Ep 129 Fewer Shots, Same Success: A New IVF Protocol with Dr. Linnea Goodman
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Release Date: 06/24/2025
Ep 150 A Gay Dad’s Real Talk on IVF & Surrogacy with Richard Westoby
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What does it really take for men to build a family through IVF and surrogacy? How do you navigate the maze of sperm testing, egg donors, legal contracts, and international laws? And where do transparency, trust, and heart fit into this complex process? In this honest and empowering episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is talking to Richard Westoby, author, advocate, and host of IVF Daddies. Their conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey of gay men pursuing parenthood. Richard shares his deeply personal experience of becoming a father to twins through surrogacy...
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Ep 149 Decoding Trump’s IVF Promises with ASRM Director of Government Affairs, Jessie Losch
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What does Trump’s “Father of Fertility” claim really mean? How might his new IVF announcements impact real patients? And could policies disguised as “restorative” actually restrict reproductive freedom? In this timely episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with Jessie Losch, Director of Government Affairs at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), to talk about the politics, promises, and pitfalls surrounding the latest White House statements on fertility care. Jessie helps clarify what the October 16th announcement actually said — and what...
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Ep 148 PMS Explained and Made Better: The Period Brain with Sarah Hill, PhD.
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Why do our moods shift so dramatically across the month? What’s really happening in our brains during the luteal phase of our cycle? And could understanding our hormones actually make us feel better? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with evolutionary psychologist and author Sarah E. Hill, PhD to talk about the fascinating link between hormones, brain function, and overall health. They explore how deeply our cycles shape our energy, emotions, and resilience—and why this understanding is long overdue. Dr. Hill brings her groundbreaking insights...
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Ep 147 Men's Perspective on Infertility with Jared Walker
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What does infertility feel like from a man’s point of view? How do couples navigate years of uncertainty, loss, and hope when answers never come? And can creative expression, like writing a book, help rebuild connection in the midst of pain? In this powerful and vulnerable conversation of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with The Empty Nest author Jared Walker to talk about infertility, grief, and how storytelling can bridge emotional distance between partners. Jared shares the deeply personal journey that inspired his illustrated book The Empty Nest, written for his wife...
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Ep 146 Embryos from Skin Cells: Science and the Future with Dr. Paula Amato
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What if your skin cells could help you have a baby? Could the future of fertility mean having genetically related children even if a woman is in menopause or lost fertility due to cancer treatments? In this fascinating episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with Dr. Paula Amato, reproductive endocrinologist and researcher at Oregon Health & Science University, to unpack the groundbreaking study that made headlines around the world — creating human embryos from skin cells. Dr. Amato explains the science behind this breakthrough, known as in vitro gametogenesis (IVG),...
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Ep 145 Dr. Shahine's Fertility Journey: Interview by Jennifer Edmonds
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What happens when a fertility doctor becomes the patient? How does infertility change the way you practice medicine? And what can we all learn from a journey that blends science, compassion, and lived experience? In this special episode of Brave and Curious, the tables are turned as Dr. Lora Shahine takes the guest seat to share her personal fertility story. Interviewed by fertility advocate Jennifer Edmonds, this heartfelt conversation dives into the vulnerable, complex, and sometimes humorous realities of being both doctor and patient on the path to parenthood. Dr. Shahine opens up...
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Ep 144 Hair Loss in Women: Why and What You Can Do with Dr. Joyce Park
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Why does hair loss happen to so many women? And how do you know when it’s more than just shedding? Could stress, hormones, or nutrition be the culprit? And most importantly, when should you see a dermatologist instead of just buying another supplement from social media? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with dermatologist and hair loss expert, Dr. Joyce Park, to answer your most pressing questions about female hair loss. Their conversation uncovers the science behind shedding and the practical steps to support healthy regrowth. Dr. Park explains the...
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Ep 143 DNA Surprises, Family Secrets, and Finding Belonging in One Big Happy Family with Actress and Writer Lisa Brenner
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What happens when a DNA test reveals more than you bargained for? How do you process finding out that your family story isn’t what you thought it was? And can identity, belonging, and love transcend genetics? In this moving episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with actress and writer Lisa Brenner to explore how an unexpected DNA result changed her life and inspired her new film, One Big Happy Family. Lisa shares the deeply personal journey of discovering she was an NPE (non-parent expected), what it meant for her relationship with her mother, and how decades of...
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Ep 142 Fact Vs. Fiction on Fertility, Egg Freezing, and IVF Today with Dr. Lucky Sehkon
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What’s the truth about egg freezing success rates? Is IVF really a guarantee for building a family? And how do you separate fertility facts from fiction when the internet is full of clickbait headlines? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with her friend and fellow reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Lucky Sekhon, to explore the myths and realities of modern fertility care. Dr. Sekhon shares both science and lived experience through her personal journey with IVF and personal expertise in guiding patients through tough choices. This episode focuses on how...
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Ep 141 Balance and an Eastern Approach to Fertility Care with Lorne Brown, Dr.TCM
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What does balance really mean in fertility care? Can Eastern medicine like acupuncture and herbs truly support reproductive health? And how can Western and Eastern approaches come together for better outcomes? In this episode of Brave and Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine leans into these big questions in a conversation that bridges two worlds of medicine. Joining Dr. Shahine is Dr. Lorne Brown, acupuncturist and host of the Conscious Fertility podcast, who brings a holistic perspective rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Together, they explore how Eastern practices—like acupuncture,...
info_outlineWhat if IVF didn’t have to mean so many shots? Could a new protocol allow for fewer shots, less office visits, AND be less expensive?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is joined by Dr. Linnea Goodman to answer these questions and more. They review Dr. Goodman’s research into a protocol, not new to the fertility field around the world, but new to most listeners in the United States that has many benefits to IVF patients.
Dr. Linnea Goodman is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist. Throughout her career, Dr. Goodman has been dedicated to advancing the field of reproductive medicine through both clinical excellence and innovative research. Currently, Dr. Goodman practices at Virginia Fertility & IVF, where she specializes in minimally invasive office procedures aimed at optimizing fertility outcomes.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- [1:16] Meet Dr. Linnea Goodman: reproductive endocrinologist and researcher
- [2:24] IVF shots & their necessity
- [4:45] Provera Protocol is a game-changer
- [14:35] Research & evidence for the Provera Protocol
- [22:19] A patient-centered approach
- [25:00] Research Outcomes
- [27:07] Innovations in IVF: Progestins
- [29:32 The patient experience: benefits and side effects of progestins
- [32:36 What does the future hold?
Resources mentioned:
Massin N, et al. New stimulation regimens: endogenous and exogenous progesterone use to block the LH surge during ovarian stimulation for IVF. Hum Reprod Update. 2017 Mar 1;23(2):211-220. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmw047.PMID: 28062551
R Beguería, et al. Medroxyprogesterone acetate versus ganirelix in oocyte donation: a randomized controlled trial. Hum Reprod. 2019 May 1;34(5):872-880 doi:10.1093/humrep/dez034. PMID: 30927417
Giles J, et al. Medroxyprogeseterone acetate is a useful alternative to a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist in ooxyte-donation: a randomized controlled trial. Fert Stert 2021;116: 404-412. PMID: 33814126. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.02.036
Welp A, et al. Oral medroxyprogesterone acetate for the use of ovulation suppression in in vitro fertilization: a cohort trial. Fertil Steril 2024 May;121(5):806-813. PMID: 38253117 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.01.026
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