If These Ovaries Could Talk

Mohsin, Matthew, and Dahlia are best friends and hosts of the podcast "Tiny Huge Decisions,” where they explore in depth the possibility of Dahlia becoming a surrogate for Mohsin and Matthew. They sat down with Jaimie to discuss the questions they’ve grappled with in the decision-making process, including the impact on their friendship, the legal and emotional aspects of surrogacy in the UK, and how their cultural and religious backgrounds play into all of it. They also delve into the importance of having strong female role models in their children's lives and the potential long-term relationship between Dahlia and the child. We get deep and personal on the intricacies of surrogacy and also delve into the complexities of friendship, family, and personal identity with these candid and fun BFFs. "Surrogacy with a close friend adds new layers and complexities to the process." - Matthew If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as l

Mia Cooley, founder of xHood, joins Jaimie to discuss her journey as a queer parent and the work she is doing to support black and brown parents and intended parents. Mia shares her experience of having her first child with a previous partner and navigating co-parenting, as well as her journey to having a baby with her current partner. She also discusses the importance of representation and community support for queer families and highlights the work of Exhood in providing resources and events for black queer parents. "We provide family building and nurturing support to black and brown parents and intended parents." - Mia Cooley If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! We want to hear from you! Call us: 646-470-1840 thequeerfamilypodcast.com / thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com IG/Twitter/FB/TikTok/YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast Follow and find Mia Cooley Instagram Facebook Thanks to California Cryobank (code QUEERFAM

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 EP12 | Ed Center is a husband and father who humorously quips that, as two Filipino men, he and his husband defied convention in their journey to parenthood by adopting two wonderful white children. After their eldest child faced a profound mental health challenge during the pandemic, Ed embraced a more inclusive and mindful approach to parenting and learned better ways to support his children. Inspired by his learnings, Ed founded Village Well Parenting, whose mission is to empower and enlighten parents like himself, providing them with the tools and support they need to build strong and resilient families. "Doing the inner work and addressing one's own wounds and triggers is crucial for effective parenting." Ed Center "Queer parents often have a unique perspective and approach to parenting that can be valuable in creating a supportive and inclusive environment for their children." Ed Center If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 EP11 | Cara Cochrane, also known as caras_atl on social media, discusses her late-life coming out, forming a blended family, and how the challenges she faced in finding her identity prompted her to become the representation she so lacked during her Southern upbringing.  She also speaks about the media's lack of diversity, the intricacies of raising a child in a two-mom family in the American South, and the importance of recognizing and validating all parents within a family unit, regardless of DNA or gender. "Representation matters because it shows kids that there are different types of families and that they are valid and loved." - Cara Cochrane If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! Thanks to Our Shelves (code QUEERFAM)  and our Patreon supporters!  Watch Video Episodes right now on YouTube! thequeerfamilypodcast.com / thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com IG/Twitter/FB/TikTok/YouTu

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 EP10 | Chelsea and Megan share their journey to parenthood as a trans woman and cis woman couple. They met online, u-hauled it (in true lesbian fashion), and quickly began their queer baby-making process. After trying the “natural” way for quite some time, they decided to switch to fertility treatments. After a long journey filled with insurance drama, unfair BMI biases, and body dysmorphia they finally successfully conceived their son, Jameson through IVF. They discuss their emotional pregnancy, including Chelsea’s process of transcending her yearning to experience pregnancy and childbirth by embarking on the path of inducing lactation. Their resilience and determination in the face of adversity serve as a walking, breathing testament to the intentionality and love that drive queer parents everywhere, proving that love is love, and the kids are truly going to be all right. "We met online prior to Chelsea's transition. She told me on our third date." - Megan “So they

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 EP9 | Trigger Warning: Miscarriage is mentioned in this episode. Sam and Brook, a married couple from Canada, share their unique journey of love, family, and fertility. They met through a mutual friend and reconnected after the friend's passing. Brook, who is transgender, and Sam, who identifies as AFAB pansexual, navigated their relationship while raising Sam’s three children from previous relationships. They decided to expand their family through RIVF, going through the challenges of fertility treatments and the emotional rollercoaster of a miscarriage. Despite the obstacles, they remain hopeful and determined to have a child together. Their story highlights the complexities and joys of blended families and the resilience of love. "I'm still coming out all the time. And it's hard because there's some sort of level of shame that you have, that the new generation just doesn't have, they're just like, “This is who I am. And this is me, take it or leave

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 EP7 | Bethany Grace Howe transitioned at the age of 47, after seeing an image of Kaitlyn Jenner on the cover of a magazine and realizing that she too, was trans. Suddenly and somewhat out of the blue, Bethany's true identity was painfully clear, and hiding it was not an option. Now she and her 13-year-old daughter Nola are here to talk about their experience as a family together. "Bravery is running into a burning building. I ran out of it." Bethany If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! Thanks to Our Shelves (code QUEERFAM)  and our Patreon supporters!  Watch Video Episodes right now on YouTube! thequeerfamilypodcast.com / thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com IG/Twitter/FB/TikTok/YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast Order the #ITOCT book based on this podcast on Amazon, IndieBound, Audible. Edited by Jerson Barajas. Theme song: Tiffany Topol\ Logo art: Daneen Stevenato. We want to hear

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 EP7 | To live as his authentic self in his native Transylvania, Stefan would have been forced into bottom surgery and a hysterectomy, rendering him sterile. So like most trans guys in his country, he got his testosterone on the black market and lived on the DL. Now he lives in the US with his wife, and while the country is not nearly as inclusive as he was led to believe, he at least has had the opportunity to begin the family-building process with his wife. After nearly a decade on testosterone, Stefan recently froze his eggs. He wanted to share his story in the hopes of opening up new possibilities for others like him and to challenge commonly held beliefs about the impact of testosterone on fertility. "If you want to change your name to match your gender, you have to sue the government and go through a medical panel. And you have to have bottom surgery and a hysterectomy and remove your ovaries. That is required for you to change your name." Stefan From Transylvania I

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 E6 BONUS | Michael and Matt have been in the process of creating their 2-dad family for quite some time and they're chronicling that process on their new podcast "Who's Your Daddy."  They sat down with Jaimie to explore their path from an initial foster-to-adopt plan to the world of surrogacy with an egg donor, and how they’ve tackled the many difficult decisions that go along with it: Should they work with an agency or pursue an independent route? How far are they willing to travel for their surrogate? How will they navigate the emotional implications if one of them ends up without a biological connection when they both really want one? How will they afford this? And WHO on earth will their surrogate be? So many questions, so many decisions to make, and they’re still very much on this rollercoaster we call queer family building.  “We ended up with 4 embryo’s on my end and 1 on Michael’s end. We’re hoping to each have a biological child but you can’t control natu

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 Ep 5 | TW: This episode covers sensitive topics including sexual abuse, self-harm, and addiction. Please proceed with caution and consider your emotional well-being before listening. If you or someone you know is struggling with these issues, please seek help from a trusted professional or support organization. Your mental health matters. Danny tells us how falling pregnant while in the throws of addiction turned out to be the catalyst for an ultimate transformation; becoming a sober and healed parent to 2-year-old Wilder, proving that sometimes life's most unexpected twists lead to the most profound blessings. We also explore Danny's journey towards self-realization as a transmasculine non-binary individual and the reasons behind Danny's mission to redefine masculinity. "I relapsed in my sex addiction, and I ended up with the biggest blessing of my entire life, unexpectedly" Danny Follow Danny on Instagram TikTok YouTube If you like the episode, make sure to

Digging deep into the "A" in LGBTQI"A". Aline Mayard is a single parent who happens to be asexual, aromantic, and nonbinary. They also host the Tribeca Award Winning podcast, "Free From Desire: Asexual In The City Of Love." Aline talks about their difficult path to accepting their Ace and Aro identity, challenges us to rethink what intimacy is, and to question why we're so obsessed with sex as a society. "I don't see myself in a romantic or a sexual relationship, but there are other, what I call, physical relationships." Aline Listen to Free From Desire If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast onPatreon for as low as $2/month! Thanks to Our Shelves (code QUEERFAM)  and our Patreon supporters!  Watch Video Episodes right now on YouTube! thequeerfamilypodcast.com / thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com IG/Twitter/FB/TikTok/YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast Order the #ITOCT book based on this podcast on Amazon, IndieBound, Audib

 The Queer Family Podcast | S13 Ep 3 | Kate Brooks is the author of "Transister, Raising Twins In A Gender-Bending World," an affirming and honest account of her young daughter's transition. Kate gives us a candid, straight, cis-gendered mother's perspective on what it was like for her to go from having what she thought were twin "boys" to ultimately having a son and a daughter who are both happy, healthy, kind - and thankfully, alive. This family's journey is one of discovery, celebration, and love.  "He said to me, "Mama, when I was in your tummy, it was a mistake. I was supposed to come out a girl." Kate Brooks "In order to be counted you have to be part of the conversation, or it's like you don't exist." Kate Brooks Buy Kates Book Visit transistermom.com Visit Gender Family Project If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! Thanks to Our Shelves (code QUEERFAM)  and

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 Ep 2 | Peggy Gillespie is the co-director of Family Diversity Projects, a non-profit that has created 10 different photo/text exhibits celebrating underrepresented folks over the years, the author of Authentic Selves, a mom to a nonbinary kiddo, and a self-described queer hippie from the 60s. When we tell you that this changemaker has been pushing boundaries and making a difference her whole life, we're not kidding. "A child should wear what they feel comfortable in." Peggy Gillespie Buy Authentic Selves, Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families Email Peggy at familydiversityprojects@gmail.com Visit familydiversityprojects.org If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! Thanks to Our Shelves (code QUEERFAM)  and our Patreon supporters!  Watch Video Episodes right now on YouTube! thequeerfamilypodcast.com / thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com IG/Twitter/FB/TikTok/YouTube

The Queer Family Podcast | S13 Ep 1 |  Lamalani and Laracarina 100% knew they didn’t want kids- until Lamalani came home one day and changed her mind. What followed was a wild fertility journey during Covid that included a tumor surgery, a difficult donor search, RIVF, IVF, a pregnancy that lasted way too long, a difficult birth, and a random and altruistic decision to pay it forward and do it all again as a surrogate for their gay male friends.   "The donor search is such a bizarre experience." Laracarina If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! Thanks to Our Shelves (code QUEERFAM)  and our Patreon supporters!  Watch Video Episodes right now on YouTube! thequeerfamilypodcast.com / thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com IG/Twitter/FB/TikTok/YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast Order the #ITOCT book based on this podcast on Amazon, IndieBound, Audible. Edited by Jerson Barajas. Theme song: Tiffany Topol\ Logo art: Daneen Ste

The Queer Family Podcast Pride Extravaganza! | S12 Ep 13 | What does Pride mean to you? Because we are all unique individuals, Pride means something different to each of us, so for this special PRIDE EXTRAVAGANZA Grand Finale, we've gathered a little medley of responses to this question from all of our Extravaganza guests. These answers will give you all the feels, y'all. Let them serve as a reminder that LOVE is LOVE, YOU are loved, and PRIDE is EVERY DAY. Happy Pride to all.  “I think of Pride like rays of sunshine. Pride is being a light, not only for yourself but also for other people who may be in the dark. It’s being a voice for others, and standing up in your truth to make it easier for somebody after you to do the same.” Alec Mazelin If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! A special thanks to all of our sponsors for The Pride Extravaganza! Mosie Baby (code: family), Fairfax Surrogacy, Cryobank America, Mom

The Queer Family Podcast Pride Extravaganza! | S12 Ep 12 | Eric and Tony Vaughn-Trainor’s (aka @mrvaughntrainor) path to becoming a family of four was marked by a challenging adoption journey and failed connections, leading them to switch to surrogacy. Through sharing their struggles on social media, they eventually found a surrogate who helped bring their twin daughters into the world, despite facing further hardships during the pregnancy and a long NICU stay. Their inspiring story showcases the resilience and dedication of LGBTQ individuals in building and parenting our families and is a testament to the intentionality and determination that goes into every journey.   “We wanted to be a mirror for anybody out there who aspires to have the family of their dreams, the life of their dreams… because we didn’t have a mirror. You can have it. You just might have to jump through some hurdles to get there.” Eric Vaughn-Trainor   If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Po

The Queer Family Podcast Pride Extravaganza! | S12 Ep 11 | Claire Wasserman (aka @clairegetspaid) sat down with Jaimie while in the midst of her queer family-building journey and spoke candidly about coming out after a straight marriage, finding true love, discovering her feminist side, and embarking on the roller coaster of queer baby-making with her wife. They delve into the details of her recent sperm donor search, the inseminations, the costs involved, and the fears that arise with this unpredictable path to parenthood.  As an educator and author, Claire is passionate about helping women earn more and live better, and she leverages her platform and global community, Ladies Get Paid, to achieve that goal. Additionally, she shares her personal journey in real-time with her followers, from getting straight divorced to getting gay married, and to now embarking on the exciting journey of becoming a queer mama. Claire is living her truth, being visible, and making a difference. If you like the episode, make sur

The Queer Family Podcast Pride Extravaganza! | S12 Ep 10 | Erik and Adam (aka the @mchusbands) shifted their family-building plan from adoption to surrogacy when their sister-in-law offered to carry for them. In another turn of good fortune, their best friend selflessly agreed to be their egg donor, and their twin baby girls were created. Realizing the lack of representation for gay dads like themselves in the realm of family building, Erik and Adam embarked on a mission to document their journey on social media. Little did they know that their decision to share their story would significantly impact countless others seeking guidance and support. Fast forward seven years and Erik and Adam remain dedicated to their visibility, proudly showcasing the extraordinary joys and challenges of being a two-dad family, defying stereotypes, and shattering misconceptions along the way. If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! “It was al

The Queer Family Podcast Pride Extravaganza! | S12 Ep 9 |Brit and Sydney Sharon (aka @thesharonmoms) share their inspiring journey as Jewish queer moms who built their family through IUI and reciprocal IVF. They also reveal a surprising discovery about Sydney's dad being a sperm donor in his youth, leading them to connect with six donor siblings. The couple discusses the profound impact of their Jewish faith and the joy they experienced in establishing relationships with their newfound biological siblings. Through their story, they serve as a shining example of the beauty and strength of queer families when faced with minimal complications. Using their platform, Brit and Sydney aim to increase visibility, challenge misconceptions about biological connections in families, redefine womanhood, and redefine traditional roles and rituals within marriage. If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! "We definitely need to be

The Queer Family Podcast Pride Extravaganza! | S12 Ep 8 |Richard and Carlos, (aka @therealdadsofnewyork) are proud black, Jamaican dads who built their family through adoption and foster-to-adopt. Through their active presence on social media,  they have become a beacon of visibility, addressing the lack of representation they experienced growing up. Their powerful presence allows them to educate others and challenge stereotypes, demonstrating the incredible beauty and strength that a family like theirs possesses. Through their inspiring journey, Richard and Carlos are making a lasting impact and reshaping perceptions of what a family can be. If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! “We’re busting the myths, we’re busting the stereotypes and we’re showing this is what this is, and this is only one version of what this is, and there is beauty in all the versions.” Richard Seigler-Carter  Watch Video Episodes right now on Yo