Protecting Her Fertility Future in the Face of Breast Cancer
Release Date: 10/07/2024
Fighting for Firefighters: Maia Brown’s Mission to Change Infertility Support
This is Infertility
Guest: Maia Brown, President of The Beltane Guild Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny Firefighters face physical and emotional challenges at work, but what about when they’re facing challenges with fertility? In this episode we hear from Maia Brown, a firefighter paramedic and president of , a nonprofit dedicated to firefighter reproductive health. Maia shares her deeply personal journey, from discovering in the middle of paramedic school, to undergoing IVF, to realizing how little support exists for firefighters facing fertility and family building...
info_outline
From Pain to Purpose: Founding the Carlos Rodón Foundation
This is Infertility
Guest: Ashley Rodón, President of the Carlos Rodón Foundation Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny In this powerful and personal episode, Ashley Rodón, wife of Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón and President of the Carlos Rodón Foundation, opens up about their emotional path to parenthood. Ashley shares how her dreams of starting a family were met with unexpected heartbreak, multiple pregnancy losses, and the resilience to keep moving forward. From the devastation of her first miscarriage to the miracle of her daughter Willow, Ashley reflects on the highs and lows of...
info_outline
Fertility 101: The Basics of Genetics and Genetic Testing
This is Infertility
Guest: Jay Shaw, MS, CGC, Senior Product Manager, Fulgent Genetics Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert. Today’s episode is a deep dive into the role of care and planning. We’re joined by Jay Shaw, a certified genetic counselor and Senior Product Manager at , who walks us through the basics and beyond when it comes to genetic testing. We start with a foundational...
info_outline
Beating the Odds: From Cystic Fibrosis to Fatherhood
This is Infertility
Guest: Dustin and Tequila Menken, Progyny Members at TE Connectivity Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny “I grew up with an expiration date.” Dustin Menken was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that brought him lifelong health challenges and made him part of the 98% of men with CF who are infertile. He never imagined he’d live to see 40, let alone become a father. But with persistence, support from his wife Tequila and a critical fertility benefit from his employer, TE Connectivity, through Progyny, Dustin beat the odds. Again. In this episode,...
info_outline
UFCW Local 152: How Personal Pain Led to Life Changing Benefits
This is Infertility
Guest: Danny Ross, Jr., UFCW Local 152 President Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny Danny and Elizabeth Ross got married at 26, excited to start their lives together and hopeful about growing a family. When they started trying, they were met with a series of challenges that changed everything. Elizabeth was diagnosed with and . Danny had male factor infertility. After a year of trying to conceive, they were told their best option was . At the time, they had no fertility coverage. They started with . One attempt turned into two, then six, then thirteen....
info_outline
Fertility 101: Sperm with Dr. Turek: Everything You Didn’t Learn in Health Class
This is Infertility
Guest: Paul Turek, MD, FACS, FRSM, Founder of The Turek Clinic Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert. When it comes to fertility, men are half of the equation, but too often, they’re the half that gets forgotten or overlooked. This Men’s Health Month, we’re joined by Dr. Paul Turek, a world-renowned urologist and male fertility expert, to talk all things sperm, from how it’s made...
info_outline
Reimagining LGBTQ+ Family Building: A Midwife’s Perspective
This is Infertility
Guest: Marea Goodman, Co-Founder of PregnantTogether Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny For LGBTQ+ individuals and couples going through their family building journeys, having a medical support system that truly understand their lived experience can make all the difference. In this episode, we hear from Marea Goodman, a licensed midwife, parent of three, and co-author of about the role and importance of a midwife. Marea explains how midwives operate across a wide range of settings, from hospitals and fertility clinics to birth centers and home births. While midwives...
info_outline
Family Building Without Barriers: Maggie’s Reciprocal IVF Journey
This is Infertility
Guest: Maggie Garnsey, Progyny Member at Santander Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny For LGBTQ+ couples, traditional with little to no access to the actual coverage. Many are forced to undergo unnecessary, emotionally taxing procedures to meet outdated definitions of infertility. For Maggie and her wife, Alli, they thought they would need to pursue , like many of their friends. However, Maggie discovered that her employer, Santander Bank, offered through Progyny and that they had something rare: options. In this episode, Maggie takes us through their family...
info_outline
From Struggle to Storybook: The Journey Behind Cupcakes Everywhere
This is Infertility
Guest: Erin Sarris, Progyny Member Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny When Erin Sarris and her husband first visited a fertility clinic, they were hit with unexpected news: severe male factor infertility and an immediate recommendation to pursue IVF. What followed was a long, winding, and often painful journey filled with setbacks, from failed cycles to loss and emotional isolation. Now a mother of three and author of , Erin shares how infertility reshaped her view and inspired a metaphorical children's book that captures the bittersweet reality of struggling to...
info_outline
Building Better Benefits—for Bread Financial and Herself
This is Infertility
In this episode, we hear a deeply personal and professional journey. As a benefit’s leader, Deanna Allison was on a mission to bring better fertility and family building benefits to her company, Bread Financial. Simultaneously, Deanna had also just set out on her own path to parenthood, realizing she would likely need support to build a family. Deanna shares how her team's search for better benefits led them to adopt Progyny, a decision driven by lived experience, better outcomes, and the desire to truly meet their associates' needs. Deanna was able to utilize...
info_outlineIn honor of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re highlighting Joyelle Fleming’s story with breast cancer, which began at the young age of 31. During her journey, Joyelle was faced with a difficult decision – what to do about her future fertility given the impact of cancer treatment. With the support of her doctors and access to fertility benefits through Progyny, Joyelle was able to freeze her eggs and focus on fighting cancer.
In this episode, Joyelle reflects on her experience, from navigating fertility preservation to finding strength and support from loved ones and breast cancer advocacy groups. Her story highlights the power of proactive choices and the peace of mind they can provide in the face of life’s toughest moments.
To learn more about oncofertiltiy, check out resources here
Breast cancer resources mentioned in this episode:
Guest: Joyelle Flemming, Progyny Member at Genentech
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].