The Stork and I

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A podcast for single women considering solo motherhood using donor conception

Episodes

Wednesday Feb 23, 2022

S5: E4 Hearing from the US Donor Conceived Council

Wednesday Feb 23, 2022

In todays episode I speak to Melissa from the United States Donor Conceived Council.

Melissa was conceived using anonymous egg donation and her parents told her and her brother when she was 21.

Melissa is part of the US Donor Conceived Council, which is a nonprofit organization run by and for Donor Conceived People. They connect with other DCP, recipient parents, donors, industry professionals, and the general public to increase awareness of issues that impact DCP and promote change that advances their health, welfare, and human rights."

In this episode we cover:

- The important topics that the United States Door Conceived Council are fighting for

- The feeling of burden that can be felt by DCP trying to find family members

- Some of the challenges with worldwide donor limits

- The differences in experiences of a RP and a DCP

- How societys view of what makes a family, might impact our thoughts about the term 'parent'

- The importance of not making the subject of donor conception taboo for our kids

- Why we should try not to take criticisms of the industry personally

....and much much more.

Connect with Donor Conceived Council

To connect with the US Donor Conceived Council you can follow them on Instagram

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donorconceivedcouncil/

Thank you for listening to The Stork and I Podcast! I would love for you to share this episode and let me know what you think! Please take a moment to rate and review, it really helps others find the podcast which can be a great source of support!

About Mel Johnson

Hi! I'm Mel, The Solo Parenthood Coach and following my own journey to solo parenthood, I created The Stork and I to support others going through the same journey.

I'm also on a mission to change the narrative around solo parenthood

Learn more about me and the coaching I offer at www.thestorkandi.com

Instagram:

Join our Instagram community for more support: www.instagram.com/the_stork_and_i

Thriving Solo:

You can sign up to Thriving Solo, The Stork and I Membership Community for solo mums here: https://members.thestorkandi.com

Future Events:

You can see our planned future events here:

https://members.thestorkandi.com/webinar-library/

Wednesday Feb 16, 2022

S5: E3 Chatting to donor conceived Nikita who was raised by a solo mum

Wednesday Feb 16, 2022

In todays episode I chat to 24 year old Nikita. Nikita was donor conceived through sperm donation and raised by a solo mum in Birmingham.

Being donor conceived inspired her to work in fertility which has allowed her to better understand the process from the parent perspective. She believe's it is important to hear the views of both parents and donor conceived people for future generations to have a more positive experience.

She started looking for her donor and siblings aged 16 and feels very lucky to have a supportive family.

In todays episode we cover:

- Talking to your childs friends parents about donor conception

- The benefits to our children of knowing other donor conceived children

- How it feels to find out your donors non identifying information at 16

- Finding half siblings and 3rd cousins!

- The benefits of RPs doing the work when it comes to finding donor siblings to give the options for DCP and not leaving all the investigations to our children

- Changing feelings about a donor over time

- How a sense of identity can be linked to understand who your donor is

- Creative ways of trying to find your donor

- The part genetics plays in our lives

and much much more!

Connect with Nikita

To connect with Nikita you can follow her on Instagram, where she will be more than happy to answer any questions:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnikitaxx

About Mel Johnson

Hi! I'm Mel, The Solo Parenthood Coach and following my own journey to solo parenthood, I created The Stork and I to support others going through the same journey.

I'm also on a mission to change the narrative around solo parenthood

Learn more about me and the coaching I offer at www.thestorkandi.com

Instagram:

Join our Instagram community for more support: www.instagram.com/the_stork_and_i

Thriving Solo:

You can sign up to Thriving Solo, The Stork and I Membership Community for solo mums here: https://tinyurl.com/yckpfd9k

Wednesday Feb 09, 2022

S5: E2 Jana Rupnow, Family Building Therapist

Wednesday Feb 09, 2022

In todays episode I chat to licensed professional counselor and international consultant specializing in fertility and family building, Jana Rupnow.

Jana M. Rupnow, MA, LPC, is best-selling author of the book, Three Makes Baby-How to Parent Your Donor-Conceived Child. She introduced the field to the “five common fears” that parents face as they contemplate having a non-biological child. Thousands of readers around the world have trusted the wisdom and guidance because she knows firsthand what it’s like to be in a non-biological family, as an adoptee and adoptive mom.

Jana also faced infertility and has helped thousands of people face the challenges of infertility as well as those preparing to grow their family in non-traditional ways. Working as an independent, she has fostered relationships with endocrinologists across the United States. Jana’s work, including the Three Makes Baby podcast, encourages communication between donor conceived parents and donor conceived adults, to raise awareness of the inherent challenges donor conceived families may face across the lifespan.

In todays episode we cover:

The importance of giving DCP a voice
The importance of working through any unresolved grief
How our children are influenced by how we discuss donor conception
The importance of language and what to call a donor
Why its important to own our mistakes
Advice about when to start talking to our children about their conception

Connect with Jana

For consultation, counseling, training for professionals, or a speaking engagement you can contact Jana on any of her channels below

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janarupnowplc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jana.rupnow

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanaRupnowLPC

Website: www.janarupnow.com

Email: Jana@janarupnow.com

About Mel Johnson

Hi! I'm Mel, The Solo Parenthood Coach and following my own journey to solo parenthood, I created The Stork and I to support others going through the same journey.

I'm also on a mission to change the narrative around solo parenthood

Learn more about me and the coaching I offer at www.thestorkandi.com

Instagram:

Join our Instagram community for more support: www.instagram.com/the_stork_and_i.

Thriving Solo:

You can sign up to Thriving Solo, The Stork and I Membership Community for solo mums here: https://tinyurl.com/yckpfd9k

Wednesday Feb 02, 2022

S5: E1 Conversations with Kiara who is donor conceived with a solo mother

Wednesday Feb 02, 2022

In episode one of series 5 of The Stork and I Podcast I chat to Kiara.

Kiara is a 24 year-old donor conceived person who was raised by her solo mom, Nicki. She lives in Chicago and is writing a book about being donor conceived and her story of navigating life and finding her donor related family. She is trying to redefine society's notion of a "traditional family". You can check her out on instagram @kiararaeschuh and get a free preview of her book at kiararaeschuh.com.

In todays episode we cover:

- The impact the way you are told you are door conceived can have on you

- The importance of language around donor conception

- Finding donor siblings

- How it feels to connect with your donor

- Whether genetics makes a family

- Advice for solo parents

and much more.......

Connect with Kiara

Instagram: https:https://www.instagram.com/kiararaeschuh/

Website: kiararaeschuh.co /

About Mel Johnson

Hi! I'm Mel, The Solo Parenthood Coach and following my own journey to solo parenthood, I created The Stork and I to support others going through the same journey.

I'm also on a mission to change the narrative around solo parenthood

Learn more about me and the coaching I offer at www.thestorkandi.com

Instagram:

Join our Instagram community for more support: www.instagram.com/the_stork_and_i.

Thriving Solo:

You can sign up to Thriving Solo, The Stork and I Membership Community for solo mums here: https://tinyurl.com/yckpfd9k

Friday Jan 14, 2022

Series 5 Trailer

Friday Jan 14, 2022

The wait is finally over! The Stork and I Podcast for solo parents and those considering solo parenthood is back!

Series 5 of the podcast is launching on 2nd February 2022 and is focusing on all things donor conception.

Subscribe now so you don't miss out!

Wednesday Nov 03, 2021

S4: E10 The one for friends and family

Wednesday Nov 03, 2021

Todays episode is a bit different from usual.

I'm not talking to a guest. Instead I have dedicated this episode to provide guidance for friends and family members of solo mums.

I've tried to incorporate my own experience as well as everything that has been shared with me by my fellow solo mum community.

I've covered all the things we wish our friends and family knew about how to best support us and what not to say.

I cover:

- Re-establishing a different relationship with your friend

- How hard asking for help is

- Practical things you can do to help a solo parent

- Things to avoid saying and more useful things to stay instead

- The importance of open communication

I'd love to hear from you on your views of what good support looks like and if you are a friend or family member whether this has been useful for you.

Wednesday Oct 27, 2021

S4: E9 Fertility Yoga with Helen Davenport-Peace

Wednesday Oct 27, 2021

Todays guest is Helen Davenport-Peace from @at_the_fold

Helen is a yoga teacher that has been immersed in the path of yoga, embodiment and teaching for 25 years. She is the owner of a small yoga studio in Greater Manchester, The Fold - a hub for anyone trying to conceive. Her aim is to provide a sanctuary of rest and community amidst the landscapes of creating a family.

Helen supports people in the midst of a trying to conceive story through Fertility Yoga sessions and co-created 1:1 conception doula bespoke support packages for assisted conception and early pregnancy. Support is carefully curated together and can include yoga, guided relaxation, massage, breathwork and a range of other modalities.

In todays episode we cover:

The power of finding your community
The variety of ways that yoga can help support us through a fertility journey
Practical advice of how to incorporate a yoga practise into a busy schedule

Connect with Helen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/at_the_fold/

Website: https://thefold.uk/

Join our Instagram community for more support: www.instagram.com/the_stork_and_i.

About Mel Johnson

Hi! I'm Mel, The Solo Parenthood Coach and following my own journey to solo parenthood, I created The Stork and I to support others going through the same journey.

I'm also on a mission to change the narrative around solo parenthood

Learn more about me at www.thestorkandi.com

Wednesday Oct 20, 2021

S4: E8 Emotional Freedom Technique with Sarah Holland

Wednesday Oct 20, 2021

Todays guest is Sarah Holland, the Fertile Mindset® Coach and has a unique, effective and empowering approach to fertility support. Working in the world of fertility since 2001, and having
experienced fertility challenges herself, she pioneered the use of EFT Tapping specifically for
fertility support.

With the Fertile Mindset® approach to coaching, support and emotional healing she has helped thousands of people negotiate the emotional rollercoaster of fertility issues. Sarah believes it is possible for anyone’s fertility journey to become a much more positive and fulfilling experience, and that by recognising and supporting the emotional aspects of fertility, the path to parenthood can become more successful in every way including creating a family.

Sarah’s coaching clients and Fertile Mindset® Sanctuary members frequently tell her that
the results they achieve with her support and EFT “feel like magic!”.
Sarah has appeared on BBC News and Channel 5 talking about fertility topics, and has
spoken on stage at the Fertility Show and My Future Family Show in London, the American
Fertility Expo in California and Fertilitetsmessen in Copenhagen, as well as at numerous
online fertility events and podcasts. She is also a proud member of the AlphaZita holistic
fertility team, offering integrated fertility support on retreat at the luxury Sani resort in
Greece.

Sarah is based in the U.K. and her support is available worldwide via zoom consultations and
within her membership, the Fertile Mindset® Sanctuary which has both free and paid levels
of support.

Having experienced her own fertility challenges Sarah is now a mum to two boys through
both birth and adoption.

In todays episode we cover:

- EFT; what it is and how it can support you on your fertility journey

- How EFT tapping works and why it works

- How you can use EFT tapping to make and stick to a decision

- Why EFT is a skill for life

and much more!

Connect with Sarah Holland

Begin your own Fertile Mindset® journey today by joining Sarah’s free membership in the
Fertile Mindset ® Sanctuary here: www.fertilemindset.com/sanctuary

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertile_mindset/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FertileMindset

Podcast: Fertile Mindset

Website: www.fertilemindset.com

Join our Instagram community for more support: www.instagram.com/the_stork_and_i.

About Mel Johnson

Hi! I'm Mel, The Solo Parenthood Coach and following my own journey to solo parenthood, I created The Stork and I to support others going through the same journey.

I'm also on a mission to change the narrative around solo parenthood

Learn more about me at www.thestorkandi.com

Wednesday Oct 13, 2021

S4: E7 A Single Revolution with Shani Silver

Wednesday Oct 13, 2021

In todays episode, I chat to Shani Silver.

Shani is a writer and the host of A Single Serving Podcast. Her work focuses on changing the negative narratives around being single in an effort to improve the way single life is experienced. Shani's work helps singles reframe the limiting, shame-filled societal messages around singlehood and reframe them to hold more truth and authenticity. On October 26th, 2021 Shani is releasing her first book, A Single Revolution: Don't look for a match. Light one.

In todays chat we cover:

- The narrative around single women as compared to that of single men

- How reframing can help us to enjoy singlehood a lot more

- The importance of language when discussing singlehood

- Why we don't have to find a partner for our life to start

- Coming to the realisation we don't have to have a baby, if we don't want to have a baby

- How spending time with babies can help you decide if you want to be a parent

- Challenging the assumption that we are all supposed to get married and have children

- The importance of making conscious decisions, whatever they may be

and much, much more.....

You can purchase A Single Revolution , Shani's new book from Amazon from 26th October 2021

Connect with Shani Silver:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/shanisilver

Medium: https://shanisilver.medium.com/

Podcast: A Single Serving

Book: A Single Revolution: Don't look for a match. Light one.

Website: https://www.shanisilver.com/

Join our Instagram community for more support: www.instagram.com/the_stork_and_i.

About Mel Johnson

Hi! I'm Mel, The Solo Parenthood Coach and following my own journey to solo parenthood, I created The Stork and I to support others going through the same journey.

I'm also on a mission to change the narrative around solo parenthood

Learn more about me at www.thestorkandi.com

Wednesday Oct 06, 2021

S4:E6 Getting fertility treatment abroad

Wednesday Oct 06, 2021

In todays episode I chat to Emma Haslam from @yourIVFabroad

Emma is an expert in fertility treatment abroad and after her own journey with treatment abroad she set up Your IVF abroad, to help others by making fertility treatment more affordable, accessible and supported and to give people who she was missing. Emma helps people to find a clinic that matches their needs and wants and supports them through treatment, she also offers donor conception information sessions so you can make informed decisions.

Aiming to change the narrative Emma has become an advocate, speaker, campaigner and writer for the infertility community and on donor conception.

In todays chat we cover:

- How to manage being told you need to lose weight before starting your fertility journey

- Some of the key reasons people choose to get treatment abroad

- Where to start if you're considering treatment abroad

- How long you need to spend abroad if you're having your treatment in a clinic in a different country

- The impact of Covid on getting treatment abroad

- Where you can get more information and connect with others getting treatment abroad

...and much more!

Emma has a free Facebook community where she and peers offer support to those curious about, planning or having IVF abroad. It's a closed community that will not show up in your news feed or profile and you can choose to post anonymously.

To check out the support group, have a listen to her podcasts, check out Emma's services and free resources - including a checklist to see if fertility treatment abroad is right for you please use the link below.

www.linktr.ee/Yourivfabroad

Join our Instagram community for more support: www.instagram.com/the_stork_and_i.

About Mel Johnson

Hi! I'm Mel, The Solo Parenthood Coach and following my own journey to solo parenthood, I created The Stork and I to support others going through the same journey.

I'm also on a mission to change the narrative around solo parenthood

Learn more about me at www.thestorkandi.com