Infertile Af

In this powerful episode, Ali sits down with Liz Krueger to share her deeply personal journey through infertility and loss. After having her daughter at 35, Liz experienced a series of heartbreaking miscarriages—including one at 16 weeks, when she and her husband lost their baby girl.Liz opens up about the devastation of finding out her highest-graded embryo didn’t survive the thaw, the hemorrhage and loss that followed another pregnancy, and the emotional toll of multiple retrievals and a chemical pregnancy. She also shares how she finally allowed herself to take a three-month leave from work to grieve—a step she had never given herself permission to take before.With raw honesty, Liz reflects on navigating profound grief, the heartbreak of losing embryos without her consent, and the resilience it has taken to keep moving forward. She also shares the hope and vulnerability of finally being pregnant again—and how she’s feeling now, as she prepares to welcome her next baby this winter.EPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFU

On this episode, Ali talks to Broadway star and motivational speaker Sarrah Strimel Bentley, whose story is as powerful as it is vulnerable. After dazzling audiences in seven Broadway shows, Sarrah’s life took a shocking turn when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. The treatment plan didn’t just mean chemotherapy and a double mastectomy—it also came with the devastating news that her fertility would be at risk.Sarrah opens up about the whirlwind that followed: racing to freeze embryos before starting chemo, navigating “funky sperm morphology” with her husband, experiencing the raw, messy emotions of IVF in the face of a cancer diagnosis, and what happened when they pivoted to a surrogacy journey. She shares the moments that broke her—like crying so loudly her neighbors called security—and the humor and grace that carried her through (“Prayer and Pinot Grigio”).Follow Sarrah on IG: @sarrahstrimelbentleyEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IU

On this powerful episode, Ali sits down with Lacy Nicole—who you may have seen in the headlines for dating Jesse Lally from the hit reality show The Valley—but her story goes far deeper than Bravo antics. Lacy has endured the unthinkable: she survived a kidnapping before even beginning her infertility journey, and then faced years of debilitating reproductive health struggles—stage four endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, polyps, 28 ER visits, and multiple surgeries. She opens up about Lupron shots, induced menopause, internal bleeding, chronic fatigue, and the emotional toll of IVF, miscarriages, anxiety, and PTSD. She also talks about finding strength in the endo community, her current egg freezing journey, and finally finding a medical team who advocates for her care. Raw, honest, and inspiring, Lacy’s story is a testament to resilience, community, and refusing to stay silent. This is an episode you—and anyone navigating infertility or chronic illness—won’t want to miss.EPISODE SPONSORS: B

This week, Ali sits down with Savannah Bisby, who shares her infertility story on IG @infertilityfriends, to talk about Savannah's journey so far. She's still in the thick of it, battling endometriosis, doing five IUIs (including double inseminations), a laparoscopy, and taking a deep dive into reproductive immunology. Savannah talks about the emotional whiplash of infertility, including embryo transfer decisions and finding herself on a bachelorette party while waiting for beta results, suspended between hope and dread. Savannah also talks about how Inito, an at-home fertility monitor that tracks your hormones, has helped on her journey, how she finally became pregnant and navigated a devastating loss, and why the summer of 2025 became a heartbreak she and her husband will never forget. Her story is still unfolding, and we are rooting so hard for our sweet friend. Follow Savannah on IG: @infertilityfriendsEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF,

Today, Ali sits down with Jessica Bell van der Wal, founder of Frame, to talk about her deeply personal fertility journey and what ultimately led her to create a resource to better support others.Jessica talks about learning about her mother’s miscarriages, growing up Catholic, and facing her own unexpected challenges when trying to conceive. She opens up about having PCOS, a mild thyroid condition, irregular cycles, and ovarian cysts, and also navigating infertility treatment with no fertility coverage. She also gets real about anxiety and shame, the loneliness of late-night Googling, and going through IUI (which ultimately led to her pregnancy). Follow on IG: @meet_frameFor more, click: www.frameyourfuture.comTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IUI success; PCOS; thyroid condition; ovarian cysts; male factor infertility; anxiety; shameEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://

Today, Ali is joined by Dr. Amanda Adeleye, the founding partner and Medical Director of CCRM Fertility of Chicago -- and an REI who isn’t afraid to tackle some of the biggest myths and misconceptions around fertility. Ali and Dr. Adeleye dig into some of her patients FAQs, from the stereotype that Black-identifying people are “hyper fertile,” to what you should tell your doctor if you have a history of substance use or abuse. They talk about how they are both featured experts who answer questions on Roon.com -- a free, trusted resource built by doctors that helps you navigate your health journey with expert videos. They also bust myths about male factor infertility and whether long-term birth control use contributes to infertility. Spoiler alert: Dr. Adeleye sets the record straight.Follow on IG: @amanda.j.adeleye_md and @roonwomenshealthFor more, click: www.roon.comTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; male factor infertility; substance use and abuse; fertility stereotypes for Black-identifying peo

It's a very special minisode with three of Ali's favorite people in the fertility world: Dr. Carrie Bedient, Dr. Susan Hudson and Dr. Abby Eblen, aka Fertility Docs Uncensored. Today, we're diving into their brand-new book, The IVF Blueprint, which comes out September 23. The docs and I break down what they’ve learned from years of guiding patients through IVF—the science, the strategy, and the emotional side of treatment. We talk about why they wrote this book, what each one of them brought to the table, and how it aims to empower anyone navigating infertility with knowledge, clarity, and compassion. Whether you’re just starting to explore IVF, already in treatment, or supporting someone you love, this episode is packed with insights and real talk from some of the most trusted voices in reproductive medicine.Follow on IG: @fertilitydocsuncensoredFor more, click: https://www.fertilitydocsuncensored.com/TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; egg retrieval; frozen embryos; embryo transfers;

On today's episode, Ali is joined by Kati Cattaneo—Los Angeles real estate agent, influencer, storyteller, and IVF warrior—for a convo that blends heart, humor, and resilience. Kati opens up about the real and sometimes awkward parts of trying to conceive (“I kinda got crazy with my husband about timing things… and he was like, ‘What the heck—sex is supposed to be fun!’”), navigating her diagnosis of hydrosalpinx, pivoting to IVF, and going through her second egg retrieval on January 7—the very same day the Palisades wildfire destroyed her home. Kati -- who has a big following on IG and TikTok — talks about why she's sharing her infertility journey on socials in real time, what it felt like to lose their home in the LA wildfires (and if they'll rebuild), and where she is now in her family building journey (hint: It's not over yet). Follow on IG: @katicattTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; Los Angeles wildfires; Palisades fires; hydrosalpinx; timed intercourse; egg retrieval; frozen

Today, Ali joined by the multifaceted Erica Cobb—TV host, podcaster, and self-proclaimed “eternal optimist”—as she shares her raw and powerful journey through infertility, IVF, and surrogacy. Erica opens up about the challenges she’s faced so far, including a tumor on her pituitary gland, blocked fallopian tubes, and the emotional toll of hearing, “You’re pregnant, but not pregnant enough.” Through it all, Erica remains steeped in gratitude and grounded in intention. We talk about spirit babies, manifestation, navigating roadblocks, and the incredible woman currently carrying her baby as a gestational carrier. Her story is still unfolding-- so make sure to listen in and follow along for what happens next. For more, go to www.comeback.tvFollow on IG: @ericacobbTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; pituitary gland tumor; blocked fallopian tubes; spirit babies; manifestation; navigating roadblocksEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Fami

Today, Ali sits down with a true powerhouse in the infertility community: Rebecca Flick, Chief External Affairs Officer at RESOLVE, who has spent the past 20 years advocating for fertility patients nationwide. Rebecca opens up about her own deeply personal infertility journey, including her diagnosis of premature ovarian failure (and how that language has evolved), discovering she carries the MTHFR gene (and what that really means), and navigating IVF. She shares her experience of transferring three embryos, welcoming her son (now a teenager), and conceiving her daughter years later—without ART. Rebecca also reflects on the power of advocacy, how RESOLVE has grown, and the ways the infertility landscape has transformed over the past two decades.For more, go to www.resolve.orgFollow on IG: @resolve TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; MTHFR gene; premature ovarian failure; embryo transfer; advocacy EPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and

It's World IVF Day! Today, Ali is talking to her friend and former Infertile AF guest, Emily Patel, about The Hopeful Families Collection, Emily's new initiative to bring books into public and school libraries to celebrate the many ways families are created, including assisted reproductive technology (ART), adoption, surrogacy, and donor conception, while helping all children learn that every family is built with love and hope. Emily talks about why she created this movement, some of the books that will be included (including Ali's books, Work of ART and Beautiful Bird!) and how listeners can help support the mission. "The goal is to bring awareness," Emily says. "Even with our family, we're a bi-racial couple with donor-conceived children from two different donors, which is not a very traditional story. "It's wanting to allow those families that are unique to be represented in books, and making sure that other families can educate their children from a very early age that

On this expert minisode, Dylan Morgan of Cascade Cryobank, a sperm bank based in Washington, talks about innovations and recent happenings in the world of sperm donation. Cascade Cryobank was founded in response to the need for safe, high-quality donor sperm that has emerged in recent years. Their mission is to recruit outstanding donors and to produce frozen sperm of exceptional quality for use by families and individuals pursuing assisted reproductive care. Dylan talks about how Cascade Cryobank is implementing video calls between potential donors and recipients, and how AI is being incorporated into the fertility and sperm donation world, making it potentially easier for intended parents and donors. For more, go to cascadecryobank.com Follow on IG: @cascadecryobank TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; sperm donation; innovations in sperm donation; intended parents; AI and fertilityEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Th

Meet Keri Croft, an infertility, child loss and surrogacy advocate who went through 16 years of infertility. On today's ep, Keri tells Ali all about her family building journey, which includes having her son, and also the devastating loss of her first girl, Angel, who was missing part of her cerebellum. "It was a horrible, horrible decision to have to make, and I wouldn't wish it on anybody," Keri says of undergoing a TFMR (Termination for Medical Reasons). Keri talks about how a balanced translocation affected their fertility journey, and also how she navigated IUI and IVF. "I tried everything. And of course that takes a toll on your marriage. It was an absolute clusterfuck," she says. Keri also shares how she lost two other girls, Hope and Jade, how she and her husband decided to pursue surrogacy, and launching her workshop, Find Your Dream Surrogate. "After years of fertility treatments, loss, and heartbreak, I eventually had my daughter via a surrogate — a journey I navigated c

Today, Ali is talking to Zach and Alexandra French, the founders of the nonprofit organization The Surrogacy Foundation, whose mission "isn't just to raise funds, but to propel surrogacy into the mainstream." Zach and Alexandra share their entire family building story, from how they met and got together to having their first child without Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). They talk about what happened when Alexandra found a lump in her breast, and how they navigated her cancer diagnosis and treatment. They also talk about Alexandra's double mastectomy, and how they pivoted to surrogacy after her surgery. "My doctor said if we wanted to expand our family, I could no longer carry. We would have to turn towards surrogacy--because if i carried another child, my cancer would return," Alexandra says. They talk about all of the intricacies of surrogacy, from finding a match to navigating the legal side, and share what it was like when their next baby was finally born. They also talk abo

Today, Ali is talking to Dr. Nirali Jain, a Reproductive Endocrinologist at RMA, about the importance of fertility preservation for cancer patients. "I do feel like the system failed us a little bit, and I tell all my patients when they come in for their first visit, your entire life, you learned how to not get pregnant, and you never thought you'd be sitting in this office learning about timed intercourse and figuring out when you're ovulating," Dr. Jain says. Ali and Dr. Jain talk about how chemo can affect fertility, what your options are when you get a cancer diagnosis, and how to get a referral to a fertility specialist from your oncologist. If you or anyone you know has recently been diagnosed with cancer and you're interested in preserving your fertility, this is a must listen! Spread the word!  Follow Dr. Jain on IG: @eggspert_mdTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Cancer; chemotherapy; chemo agents; egg quality; egg freezing; embryo freezing; advocacy; trying to conceive; timed interco

On this episode, Ali talks to Julia Midwinter, a Fertility and Pregnancy Mindset Coach who supports women struggling to conceive or who are pregnant after IVF or miscarriage. Julia shares her own infertility journey, including her diagnosis of endometriosis, her five year journey to conceive her son through IVF, and her two miscarriages. She talks about ovarian cysts, fertility acupuncture, and how she felt navigating all of the above. She also talks about what she learned from her own infertility coach, and why she decided to become one. "So many of us have experienced the elation of having a positive pregnancy test, and then the devastation of it being taken away," Julia says. "However lonely you feel, there are so many other people experiencing the same." For more info, go to www.pineapplecaoching.co.ukFollow on IG: @pineapplefertilitycoaching TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Endometriosis; IVF; miscarriage; pregnancy after loss; mental health; secondary infertility; fertility coaching; acup

Today, Ali is talking to Marea Goodman, licensed midwife, author, and founder of PregnantTogether, a virtual community supporting queer folks and solo parents from preconception through parenting. Marea co-authored the book,  Baby Making for Everybody–Fertility and Family Building for LGBTQ+ and Solo Parents, and today, they share their family building story, including having an early loss via IUI, and also having their son through IUI. They talk about their passion for empowering people with the information they deserve to grow their families, and about dismantling the isolation and stigma that still surrounds queer and solo parenthood. They also talk about inclusive midwifery, queer fertility, and how we can better support all kinds of families on their journey to parenthood. "We're trying to create a community for folks who don't fit into the mainstream family building world, to build connections, share resources and rely on each other. It's been a beautiful thing that has also really helpe

It's another Expert Minisode! Did you know that when it comes to storing your reproductive tissue—including eggs, sperm, and embryos—you have a choice? Most clinics automatically store your tissues—or hand you off to their partner. But guess what? It doesn’t have to be that way. Today, Ali is talking to Courtney Dennewitz, Chief Operations Officer and Co-Founder of Generations CryoVault, which is driven by a deep passion to “do things right” in the world of fertility preservation, armed with the motto, "Your Tissues, Your Choice." Courtney, who has more than 17 years of industry experience in cryostorage, talks about how GenCryo is passionate about providing the safest, most reliable storage option for patients and clinics alike. She also answers every question Ali could think of when it comes to fertility preservation, including, What safety and monitoring systems are in place at GenCryo? How is tissue protected in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as natural disasters or equipment fail

On today's episode, Ali talks to Whitney, a surrogate, and her husband, Geremi, about working with ConceiveAbilities, a leading egg donor and surrogacy agency. When people think about surrogacy, they often focus on the surrogate herself—but what about her partner? The truth is, a strong, supportive partner can make all the difference. Emotional strength, physical support, shared sacrifice—surrogacy is a team effort in every sense. Today, we're getting a behind-the-scenes look at what that partnership really looks like. Whitney, an experienced surrogate with ConceiveAbilities who delivered for her intended parents about a year and a half ago—and her husband, Geremi, who serves in the U.S. Air Force, talk about Whitney's decision to become a surrogate; building their own family (including a devastating miscarriage); what happened when they met the intended parents; surrogacy and military life; and much more. They also talk about how the experience transformed not just Whitney’s life, but Geremi’s to

Welcome back to another expert minisode! Today Ali is talking to Dr. Molly Quinn, is a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist with HRC Fertility. Dr, Quinn prioritizes direct communication with patients and will always make herself available to patients for any questions, and today, she is answering ALL the things about Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, or "RPL." Ali and Dr. Quinn talk about how recurrent pregnancy loss is medically defined, how common it is, who is most at risk, what the most frequent causes of recurrent miscarriage and so much more. You do not want to miss this one! If you know anyone who has experienced or is experiencing RPL, please pass this episode on to them! Follow her on IG: @mollyquinnmd @hrcfertilitypasadena @hrcfertilityTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:Recurrent pregnancy loss; miscarriage; fertility tests; infertility; IVF; genetic testing; chromosomal issues; mental health support; Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsEPISODE SPONSOR