Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

Talking Away the Taboo is the podcast for anyone in the Jewish community struggling to have a child and is seeking a place for emotional support and comfort. It is a show that will help you learn while validating your feelings and processing the hardship and to teach everyone else to be more sensitive. Each week, Dr. Aimee Baron and her guests will be talking away the taboo of infertility, pregnancy loss, infant loss, surrogacy, adoption and more. Your best friend just had a stillbirth and you don’t know what to say? This is the space for you. We laugh, we cry and we challenge the Jewish community to think differently about a topic that has for so long been shrouded in secrecy and shame. Join us on the wild, unpredictable, and gut-wrenching journey of creating a family. Follow I Was Supposed To Have A Baby on Instagram and TikTok at @iwassupposedtohaveababy. To find out more about I Was Supposed To Have A Baby, visit our website at iwassupposedtohaveababy.org

169. This Wasn’t the Plan: Choosing Motherhood on My Own with Jordana Brown 05/11/2025

168. Second Chances, Sacred Choices: A Fertility Story of Love and Genetics with Sarah Ickovitz 05/09/2025

167. “Normalize It” with Dr Jessica Zucker 05/07/2025

167. “Normalize It” with Dr Jessica Zucker On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Jessica Zucker, PhD, joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about... -her new book, “Normalize It” -how she expands her lens to address a multitude of challenges that women face- that so often make them stay silent -how to speak about the uncomfortable to help make you feel less alone (even though I hate that phrase- listen to hear why!) More about Dr. Zucker: Dr. Zucker specializes in reproductive and maternal mental health, which means she primarily works with women who are contemplating or struggling with pregnancy, pregnancy and infant loss, pregnancy after loss, pregnancy ambivalence, during transitions in motherhood, prenatal and postpartum adjustments, birth trauma, perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, and in the midst of relationship challenges after the birth or loss of a child. In her critically acclaimed, groundbreaking book I Had a Miscarriage, Jessica Zucker boldly exposed the silence, stigma, and shame that surround pregnancy loss and demonstrated the need to normalize conversations around painful reproductive events that too often go unspoken. In Normalize It, Zucker expands her lens to address a multitude of challenges women face—from girlhood, body image, motherhood, reproductive choice, sexual trauma, menopause, and more—that so often incite shame and overwhelming cultural pressure to stay silent. Based on patient stories, coupled with cutting-edge psychological research, Zucker fearlessly shares her insights into the shame and stigma that shroud so many women’s experiences and explores the liberation that can follow when we get vulnerable and talk about the hard stuff. Connect with Dr. Zucker: -Check out her new book, -Take a look at her -Follow her on Connect with us: -Check out our - Follow us on and send us a message -Watch our -Follow us on -Watch us on /episode/index/show/iwassupposedtohaveababy1/id/36378740

166. Fragile X Syndrome: A Silent Factor in Infertility 05/06/2025

166. Fragile X Syndrome: A Silent Factor in Infertility 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 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 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 to learn more about Gail's story -Check out Carly Heyman's book, -Learn more about Fragile X Connect with JScreen: -Visit their -Coupon Code: IWSTHAB18 for $18 off initial testing (no expiration date on this offer) -Follow JScreen on Connect with us: -Check out our - Follow us on and send us a message -Watch our -Follow us on -Watch us on /episode/index/show/iwassupposedtohaveababy1/id/36366005

165. Fill Your Cup with Shirel Korobkin 04/22/2025

165. Fill Your Cup with Shirel Korobkin On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Shirel Korobkin, joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about... -her deeply personal fertility journey -the stillbirth she experienced four years ago, a recent miscarriage, and the ongoing pain and resilience that define life after loss -the powerful parallels between her own struggles and the journey of the Jewish people in Egypt -what it means to seek liberation while still walking through grief -tangible ways to care for yourself and “fill your cup” this holiday season—especially if your heart feels heavy during a time that celebrates freedom and renewal More about Shirel: Shirel, with a background in colour management and graphic communications, made Aliyah (moved) to Israel in 2020. During her first few months as a new immigrant (olah chadashah), Shirel discovered she was pregnant. After a healthy pregnancy, at 26 weeks, Shirel found out there was no heartbeat and had to deliver her baby. Shirel felt she had no one to turn to for support. Shortly after her loss she moved to a remote city with no English-speaking resources, friends, or family, which created a void for the support she desperately sought. She found IWSTHAB who helped guide her through her loss, a pregnancy after that loss (PAL), and eventually welcoming a healthy rainbow baby. Shirel currently resides in Harish, Israel, and is very involved with developing events and support for the English-speaking community there. She is very grateful to be working with IWSTHAB and looks forward to giving back to the very same community that helped her through her most difficult moments. Shirel understands the challenges new immigrants and members of English-speaking communities face while navigating their fertility journeys in Israel and looks forward to providing support with compassion, empathy, and understanding. Connect with Shirel: -Send her an -Join one of Shirel's Connect with us: -Check out our - Follow us on and send us a message -Watch our -Follow us on -Watch us on /episode/index/show/iwassupposedtohaveababy1/id/36096310

164. At The End Of My Rope: My Hysterectomy Story with Chaya Kasten 04/10/2025

163. Turning Pain into Purpose with Chaya Hott 04/07/2025

162. From Heartbreak to Hope: My Surrogacy Journey with Carly Joseph 04/03/2025

161. Surrogacy Unfiltered: Everything You Wanted to Know (but were afraid to ask) with Aliza Abrams Konig 03/31/2025

161. Surrogacy Unfiltered: Everything You Wanted to Know (but were afraid to ask) with Aliza Abrams Konig On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Aliza Abrams Konig joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about... -the complex and deeply personal journey of surrogacy—one that comes with unique challenges, especially within the Jewish community -the realities of surrogacy, the emotional and halachic considerations, and the questions that so many intended parents struggle with -finding a “kosher” surrogate—how hard is it, and what are the costs? Are grants available? -the emotional and relational aspects—how involved are partners, and how does that shape the bond with the baby? -preparing for someone else to carry your child—what if disagreements arise? -explaining surrogacy to your child—when and how to tell them, and do some parents choose not to? This conversation is honest, raw, and full of insight for anyone exploring surrogacy or supporting someone on this path. Whether you’re considering surrogacy yourself or just curious about the experience, this episode sheds light on the deeply personal and communal aspects of building a family through surrogacy. More about Aliza: Aliza Abrams Konig is the Director of Student Leadership at Yeshiva University. Throughout Aliza’s career, she has worked within areas of student life, team building, creating curricula, and enriching the experiences of thousands of students through Experiential Education. Earlier in Aliza's career she served as the YU Director of Alumni Engagement, Assistant Principal at Central, Yeshiva University High School for Girls, Director of Student Life at Stern College, and as the Director of Jewish Service Learning for the University, where she built the service learning curriculum and established chessed missions around the world. Aliza is a member of the inaugural Wexner Field Fellows program through the Wexner Foundation. She has spoken worldwide in synagogues, community centers, and schools about leadership, education, faith, prayer and issues related to the contemporary Jewish family, dating, infertility, surrogacy and family, and is a sought-after consultant on surrogacy. Aliza holds a BA in Judaic Studies from Stern College, and a Master’s in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and is now a doctoral candidate at Wurzweiler. Aliza, her husband Samuel, and their family live in Riverdale, New York, where they are very involved with their community, synagogue, and other local organizations. Connect with Aliza: -Send her an Connect with us: -Check out our - Follow us on and send us a message -Watch our -Follow us on -Watch us on /episode/index/show/iwassupposedtohaveababy1/id/35926080

160. Finding Calm in the Chaos with Dr. Aliza Ancier 03/13/2025

159. Speaking the Unspoken - A TFMR Story with Rachel Polans, MS, CGC 02/24/2025

158. A Decision I Never Imagined: An Anonymous TFMR Story 02/21/2025

157. Introduction to Genetics and Infertility 02/10/2025

157. Introduction to Genetics and Infertility On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Natalie Richeimer, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor, Education and Outreach Manager at Jscreen, Bat-Sheva L. Maslow MD, REI, RMA, and Rena Fox, RNC-OB, BSN, join Aimee Baron, MD to talk about genetics and Infertility. The introductory episode of our 5-part IWSTHAB x JSCREEN Podcast series dives into the genetic aspect of fertility and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) workups, setting the stage for an engaging and informative series that blends expert knowledge with deeply personal stories. Moderated by Dr. Aimee Baron of IWSTHAB, in this epsiode, we speak to Natalie, a reproductive genetic counselor, will explain what a genetic counselor does and how genetics factor into infertility evaluations. Dr. Batsheva Maslow (REI) will provide a medical perspective on infertility evaluations and how certain diagnoses and/or findings can help direct treatment. And finally, Rena Fox will share her personal journey as part of a carrier couple who chose IVF for genetic reasons, shedding light on the real-life implications of genetic fertility challenges. More about Natalie: Natalie Richeimer, MS, CGC, is a board certified genetic counselor at jscreen with clinical experience in adult, pediatric, and reproductive genetic counseling. She holds a master's degree in human genetics and genetic counseling from the Keck Graduate Institute. Natalie is a native Torontonian, who lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two boys. She has published research in the Journal of Genetic Counseling on the impact of orthodox Jewish clergy’s role in prenatal genetic counseling. Prior to her work as a genetic counselor, Natalie worked as a high school STEM teacher for 7 years in Los Angeles. She is passionate about reproductive health education and community engagement. Natalie has a special interest in outreach, with the goal of increasing awareness of and access to genetic counseling. Natalie has partnered with local organizations and high schools to provide community education. More about Dr. Maslow: Dr. Bat-Sheva Lerner Maslow is double board-certified in OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility and is the lead physician at the Reproductive Medical Associates of New Jersey - Jersey City office. Dr. Maslow has a special interest in education, research, and the clinical care of single women considering proactive fertility preservation. Outside of the office, Dr. Maslow lectures and writes on the intersection of halakha and reproduction. She serves as the Director of Medical Education for the North American Yoatzot Halacha Program and is a board member of several organizations related to Jewish women and health. She maintains an active educational presence on social media discussing issues related to reproduction in the Jewish community. Dr. Maslow attended Barnard College and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She completed residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania and fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at the University of Connecticut, where she also completed a master’s degree in clinical and translational research More about Rena: Rena is an experienced nurse with 6 years in labor and delivery and 2 years in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). Having personally gone through IVF, she combines professional expertise with personal insight to provide compassionate care and support to those navigating fertility challenges. Connect with us: -Check out our - Follow us on and send us a message -Watch our -Follow us on -Watch us on /episode/index/show/iwassupposedtohaveababy1/id/35197875

156. My “Miracle” Baby After 14 Years with Chani Melamed 01/20/2025

155. From Ambivalence to Joy: Miscarriage and Pregnancy After Loss with Shira Collings 01/16/2025

154. Becoming A Single Mother By Choice Part 2 with Michelle (Malka) Grunstein 01/15/2025

153. Think Before You Speak: The Stigma of Having *Only* One Child with Sharon Cabelly 01/02/2025

152. Navigating the Challenge of Secondary Infertility with Nechamie Stefansky 12/31/2024

151. The “Value” Of A Fertility Journey: What The Torah Has To Say About Infertility and Pregnancy Loss with Hadassah Shemtov 12/29/2024

150. Journeying to Becoming a Solo Mom By Choice with Michelle (Malka) Grunstein 12/02/2024

149. Reimagining Parenthood with Rachel Shanken 11/25/2024

148. From Choice to Calling: The Journey to Becoming a Single Mother By Choice with Ellie Levi 11/22/2024

148. From Choice to Calling: The Journey to Becoming a Single Mother By Choice with Ellie Levi On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Ellie Levi, joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about... -her story of becoming a SIM: Single Intentional Mom to her 3 year old daughter, Ayelet HaShachar -her thought process and emotions about each stage of the process -the experience of being one of the first to her freeze eggs in her community -how she tried to stay true to halacha (jewish law) throughout -the many ups (some very funny moments!) and downs (lack of support from some people in her life, insensitive comments, etc.) The thing about Ellie is that she's so articulate, meticulous and intelligent - it's clear that she has investigated every area of this journey, and just like Rachel said to Yaakov/Jacob, "I am dead without children," Ellie felt that being a mother was her calling. This is her remarkable journey. More about Ellie: Elisheva [Ellie] Levi is a licensed architect in the state of New York and has designed schools, hospitals , high rise residential, transportation and infrastructure facilities. She is a self-described life-long student of Tanach and to that end she has given Torah lectures in Jewish communities across the US and in several countries around the world. You can listen to recordings of her shiurim on yutorah.org and OU Women’s Initiative. She has been published in the YU Torah to Go, the Times of Israel blog, the New York Times Metropolitan Diary and Architectural Record Magazine. Ellie also serves as the past President of the American Friends of Bat Melech, a domestic violence shelter serving the religious community in Israel, an organization for which she continues to volunteer. She is also the lucky SMBC (Single Mom by Choice) of her daughter Ayelet HaShachar and they reside in Northern New Jersey. Connect with Ellie: -Follow her on Connect with us: -Check out our -Follow us on and send us a message -Watch our -Follow us on -Watch us on -Connect with us on /episode/index/show/iwassupposedtohaveababy1/id/34060401

147. Navigating the pain and grief: A personal story of primary infertility and infant loss with Elissa Felder 10/29/2024

147. Navigating the pain and grief: A personal story of primary infertility and infant loss with Elissa Felder On this episode of Talking Away The Taboo, Elissa Felder joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about... -her years of primary infertility, coupled with the devastating loss of her infant son -her book, “From One Life to the Next Life: The Sacred Passage After Death,” which has become a lifeline for those navigating the churning waters of grief -her raw, soul-baring journey from paralyzing grief to living a life infused with purpose and passion -words of wisdom gathered from Elissa's personal life and expertise on living a fuller, more intentional life More about Elissa: Elissa started and actively manages the only international community of practice for women engaged with traditional Chevra Kadisha (Burial Society). The community mission is to share experiences, give encouragement, network, learn together and help to develop and support each other. She is responsible for building the community and providing on-going professional development. The knowledge she has acquired motivated her to write a personal memoir of loss and grief weaving in Jewish teachings about life, death and afterlife. Her book, “,” was published by Mosaica Press. She is also the head of the women’s division of the Rhode Island Chevra Kadisha and is a sought after speaker on topics of life, death, the work of the Chevra Kadisha and grief. In addition, Elissa is the Coordinator for all of ’s Communities of Practice. These communities offer training, resources and support for those who want to strengthen their communities on an intentional and ongoing basis. In her role, Elissa helps each of these many international communities grow and thrive. Locally, Elissa Founder and Director of Core Connects RI, a non-profit organization that aims to deepen women’s connections to one another, to Jewish wisdom and Jewish values, to empower each other to find greater meaning, purpose and possibility in life and to cultivate unity without uniformity. As director she is passionate about providing others with opportunities to grow and become. She runs programming both online and in person. Elissa works tirelessly to bring Jews together and celebrates the commonalities rather than the differences. Through all of these experiences Elissa mentors and encourages others on their journeys and even finds time to teach a weekly Parsha class. Connect with Elissa: -Contact her via -Check out her -Purchase her Connect with us: -Check out our -Follow us on and send us a message -Watch our -Follow us on -Watch us on -Connect with us on /episode/index/show/iwassupposedtohaveababy1/id/33586697

146. Infertility, Miscarriage and Grief Against The Backdrop of October 7th with Shirel Korobkin and Shani Weinmann Kay 10/21/2024

145. Exploring the Emotions of the Struggle to Have A Baby with Aliza Tropper, LMHC 10/08/2024

144. My Infertility Story: Lessons from Chana and Penina with Tee Simpser 10/01/2024

143. Busting Myths Around Treatment Options Before, During and After Pregnancy with Esther Rollhaus, MD 09/18/2024

142. Infertility, Trauma, Grief, Addiction, and Endometriosis with Rachel Daar Cohen 09/17/2024

141. Pain Doesn’t End…or Does it? with Chavie Bruk 09/10/2024

140. I'm Not a Grandmother and I'm Perfectly Fine with Peri Lyman 09/03/2024

Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

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