Talking Away the Taboo is the podcast for anyone in the Jewish community struggling to have a child and is seeking a place for emotional support and comfort. It is a show that will help you learn while validating your feelings and processing the hardship and to teach everyone else to be more sensitive. Each week, Dr. Aimee Baron and her guests will be talking away the taboo of infertility, pregnancy loss, infant loss, surrogacy, adoption and more. Your best friend just had a stillbirth and you don't know what to say? This is the space for you. We laugh, we cry and we challenge the Jewish community to think differently about a topic that has for so long been shrouded in secrecy and shame. Join us on the wild, unpredictable, and gut-wrenching journey of creating a family. Follow I Was Supposed To Have A Baby on Instagram and TikTok at @iwassupposedtohaveababy. To find out more about I Was Supposed To Have A Baby, visit our website at iwassupposedtohaveababy.org
In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Haddasa Manela, Co-Founder of Bonei Olam Florida , to talk about her decision to live fully and choose joy in the present moment. Haddasa opens up about her journey through years of fertility treatments, the stillbirth of her daughter, and a diagnosis of stage II endometriosis, all while continuing to help other families on their own paths to parenthood. She shares her experience navigating difficult comments and setting boundaries in an effort to protect her own healing. Her story offers powerful insight into what it means to honor your past while still moving forward. This episode is an honest look at how to hold space for healing without putting the rest of your life on hold. About Haddasa Manuela: Co-Founder of Bonei Olam Florida Instagram Bonei Olam Florida for Medical Assistance call - 7183732000 or email info@boneiolam.org Belonging Is Our Work Help us reach 300k in our annual campaign (7/15 - 7/21) Click Here to Donate now Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Naomi Nachman, a well-known kosher food personality, author, and travel connoisseur, to discuss her personal experience with pregnancy loss from years ago. She shares the story of her second pregnancy, only to discover at a routine five-month checkup that her baby no longer had a heartbeat. This conversation explores the intersection of faith and medical trauma, highlighting Naomi's deep-rooted bitachon (faith) that continues to carry her through life-changing moments. Naomi Nachman reflects on one of the most painful chapters of her journey: continuing to carry her pregnancy after learning she had lost her baby. She shares how leaning on her faith helped her move through everyday interactions with strength, and how it became a source of peace during an unimaginably difficult time. If you are carrying a heavy grief from many years ago or navigating the intersection of faith and medical trauma, this episode is for you. About Naomi Nachman: Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Naomi Nachman moved to New York 34 years ago. After earning her teaching degree from Touro College, she spent many years teaching in both classroom and informal Jewish education settings. Over the years, Naomi has built a strong personal brand across social media, with an active presence on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Status. She is widely recognized as a leading kosher food media influencer and has partnered with numerous brands, including Kosher.com , Gefen, Tuscanini, Tropicana, Breakstone's, Ore-Ida, Gourmet Glatt, Manischewitz, Maxwell House, Empire Poultry, Tnuva Dairy, and Prime Nosh. In addition to her passion for food, Naomi has expanded her brand into travel content. She has visited 58 countries and 48 U.S. states, partnering with companies and destinations such as Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas, Gaya Tours in Iceland, Lebor Tours and Mundo Tours in South America, the Inbal Hotel in Israel, and the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain. Naomi has also led four tours to Israel. In recent years, Naomi has traveled extensively both personally and professionally, working on Birthright trips, Pesach programs, and summer travel experiences. Alongside her frequent visits to Israel to spend time with her grandchildren, she has explored Asia, Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and Australia. Naomi and her husband have visited 48 states and hope to complete the remaining two states this year. Naomi currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer for Kosher River Boat Cruises and will also be leading cooking demonstrations on the company's 2026 sailings through Europe, Japan, and Antarctica. Naomi is the host of the cooking show Sunny Side Up on the Kosher.com network. She also writes a monthly food and travel column for Mishpacha Magazine titled Off the Eaten Track and has been a contributing editor for The Jewish Home newspaper for the past 15 years, where she shares weekly recipes with readers across the country. She has appeared as a guest host on QVC and made guest appearances on CBS (New York and Washington), NBC Morning News, Fox 5 New York, and the Hallmark Channel. Naomi has also been quoted in Forbes Magazine and The Wall Street Journal regarding Jewish food trends. In 2017, Naomi published her debut cookbook, Perfect for Pesach, with Artscroll Publications, followed by her second cookbook, Perfect Flavors, in 2018. Together, her cookbooks have sold more than 28,000 copies. Naomi is frequently invited to lead cooking demonstrations, book signings, and Kosher Chopped-style cooking competitions around the world, where she shares her enthusiasm and passion for food. This past Pesach, Naomi worked with Leisure Time Tours at the Phoenix program, where she directed the culinary arts program for guests by leading cooking demonstrations, producing chopped competitions, and overseeing social media marketing. Naomi's motto in life is: "See the world, one bite at a time." Instagram Perfect Flavors (Cookbook by Naomi Nachman) Website Belonging Is Our Work Help us reach 300k in our annual campaign (7/15 - 7/21) Click Here to Donate now Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Chaya Hott, Talia Mizrahi, M.S., and Shirel Korobkin, grief educators and support group leaders at I Was Supposed To Have A Baby to discuss the nuances and differences between various types of fertility and pregnancy losses. The conversation explores how all reproductive pain is deeply valid without turning grief into a competition. Chaya Hott, Talia Mizrahi, M.S., and Shirel Korobkin share their own personal journeys through trauma and grief, including lived experiences with stillbirth, miscarriage, circumstantial infertility and the power of a support network. They open up about the unique challenges tied to different milestones of loss, from the isolation of an unacknowledged early miscarriage to the devastating public reality of a late-stage stillbirth. Together, they emphasize the importance of talking about pain instead of hiding it, and how finding a community allows you to grieve exactly as you are. Whether you're grieving right now, healing from a past loss, or supporting someone else through theirs, this episode is for you. About Chaya Hott: Chaya Hott is a Certified Grief Educator, trained by renowned expert David Kessler, and a Certified Trauma Coach through Daniel Schonbuch at the Torah Psychology School for Coaching and Counseling. She is also the founder of Jewish Grief Groups supporting bereaved women after the loss of a loved one. Chaya's mission is deeply personal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she endured the stillbirth of her baby boy, followed by a miscarriage, after a decade of circumstantial infertility. In her darkest moments, Chaya felt lost and alone—until she found the support of IWSTHAB, which carried her through her losses and a subsequent pregnancy with her rainbow baby. Inspired by the lifeline she received, Chaya now helps other women navigate the complexities of grief with compassion and understanding. Chaya lives in Pomona, NY, with her husband, three children, and one forever in her heart. Instagram IWSTHAB Email About Talia Mizrahi, M.S: Talia Mizrahi MS, is a Certified Grief Educator and Grief Care Specialist with experience supporting newly bereaved, miscarriage, termination for medical reasons, and survivors of suicide loss. She is trained as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and a Grief Movement Guide and approaches all her work through a trauma-informed lens. Having experienced infertility and loss, Talia knows the power of connection during our most vulnerable moments. She considers it a privilege to support people throughout the grief journey. Instagram Email IWSTHAB Email About Shirel Korobkin: Shirel Korobkin is a certified grief educator, speaker, and community advocate based in Israel. Having experienced stillbirth, miscarriage, and pregnancy after loss herself, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to supporting those facing infertility and pregnancy loss. Shirel is passionate about helping English-speakers in Israel and abroad find connection, hope, and support during some of life's most difficult moments. Instagram IWSTHAB Email Belonging Is Our Work Help us reach 300k in our annual campaign (7/15 - 7/21) Click Here to Donate now Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Dr. Aimee Baron sits down with an anonymous Orthodox woman (voice disguised) to explore the intersection of the modern Shidduch (matchmaking) system, prolonged singlehood, and egg freezing. Through one woman's lived experience, this conversation explores the broader realities that have made egg freezing an increasingly important topic within the Orthodox community. The conversation challenges the common assumptions about why many Orthodox women remain single and offers an honest look at the emotional, practical, and social realities behind prolonged singlehood. Whether you are single, married, a parent, Rabbi, Shadchan (matchmaker), or simply someone seeking a deeper understanding of today's Orthodox dating landscape, this episode offers an eye-opening perspective on a vital and often misunderstood conversation. Belonging Is Our Work Help us reach 300k in our annual campaign (7/15 - 7/21) Click Here to Donate now Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Shari Ungerleider, Senior Manager and Head of Education and Outreach for jscreen , to share her journey as a mother to her son Evan, who was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease. Her story illuminates the power of love, resilience, and the importance of genetic awareness and education. Shari shares the story of her son life, from missed milestones to his diagnosis at 13 months old. Following expert advice, they pivoted from chasing experimental cures to creating a lifetime of memories, focusing on comfort and love. She discusses the emotions that go alongside a diagnosis, the choices around family planning, and how she turned loss into advocacy and education to help others. If you are navigating the realities of medical diagnoses or carrying the memory of a child who has passed, this episode is for you. About Shari Ungerleider: Shari Ungerleider is a Senior Manager and Head of Education and Outreach for jscreen , a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through genetic screening and education. In this role, Shari partners with educational institutions, religious and community organizations and advocacy groups to provide education programs and screening events. She presents programs and shares her story to show the impact that genetic testing and counseling can have on family planning. Shari, along with her husband Jeff and father Stanley Michelman founded the Evan Lee Ungerleider Foundation when her son was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease. This foundation is part of the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association, where she is a past president and served on the board for over 20 years. Shari has four children, Evan (mentioned above), Justin, Leigh and Sydney. She lives in Wayne, NJ with her family. As a result of Evan's illness, Shari became an advocate to educate and raise awareness about the importance of carrier screening coupled with genetic counseling. She turned her family's tragedy into something positive so that others would be spared the suffering they experienced. Shari's life mission for over 25 years has been to educate and outreach about the importance of genetic screening coupled with genetic counseling. Connect with JScreen: Website Instagram Facebook Linkedin Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Lauren Makler, CEO and co-founder of Cofertility , to discuss her profound journey navigating a sudden medical diagnosis and how it changed her perspective on family building. This honest conversation explores the intense intersection of medical trauma, the desire to become a parent, and finding agency when life feels out of control. At 29 years old, Lauren's life shifted instantly when she received a diagnosis of a rare disease called multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma. Facing multiple surgeries and the very real possibility of losing her ovaries, her diagnosis led her to look into egg donation. This personal journey opened her eyes to gaps in the fertility industry and ultimately inspired Lauren to co-found Cofertility , reshaping the donor conception landscape to help others safely navigate their own unique paths to parenthood. If you're navigating a medical diagnosis or holding on to hope while facing the road to parenthood, this episode is for you. About Lauren Makler: Lauren Makler is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cofertility, a human-first fertility ecosystem that helps women freeze their eggs for free when donating half, making egg donation less transactional and egg freezing more accessible. Named one of Inc's 2025 Female Founder 500 and Fast Company's 2023 Most Creative People in Business, and featured in top press outlets including Vogue, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Marie Claire, Women's Health, and many more, Lauren is recognized for her innovative approach to increasing accessibility and driving systemic change in healthcare. She's shared her insights on these topics—ranging from healthcare equity to innovation in fertility—at high-profile events including the Hello Sunshine Shine Away summit, HLTH, Harvard Business School, and other leading conferences and institutions. Previously, as an early Uber employee, she founded Uber Health, leveraging Uber's vast driver network to improve healthcare outcomes through patient transportation and healthcare delivery. Under her leadership, the business helped millions of patients access the care they needed. Before that, she played a key role in expanding Uber's core business along the East Coast and led the company's first healthcare initiative—nationwide, on-demand flu shot campaigns. After receiving a rare disease diagnosis, Lauren's personal fertility journey inspired her to create a more accessible, empowering path for those looking to freeze their eggs or find an egg donor. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their miracle babies, Eden and Jonah. Connect with Lauren : Website Cofertility Instagram Personal Instagram Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Rabbi Daniel Fellman, Senior Rabbi of Temple Sinai in Pittsburgh, to discuss his deeply personal experience with loss and fertility challenges. Recorded live in Pittsburgh, this raw and honest conversation explores the unique intersection of communal religious leadership and private grief. Rabbi Fellman shares the story of his and his wife Melissa's fertility journey, navigating a polycystic ovarian syndrome diagnosis, and the heartbreaking loss of one of their fraternal twins at 22 weeks. He describes the painful medical and halakhic choices they faced, the profound "black hole" in Jewish law regarding early infant loss, and how they ultimately managed to save their surviving son, Zach, through an emergency cervical cerclage. The conversation explores the heavy burden of compartmentalizing personal trauma while serving a congregation through their own seasons of grief and joy. Rabbi Fellman opens up about his private moments of wrestling and "rebelling" against God, his family's subsequent experiences with a second trimester miscarriage and raising a child with special needs, and how these collective scars have shaped his life. If you are trying to understand how to hold faith alongside profound loss, or navigating the complicated emotions of pregnancy after loss, this episode is for you. About Rabbi Fellman: Rabbi Daniel J. Fellman, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, serves as the Senior Rabbi of Temple Sinai. Before joining Temple Sinai in 2021, Rabbi Fellman served as Rabbi at Temple Concord in Syracuse, New York, for 12 years and as Assistant and Associate Rabbi at Ashe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, New Jersey, for four years. Rabbi Fellman earned his Master's Degree in Hebrew Letters in 2004 and was ordained by the Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion in 2005. His thesis, "An American Friendship: Harry Truman, Eddie Jacobson and the Establishment of the State of Israel," explored the extraordinary friendship of two Americans and the role that relationship played in America's early support for Israel. Rabbi Fellman is a 1996 graduate of Colorado College, where he earned his BA in Political Science and earned the Abel Greg and Lucy Finney Award for religious leadership on campus. In addition to his congregational duties, Rabbi Fellman was named one of the "40 under 40" in Syracuse, served as the chair of the Roundtable of Faith Leaders, and received the Interfaith Leadership Award for his work building civil society. Rabbi Fellman was a Clal Rabbis Without Borders Fellow and is currently a fellow with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Rabbi Fellman served as the Jewish Chaplain at Syracuse University for two years, and spent three years as an adjunct instructor at the State University of New York at Cortland where he taught Jewish studies. He resuscitated the Syracuse Board of Rabbis and was an active presence in Jewish community building. He is an Eagle Scout, and was a founder of the Hillel at Colorado College. Rabbi Fellman and his wife Melissa are the parents of three children—Zachary, Jacob, and Elizabeth Connect with Rabbi Daniel Fellman : Email Website Instagram Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Dr. Lauren Hofstatter, a clinical therapist often known as "the orthodox therapist," to unpack the complex realities of how Jewish couples navigate intimacy, marriage, and fertility through a traditional lens while protecting the privacy of their relationships. Dr. Hofstatter shares her insights from her popular, anonymous social media platform where community members submit questions from marital discord to sexual health concerns that they feel unable to ask anywhere else. She discusses the unique intersection between clinical training and strict Torah values. She emphasizes the necessity of bridging patients to trusted rabbis for Halachic queries, and the emotional weight that comes with being a support to others . The conversation explores the heavy emotional toll of fertility struggles on partnerships. From the hazards of over-sharing your marriage with casual friends to the pain of public pregnancy announcements, this episode offers an honest look at how to protect your relationship when community expectations become overwhelming. About Dr. Lauren Hofstatter, LMHC, PhD : Dr Lauren Hofstatter, LMHC, PhD, is a licensed mental health counselor based in Boca Raton, Florida, specializing in work with adult women and couples within the Orthodox Jewish community. She integrates clinical expertise in sex therapy with a deep understanding of Torah values, offering culturally sensitive support around intimacy, relationships, anxiety, trauma, and sexual health. Lauren is the founder of The Orthodox Therapist and is passionate about providing clear, modest, and shame-reducing education that promotes emotional connection and marital well-being. Connect with Dr. Lauren Hofstatter, LMHC, PhD : Instagram Email Website Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Rabbi Megan and Paige GoldMarche, a dedicated couple working within the Jewish communal space, to discuss the deeply personal and complex realities of their family-building journey. Together, they share the emotional, physical, and financial hurdles of facing infertility as a queer couple while holding a profound desire to build their future family. Megan and Paige reflect on the early days of their relationship, tracing the path from their initial meeting at a Shabbat dinner to a shared realization that they wanted to build a life together. Driven by a poignant sense of urgency tied to family health history and a deep desire for their future children to know their grandparents, they set out with a clear timeline. However, their plans were quickly challenged by the clinical realities of donor selection, expensive medical protocols, and the physical toll of consecutive unsuccessful intrauterine inseminations (IUIs). The conversation also explores the complex logistics unique to family building in LGBTQ+, including navigating insurance gaps, utilizing the open healthcare marketplace for secondary coverage, and shifting from local sperm banks to larger cryobanks in search of matching backgrounds. As the journey progressed from IUIs into the world of IVF, the physical and emotional burdens mounted for both partners. This episode captures the heart-wrenching moment of finally receiving a positive pregnancy test, only to immediately face the agonizing anxiety of non-doubling beta numbers and the impending grief of early loss. If you are navigating the heavy intersecting roads of LGBTQ+ family building, medical fertility treatments, or the quiet grief of early pregnancy loss, this episode is for you. About Rabbi Megan GoldMarche: Rabbi Megan grew up in the Chicago suburbs where she found her voice as a Jewish leader at her Conservative youth group and Reform summer camp. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 with a B.A. in Psychology and Women's Studies. Megan then went to work for the Hillel at Yale University where she discovered her passion for working with young people, and realized that rather than pursuing a PhD in Clinical psychology she wanted to use the Jewish tradition as a source of meaning to empower young adults to create their own rich Jewish identities and communities. Megan was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2014 and also received an MA in Jewish Gender and Women's Studies and a certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Megan is an alumna of the Wexner graduate fellowship. Megan served as Senior Base Rabbi at Metro Chicago Hillel where she spent six years leading and building the thriving Base network for Jews in their 20s and 30s. She also has a passion for travel and outdoor adventure- which has currently led her to forty-eight of the fifty states in the US. Megan and her wife Paige, and their daughters Bri and Rori, live in Mt. Airy and loves hosting folks in their home for Shabbat and Holidays! Connect with Rabbi Megan GoldMarche: Instagram About Paige GoldMarche: Paige (she/her) is the mom of two kiddos, a Jewish professional and a challah baker. She is the Director of the Meyer-Gottesman Kol Koleinu Teen Feminist Fellowship at Moving Traditions, working with teens all over the US to building feminist community and learn about activism through a Jewish and feminist lens. Paige is also the Mt Airy Challah Fairy, baking and selling challah for local Philly non-profits. She has a BA in International Development and Social Change from Clark University, an MA in Jewish Communal Service from Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University, and a certificate in Non-Profit Studies from Johns Hopkins University. Paige is an active member of Germantown Jewish Center. Connect with Paige GoldMarche: Instagram Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Aimee sits down with Marla Rottenstreich, a fitness professional, doula, and COO of One Israel Fund. She opens up for the first time about her fertility journey, navigating a congenital uterine anomaly, pregnancy complications, and grief. This conversation is a vulnerable exploration of how deep medical trauma reshapes the path to parenthood. Marla opens up about being diagnosed at age 17 with a bicornuate uterus and told she would likely never have children. She describes overcoming that prognosis only to face the isolating grief of secondary infertility, three miscarriages, and the trauma of a third-trimester stillbirth. Through her powerful story, she highlights the importance of somatic movement, faith, and radical self-compassion to process trapped trauma and reclaim her agency. If you are navigating the difficult intersection of medical trauma, pregnancy loss, and family building, this episode offers a compassionate and grounded perspective filled with resilience and perseverance. Want To Sponsor an Episode? Donate Here More about Marla Rottenstreich: Marla Rottenstreich is an AFAA-certified Group Fitness Instructor, ACE-certified personal trainer, Kripalu Yoga teacher, IIN licensed Health coach and lecturer, licensed Zumba (5 formats) instructor, ACSM Teen/Adolescent Fitness Instructor as well as ACSM Senior Fitness provider, DONA-certified birth doula and prenatal fitness provider, a Mad Dog trainer indoor spin instructor and licensed Beachbody PIYO & Insanity instructor. She currently owns Mekor Fitness LLC, a Central NJ Women's Fitness & Wellness company and the virtual program at MindBody20.com . Marla offers programming at many camps, travel programs, and schools for specialty events across the country as well as Manager of a Pesach program with Leisure Time Tours. She is a trained vegan chef with a cooking show on Kosher.com . Her full time role is COO of One Israel Fund . Connect with Marla Rottenstreich: Instagram MindBody20.com Kosher.com Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Aimee sits down with Susan Kirshner-Sheldon to discuss her journey through later-in-life dating, making Aliyah, and navigating the challenges of infertility and pregnancy loss. Susan candidly shares her experience of dating, the joy of finding her husband Jeremy, and the subsequent roadblocks they faced while trying to build a family. Susan walks us through the physical and emotional weight of multiple losses, including a natural miscarriage on Sukkot and the devastating words Ein dofek (no heartbeat) during IVF. She also touches on the unique experience of undergoing fertility treatments in Israel. Now living a full life in Jerusalem, Susan offers a powerful perspective on finding peace when life doesn't go according to plan. Her story is a testament to resilience, the importance of a supportive partner, and the realization that there are many ways to live a meaningful life. More about Susan Kirshner-Sheldon: Susan Kirshner-Sheldon made aliyah from Chicago to Jerusalem in 2014, where she now lives with her husband, Jeremy. With a master's degree in human resource management and development from National Louis University and a bachelor's degree in communications from Stern College, Susan began her career in the high-tech healthcare industry before transitioning into the nonprofit world in Israel. She is the founder and owner of Gold Star Concierge, a boutique concierge service that helps locals and visitors navigate life in Israel — from logistics and bureaucracy to events and day-to-day needs — with ease, efficiency, and a personal touch. Susan recently went back to school to earn a certificate in animal assisted therapy where she is learning how to train dogs to be guide dogs. When not working, Susan can be found dog sitting, reading or planning her next travel adventure. Connect with Susan Kirshner-Sheldon: Instagram Website Email Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Aimee sits down with Jonah Platt, actor, musician, and host of The Being Jewish Podcast. Aimee first reflects on the milestone of 200 episodes and impact of IWSTHAB on the Jewish community, before pivoting to Jonah's personal story. Jonah Platt discusses the complexities of navigating health, faith, and the public eye while trying to grow a family. This conversation is a vulnerable exploration of how chronic health challenges reshape the path to parenthood. Jonah Platt opens up about his upbringing in a musical household and his transition into fatherhood alongside his wife, Courtney, who lives with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). He describes the reality of MS—the extreme fatigue and the medical necessity for Courtney to stop life-altering medications in order to conceive and breastfeed. In discussing the lack of awareness around these specific hurdles, Jonah notes, "I think we don't talk about this story that much because her issue isn't fertility." This challenge led the couple through three distinct reproductive journeys: a natural pregnancy, IVF, and surrogacy. Jonah shares the emotional weight of supporting his partner through a taxing fertility journey and the gift of surrogacy, which allowed Courtney to be fully present for their daughter's birth. Through his story, Jonah highlights the importance of choosing a path that preserves the health of the mother while expanding options for building families. If you are navigating the difficult intersection of chronic illness and family building, this episode offers a compassionate and grounded perspective. You're not alone. More about Jonah Platt: Jonah Platt is one of America's most trusted voices on modern Jewish identity, culture, and current events. He hosts Being Jewish with Jonah Platt —the world's #1 Jewish podcast—exploring Jewish life through conversations with prominent Jews and allies like Jason Alexander, Congressman Ritchie Torres, Bernard-Henry Lèvy, Cindy Crawford, and Sheryl Sandberg. An accomplished entertainer, Jonah has starred in acclaimed projects from Broadway (Wicked) to Hollywood (Being the Ricardos), is co-writing the musical adaptation of The Giver, and producing his first feature film, The Mensch. He was honored with California's inaugural Community Excellence Award for Combating Antisemitism, Holocaust Museum LA's inaugural Roz & Abner Goldstine Advocacy Award, the 2025 American Friends of ELEM LifeSaver Award, and is currently pursuing his Master's in Antisemitism Studies at Gratz College. Connect with Jonah Platt: Website Email Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok X LinkedIn Listen to the Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: Beingjewishpodcast.com Instagram Facebook TikTok YouTube LinkedIn Aimee's Favorite Episodes: 1- Seen and Remembered: Making Space for Everyone This High Holiday Season with Rabbi Yisrael Motzen I kept nodding through this episode with Rabbi Motzen because I agreed with everything he said. As a rabbi at a large synagogue with many different kinds of family units, he has developed many unique ways to make sure everyone fits in... I loved all of its suggestions and thought they were so applicable to people in the fertility community too. 2- Finding Calm in the Chaos with Dr. Aliza Ancier Mindfulness is something anyone can use to get through stressful situations, but I had never really given it much thought until this conversation with Aliza. It's amazing how something so simple can really help. 3- Making Mikvah Meaningful with Dr. Naomi Grumet Mikvah is one of the hardest mitzvos to keep when you're struggling to have a baby. I hated every single time I went. The suggestions here were personally life-changing and helped me reframe mikvah. 4- A Decision I Never Imagined: An Anonymous TFMR Story This was the first episode we did on TFMR, and I remember being so nervous before it came out. Not because I was worried that we were doing anything wrong by sharing this incredible story, but more because I was concerned about backlash. And the amazing thing is - TFMR stories are some of the most listened to in our 200 episodes. Because people don't walk these stories openly, it's a huge gift to offer those dealing with this personally the knowledge that they are not alone. 5- Tokophobia with Yehudit Kosowsky Even as a doctor, I had never heard of tokophobia before, but I have had dozens of people/year message me that they are so grateful this episode exists. Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
In this episode, Aimee sits down with Clare, a mother of three and reproductive rights advocate to discuss her experience with termination for medical reasons (TFMR). Clare shares how a complex twin pregnancy led to a heartbreaking decision and explains why she feels it is vital to share her story openly. She discusses the complex reality of a reproductive journey that spans over a decade, beginning with a deeply personal choice at seventeen and leading to a heartbreaking diagnosis during a wanted pregnancy years later. After a routine scan revealed severe medical anomalies in the surviving fetus of a twin pregnancy, Clare was thrust into a period of uncertainty. By sharing her journey, Clare challenges the binary view of abortion, placing all reproductive choices on a single spectrum of loss and love. Her story is a powerful reminder that putting a name to these experiences turns abstract ideas into human realities. More about Clare Molnar: Clare Molnar is an advocate for abortion access and destigmatization based in Ferndale, MI. She is a mom to three girls and one Labrador retriever. Connect with Clare: - Connect on Instagram Connect with us: -Check out our Website -Follow us on Instagram and send us a message -Watch our TikToks -Follow us on Facebook -Watch us on YouTube -Connect with us on LinkedIn
In this episode, Aimee sits down with Emily Sklar, a podcast producer and media personality, to discuss her proactive decision to freeze her eggs at age 35. After years of prioritizing her career in the Detroit, DC, and LA radio scenes, Emily opens up about her mother's influence and a professional pivot led her to claim her future by securing the possibility of motherhood on her own terms. Emily reflects on how her professional drive often pushed the idea of family into a far-off, hypothetical future. She describes the egg-freezing process as an emotional experience that connected her current, independent life with her long-term goals. This conversation touches on the need to normalize these discussions long before the "biological clock" begins to panic. Emily shares how she navigated the emotional and physical aspects of the process alongside her support system. Her story highlights the importance of trusting your own timing and taking intentional steps to keep your future possibilities open. If you're navigating the balance between career ambition and the "what ifs" of future family planning, this episode offers an empowering look at taking control of your own timeline. More about Emily Sklar: Emily is a podcast producer & former radio host who has worked in the audio space for over 15 years. She has a passion for finding human connection through shared story-telling, and believes that everyone has a story to share. Besides work, Emily also sings in a band and loves music, pilates, mindlessly scrolling on tiktok. Connect with Emily: - Connect on Instagram Connect with us: -Check out our Website -Follow us on Instagram and send us a message -Watch our TikToks -Follow us on Facebook -Watch us on YouTube -Connect with us on LinkedIn
In this special re-released episode, Aimee Baron, MD, founder of I Was Supposed To Have A Baby, shares her deeply personal experience with a second-trimester miscarriage. She explores the unique trauma of navigating a medical crisis while away from home for the Passover holiday and the lasting impact that loss had. Aimee walks through the timeline of a pregnancy that appeared healthy at her 16-week checkup, only to be upended by a phone call from her doctor while she was away. She describes the search for medical care and the crushing moment an ultrasound confirmed her baby had passed just days after her checkup. The conversation also touches on the complex intersection of Jewish law and medical emergency, as Aimee and her husband navigated the restrictions of the holiday to seek an immediate procedure. She shares the stark, painful memory of waking up from anesthesia in a public recovery room and the specific emotional weight of losing a genetically healthy baby. This story highlights how Jewish holidays, so often focused on children and family, can become permanent markers of loss and "scars" on the heart for those in the infertility community. If you are navigating the holiday season while carrying the weight of a past or current loss this episode is for you. Connect with us: -Check out our Website -Follow us on Instagram and send us a message -Watch our TikToks -Follow us on Facebook -Watch us on YouTube -Connect with us on LinkedIn
In this episode, Aliza Abrams-Konig, surrogacy consultant for I Was Supposed to Have a Baby, sits down with her husband, Samuel Konig, to discuss the unique and often overlooked experiences of fathers during the surrogacy process. The couple recounts the surreal moments of their journeys, from the stress of legal uncertainties to the specific heartache of seeing someone else's name on their newborn's hospital bracelet. Aliza and Samuel explore the cultural and social pressures within the Jewish community, including the decision to keep their journey private until their children arrived. Sam highlights the importance of finding therapy as a neutral support system to manage the intense stressors that come with surrogacy. The two focus on the profound gratitude that follows a difficult road to parenthood and how facing these challenges together can fundamentally strengthen a family. If you are navigating the unique complexities of surrogacy or seeking a deeper understanding of the father's role in the fertility journey, this episode is for you. View our surrogacy resources: here More about Sam Konig: Sam Konig was born in Vienna to Jewish Polish parents who were expelled from Poland in 1969 and found refuge in Copenhagen, where he grew up. He completed his schooling in the UK, attended McGill University, and earned his M.A. in Ottawa. Sam has built his career in Jewish communal life, serving as Executive Director of Towson University Hillel before moving to New York, where he worked with Hillel International and later with the American Friends of Bar-Ilan University. He now serves as Director of Strategic Philanthropy for the Northeastern region at American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA). More about Aliza Abrams Konig, MSW: Aliza Abrams Konig is the Director of Student Leadership at Yeshiva University. Throughout Aliza's career, she has worked within areas of student life, team building, creating curricula, and Experiential Education. Earlier in Aliza's career she served as the YU Director of Alumni Engagement, Assistant Principal at Central, Yeshiva University High School for Girls, Director of Student Life at Stern College, and as the Director of Jewish Service Learning for the University. Aliza is a member of the inaugural Wexner Field Fellows program through the Wexner Foundation. As a sought-after consultant on surrogacy, Aliza is passionate about raising awareness around surrogacy in the Jewish community. She has spoken on podcasts, worldwide in synagogues, community centers, and schools about the contemporary Jewish family, dating, infertility, and surrogacy. Aliza holds a BA in Judaic Studies from Stern College, and a Master's in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and is now a doctoral candidate at Wurzweiler. Aliza, her husband Samuel, and their family live in Riverdale, New York, where they are very involved with their community, synagogue, and other local organizations. Connect with Aliza: - Set up a surrogacy consultation here - Contact her via email - Connect on Instagram Connect with us: -Check out our Website -Follow us on Instagram and send us a message -Watch our TikToks -Follow us on Facebook -Watch us on YouTube -Connect with us on LinkedIn
In this episode, IWSTHAB's Surrogacy Support Consultant Aliza Abrams Konig sits down with Andrea Syrtash, a relationship expert and founder of Pregnantish , and her cousin Elana Syrtash-Ochs, an early childhood educator and enentrepreneur, to discuss their shared journey through gestational surrogacy. The conversation explores the profound emotional shift that occurs when a family member steps in after years of infertility, loss, and the heartbreak of being ghosted by a previous surrogate. Andrea reflects on her winding path to parenthood, marked by endometriosis, multiple miscarriages, and the eventual realization that she needed a gestational carrier. After a devastating experience with a surrogate who disappeared mid-process, Elana moved the family toward healing by offering to carry Andrea's baby herself. Together, they navigate the unique dynamics of intrafamily surrogacy, discussing how they set healthy boundaries, managed the curiosity of young children, and even educated hospital staff on how to respectfully handle a surrogacy birth. Their story is a powerful testament to trust, "beshert" timing, and the strength of family bonds. If you are navigating the complexities of surrogacy this episode offers a roadmap of honesty and hope. View additional surrogacy resources: here More about Andrea Syrtash: Andrea Syrtash is a relationships and sexual health author, fertility advocate, and founder of Pregnantish —the first media platform exclusively dedicated to helping people navigate fertility treatments and infertility. She is also the founder of the World Fertility Awards , the first global, consumer-facing event recognizing and celebrating assisted reproductive technology and the future of family. Andrea is passionate about supporting the 1 in 6 diagnosed with infertility worldwide, as well as the many more who lack access to the care and information they need to build their families. She is the author of multiple books published by Penguin Random House, including He's Just Not Your Type (And That's a Good Thing) and Cheat on Your Husband (With Your Husband) She has hosted television programs for Oprah's OWN (Canada), Discovery Network, and Fox, and regularly appears as a guest expert in global media including Good Morning America, Women's Health, The Times of India, Forbes Brazil and NHK Japan. Andrea hosts the Pregnantish podcast , which explores the extraordinary lengths people go to create their families through science and was recently named a New York Times–recommended listen. As Editor-in-Chief of pregnantish, Andrea authored and helped lead one of the largest studies on fertility patient retention, " Why I Left My Fertility Clinic for Another ART Provider," published in Human Reproduction (2022). Originally from Toronto, Andrea lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter, who was born via gestational surrogacy after many years of fertility treatment. She remains deeply committed to breaking the stigma around infertility and elevating conversations about modern family-building. Connect with Andrea : - Check out Andrea's Instagram - Visit her website here - Send her an email More about Elana Syrtash-Ochs, M.Ed: Originally from Toronto, Canada, Elana (Syrtash) Ochs has been involved in children's programming for over 20 years. Elana is the owner and director of Kol Chaverim Preschool in Fair Lawn, NJ which was founded in 2012 as well as KC Kids Aftercare program at Yeshivat He'Atid, in Teaneck, NJ, founded in 2016. Elana also created Gan Yavneh Daycare and served as Yavneh Academy's Preschool Director and Manager for 3 years from its inception in 2017. Elana has several years of experience as an educator, preschool director, camp director and consulting director for programs all around NY & NJ. Elana ran her swim program, Morah Elana's Swim, in Englewood from 2012-2022 and was the Program Director & Host at Upscale Getaways Passover Program in Niagara Falls, Canada for several years as well. Elana graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in English Literature, a Minor in Music and an A.A. in Judaic Studies. She also earned a dual Masters degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education at Touro College, NY. Prior to working as a Preschool Director, Elana worked as an EMT in New York. She was also the Head Lifeguard at the camp run by the Hebrew Academy for Special Children (HASC) for 2 years. Elana was selected to join Teach for America in 2008 and served as a special educator and corps member in Harlem and the Bronx. Connect with Elana: - Check out Elana's Instagram and Facebook - Send her an email More about Aliza Abrams Konig, MSW: Aliza Abrams Konig is the Director of Student Leadership at Yeshiva University. Throughout Aliza's career, she has worked within areas of student life, team building, creating curricula, and Experiential Education. Earlier in Aliza's career she served as the YU Director of Alumni Engagement, Assistant Principal at Central, Yeshiva University High School for Girls, Director of Student Life at Stern College, and as the Director of Jewish Service Learning for the University. Aliza is a member of the inaugural Wexner Field Fellows program through the Wexner Foundation. As a sought-after consultant on surrogacy, Aliza is passionate about raising awareness around surrogacy in the Jewish community. She has spoken on podcasts, worldwide in synagogues, community centers, and schools about the contemporary Jewish family, dating, infertility, and surrogacy. Aliza holds a BA in Judaic Studies from Stern College, and a Master's in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and is now a doctoral candidate at Wurzweiler. Aliza, her husband Samuel, and their family live in Riverdale, New York, where they are very involved with their community, synagogue, and other local organizations. Connect with Aliza: - Set up a surrogacy consultation here - Contact her via email - Connect on Instagram Connect with us: -Check out our Website -Follow us on Instagram and send us a message -Watch our TikToks -Follow us on Facebook -Watch us on YouTube -Connect with us on LinkedIn
In this two-part conversation, we return to Sarah Guigue's fertility journey with honesty, vulnerability, and deep intention. When we first recorded in November 2025, Sarah was still pregnant. She made the brave choice to speak in the middle of it, not after the ending was known, because she wanted to capture the raw intensity of pregnancy after loss. The fear. The hope. The constant calculations. The way joy and terror lived side by side. Sarah shares how private she wanted to be during that pregnancy. How she almost didn't tell her immediate family. How she entered what she calls her "nesting" period, pulling inward, limiting public appearances, and protecting herself from questions and commentary that felt too heavy to carry. Not because she wasn't grateful, but because she was surviving. She speaks powerfully about the strength it took to try again. About her deep belief that G-d co-creates life with us, and that we are meant to be vessels, even when the risk feels unbearable. That faith didn't erase fear, but it gave her the courage to move forward anyway. In the second half of this episode, recorded after the birth of her baby, Sarah reflects on how her emotions have shifted. What stayed with her. What surprised her. And how pregnancy after loss doesn't simply end at delivery, even when the outcome is joyful. This episode is for anyone who has lived in the in-between. Anyone who protected their heart by staying quiet. Anyone who kept going not because they were fearless, but because something deeper carried them forward. More about Sarah Guigue: Sarah Encaoua Guigue is a passionate coach, educator, writer, MC, and content creator devoted to living and sharing the light of Chassidus. Through her platform Hassidic Hipster Girl, she brings deep spiritual ideas into relatable, modern conversation—infusing daily life with meaning, joy, and connection to Hashem. Driven by the Lubavitcher Rebbe's vision of Dira Betachtonim—making a dwelling place for Hashem here in the physical world, Sarah guides women & girls from stuck to soul-aligned through her 1:1 coaching, and various offerings. She can be reached via Instagram DMs @hassidic.hipster.girl Connect with Sarah : - Check out Sarah's Instagram - Visit her website here - Connect with Sarah via email Connect with us: -Check out our Website -Follow us on Instagram and send us a message -Watch our TikToks -Follow us on Facebook -Watch us on YouTube -Connect with us on LinkedIn
On this re-released episode of Talking Away The Taboo , Dr. Romy Shulman joins Aimee Baron, MD for a thoughtful and practical conversation about how to celebrate Purim while honoring your mental health. Purim is meant to be joyful, but it can also feel overwhelming. Together they explore how choosing a smaller Megillah reading with fewer children can create a more manageable and meaningful experience. They also discuss rethinking mishloach manot by giving gifts of food specifically to those who have supported you, rather than feeling obligated to give to everyone you know. The conversation also reframes the Purim seuda (meal), suggesting that instead of hosting a large gathering, people may consider making the meal more intimate to connect more deeply. This episode offers empowering permission to celebrate differently and create a Purim that feels aligned and intentional. Connect with Chana, UK: -Check out their website here - View their Instagram Connect with us: -Check out our Website -Follow us on Instagram and send us a message -Watch our TikToks -Follow us on Facebook -Watch us on YouTube -Connect with us on LinkedIn
In this episode, Aimee speaks with "Q" about infertility, identity, and redefining motherhood. She shares her diagnosis of PCOS and the emotional toll of years of fertility treatments, including multiple IUIs. Q discusses the decision she made to look into other options. She opens up about the heartbreak of closed doors, including her 15-year hope of adopting from Ethiopia, which became complicated after policy changes. F shares how she ultimately built her family through domestic adoption in the United States after navigating the cultural pressure to have biological children, and stereotypes about fertility in Black women. This conversation is a powerful reminder that family-building can look different than expected and still be deeply intentional and sacred. Note: "Q" is a pseudonym and the voices in this episode have been altered to ensure the anonymity of our guest Connect with us: -Check out our Website -Follow us on Instagram and send us a message -Watch our TikToks -Follow us on Facebook -Watch us on YouTube -Connect with us on LinkedIn
