All of us know that there is very little that is more serious in this life than family creation and child rearing. Sure there are moments of happiness, joy and excitement. There are also moments of frustration, anger and overwhelm. What brings everything together in a universal fashion is the way we let ourselves laugh about all of it.  Today I have the gift of being able to share with you the conversation that I had with one half of The Gaytriarchs Podcast Duo, David FM Vaughn. Sure, we...

This is one of those rare occasions when I have the opportunity to speak with someone who literally ticks ALL of the boxes. Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Marea Goodman. Marea is a queer parent to 3 children, a queer midwife, the founder of the community “Pregnant Together,” fertility coach, author, and really, if it is related to family creation, I suspect they have done it.  We spend time talking about the role midwifery can play in the fertility process as well as...

I flipped the tables today. On my other podcast, @boobsbodsandbrains, I work with a cohost, @laurelcrossley. Today Laurel and I chat and she is interviews me about the upcoming queer family planning event that I am hosting in June @the519. Ultimately, before I started this podcast, my focus was to bring together Queer professionals and Queer parents to speak to the questions that 2SLGBTQIA+ people have or may have as they think about a life that includes parenthood for themselves.  What...

Having a massage can feel luxurious and frivolous to some people. Other people understand the physically therapeutic benefits. Whether you see a Registered Massage Therapist for relaxation and fun, or for therapeutic reasons to treat existing challenges and concerns there is no debate that this treatment can leave some people feeling vulnerable.  Today I have the opportunity to speak with Keeley Shantz, a Registered Massage Therapist from Ajax, Ontario. Keeley addresses the need for care...

Meet Freya Lyon. She and her wife, Hannah, have two beautiful children that were created using IUI and open-donor sperm. In and of itself, not necessarily a new topic of conversation here on this show. What is new is that Freya herself is donor conceived. Her moms wanted children and used IUI and an anonymous donor to conceive both Freya and her sister.  Funny isn’t it?  Sometimes we are so wrapped up in our own journeys of family creation that we let ourselves forget that this option has...

Almost every parent out there will tell you that it is the most amazing and rewarding thing they have ever done. What many of them may feel - but are often too embarrassed to admit - is that it is also the scariest and loneliest thing they have ever done too.   Today we have the chance to speak with Lara Stewart Panko, a Social Worker and former birth worker about the modalities she employs to support birthing parents and their partners both through pregnancy and the postnatal period and...

When the desire to create a family comes then it feels as though there aren’t any hoops we won’t jump through to become the parents of our dreams.  Today we are connecting with Eddy - as it was nearing midnight in Taiwan - to learn about the surrogacy journey he and his husband embarked upon to become parents to their sweet boy.  They learned some of what the possibilities were by attending a Men Having Babies convention in Taiwan.  Whether it was crossing an ocean to find support somewhere...

Really, is there anything that Laine can't do when it comes to helping people prepare for their parenting path? Today I have the opportunity to introduce all of you to Laine Halpern Zisman. She explains all of the different ways that she supports people from the moment they begin thinking about creating their family through parenthood; whether it is offering fertility, prenatal and birth support,  through her business: Queer Conceptions or as she volunteers with Birthmark. Laine does it...

There are a variety of ways to create a family with the help of a surrogate. Some people use an agency, others don’t. Some use a gestational carrier they know, others don’t. Some use an egg donor they know - or are related to, others don’t. The list is endless as to the possibilities.  One thing is for certain. It isn’t a fast way to create a family. It isn’t an inexpensive way to navigate this pathway. It isn’t without emotional ups and downs. Today we have the opportunity to speak...

As soon as one hears the designation “lactation consultant” they immediately envision someone who is going to insist upon feeding baby human milk, from the body, at all costs.  Our conversation today with Azura Goodman reminds us that the most important thing is to first, feed the baby!! Second, do what your heart tells you to do and stop listening to the voices of the people around you who are not supporting you where you are on your parenting pathway. Have a listen to the wisdom Azura...

If you know anything about queer family creation than you know that there are a variety of different ways that a family can be created. Surrogacy, adoption, IVF, IUI, RIVF, and the list goes on and on.  Today you have the opportunity to listen to the conversation I had, just before the end of 2023, with Bridget and Michelle about the choices that they made and all of the various paths that they investigated to create the family that they have today. They are engaging and dynamic speakers...

Generally speaking, when we think about Naturopathy and creating a family, we think of the supplements that can be prescribed and if for a queer family, perhaps what the people with uteruses need to do in order to stay as healthy as possible. Today, as we have a chance to talk with Dr. Jess (she was not yet finished writing her ND exams but has since earned the designation of doctor) she is able to explain the role she plays - as outlined above - and also for surrogates, intended parents,...

The idea of setting yourself up to foster a child can be overwhelming at best. The fear is always present that something will happen, and the child will be, as the state intends, to be returned to the birth parents.  This week we have the honour of hearing the story of Ramiro and Cameron, The Kepfords, about their journey to becoming foster parents.  As a result of choosing that path, they were able to create a family consisting of five humans and two dogs. To learn more about this...

Welcome to Season 2 - Episode 1 of the "becoming babyREADY" podcast. On today's episode you'll have a chance to hear me describe where babyREADY came from, why I am hosting this podcast and all about an in-person, baby event being staged in Toronto during Pride Month, 2024. I would love to have the opportunity to chat with you and learn more about you and the path you and your hopeful family are on. Please visit my website to connect with me. https:www.babyREADY.info Find me on all of the...

The countdown was on!  As we recorded this conversation, Nyema was days away from a scheduled induction.  It was amazing, enlightening and fascinating to have the opportunity to speak with Nyema and Sondra about their journey through parenting. Neither is new to the parenting journey and yet this was a new way for their family to have a baby. Using technology that is cutting edge, INVOcell, they were able to harvest eggs from Sondra and have Sondra carry the fertilizer egged while they...

I am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ My conversation today, with Jen Bowers - TCM Practitioner, based in Toronto, ON, centres around how they love to provide the kind of support you may need while going through a journey as vulnerable and unfamiliar as fertility.   Jen describes how TCM practices and acupuncture can...

Admittedly, when I started this conversation, I knew very little about the foster care system in Ontario (and I acknowledge that I still have a LOT to learn). Through speaking with Marnie and Tova today I had the opportunity to learn more about the journey to be coming, foster parents and the process of adoption through the CAS organization.  The story that Tova and Marnie share about meeting and adopting their son and then later, having the opportunity to meet and adopt their daughter is...

I am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Dr. Cindy Gilbert, who is a naturopathic doctor in Toronto. Dr. Cyndi’s practice has been focussed on helping individuals and couples achieve their goals of becoming parents. Dr. Cyndi takes the time to explain the role that...

When I reached out to “Two Wives and A Spark” podcasters Lia and Rachel, I was looking to learn more about their journey to family creation. What I learned from them was so much more!  Together we talked about personal journeys, the biases and microaggressions hopeful parents may face throughout the process, and how to advocate for ourselves ALL of the way through the process.  If you’ve not listened to their podcast before then I encourage you to have a listen, wherever you like to...

Too often when we hear people speaking about massage, we think of a spa-like setting, and us having an opportunity to relax and spend some time doing something for ourselves. That isn’t to say that therapeutic massage can’t be that but it is also (and more importantly), a health practice to ensure that our body is functioning, as well as it possibly can.  Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Registered Massage Therapist and Doula, Lydia – Carlie and we have the opportunity to...

I am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I have the opportunity to speak with Jaimie, the host of “The Queer Family Podcast.“  Jaimie delved deep into the story of the creation of her family, who carried, who birthed, who struggled . . .  We also spent time talking about the importance of the work that she does...

I am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I have the chance to speak with and introduce you to Dr. Donald Littlewood, DC. Dr. Donald is a Chiropractor who sees and treats patients in Toronto with a primary focus on working with members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. We touch on the benefit for people to receive...

I am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Early on, Tom and his husband knew that they wanted to be parents; they just weren’t sure when they wanted to start that journey, and what that process might look like for them. Today he and I speak about the path they took via adoption in order to become the family of four that they...

I am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I have the chance to chat with and learn from Christine Lafazanos, Celebrant and Officiant.  From the outside it may look unusual that this interview would be included for people who are looking to start or grow their family through parenting but standing back, it is easy to...

I am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Patricia and I have an honest and raw conversation about the fertility journey she and her wife have been on. Both parents to a school-aged child, they have been trying to expand their family for a number of years. We talk about the process, the hurt, the fear and the...