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Building a family can be a complicated, messy, lonely, and sometimes heartbreaking process, but you don't have to navigate this challenging journey alone. Join the AllPaths Family Building community as we talk with people who are currently trying to grow their family, those whose family building journey has come to an end, and experts in the fertility and family building space. Together we'll: *Hear family stories, providing real-life perspectives that highlight the many different paths a fa ...
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This episode features speaker and author Jodi Mitchel Tolman, who shares how she and her husband navigated multiple paths over six years to build their family after facing challenges with fertility. Their family ultimately consisted of three children: one genetic child from a previous marriage, one adopted daughter, and one son born via donor egg. …
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Matt’s Journey: "I'm doing everything I possibly can to make sure her name never gets lost"
42:22
42:22
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42:22
In this episode of the AllPaths Podcast, Matt Smith, founder of Wandering Soul Beer Company, shares his personal experience with stillbirth and how this profound loss directly inspired the creation of his brewery and its flagship beer, Melody Maker. Matt and his wife Abby were expecting their first child and had just purchased their first house whe…
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Shannon’s Journey: "This Is Your Body, This Is Your Life"
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53:22
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53:22
In this episode of the AllPaths podcast, we welcome guest Shannon Cook to share her journey. Shannon recounts her experience navigating fertility struggles, including early attempts at conception, misdiagnoses like hydrosalpinx and stage three endometriosis, and multiple miscarriages. Despite feeling defeated at times, she emphasizes the importance…
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Lauren C's Journey: IVF Finds a Way to Humble You
53:00
53:00
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53:00
This episode features Lauren Hart Clancy, a perinatal advocate, AllPaths peer group leader, parent through IVF, and co-chair of the 2025 Footsteps for Family Building Walk. Lauren shares her journey through multiple IVF cycles, a delayed male-factor infertility diagnosis, and health complications after an egg retrieval. Throughout the conversation,…
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Lauren D’s Journey: Our family is now complete to what WE define as complete
46:52
46:52
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46:52
In this episode, we speak with Lauren Delaney, a co-chair for AllPaths’ annual Footsteps for Family Building Walk. Lauren shares about the roads she and her husband Ryan travelled to build their family. Ryan faced significant health issues including two kidney transplants, so together Lauren and Ryan navigated fertility preservation, fertility trea…
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Dr. Styer’s Journey: It's a privilege to be part of my patients' stories.
47:18
47:18
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47:18
In this episode, we welcome Dr. Aaron Styer, a reproductive endocrinologist, medical director of CCRM Boston, and AllPaths Board Member. Dr. Styer shares his professional journey into fertility medicine, sparked by his grandmother and mother who were both nurses, and a desire to build meaningful relationships with patients. The discussion covers wh…
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Erin and Stephen's Journey: For Some People, It's Not a Straight Line From A to B
48:44
48:44
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48:44
This episode featuring Erin, a longtime AllPaths group leader, and her husband Stephen offers a raw and unfiltered look at their decade-long struggle with infertility and it’s emotional toll. From the early days of excitement and expectation to the stark realization that building their family would not be as straightforward as they had hoped, Erin …
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Annie and Gene’s Journey: From Infertility to Innovation
32:36
32:36
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32:36
Annie and Gene Carelli, a married couple and licensed Pharmacists from the Philadelphia area, join us to share their family’s story and the inspiring way they turned their challenges into a resource for others navigating fertility treatment. After unsuccessfully trying to conceive on their own, Annie and Gene were diagnosed with unexplained inferti…
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Rebecca’s Journey: “This is right for me and right for my family.”
27:05
27:05
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27:05
In this episode of the AllPaths podcast, we’re joined by Rebecca Daddio, LCSW PMH-C and AllPaths peer group leader to hear about her personal and professional journey through the complexities of family building. Rebecca shares her experiences with unsuccessful fertility treatments, pregnancy loss, the path that led to donor conception and, after th…
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Karen’s Journey: “I was so focused on being pregnant that I lost sight of wanting to be a mom.”
36:42
36:42
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36:42
This episode features an in-depth discussion with Karen about her journey through infertility and adoption. She openly shares the challenges she faced, including the emotional toll of successful fertility treatments, the impact that family building struggles can have on relationships, and how she determined adoption was the best path for her family…
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Marissa’s Journey: Reproductive plans should never be small talk
38:59
38:59
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38:59
In this episode, Marissa Hathaway, MPH, Doula, and owner of The Lemon Grove, delves into her background and her transition from global health to becoming a full-time doula. Recounting her challenges with infertility, including the grief of losing pregnancies while supporting other families during their births, Marissa highlights the importance of h…
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Lea’s Journey: “I hadn't felt like I had belonged in the infertility community before.”
40:16
40:16
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40:16
Today’s episode features AllPaths volunteer Lea, a Boston-based biotech professional and leader of our Trying for Another Peer Support Group. After months of trying to conceive, Lea was diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve, which cast doubt on her ability to have biological children. She recounts navigating her options, including IVF and adopt…
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Megan’s Journey: Becoming Parents After Cancer Was Worth the Wait
24:41
24:41
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Megan Scherer joins us to share her family's journey through cancer and infertility, which then led to the creation of the nonprofit organization, Worth the Wait. After her husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer, they faced numerous challenges in starting their family. Megan discusses the importance of fertility preservation and the support t…
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Kerry’s Journey: "How do I feel hope and trust in my body?"
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43:37
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43:37
In this episode we speak with Kerry Hinds about her family-building journey and her work as a fertility yoga teacher. Kerry shares her journey, struggling to conceive and navigating fertility treatment in a foreign country, the emotional challenges and losses she faced, and the unexpected experience of becoming pregnant without intervention. Kerry …
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Ginanne’s Journey: Children should never feel like there was something shameful or weird about how they were born
37:13
37:13
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37:13
In this episode, London-based American author and journalist Ginanne Brownell recounts her challenging journey of infertility, miscarriage, donor conception, and gestational surrogacy. Now parent to twins born in 2018, Ginanne’s personal experience navigating the intricate legal landscape of surrogacy made her a committed family building advocate, …
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Jillian’s Journey: You’re young and healthy, just try again!
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41:03
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This episode features Jillian, an ER/ICU RN, Organ Donation Coordinator, and Nursing Supervisor/Educator and AllPaths peer group leader, whose journey includes unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss, IVF, and pregnancy after infertility and loss. Jillian's professional background offers her a unique perspective on fertility treatment and reproductive…
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Annie's Journey: "Something I've always felt really grateful for is how wanted I was from the very start."
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44:41
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44:41
In this episode, we sit down with Annie, an ENT resident with a unique perspective on medicine, identity, and family. Born to two moms through donor insemination, Annie shares how she always knew she was deeply wanted. We explore her journey as a donor-conceived person, her evolving thoughts on connecting with her donor father and 20 half-siblings,…
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Joe’s Journey: “There’s nothing elective about infertility”
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40:01
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40:01
Advocate, founder of Grain Fertility, and father through IVF, Joe Cody shares his family's journey which spanned four years and included multiple failed cycles and significant financial burdens. We explore the emotional and practical challenges faced by families navigating infertility, the immense impact that proactive conversations with extended f…
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LaMone Downey Leonard, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Founder and CEO of Rising Hope Counseling and Wellness joins us to discuss her family building journey. Her mission is to create safe and supportive healing spaces for those experiencing difficulties with depression, anxiety, life transitions, perinatal mental health, and reprod…
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Alison’s Journey: “My heart was missing a piece and it was you.”
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50:08
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50:08
A Connecticut native who now calls Massachusetts home, Alison is a second-grade teacher and solo parent of one. Alison walks us along her path to becoming a single mother by choice, recurrent pregnancy losses, the grief of not being able to give her son a sibling, and coping with the range of emotions associated with knowing this was not how she ha…
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Janene's Journey: “Everyone is deserving of a family.”
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29:57
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29:57
Join us as we explore Janene Oleaga’s work as a family formation attorney and reproductive rights advocate. Janene's deeply held belief that everyone deserves a family is reflected in her commitment to guiding families through various family building pathways such as adoption, surrogacy, and more. Throughout the episode, Janene's passion for advoca…
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Kate’s Journey: Celebrating 10 years as Executive Director of AllPaths Family Building
40:43
40:43
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40:43
Kate Weldon LeBlanc, Executive Director of AllPaths Family Building, shares her journey of an unexplained infertility diagnosis, loss, and her path to parenthood. With fertility treatment, Kate and her husband Joe successfully became pregnant with their now high school senior, Sophie. Kate discusses the emotional, mental, and social tolls of infert…
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Danielle’s Journey: “I’m not interested in miracle stories anymore.”
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45:27
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45:27
Danielle shares her story of trying to conceive over 40, navigating fertility treatment, donor egg IVF, and the anxiety of becoming pregnant after years of failed cycles. Over the course of the conversation, we chat about navigating boundaries while family building, the difference your mindset can make, self-empowerment and her inspiration to becom…
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Stephanie’s Journey: I needed someone to say, “You had a baby, he passed away. Do you miss him?”
38:23
38:23
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38:23
Propa City Community Outreach founder Stephanie Crawford shares her family story, from the heartbreaking loss of her first son at 39 weeks to finding purpose in her pain by supporting others impacted by pregnancy and infant loss. Through her work as an educator, doula, and advocate, Stephanie’s work with “loss families” helps them advocate for posi…
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Jen’s Journey: “Families are built on love.”
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45:38
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45:38
A born and raised New Yorker, social worker Jen Rachman shares her family’s story from an ovarian cancer diagnosis that sadly left her infertile in her 20s, to the decision that surrogacy was the best route for her and her husband to grow their family. With the help of their agency, their surrogate, and their egg donor, they had their son 12 years …
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Liane’s Journey: “I think we’ve just been fired by our IVF doctor!”
30:51
30:51
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30:51
Liane Moccia’s story encompasses an infertility diagnosis, becoming a parent via IVF, as well as how her personal journey sparked a passion for holistic fertility support and a new career. Now a Registered Clinical Herbalist specializing in fertility and preconception planning, Liane highlights some of her favorite herbs to support optimal fertilit…
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Julie’s Journey: It began several states ago.
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45:59
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45:59
Founder of Building Military Families Network, Julie Eshelman shares about her ongoing family building journey, one that spans many years and states, highlighting the unique challenges that military families often face. We also hear about Julie’s rise as a leader in the community through her non-profit and advocacy work, and learn how anyone can ge…
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Andy’s Journey: Mourning the loss of what you thought your family was going to be.
36:56
36:56
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36:56
Andy Lamb shares his story of male infertility, mental health struggles, and the reinvention of who he was and what really mattered in life and family on his journey to become a father. Now a parent to three girls adopted through foster care, Andy supports other men struggling to grow their families as an AllPaths Peer Support Group leader and work…
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Staci’s Journey: Zigzag to the finish line.
31:35
31:35
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31:35
CEO and Founder of Family Source Consultants (FSC), Staci Swiderski shares her personal journey as an intended parent, welcoming a son via gestational surrogacy in 2005 and her experience as a known egg donor. Her own fertility challenges led her to found FSC in 2007 with a mission to build families through third-party reproduction with an approach…
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Kelly Soule shares about her ongoing journey and the difficulty of not knowing what’s next for her family. From processing IVF not working and a changing relationship with her own body, to attempting to adjust to having no sense of control and situations when expectations do not meet reality. Our conversation with Kelly touches on the emotions and …
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Haya’s Journey: Unexplained Infertility - So Many Variables and Unknowns
33:15
33:15
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33:15
A Boston-based healthcare product strategist with a passion for social impact and community building, Haya shares her story, from unexplained infertility and loss, to pursuing fertility treatment (IUI & IVF) as a path to parenthood, culminating in a complicated twin pregnancy and postpartum experience. Over the course of the conversation we chat ab…
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Polly’s Journey: Someone shouldn’t have to experience tragedy for things to be equal.
25:58
25:58
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Director of Family Advocacy at GLAD and recipient of the 2024 AllPaths Advocacy Award, Polly Crozier shares her own challenging family building story, as well as her advocacy for parentage equality inclusive fertility insurance bills throughout New England. A tireless, knowledgeable and effective advocate, Polly’s work focuses on youth and family i…
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Jennifer’s Journey: Still a family, just a family of two.
38:11
38:11
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38:11
Jennifer Redmond shares her story of infertility, loss, and embracing life as a family of two, how her own fertility journey has influenced her personal and professional life, and reflects on the evolution she’s seen in the fertility and family building space over her career. Jennifer empowers women to take a 360-degree view of their wellness and h…
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Welcome to the AllPaths Podcast, where we support and celebrate all of the different ways there are to grow your family. Each week we'll talk with different members of the AllPaths Family Building community, sharing stories, hearing from experts in this space about fertility treatments and family building options, learning about current family buil…
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