MILES: Men, Infertility, and Life Experiences: Recent Episodes
Steven Miller
Infertility impacts 1 in 8 couples in the United States. This includes men, but we rarely talk about how infertility impacts us. MILES podcast highlights the male experience of infertility to help other men going through infertility, miscarriage, or other family-building issues. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
This episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Clayton Brigance, who recently got his PhD in Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. We talk about his own experience through infertility, as well as the research he has been doing regarding trauma and infertility. A recent study of his showed that 43% (primarily women) had symptoms of PTSD due to reproductive trauma.
Dr. Clayton Brigance, PhD, LPC, is the founder andclinical director of Shiloh Counseling, LLC, in Ballwin, Missouri (just outsideof St. Louis). Clay’s clinical focus and utmost passion is working with couples,navigating infertility and reproductive loss. Clay and his wife have had theirown experiences with infertility, which was recently published as aduoethnography in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy. Clayhas also published several other articles as well on counseling couples goingthrough infertility and reproductive trauma in some of the top scientificjournals, such as The Family Journal, Contemporary Family Therapy, and PsychologicalTrauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
Clay is on the Healthcare Task Force for the Instituteof Reproductive Grief Care in San Diego, California, where he works withmedical doctors, nurses, and other mental health professionals on how toadvocate for couples going through the unique journey of infertility. Clay hasspoken on this special topic across the country to various audiences, includingthe American Psychological Association. Clay is currently Level III trained inGottman Method Couple Therapy and will soon seek full certification. Clay’sdissertation was focused on how couples achieve couple satisfaction in theirrelationship during infertility from the lens of the Gottman Method. Clay, hiswife, and their two miracle boys live in Ballwin, Missouri (though Clay isoften pining away for his home state of Kentucky).
Clayton Brigance, PhD, LPC | LinkedInShiloh Counseling (shilohcounselingllc.com)
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
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Happy National Infertility Awareness Week! To kick off the week, I decided to release a couple of episodes, and this is the first one.
At some point in our fertility journey, we have all been told to relax and that stress is the cause of our infertility struggles. I have heard several people talk about this through my connections and on the internet. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Angela Lawson, a licensed psychologist at Northwestern Fertility and Reproductive Medicine in Chicago. We discuss if this anecdote is either fact or fiction and what is behind the idea of stress causing infertility. This episode is for all the people that have been told to relax.
Dr. Lawson is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Psychiatry at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. She is a clinical and forensic psychologist specializing in women’s reproductive health and sexual and other traumas. She joined the faculty at Northwestern in 2008, where she provides clinical consultation as well as psychotherapy related to infertility and other reproductive concerns. She also conducts research on the psychological aspects of infertility and trauma. Dr. Lawson serves as a past Chair of the Executive Committee for the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, is the Chair of the Mental Health educational track at the annual Midwest Reproductive Symposium International conference, and the Chair of the LGBTQ Speciality Interest Group of ASRM.
Angela K. Lawson, PhD | Northwestern MedicineFertility and Reproductive Medicine (nm.org)
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/miles-podcast/support
In this week's episode, I talked with Dr. Kristin Brogaard, the Chief Scientific Officer at Inherent Biosciences. We discuss the lack of research on male infertility and what Dr. Brogaard is doing about this issue.
Kristin Brogaard received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Northwestern Universitydeveloping a novel epigenetic technology that allowed for single-base pairresolution mapping of DNA binding proteins genome-wide. To continue hertraining in technology development, Dr. Brogaard worked as a postdoc with Dr.Leroy Hood, a pioneer in personalized medicine technologies, developing newmethods for low-level antibody capture and quantification in blood for earlydetection of autoimmune diseases. After her postdoc, she continued to work withDr. Hood as the director of a human-subjects clinical trial based on Dr. Hood’svision of the intersection of systems biology and personalized medicine. Fromthe results of the clinical trial, the team launched a scientific wellnessstart-up, Arivale, where Kristin was the Director of Program Management andresponsible for directing the formation, communication, resourcing, and trackingof Arivale’s quarterly strategic objectives and their associated keyperformance indicators.
Kristin co-foundedInherent Biosciences Inc. and acts as Chief Scientific Officer to combine herpassion for epigenetics and personalized medicine. At Inherent, she usesepigenetic discoveries to answer unexplained medical conditions, providingbetter diagnostics and treatment plans. Outside of work, Kristin loves to hike,cook, and spend time with her husband, two kids, and crazy dog.
(4) Inherent Biosciences, Inc.: Overview | LinkedInSpermQT (“Sperm Quality Test”) (@path.fertility) | InstagramInherent Biosciences
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/miles-podcast/support
This week's episode I was able to sit down and talk with Ryan Ferrante, who is a Reproductive Attorney in Chicago. Not only is he an attorney, but he is also on the volunteer committee and has an active part in the planning of Federal Advocacy for Resolve. Federal Advocacy Day is where people like you and me can get involved in speaking with our legislators to pass pro-family building legislation at the federal level. Ryan and I talk about our experiences with this day, as last year was my first year sharing my infertility journey with legislators from Wisconsin. Also, we talk about the importance of advocating for legislation in our state government to increase access to fertility treatments. Building Families Alliance in Wisconsin are hoping to do just that, so the 172,000 people in Wisconsin can have better access to treatment. Only 19 states have mandated insurance coverage for fertility treatments and Wisconsin is not one of them, meaning that citizens in those states will be out of pocket for treatments such as IVF, which can cost around $45,000. Below are ways that you can get involved in Federal Advocacy Day on 4/25 and Building Families Alliance if you are in Wisconsin. The best part? You can do it from the comfort of your residence because it's virtual. It's not too late to sign up. Your story is powerful, and you never know who needs to hear it.
Register at:
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
Building Families Alliance: SurveyLegend SurveyHome | Building Families WI
Ryan's Social MediaRyan Ferrante (@ryancferrante) • Instagram photos and videosRyan C. Ferrante | LinkedIn
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/miles-podcast/support
A fertility pharmacist by day and a film director by night, Tarun Verma, during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, had decided that he was going to make a film about infertility and the experience both men and women go through. His film, Conception, has been shown at film festivals and is currently on Prime Video. Tarun and I discuss his experience filming the movie and infertility.
Watch Conception | Prime Video (amazon.com)Troon (@mrtverma) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/miles-podcast/support
On this week's episode, I have Dr. Bill Petok, who has provided mental health support to couples and men with infertility since 1985. We discuss how he got involved in Reproductive Mental Health, trends he has seen with men responding to infertility, and SART. SART is the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology. Bill Petok earned his doctorate from the University of Maryland in 1978. His practice specializes in the problems of individuals and couples struggling with infertility for whom building the family they desire is challenging.
Bill Petok > Home (drpetok.com)
SART: Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology
References
Angela Lawson (@aklawsonphd) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
In this week's episode, I speak with Dustin Gruss, who, instead of pursuing IVF or other fertility treatments, he and his wife chose to do foster care. Now foster care doesn't automatically mean that you're going to adopt, but in this case, that is what happened. Dustin is the host of the podcast Family By Heart. Dustin has worked for over 20 years in the customer service industry, striving to meet and exceed the expectations of customers and clients alike. Over the last 8 years as a Certified Professional Coach, Personal Trainer, and Motivational/Public Speaker, or "Greatness Facilitator" as he prefers to call it, are the years that have been the most meaningful. Giving clients the tools, encouragement, and motivation to meet their goals and see them transform and impact their world- is the fulfillment and gratification his soul has been looking for.
Dustin's Social Media:
ABOUT | Step Up To Greatness
Dustin Gruss (@familybyheartpod) • Instagram photos and videos
Dustin Gruss (@familybyheart) / Twitter
References:
Transformations by Cleveland Angels - Home (cleangels.org)
NATIONAL ANGELS - Home | National Angels
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
In this week's episode, I have the privilege of talking with Brian Koszala, a colleague whom a mutual co-worker introduced to me. Brian Koszala is 40 years old and from Wisconsin. He lives with his wife and boy/girl twins. He has a history of mental health issues and addictions. He considers himself in long-term recovery from it and now helps others along in their recovery as a Certified Peer Support Specialist. Brian found out about his Klinefelter Syndrome diagnosis at the age of 33 while trying to have his kids. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/klinefelter-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353949 The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact InfoSteven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videosSteven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videosThe MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | FacebookEmail: themilespodcast@gmail.com--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
In this week's episode, I had the privilege of talking with Alease The Embryologist. Alease has a degree in Genetics from NC State and is an embryologist at a fertility clinic. As patients, we often don't see the behind-the-scenes of a fertility clinic, and Alease has been doing an amazing job of highlighting this aspect of IVF on Instagram and TikTok. We talk about everything from the procedures, training, and future of the field of Reproductive Medicine. Is embryo grading just a beauty contest? Listen to find out.
If you're interested, Ebonie Freeman, an MSW student from Baylor University, and I will give a presentation on Infertility, Mental Health, and Racial Equity issues with Infertility on March 23rd at 6:30 pm (CST) via Zoom. Here is the link to register for the event: https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9B9OGmY7JVX9ewS
Alease's Social Media
Alease (Daniel) Barnes, B.S. 🔬 Embryologist (@alease_the_embryologist) • Instagram photos and videos
Home | Alease The Embryologist
Alease Daniel Barnes (@aleasetheembryologist) | TikTok
Alease The Embryologist | Facebook
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
This week's episode is my first one that is more informational. I had the privilege of talking with Dr. Carolyn Alexander, a board-certified OB/GYN, Reproductive Endocrinologist specializing in PCOS. She received her medical degree from UCLA and completed her Residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Reproductive Endocrinology. Currently, Dr. Alexander works at Southern California Reproductive Center. Dr. Alexander’s expertise has been featured in media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Redbook, Bustle, MindBodyGreen, WebMD, KTLA, and the TV series Arranged, among others. She is also a medical expert for the Project Baby website and blog and a consultant for ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy.
Dr. Alexander's Social Media
Instagram: @scrcivf
Twitter: @DrCAlexanderFer
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Major Unrecognized Cardiovascular Risk Factor in Women - PMC (nih.gov)
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
This week I talked with Daniel Landau, the founder and executive director of Men's Helpline. Men's Helpline is a non-profit organization that supports men seeking emotional support after losing a child due to a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infertility. Daniel talks about his experience using fertility treatments, such as IVF, and differences in access to fertility treatments, as Daniel is in Israel. We also talk about the reasons why he created Men's Helpline. His social media accounts and website to the organization are listed below.
Home - MensHelpline
Instagram: Mens Helpline (@mens_helpline) • Instagram photos and videos
Twitter: Mens Helpline (@menshelplineorg) / Twitter
Facebook: MensHelpline.org | Edison NJ | Facebook
MenTalk| The Podcast, With Daniel Landau | Podcast on Spotify
References In This Episode
Nonsense: The Power of Not Knowing: Holmes, Jamie: 9780385348393: Amazon.com: Books
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter
(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
Ryan Smith, the author of "Finally....An Infertility Book for Dudes: Navigating Infertility from the Male Perspective", shares his experiences of infertility, along with reasons why he decided to write a book. We talk about miscarriage, IVF treatment, and the miles-long journey it took to get where he and his wife are today.
Ryan Smith's Social Media
Instagram: @ryansmith_infertility_author
Link to Book: FINALLY! . . . An Infertility Book for Dudes: Navigating Infertility From the Male Perspective: Smith, Ryan: 9798834299691: Amazon.com: Books
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Instagram: @sjmiller2024 @milespodcast
Twitter: @miles_podcast
Facebook: Search for The MILES Podcast
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
In the first season's last episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Paul Hamilton, a mechanical engineer, an avid bowler, and a traveler to explore the world. He shares his experience with being diagnosed with Azoospermia, when there is no sperm found, and how he was able to process the complex emotions that came with adjusting to a new reality. Paul is from North Carolina, originally from New Jersey. We further discussed how he was able to process through using Donor Sperm. Paul is also the host of the podcast Shooting Blanks, where he goes into more detail about his journey with infertility. His social media is listed below.
Instagram: @the.shootingblankspodcast
Email: Paul@shootingblankspodcast.com
References
Dr. Julie Bindeman, Twitter: @drjulieb Instagram: @drjuliebindeman
The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, MD
Thank you so much to the listeners of the episodes during the first season! It means a lot to mean that you take time out of your busy lives to listen to the content. I will take a break from the podcast due to wanting to focus on my classes since I'm taking three classes, one being an independent study on Fertility Counseling and Reproductive Trauma. I will release new episodes starting in January 2023 and already have some guests scheduled. If you would like to be a guest or know someone that should be a guest on the podcast, please feel free to reach out to my social media or email. As always, if you could rate, subscribe, or leave a comment on whatever platform you use to get your podcasts, it would be greatly appreciated. I hope you have enjoyed the first season, and I'll be back in January.
The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info
Instagram: @sjmiller2024 @milespodcast
Twitter: @miles_podcast
Facebook: Search for The MILES Podcast
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
In this week's episode, I talk with Dr. Ku from Dallas IVF about his experience with Infertility. Yes, even fertility doctors can have infertility. We talk about how Asian culture can create barriers and stigma for infertility patients, as well as what it was like to experience infertility while doing fertility treatments for his patients. Lowell T. Ku, M.D. is an award-winning and leading provider of infertility treatments in the Southwest United States. As a senior physician at Dallas IVF, he is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Ku is a pioneer in the field of infertility. He has published numerous papers in respected medical journals, including Fertility & Sterility. Dr. Ku recently published an article on technology and Infertility treatment. Nationally, Dr. Ku has presented his cutting-edge research on infertility, PCOS, frozen embryos, and the effects of estrogen deficiency on the immune system. Dr. Ku is currently on the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility board serves on the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He serves on the board of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He also serves as the Chairman of the Technology Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Ku has served as the Chief of Staff of Forest Park Medical Center - Frisco. He is a past president of the Alumni Association Board of Trustees at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – Medical School. Dr. Ku has been awarded numerous recognitions, including Texas Monthly Super Doctor® and as a D Magazine Best Doctors in Collin County and Dallas. However, the best award is being nicknamed Dr. KnockedUp by his patients. As one of Dallas’ highly respected infertility experts, Dr. Ku is regularly seen on television and social media, sharing his medical expertise on infertility and reproductive health. Having personally struggled with and overcome infertility, Dr. Ku has a never-ending determination to help his patients overcome seemingly impossible odds to achieve their dreams of parenthood. Social Media Instagram: @drknockedup Twitter: @DrKnockedUp www.dallasivf.com
References in the Episode Mental Health Professional Group of ASRM: https://connect.asrm.org/mhpg/home Domar AD, Zuttermeister PC, Friedman R. The psychological impact of infertility: a comparison with patients with other medical conditions. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 1993;14 Suppl:45-52. PMID: 8142988.
The MILES Podcast Instagram: @sjmiller2024 @milespodcast Twitter: @miles_podcast Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Search The MILES Podcast for the page
Please subscribe and rate the show on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts. This will help other men and couples find the podcast quicker, which means more people being validated that they are not alone. If you would like to be a guest, please message me on my social media or by email.
"The only way we can reduce shame and stigma is by normalizing the experience, and we do this through conversation." -Brene Brown
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
In this week's episode, I greatly enjoyed speaking with Keegan Prue from Upstate New York. He is the author of the book IVF Dad, about the male experience of infertility and things he wished he would have known before his journey with IVF. We talk about stereotypes of infertility that impact men and share experiences where we tried to establish control over infertility that now we can laugh at. Keegan can be followed on his social media ,and I'll have a link to his book below.
Keegan's Social Media
Instagram: @theivfdad
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/IVF-Dad-Learned-Infertility-Journey/dp/0578382229/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3H6R8X1YSWNZC&keywords=the+ivf+dad&qid=1661633328&sprefix=the+ivf%2Caps%2C215&sr=8-1
The MILES Podcast
Instagram: @sjmiller2024 @milespodcast
Twitter: @miles_podcast
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
Facebook: Search The MILES Podcast for the page
Please subscribe and rate the show on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. This will help other men and couples find the podcast quicker, and this means more people being validated that they are not alone. If you would like to be a guest please message on social media or by email.
"The only way we can reduce shame and stigma is by normalizing the experience, and we do this through conversation." - Brene Brown
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
In this week's episode, I talk with Brandon Johnson, LCSW. He is the owner of Infertility Isn't Inferior in Richmond, Virginia, and started the Barren Battles Network. Brandon shares his experience of navigating infertility as a Black man. We discuss everything from adoption, access to treatment, and how culture impacts family-building decisions. You might be wondering why I chose the title for this episode.... You'll have to find out. It's something that I didn't think about and learned.
The MILES Podcast can be found on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. Please rate and subscribe on whichever platform you use to listen to your podcasts. Thanks for listening and walking alongside this MILES long journey.
Books and Social Media Accounts Referenced:
GUYnecology: The Missing Science of Men's Reproductive Health by Rene Almeling
Reproductive Ethics in Clinical Practice, Edited by Julie Choe, MD and Katie Watson, JD
Instagram: @brokenbrownegg
Brandon's Social Media
Instagram: @brandon.therapist
Website: https://www.infertilityisntinferior.com/
YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrob0PWr4dM&t=1496s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL_c2JHceSs
Social Media
Instagram: @sjmiller2024 and @milespodcast
Twitter: @miles_podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-MILES-Podcast-100247942803799
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
This week's guest is Jon Waldman, the author of the book Swimming Aimlessly. Jon is from Winnipeg, Canada, and has advocated for infertility since 2009. He has also done a TED Talk, which I highly recommend. His book is well worth reading, and I will provide links below. In this episode, we talk about navigating IVF in Canada, feelings of being secondary on Father's Day, thoughts on family trees ending, and coping with the stress of the infertility journey.
Social Media/Links for Jon Waldman
- Instagram: @jon_waldman
- Twitter: @jonwaldman
- Link for Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swimming-Aimlessly/Jon-Waldman/9781982143961
- TED Talk: https://youtu.be/8u4xUtPS4bE
Please rate, subscribe, or leave a comment on the platform you are using to listen to The MILES Podcast. Rating and subscribing will help this podcast reach more men and couples struggling with infertility. Please feel free to share the podcast with other men and couples who may benefit from hearing about other men's experiences. If you would like to share your experience with infertility, please reach out via social media or email. I'm looking to schedule Season 2 in January 2023.
Social Media
Instagram: @sjmiller2024 and @milespodcast
Twitter: @miles_podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-MILES-Podcast-100247942803799
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
Today's episode is the first part of Joey Guzman-Kuffel's journey to becoming a father through surrogacy. Joey is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in San Diego, California, and part of the LGBT Community. He and his husband built their family through surrogacy and using donor eggs. During our conversation, we could only get one part of the story and plan on having him back on record for part 2. There was a lot I learned from Joey in this episode, and we can all be enlightened by his experience.
Having been an intended parent and having a daughter through surrogacy, Joey came to realize the important role that mental health professionals play in the IVF and surrogacy process. This led him to transition from working in treatment centers to founding his own private practice, Counseling with Joey.
Joey's Social Media
Instagram: @counseling_with_joey
Twitter: @JoeyKuffel www.counselingwithjoey.com
The MILES Podcast can be followed at
Instagram: @sjmiller2024 or @milespodcast
Twitter: @miles_podcast
Please like, subscribe, and comment on whichever platform you use to help other men and couples find this podcast. The podcast is available on Apple, Google, Stitcher, Spotify, Anchor, or Overcast. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, I can be reached at any of my social media platforms or email themilespodcast@gmail.com.
"The only way we can reduce stigma and shame is by normalizing the experience, and we do this through conversation." -Brene Brown
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
In this episode, I'm talking with Eli Weinstein, LCSW, a therapist located in Las Vegas, Nevada, who has experienced infertility. Eli and I discuss how infertility has impacted his relationships with his wife and other people in his life and how infertility interacted with his Jewish faith. He shares some advice on navigating the journey of infertility.
Eli is a Social Work therapist (LCSW )who has worked in a psychiatric hospital, an intense outpatient clinic and currently runs his private practice in NY + NV. He is married to his wife Ariella and has two beautiful children Rikki + Max.
He created ELIvation, The Dude Therapist Podcast, and became a therapist to fill a need and create a modern outlook on mental health to create a more digestible and relatable view on mental health to help those in struggling times and add some extra inspiration and motivation into everyday life.
Eli has been featured on Kelly Clarkson show, The Trauma Therapist, Mimosas With Moms, Holding Space, Breaking Taboo, Therapy Thoughts w/ Tiffany Roe, and on multiple podcasts ranging from parenting, relationships, mental health, and infertility.
Instagram: @eliweinstein_lcsw and @thedudetherapist
Twitter: @ewein631
Podcast: https://www.eliweinsteinlcsw.com/podcast
Social Media for MILES Podcast
Instagram: @milespodcast and @sjmiller2024
Twitter: @miles_podcast
Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
Chase Pierce shares his experience with being diagnosed with Y Chromosome Infertility and the difficulties in processing this. We talk about ways that he has and still is coping with infertility and the thought processes that he has had. He had reached out to me via Facebook to be a guest, and you can be one too. I have more information on Y Chromosome Infertility listed below and on my social media accounts. Y Chromosome Infertility https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/185/y-chromosome-infertility
Instagram: sjmiller2024 & milespodcast Twitter: @miles_podcast Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
After hearing Friday morning that Roe v. Wade was overturned, I felt that I needed to have an episode on this topic. It has possible implications for fertility treatments, such as IVF, and it affects many people with uteruses in our lives. I talk with Dr. Anna Flores-Locke about the possible implications, as well as how men can support the people with uteruses in our lives.
Dr. Anna Flores Locke is an international award-winning author and educator who has worked in the mental health profession for more than fifteen years. She holds a doctorate in counseling and is a licensed professional counselor in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Puerto Rico. She currently owns Charlandra Counseling Services, a virtual infertility counseling center, and is an assistant professor at Nyack College. Dr. Anna is an active leader in the American Counseling Association and the author of Body Betrayal: Understanding and Living with Infertility and Introduction to 21st Century Counseling: A Multicultural and Social Justice Perspective. From her personal and clinical experience with infertility, Dr. Anna created the Fertility Clarity © approach to infertility counseling. She is a Latina twin mom from Chicago and currently lives in New Jersey.
Therapy | Charlandra Counseling | United States
Latina infertility counselor (@charlandra_counseling) • Instagram photos and videos
Contact Info
Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos
milespodcast@gmail.com
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
Father's Day can be just as tough for men, as Mother's Day is tough for women. In this first episode, I share my experience with male infertility and navigating IVF. I have referenced the Mental Health Professional Group through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. The link is listed below. I encourage the men that have experiences with family building whether that be adoption, ART, childfree not by choice, or other scenarios, it would be great to have you as a guest. Your experience can help out another man that is navigating a similar journey. I can be reached at themilespodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram, @sjmiller2024, or @milespodcast. Thanks in advance for listening to this first episode. Home - Mental Health Professional Group (asrm.org)
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support
Trailer for the MILES: Men, Infertility, and Life Experiences podcast. 1 in 8 couples in the United States are affected by infertility and 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Men are often considered the silent partner when it comes to family building journeys despite 30-40% of cases being diagnosed with male factor infertility. There is very little information out there on infertility and mental health for men, as I quickly noticed when I was going through infertility myself. This podcast will be exploring the experiences of other men who have gone through infertility journeys that are MILES long. Join me when I release my first episode on Father's Day on June 19th, 2022.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/miles-podcast/support