7 Things You're Doing That Makes Your Guests Uncomfortable with Tzipora Grodko [Re-release]
Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron
Release Date: 09/28/2025
Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron
In this episode of Talking Away the Taboo, Aimee sits down with Shira Sussi, a registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, for an honest conversation about pregnancy loss, the challenges of returning to work afterward, and her journey of building a family while holding joy and grief simultaneously. Shira shares her path to motherhood, which includes multiple losses, two medical terminations, and the emotional complexities of parenting after loss. She opens up about the stigma surrounding pregnancy loss and termination, as well as how grief has reshaped...
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In this episode of Talking Away the Taboo, Dr. Baron is joined by Hadassah Eventsur, an occupational therapist and life coach, for a deeply needed conversation about neurodiversity in Jewish life, and how that contributes to a smaller family size. Hadassah reached out to name something many women feel but struggle to articulate: the pain of wanting a large family while knowing that undiagnosed ADHD or other neurodivergent traits make the day-to-day demands of parenting feel overwhelming or unsustainable. Dr. Baron names this experience as circumstantial infertility, where...
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In this episode of Talking Away the Taboo, Dr. Baron is joined again by Pam Krooth as they pick up right where their first conversation ended, the moment Pam received the call about a little boy available for adoption. Pam shares her experience adopting her son, David, from Ethiopia, including the emotional weight of the legal process, the heartbreak of separation during visa delays, and the realities of bringing a young child into a new country, culture, and family. She reflects on the importance of ethical adoption practices, thorough preparation, and honest self-assessment before choosing...
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In this episode, Aimee sits down with Amanda Bryk, a new IWSTHAB board member, to talk honestly about miscarriage, anxiety, and the complicated reality of building a family after loss. Amanda shares her first miscarriage and the shock of learning there was no heartbeat at an early ultrasound, navigating that moment without her husband Darren present due to residency, and the emotional weight of making decisions no one prepares you for. As her losses continued, Amanda opens up about how anxiety followed her into subsequent pregnancies and how grief doesn’t disappear just because you go on to...
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In this episode, Tamar and Giddy share their story - how they met, fell in love, and built a marriage shaped by multiple losses, 11 rounds of IVF, and the constant waiting that comes with not knowing what’s next. They talk openly about how infertility impacts a marriage, how they learned to support each other while grieving differently, and the role therapy, creativity, faith, and community played in helping them survive the most challenging moments. Tamar also shares how their Instagram page, Tales of Tamar, became a creative outlet and source of connection during COVID — and how telling...
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This episode brings together the science, the medicine, and the lived experience behind BRCA mutations. Emily Goldberg, JScreen’s Director of Genetic Counseling Services, breaks down what these mutations are, how they’re inherited, and what the actual cancer risks look like. Dr. Melissa Frey, a GYN oncologist at Cornell who works closely with high-risk families, walks us through what happens after someone tests positive — from screening to risk-reducing surgeries to the big conversations around fertility and timing. We also hear from Heather Boussi, who shares her powerful story of...
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Like so many, Pam Krooth, LCSW, spent years trying not to get pregnant, only to find herself aching for the thing she once assumed would come easily. What followed was a long, emotional road marked by pain, heartbreak, and the slow, painful shift between expectation and reality. Throughout Pam’s story, we see how the path to the family she hoped for looked nothing like what she once imagined, and how hard it was when the timing was out of her control. After infertility, postpartum depression, and a miraculous adoption, she found her way to a different kind of motherhood, which reminds...
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and More about Tamara Stein (J.D.): Tamara is originally from Sacramento, CA, but has been living on the East Coast and in the Midwest for well over a decade. She moved to the Upper West Side of New York City in 2023 to create Base UWS, a pluralistic, diverse, vibrant Jewish community for 20s and 30s out of her and her husband Danny's home. Tamara is a lawyer who received her J.D. from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. On top of helping to run Base UWS, Tamara currently works full-time as the Deputy Director at Mayday Health, a non-profit that educates folks on medication abortion and how...
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What happens when you have a profound loss, but no grave to visit? In this episode, Danielle shares her unique fertility journey — one that challenges our assumptions about what “fertility struggles” look like. From the joy of welcoming her third child to the unexpected trauma that followed, Danielle opens up about grief that doesn’t come with a funeral, the profound loss of her ability to have more children, and the moments when her pain felt invisible. We explore how her body carries memory and trauma, how medical care and community influenced her recovery, and the ways...
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Infertility isn’t only a women’s issue, though too often, it’s talked about like it is. In this episode, we’re digging into male factor infertility: what it means, how it’s diagnosed, and how it impacts couples emotionally, physically, and relationally. We’re joined by Paul Kassebaum, a quantum physicist, and his wife Julia Cohen, an economist, who live in Westchester, NY. In 2021, their family-building journey took an unexpected turn with a diagnosis of male factor infertility. They open up about the medical and emotional twists and turns of their path, and why they hope sharing...
info_outlineWith the holidays around the corner, we’re bringing back our conversation with Tzipora Grodko: 7 Things You’re Doing That Make Your Guests Uncomfortable.
This episode is a gentle but honest reminder that gatherings can be complicated, especially for those navigating fertility struggles and loss. As we head into a season filled with meals, family time, and community, it’s worth listening again with fresh ears—and a little extra sensitivity.
Previous Episodes with Tzipora Grodko:
- Episode 178: Finding Strength in Unwritten Chapters with Rachel Honeyman, Tzipora Grodko, and Peri Lyman
More about Tzipora Grodko, LMSW:
Tzipora Grodko is a dynamic public speaker, psychotherapist, and coach who inspires audiences across the Jewish world with powerful messages of confidence, resilience, and personal growth. Her viral talk, Things Shadchanim Should Know, reframed the “shidduch crisis” with a more compassionate lens, making her a leading voice in single advocacy.
Ranked as the #1 Meaningful People episode of 2022, Tzipora has since traveled globally, speaking at schools, organizations, and events on topics like mental health, leadership, and breaking societal stigmas.
She recently launched Stories of Hope, the first Orthodox podcast of its kind, featuring extraordinary stories of unexpected love. Through her work, she continues to inspire deeper understanding, broader possibilities, and a future filled with support and hope.
Connect with Tzipora:
- Follow her on Instagram
- Visit her website here
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