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Following on from series one of the previously named ‘Redefining Parenthood Podcast’, host Becky of DefiningMum is joined by co-host Hayley King of All Things Donor Conception to form the ‘Paths to Parenthub podcast’. Sharing perspectives as parents to donor-conceived children, and in Hayley’s case being a donor-conceived person herself, they focus on conversations about some of the more complex, nuanced aspects of donor conception. With the hope of providing different perspectives, informat ...
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Are you considering donor egg IVF and feeling overwhelmed? For soul led women on a donor egg pathway to parenthood. Honest and heart felt conversations, diving into all of the topics around donor egg ivf and what it means to parent a donor egg conceived child. Your host is Adele O’Connor an international educator, fertility coach, podcast host, best selling author and most importantly proud donor egg mama to her miracle son. When women seeking to create family after years of heartbreak, grie ...
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1
Seeking Different

Hera and Estela McLeod

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Single Mother by Choice (former co-host of The Mocha SMC Podcast) Hera McLeod teams up with her precocious nine year old daughter Estela for the podcast "Seeking Different". The Mom and Kid duo explore what it looks like to navigate the world as a non-traditional family. They discuss hot topics such as donor sibling relationships, family travel, school choice, race relations, and navigating the playground.
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Fertility psychotherapist, Jana Rupnow, interviews parents, donor conceived individuals and professionals about the challenges and dilemmas of assisted reproductive technology baby-making and the expect-able tensions between positive and negative feelings that come along the way when, instead of baby makes three; three makes baby.
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As a daughter of two mothers, I always knew that I was conceived with the help from donorsperm. When I was young I always questioned my parents about my donor father but they couldn't give me a answer, I am a child of man who was a ID release donor in the 90's. In the Netherlands, the country I was born and conceived in has rules about donorchildren meeting there ID release donor. I am from the first generation of donorchildren in the Netherlands that was conceived with a ID release donor. I ...
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The fertility world a multi-billion dollar industry, run by so-called professionals we put our trust in? But should we? there is a lot about the IVF world that they don't want us to know about while controlling us with fear. We explore alternative avenues and speak to various guests and listen to their stories. For more information http://www.spermdonationworld.com
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show series
 
Send us a Text Message. In this episode I get to talk to one of my Podcast Listeners from the UK, Lisa from Dorset. You will learn: - About her decision to use donor eggs: Lisa moves to a Czech clinic to avoid local donor complications, highlighting her thought process behind selecting anonymous donors abroad. - Emotional challenges and support: Li…
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In this episode, Hayley and Becky discuss a topic that is currently in the media due to the new Netflix Documentary, 'The Man with 1000 Kids'. This has raised questions and discussions about a number of donor siblings and the differences between worldwide family limits and UK family limits. Hayley, with personal experience dealing with donor siblin…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we delve into the critical considerations for selecting an egg donor and understanding genetics. Reflecting on my own journey, I share practical advice and offer reframes on common fears about donor selection and genetic traits. The conversation also covers the influence of epigenetics and the impact of the …
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"Lilly" (Alias) in her 30s, joined Sperm Donation Australia in late December 2017, In January 2018 she conceived a child, except her donor was already sourced from a dating app. Her child is now 5 years old and everything was fine up until recently when the donor started displaying mental health issues, and threats were made in regards to wanting t…
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Anika Philipp 39, from Berlin, Germany just went on a wild adventure on 90 Day Fiance season 4 Love in Paradise. In which she was paired up with notorious sperm donor Kyle Gordy. Now a resident of Malta in this episode she shares with us her journey and how she came across the idea of using a sperm donor before pairing up for a potential relationsh…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode Adele explores considerations around choosing a known egg donor. This is a wonderful option and gold standard for child centred donor conception. There are also lots of considerations: What Relationship Do You Want to Have with Your Donor? What Kind of Input Do You Want Your Donor to Have on Your Child's Life…
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Host Jana Rupnow engages in a compelling conversation with Dr. Jill Maron, Chief of Pediatrics at Women's and Infant Hospital and Professor of Pediatrics at Brown University. Dr. Maron shares her unique perspective as both a neonatologist and a donor-conceived individual, offering a deeply personal account of discovering her genetic origins at the …
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In this episode of Seeking Different, Hera and Estela interview mother Abigail from The Podcast "The Judgement Free Zone" and her child Kenley "KG". They candidly discuss what it's like to have a blended family, divorce, and gender identity. Kenley is one of the bravest children we've met, and breaks down what's like to be born in a girl body but f…
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Send us a Text Message. In this short solo episode Adele O'Connor proud donor egg mama and fertilty coach, discusses the best strategies for introducing donor egg children to their origin story. This episode was inspired by a question from her community: Once you have a child conceived via donor egg, how do you actually introduce this to them? My d…
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Genevieve Uys (South Africa) first became an Egg Donor at the age of 21, she walked away from the experience conflicted, and with that experience, she created her agency Traveling Donors, which she turned all those negatives she had experienced around to being a more fulfilling accommodating experience. Vieve is pro-advocate for known donation and …
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Dr Leah Gilman of Sheffield University is a sociologist working at the intersection of the sociology of personal life, reproduction and digital sociology. She has spent over a decade researching donor conception and exploring how people negotiate family and reproductive relationships in the context of social, legal and technological change. She has…
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Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Donor Egg Mama podcast! In today's episode, we continue our "Back to Basics" series, providing an in-depth overview of key considerations on the donor egg pathway. As your guide, I've supported many women through this journey, from initial overwhelm to the joy of holding their babies. We'll cover essential emo…
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Send us a Text Message. This episode marks the first of a new series of back to basics understanding of Donor Egg IVF, so far on this podcast we've delved very deeply into many topics. Now it's time to step you through each step of the process. In this episode, I provide you with an overview into the emotional and medical steps involved in embarkin…
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Michael Rixon 29, from Victoria, was featured in a Herald Sun article representing the Sperm Donation Australia community, his contribution can be seen as a way of giving back to the community that has brought him so much joy in an altruistic sense. It was 3 years ago that Michael came across a story in the Age, he read that inspired him to go down…
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Sylvia, 35, from Brisbane, Queensland was married for 13 years, spent the early years laying the foundations building a house together and travelling before starting a family. Entering their 30s it was time to start this chapter and they had a baby boy however relationship-wise, it didn't go to plan the stresses of it all the lack of understanding …
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode we hear about Steph's journey from her initial connection with the coaching service Donor Egg Mama to joining the Donor Egg Pathway membership program and preparing to give birth to twin babies. Steph shares the emotional and mental challenges faced, including fears around weight stigma and BMI in the medical…
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Jenele Riley 33, from the North Western Suburbs of Victoria embarked on the known donor route with her partner and she gave birth to her daughter in December 2020. It was a first-cycle success via Ai, right on the cusps of the COVID lockdowns which shut down the country and made her pregnancy journey support-wise a bit more challenging, with the re…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode Adele discusses the importance of disconnecting from work and the fertility journey to prioritize mental well-being. Adele shares a recording excerpt from one of her live webinars that she hosts in the Donor Egg Mama Community Membership, focusing on the topic of taking a break from fertility treatments. The …
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In this episode, Becky and Hayley dive into the topic of ‘Attachment and Bonding’, a complex subject that many parents of donor-conceived children are understandably concerned about. Questions such as ‘Will I bond with my child born through egg donation?’ or ‘How will I feel about my baby if we don’t share genetics?’ are all addressed in a compassi…
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Send us a Text Message. In this podcast episode, I speak to the incredible Edwina Taylor, a highly experienced fertility massage therapist from Perth, Australia to discuss the profound impact of fertility massage and holistic therapies on women's fertility journeys. Edwina shares her personal journey into the world of fertility massage, sparked by …
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I speak to an incredible guest Gina Mundy, a U.S. attorney specializing in childbirth cases. Gina shares insights from her book 'A Parent's Guide to Safer Childbirth', aimed at empowering expecting parents to prevent common mistakes during labour and delivery. The conversation covers topics like; Addressing …
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Lindsay, a donor-conceived individual. continues to share her perspective on International Donor Conception Awareness Day, 2024. Learn one person's perspective on controversial issues like donor anonymity, DNA testing, health information, and emotional ramifications. She shares how genetics significantly influence our sense of self and how comprehe…
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It's the 4th annual International Donor Conception Awareness Day and in line with the theme, "Valuing the Voices of Donor Conceived People" I welcome Lindsay again, a donor-conceived individual, to share her profound story of self-discovery and conception. Lindsay talks about her journey and the transformation in her perspective over time. Lindsay’…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Sheila V, an ex-corporate executive turned author, spiritual coach and motivational speaker, who found herself being featured in 'Big Miracles' the tv series, and sharing her vulnerable yet heartfelt journey to motherhood. At 47, Sheila embarked on a path she never envision…
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Choosing a donor can feel like a huge and momentous decision, with lots of emotions involved, information to consider, and steps to take as you move towards becoming a parent through donor conception. Hayley and Becky talk about their own personal experiences of selecting their donors, the smaller decisions that led them to go ahead with their deci…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I speak to Marie from California to discuss the complexities and emotional journey of using surrogacy to achieve parenthood after experiencing infertility and multiple miscarriages. Marie shares her extensive six-year battle with infertility, including failed IVF attempts, a natural pregnancy followed by mis…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I speak to an Australian embryologist, fertility educator and IVF coach, Lucy Lines the Founder of Two Lines Fertility. This conversation dives into Lucy's background, starting from her fascination with animal breeding and genetics, to her pivotal role in human fertility and embryology. We discuss the emotio…
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Send us a Text Message. This episode features Karen, a former egg donor who now serves as the lead donor coordinator for Global Egg Donors. Karen discusses her experience as an egg donor, the process of egg donation at Global Egg Donors, and the rewarding experiences she has had while being part of many people's fertility journeys. She also acknowl…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I had the honour of speaking to Natalie Hart, a children's book author and fellow donor egg mama herself, who wrote the beautiful series for donor egg intended parents, called 'The Journey To You.' Natalie, openly shares her journey through discovering her perimenopausal status at 41, leading her to pursue d…
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Early disclosure within donor-conceived families is thankfully now considered best practice, however, that doesn’t mean that the process of ‘telling’ is as easy as child’s play. In this episode, Becky and Hayley take a closer look into the practicalities of discussing conception stories with our donor-conceived children, whilst also exploring some …
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking to Corinne Leach, a Brisbane-based clinical naturopath and nutritionist who specializes in fertility and reproductive health. We delve into the MTHFR genetic mutation, its implications for fertility, and how to support the body in preparation for embryo transfer. Corinne also pr…
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Send us a Text Message. This episode features a special guest Saoirse Connolly, an author, womb activator, alchemist, leader and founder of House of Wild Media, who empowers women to embrace their feminine superpowers through the art of storytelling and connection. Saoirse delves into her work in supporting women to narrate their stories and live a…
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The future of donor conception is here! This episode features my special guest Danielle of The Seed Scout. She shares her and her wife's path to parenthood, including the challenges they faced with sperm banks. Danielle and her wife's path to parenthood took them through the maze of sperm banks, encountering impersonal processes that left them feel…
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Send us a Text Message. In this incredible episode, we have Hema Sarna, a senior embryologist at IVF Advice with over 10 years of experience in the fertility field. She shares her mission of simplifying IVF, debunking myths, and answering questions related to egg donation and IVF. We cover a range of topics, including: The Role of a Senior Embryolo…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I speak to Robin Newman, the founder of Global Egg Donors. Robin shares her incredible personal journey of transforming her battle with unexplained infertility into a global cause, helping prospective parents around the world. Robin's insights are especially beneficial for those struggling with secondary inf…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we have a deep discussion with Lisa Schuman, a licensed clinical social worker and an expert in donor conception and surrogacy. Lisa, an author and host of the 'Building Your Family' podcast, touches upon her journey to parenthood, her experiences in the fertility field, and her passion for educating people …
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After taking some time off for several positive life transitions in 2023, Jana returns to her podcast with a bang! To kick off season 4, she's chatting with the multi-talented Erin Maya – actress, producer, composer, and the brains behind The Complete Picture Musical, a groundbreaking show about donor conception. Together, they unpack the birth of …
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode Kelly, a guest from California, shares the story of her unique and heart warming journey to motherhood and her decision to use a donor egg after unsuccessful rounds of IVF with her own eggs. She used an agency, Global Egg Donors, and explores the emotional, financial, and logistical aspects of the process. Ke…
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Send us a Text Message. This episode is a recording of a live webinar workshop and guided meditation about creating vision boards and planning for the future, with an incredible guest and yoga expert Debbie Lewis. The episode focuses on helping you gain clarity in your journey of egg donation and find balance in your life during the IVF process. Th…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Adele reflects on the accomplishments of her podcast in 2023 and shares her goals for 2024. She recaps some of the incredible conversations that have been held over 2023 with variety of guests who shared their unique experiences with donor eggs, overseas IVF, health challenges, the emotional turmoil and so m…
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Remember the flutters of first crushes and the buzz of schoolyard whispers? Together with my daughter Estela, we take a heartfelt plunge into the world of tween crushes and the ensuing gossip that can feel like navigating a minefield. We swap stories, with Estela offering a peek into the pulse of today's tween experiences, rife with the excitement …
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The decision was made to board a plane and head out west to Perth to try for a baby, which resulted in a first-cycle success. With roughly 6 weeks to go before the due date Pia shares of her pregnancy journey that included brutal morning sickness not to mention a gender reveal that went horribly wrong and left her in the hospital for a couple of da…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Adele discusses the journey of what it is like to be an egg donor with IVF nurse and fertility coach, Lauren Haring. The discussion covers aspects such as Lauren's personal journey as an egg donor, her experiences as an IVF nurse, and her current role as an IVF coach an how she supports her clients through a…
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Managing feelings and emotions around ‘Genetic Loss’ can be a challenge for many parents who have used a donor to build their family. In this episode, Becky and Hayley take a deep dive into the complexities of the emotions surrounding genetic loss, how they can present themselves, and why it’s so important for us to validate and speak up about this…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Adele introduces her own business mentor, Carla Townsend, who is a Money Mindset & Success Coach who empowers women to eliminate their money blocks and heal their relationship with money. Carla gives insight into money as energy and how it affects people's decision-making, particularly when dealing with majo…
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Hera and Estela bring you a new episode - that explains why they've taken a bit of a hiatus. They've both been writing books! And Hera has just released her memoir, ten years in the making, that's both deeply personal and universally touching. "Defying Silence," her memoir, unveils the heart-wrenching journey of losing her son and the struggle agai…
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Clare shares the transformative journey she and her partner took on the donor route to parenthood. The couple had undergone significant healing work, preparing themselves mentally and emotionally for the unique path they were about to embark on. Opting for a clinic in Prague, Czech Republic, Clare discusses …
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Adele welcomes guest Kristi who shares her emotional journey of dealing with infertility for nine years, undergoing multiple unsuccessful IVF treatments, and her decision to opt for a donor egg. Kristi is moments away from giving birth to her beautiful baby girl and has the most beautiful words of encouragem…
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Send us a Text Message. This episode is a beautiful Affirmation Track to prepare you mentally, emotionally and spiritually for your Embryo Transfer. Adele wanted to share with you, her gorgeous podcast community in case there is anyone who is preparing for their embryo transfer and really searching for some more support to embrace the journey they …
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Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Adelle engages in an enriching conversation with Louise Siwicki, a Fertility Empowerment Coach & Workplace Advocate. Louise explains her journey with unexplained infertility, the importance of mental and physical health and her unwavering belief in the mind-body connection. As Head of Australian Development …
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