The Babymakers Fertility Podcast

In this very personal episode, Danica recounts her experience with Family Constellations facilitator, Leah Kalish of Los Angeles, exposing the healing power that awaits us once we release **generational trauma we’ve inherited from our parents… If your fertility journey has solely consisted of discouraging lab values, poor egg counts, procedures and protocols, you’ll find this discussion about Fami...

Thinking about hypnosis can conjure up a mental image of spinning eyes and possible manipulation (!!), but … allowingoneself to be guided into a trance state can be exactly what patients need in order to create important changes on the subconscious level; This episode will explain how certified hypnotherapist Iris Sutalo uses the science of neuroplasticity to calm her clients’ anxiety, and using v...

Making the bedroom safe again after IVF and infertility” is rarely talked about but it’s one of the more common and vulnerable topics that show up everyday in the treatment rooms of fertility acupuncturists. This interesting conversation between Danica and Dr Denise Wiesner, L.Ac ., DACM, a fellow acupuncturist & author of Conceiving With Love, reveals how they serve the community, filling in...

We’re kicking off Season 2 of The Babymakers by bringing back Larissa Laskin and getting inside Danica’s head — to understand how and why she created The Seed Fertility Masterclass. The two women dish about the emotions, the triumphs, the recipes, the twists & turns, and personal growth that occurs when we’re building a family. Truly understanding and accepting what’s happening and taking a co...

If you’ve been trying unsuccessfully for one year or longer to conceive, you’re likely frustrated and scratching your head about what to do with a diagnosis of ‘UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY’… In this episode Danica interviews Dr Nina Vyas of California Fertility Partners to discuss the rationale behind a step-by-step process of elimination to screen for impediments to pregnancy. You’ll appreciate this...

Fertility treatment can create heightened anxiety for even the most pragmatic women. Particularly during the quarantine, fertility anxiety went off the charts, and the layers of stress were correlated with poorer outcomes for the women and couples trying to conceive. What we learned from that era is valuable and so important now, as we face different life challenges and new sources of perceived st...

Trusting again in our body after multiple disappointments eventually leads to birthing ourselves as parents”, says world famous birth doula Lori Bregman. Finding areas of the babymaking journey where we can “reframe” what’s not happening into something that elevates us is so much better than being inauthentic with toxic positivity. This episode is a combination of woo woo and honest shares - we’re...

This conversation takes listeners on a path inward to demonstrate how the process of “trying to conceive” has the potential to reveal a new version of ourselves. Mindfulness, consciousness, breathwork and personal discovery are highlighted as techniques that women (and couples) may find helpful in overcoming the anxiety and nervous system upregulation that occurs during fertility treatment, and la...

This episode features Ali Prato, host of the award-winning podcast “Infertile AF”. As the co-founder of @fertilityrally, and the author of “Work of ART”, her new children’s book about family-building using IVF, Ali shares her own story and connects others through the power of storytelling and community. Anyone feeling alone, ashamed or scared to navigate the world of infertility will benefit from...

Dr. Michael Vermesh and Danica discuss memorable stories collected during 20 years of working together with IVF patients previously labeled as “tough cases”. Using "old school" IVF protocols and low doses of medication may offer women diagnosed with Advanced Maternal Age, Premature Ovarian Failure, or Diminished Ovarian Reserve, the chance to create a successful pregnancy where other protocols and...

In this special episode, Ashley Marrs, daughter of IVF pioneer doctors Richard Marrs & Joyce Vargyas, shares what it was like to grow up in a family known internationally for creating the first human being in the United States from a frozen embryo! From an appearance on CNN News in her mother’s arms as a newborn baby, to the transition of her nursing career into the world of IVF, Ashley recall...

In this most soothing episode, Dr Samantha Munson, a PhD specializing in mindfulness and health psychology, explains how a meditation practice can really help when we want to turn to fear and give in to anxiety… Setting reasonable expectations, embracing the fact that our minds are made to wander, and becoming more comfortable with uncertainty are just a few ways to allow mindfulness to become a u...

Women on the fertility journey struggle with feeling alone, broken, confused and often will grapple with shame… This endearing conversation with Sally Hayes cracks open the hearts of listeners and helps them know that there’s a community here that’s got their back (and their womb!). Through the organizations she’s founded (@WomenInSelfHealing and @WeAreMatrikas) and her proprietary abdominal massa...

Balanced hormones are essential for babymaking, so we interviewed integrative wellness expert Dr Taz Bhatia (author of The Hormone Shift and Super Woman Rx ) to learn more about optimizing ovarian potential and improving fertility. In this info-packed episode, Dr Danica and Dr Taz break down the three most common ovarian challenges for women on the fertility journey: hypothalamic ovulatory dysfunc...

This is one of the best feel-good episodes of The Babymakers Podcast, as wives Toby & Lindsay share details about their VIRAL babymaking story — when they made headlines as “2 Lesbian Wives Pregnant At The Same Time!” This story involves many of the typical fertility hurdles and hiccups (ie. miscarriage, polyps, upsetting ultrasounds, and worry about male factor), but it drives home the idea t...

Endearing partnerships can be formed between medical doctors and holistic practitioners to provide fertility patients with a sense of cohesive support and a sense of deeper meaning to the overall experience of infertility treatment. This episode highlights many shared memories and points of connection between Danica and Dr Guy Ringler. In this interview, Dr Ringler acknowledges the positive impact...

In this illuminating episode actress Brenda Strong, voice of Mary Alice from Desperate Housewives and the former Spokesperson of the American Fertility Association, emphasizes the power of energetic healing, breathwork and spiritual consciousness in downplaying fear, doubt and the need to control. Brenda describes the term “Divine Feminine” as empowering for both women AND men, because the act of...

Improving fertility often takes a village, and in this episode, Danica interviews one of her mentors, Dr Daoshing Ni, to discuss the role of the acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine in overcoming obstacles to family-building. A respected pioneer, teacher and specialist in the field of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for fertility, “Dr Dao” has imparted his wisdom and insights about this ancient for...

There’s an outdated paradigm occurring in the fertility space — it’s the assumption that miscarriage and failed attempts to conceive are mostly due to “bad eggs”. Turns out, male factor (sperm issues) are now believed to be causing 50% of the problem in poor fertility outcomes. When besties Ronit Menashe and Vida Delrahim experienced pregnancy loss within one week of each other, the search for ans...

IVF Pioneer Dr Richard Marrs joins Danica in this compelling, factual story of the early days of IVF. Dr Marrs explains the origin of IVF science to address women’s fertility challenges with pelvic inflammatory disease in the 1970s and discusses his role in the refinement of ovarian stimulation protocols in the 1980s and 1990s that have shaped the successful IVF protocols used to this day. This ep...

Receiving a diagnosis of “unexplained” infertility that may include Recurrent Pregnancy Loss can be a heartbreaking, unnerving experience for women/couples who feel ready to have a baby. Oftentimes, these problematic cases are the end result of having endometriosis, an inflammatory condition that affects the pelvic structures and reproductive system. Expert endometriosis excision surgeon Larry Orb...

This empowering episode tackles four complex taboo subjects that women often deal with in silence until they show up on the fertility journey — vulvadynia, painful sex, thyroid dysfunction and menstrual pain. Getting a diagnosis of endometriosis to address these interconnected conditions requires persistence, patience and perseverance. If you’re struggling with pain or have experienced unexplained...

This episode discusses the spectrum of grief that shows up in the process of family-building. From the loss of the dream of an effortless pregnancy, to the loss of pregnancies or live children, the fertility journey typically insists that we learn how to pick up the pieces and continue moving forward. Psychologist Debi Frankle, often referred to as “The Grief Lady” from the Calabasas Counseling &a...

Highlighting the roles of nutrition, mindset and personal development that are pivotal when preparing for pregnancy, “awakening fertility” author Heng Ou shares insights and wisdom she’s inherited from her traditional Asian relatives. This episode reveals differences in diet and perspective that are effective in helping women overcome fertility challenges – by quieting their minds and listening fo...

The decision to turn to a third-party when building a family is far from easy. This episode helps listeners feel more at ease by demystifying the process, managing anxiety along the way, and keeping the focus on what really matters. Executive Producer: Danica Thornberry Associate Producer: Miranda Ogletree Audio Engineer: Patrick Edwards This episode is sponsored by: wellpeople Integrative Healing...