Libsyn Directory

166. Fragile X Syndrome: A Silent Factor in Infertility

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

Release Date: 05/06/2025

178. Finding Strength in Unwritten Chapters with Rachel Honeyman, Tzipora Grodko and Peri Lyman

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

What happens when life doesn’t unfold the way you thought it would? When the hopes you once held close—marriage, children, grandchildren—don’t materialize, or take a completely unexpected path? In this powerful episode, we share the stories of three extraordinary women who bravely open up about their deeply personal experiences of waiting, grieving, and finding meaning in places they never expected. Rachel made the decision to stop trying after years of heartbreaking fertility treatments. Even though the choice was hers, it still hurts, and sometimes in the moments she least expects...

177. Navigating Pregnancy After Loss with Taliya Corbett

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

“I couldn’t have my child bearing years end with a dead baby” with Taliya Corbett This is a messy, complicated truth of what it means to carry both heartbreak and hope. After the devastating stillbirth of her daughter, Ora, all Taliya could think was—“The only thing that will make me feel okay again is another baby.” But the road to pregnancy wasn’t simple. And even when she finally conceived, she didn’t feel joy. Or hope. Or love. This episode is for anyone who's been told that a new baby will "fix it"—and then finds themselves drowning in guilt when it doesn’t feel that...

176. Modern Jewish Dating Meets Fertility with Aleeza Ben Shalom

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

Renowned Jewish matchmaker Aleeza Ben Shalom joins us for a raw and honest conversation about the intersection of egg freezing and dating. We get into the pressure, the judgment, and the impossible choices many women face—whether they want to freeze, don’t want to, or simply can’t. Aleeza also shares how this shows up in the dating world: men asking about egg freezing before a first date, when (or if) to bring it up in the dating process, and what real support looks like from friends and family. Whether you’re navigating this yourself or walking alongside someone who is, listen with an...

175. "I Will Always Be Someone Who Lost Her Twins" an Anonymous TFMR story

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

In this anonymous and deeply moving episode, a woman shares the story she never imagined would be hers. She always thought getting pregnant would be a struggle, but when it finally happened naturally (and it was twins!), there were mixed emotions... because she and her husband both carry a serious genetic disorder. And that meant there was a possibility the babies might be affected. What follows is a harrowing journey of diagnostic testing, endless waiting, and pain. This is a story about maternal love, medical complexity, and emotional devastation. About the babies she chose to...

174. This Wasn’t How It Was Supposed to Go with Julia Makowsky

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

In this raw and real conversation, we sit down with a therapist and mom of four who opens up about what it was like to fall apart just when everything looked “fine.” She shares the unexpected crash of antenatal depression during her third pregnancy, the challenge of diagnosing herself when she’s supposed to be the expert, and how she finally got the help she needed. We talk about receiving a BRCA+ diagnosis after her mother’s cancer, deciding to undergo a preventive mastectomy (with a hysterectomy still to come), and grieving the loss of future fertility. Julia also reflects...

173. Stillbirth and Still Standing: Sarah Guigue’s Story

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

“I finally wanted this baby—and then I lost her.” In this heartbreaking and brave conversation, Hasidic Hipster Girl Sarah Guigue shares the story behind her stillbirth with honesty, vulnerability, and warmth. It's filled with hope, loss, and survival, told with stunning courage. Sarah grew up carrying adult responsibilities from a young age. Taking care of her siblings, holding the household together, she longed for freedom. So when she got married, she felt relief. Independence. And for a long time, no desire to have children. It took years of healing and...

172. Surrendering: Bianca Jade’s Story of Fertility, Faith, and Finding Herself

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

What happens when you do everything "right," but life doesn’t follow the script? In this deeply honest conversation, Bianca Jade—a 46-year-old Jewish Latina woman—shares the winding, emotional path of her fertility journey. From freezing her eggs in her late 30s after a much-needed push from her therapist, to getting married at 44 and diving headfirst into trying to conceive, Bianca opens up about the pain of two miscarriages, the complexity of waiting, and the quiet grief of time passing. We talk about what it means to take control - switching clinics,...

171. The Silent Half: Why His Mental Health Matters with Michael Neuman, LCSW

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Michael Neuman, LCSW joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about... -his own personal fertility journey -his clinical work -what it’s like for men to carry invisible grief, societal pressure, and silence—all while being expected to "be strong" -the emotional toll of fertility journeys and loss on men -what it looks like when men are struggling and what actually helps (and what really doesn’t) when you’re trying to support a partner More about Michael: Michael Neuman, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist based in Miami and Hollywood, seeing...

170. Head First, Fearless: How a Single, Gay Jew Became a Dad with Chaz Naor

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Chaz Naor joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about... -the raw and remarkable story of how he became a father through surrogacy -the emotional complexities, logistical challenges, financial hurdles, and moments of deep joy that shaped his path to parenthood -what led him to pursue fatherhood on his own -the decision to use surrogacy and the entire process from choosing an egg donor to the moment his daughter was born -how Jewish tradition community played a role in his journey -the hope and strength required along the way -what he wants other men,...

169. This Wasn’t the Plan: Choosing Motherhood on My Own with Jordana Brown

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Jordana Brown joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about... -her journey becoming a frum single mother by choice -the unexpected path that led her here and how she never imagined this would be her story -the emotional toll of letting go of “the plan” and the strength it took to move forward anyway -the moment the decision became real, egg freezing, the heartbreak of multiple pregnancy losses, and the incredible strength she had to keep trying -how people judged, supported, misunderstood, and sometimes surprised her—and what she wishes...

More Episodes

On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Estie Rose, MS, CGC, Heather Hipp, MD, and Gail Heyman, join Aimee Baron, MD for the second episode of our 5-part IWSTHAB x JSCREEN Podcast series is all about Fragile X. When people think of genetic testing before pregnancy, they often think of Tay-Sachs or cystic fibrosis—but Fragile X is just as important and far less understood. In this episode, Estie Rose and Dr. Heather Hipp explain the difference between recessive and X-linked conditions, what it means to be a Fragile X carrier, and how it can affect fertility and family planning.

We also hear from Gail Heyman, who shares her deeply personal journey navigating Fragile X in her own family—and how that led her to advocacy. Whether you're building your family or supporting someone who is, this episode is filled with insight, honesty, and heart.

-Click here to watch Part 1: Introduction to Genetics and Infertility

More about Estie:

Estie Rose is a certified genetic counselor at jscreen. She has a special interest in community education and serves as a resource for individuals who are facing genetic health issues.

Connect with Estie:

-Follow her on Instagram

More about Heather:

Dr. Heather Hipp is a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) physician and an Associate Professor at Emory University School of Medicine. She earned her undergraduate degree at Duke University and then her MD degree at Emory University, where she continued her training in residency and fellowship. She is the Program Director for the REI fellowship at Emory and serves as chair for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Education Committee. Her profession memberships include American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, and American Gynecological & Obstetrical Society. She is also on the National Fragile X Foundation Scientific and Clinical Advisory Committee. Her research focuses on women who are carriers for the fragile X mutation and their risk of premature ovarian insufficiency, as well as trends and outcomes of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in the United States.

More about Gail:

Gail Heyman is a passionate advocate and leader in the Fragile X community. After her son was diagnosed in 1989, she co-founded the Fragile X Association of Georgia and has served as its director ever since. Her family’s experience—spanning three generations affected by Fragile X conditions—fuels her tireless work to raise awareness, promote research, and support others navigating similar challenges. Gail also serves on JScreen’s advisory board and has received national recognition for her leadership in genetic advocacy and inclusion.

-Click here to learn more about Gail's story

-Check out Carly Heyman's book, My eXtra Special Brother

-Learn more about Fragile X here

Connect with JScreen:

-Visit their website

-Coupon Code: IWSTHAB18 for $18 off initial testing (no expiration date on this offer)

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