The Embryo Adoption Podcast

After 60 "no's" through domestic adoption and years of walking through infertility, Jonathan and Kori Gallagher found their way to embryo adoption — and to the NEDC in Knoxville. In this Season 6 finale, the Gallaghers open up about the grief of infertility, the leap of faith that led them to embryo adoption, and the overwhelming joy of welcoming their two children, Saylor and KJ. They share candi...

Holly Townsend knows firsthand what it feels like to grieve alone — miscarriage, years of infertility, and the silence of people who just didn't know what to say. Many embryo adoption families can relate. In this episode, she shares how turning to Scripture became her anchor, and how that journey led her to write God's Guidance in Grief , a Bible study for women navigating pregnancy loss and infer...

When NEDC embryo adoption mom Rachel Granado couldn't find the right book to tell her daughter her story, she wrote one. In this episode, Rachel shares her path from unexplained infertility and IVF to embryo adoption through the NEDC — and the moment, holding her newborn, when the words for Love Brought You Here came to her. A beautiful conversation about faith, family, and making sure every child...

Canadians Mitchell and Lindsay Fehr weren't looking for embryo adoption — God kept bringing it to them. Three strangers, one road trip, and a divine encounter at Focus on the Family later, they were all in. Today they're holding twins Theo and Eden, frozen for 21 years. This episode is their incredible story of God's faithfulness to bruised & battered hearts.

What do you do when you already have four kids but still feel like your family isn't finished? For Joshua and Abigail Koehler, the answer came through a Facebook article, a lot of prayer, and the NEDC. They're now parents to 22-month-old twin girls born through NEDC embryo adoption. In this episode, they share what it felt like to want more when they already had so much, how their older kids react...

After failed adoption attempts — including bringing a baby home from the hospital, only to have him returned — Sean and his wife Amber heard about NEDC embryo adoption and decided to try one more time. This episode is their story: the fundraising, the hormone injections, transfer day in Knoxville, and what it felt like when it didn't work. It's honest, it's hopeful, and it ends with a direct chall...

Can IVF ever be done ethically? The EA Podcast isn't dodging the question — and may challenge what you've assumed. This episode also walks through the full NEDC adoption process: application, home study, medical clearance, and the unexpectedly emotional experience of browsing embryo profiles. If you've ever wondered what embryo adoption actually involves, this is the episode to share. 

What happens to frozen embryos that IVF families never use? In this portion of the National Embryo Donation Center's interview on the Room for Nuance podcast, learn about a problem few in the fertility industry want to talk about — and the Christian ministry that stepped in to do something about it. This episode covers what the NEDC is, how embryo adoption works as a rescue mission, and the stagge...

A Match.com message. A Facebook Live wedding during COVID. A zero sperm count diagnosis. And then — twin boys. Gregory and Jennifer File's path to parenthood was anything but conventional, but they'll tell you every detour was part of God's plan. In this episode of the Embryo Adoption Podcast, hear how embryo adoption gave them the family they'd always prayed for. 

 After receiving their infertility diagnosis the day before Christmas Eve, Brett and Erika Hamoen faced a year of deep grieving before discovering embryo adoption through the NEDC. In this heartfelt conversation, they discuss the challenges of being a Canadian couple pursuing embryo adoption, the hostile adoption training environment they avoided, and the incredible moment when Eloise entered the...

After years of infertility treatments and a devastating diagnosis, Erin and Rodney walked out of their fertility doctor's office at their lowest point. But a brief mention of embryo adoption -something they'd never heard of- would eventually lead them to their twin daughters and a beautiful relationship with their donor family. Hear their honest story of grief, hope, and unexpected blessings in th...

The Embryo Adoption Podcast is back for season six!  When Aaron and Monica Harris married in their 40s, they immediately faced infertility challenges. After failed IVF attempts, a cross-country move, and multiple miscarriages, they discovered embryo adoption through the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC).  This episode chronicles their emotional rollercoaster—from devastating losses to the mir...

Embryo adoption created an extraordinary dynamic in Brian & Karen’s extended family— where baby Faith was actually conceived years before her teenage cousin Casey was even born! In this Season 5 finale of The Embryo Adoption Podcast, Casey shares excerpts from her award-winning essay about embryo adoption, while her aunt Karen opens up about the emotional journey through loss, faith, and ultim...

Meet Katherine Jackman, the first grandmother featured on The Embryo Adoption Podcast. After remembering President Bush's 2005 "snowflake children" White House event, Katherine suggested embryo adoption to her daughter and son-in-law during their fertility struggles. Their journey brought Katherine a new grandson and even inspired her to write a new children's book explaining embryo adoption throu...

In this moving episode of The Embryo Adoption Podcast, Executive Director Tamara Martin of Arrows in the Sky shares profound insights on navigating the complex grief of failed embryo adoption transfers and pregnancy loss. Drawing from her own hard journey, Tamara discusses how spouses may grieve differently and the vital importance of memorializing lost children. Plus, she shares her ministry's mi...

Why does the NEDC require its adopting families to complete a home study, and what’s involved? How are open adoption relationships worked out? And why do all NEDC adopters go through training/education modules? Christian Adoption Consultants Lead Social Worker & Embryo Program Coordinator Rebekah McGee answers all those questions and more in this episode of The Embryo Adoption Podcast. Plus, R...

Ben & Emily Parker felt called to embryo adoption- seeing it as a beautiful picture of the Gospel in miniature, and less of a rollercoaster for their three young daughters than other forms of adoption or care for vulnerable children. In this episode, hear how their journey’s going & how they’re sharing it with their daughters. Plus, they encourage other families -fertile & infertile- t...

Ezekiel Lee went from thinking embryo adoption sounded “so sci-fi”… to becoming an NEDC dad! But he and his wife Rachel were frustrated there was no book comprehensively covering how to pursue embryo adoption. So, Ezekiel decided to write it himself! He talks about the book, Once Frozen, Now Family: How to Pursue Embryo Adoption, and How Seven Families Did It , in this episode of The Embryo Adopti...

Philip and Kahlie share their seven-year journey through infertility, their decision to pursue embryo adoption, and the challenges they faced—including selecting embryos during a natural disaster! They also reflect on how the whole process deepened their spiritual understanding of adoption, inspiring them to advocate for embryo adoption in their community… all in this episode of The Embryo Adoptio...

At first, having children came easy for Eric & Nana. But then they encountered secondary infertility before they felt their family was complete. In this episode of The Embryo Adoption Podcast, find out how they turned to two kinds of adoption -including embryo- to complete their family. In the process, God brought them a youngest child who was actually conceived before their oldest!    Share,...

Abby & Bryce Thomas may be the only couple we know who literally drove all night (they actually slept in the car!) to get to their frozen embryo transfer. While the early part of their journey with the NEDC didn’t work out as they hoped, they felt led by the Lord to return three years later. Now, as you’ll learn in this episode of The Embryo Adoption Podcast, things are totally different. You’...

Randy and Jenni share their journey from unexplained infertility to the joy of parenthood through embryo adoption, guided by faith and ethical considerations. They reflect on the emotional process, the birth of their son Silas (frozen for 9.5 years!), and they have a surprise to unveil, so listen all the way to the end!   Share, rate, review, and subscribe to The Embryo Adoption Podcast wherever y...

Because of a previous battle with a tumor, Drew knew having children might be a challenge when he & Chrissy got married. He was right, but now they’re both thankful for their eventual answer -embryo adoption- and confident it was the road God had for them all along. It’s even created opportunities for them to share their son Theo and his story at art shows! But more than anything, it’s taught...

In this compelling Season 5 kickoff episode, we hear from Hannah Strege, the first official embryo adoption baby, as she shares her extraordinary journey and ongoing advocacy for embryo adoption. From her parents' simple "seed analogy" explanation of her origins to memorable moments like visiting the White House, Hannah's story is both inspiring and thought-provoking. She reflects on her genetic f...

Donors’ and recipients’ feelings can change in surprising ways during the embryo adoption process, so anticipating the unexpected can lead to a better experience. In this Season 4 finale of The Embryo Adoption Podcast, psychologist Dr. Jaclyn Davis shares key findings from her extensive research with embryo adoption families.    NOTE: If you would like to learn more about joining Dr. Davis’s embry...