Ep 124 Your Surrogacy Questions, Answered: Myths vs. Facts with Mollie Huyck
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Release Date: 05/20/2025
Ep 140 Amanda Knox: Sentenced to Infertility
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What happens when the most fertile years of your life are taken from you? How do you rebuild when trauma collides with your deepest hopes for motherhood? What does it mean to pursue fertility after prison? In this powerful episode of Brave & Curious, you’ll hear Dr. Lora Shahine’s conversation with Amanda Knox who spent four years in an Italian prison and eight years fighting a wrongful murder conviction. Amanda has turned her pain into purpose. With the recent release of her groundbreaking miniseries on Hulu ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’, she sheds light on an...
info_outline
Ep 139 To Fly or Not to Fly and Other Travel Tips for Fertility
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Have you ever wondered if flying could impact your fertility? Worried about what happens if you need to travel after an egg retrieval? Curious whether that long-awaited vacation might interfere with success with embryo transfer? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Shahine answers the most common questions about fertility, flying, travel and IVF. She includes practical tips for travel days and leaves you informed to make the right decisions for you with your own doctor’s guidelines. In this episode you’ll hear: [1:18] Flying & fertility treatments [2:20]...
info_outline
Ep 138 Fertility Over 40: What You REALLY Need to Know About Conception, Testing & IVF
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Trying to get pregnant in your 40s and feeling bombarded with terms like “geriatric pregnancy” or “diminished ovarian reserve”? Wondering if age is the final word in fertility? Curious about what you can do instead of what you can't? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is getting real about trying to conceive after 40—with clarity, compassion, and science-backed strategies. She covers the impact of age on fertility, the power of early testing, and why aligning your family-building goals with real timelines is more important than ever. You’ll learn practical...
info_outline
Ep 137 CoQ10 and Fertility: What You Need for Egg and Sperm Health
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Thinking about adding supplements to your fertility journey? A quick search online can leave you swimming in advice—or drowning. How do you know what really works and what’s just hype? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine takes a deep dive into one of the most talked-about fertility supplements: CoQ10. This naturally occurring antioxidant has been linked to improvements in egg quality and sperm health—but is it right for you? Dr. Shahine breaks down what the research actually says, the potential benefits, and what risks to keep in mind. In this episode, you’re...
info_outline
Ep 136 How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? Understanding Caffeine and Fertility
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Is your morning coffee helping or hurting your fertility? Should you quit caffeine cold turkey while trying to conceive—or during pregnancy? And where can you turn for solid, trustworthy advice? (Hint: NOT random internet forums) In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine breaks down what we really know about caffeine and reproductive health—from both Western and Eastern medical perspectives. Dr. Shahine shares the actual caffeine content in your favorite drinks, answers the most common questions she hears from patients, and offers guidance on how to personalize your...
info_outline
Ep 135 You’re Pregnant, Now What? Your Guide to the First Trimester
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Wondering what’s actually ‘normal’ in the first trimester? You’re not the only one frantically Googling every twinge and symptom. Early pregnancy can feel like a rollercoaster of questions—and not always a fun one. In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine walks you through the first trimester with clarity and calm. She shares the most common concerns she hears from patients and what might warrant a closer look, all while offering practical advice to help you feel more grounded. This episode is a reassuring guide through those uncertain early weeks. And if it’s...
info_outline
Ep 134 Detox Your Home: Cleaning House with Lindsay Dahl
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Is your makeup messing with your hormones? Could your cleaning products be impacting your fertility? And how do we make informed choices without spiraling into fear or perfectionism? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine invites us to ask bold questions about the everyday products we use—and the hidden chemicals within them. Joining her is activist and author Lindsay Dahl, who’s spent her career fighting for consumer safety and pulling back the curtain on toxic chemicals. They talk about the science behind endocrine disruptors, the power of personal storytelling in...
info_outline
Ep 133 Is Your Tilted or Retroverted Uterus Harming Your Fertility?
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Is a tilted uterus stopping you from getting pregnant? Could it be the reason for painful periods or backaches? Has the term “retroverted uterus” been brought up at one of your recent doctor’s appointments? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is taking the mystery out of the retroverted (or tilted) uterus. She explains what it is, how common it is, and whether it impacts fertility or pregnancy. Good news: in most cases, it doesn’t. Dr. Shahine also sheds light on when a tilted uterus might signal something more—like endometriosis, pelvic infections, or...
info_outline
Ep 132 Unicornuate Uterus: What It Means for Fertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Do you know that uteruses come in different shapes? How about a unicornuate uterus? You can have a uterine anomaly without symptoms and it can impact your reproductive health, miscarriage risk, and pregnancy outcomes. Inspired by Celina Spooky Boo’s fertility story, this episode of Brave & Curious explores unicornuate uterus. Dr. Lora Shahine explains this congenital anomaly, how it’s diagnosed, and the spectrum of potential outcomes it can create for fertility and pregnancy. Dr. Shahine also offers critical questions to ask your healthcare provider, helping you advocate...
info_outline
Ep 131 Considering IUI vs. IVF: Which One is Best for You?
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What’s the difference between IUI and IVF? Which one is right for you? And how do you navigate the emotional and financial rollercoaster of fertility treatment with clarity and courage? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine offers a compassionate, clear-eyed look at the two most common fertility treatments: Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). She goes through the pros, cons, and personal factors that should guide this deeply personal decision. In this episode, listeners will learn: [0:21] Understanding IUI and IVF [1:22] IUI: Process...
info_outlineAre you curious about how surrogates are selected and matched? What about knowing the steps it takes to get started? How long does it take and how much does it cost?
Surrogacy can be a beautiful and life-changing path to parenthood — but it’s also one that’s often misunderstood. In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine breaks down the most frequently asked questions and biggest misconceptions about gestational surrogacy with the Director of the Gestational Surrogacy Program at Pacific NW Fertility, Mollie Hyuck.
From who the legal parents are, to whether the surrogate can keep the baby (spoiler: she can’t), to understanding the emotional, medical, and ethical realities — this episode is your evidence-based guide to what surrogacy is and what it isn’t.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- [2:20] Common myths about surrogacy (and why they’re wrong)
- [5:03] How surrogates are selected, screened, and supported
- [6:48] The difference between traditional and gestational surrogacy
- [8:28] What intended parents should know about legal and emotional considerations
- [14:03] Why surrogacy is often misunderstood in media and public opinion
- [19:37] How to decide if it’s the right path for you
Whether you’re considering surrogacy, supporting someone through it, or just curious about the process, this episode will help you feel informed, empowered, and connected.
Resources mentioned:
I Became Your Mama by Mollie Huyck
Connect on Instagram @pnwfertility | @roaringadventures_ | @naviehealth
Episodes mentioned:
Ep23 Samantha Busch on Surrogacy and Infertility Advocacy
Dr. Shahine’s Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books