In this episode, we’re joined by reproductive psychologist Dr. Julie Bindeman to explore one of the most difficult, and important, conversations that can arise in a surrogacy journey.

Dr. Bindeman works with intended parents, surrogates, and donors navigating the emotional complexities of third-party reproduction. Together we discuss why some conversations feel hard to approach, why they matter early in the matching process, and how thoughtful communication can help protect everyone involved.

If you're exploring surrogacy as an intended parent or considering becoming a surrogate, this episode offers insight, perspective, and guidance.

The Hard Conversations in Surrogacy

What happens when both the intended mom and the surrogate choose joy over fear?

In this episode, you’ll meet Maddison and Jesse, an intended mother and surrogate whose relationship was rooted in authenticity, vulnerability, and celebration from the very beginning.

Instead of bracing for what could go wrong, they made a conscious decision to celebrate every milestone, every appointment, and every step of the surrogacy journey. What began as a match quickly became a genuine friendship, one that brought two families together in a way neither of them expected.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

• What intentional joy looks like in surrogacy
• How alignment turns into lasting friendship
• Why emotional trust matters in matching
• How surrogates and intended parents can build a relationship rooted in celebration, not fear

If you’re exploring surrogacy, whether as a hopeful intended parent or a potential surrogate, this episode offers a hopeful, grounded look at what’s possible when trust, gratitude, and partnership lead the way.

When Joy Leads the Surrogacy Journey

We Kept Going… But Not in the Same Way

Jen’s path to becoming a mom didn’t follow a straight line.

After years of trying, multiple rounds of IVF, and not a single embryo, she made the decision to move forward with egg donation, hoping that would finally be the turning point.

But even then, things didn’t go as expected.

After four failed transfers, Jen found herself in a place so many women reach in this process:

Do you keep going the same way… or do you change something?

In this episode, Jen shares what it looked like to keep moving forward while also making the difficult decision to shift direction, from choosing a new agency and egg donor to changing clinics, and what ultimately led to the birth of her daughter.

We talk about:

• What it’s like to go through years of infertility with no clear answers
• Why egg donation doesn’t always mean immediate success
• The emotional weight of repeated failed transfers
• How to recognize when it’s time to make a change
• What gave her the confidence to try a different path
• The reality of holding onto hope while adjusting expectations

This episode is a reminder that continuing forward doesn’t always mean staying on the same path.

Sometimes, the most important step is choosing a different one.

If you’re in the middle of your journey and questioning what to do next, this conversation will meet you there.

She Had 4 Failed Transfers… Then Everything Changed

In this episode, we’re sharing a conversation featuring Katy Encalade, President & CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, from the IVF Daddies Podcast.

If you’re exploring surrogacy or egg donation, it’s easy to focus on the steps but having a clearer understanding of the bigger picture makes all the difference.

In this conversation, Katy breaks down:

• What a realistic timeline looks like from embryo creation to baby
• Why many families need more embryos than they expect
• Where patience matters most in the journey
• Why matching matters more than speed
• What Intended Parents often overlook when choosing an egg donor
• Red flags to watch for when evaluating agencies

This is the part of the process most people don’t fully understand, until they’re already in it.

If you’re exploring surrogacy or egg donation, it’s easy to focus on the steps but having a clearer understanding of the bigger picture makes all the difference.

If you’re early in your journey, or already in the middle of it, this will change how you think about what comes next.

What You’re Not Told About Surrogacy and Egg Donation

What happens after National Infertility Awareness Week ends?

In this mini moment, Katy Encalade reflects on what it really means to carry this work forward, beyond a single week, a hashtag, or a moment.

After nearly two decades in the surrogacy and egg donation space, Katy shares what most people don’t see: the everyday conversations, decisions, and support that shape how families are built.

This isn’t just about awareness, it’s about responsibility, guidance, and doing this work the ethical way.

If you’re navigating infertility, or considering surrogacy or egg donation, this is a reminder that your journey doesn’t end here.

And neither does the support.

Infertility Awareness Doesn’t End Here

Why does your insurance, or even your zip code, determine whether you can access fertility care?

In this mini moment, Katy Encalade, CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, unpacks insights from Elizabeth Carr, the first baby born through IVF in the United States and a leading fertility advocate, on the hidden barriers that shape fertility journeys before most people even realize it.

Katy explains how access to fertility care isn’t just medical, it’s structural. Insurance coverage, cost, and where you live can quietly determine what options are actually available… and for many, whether they have options at all.

If you’re exploring IVF, surrogacy, or egg donation, understanding these barriers is key to making informed decisions.

As we recognize National Infertility Awareness Week, this conversation highlights why awareness and advocacy are essential to creating more equitable paths to family building.

Your Insurance Decides If You Can Have a Baby

1 in 6 people experience infertility, but access to IVF and fertility care still depends on where you live, your job, and your insurance.

As we recognize National Infertility Awareness Week, this conversation matters more than ever.

In this episode, we break down why infertility is becoming a national conversation, and what most people don’t see behind the scenes.

I’m joined by Alise Powell from RESOLVE: The National Infertility & Family Building Association, where she works in fertility advocacy, policy, and expanding access to care.

In this episode:

Why IVF access depends on your state and employer
What’s changing in fertility coverage and legislation
The real cost of infertility (financial + emotional)
How advocacy and storytelling are shaping the future of family building

If you’re considering IVF, surrogacy, or egg donation, or just trying to understand your options, this will help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

Subscribe for real stories, expert insights, and support on your journey to building a family.

Why Infertility Is Now a National Conversation

Why does infertility feel so isolating, even when you know you’re not the only one going through it?

In this mini moment, Katy Encalade, CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, unpacks Kelli Johnson’s powerful words on loneliness, fear, and the emotional weight of infertility.

Katy shares what she sees every day working with intended parents, how isolation quietly shapes not just how you feel, but the decisions you make during your journey.

As we recognize National Infertility Awareness Week, this conversation is a reminder that support isn’t optional, it’s essential.

You are not alone in this.

Why Infertility Can Feel So Lonely

For National Infertility Awareness Week, we’re honoring this year’s theme #MoreThan, starting with #MoreThanYourJourney.

In this Mini Moment, Emily shares the sentence that helped heal years of shame she carried through infertility and reminded her that her worth was never defined by what her body could or couldn’t do.

If you’ve ever wondered “Am I broken?” or “Did my body fail me?” this message is for you.

You are more than your infertility journey. And your story is still unfolding.

Infertility Made Me Feel Broken… Until I Heard This

Why is building a family still so hard—decades after IVF changed everything?

In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth Carr, the first child born through IVF in the United States, to explore how far fertility medicine has come—and why access to care is still out of reach for so many.

From insurance gaps and rising costs to the emotional realities of navigating IVF, egg donation, and surrogacy, this conversation goes beyond the science to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes.

Released during National Infertility Awareness Week, this episode is about more than awareness—it’s about understanding the barriers that still exist, and what needs to change.

If you’re exploring your options, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to understand why this process can feel so difficult—this conversation will give you the clarity, context, and perspective to move forward.

The Truth About Fertility Access—From America’s First IVF Baby

Who knew it could take more than two people to have a baby? 

Create A Happy Family is a weekly podcast for anyone exploring surrogacy or egg donation — hopeful parents, surrogates, and egg donors alike.  

This show brings you real stories, expert insights, and honest conversations from people who’ve lived it.  

Hosted by Whitney Hall — a two-time surrogate and surrogacy coordinator with Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions — each episode offers the clarity, transparency, and support you need to explore your family-building options with confidence.  

You’ll hear from intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, and professionals, each sharing their unique perspective to help guide yours.  

Whether you’re just beginning or deep in the decision-making process, Create A Happy Family will equip you with the knowledge, encouragement, and reassurance to move forward — feeling truly informed and supported.  

💫 Creating Happy Families via Egg Donation & Surrogacy, one relationship at a time.

Please click -->  Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions [https://createahappyfamily.com/] to find out more!

Create A Happy Family

Whitney Hall hosts the podcast, and the purpose of the podcast is to provide education surrounding the egg donor and surrogacy process for intended parents, potential surrogates, and potential egg donors in the United States. The target age range of listeners is 21-42 and primarily female. The unique aspect of the podcast is the lived experience of the podcast host, who is passionate about helping create happy families. The podcast aims to educate listeners and potentially recruit egg donors and surrogates. 

Whitney Hall

Shows