Surrogacy Made Simple
Episodes
#69 Coping with Holidays Surrogacy Edition: 8 Intended Parent Survival Tips
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The holidays can feel like the brightest spotlight on what’s missing—especially when intended parents are still waiting, longing, or grieving thei...
#68 Surrogate Profiles 101: Avoiding Mistakes and Finding Your Ideal Match
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Worried about making a mistake when choosing your surrogate? You’re not alone—one wrong decision can lead to contract battles, lost money, or brok...
#67 Surrogacy in Insurance 2026: Higher Premiums, Liens, and New Rules for Intended Parents
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Navigating surrogacy insurance is more daunting than ever in 2026.Thinking you’ve found the perfect surrogate, only to worry about the massive, unpr...
#66 What’s Changing? How Abortion Laws Impact Surrogacy for Today’s Intended Parents
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Worried about how changing abortion laws might affect your surrogacy journey? You’re not alone. In this urgent episode, Dr. Alyssa Small Layne dives...
#65 Kindbody IVF Disrupted—Profit Over Patients and Hidden Challenges Facing Modern IVF
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Alyssa Small Layne digs into why Bloomberg’s “IVF Disrupted” resonated so widely and what it reveals about the modern fertility industry. Sh...
#64 Bringing Baby Home: How to Build a Strong Bond After Surrogacy with Jaquie Dason
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve waited, hoped, and dreamed—and now your baby is coming home. But what happens next?In this episode, Dr. Alyssa Small Layne sits down with p...
#63 What We’re Doing Differently in Our Second Surrogacy Journey (And Why It Matters for You)
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you’ve been through surrogacy once, everything changes the second time around.In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Alyssa Small Layne shares wh...
#62 When Is It Okay to Transfer Two Embryos Into a Surrogate? An IVF Expert Dr Erica Bove Explains
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Double embryo transfer (DET) is often discouraged in surrogacy—but are there ever exceptions?In this follow-up to their powerful SET vs. DET convers...
#61 Single vs. Double Embryo Transfer in Surrogacy: the Risks You Might Be Overlooking - Dr Erica Bove
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should you transfer one embryo—or two?In this episode, Dr. Alyssa Small Layne sits down with reproductive endocrinologist and OB/GYN Dr. Erica Bove ...
#60 Why the Traditional Surrogacy Match Process Is Failing You
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The traditional surrogacy match system isn’t working. Whether you’re with an agency or searching independently, most intended parents are unknowin...
#59 Avoid These 5 Surrogacy Mistakes That Could Break Your Heart and Drain Your Wallet
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Surrogacy is an exciting and emotional journey—but it’s also complex and full of potential pitfalls. From choosing the cheapest option to rushing ...
#58 The 3 Essential First Steps in Your Surrogacy Journey (Beginner’s Guide for Intended Parents)
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what your fertility clinic is really using to determine if a surrogate is a “yes” or a “no”?In this essential episode, Dr. Alyssa ...
#57 10 Surrogacy Questions Answered: An OBGYN and Surrogacy Mom’s Perspective
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is your all-access pass to the real surrogacy questions people are too afraid to ask—or don’t know they should.From choosing a clinic...
#56 ASRM Surrogacy Guidelines: What Every Intended Parent Needs to Know
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what your fertility clinic is really using to determine if a surrogate is a “yes” or a “no”?In this essential episode, Dr. Alyssa ...
#55 When to Tell Your Child They're Donor-Conceived—and How to Do It Well: Wendy Kramer
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When is the “right time” to tell your child they were donor conceived? And how do you talk about it in a way that builds connection—not confusio...
#54 Why Biology Matters: How to Find Donor Siblings and Families for Your Child - Wendy Kramer
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when your child starts asking about their biological roots—and you realize you don’t have all the answers?In Part 1 of this thoughtfu...
#53 Birthright Citizenship and Surrogacy Are Colliding—Here’s How to Protect Your Baby’s Citizenship - Lesa Slaughter
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a baby born via surrogacy in the U.S. is suddenly left in legal limbo—unable to get a passport, unable to go home?In this urgent a...
#52 BMI in Surrogacy: What Most Intended Parents Don’t Know (But Should)
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you're searching for a surrogate, it’s easy to focus on personality, values, or past experience—but there’s one key factor many intended pa...
#51 How to Pick a Fertility Clinic for Surrogacy (Without Regret)
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to IVF for surrogacy, not all fertility clinics are created equal. And the wrong choice can lead to delays, surprise restrictions, and m...
#50 Two Surrogates Pregnant at Once: Carly Joseph’s Dual Surrogacy Journey
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should you work with two surrogates at once? What does it take—mentally, emotionally, and logistically—to grow your family through a dual surrogac...
#49 Illinois Fertility Mandate: A Vital Lifeline for IVF and Surrogacy - Ryan Ferrante
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your insurance actually helped you build your family?In this conversation, surrogacy attorney and longtime advocate Ryan Ferrante joins Dr. Al...
#48 Lawsuits Against PGT-A Embryo Testing: How It Affects IVF, Surrogacy, and You - Allison Freeman (Part 2)
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
PGT-A testing has been promoted as a breakthrough—promising fewer miscarriages, faster time to pregnancy, and better IVF outcomes. But what if those...
#47 Hidden Risks of PGT-A Testing in IVF and Surrogacy - Allison Freeman
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
PGT-A testing is marketed as a smart, science-backed way to improve your chances of a healthy baby. But what if it’s not giving you the full story?I...
#46 What does a surrogacy agency fee really cover?
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wondering why surrogacy agency fees are so expensive—and what they actually include? You’re not alone. When you're already spending six figur...
#45 Surrogacy Costs 2025 in the United States: Parent Guide Inside!
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wondering how much surrogacy actually costs these days? Prepare yourself for sticker shock. In this conversation, we break down why prices are rising...
#44 Top Surrogacy Tips for Intended Parents in 2025: Lessons from a Year of Insights
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Navigating surrogacy can feel like chasing breadcrumbs across the internet—time-consuming, frustrating, and overwhelming. You’ve waited long enoug...
#43 What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag as an Intended Parent
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Need to pack your hospital bag for your surrogacy journey without losing your mind? Let’s face it—packing for the hospital as an intended parent i...
#42 Questions to ask a Surrogacy Agency: First-Time Intended Parent Advice
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Choosing a surrogacy agency is one of the most critical decisions you'll make on your journey to parenthood. With so many options out there, how d...
#41 Pros and Cons of Independent Surrogacy You Need to Know
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could save $50,000 on surrogacy while still having a safe, successful journey? Choosing independent surrogacy might just be the answer. B...
#40 Surrogacy Costs Soaring: Are Luxury Gifts Really Necessary?
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should you send your surrogate and her family to Disney?Or buy them a new car as a thank you?It’s hard to know what’s normal in the world of surro...
#39: 4 Crucial Tips for Choosing a Great Surrogacy Clinic
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Confused about how to pick the perfect fertility clinic for your surrogacy journey? Let’s fix that! What you need in a clinic for regular IVF isn’...
#38 Is embryo donation right for you? an IVF mom's unique choice - Ashley Herring Part 2
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Finding the Right Match for Your Embryo Donation JourneyGoing through embryo donation is an incredibly personal and sometimes overwhelming experience....
#37 Is embryo donation right for you? an IVF mom's unique choice - Ashley Herring
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do with extra embryos?Your family’s finally complete, and it took a tremendous journey to get here, didnt it? Yet, there's one more ...
#36 Surrogacy Insurance Liens with Sarah Paige of ART Risk - Part 2
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Surrogacy-friendly insurance isn’t enough.Finding insurance to cover surrogacy expenses can be tricky and “liens” make it worse. If you pick wro...
#35 Surrogacy Insurance Liens with Sarah Paige of ART Risk
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What you need to know about surrogacy insurance liens We’re on the heels of another Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period. Open enrollme...
#34 The best way to bring baby home after surrogacy
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traveling Home with Your Newborn: Drive or Fly?Are you feeling overwhelmed deciding how to travel home with your newborn right after surrogacy? You’...
#33 Premium Surrogates for Extra Bucks? The Truth About Two-Tier Surrogacy Systems
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is paying more for a surrogate really worth it? Choosing the right surrogate isn't an easy job. Like all intended parents, you want the best chance of...
#32 Protect Your Fertility: What You Need to Know Before GYN Surgery
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re about to undergo GYN surgery, you need to know what could happen to your fertility. I needed a surrogate because fibroids and a myomectom...
#31 What's the Best Surrogacy Relationship Style?
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What's the right type of surrogacy relationship? Are you feeling pressured to have a relationship in surrogacy that isn’t what you really want? ...
#30 Independent Surrogacy: 6 Untold Truths You Need to Know
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you nervous about independent surrogacy? Uncertain about managing it all yourself? Afraid you'll miss a crucial step? Or maybe you’re w...
#29 Pumping milk after surrogacy: a game-changing new law
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about breastmilk? You know breast milk has so many benefits, and you want baby to have it. But it seems so hard to give breast milk after s...
#28 How to Bond with Baby During and After Surrogacy
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Need surrogacy baby bonding tips that actually work? Having a baby through surrogacy can feel like loss on top of loss. The loss that made you turn to...
#27 How to Vet and Select your Ideal Surrogate
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
--> Worksheet download: The exact tool I give my coaching clients to help vet a surrogate from the first meeting. Surrogate Vetting Essentials ...
#26 The Man with 1000 Kids - Safety Precautions for Surrogacy
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Safe Surrogacy - 6 tips to avoid scams and pitfalls: Watch the video What happens when the fertility industry turns a blind eye? The desire to have a ...
#25 Understanding Surrogacy Timelines: What to Expect and How to Prepare
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How long does surrogacy take? If you're feeling overwhelmed by how long it’s taking to have a baby, you're not alone. Like you, so many o...
#24 Can Your Friend Carry Your Baby for Free? The Hidden Surrogacy Costs and Steps Exposed!
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you're thinking about having your friend carry your baby for free, we get it—it seems like the perfect solution! Imagine bypassing agency fee...
#23 Understanding Surrogacy: How Does Surrogacy Work and What You Need to Know
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you considering surrogacy, but wondering how does surrogacy even work?. Asking yourself questions like, "How does a surrogate get pregnant?&q...
#22 When good surrogacy money advice goes wrong - Arielle Mitton (Part 2)
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever worried about where your money goes when you pay surrogacy fees? If not, you might want to start thinking about it now.Not to scare you ...
#21 When good surrogacy money advice goes wrong - Arielle Mitton (Part 1)
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is your money for surrogacy safe? The real people devastated by the SEAM escrow scandal need a voice. Arielle Mitton came to surrogacy after hyper...
#20 From Picture Perfect To The ICU - One Surrogate's Story (part 2)
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re considering becoming a surrogate, understanding the potential risks and complications is crucial. What questions do you need to ask the f...
#19 From Picture Perfect To The ICU - One Surrogate's Story
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you think being a surrogate is easy and you know what to expect, then what happened to Alex may stun you. You’ve seen heartwarming stories on Tik...
#18 Surrogacy Nightmare: Find Out if Your Money is at Risk!
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are your surrogacy funds really safe? Imagine waking up to an email from your escrow company saying all operations are on hold due to legal action. ...
#17 Viral Social Media Insider Tips For the Best Surrogacy Matches- with Baden Colt (part 2)
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you stand out? If you’re on a waitlist with 60 other hopeful intended parents, how do you get picked? If you’re posting your profile onlin...
#16 Viral Social Media Insider Tips For the Best Surrogacy Matches- with Baden Colt
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Finding a surrogate is one of the hardest parts of being an intended parent. There are 20 hopeful parents for every surrogate (100 parents per surr...
#15 Surrogate Requirements Decoded: What You Need to Know Now!
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Seeing surrogates on Instagram and TikTok can make the journey look fun and glamorous. But have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to join th...
#14 Independent Surrogacy Steps: How to Save $50,000 and Take Control of Your Dream
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready to take control of your surrogacy journey and explore the benefits of independent surrogacy?Imagine being empowered through every step, ...
#13 Surprising Secrets Of Inducing Lactation For Surrogacy (part 2) - with Alyssa Schnell
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you excited about adding breastfeeding to your surrogacy journey but unsure how to start inducing lactation? This is part 2 of our chat with Aly...
#12 Surprising Secrets Of Inducing Lactation For Surrogacy (part 1) - with Alyssa Schnell
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You might believe that breastfeeding is only for women who give birth, and you can’t nurse your baby born through surrogacy - the good news is, you’...
#11 Should you risk shipping embryos for surrogacy to a new clinic?
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re considering moving your embryos for surrogacy, then understanding the key risks is crucial. Have you thought about how your choice of clin...
#10: The surprising future of surrogacy: 5 predictions that will change everything for you
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The state of surrogacy is evolving faster than ever. What worked before, isn’t going to work tomorrow. It’s all influenced by new laws, rising c...
#9: Steal my process to picking a great agency - insider tips you don't want to miss
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to choosing a GREAT surrogacy agency, there’s a lot on the line. It’s not just about the agency fee—though, let’s face it, gambl...
#8: 13 Surprising truths about surrogacy that may be holding you back - part 2
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is Surrogacy Really What You Think? If you ever heard something about surrogacy that made you pause and wonder if you should really do this, you may j...
#7: 13 Surprising truths about surrogacy that may be holding you back - part 1
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you falling for these common surrogacy myths? Not knowing the truth could actually be hurting your goals. These surrogacy misconceptions could b...
#6: Never let anyone tell you surrogacy is the easy way out
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One thing I wish I knew when I started surrogacy is that it’s WAY more complex than it seems. From just a science-y level, it’s super simple - “...
#5: Your First Meeting with a Surrogate: 6 Key Topics You Must Cover to Prevent a Broken Match
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
--> Worksheet download: The exact tool I give my coaching clients to help vet a surrogate from the first meeting. Surrogate Vetting Essentials Got ...
#4: The High Cost of Hope: Tackling the financial burden of surrogacy with Alexandra French
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dreaming of holding your baby but reeling from the surrogacy sticker shock? You've been through enough to get to this point. How are you supposed ...
#3: The Surprising Hidden Fees of All-Inclusive Surrogacy
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Curious about the real cost of all inclusive surrogacy agencies? Let's get real in "Surrogacy Made Simple! Dive into the hidden expenses and...
#2: Tired of Waiting? How to Beat the Surrogacy Waitlist Game!
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling with surrogacy agency waitlists that feel longer than a cross-country road trip? Take the wheel with "Surrogacy Made Simple." Thi...
#1: Conquering the Clock: Surrogacy While Slaying the 9-5
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling like you're walking a tightrope trying to balance your job and surrogacy journey? Let me break it down for you in "Surrogacy Made Sim...
Trailer
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Surrogacy Made Simple, where we walk you through this life-changing journey without the complexity and confusion, so you can focus on what&...