Sam Leeson - Podcast Details

Shows

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation ✨ becoming babyREADY: A year of stories. A world of families. ✨In this special reflective episode of becoming babyREADY, Sam looks back on the conversations that shaped 2025 — a year defined by courage, complexity, and connection.This season brought together Queer parents, hopeful parents, professionals, artists, advocates, and storytellers from around the world.From filmmakers and authors to midwives, lawyers, coaches, and everyday families, each guest shared deeply personal stories of how their families came to be.Across continents — from Canada and the U.S. to Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Australia, and beyond — one truth echoed again and again: there is no single way to build a Queer...

2026-01-0822 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Sam talks about the 100th episode of becoming babyREADYOver the past 100 episodes, I’ve had the absolute privilege of connecting with some truly remarkable Queer Professionals and Queer Parents. Each conversation has opened my mind, challenged my assumptions, and left me inspired in ways I never could have imagined. Together, we’ve explored the beautiful, messy, courageous, and deeply personal journeys of family creation in our community—and it’s been nothing short of transformative.Saying I’m honoured doesn’t even begin to cover it. These guests have shared their stories with vulnerability and strength, and I am endlessly grateful.And to you—yes, you...

2025-06-2640 min

What Excites Us!Fertility Awareness, Hormones & Body Literacy for All with Sam LeesonDid you know that understanding your body’s natural cycles can empower you—whether or not you ever plan to get pregnant? In this episode, I’m joined by fertility educator and inclusive family planning expert Sam Leeson to explore why fertility awareness is essential for everyone, not just those trying to conceive. We talk about body literacy, how to teach kids to feel at home in their bodies, and the hormonal journeys that affect us all—including unique insights for trans and 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. Sam, founder of babyREADY and babyREADYlgbtq, brings over 20 years of experien...

2025-06-1939 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Sabrina chats with becoming babyREADYSo many people dream of having a baby and building a family, only to be met with the harsh reality of how financially out of reach the process can feel. So what do you do?If you're Sabrina and her wife, you start by exploring online donor profiles—searching for someone who feels like the perfect fit for your future family.Today, Sabrina shares their incredible journey to parenthood, including the emotional rollercoaster of a 92-day NICU stay with their newborn baby girl.Want to learn more about Sabrina and her family? Follow th...

2025-04-2450 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Tiq Milan chats with becoming babyREADYOne of the most painful challenges in parenting can be navigating the breakdown of a relationship, especially when it feels like the world—and the system—isn't on your side.Today, I have the honour of introducing you to Tiq Milan. His story is deeply moving. Right now, Tiq doesn't have a relationship with his daughter, after the courts in Texas ruled in favour of his ex.Despite the heartbreak, Tiq continues to seek out light in the darkest places. Grounded in his faith, he chooses hope, resilience, and love—finding moments of beauty and streng...

2025-04-1745 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Joanna Johnson @unlearn16 chats with becoming babyREADYSometimes, the most important conversation isn’t just about how we’ve built our families—it’s about how we shape the world in which we raise them.Today, I’m honoured to welcome Joanna Johnson to the podcast. We discuss the state of the world today and why every vote in every election truly matters.Learn more about Joanna and her insights by following her across social media @unlearn16.

2025-04-1043 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Sarah & Gina chat with becoming babyREADYIf there is an up or a down that a two uterus parent household can face than Sarah and Gina have faced them all! Today I introduce you to a pair of moms living in Cyprus, who have been through it to create their three gorgeous children. You can learn more about Gina & Sarah by checking out their IG page @you.me.our3**There were some delays as we recorded so you will find that I didn’t ask a lot of questions and they shared their story from the heart**

2025-04-031h 08

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Pasan and Damian chat with becoming babyREADYWhen Pasan and Damian met, well over a decade ago, they weren’t necessarily both on the same page about becoming parents. Flip that switch to when they started dating some time later, and Pasan showed Damian that this was an amazing idea for them. They have had their struggles with determining the best and safest path forward for their family. Today I get to introduce them to you as they sat in their rental in Cyprus with their beautiful twin babies.Follow them and watch their family’s evolution @dads2wins

2025-03-271h 00

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Danielle Venne chats with becoming babyREADYThe moment you become a parent, you understand that if you want your own children to live authentically, you have to model by example. Today, I am honoured to be able to share my conversation with Danielle Venne. We talk about separation and divorce, transitioning and embracing our own queerness as well as re-coupling, and how our children benefit from watching us live authentically.You can learn more about Danielle by following her on IG @venn_danni_gram

2025-03-2041 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Dr Sue Ellen Carpenter chats with becoming babyREADYToday, I'm stepping outside the norm to introduce you to Dr. Sue Ellen Carpenter. While she is not a member of the Queer community, she works closely with and supports Queer individuals and couples in their journey to create families. Through her expertise and the innovative use of INVOcell technology, Dr. Carpenter helps people with uteruses achieve their family-building dreams.You can learn more about the work that Dr. Carpenter does by visiting their website: www.hellobloomfertility.com and visiting the INVOcell website: www.invocell.com as well as by following them on Instagram @hellobloomfertility

2025-03-1349 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Jen & Shawnee Kish chat with becoming babyREADYIf you have been listening to this podcast you know that I have been excited to introduce you to two incredible Canadians, Jen and Shawnee Kish. They joined me today to share their family creation story and explain how they made the decisions that they made on their path to becoming parents. You can learn more about these Canadian icons by following them on social media. You can find Shawnee on TikTok & Instagram @shawneekish You can find Jen on Instagram @jen_kish. And sweet Harley has her own Instagram channel @harleykish

2025-03-0651 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Dana and Helen chat with becoming babyREADYFull disclosure, not only have I been a fan of mombian.com and it’s creator, Dana Rudolph for two decades, but I also love chatting with both Dana and her wife Helen about women’s sports and specifically the PWHL. Today I share with you my chat with both of them. We talked about their family creation journey, and about choosing a donor. We also discussed the evolution of mombian.com (IG: @mombian) and coming to a place in the world where we acknowledge how far we have come even when we know there is a vast...

2025-02-271h 00

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Becca Nayak chats with becoming babyREADYRebecca Nayak is many things; a mom, a step parent, a coparent, a lawyer. Today we have a chance to learn from her about some of the legal framework as it exists for Queer parents in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She offers insight into questions hopeful, expectant, and new parents may want to ask their own legal teams as they navigate family creation.You can learn more about Becca by emailing her at: rnayak@hangley.comOr finding her through her law firm:https://www.hangley.com

2025-02-2055 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Mathew Boudreaux (@mx.domestic) chats with becoming babyREADYWhen you ask Mathew Boudreaux how he feels about being a parent to 11 year old Helena, you can feel the excitement through the screen. Their journey to family creation came by way of public adoption. It was not a traditional way along that pathway though and it was intriguing to hear Mathew lay out all that transpired to allow them to be the family they are today. You may also know Mathew as @mxdomestic. They have a HUGE social media following for doing what they love to do . . . sewing...

2025-02-1350 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Ben Pstashinsky-Skinner chats with becoming babyREADYIt’s true that Ben Ptashinsky-Skinner is likely best known for his acting and comedic prowess but for the last 7 years he has shifted his focus to be dad to Charlotte. Ben and his husband Aaron adopted Charlotte by way of public adoption. They had considered all of the options available to them, as ways of building their family, and adoption felt like the path the resonated most. We were also able to spend some time talking about “blue circles” and he helped to debunk the idea that just because...

2025-02-0643 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Sa'iyda Shabazz chats with becoming babyREADYOne of the most entertaining and engaging facts about chatting with Sa’iyda Shabazz is that you never know where the conversation will go but you DO know that you will love every second of it! Today we chat about coming into one’s own sexuality after becoming a parent as well as then navigating the world of parenting during times of huge international upheaval and turmoil. You can learn more about Sa’iyda by reading her writing on https://www.autostraddle.com and https://substack.com/@saiydashabazz ...

2025-01-301h 00

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Calvin Osili chats with becoming babyREADYToday I have the opportunity to introduce you to Calvin Ozzi. We know a little bit about Calvin's current living arrangements and family dynamics from the conversation I had with his spouse Dr. Jeni Wahlig in season two. This time we dive into Calvin's family creation story from before he partnered with Jeni. He talks about his relationship with his ex-wife and stepping into the role of bonus parent to his stepson 15 years ago. We follow that with conversation about his own egg retrieval and his reciprocal IVF path with his ex-wife which resulted...

2025-01-2350 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Christopher Katis chats with becoming babyREADYHe's a fantastic conversationalist so it was easy to slide into an informative and educational discussion about family creation with Christopher Katis. Christopher isn't new to the parenting process. He and his husband Kelly have two adult sons. That said, his lived experience in creating his family with his husband is remarkably familiar. He is also an author and he has been writing the “Whose Your Daddy” column for QSaltLake.com for years. You can learn more about Christopher and his family by following him @christokatis

2025-01-161h 01

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation The Vallentines chat with becoming babyREADYI promise I didn't spend the whole time fan-girling . . . but I wanted to. I am extremely honoured to be able to speak with the brains behind the outstanding movie, “The Mattachine Family,” writer Danny and director Andy. The Vallentines. If ever there was a movie that highlighted some of the honest and raw emotions that surround Queer family creation, this is it. It is a major motion picture and it has done the Film Festival circuit. You want to see it! Our conversation wasn't only about the work that they do. In fact, the fi...

2025-01-0947 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Sam talks about what's coming in Season 3 of becoming babyREADYI can't believe that we are standing on the precipice of Season 3 after over 80 episodes have been released to date. On "becoming babyREADY" we talk about the best parts of life - even when there are struggles - as they relate to our Queer families and our Queer family planning and creation. This year I will introduce you to both new and seasoned parents as well as professionals who help make these families happen. Are you someone I NEED to connect with? Do you know parents or professionals who would be a PERFECT...

2025-01-0216 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Ashlee Livingstone chats with becoming babyREADYYou hear people talk about taking a deep breath to calm themselves. What does that really mean? How do we use breath work to navigate some of the strong emotions that can be associated with Queer family creation? Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Ashlee Livingstone. Ashlee has been on the Podcast before to speak about boundaries and setting boundaries as expectant and new parents. Today though we're talking about facilitating, using a positive mindset and breath work to support a more regulated nervous system through the more frightening and emotional parts of transitioning...

2024-12-2632 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Christina & Rad chat with becoming babyREADYI am so lucky to introduce you today to Christina and Rad. Between them they have three children; two that Christina birthed and one that Rad birthed. They spoke openly about using a known donor, inseminating at home, and some of the struggles of pregnancy that Rad experienced. Some were a result of being a trans man and some were truly obscure. These two are ALSO travelling, vegan wedding caterers who own, @knifeyspooneykingston. They travel around southern Ontario, providing elegant feast for guests attending weddings. It is also fundamental for them to work to make...

2024-12-191h 00

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Tom Dean chats with becoming babyREADYTom Dean minces no words when he describes the absolute joy he feels in parenting his son with his husband, Brett. Through my conversation with him today, he outlined their experience adopting through the public system in England. You hear joy in every word he utters about parenthood. Follow Tom and Brett on their parenting journey by checking out @dose of deans #becomingbabyREADY #babyREADY #2SLGBTQIA #fertility #surrogacy #adoption #parenting #fostertoadopt #eggdonor #infantfeeding #l...

2024-12-1239 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Jayelle chats with becoming babyREADYWhat if the stereotype of growing up, getting married and having children wasn’t your dream? What if it took meeting the love of your life to realize that having a family together would just make everything even better? Today I get to introduce you to Jayelle, who with her wife Steph, have two beautiful children. They did things their own way. They went private instead of through the NHS. RIVF instead of IUI. And sperm was just an ingredient.

2024-12-0546 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Ravi and Dips chat with becoming babyREADYIt seemed like the perfect set up. An egg donor who was related. It should have been straightforward and easy. And it wasn’t. Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Ravi and dips who our parents to a beautiful baby girl. We have a conversation about the many ups and downs they faced on their family creation pathway. Note: throughout the episode, Ravi refers to IVF. In his context, he is referring to egg donation and egg retrieval and not in vitro fertilization which is the transfer of a fertilized egg into a...

2024-11-2845 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Caitlyn Plaskett chats with becoming babyREADYWhen you are a queer couple with two uterus and you’re talking about starting a family, but one of you works within the realm of adoption services then really, what pathway will you take to create this family? I’m excited to introduce you to Cait. She and her wife “Wanda,” live in Virginia and today our conversation dives into politics, procreation, adoption, and more. To learn more about Cait and her family you can find them on Instagram and TikTok @2.ladies.and.2.babies www.adop...

2024-11-2142 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Liz and Tabitha chat with becoming babyREADYCreating a family using reproductive technology and support in a state that is predominantly red can be isolating and emotionally challenging. Today I chat with Liz and Tabitha about their family creation journey. Liz carried their first child using IUI and Tabitha is getting geared up to carry baby number two. We chat about the ups and downs of conceiving a baby and growing our families, as well as the challenges we face with the existence of current legislation and how laws differ from state to state and country...

2024-11-1458 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Danielle and Paige chat with becoming babyREADYWhen a used to be lawyer and a paediatrician get together and decide they want to create a family and need sperm to do it then logically they would end up creating their own business to accommodate their specific needs in a known Donor. Today I get to introduce you to Danielle, reformed lawyer (her words) and Dr. Paige to hear their family creations story and how that led to starting their own business. Additionally, you will hear us speak about a Queer physician database, and the link for...

2024-11-0756 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Dr. Jeni Wahlig, PhD chats with becoming babyREADYWhat do lesbian relationships, PCOS, cross-country moves, fertility treatments, trans spouses and polyamory have in common? The answer is obvious, Dr. Jeni Wahlig. Today Dr. Jeni shares her story about her struggle to family creation, as well as the evolution of discovering who she is, in her soul. Additionally we have the opportunity to learn more about what Dr. Jeni and her partner, Cal, do in their work together. They empower couples and individuals with strategies to live their best lives. To learn more a...

2024-10-3148 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Katherine Kent chats with becoming babyREADYMany people in the Queer community assume that they will not struggle with conceiving as long as they have the gametes needed to create a foetus. The reality of the situation is that Queer individuals are no more exempt from fertility challenges than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. Today I have the opportunity to speak with Katherine Kent about the entire journey she and her wife have been on to create the family they have. We talk about insurance and cost and benefits and emotional struggles. We discuss honestly the...

2024-10-241h 05

Friends With Fertility Creating Inclusive Paths to Parenthood with the Founder of babyREADY Sam LeesonIn this inspiring episode of Friends with Fertility, we sit down with Sam Leeson, a seasoned birth professional with over 25 years of experience, and the founder of babyREADY. Sam has supported thousands of individuals and families through their parenthood journeys since launching babyREADY in 1998. What started as a resource for pregnancy and birthing support has grown into a hub for Queer Family Planning & Creation, Parenting Coaching, and Newborn Preparation for Intended and Adoptive Parents. Sam shares the evolution of babyREADY and their deep commitment to fostering safe, inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ families. With a podcast, b...

2024-10-2329 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Ali Hendry chats with becoming babyREADYWhen we decide to create a family with a partner many of us assume that we are with our forever love and that our relationship will last forever. Statistics and reality often remind us that that may not be the case. Today I have the gift of speaking with Ali Hendry of www.alihendry.co.uk about the 4 year journey she and her ex-wife embarked upon to create their family, the ending of that relationship and the value of having a respectful and open co-parenting relationship moving forward. To...

2024-10-1741 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Ginny Gane chats with becoming babyREADYUnfortunately, the reality of life is that for some people creating a family isn’t easy. Today the conversation I have with Ginny Gane is very different than other episodes I have recorded so far. For them, when they started to discuss family creation, there were two uteruses in the relationship however, only Ginny wanted to carry. So what if that doesn't work? What if IUI, IVF, etc don’t work and adoption or surrogacy is the only alternative? How do we navigate our feelings and come to terms with t...

2024-10-1042 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Mariah & Solicia chat with becoming babyREADYWe hear people talk about the ways that pregnancy, labour and birth can be different for everyone but one of the most fun ways to talk about that is when there are two people, each with a uterus, from the same family telling their stories. Today I am speaking with Mariah and Solicia about how each of them were able to carry and birth a child - with the help of a friend who was their known donor, giving them the family they have today. To learn more about...

2024-10-0356 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Family Plans & Trans chats with becoming babyREADYThe reasons we decide to create our families the way that we do is as varied as the people making these families. Today I have the chance to introduce you to a new mom (names and locations are being withheld to maintain safety for my guests) who chats about how she and her husband, a tradesman, made the choices they did. They navigated PCOS, a private donor and a challenging pregnancy to become the family of three that they are today. To learn more about this family, you can follow them on Instagram @familyplansandtrans

2024-09-2644 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Sam chats about becoming babyREADYWith almost 2 years under the "becoming babyREADY," belt, it felt right to pause for a moment, and just highlight exactly how the show got started and some of the kinds of stories we've celebrated. On the show today, I take a few minutes to talk not only about all of this but also about the in person event that will be happening next June 2025. I know I am lucky to be able to do the work that I do and connect with the people that I connect with. Each a...

2024-09-1909 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Chandra Clayton chats with becoming babyREADYOne of the biggest challenges for Queer parents is finding a network and community of Queer peers who have families that look like yours. Chandra didn’t have that network so she created it. Today I have the chance to introduce you to Chandra Claybon, the founder of the Lesbian Mom’s Club. We talk about the founding of this organization, but we also talked about all three of her children and how she came to be their parent, as well as the book that she and her four-year-old collaborated on. To learn more ab...

2024-09-1244 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Julia & Ali chat with becoming babyREADYThroughout my conversation with Julia and Ali, there were moments of laughter and levity, as well as moments of true seriousness as they share their story of family creation. We talked about rules and laws in various parts of the world. We talked about midwifery care and doula support. We talked about homebirth and hospital birth. And more than anything we discussed that every human has the right to do what works best for them, their body and their family as they navigate the journey to parenthood. This was tr...

2024-09-0550 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Janei chats with becoming babyREADYWhen you set out on your journey to create a family, you don't always immediately take into consideration where it is that you live. What are the rules and regulations in the part of the country where you live? What are the expectations? Today I have the chance to introduce you to JaneiJackson and we talk about the journey that she and her wife (Takiya) embarked upon; using IUI for the first pregnancy and RVF for the second. Sometimes you will hear their sweet son(Blake’s) voice in the background. ...

2024-08-2928 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation David Miller chats with becoming babyREADYSometimes when you come out later in life, you have already experienced things like having a family that potentially your new partner hasn’t had the opportunity to enjoy. So what do you do? If you are David Miller, then you start the journey with your new love, and you plot out, of course, to create a new life through surrogacy. Today I have the opportunity to share and Dave’s story with you about how their son Miller came to them. Learn more about David and Dave follow them...

2024-08-2242 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Dan Emerson chats with becoming babyREADYAll of us know that when you’re creating a Queer family, there are many decisions that need to be made. Dan Emerson is my guest today and we will talk about the choices he and his husband, Steve, made when navigating their path to start their family. You will light up because you will hear the smile on Dan‘s face as we talk about their journey to becoming the dads of Andy. You can see more of Dan’s parenthood pathway by checking...

2024-08-1538 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Monte & Mario chat with becoming babyREADYMy conversation today contains conversation about the role religion can play in the dynamics of a relationship, especially when it comes to creating a family. I have the distinct honour of introducing you to Mario and Monte and they may not be new to you. You may have seen them on their Instagram @marioandmonte. You may have seen them on the Ellen show (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-yoa7e7Qfo) in the Spring of 2021. You may also have seen them on the Hulu series, “We Live Here: The Midwest.”

2024-08-0851 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation You & Me Makes Three chats with becoming babyREADYToday's episode is a little bit different. Let me introduce you to Emmalie. Emmalie and Hansof co-writers who are working collaboratively to create a short film that depicts a lesbian couple hoping to start a family. At the moment, they are process of trying to get together resources to put this production together. Their hope is that this will become a feature film which highlights, in an entertaining fashion, at least one of the ways that Queer couples can create a family. So as I say, it's a little bi...

2024-08-0135 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Jerome (Seahorsedaddy_22) chats with becoming babyREADYThere are many people in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who think that Queer trans individuals have it “easy” when it comes to creating a family. After all, both parties have the potential to have the necessary reproductive organs to create and carry a child. What gets completely disregarded and ignored is the dysphoria and hormone dysregulation that can come with needing to alter the hormone treatments and therapies that have been part of someone's life for (potentially) many years. Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Jerome. Jerome is a kind and articulate man...

2024-07-2532 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Stevy & Michelle chat with becoming babyREADYToday I’m excited to introduce you to Stevy and Michelle from Adelaide, Australia. We had a chance to talk about both of them navigating endometriosis, then egg retrieval, RIVF, searching for a donor, finding a clinic that makes you feel welcome and safe and so much more. In the background, you will hear a sweet little voice from their three month old as the conversation unfolds.

2024-07-1852 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Yanica & Leah Faustin chat with becoming babyREADYI am excited to introduce you to Yanica and Leah Faustin, a “Multicultural Two Mom Family.” Our conversation went so many different places. One of the key elements we discussed was how, with an interracial family, you need to constantly advocate for your children while at the same time, important it is to teach children feel confident advocating for themselves. We also talked about something that straight couples & many Canadian lesbian couples don’t need to take into consideration when creating a family; a non-birthing and/or non-biologic parent needing to actually ADOPT THEIR OWN CH...

2024-07-1148 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Bryan and Kevin Stanton chat with becoming babyREADYWell, of course I’m going to launch this episode when it’s the week of “Stanton family day!” You know that the story is going to be good when the snippet that you get to know about is that they legally adopted three of their children the same day that they legally got married because the laws changed to allow that to happen. The conversation I have with Bryan and Kevin Stanton is one you don’t want to miss. We talk about adoption and Foster to adopt. We talk about some of the emotion...

2024-07-0449 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Perfectly Muddled chats with becoming babyREADYSometimes the only thing that you know for certain is that you want to become a parent. When you first start thinking about it, you aren't necessarily certain whether or not you want to be biologically related to the child or if just simply being someone's parent is enough. Today I have the distinct honour of being able to introduce you to Graham and Shaun from Perfectly Muddled. After much soul-searching, they chose to adopt a child from the foster care system. They educated themselves in Canada and in the UK and are now...

2024-06-2745 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Mark O'Looney Cannon chats with becoming babyREADYHaving a mixed race child is one decision that parents may make. Having a child with Irish parents born outside of Ireland is another. Having a mixed race child with an Irish parent who is ALSO is in a same-sex relationship is yet one more. Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Mark O'Looney-Cannon, one half of @twomenandasurrogacy. We have an in-depth conversation about all of these topics and more; not the least of which is the discriminatory legislation that all members of the Queer community (birthing children inside AND outside of...

2024-06-201h 02

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Lauren Brown chats with becoming babyREADYMany people with a uterus dream of birthing a baby some day. Lauren took that dream to the next level when, as a child, she remembers having a literal dream wherein she felt the baby move. Dreams were kind of a theme of the conversation I have today with one half of @thetwomom_browns, Lauren. Lauren is the parent who birthed their two children with the eggs of her wife. We talked about Reciprocal IVF, donor sperm, surrogacy (because Lauren wanted to do what she could to help two m...

2024-06-1348 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation David FM Vaughn chats with becoming babyREADYAll of us know that there is very little that is more serious in this life than family creation and child rearing. Sure there are moments of happiness, joy and excitement. There are also moments of frustration, anger and overwhelm. What brings everything together in a universal fashion is the way we let ourselves laugh about all of it. Today I have the gift of being able to share with you the conversation that I had with one half of The Gaytriarchs Podcast Duo, David FM Vaughn. Sure, we had some serious conversation about h...

2024-06-0654 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Marea Goodman LM, CPM chats with becoming babyREADYThis is one of those rare occasions when I have the opportunity to speak with someone who literally ticks ALL of the boxes. Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Marea Goodman. Marea is a queer parent to 3 children, a queer midwife, the founder of the community “Pregnant Together,” fertility coach, author, and really, if it is related to family creation, I suspect they have done it. We spend time talking about the role midwifery can play in the fertility process as well as through pregnancy, labour, birth, and postnatally. We dive into...

2024-05-3033 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Sam chats with Laurel about the Queer Family Planning EventI flipped the tables today. On my other podcast, @boobsbodsandbrains, I work with a cohost, @laurelcrossley. Today Laurel and I chat and she is interviews me about the upcoming queer family planning event that I am hosting in June @the519. Ultimately, before I started this podcast, my focus was to bring together Queer professionals and Queer parents to speak to the questions that 2SLGBTQIA+ people have or may have as they think about a life that includes parenthood for themselves. What do they need to know. How much will i...

2024-05-2326 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Keeley Shantz, RMT chats with becoming babyREADYHaving a massage can feel luxurious and frivolous to some people. Other people understand the physically therapeutic benefits. Whether you see a Registered Massage Therapist for relaxation and fun, or for therapeutic reasons to treat existing challenges and concerns there is no debate that this treatment can leave some people feeling vulnerable. Today I have the opportunity to speak with Keeley Shantz, a Registered Massage Therapist from Ajax, Ontario. Keeley addresses the need for care providers to be conscious of their bias and their language when they're working with vulnerable populations. Keeley also talks a...

2024-05-1635 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Freya Lyon chats with becoming babyREADYMeet Freya Lyon. She and her wife, Hannah, have two beautiful children that were created using IUI and open-donor sperm. In and of itself, not necessarily a new topic of conversation here on this show. What is new is that Freya herself is donor conceived. Her moms wanted children and used IUI and an anonymous donor to conceive both Freya and her sister. Funny isn’t it? Sometimes we are so wrapped up in our own journeys of family creation that we let ourselves forget that this option has been available for decades.

2024-05-0936 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Lara Stewart Panko chats with becoming babyREADYAlmost every parent out there will tell you that it is the most amazing and rewarding thing they have ever done. What many of them may feel - but are often too embarrassed to admit - is that it is also the scariest and loneliest thing they have ever done too. Today we have the chance to speak with Lara Stewart Panko, a Social Worker and former birth worker about the modalities she employs to support birthing parents and their partners both through pregnancy and the postnatal period and also even decades later as they navigate understanding a...

2024-05-0226 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Eddy Lin chats with becoming babyREADYWhen the desire to create a family comes then it feels as though there aren’t any hoops we won’t jump through to become the parents of our dreams. Today we are connecting with Eddy - as it was nearing midnight in Taiwan - to learn about the surrogacy journey he and his husband embarked upon to become parents to their sweet boy. They learned some of what the possibilities were by attending a Men Having Babies convention in Taiwan. Whether it was crossing an ocean to find support somewhere that it was safe, or navi...

2024-04-2534 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Laine Halpern Zisman chats with becoming babyREADYReally, is there anything that Laine can't do when it comes to helping people prepare for their parenting path? Today I have the opportunity to introduce all of you to Laine Halpern Zisman. She explains all of the different ways that she supports people from the moment they begin thinking about creating their family through parenthood; whether it is offering fertility, prenatal and birth support, through her business: Queer Conceptions or as she volunteers with Birthmark. Laine does it all. She is an inspiration and to learn more about her and the work she does, p...

2024-04-1822 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Bret Shuford chats with becoming babyREADYThere are a variety of ways to create a family with the help of a surrogate. Some people use an agency, others don’t. Some use a gestational carrier they know, others don’t. Some use an egg donor they know - or are related to, others don’t. The list is endless as to the possibilities. One thing is for certain. It isn’t a fast way to create a family. It isn’t an inexpensive way to navigate this pathway. It isn’t without emotional ups and downs. Today we ha...

2024-04-1135 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Azura Goodman, RN & IBCLC chats with becoming babyREADYAs soon as one hears the designation “lactation consultant” they immediately envision someone who is going to insist upon feeding baby human milk, from the body, at all costs. Our conversation today with Azura Goodman reminds us that the most important thing is to first, feed the baby!! Second, do what your heart tells you to do and stop listening to the voices of the people around you who are not supporting you where you are on your parenting pathway. Have a listen to the wisdom Azura has to share...

2024-04-0436 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Bridget and Michelle chat with becoming babyREADYIf you know anything about queer family creation than you know that there are a variety of different ways that a family can be created. Surrogacy, adoption, IVF, IUI, RIVF, and the list goes on and on. Today you have the opportunity to listen to the conversation I had, just before the end of 2023, with Bridget and Michelle about the choices that they made and all of the various paths that they investigated to create the family that they have today. They are engaging and dynamic speakers and I learned SO much from them! Y...

2024-03-2839 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Dr Jess Nazareth chats with becoming babyREADYGenerally speaking, when we think about Naturopathy and creating a family, we think of the supplements that can be prescribed and if for a queer family, perhaps what the people with uteruses need to do in order to stay as healthy as possible. Today, as we have a chance to talk with Dr. Jess (she was not yet finished writing her ND exams but has since earned the designation of doctor) she is able to explain the role she plays - as outlined above - and also for surrogates, intended parents, parents wanting to...

2024-03-2116 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation The Kepfords chat with becoming babyREADYThe idea of setting yourself up to foster a child can be overwhelming at best. The fear is always present that something will happen, and the child will be, as the state intends, to be returned to the birth parents. This week we have the honour of hearing the story of Ramiro and Cameron, The Kepfords, about their journey to becoming foster parents. As a result of choosing that path, they were able to create a family consisting of five humans and two dogs. To learn more about this be...

2024-03-1441 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation What exactly is babyREADY? And the Pride Month baby show! Welcome to Season 2 - Episode 1 of the "becoming babyREADY" podcast. On today's episode you'll have a chance to hear me describe where babyREADY came from, why I am hosting this podcast and all about an in-person, baby event being staged in Toronto during Pride Month, 2024. I would love to have the opportunity to chat with you and learn more about you and the path you and your hopeful family are on. Please visit my website to connect with me. https:www.babyREADY.info Find me on all of the social media channels as...

2024-03-0713 min

Tree Amble Series 2 Episode 7 - Alasdair and Sam On The CroftScotland / Crofting / Native Breeds / Rainforest Woodland Sam and Alasdair's croft is in a beautiful location overlooking the sea and includes land by the water. It also rises up sometimes quite steep wooded slopes to the foot of the "hill" behind. This croft has supported generations of folks from its small but productive grazing fields yet it also contains remnants of what we might now call Temperate Rainforest or even, this close to the sea, Maritime Rainforest. This zone of rainforest has moderate year round temperatures and high humidity.. it is extremely rare and every bit as valuable a...

2024-01-0947 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation 2moms1oven chat with becoming babyREADYThe countdown was on! As we recorded this conversation, Nyema was days away from a scheduled induction. It was amazing, enlightening and fascinating to have the opportunity to speak with Nyema and Sondra about their journey through parenting. Neither is new to the parenting journey and yet this was a new way for their family to have a baby. Using technology that is cutting edge, INVOcell, they were able to harvest eggs from Sondra and have Sondra carry the fertilizer egged while they incubated for 5 days before they were transferred to Nyema to carry to...

2023-12-2843 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Jen Bowers, TCM & RA chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ My conversation today, with Jen Bowers - TCM Practitioner, based in Toronto, ON, centres around how they love to provide the kind of support you may need while going through a journey as vulnerable and unfamiliar as fertility. Jen describes how TCM practices and acupuncture can facilitate the reduction of stress, balance hormo...

2023-12-2137 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Marnie and Tova chat with becoming babyREADYAdmittedly, when I started this conversation, I knew very little about the foster care system in Ontario (and I acknowledge that I still have a LOT to learn). Through speaking with Marnie and Tova today I had the opportunity to learn more about the journey to be coming, foster parents and the process of adoption through the CAS organization. The story that Tova and Marnie share about meeting and adopting their son and then later, having the opportunity to meet and adopt their daughter is inspiring, heartwarming and so much more. I invite you t...

2023-12-1451 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Dr. Cyndi Gilbert, ND chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Dr. Cindy Gilbert, who is a naturopathic doctor in Toronto. Dr. Cyndi’s practice has been focussed on helping individuals and couples achieve their goals of becoming parents. Dr. Cyndi takes the time to explain the role that naturopathic medicine can play in this process.m

2023-12-0726 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Two Wives & a Spark chat with becoming babyREADYWhen I reached out to “Two Wives and A Spark” podcasters Lia and Rachel, I was looking to learn more about their journey to family creation. What I learned from them was so much more! Together we talked about personal journeys, the biases and microaggressions hopeful parents may face throughout the process, and how to advocate for ourselves ALL of the way through the process. If you’ve not listened to their podcast before then I encourage you to have a listen, wherever you like to listen to podcasts.

2023-11-2350 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Lydia-Carlie, RMT/CMT & doula chats with becoming babyREADYToo often when we hear people speaking about massage, we think of a spa-like setting, and us having an opportunity to relax and spend some time doing something for ourselves. That isn’t to say that therapeutic massage can’t be that but it is also (and more importantly), a health practice to ensure that our body is functioning, as well as it possibly can. Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Registered Massage Therapist and Doula, Lydia – Carlie and we have the opportunity to learn through this conversation about the role massage...

2023-11-1636 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Jaimie Kelton, podcaster, chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I have the opportunity to speak with Jaimie, the host of “The Queer Family Podcast.“ Jaimie delved deep into the story of the creation of her family, who carried, who birthed, who struggled . . . We also spent time talking about the importance of the work that she does with her podcast and why her po...

2023-11-0944 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Dr. Donald Littlewood, DC chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I have the chance to speak with and introduce you to Dr. Donald Littlewood, DC. Dr. Donald is a Chiropractor who sees and treats patients in Toronto with a primary focus on working with members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. We touch on the benefit for people to receive chiropractic care throughout thei...

2023-11-0217 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Tom Tracy, Author chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Early on, Tom and his husband knew that they wanted to be parents; they just weren’t sure when they wanted to start that journey, and what that process might look like for them. Today he and I speak about the path they took via adoption in order to become the family of four that they are today...

2023-10-2653 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Christine Lafazanos chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I have the chance to chat with and learn from Christine Lafazanos, Celebrant and Officiant. From the outside it may look unusual that this interview would be included for people who are looking to start or grow their family through parenting but standing back, it is easy to see a perfect fit. Chr...

2023-10-1929 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Patricia chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Patricia and I have an honest and raw conversation about the fertility journey she and her wife have been on. Both parents to a school-aged child, they have been trying to expand their family for a number of years. We talk about the process, the hurt, the fear and the vulnerability they have...

2023-10-1313 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Lucie and Alyson chat with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ The conversation today flows freely as Lucie and Alyson talk about their journey to family creation using the assistance of IVF and as their child, Indigo, moves about around them. Their candid conversation about how well they were treated through the entire fertility, pregnancy and birth process invites hope for those yet to e...

2023-10-0518 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation David chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I have the honour of speaking with David Marshall. David is a father living in Maryland and he is the dad to Josiah. We spend time talking about the adoption process. He went through and how he made the decision to go with a private adoption versus public adoption. You can lear...

2023-09-2847 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Ashlee Livingstone, Coach & Breath-work Guide chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ If there are any times in our lives when we need to establish boundaries in order to respect ourselves, our relationships and the people around us, it’s through the family creation process. Ashlee talks about why boundaries are important and how we can make ourselves AND our loved ones feel cared for an...

2023-09-2129 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Joseph chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ From Canada to Dubai, Italy, India, Kenya the conversation I have with Joseph about his family creation process is one that traverses that globe. One thing is certain throughout it all, no matter what obstacles he was faced with, his commitment to becoming a dad through surrogacy was a challenge he was determined to meet head on. ...

2023-09-1423 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Christina, Egg donor, chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ When you have a part of your body you know you will not use and you know that there are people out there who deeply wish they had access to it, what do you do? Well, most of us wouldn’t do anything at all. Not Christina though. This week I introduce you to an...

2023-09-0719 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Emily & Victoria chat with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ There are various paths that 2SLGBTQIA+ people can take to create their respective families. When there are two people with uteruses instead of two without, it may seem as though the journey would be even easier to navigate. What about the people who don’t want to carry, even if they have the “parts?” Whose eggs are used? Do t...

2023-08-3146 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Morgan Sheridan, CFP chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ As if being a Certified Financial Planner with Edward Jones wasn’t busy enough, Morgan also coparents twin girls with his ex husband. Together, he and I talk about some of the costs associated with becoming a parent through surrogacy, as well as planning both emotionally and financially for parenthood and creating a community in which to grow a...

2023-08-2422 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Kristen and Alexis chat with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Today I am speaking with Kristin and Alexis, a couple from Chicago, who used a known donor to conceive their twin babies. Born well ahead of their due dates, for the safety of both babies and the birthing parent, they have had nothing if not a busy start to their young lives. Alex...

2023-08-1731 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Finn Schubert chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ As soon as you begin, listening to my conversation today, with Finn, Schubert, you will understand what a gifted Speaker he is. He knows what he’s talking about. He pulls no punches and he discusses the value of honouring who we are and respecting where we are on our life’s journey. You ca...

2023-08-1024 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Morgan and Ale chat with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ I am very confident you know Morgan & Ale from their presence on Instagram, TikTok & YouTube. We speak candidly today about the vulnerability associated with putting their lives on display as they create their family. It has its pros; but it also has its cons. You can find this...

2023-08-0318 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Cora Beitel, RM chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Midwifery care is very different from country to country and even within the various provinces in Canada. Today I have the pleasure of sharing my conversation with Cora Beitel, RM in British Columbia. You can find a midwife in BC by visiting: https://www.bcmidwives.com/find-a-midwife.html We delve into what their...

2023-07-2727 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Troy chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ When it comes to talking about intentional family creation, there is no one better than Troy who is one of four co-parents to his eldest child and a co-parent with his ex-husband to three more. They have experienced the ups and downs of family building in both Canada and the US and he lays out the process and c...

2023-07-2023 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Dr. Dustin Costescu, OB/Gyn chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ On today’s episode, I am proud to be speaking with Dr. Dustin Costescu, OB/GYN in Hamilton Ontario. Dr. Dustin speaks frankly about potential obstacles that 2SLGBTQIA+ people may face when seeking care to start or grow a family. He also offers tips on different ways to find care providers who are com...

2023-07-1323 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Jesse chats with becoming babyREADYI am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+ Co-parenting can and does look as vastly different from household to household as family creation does in the 2SLGBTQIA+ world. Today I am talking with my friend Jessie and they are the first to say that they did it their way. Jessie and her ex-wife both each carried a child to create their intentional family. With babies only 18...

2023-07-0620 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Aunjrya McTaggart, IBCLC chats with becoming babyREADYOften, when we think of an IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant) we think about feeding babies exclusively from our bodies. While it is true, that that is one of the roles that a lactation consultant may play, their priority, above all else is that your baby is fed. They also specialize in induced lactation, over supply, under supply, understanding baby’s needs, and so much more. Today we are chatting with Aunjrya McTaggart, IBCLC. She offers insight as to many of the considerations that hopeful and expectant parents may want to think about bef...

2023-06-2923 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Guillaume et Luigi chat with becoming babyREADYWe already know that deciding to start a family that you are biologically connected to is a hurdle that becomes that much more challenging to navigate when neither partner (if you have one) has a uterus. Add to this the laws that make surrogacy illegal in your country of residence and you have a whole other mountain to climb. Where do you find funding? Where do you look for a donor? Where do you look for a surrogate? What are the laws in the place you are looking at going AND what are the laws you will have to w...

2023-06-2224 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Marc Kemerer, LL.B chats with becoming babyREADYOne of the understandings about becoming a parent as a 2SLGBTQIA+ person/couple is that there will be legal considerations, moving forward. Whether it is related to second parent adoption, or surrogacy, adoption, donors or more, the ramifications (as we have recently witnessed in the US) are not to be ignored. Today I am chatting with Surrogacy, Fertility and Reproductive law Lawyer, Marc Kemerer of www.devrylaw.ca in Toronto, ON. To reach Marc either call: 416-446-3329 or email: marc.kemerer@devrylaw.ca **This conversation was originally recorded in Summer 2022 and is...

2023-06-1518 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Jen & Christine chat with becoming babyREADYThe journey to becoming parents is only that requires a lot of open and honest communication. Today we are chatting with my friends, Jen & Christine; parents of a young son and younger daughter. We discuss the costs and the decisions and what parts of the process made them feel as though they were “the other.” **This conversation was originally recorded in Summer 2022 and is available to watch at https://www.babyREADY.info/welcometothebabyshow **

2023-06-0823 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation Elisa Gores, RSW chats with becoming babyREADYThe majority of 2SLGBTQIA+ people looking to become parents and who choose to utilize the services of a fertility clinic, will be expected to spend time speaking with a Registered Social Worker. Elisa Gores joins us today to explain why this appointment is necessary, in terms of what the government orders, as well as why it may be beneficial to people who are still in the planning phase of intentional family creation. You can find Elisa and schedule an appointment with her or learn more about her by visiting her at https://twigfertility.com/ or...

2023-06-0124 min

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation becoming babyREADY TrailerWelcome to my 2SLGBTQIA+ family creation podcast! The first episode will air as of the morning of June 01st. Just in time for PRIDE month! You have decided you are about to embark upon the journey to intentional family creation and we have the resources you are going to need!! Whether you are looking to hear the stories from your peers who have "been there" and "done that" (including what they paid, where they had to travel, the microaggressions they faced and more) or you are looking to learn from the professionals who have guided...

2023-05-0902 min

boobs, bods & brains Are You Baby Ready with Sam LeesonSam Leeson-McCoy - babyREADY & working with 2SLGTQIA+ people Cofounder and co-creator of this boobs, bods & brains podcast, Sam Leeson-McCoy, first began helping people have babies 23 years ago. Over the last 2+ decades her business has grown and evolved to include fertility guidance, doula care, lactation support, prenatal classes, parent coaching and more. Within the last 10 years she has made an effort to focus the majority of her work with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, of which she is a part. She is excited about her upcoming virtual baby show titled ‘Not “The Other“ Baby Show’ which is speci...

2022-06-0324 min

The Pragmatic Doulas Ep 138 - Encore Presentation With Sam LeesonThis week The Doulas are taking some time to relax and have a good long look at the podcast and make some changes and do some revamping to keep it fresh and fun. So in the meantime, enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 28 - "As I Creek My Way To The Car" an episode we did back in July 2019 with the incomparable Sam Leeson of BabyREADY. You can catch her on TikTok as well for lots of great info on birth and pregnancy!! As always you can reach us at ThePragmaticDoulas@gmail.com

2021-08-301h 30

Other Side of Texas Beto keg-stands + #ReagorGate self-help line + Sam LeesonLeeson delves into how and why Ted Cruz is beating Beto O’Rourke. We review ReagorGate courts docs and the ReagorGate help line. And Lubbock Police Chief Greg Stevens overviews the penalties involved in the rash of 806-yard sign thefts. Learn more about The Other Side of Texas by visiting our website at: www.othersideoftexas.com And a great way to keep up with us anywhere that you are is by following The Other Side on facebook at: www.facebook.com/OtherSideofTexas/

2018-09-1955 min