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to figure out who to trust and what really matters. In this episode, Crystal shares her experience as an intended parent navigating loss, fear, and the early days of surrogacy, when anxious Googling and conflicting information made everything feel uncertain. She speaks honestly about ethics, control, and the red f...

Being diagnosed with infertility at a young age can feel like the end of the story — even when it’s not. In this episode, Emily shares what it was like to be told at 25 that she was already in menopause with no eggs, and how that diagnosis reshaped her path to motherhood. She talks openly about grief, donor eggs, and the gaps in education and support she experienced along the way. Emily also share...

In this episode, Whitney talks with Samantha, a mom of two whose simple “why not?” led her to become a surrogate for two dads — and help create a family. Samantha opens up about the real surrogacy journey: what inspired her to start, what the process truly involves, and what it felt like to see two fathers meet their baby for the first time. She offers an honest, compassionate look at what it mean...

Fertility isn’t just about trying harder — it’s about understanding time and timing. In this episode, Dr. Melvin Thornton explains what most couples miss about fertility, including why properly timed intercourse and early evaluation matter more than many people realize. If you’re trying to get pregnant, navigating infertility, or wondering when to seek help, this conversation breaks down the found...