MILES: Men, Infertility, and Life Experiences

During National Infertility Awareness Week, we’re joined by Michael Hughes, advocate, speaker, and host of the podcast The Full Stop , coming to us from Australia. Michael shares his powerful perspective on being Childless Not By Choice (CNBC) and the often-overlooked emotional, social, and identity challenges that come with this experience. Together, we explore the grief of unmet expectations, th...

In this episode of The MILES Podcast , we explore the deeply complex and often misunderstood experience of Terminating for Medical Reasons (TFMR). Joined by Dr. Julie Bindeman, PsyD—a licensed psychologist and expert in reproductive mental health—we unpack the psychological layers that accompany this difficult decision. Dr. Bindeman brings both clinical insight and compassionate understanding to a...

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, we explore the complex and often misunderstood topic of reproductive trafficking. Joining us is psychologist Kristin Chambliss, who brings clinical insight and an ethical perspective to a conversation at the intersection of mental health, reproductive medicine, human rights, and global inequality. Together, we unpack what reproductive trafficking is,...

In this episode of The MILES Podcast , Steven sits down with Dr. Julia Woodward to explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can support individuals and couples navigating infertility. Infertility is filled with uncertainty, loss of control, grief, and the constant pull between hope and heartbreak. Dr. Woodward breaks down how ACT helps people stop fighting their internal experience and...

In this episode, we explore how infertility affects couples — emotionally, relationally, and individually. While infertility is often discussed as a medical diagnosis, its impact on communication, intimacy, identity, and partnership can be just as profound. Couples may find themselves navigating grief, uncertainty, shifting roles, and different coping styles, all while trying to stay connected to...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Anna Flores-Locke, LPC, for an insightful conversation on the impact of infertility within the Latinx community. We explore the unique cultural, systemic, and access-related barriers that individuals and couples may face, as well as the powerful resilience factors that are often overlooked. Dr. Flores-Locke also unpacks the role of machismo in infertility...

Welcome to the 4th Season of The MILES Podcast! Steven Miller and Elizabeth Carr, the first baby born through IVF in the U.S., discuss their experiences with infertility and the importance of education and awareness. They explore the emotional impact, the role of nonprofits, and how open conversations can reduce stigma and support mental health. Elizabeth Carr's Social Media https://www.instag...

This week's episode was a recording that got away from me and was never released. This was not due to the quality of the conversation with Lisa, but just an error on my part. Lisa Schuman, LCSW, is a leading expert in family building and has helped people around globe build the families of their dreams. She has lectured extensively and has written numerous articles on a variety of family building...

In this episode, I have the honor of interviewing Dr. Dan Nayot from Toronto, Ontario. Dr. Nayot is currently the Medical Director of The Fertility Partners, Canada’s largest network of IVF clinics. As part of the executive team, he is committed to optimizing patient outcomes, physician education, implementing technological innovation, and spearheading research and development.  Participant Form f...

This week I had the privilege of interviewing Brian Decker from the Seattle, Washington area. Brian was the first to sign up as a volunteer for our Peer Support program. Brian and his wife have gone through IUI, IVF, and a miscarriage, and was successful with IVF, with the birth of his son. We discuss his experience with the fertility journey and the support he received. Participant Form for Peer...

This week's episode, I interviewed Karyn Rosenberg, quite a while ago, but as we were getting Men's Helpline up and running, my attention had been distracted. Karyn and I discuss that often when we think about infertility, we don't always think it is grief that we are going through. We also talk about disenfranchised grief, as it relates to Mother's Day and Father's Day. Karyn...

Welcome to the 3rd season of The MILES Podcast. This special episode commemorates International Bereaved Father's Day, first held in Australia in 2010. This day recognizes parents who have lost children through miscarriage or stillbirth, as well as young and adult children. I would include failed embryo transfers, too. Jonathon Cheslock is this episode's guest. Jonathon shares his experien...

This episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Clayton Brigance, who recently got his PhD in Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. We talk about his own experience through infertility, as well as the research he has been doing regarding trauma and infertility. A recent study of his showed that 43% (primarily women) had symptoms of PTSD due to reproductive trauma. Dr. Clayto...

Happy National Infertility Awareness Week! To kick off the week, I decided to release a couple of episodes, and this is the first one. At some point in our fertility journey, we have all been told to relax and that stress is the cause of our infertility struggles. I have heard several people talk about this through my connections and on the internet. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Angela Lawson...

In this week's episode, I talked with Dr. Kristin Brogaard, the Chief Scientific Officer at Inherent Biosciences. We discuss the lack of research on male infertility and what Dr. Brogaard is doing about this issue. Kristin Brogaard received her Ph. D. in Molecular Biology from Northwestern University developing a novel epigenetic technology that allowed for single-base pair resolution mapping...

This week's episode I was able to sit down and talk with Ryan Ferrante, who is a Reproductive Attorney in Chicago. Not only is he an attorney, but he is also on the volunteer committee and has an active part in the planning of Federal Advocacy for Resolve. Federal Advocacy Day is where people like you and me can get involved in speaking with our legislators to pass pro-family building legislat...

A fertility pharmacist by day and a film director by night, Tarun Verma, during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, had decided that he was going to make a film about infertility and the experience both men and women go through. His film, Conception, has been shown at film festivals and is currently on Prime Video. Tarun and I discuss his experience filming the movie and infertility. Watch Con...

On this week's episode, I have Dr. Bill Petok, who has provided mental health support to couples and men with infertility since 1985.  We discuss how he got involved in Reproductive Mental Health, trends he has seen with men responding to infertility, and SART.  SART is the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology.  Bill Petok earned his doctorate from the University of Maryland...

In this week's episode, I speak with Dustin Gruss, who, instead of pursuing IVF or other fertility treatments, he and his wife chose to do foster care. Now foster care doesn't automatically mean that you're going to adopt, but in this case, that is what happened. Dustin is the host of the podcast Family By Heart.  Dustin has worked for over 20 years in the customer service industry, striving...

In this week's episode, I have the privilege of talking with Brian Koszala, a colleague whom a mutual co-worker introduced to me. Brian Koszala is 40 years old and from Wisconsin. He lives with his wife and boy/girl twins. He has a history of mental health issues and addictions. He considers himself in long-term recovery from it and now helps others along in their recovery as a Certified Peer Supp...

In this week's episode, I had the privilege of talking with Alease The Embryologist.  Alease has a degree in Genetics from NC State and is an embryologist at a fertility clinic.  As patients, we often don't see the behind-the-scenes of a fertility clinic, and Alease has been doing an amazing job of highlighting this aspect of IVF on Instagram and TikTok.  We talk about everything fr...

This week's episode is my first one that is more informational. I had the privilege of talking with Dr. Carolyn Alexander, a board-certified OB/GYN, Reproductive Endocrinologist specializing in PCOS.  She received her medical degree from UCLA and completed her Residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Reproductive Endocrinology.  Currently, Dr. Alexander works at Southern California Reprodu...

This week I talked with Daniel Landau, the founder and executive director of Men's Helpline.  Men's Helpline is a non-profit organization that supports men seeking emotional support after losing a child due to a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infertility.  Daniel talks about his experience using fertility treatments, such as IVF, and differences in access to fertility treatments, as Daniel...

Ryan Smith, the author of "Finally....An Infertility Book for Dudes: Navigating Infertility from the Male Perspective", shares his experiences of infertility, along with reasons why he decided to write a book.   We talk about miscarriage, IVF treatment, and the miles-long journey it took to get where he and his wife are today.   Ryan Smith's Social Media Instagram:  @ryansmith_...

In the first season's last episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Paul Hamilton, a mechanical engineer, an avid bowler, and a traveler to explore the world.  He shares his experience with being diagnosed with Azoospermia, when there is no sperm found, and how he was able to process the complex emotions that came with adjusting to a new reality.  Paul is from North Carolina, origina...