In/Fertility In The City: Recent Episodes

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this powerful episode, we delve into the complexities of fertility struggles in the professional world. Hosted by Natalie Sutherland & Somaya Ouazzani, this panel discussion, held at the London offices of law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, brings together experts and personal stories to illuminate the challenges faced by individuals undergoing fertility treatments.

From the emotional toll to workplace dynamics, our speakers share their journeys and insights, aiming to destigmatise the conversation around infertility. Learn how organisations can better support their employees through inclusive policies and empathetic leadership.

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CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In the final episode of season four, we’re joined by Sophie Docherty, a midwife sonographer with over 10 years’ experience and mum of two, who shares her personal journey through fertility issues.

Sophie, the sister of our episode five guest Amy Simpson (founder of The MBB Method), opens up about her experiences with early menopause, IVF, and ultimately conceiving naturally. We delve into the emotional and professional challenges she faced, the impact of her sister's holistic approach, and the importance of mindset in overcoming fertility struggles.

Join us for an insightful and heartfelt conversation that sheds light on the complexities of fertility and the strength required to navigate it.

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CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode, we have an enlightening conversation with Jaime Gher, a reproductive justice lawyer who has dedicated over 20 years to advancing reproductive rights and justice. Jaime shares her personal journey through both biomedical and social infertility, including the challenges she faced in creating her family using assisted reproductive technologies.

From her work at the United Nations to opening her own private practice in California, Jaime's story is one of resilience and advocacy. Join us as we delve into her experiences and the broader implications for reproductive rights worldwide.

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Jaime Gher is a reproductive justice lawyer fighting for the human rights of women, gender-diverse individuals, and marginalized and criminalized populations worldwide. Jaime has worked to advance reproductive rights and justice for over twenty years at the global and regional levels, working within law firms, the United Nations, within international and national NGOs and as an independent consultant.

During that time she also faced both biomedical and social infertility. She was eventually able to have three children with the support of assisted reproductive technologies and donors, but the process was not easy. If face had to leave her job at the United Nations and relocate from Europe to her home state of California to access ART services because at the time, many European countries did not permit lesbians to undergo IVF and/or permit gamete donation. She also faced discrimination in terms of insurance coverage for IVF.

These experiences of family building left an impression on Jaime as a legal professional and a mom. Then, in 2022, when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the constitutional decision that recognized a federal right to abortion, Jaime decided to direct her litigation and advocacy back to the USA. She was committed to challenging draconian criminal abortion bans, prenatal personhood initiatives, and legal threats to assisted reproduction and surrogacy.

In addition to consulting with civil and human rights organizations, she started her own private practice—Family-Advocates— to support individuals and couples seeking to create their families with the assistance of ART and surrogacy. In addition to providing coaching and support for individuals and couples facing infertility, she also provides legal services around family formation, including drafting and negotiating donor and surrogacy contracts, and to secure legal parentage through pre- and post-birth orders, adoption and stepparent adoption.

Through her practice, Jaime wants to humanize fertility treatment and to advocate for greater accessibility for all people to build their families in this way. In addition to Jaime’s private practice, she works as a Senior Legal Advisor with the Global Justice Center to support national-level strategy development and advocacy to promote safe abortion access for all people. She also works as a Senior Program Manager in the Disability and Sexuality program at CREA (a global-south-based feminist organization). There she supports the conceptualization and visioning of the organization’s strategic role at the intersections of disability, sexuality and gender.

Jaime has also worked as a Senior Legal Advisor and Strategic Litigation Specialist with Amnesty International, Human Rights Advisor and Programme Officer with the World Health Organization and UNAIDS, and a Global Advocacy Fellow with the Center for Reproductive Rights. In those roles, she has undertaken international litigation and advocacy before the United Nations and regional human rights bodies and supported national-level advocacy with partner organizations worldwide.

Jaime holds an LL.M. in international law and gender from American University, Washington College of Law, a J.D. from the University of San Francisco, School of Law, and a B.A. in sociology from the University of California Santa Barbara. She is a proud mother of three, a former NCAA gymnast, and an avid film enthusiast.

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CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

-- SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode of In/Fertility in the City, we’re joined by Dr. Anita Raja, a respected GP, broadcaster, and campaigner for well-being within the BAME communities.

She shares her deeply personal fertility journey, discussing her struggles with uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and multiple miscarriages and opens up about the cultural pressures she faced, the emotional toll of her experiences, and the challenges of advocating for herself as both a doctor and a patient.

This episode offers a raw and compassionate look at the complexities of infertility, the importance of self-advocacy, and the intersectionality of cultural and medical challenges.

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Dr Anita Raja (MRCGP, DFSRH, LOC SDI) is a General Practitioner in Birmingham, West Midlands. She is a practising GP, broadcaster and campaigner for wellbeing, especially within the Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.

She is a leading health expert and has been featured in various health and lifestyle magazines like Stylist UK, Glamour magazine, Strong Women UK. Her opinion on key issues surrounding the health care system have been endorsed and valued by leading electronic media channels. She has been a TV Presenter for a 1 hour live show “Let’s Talk” on British Muslim TV.

She is a regular health expert on BBC Morning Live, BBC Breakfast Show, Good Morning Britain ITV, Jeremy Vine, Talk TV, GB News and British Muslim TV.

Website - https://dranitaraja.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dranitaraja/?hl=en

X - https://twitter.com/dranitaraja

LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/anita-raja-1314731b7

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CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode we welcome Danusia Malina-Derben, a mother of ten, founder and CEO of DMD Global, and author of "Noise" and "Spunk" manifestos. Danusia shares her incredible journey of balancing a demanding academic career with motherhood, including her surprising early pregnancies, her secretive start in academia, and her work with the BBC.

She also discusses the emotional and physical challenges of reversing a sterilisation, experiencing a stillbirth, and later conceiving triplets through IUI. This episode delves into the intricacies of organisational behaviour, the societal expectations of women in the workplace, and the personal grief and resilience that comes with infertility and loss.

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Danusia Malina-Derben is a mother of ten children, and still her own woman. From teen mother to tenured Organisational Behavior and Development academic, on to award-winning, internationally published leadership expert. Danusia traded academia in for boardrooms where she, and her team, consult on peak performance and strategic leadership in senior teams. She can be found in the corridors of power of global brands you’re banking with, and buying from. These include Microsoft, Mars, Sainsbury's, ICBC Standard Bank, Coca-Cola, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Deloitte, and The Home Office. .

Beyond the boardroom she is a regular contributor on future C-level business changes/trends, cultivating women's leadership and age old debates about women's careers and family. Danusia is a rousing and sought-after keynote speaker, and frequent expert commentator featured most recently in The Guardian, The Times, Observer, and Metro.

Danusia hosts top-rated podcast Parents Who Think (formerly School for Mothers + School for Fathers podcasts). In 2021 her book on motherhood identity “NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Motherhood” (Triumph Press) received praise and recognition from The Sunday Times to Metro, Psychologies to the Guardian. Her next book “SPUNK: A Manifesto Modernising Fatherhood” (2022) on fatherhood identity was described by The Metro as provocative and compelling. She lives in Somerset with her family, and their mini-dachshund, Dickie Van der Sausage. You can visit her online and find her most active on her Substack.

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CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

-- SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode Natalie and Somaya are joined by Jemma Shanley, a paediatric doctor who shares her tumultuous journey through fertility challenges while balancing a demanding medical career. From initial naivety about conceiving to enduring multiple miscarriages, IVF treatments, and the emotional toll of working in paediatrics, Jemma opens up about her struggles and triumphs.

Her story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and advocacy for better support systems in the workplace for those facing similar challenges. Jemma discusses the importance of mental health, the need for compassionate policies, and her efforts to create a guide for medical professionals navigating fertility issues.

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Jemma Shanley is a paediatric doctor. She is married to a paediatric emergency medicine consultant, and they share a 3 and a half year old gorgeous tornado! Jemma is from Ireland but studied medicine and trained as doctor in the UK.

At 18, Jemma studied pharmacy and obtained a Masters degree, after which she came to London to undertake her postgrad in clinical pharmacy at Guys and St Thomas Hospital. Jemma worked as a clinical pharmacist for 5yrs before she started graduate entry medicine at the University of Bristol.

Jemma is now 38 and both her and her husband have spent the last five years trying to start and grow their family, largely during her time as a paediatric/neonatal doctor. Jemma has experienced being a paediatric doctor whilst not trying to conceive, whilst struggling to conceive, while miscarrying, whilst carrying a baby to term, returning from maternity leave, continuing to miscarry/struggle to conceive and most recently whilst undergoing IVF.

As a result of her lived experiences within a medical speciality that is considered family centered, Jemma set about developing a guide for doctors and their partners experiencing pregnancy/baby loss along with fertility/infertility issues in the workplace.

A group of doctors from both paediatrics and obstetric and gynaecology kindly contributed to the guide, all of whom have lived experiences of fertility issues.

Jemma's aim for this guide is to help advocate for all doctors in medicine experiencing fertility issues, to help start supportive kind conversations and to help educate managers, to help those who can’t find their voice through shared stories and examples of good practice.

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CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode of In/Fertility in the City we’re joined by Amy Simpson, the founder of the Mind Body Belief Method, to discuss the transformative power of emotional and physical preparation in the fertility journey.

Amy shares her personal connection to the struggle through her sister's story, the success of unconventional methods, and the importance of addressing the emotional toll of infertility. Hear how shifting focus from what's not working to fostering a fertile mindset can make all the difference.

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Amy Simpson is an expert in fertility and founder of the Mind Body Baby Method.

With a pioneering approach that focuses on the powerful mind-body connection, Amy empowers women to overcome the challenges of infertility and embrace their journey to motherhood with confidence and ease.

Through personalised coaching and support, she guides her clients on a transformative path, helping them to navigate the emotional and physical aspects of fertility with compassion and understanding.

The Mind Body Baby Method inspires hope and empowers women to realize their dreams of becoming mothers.

Website: https://www.amysimpson.co.uk/

X - https://twitter.com/mindbodybabyamy?lang=en

LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/amysimpsonuk

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ASMindBodyBaby/?locale=en_GB

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CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

-- SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode of In/Fertility in the City we’re joined by Amy Simpson, the founder of the Mind Body Belief Method, to discuss the transformative power of emotional and physical preparation in the fertility journey.

Amy shares her personal connection to the struggle through her sister's story, the success of unconventional methods, and the importance of addressing the emotional toll of infertility. Hear how shifting focus from what's not working to fostering a fertile mindset can make all the difference.

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Amy Simpson is an expert in fertility and founder of the Mind Body Baby Method.

With a pioneering approach that focuses on the powerful mind-body connection, Amy empowers women to overcome the challenges of infertility and embrace their journey to motherhood with confidence and ease.

Through personalised coaching and support, she guides her clients on a transformative path, helping them to navigate the emotional and physical aspects of fertility with compassion and understanding.

The Mind Body Baby Method inspires hope and empowers women to realize their dreams of becoming mothers.

Website: https://www.amysimpson.co.uk/

X - https://twitter.com/mindbodybabyamy?lang=en

LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/amysimpsonuk

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ASMindBodyBaby/?locale=en_GB

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CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

-- SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode of In/Fertility in the City we're joined by the inspiring Claire Burton, a family lawyer who shares her journey from confronting unexpected jealousy at a friend's pregnancy to embracing solo parenthood, navigating the complex world of sperm donation, and defying medical odds.

Along the way, Claire and her team have switched firms and she discusses how openness about her journey was important to ensure the move was to a place where this would be supported. With candid insights into the practicalities of sperm donation and the support systems that have made her dream possible, this episode is a beacon of hope and encouragement for anyone considering solo motherhood.

Discover how Claire's unapologetic approach and meticulous planning led to her pregnancy success at 43, and what her future holds as she prepares for the joys and challenges of raising a child on her own terms.

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Claire has been a practicing family solicitor for almost 15 years. Claire specialises in private law children cases, particularly those where there are allegations of domestic and/or substance abuse. Claire is highly recommended by clients and directories with her being described as simply brilliant, a hero, legal lioness and a truly wonderful human.

Very active in her local legal community, Claire has represented family lawyers across the Thames Valley through her work with the Thames Valley Family Lawyers’ Society for which she is currently the Treasurer and Vice Chair.

In her personal life, Claire began her fertility journey in earnest in 2021. She was diagnosed with PCOS in her twenties and knew, therefore, she was likely to need some medical support to fall pregnant. Alongside that potential medical challenge, was the prospect of doing this as a solo mum.

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CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

-- SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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This episode of "In/Fertility in the City" brings the spotlight onto an often-overlooked struggle: male involuntary childlessness. Dr. Robin Hadley, author and founder member of the campaign group Ageing without Children, joins us to speak candidly about his personal battle with wanting to be a dad and the complex emotions surrounding male childlessness. Discover the societal barriers that prevent men from expressing their paternal instincts and why it's crucial to change the narrative. --

Robin is a leading expert on the psychological and sociological impact of male childlessness across the life course. He has written several invited academic pieces and contributed blogs and podcasts to infertility and involuntary childless support groups. He is a founder member of the campaign group Ageing Without Children.

Robin is from Old Trafford, Manchester (UK). He comes from a large working-class family and left school with few qualifications. His previous careers include counsellor, deputy technical manager, scientific photographer, and kitchen assistant. In his 40s Robin switched careers and trained as a counsellor. Robin’s training as a counsellor and his own experience of desperately wanting to be a dad led him to research the desire for fatherhood for his self-funded MA (2008, The University of Manchester) and MSc (2009, The University of Manchester) and involuntarily childless older men for his PhD (2015, Keele).

His book ‘How is a man supposed to be a man? Male childlessness a Life Course Disrupted’ has received critical acclaimed.

He can be contacted at his Manchester Metropolitan University email: r.hadley@mmu.ac.uk or via any of the following:

Website: https://www.robinhadley.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com@robinhadley1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrobin-a-hadley/
Google Scholar: http://bit.ly/2BPRZtw
Academia.edu: https://independent.academia.edu/DrRobinHadley
ResearchGate (RG): https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robin-Hadley

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CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode, Natalie and Somaya have a poignant conversation with Emma Whitney, a leading embryologist who has dedicated her life to helping others conceive.

Emma discusses the delicate balance of her professional duties amidst her own fertility struggles, including the loss of a child and multiple miscarriages.

Her resilience and commitment to reducing fertility journey anxiety shine through as she advocates for better workplace support for those facing similar challenges.

Discover more about Emma's inspiring mission to educate and empower individuals through their fertility journeys

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GUEST

Emma Whitney is the Director of Embryology & Genetics at The Evewell, London. With over 20 years of hands-on practical IVF laboratory experience, she specialises in pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos with a passion to prevent the transmission of inherited genetic disease, and to enhance the capabilities of embryo selection.Emma’s commitment to genetics – coupled with her multitude of experience – allows for a pragmatic and honest approach when discussing embryology.

Emma believes IVF patients should have the opportunity to understand what goes on in the IVF laboratory. Her goal is to help patients alleviate some of the stress and anxiety caused by so many unknowns.

“IVF is as much an emotional journey as it is a scientific one. I endeavour to protect the mental wellbeing of my patients through education and awareness. So, no matter what science has to offer, every patient is in a better position to deal with their outcomes.”

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmatheembryologist/ and https://www.instagram.com/theevewell/ Website: https://www.evewell.com/

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CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricityhttps://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

Explore the future of fertility with In/Fertility in the City as we welcome Caroline Noublanche, CEO of Apricity, a trailblazing company offering virtual fertility treatments… and our Season 4 sponsor.

Learn how Apricity's unique model provides convenience, privacy, and high success rates, making the dream of parenthood a reality for many. From at-home scans to AI-driven medical insights, this episode unveils the next chapter in fertility care that's reshaping lives and creating families with love and science.

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Caroline Noublanche is the CEO of Apricity, the UK’s first virtual fertility clinic, a disruptive brand that is changing the way people access fertility treatment. Apricity aims to improve the chances of conception for women and couples, by combining technology and AI with personalised human care.
Caroline has over 20 years’ experience in the new technologies market, having co-founded and CEO at PRYLOS, a French app development business, and Vice-President of Marketing and Portfolio for publicly listed tech company DORO AB.

With years of strategic planning behind her, combined with her understanding of the mobile tech market, Caroline is leading the way for female entrepreneurs in the femtech market. Her ability to generate revenue and growth for a company puts her in great stead for her amazing new venture, Apricity.

Caroline is a pioneer when it comes to start up and growing tech brands like PRYLOS and DORO and brings her knowledge of the tech industry to the ever -growing female technology market.

Drawing on her extensive experience and her passion for women’s empowerment, Caroline’s aim for Apricity is to disrupt the current way we are offer fertility treatment, making it a much more personal experience for both couples and women, by bridging the gap between consumer and clinic and allowing women and couples to feel like they are part of the journey.

https://www.apricityfertility.com/uk --

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CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 4 SPONSOR:

Apricity https://www.apricityfertility.com/uk

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We’ll be launching Season 4 next week but before that we have a bonus episode to share some news about the podcast. Since we launched the show in 2022 we’ve been a trio, but lives change and create new priorities, and Emma has decided that the time is right to step back and focus on being a mum, running her business, and lots more.

In this episode, Emma talks with Natalie and Somaya about what In/Fertility in the City means to her, how it has helped her enormously over the last two years, and how proud she is of what the three of them have achieved.

They also talk about how this situation is not unique with many people as they navigate their own fertility journeys – hopefully into parenthood – finding that you can’t do it all.

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You can find out more about Emma and her fertility at work coaching and consultancy business Ready Steady Coach on her:

Website: www.readysteadycoach.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmamenzies/

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CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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It’s our Season 3 finale and for the first time on the podcast we are bringing you one of our live events, our third so far.

Joining Natalie, Somaya and Emma at the offices of law firm Clifford Chance in London are panellists Keeley Lengthorn, Eraldo D’Atri, Nina Goswami, and Sophie Wellings.

They share their in/fertility journeys and discuss how things can be improved for employees, the self-employed, and anyone going through miscarriage, IVF, or adoption.

Our thanks to the panellists, our live audience, and to Clifford Chance for hosting the event. The episode also includes a chat with James Nicopoullos, clinic director at the Lister Fertility Clinic, our Season 3 sponsor. We’ll be back with Season 4 in Spring 2024.

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CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:
* their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic * Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA * Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode, we are joined by ITV news anchor Andrea Byrne who shares her experience of being diagnosed with unexplained infertility and suffering multiple miscarriages. Her daughter was born naturally, defying the odds to some extent, but as with so many in/fertility stories, Andrea’s takes several twists and turns along the way.

Somaya, Natalie, and Emma discuss with Andrea about how she managed the demands of a high-profile, high-pressure job with her fertility challenges, and how the language people use while trying to be supportive can sometimes be the last thing you want to hear.

Guest Bio:

Andrea Byrne is one of the faces of ITV News. She anchors the BAFTA award-winning daily news programme Wales at Six, as well as ITV’s national bulletins. This has included ITV Weekend News, Lunchtime News, Evening News and News at Ten. Prince Harry is among the many high-profile names she has interviewed.

Andrea also presents the current affairs programme Wales This Week; presents her own fertility podcast ‘Making Babies’; and is a TEDx speaker. She is an ambassador for ‘The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme’ and a Non-Executive Director for Hockey Wales.

Andrea is married to Wales and Lions legend Lee Byrne. She is passionate about wellbeing and pioneered the introduction of Mental Health First Aiders in ITV’s newsrooms.

Away from the newsroom, she is a keen yogi, a novice stand-up paddle-boarder and a budding novelist!

CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:
* their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic * Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA * Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode we're delighted to be speaking with Yvonne John, author of ‘Dreaming of a Life Unlived: Intimate Stories and Portraits of Women Without Children’ and a leading voice for women of colour’s experience around infertility and childlessness.

Yvonne was diagnosed with ‘unexplained infertility’ in October 2014 and was engulfed by grief after facing the reality that she would never be a mum.

She talks about how this affects her and so many others, including feeling it was her fault having had two terminations in her 20s and how she came to realise this was not the case.

Yvonne also talks about the unique experiences that women of colour have with infertility and how this is not frequently discussed.

The conversation also covers how workplaces do not generally recognise bias towards those who do not have children and how common occurrences at work can be emotionally triggering for childless women and men.

Guest Bio:

As a public speaker Yvonne has appeared on numerous radio and television programmes, including ‘Woman's Hour’ on BBC Radio 4, to talk about her experience of recovering from the devastating grief of involuntary childlessness.

Yvonne is a graduate of Gateway Women (GW) year-long Plan B Mentorship programme and is a trained facilitator of the GW reignite weekend workshops. Jody Day (founder of Gateway Women) personally invited Yvonne to lead the Reignite weekends for women of colour having come to understand through many conversations together that there are unique aspects to the women of colour experience of childlessness that would be better served in a dedicated workshop.

Yvonne is passionate about creating an inclusive space for black women and women of colour to openly talk about their childless journey and is the leading voice on the childless experience of WoC and blogs at www.findingmyplanb.com

CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

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SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:
* their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic * Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA * Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode, we are joined by Jenny Saft to discuss fertility benefits and how they not only support people with their in/fertility journeys, but can also give employers an advantage in attracting and retaining talent, and creating a positive workplace culture that aligns with DE&I.

Jenny candidly discusses deciding to freeze her eggs as a single 32-year-old, struggling through treatment alone, realising that more support was needed and rallying friends to invest in her startup business Apryl, which partners with companies to offer fertility coverage, clinic guidance, and inclusive culture.

Guest Bio:

Jenny Saft is CEO and co-founder at Apryl: a Berlin-based fertility benefits platform helping companies across Europe offer staff access to inclusive fertility and family forming services - everything from egg freezing through to adoption and IVF.

Prior to starting Apryl, Jenny worked in project management and Business Development at several different companies, including Fyber in San Francisco and Dutch fintech Adyen. She was inspired to start Apryl following her own experience of freezing her eggs.

In addition to founding Apryl, Jenny is an Angel investor, investing in early-stage startups through the Atomico Angel Programme.

Find at more at https://apryl.co/

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:
* their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic * Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA * Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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In this episode, we are joined by Amy McKeown who has a very unique story to tell us today about her personal experience of miscarriage, redundancy, and taking on her employer.

She shares the trauma of baby loss and how this was exacerbated by employment policies that are all-too-often inadequate to truly reflect the pain and challenges experienced by those affected by miscarriage and other in/fertility issues.

Guest Bios:

Amy McKeown is an award-winning health, mental health and wellbeing consultant. She coaches organisations of all sizes to build strategies with are both innovative and measurable, whilst providing unique expertise in implementing said strategies. Amy is also a respected thought-leader within her field, sharing her advice regularly on LinkedIn and at speaker events such as Mad World.

CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:
* their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic * Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA * Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

In this episode, we’re joined by Sara Van Der Meer, who is an HR business partner at Cancer Research UK and head of their Fertility and Baby Loss Network. Following a difficult journey with fertility struggles, she successfully created her family through adoption and now has two girls, aged six and four.

We met Sara through a bespoke online event that we did for Cancer Research UK and when we heard about her experiences, we thought she would make an absolutely fabulous guest because we haven't talked about adoption yet on this podcast.

Guest Bio:

Sara's personal experience of recurrent miscarriage, unsuccessful IVF and becoming a mother through adoption has inspired her to lead a staff network for her organisation that supports colleagues, managers and leadership through Fertility and Baby Loss at work and influences leadership on the support staff need when going through their own journeys.

Having worked in the charity sector for the majority of her career Sara has recently moved into Human Resources where she hopes her personal experiences of creating a family the ‘unconventional way’ will lead to positive change for others.

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CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:
* their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic * Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA * Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss. --

In this episode we are joined by Hannah and Lewis, who are both journalists and met at journalism college many moons ago!

Lewis presents on the BBC News channel while Hannah anchored CNN International until she finally got pregnant in 2019.

They have been very public about their infertility struggle since 2017 when Hannah wrote a personal piece published in The Times following a chemical pregnancy.

They went on to document their seventh round of IVF treatment with “Our IVF Diary” on YouTube. After 15 rounds of treatment, they welcomed their son, Sonny in late 2019.

Guest Bios:

Hannah Vaughan Jones is an Emmy-nominated journalist, broadcaster, moderator & media consultant. She anchored primetime shows for CNN and Sky News before branching out on her own. Hannah has interviewed the last three Prime Ministers as well as countless heads of state, change makers, and thought leaders. She runs her own production company, Lewnah Ltd, sits on the McCain Global Leaders Advisory Council, and advises communications consultancies - predominantly in the Global Health space.

Lewis Vaughan Jones is a presenter on the BBC News channel. He has been a journalist for twenty years - working initially as a reporter and correspondent for ITN covering politics, health, tech and the biggest stories in the UK and around the world. He regularly interviews world leaders and newsmakers. Lewis uses a hearing implant after losing the majority of his hearing in 2018.

Guest Links:

The Times article mentioned: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/53ce7e2a-b4e7-11e7-a7ed-96e3d3dae681?shareToken=2b18a0be0f4969fe1153a8f30be378ad

Our IVF Journey on YoutTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-sMdag5fEk

CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:
* their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic * Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA * Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

For this episode, Natalie, Somaya, and Emma are joined by Lisa Finnegan. Lisa is Vice President of LinkedIn’s International Human Resources organisation, leading LinkedIn’s HR Business Partners across EMEA, LATAM and APAC regions.

Since joining LinkedIn in 2016, Lisa’s work has been recognised, with the company recently receiving an Irish HR Champions Award for its ‘Fertility at Work’ initiative, as well as being personally named on the Financial Times & HERoes Champions of Women in Business list in recognition of her work on LinkedIn’s ReturnIn programme. LinkedIn has been recognised as one of Ireland’s top ten employers by the Sunday Independent and Statista.

She talks about the shock of discovering that IVF was likely to be her and her partner’s only route to parenthood, the joy of conceiving naturally and the pain of miscarriage. She now has a daughter and a son on the way!

We also discuss how workplace fertility policies make a huge difference to both employee and employer and, in the case of LinkedIn, the game-changing policy that is attracting talent to the business.

In the episode, we mention an article that Lisa wrote in 2019 that is still so relevant in 2023. We hear it said time and time again by our guests that it is so important to talk about fertility at work and this conversation explores exactly why that’s the case. It highlights how employers and employees can benefit from a culture of openness, drawing on Lisa’s personal and professional experience.
You can read the article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/we-have-talk-fertility-work-lisa-finnegan/

You can find Lisa on LinkedIn at: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/lisa-finnegan-7063704

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on*: * LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity * Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity * X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:
* their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic * Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA * Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

For this episode, Natalie, Somaya, and Emma are joined by Zita West.

For over 40 years, Zita West has been working in the field of fertility in pregnancy as a midwife and acupuncturist. In that time, she has written 9 books, founded an IVF clinic and launched a range of fertility supplements, baby products as well as a mind/body programme for fertility, IVF and early pregnancy.

Through her holistic approach, she has helped thousands of couples get pregnant, and now she is delighted to be returning to her roots and what she loves most, with independent, bespoke fertility consultations. This boutique service will offer a medical and mindset approach to fertility advice in a homely setting.

Zita has witnessed couples understandably struggling with lack of direction, planning, and falling down a ‘fertility rabbit hole’. Emotionally exhausted with no control, willpower, or energy to face the challenges that fertility struggles can bring. Often not knowing which investigations are needed and with so many different avenues to explore, it can leave couples feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Zita's approach is tailored to her client's unique circumstances. Recommendations will be matched to their needs, with referrals to the best specialists in all aspects of fertility and pregnancy. She sets out a plan of action based on her signature consultation and makes the relevant referrals from her network of trusted and accomplished therapists. As an independent, Zita's advice is not linked to any other clinic or business, nor does she receive any fees for referral. Zita's aim is simply to help couples navigate the maze.

Zita's website: https://hughealth.co/

Connect with Zita on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zita.west/

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CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:
* their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic * Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA * Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

We’re back for Season 3 with some more incredible, insightful, and inspirational guests.

For this first episode, Natalie and Somaya (Emma’s back soon!) are joined by Jeremy Holmes.

Jeremy is a lawyer who has worked in international law firms, one of the UK financial regulators and now works in-house at ClearBank which is a UK fintech bank.

Jeremy and his wife started trying to become parents in September 2019. Along the way they suffered a stillbirth, two miscarriages and had to navigate various medical issues including period problems, high white blood cell count and poor sperm quality.

Finally, after IVF treatment, they had the joy of welcoming their little daughter, Phoebe, into the world in August 2023.

Jeremy has written on the topic of baby loss to raise awareness and to offer support to other warriors who are battling through their own fertility and baby loss issues.

In this podcast Jeremy talks about these issues, as well as how they affected him and his career. He also talks about what employers can do to help and what you can do to help yourself – namely, speaking about the issues you are facing

Find Jeremy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-holmes-351705141/

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CONNECT WITH US You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
* emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com * website: www.infertilityinthecity.com * following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

SEASON 3 SPONSOR:

The Lister Fertility Clinic

Find them on:

• their website https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-lister-hospital/units-and-teams/lister-fertility-clinic
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/listerfertilityclinic?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA
• Twitter (X) https://x.com/listerfertility?s=21&t=Fs307LOBs3ujypHYHk4OFg
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lister-hospital/

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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It’s an emotional season finale of In/Fertility in the City as Emma, Natalie, and Somaya are joined from Dublin by Elga Long.

Her story resonates so much with us that there were tears as she described her challenges with IVF and trying to navigate a workplace without clear policies or support for those undergoing fertility treatment.

Elga describes how sometimes even simple changes to corporate culture can make a big difference to how someone going through fertility treatment feels – and how the support they receive should be the same as if they were undergoing any medical treatment.

Despite some tough times during her fertility treatment, we’re leaving this season on a positive note, as Elga and her husband have two healthy children and the process has left her feeling more resilient: “f**king bulletproof.”

Elga Long is an occupational psychologist who is endlessly curious and passionate about the way people want to contribute to the world and supporting them to do so. She has separate degrees in Occupational Psychology,

Psychology and Economics and Sociology and has completed executive education in Stanford Business School (Executive leadership) and Harvard Business School (Talent Management).

Elga has an advanced diploma in Executive and Personal coaching and an NLP Practitioner. She is licensed to administer the Kornferry leadership architect and qualified to administer the MBTI, 16PF and Hogan psychometrics.

When she is not doing this work that she loves - she can be found with her husband, and two sons, Thomas aged 5 and Liam aged 3 months - who are the best fun in the world and whom she loves dearly. Her favourite phrase is Go Team - expect to hear it whenever you talk to her!

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CONNECT WITH USYou can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by: emailing us:
* info@infertilityinthecity.com * Website: www.infertilityinthecity.com

following us on:
* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity * Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity * Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

**--

OUR SPONSOR**Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here: simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss. There is also mention of suicidal thoughts.

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In/fertility in the City is all about crossing new borders in the discussion about fertility challenges and how that is managed in the workplace, but in this episode we are also crossing the Atlantic.

Canadian lawyer Fariya Wajli joins us to talk about a devastating series of baby losses in a story with a happy ending as she now has two daughters. As the chat develops, it’s interesting to hear that there are many common themes in employers’ responses to fertility issues and how professionals feel compelled to hide what they are going through.

Fariya also brings the perspective of how race and culture may play a part in how fertility is handled by leaders. Fariya Walji is a lawyer and strategic director who lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and two daughters.

Articles mentioned in this episode: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/am-i-still-a-mother-if-my-newborn-died-1.6822059 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/our-baby-girls-were-born-5-months-apart-after-we-suffered-with-infertility-for-years-1.6822095

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**CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

emailing us:*** info@infertilityinthecity.com * Website: www.infertilityinthecity.com

following us on:* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity * Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity * Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

**--

OUR SPONSOR

Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here: simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com**

View Details

One of the most important aims of what we do at In/Fertility in the City is to get people talking more about fertility issues, not just when they occur but as part of the narrative around becoming a parent.

Our guest today wishes that he had known more about male infertility well before he and his wife had started trying for a baby.

Shawn Greenaway, a police detective who worked on the Salisbury Poisonings investigation, is still not 100% certain if having mumps in young adulthood or a separate medical issue was the cause of his azoospermia, the complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate.

Requiring two operations, Shawn eventually told his employers – the Metropolitan Police at the time - what he was going through and couldn’t have hoped for a more supportive response.

But he’s well aware that this is not always the case and wants to encourage more people – men in particular – to open up about fertility issues and for employers to make it easier for employees to seek their support.

GUEST BIO:

Shaun Greenaway is a male fertility coach and advocate. Having been diagnosed as infertile in 2018, he experienced the heartache, shame and secrecy attached to being a man with no sperm.

Shaun found himself navigating this trauma alone, with no support networks in place for men at the time. Now the proud father to twins conceived via the use of donor sperm, Shaun shares his story via Instagram (@Knackered_Knackers) to provide that voice that he so desperately needed when experiencing infertility.

To further expand the help and support he can provide men, Shaun trained to become an accredited Transformational Coach.

--

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

emailing us:

• info@infertilityinthecity.com
• Website: www.infertilityinthecity.com

following us on:
* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity * Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity * Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

OUR SPONSOR

Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here: simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

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There’s a growing trend towards establishing a career path before considering starting a family, but this is not right for everyone and traditionally was not so prevalent.

Our guest today began her fertility journey and became a mum in her early 20s, but not without many struggles – not least polycystic ovaries - and the devastation of miscarriage.

Adding to Elizabeth Cowper’s story is that this was twenty years ago when fertility was not a topic that was talked about openly (even less so that today!) especially in the workplace.

That led to Elizabeth, an HR professional who was working in recruitment at the time of her first IVF cycle, to hide what she was going through, fearful that it may harm her career prospects and “embarrassed” by her infertility.

GUEST BIO:

Elizabeth Cowper has over 20 years of HR leadership experience and is a working mother of 3 and Founder of Ludo.

Ludo provides multi-award winning tech for inclusion in the workplace. Elizabeth spent her HR career working for brands such as Planet Organic, Harvey Nichols, LVMH and Tapestry. Tapestry is the umbrella company for Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman where Elizabeth was VP HR Europe, Global Head of Wellbeing and part of the Global DEI Committee.

Elizabeth has been described as the ‘Culture Adjuster’ and has listed in the HR Most Influential Awards for 5 years straight.

Elizabeth understands how to engage talent and drive wellbeing in the workplace. It’s her thing. In 2022 Ludo won Inclusion Initiative of the year by Corporate Livewire and Rising Stars in Corporate Wellbeing.

Elizabeth has been listed as one of 10 Most Futuristic Business Women Pioneering Innovation 2022 and Top Five Unstoppable Women Leaders to Watch 2023.

--

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

emailing us:

• info@infertilityinthecity.com
• Website: www.infertilityinthecity.com

following us on:
* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity * Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity * Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

OUR SPONSOR

Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here: simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss. Suicidal thoughts are also mentioned.

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Much discussion about infertility focuses on the woman, but sometimes it’s male factor infertility that causes issues for couples.

Abnormal or low-quality sperm or blockages in sperm delivery can be investigated, but is often not even considered, especially in the early stages of infertility challenges, potentially leading to unnecessary procedures for the female partner – and years of frustration and heartbreak for the couple.

In this episode, Emma and Somaya (Natalie wasn’t with us this time) were joined by Toby Trice whose personal experience took him to such a low point that he considered suicide, but ultimately sparked determination to drive awareness of male factor infertility.

Not only is Toby driven in his advocacy but in his dual careers as high-speed train driver and motor racing driver for Porsche.

Toby uses his profile in motor racing to raise awareness of male infertility issues through his Racing for Fertility campaign. Its name reflects fertility’s race against the clock.

Toby Trice is a train driver and Porsche racing driver on a campaign to raise awareness for fertility through motorsport. Breaking down the taboo and stigma of infertility while supporting couples across the UK using his own experience to normalise the conversation.

Find out more at www.tobytriceracing.com

--

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

• emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
• website: www.infertilityinthecity.com

Following us on:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

OUR SPONSOR

Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here: simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

--

The sad reality is that sometimes the desperate wish to become pregnant is met with the realisation that it just isn’t going to happen. Despite doing everything you can to maximise your chances, and the medical wonders of IVF and other treatments, pregnancy is never guaranteed.

For Kat Brown, not being able to conceive is another setback in a life of mental health issues, a late diagnosis of ADHD, and a career in a challenging industry.

In this episode, Kat talks about being a “middle class white woman” coming to terms with not being a mum and feeling that she has “disappointed the Daily Mail” and worse, is “letting the country down.”

Kat’s open and often-hilarious take on a heart-breaking subject makes for a compelling episode about infertility, work, and the harsh realities of life.

Kat Brown is a freelance journalist and commentator whose work on ADHD, mental health stigma, and other social and arts commentary has appeared in national titles including the Telegraph, Grazia, "Woman’s Hour", Woman’s Health and the Times.

Her first book, No One Talks About This Stuff, is an anthology sharing people’s untold experiences of infertility and baby loss. Her second book, It's Not A Bloody Trend, is an accessible and informative guide to ADHD, which she was diagnosed with aged 37. Both books are out in spring 2024.

Find out more at: www.katbrownwrites.com

It's Not A Bloody Trend and No One Talks About This Stuff are out in 2024.

--

Natalie had some internet issues halfway through and Emma had to leave to attend to her baby before the end – in case you wonder why you haven’t heard from them for a while!

--

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

• emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
• website: www.infertilityinthecity.com

Following us on:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

OUR SPONSOR

Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here: simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

--

We’re excited to bring you a great guest on this episode… Joeli Brearley is the founder of the charity and campaign group, Pregnant Then Screwed which she established in 2015 after her own experience of pregnancy discrimination.

Her organisation is rewriting the narrative for mothers in the UK, whilst working to end the motherhood penalty. Vogue named her as one of their top 25 influential British women who are shaping 2021 and beyond.

Pregnant Then Screwed has released research findings following a survey which they carried out with women in data asking women undergoing fertility treatment how they experience the work environment.

Joeli joins us to discuss the findings and what can be done to improve things.

Apart from running Pregnant Then Screwed, Joeli writes for the Telegraph, is the winner of the Sheila McKenzie: Campaigner of the Year 2021 award, the Northern Power Women: Agent for Change award, is an Amnesty International Human Rights Defender and a member of the United Nations Working Group: Women’s Human Rights in the Changing World of Work.

In January 2021 she took the Government to court for indirect sex discrimination due to the way self-employed mothers were being financially penalised by the income support scheme.

Her debut book: ‘’Pregnant Then Screwed: The Truth about the Motherhood Penalty’’ was published by Simon & Schuster on the 4th of March 2021.

Find out more at https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/

--

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

• emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com

• website: www.infertilityinthecity.com

Following us on:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

OUR SPONSOR Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here: simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

--
On this episode we’ll hear a perspective we haven’t covered so far on the podcast, the male experience of baby loss and fertility challenges within a heterosexual couple.

We’ve found that men are often reluctant to share this part of the in/fertility story, so we were delighted when Jonathan Crompton stepped forward to join us on the show.

Jonathan and his wife have sadly faced both the frustration of fertility issues and the heartbreak of miscarriage.

Their experience has made Jonathan determined to advance the support available in the workplace for those on an in/fertility journey, and particularly to encourage men to speak openly about these matters and feel they are able to do so without fear or prejudice.

Guest bio: Jonathan is a Disputes and Regulatory Partner at RPC in Hong Kong. Having trained in London, he moved to Asia in 2008 and has worked across the region for 14 years. As part of an international, cross-cultural family on its own fertility journey, he is keen to encourage a more open environment for conversations about fertility issues and to lift the lid on the male perspective of pregnancy loss and other fertility challenges.

--

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

• emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com

• website: www.infertilityinthecity.com

following us on:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

OUR SPONSOR

Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here: simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

--
For some people, the best or preferred route to parenthood is surrogacy; but how does this work, especially for a gay male couple with demanding work lives?

Paul Morgan-Bentley is head of investigations for The Times who has created his family through surrogacy and egg donation with his husband Robin, having already considered adoption. They now have a son called Solly.

In this episode, Paul talks to Natalie and Emma (Somaya wasn’t able to join us for this episode) about opting for surrogacy as a gay man and what employers can do to help things run smoothly for their employees on a similar path to parenthood.

They asked Paul how he navigated this path to parenthood and how his employers at The Times responded when he revealed his own news and how his employer supported him.

They also discussed Paul’s book, The Equal Parent, which not only discusses Paul’s route to parenthood, but also the gender stereotypes he and Robin faced and how challenging these stereotypes and myths around parenting roles to achieve parenting equality will benefit mothers, fathers, and their children.

Guest bio: Paul Morgan-Bentley is Head of Investigations at The Times and specialises in undercover work and in-depth reporting. He is also a gay father through egg donation and surrogacy and the author of The Equal Parent, which explores myths around gendered parenting roles and advocates for men properly sharing responsibility for caring for their children.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulymorganbentley/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/pmorganbentley Website: www.paulmorganbentley.com

--

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

-emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
- website: www.infertilityinthecity.com

-following us on:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

OUR SPONSOR

Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here: simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

-- Welcome to the first episode of season 2 and it’s great to be back! To kick start this latest run of In/Fertility in the City we’re joined by an amazing fertility coach called Rosanne Austin.

A mindset coach for women who are ready to end their fertility challenges, Rosanne brings valuable expertise and lived experience to her work The former prosecutor turned self-proclaimed ‘fertility fairy godmother’ comes with a personal recommendation as she has worked with Somaya on her fertility journey.

Rosanne is the author of the international #1 best-selling book ‘Am I The Reason I’m Not Getting Pregnant?’ and focuses on how mindset can play a major role in your fertility journey.

This is not about blaming yourself for struggling to conceive. The link between mind and body is well documented but not always considered, especially in emotionally charged matters such as in/fertility.

But Rosanne helps women all over the world to ensure that their mind is in the best place to support their fertility journey, removing the blocks and focusing on the end goal – parenthood.

Open, honest, hilarious; Rosanne is a powerhouse of positivity. We’re adding an explicit language warning to this episode!

We hope you enjoy!

Rosanne Austin, JD, PCC, received her coaching training from the honoured Coaches Training Institute, in San Rafael, California. She is certified by and a member of the International Coach Federation, which is the leader in professional training, standards, and ethics for coaching professionals.

Rosanne is also a proud member of California State Bar. Rosanne received her Juris Doctorate from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where she was on the Dean’s List and received the Witkin Award in Expert and Scientific Evidence. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from San Francisco State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Rosanne’s professional background has given her the honour and opportunity to directly impact thousands of people’s lives, at a time when they were vulnerable, fearful, heartbroken, and at a crossroads.

Rosanne is also a featured blogger on fertilityauthority.com, Circle + Bloom, Heartfelt Egg Donation, and can be heard on the Fertility Revolution Podcast, as well as her own podcast, The Fearlessly Fertile podcast.

Rosanne gives back by serving organizations committed to providing resources to survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking, as well as her local Humane Society for the Protection of Animals.

Website: https://www.frommaybetobaby.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosanneaustinfertility Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosanneaustincoach YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fearlesslyfertiletv LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosanneaustin Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fearlessly-fertile/id1454106892

--

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

• emailing us:info@infertilityinthecity.com
• following us on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--

OUR SPONSOR

Finally, our thanks go to Horsfield Menzies, a modern boutique law firm and consultancy practice specialising in workplace matters, for sponsoring this season of the podcast.

You can find out more about Horsfield Menzies here https://www.horsfieldmenzies.com/.

You can also contact their co-founders, Simon Horsfield and Angus Menzies, here:
simon.horsfield@horsfieldmenzies.com angus.menzies@horsfieldmenzies.com

View Details

In this bonus episode of In/fertility in the City, Natalie is talking to co-hosts Emma and Somaya, who both have news to share about their respective fertility journeys.

TRIGGER WARNING: Without giving everything away, Emma notes that, while there will be people who will be delighted with what they have to say, there will be others who may find hearing someone else’s good news may exacerbate their own grief.

She says this is totally understandable and all three of the hosts have been in that position. “Whatever anybody listening to this feels, it’s ok. Feel that feeling,” she added.

During this typically open and honest discussion, Emma and Somaya talk about the anxiety of pregnancy following the challenges they have faced.

The second season of In/Fertility in the City will be here in the spring of 2023.

--

CONNECT WITH US

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

• emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
• following us on:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

For a self-employed professional the decision to become a parent, especially when fertility treatment is involved, can mean risking losing a client base that may be hard to regain.

That was the case for Sophie Wellings, a barrister who shared her fertility challenges in this episode.

She was already aware of an issue - a pituitary condition which overproduces cortisol and adrenaline – which she felt may make pregnancy harder.

In addition, her husband works in the film business and is away for sometimes months at a time, creating a logistical challenge of trying for a baby.

The couple decided to pay privately for fertility checks and investigate the potential of IUI, also known as artificial insemination, as her husband works sometimes in countries with Zika Virus.

The checks highlighted that her husband also had some fertility issues.
Sophie shares how IVF ultimately led to her two children, but not without difficult pregnancies and births.

She also talks about the challenges of being self-employed, which may provide some flexibility compared to employment but also comes with the risk that re-starting after maternity leave can be tough.

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GUEST BIO:
Sophie is a Barrister and was called to the bar in 2011 as a member of Gray’s Inn. She is at QEB, one of the leading family law chambers in the country. This is a set you don’t get into without dedication, hard work and serious ambition and Sophie was the typical “A-type” who thrived on the graft. Sophie thought she could work her way through any problem. A typical Yorkshire girl, Sophie always had the Monty-python approach - “Tis but a flesh wound”.

That was all called into question in 2017 when Sophie first found out she needed fertility treatment to start a family and her career has since been punctuated by: fertility treatment, IVF, hyperemesis gravidarum, a traumatic birth requiring emergency surgery and multiple transfusions followed by significant rehabilitation, time with her miracle baby Juno, recovery… back to work, pandemic, then more IVF, more hyperemesis gravidarum, more complications, periods of bed rest and finally the birth of her second (and final) miracle, Otis via c-section. “Twas not but a flesh wound”.

--
CONNECT WITH US
You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
-emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
-following us on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity

--
OUR SPONSOR
Finally, thanks to Fertifa, the UK’s leading reproductive healthcare benefits provider, for sponsoring this season of the podcast. You can find out more about Fertifa here: https://www.fertifa.com. You can also contact them direct here: enquiries@fertifa.com

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

Deciding to delay starting a family – and freezing your eggs to enable that – is a big decision and one that should be for personal not work reasons.

That’s the view of our guest in this episode, Emma Harling-Phillips, a law firm partner who, aged 32, decided with her partner that they were not ready for parenthood.
Emma is adamant that women should not feel pressure to consider social egg freezing for career purposes.

She was lucky enough to have a doctor who had been through the process herself and was able to share professional advice with added personal experience.
The value of this was clear when Emma began researching online about the process, which was littered with scare stories.

She shares how this option is not entirely pleasant and is similar to the early stages of IVF and involves “pumping your body full of hormones.”

Then there’s the daily scans that come at the point of retrieval, which can be challenging, especially when trying to fit in appointments around working.

Emma hopes to inspire more women to feel able to talk about this aspect of starting a family and to help HR directors and other leaders to understand the issues and enable an open conversation.

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GUEST BIO:
Emma Harling-Phillips has been a Partner specialising in consent large scale energy and infrastructure projects since 2016.

Having previously been a Partner at Pinsent Masons, Emma has now moved down to the South West and joined Womble Bond Dickinson in Bristol this summer.

Throughout her career she has been a mentor for female members of her team, providing support particularly in relation to the barriers to female career advancement, and fertility issues.

Over the last few years Emma has been actively speaking on panels regarding these two issues, and most recently took part in In/Fertility in the City.

She is a member of WBD's Thrive Panel and since joining has been spear-heading a review of the firm's policy around fertility and baby loss.

--
CONNECT WITH US
You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
-emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
-following us on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity
--
OUR SPONSOR
Finally, thanks to Fertifa, the UK’s leading reproductive healthcare benefits provider, for sponsoring this season of the podcast. You can find out more about Fertifa here: https://www.fertifa.com. You can also contact them direct here: enquiries@fertifa.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

Having resigned herself in her teens that polycystic ovaries meant it might be difficult to get pregnant, this week’s guest was delighted when fertility treatment led to happy news.
But it wasn’t just one baby that Suzanne Tager was carrying, but four!
The risks associated with having quads led to some tough realisations and agonising decisions for Suzanne and her husband, ultimately leading to her giving birth to healthy twins.
All of this was against the backdrop of a familiar story of a professional woman trying to juggle career with her fertility journey. And this was at a time when it was even harder to have open workplace discussions about fertility challenges than it is now.
--
GUEST BIO
Suzanne is a full time CEDR accredited commercial mediator and an accomplished commercial litigator with over 17 years of dispute resolution experience.
She spent over 14 years at Hogan Lovells where she predominantly focused on high profile banking and finance disputes, disputes arising out of contentious insolvency, director and shareholder disputes and general commercial disputes.
Suzanne also spent time on secondment to Standard Chartered Bank and Lovells' New York Office. In addition to her commercial mediation practice, Suzanne is an active community mediator with Calm mediation and runs masterclasses on effective negotiation, communication and getting the most out of meditation for law firms and banks.
Suzanne can be contacted here https://www.suzannetager.com/
--
CONNECT WITH US
You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
-emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
-following us on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity
--
OUR SPONSOR
Finally, thanks to Fertifa, the UK’s leading reproductive healthcare benefits provider, for sponsoring this season of the podcast. You can find out more about Fertifa here: https://www.fertifa.com. You can also contact them direct here: enquiries@fertifa.com

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

--

Imagine losing your job because you took time off ‘sick’ for infertility treatment.
Nickie Aiken is the MP for the cities of London and Westminster and decided to act after a constituent brought to her attention the injustice of the current system.

She is hoping that Parliament will vote in favour of her proposed legislation which would boost fertility employment rights – and change the narrative around fertility treatment in society and in the workplace.

--
GUEST BIO
Nickie Aiken was first elected to Parliament in December 2019. Before entering politics, Nickie had a successful career in public relations and communications.
Nickie was elected to Westminster City Council representing Warwick Ward, Pimlico in 2006. She has held various positions on Westminster City Council including the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Public Protection & Licensing.

While she was responsible for Children’s Services, Westminster City Council’s Children’s Services made history becoming the first in the country to be awarded an “Outstanding” rating by Ofsted.

In 2017, Nickie became the Leader of Westminster City Council. As Leader, Nickie also sat on the Executive Board of London Councils. On the board Nickie was London’s Education and Children’s Services Lead and Shadow Lead for Policing, focusing on the safeguarding implications around county lines drug gangs.

Nickie stood down as Leader of the Council after the 2019 General Election. In Parliament, she is currently a Co-Chair of the APPG for the Short Lets Sector; Vice-Chair on the APPGs for Homelessness; Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative; Theatre; and an Officer on the APPG for Women in Parliament.

Between April 2020 and December 2020 Nickie served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministerial Team at the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government. In December 2020, Nickie was promoted to Vice-Chair of the Conservative Party for Women and Affiliate Groups.

In June 2022, Nickie introduced the Fertility Treatment (Employment Rights) Bill to Parliament which has its second reading on 25 November 2022.

You can follow Nickie on Instagram and Twitter as @twocitiesnickie, visit her website www.nickieaiken.org.uk and like her on Facebook.

Nickie also has a podcast, In Conversation with Nickie Aiken, in which she interviewed Natalie and Becky Kearns of Fertility Matters at Work about the support they are providing to her with her Bill, which you can listen to here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xA9YMgVaBHMY5zXeNTUKQ?si=F9aflllYR-yqavBMQD73ZQ

CONNECT WITH US
You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
-emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
-following us on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity
--
OUR SPONSOR
Finally, thanks to Fertifa, the UK’s leading reproductive healthcare benefits provider, for sponsoring this season of the podcast. You can find out more about Fertifa here: https://www.fertifa.com. You can also contact them direct here: enquiries@fertifa.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

Who are the advocates for in/fertility and baby loss rights in your workplace?

Are the management team supportive of those who are trying to become parents and those for whom that ambition is met with challenges?

In this episode, Somaya, Natalie and Emma are joined by Suzanne Johnston, a lawyer and partner at international law firm Stephenson Harwood who has helped shape the firm’s supportive policies for those on their fertility journey.

As a strong advocate for professionals facing the same similar issues with fertility that she has during her career, Suzanne shares some positive things that employers can do to support their employees and individuals can do to support themselves.

--
GUEST BIO
Suzanne is a private wealth, trust and UK tax lawyer based in Stephenson Harwood’s Singapore office. She has extensive experience in complex cross-jurisdictional trust and estate planning.

Suzanne has practiced in Singapore since 2013 working for an international law firm and subsequently, a leading private bank advising both its trust company and wealth planners. She has advised many high-profile families and entrepreneurs throughout Southeast Asia. Suzanne enjoys helping families implement practical and effective succession planning structures harnessing the use of family offices and trust structures.

Suzanne is qualified in England & Wales and practiced law in London, training and qualifying at a magic circle law firm before relocating to Singapore.

--
CONNECT WITH US
You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
-emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
-following us on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity
--
OUR SPONSOR
Finally, thanks to Fertifa, the UK’s leading reproductive healthcare benefits provider, for sponsoring this season of the podcast. You can find out more about Fertifa here: https://www.fertifa.com You can also contact them direct here: enquiries@fertifa.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

How well understood are less traditional routes to parenthood by employers?

Do HR directors appreciate the challenges of, for example, surrogacy or adoption? And do they know that the needs and rights of those on alternative routes will vary?

While there are differences, there are also things that are common to all of those on a in/fertility journey and other ways to build a family.

In this episode, we’re joined by Mike and Wes, who share their experience as a same-sex married couple becoming parents through surrogacy.

It wasn’t easy, especially for Mike who was working in a “toxic masculine” environment where his need for time off to spend with his new baby became a career barrier.
Their experience led to the creation of a non-profit called My Surrogacy Journey.

--
GUEST BIOS:
Michael Johnson-Ellis He | Him | His
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, The Modern Family Show and My Surrogacy Journey®
Michael is married to Wes and Dad to Talulah born in 2016 and Duke born in 2019.
Michael is an active blogger and fertility campaigner via the successful social media channel TwoDadsUK. Michael has been involved in driving UK legislative and policy changes along with Wes.
Mike was Awarded The Surrogacy Professional of The Year Award in 2019 due to his services to the UK Surrogacy community and has a passion and drive to force change within the Surrogacy community and parenting communities.

Wes Johnson-Ellis He | Him | His
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, The Modern Family Show and My Surrogacy Journey®
Wes has been married to Michael since 2012 and he has an 18-year-old daughter from a previous straight marriage.
Wes has an events background and has not only worked on London 2012 and other high-profile sporting events, he has also worked for Premiership Football clubs overseeing their Catering and Hospitality offering, ensuring smooth and effective delivery.
Wes also manages his street food business when he’s finding the spare time to juggle parenting, being a husband and walking their Frenchie, named Bug.
--
CONNECT WITH US
You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:
-emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
-following us on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity
Instagram: https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity
--
OUR SPONSOR
Finally, thanks to Fertifa, the UK’s leading reproductive healthcare benefits provider, for sponsoring this season of the podcast. You can find out more about Fertifa here: https://www.fertifa.com You can also contact them direct here: enquiries@fertifa.com

View Details

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

Imagine facing the trauma and heartbreak of losing a baby during pregnancy followed by a requirement to return to work the next day!

This is sadly an all-too-common occurrence and one that our guests on this episode are determined to change.

There is currently no legal requirement for employers to provide time off and other support for those who lose a baby before 24 weeks.

We are joined by Angela Crawley MP, whose bill aims to change the law to empower employees to have a conversation with their employers and take at least three days off work following a miscarriage.

She has been the MP for Lanark and Hamilton East since 2015 and is the SNP's Attorney General Spokesperson in the House of Commons. Angela has been campaigning for Paid Miscarriage Leave since 2020, introducing the Miscarriage Leave Bill to Parliament.

We also speak with Keeley Lengthorn, a leading Family and Children law partner, at Law firm Taylor Rose MW. More recently Keeley has also become a baby loss campaigner.

Keeley has suffered 3 losses of her own in the last 3 years, including her son George in March of this year, and has been channeling her grief into supporting the Miscarriage Leave Bill.

In doing so, Keeley has been working alongside MPs and has featured in national press and on television promoting her campaign calling on employers to enact a baby loss policy within the workplace.

This will enable employees to have 3 days paid leave in the event of a miscarriage occurring at any gestation, but most importantly under 24 weeks, to which there is currently no statutory protection.

This week (Oct 9-15 2022) is Baby Loss Awareness Week in the UK: https://babyloss-awareness.org/

In this conversation, Keeley mentions two charities:
Sands: https://www.sands.org.uk/
Tommy’s: https://www.tommys.org/

Find out more about Angela’s bill:
https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/paid-miscarriage-leave/index.html?utm_campaign=0322-cet-paidmiscarriageleave-petitioners&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=petcom

Current Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave policy:
https://www.gov.uk/parental-bereavement-pay-leave

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

-emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
-following us on LinkedIn ( www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity ), Instagram ( https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity ), or Twitter ( https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity ).

Finally, thanks to Fertifa, the UK’s leading reproductive healthcare benefits provider, for sponsoring this season of the podcast. You can find out more about Fertifa here: https://www.fertifa.com. You can also contact them direct here: enquiries@fertifa.com

View Details

In the first episode of the season, meet your three hosts - Natalie, Somaya and Emma - who share their own personal in/fertility stories.

The promise for this podcast, from the start, is that it will be real and open, so you may hear things that are uncomfortable and even upsetting. Sometimes, the journey to parenthood can be that way. But you will also hear positive, uplifting and heart-warming stories.

In this episode, you will hear honest accounts of some tough times that the hosts have faced with in/fertility but with their characteristic optimism and humour.

You can engage with the hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:

-emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com)
-following us on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity), Instagram (https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity).

Finally, thanks to Fertifa, the UK’s leading reproductive healthcare benefits provider, for sponsoring this season of the podcast. You can find out more about Fertifa here: https://www.fertifa.com. You can also contact them direct here: enquiries@fertifa.com

View Details

The new In/Fertility in the City podcast is launching soon.