Episode 93: A Happy Next Chapter - Andrea Syrtash
Episode 93: A Happy Next Chapter - Andrea Syrtash

Andrea Syrtash is a Relationship Expert and the Founder of pregnantish.com, the first media site exclusively dedicated to helping singles, couples & LGBT navigate fertility treatments and infertility. A regular on-air personality, Andrea’s hosted television shows for Oprah’s OWN, Discovery and Fox; and regularly appears as a guest expert on TV and radio shows across the country. She’s the author of popular books including, “He’s Just Not Your Type (And That’s a Good Thing)” and “Cheat On Your Husband (With Your Husband)” published by Penguin-Random House. Andrea frequently speaks about how to improve relationships, most recently at the TEDx ‘Makers’ Conference, and is the host of the Pregnantish Podcast, which captures the stories of people who built their families against all odds. Andrea is committed to breaking the taboo of infertility, and elevating the conversation about what it takes to start a family for millions of people today.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisSurrogacy Expert
Episode 92: Infertility in Israel Births an American Non-Profit - Elana Frank
Episode 92: Infertility in Israel Births an American Non-Profit - Elana Frank

Elana (Bekerman) Frank, a native of Atlanta, GA, lived, studied, and worked in Maryland, Manhattan, Israel, and New Jersey. She has 20 years of experience working with non-profits (in America and in Israel) in fundraising, marketing, community outreach, volunteer recruitment, Board development and program development.

Elana Frank "birthed" The Jewish Fertility Foundation. It took her ten years and countless rounds of IUI and IVF cycles and embryo donation to make three babies. Because she was a resident of Israel at that time of her first two children, their socialized medicine afforded her the opportunity to inexpensively reach a solution. When she returned to the US, she realized that others weren’t as lucky as her - in terms of treatment success, community support, and financial aid. She learned for others it takes years, miscarriages, unbearable debt, oceans of tears, and heartache before finally giving birth, if at all. And with the cost of IVF ranging on average from $14,000 - $25,000 in America, many don’t even have a chance for a chance. Knowing that there was this grave need for funding, support, and enhanced awareness of this sometimes “unspoken” issue in the Jewish community, she decided to create Jewish Fertility Foundation.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisInfertility, International
Episode 91: Fraudulent Insemination - Maia Emmons-Boring
Episode 91: Fraudulent Insemination - Maia Emmons-Boring

Maia Emmons-Boring was interested in her family’s genealogy and, like millions of others, took an at home DNA test to learn more. Initially, her results did not appear surprising. However, about 6 months later, at a New Year’s Eve party she received a message from Ancestry.com that an unknown sibling was trying to contact her. That message would open a Pandora’s box that she never imagined.

Maia grew up with two younger sisters and wonderful parents. She was born in Colorado but raised in Southern California. Eleven years ago, she left California for Texas. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has four children.

Over the last year and a half, after finding out she was donor-conceived -- and more shockingly, that her mother’s fertility doctor was the “donor” – she has become a fertility fraud activist. She worked with lawmakers in Colorado to successfully pass a fertility fraud bill. She plans on continuing to work with lawmakers in various states and at the federal level to change laws to better protect victims.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisGenetic Identity, Legal Issues
Episode 90: 16 and Pregnant; 30 and Infertile - Erin Kiernan
Episode 90: 16 and Pregnant; 30 and Infertile - Erin Kiernan

Erin Kiernan is a news anchor and journalist for WHO 13 News in Des Moines, Iowa. Erin is the recipient of several regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for her reporting work. Erin earned a National Edward R. Murrow Award in 2012 with photojournalists Brandon McCauley and Randy Schumacher for a story about Iowan Mark Block overcoming impossible odds to climb Sears Tower in Chicago. Erin has also received regional Emmy Awards in the feature, consumer, and instructional categories.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisInfertility
Episode 89: The Broken Brown Egg - Regina Townsend
Episode 89: The Broken Brown Egg - Regina Townsend

Regina Townsend is the founder of The Broken Brown Egg, an awareness and service organization founded in the summer of 2009 to increase awareness of African American Infertility and Reproductive Health. As a black woman, Regina found a very quiet life in infertility. She believed that should change, so that no one else will have to feel like the lone wolf of their family. Infertility is lonely enough without feeling like a minority inside of a minority.

Regina’s infertility was due to PCOS, Hypothyroidism, blocked fallopian tubes, and Type 2 diabetes. She and her husband dabbled with pill abuse (Clomid), lied to all their family members, “NO, we are NOT nearly ready for children!”, and took a painful trip into parenting purgatory (Foster Care/Kinship Placement). In 2015, they were blessed with the opportunity to try IVF, and had their son in 2016. Librarian by profession and writer by passion, Regina considers writing and reading to be one of the most personal forms of communication, entertainment and education.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisAdvocacy, Egg Donation, Infertility
Episode 88: More Than Just Sympathy Pains - Jen and Holly
Episode 88: More Than Just Sympathy Pains - Jen and Holly

Jen and Holly are a Denver based couple blessed with two beautiful children conceived with the help of assisted reproductive technology. Their journey to parenthood involved experiences most couples never encounter – including marrying three times (with zero divorces!) and each watching the other go through pregnancy and childbirth.

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Tyler Ellis
Episode 86: NPE (Not Parent Expected) - Kara Rubinstein Deyerin
Episode 86: NPE (Not Parent Expected) - Kara Rubinstein Deyerin

Kara Rubinstein Deyerin is an NPE (not parent expected), mom, wife, Jew, writer, cook, knitter, and connoisseur of all things human. Two years ago she wanted to see where in Africa her father's family came from. Her over-the-counter DNA test revealed she was 50% something, but it wasn't from any African ethnicity. This meant the man on her birth certificate couldn't be her genetic father. She lost her bi-racial identity with the click of a mouse. Kara discovered she was 50% Ashkenazi Jew. The DNA pandora's box she opened led to an identity crisis. She's a passionate advocate for genetic identity rights. Read her blog about being Unexpectedly Jewish (www.UnexpectedlyJewish.com) in Seattle. Kara also co-founded the non-profit organization Right To Know which helps to educate the public and professionals on the complexities of the intersection of genetic information, identity, and family dynamics. Visit www.RightToKnow.us to learn more.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisGenetic Identity
Episode 85: Embryo Mix-Up Shocker – Attorney Eric Wrubel
Episode 85: Embryo Mix-Up Shocker – Attorney Eric Wrubel

Eric Wrubel’s legal practice is devoted to handling complex family and matrimonial matters. He is accomplished in negotiating the amicable dissolution of marriages as well as taking these cases to trial if settlement is not possible. Eric has dealt with a large variety of issues in family and matrimonial matters, including complex equitable distribution questions, novel support and custody issues, as well as being on the forefront in same-gender marital issues. A skilled trial lawyer and appellate advocate, Eric was involved in the trial and appeal of the seminal case in New York dealing with the validity of foreign pre-nuptial agreements. He has litigated, written and lectured extensively on same gender marriage and divorce, civil unions, domestic partnerships and their tax consequences.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisLegal Issues
Episode 84: UpRooted - Jill Wolfe and Naomi Less
Episode 84: UpRooted - Jill Wolfe and Naomi Less

Jill Wolfe and her husband struggled with unexplained infertility for 4.5 years before having their first child, Eliana, via a gestational surrogate. There were many years of sadness, failed IVFs, and finally elation with the joy of finally becoming a parent. A couple years later their daughter Mia was born via their same surrogate. Jill lives in Minneapolis with her husband, two angels and dog Jojo.  Jill has a Master’s in Education and was a bilingual Spanish teacher before having children.  Since having children, she has been working in medical sales and is currently working in Biotechnology at Shire specializing in rare disease.

Naomi Less is an internationally renowned singer, composer, musician, educator and a Founding Ritual Leader of the Lab/Shul community.  Aside from touring and leading worship for her Lab/Shul community, Naomi has a national presence as a powerful feminist in the Jewish music world - she hosts her show “Jewish Women Rock show” on Jewish Rock Radio and co-created and co-stars in “TRYmester”, a touring musical performance piece about fertility journeys. She serves as Vice President for Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Fertility Journeys. She is beloved by communities where she’s served as an artist-in-residence both for her performance and her creative spiritual  leadership and facilitation. If you want to hear Naomi’s original music,
check her out on spotify, on LabShul.org or anywhere you hear or watch music.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisInfertility
Episode 83: Stuck Abroad - Carolin Topelson
Episode 83: Stuck Abroad - Carolin Topelson

Carolin is originally from Mexico City. Her family moved to Denver when she was five, where she has lived most of her life. Carolin practices in the areas of real estate related litigation and business litigation. Specifically, Carolin’s practice has primarily focused on landlord-tenant law (both commercial and residential evictions and review of leases), mechanic liens, general real estate matters, homeowner association issues, partition of real estate, business disputes, and contracts. In her spare time, Carolin likes to ski, be with family, cook, travel and volunteer for different causes.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisIntended Parent, International, Legal Issues
Episode 82: Beware of the Home DNA Kit - Danielle Teuscher and Jill Teitel
Episode 82: Beware of the Home DNA Kit - Danielle Teuscher and Jill Teitel

Danielle Teuscher and her spouse struggled with infertility but were successful in conceiving a daughter through the use of donated sperm. Many years later, Danielle and her family, along with her daughter, took at home DNA tests. The results were surprising, and the chain of events that followed were even more so!

Jill Teitel has been an attorney since 1996 and in private practice since 2011. She has a varied legal background from commercial litigation, trusts and estates work, and corporate and international arbitration. Her practice centers around trusts and estates and litigation involving women’s rights and advocacy.

The case of Teuscher v. CCB-NWC, LLC is in ongoing litigation. Anything that Ms. Teuscher or Ms. Teitel stated in this podcast, recorded on February 28, 2020, should not be used for anything other than communication to the public about the Plaintiffs' plight.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisGenetic Identity, Infertility, Legal Issues
Episode 81: Father, Attorney, Advocate - Ryan Ferrante
Episode 81: Father, Attorney, Advocate - Ryan Ferrante

Ryan's career as an Assisted Reproduction Technology attorney was born of a personal, four-year infertility struggle shared with his wife. This challenging experience to start his own family gives Ryan a unique perspective - one of an intended father, a party to a gestational surrogacy agreement, and an experienced attorney - to fully understand the emotional, practical, and legal issues facing patients when pursuing infertility treatments. Ryan earned his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Ryan is a professional member of RESOLVE, the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisAdvocacy, Intended Parent, Legal Issues, Infertility
Episode 80: Courts, Covid, and Custody: A Hot Debate
Episode 80: Courts, Covid, and Custody: A Hot Debate

Dr. Christina Yannetsos qualified for and attended the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. After an injury stopped her from competing, she pursued her life-long passion of caring for patients. She graduated from the University of Colorado with honors, completed medical school and a residency in Emergency Medicine, becoming a Board-Certified Physician. Christina is a passionate advocate and -- more importantly than the doctor or Olympics stuff -- a former guest of the podcast.

Sophie Jacobi-Parisi concentrates her practice in all areas of matrimonial and family law. She is experienced handling complicated custody cases, particularly custody matters involving children with special needs. Sophie is experienced in negotiating prenuptial, separation and settlement agreements and she also has litigation and trial experience in New York’s Family and Supreme courts.

Eric Wrubel has dealt with a large variety of issues in family and matrimonial matters, including complex equitable distribution questions, novel support and custody issues, as well as being on the forefront in same-gender marital issues. Despite his extensive credentials and easy going manner, Eric will confess that Sophie is much more likeable and that he is quickly forgotten once his friends and admirers meet her.

Attorneys Eric Wrubel and Sophie Jacobi-Parisi are law partners at Warshaw Burstein in New York. Both practice in the area of complex family and matrimonial law. A heated email conversation between Eric and Sophie over shocking Covid-19 custody rulings, and the appropriate role of the court system, inspired this moderated debate. And given the medical issues involved we brought in an expert, emergency room physician Dr. Christina Yannetsos.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisLegal Issues
Episode 79: Surrogacy In The Time Of COVID - Robin Pope
Episode 79: Surrogacy In The Time Of COVID - Robin Pope

Robin Pope is an ART Attorney in Oregon with more than 25 years of adoption and family formation law. Robin graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1981, when adoptions were closed, surrogacy as a solution to female infertility was a recent development, and assisted reproductive technologies such as gestational surrogacy, egg donations, and embryo transfers were newly emerging methods for family building. After her personal experience with infertility, her law practice shifted its focus from family law to adoption and family formation law.

Robin is a member of the Oregon State Bar and a Fellow in the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. In addition to representing adoptive parents, birth parents, surrogates, and intended parents for the past 20 years, Robin has represented the position of the Oregon State Bar on adoption and surrogacy issues.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisLegal Issues, Infertility
Episode 77: Experiencing Surrogacy - Emily Field and Melissa Fleck
Episode 77: Experiencing Surrogacy - Emily Field and Melissa Fleck

Emily Field and Melissa Fleck are co-authors of “Experiencing Surrogacy.” Emily overcame a long, hard, and emotional road for her to finally become a mom with the help of Melissa, her gestational carrier. Emily is very open about her fertility journey and feels that, when you go through something difficult in life, who better than you to do something about it for others. Emily and her husband Gregg started Field Fertility in 2016, which is a legal and consulting business working with intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, sperm donors, and embryo donors.

Melissa currently spends her time as a mom to two very active kids, is a wife to a hardworking law enforcement officer, and is an active member of the surrogacy community. She has been working at the Center for Surrogate Parenting, Inc. since 2016, where she is a surrogate case manager. Having been a surrogate herself, she gets to pay it forward by interviewing and guiding potential surrogates on their surrogacy journey, working for the same agency that brought her and her intended parent and coauthor, Emily, together. Melissa also enjoys working out at her local boot camp-style gym, watching her kids play sports, attending Dodgers games, spending time with friends and extended family, and watching as many movies as she can.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisGestational Carrier Experience, Infertility, Intended Parent
Episode 76: - Creating Ohana Through Surrogacy - Ashley Mareko
Episode 76: - Creating Ohana Through Surrogacy - Ashley Mareko

Born and raised on the big island of Hawaii, Ashley Mareko knows the value of “ohana” (family), whether by blood or friendship. This strong tradition has been a guiding principle to Ashley as a 3-time(!) surrogate and through a career providing support to the surrogate community and intended parents. She feels blessed to be doing what she loves making a difference in people’s lives.

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Episodes 76-100Tyler EllisGestational Carrier Experience, Surrogacy Expert
Episode 75: A 10 Year Journey to Grow Our Family - Erin Chrusciel
Episode 75: A 10 Year Journey to Grow Our Family - Erin Chrusciel

Erin Chrusciel and her husband Stephen spent a solid decade consumed with trying to build their family. After multiple miscarriages, dozens of failed cycles, therapists, psychiatrists, acupuncturists and herbalists she finally had to mourn the loss of using her own eggs to have a baby. With the unexpected generosity of two different egg donors, the Chrusciel’s are finally a family of four.

Erin provides support to the 1 in 8 who battle infertility by running a peer-support group in Western Massachusetts through Resolve New England.

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Episodes 51-75Tyler EllisInfertility, Loss
Episode 74: You Can’t Do That In Michigan - Stephanie Jones
Episode 74: You Can’t Do That In Michigan - Stephanie Jones

Stephanie Jones is a former automotive engineer and now works as a serial entrepreneur, executive coach, and business consultant. Stephanie is passionate about advancing surrogacy laws in Michigan and helping educate intended parents about the surrogacy journey regardless of where you live. After having a son and then experiencing two rare cornual ectopic pregnancies and a near death experience, surrogacy was Stephanie and her husband’s only option for expanding their family with a child that shared their DNA.

Interesting facts about Stephanie include that she raced ATV motocross, was nominated to the Miss Michigan pageant, was a top athlete in high school, likes dogs more than people (on most days), is obsessed with 1950’s vintage fashion, mud wrestled in Vegas, loves a good tequila on the rocks, and will always be a small-town Michigan girl no matter where life takes her.

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Episodes 51-75Tyler EllisAdvocacy, Intended Parent, Surrogacy Expert