Building your family
Lisa Schuman
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When Standard IVF Isn’t Enough: How One Fertility Doctor Thinks Differently
If you’ve been told “this is just your protocol,” “we’ll just try again,” or “everything looks fine” while IVF keeps failing, this episode is for you. Standard IVF works for many people, but not for…
Toxins & Fertility How to Think About Chemicals with the Co‑Founder of Green Chemistry
Unexplained infertility. Failed cycles. Constant “what ifs” about plastics, products, and the environments we live in. We’re surrounded by headlines about “toxins” and especially worried about how…
When You’re Not the Genetic Parent: Staying Connected as a Couple
If you’re building your family through donor conception and one of you is not genetically related to your child, this episode is for you. Lisa Schuman, LCSW, unpacks the real emotional challenges…
Proactive Fertility: When To Get Checked, Freeze Eggs & Plan Ahead | Dr. Shefali Shastri, RMA NJ
Most people only meet a fertility specialist in crisis mode. In this episode, Dr. Shefali Shastri, Clinical Director and Physician Partner at RMA New Jersey, explains what proactive fertility…
National Infertility Awareness Week: RESOLVE, Queer & Solo Parents, and How Your Story Changes Policy
National Infertility Awareness Week is about more than awareness posts. It is about whose stories get heard, who gets left out, and how we turn lived experience into better policy for everyone…
What To Do With Unused Embryos: Options, Big Feelings & A 3‑Step Path Forward
Deciding what to do with unused embryos after IVF can feel overwhelming, lonely, and loaded with grief. In this episode, we talk honestly about the emotional weight of unused embryos and why so many…
Jenna Wolfe on Building a Two‑Mom Family, Donor Conception & Coming Out on TV
Journalist and TV anchor Jenna Wolfe joins therapist Lisa Schuman to share how she built a two‑mom family through fertility treatment and donor conception, came out on the Today Show, navigated a…
‘Screw It’ Moments in Fertility: How Stress Quietly Shapes Your Family-Building Choices
When you’re going through fertility treatment, donor conception, or surrogacy, it’s completely normal to hit a point where you think, “Ugh… screw it.” In this solo episode, Lisa Schuman names and…
Inside the IVF Lab: How Clinics Keep Your Embryos Safe with AI
Most patients never see what actually happens to their eggs and embryos once they disappear “into the lab.” In this episode, we go behind the scenes with Dr. Eduardo Hariton to unpack what safety…
Trans Family Building with Trystan Reese: Same Love, Harder Path to Parenthood
Trans people don’t want “special” families. They want what every parent wants: to tuck their kids in at night and know they’re safe. In this episode of Building Your Family, Lisa Schuman, LCSW, sits…
Empowering Your Fertility Journey: From Egg Freezing to Future Choices with Dr. Jaime Knopman
How do you make smart, grounded choices about egg freezing today that support whatever comes next – IVF, donor conception, or deciding not to pursue treatment at all? In this episode, reproductive…
Loving Your Donor‑Conceived Child When Your Feelings Are Complicated
Many intended parents secretly ask themselves: “How can I have such negative feelings about donor conception and still love my child?” In this episode, Lisa talks directly to that fear. She explains…
Peeing, Pooping, Sex & Your Pelvic Floor: Pregnancy, Postpartum & Beyond with Dr. Sara Reardon
Leaking when you laugh, rushing to the bathroom “just in case,” constipation, or painful sex after birth… common, yes. Normal, no. In this episode, pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Sara Reardon…
Dad or Donor? 6 Things To Decide Before You Define The Relationship
When you’re building your family with donor conception, one huge decision often gets skipped: Are we setting this person up as “Dad” (or “Mom”)… or as a “Donor”? This episode is not about what your…
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency & Donor Eggs: Fitness Coach Kyla Burke’s IVF Story
What if you’re told you’re in premature menopause at 34 – and your only path to pregnancy is IVF with donor eggs? In this episode, I’m joined by fitness coach Kyla Burke, who shares her personal…
Genetic Loss in Donor Conception: Will I Love My Child as Much?
If you’re using or considering donor conception and wondering, “Will I feel like the real parent?” or “Will I love this baby as much?” you are not alone. In this solo episode, I talk about genetic…
Choosing a Donor in IVF: Genetics, Risk & What Really Matters (Part 2)
Most people naturally focus on photos and eye color when choosing a donor. It’s the first thing you see and it feels concrete. But if that’s all you focus on, it’s easy to overlook some of the…
PGT‑A, PGT‑M & PGT‑P Explained for IVF Patients (Part 1)
If you’re in IVF and being offered a menu of embryo tests – PGT‑A, PGT‑M, PGT‑P – it can feel overwhelming. What do they actually tell you? How much is genetics vs environment? And how do you think…
Surrogacy, Adoption & Modern Families: Pedro Andrade on “Somewhat Familiar"
Journalist Pedro Andrade joins me to talk about his new documentary series Somewhat Familiar – a global journey through surrogacy, adoption, foster care and modern LGBTQ+ families, including his own…
IVF, Donor Conception & Surrogacy: Best Insights of 2025 For Your 2026 Fertility Journey
This special Best of 2025 Learn episode brings together the most powerful insights on IVF, donor conception, and surrogacy to help you feel more prepared, informed, and less alone in your 2026…
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Building your family has published 178 episodes since February 2023, covering topics in Alternative Health, Health & Fitness.
Building your family is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 38m.
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