Diahan Southard is a pioneer in the world of DNA testing and family history. She founded Your DNA Guide as a way to teach anyone with DNA how to use it to find out more about themselves and their family. She is the author of Your DNA Guide - the Book, and creator of Your DNA Guide - the Academy, an online learning platform. She spends all her spare time with her three kids and especially looks forward to date night with her handsome husband.

Jayne has 23 years of experience in the field of genetic genealogy. She had the extraordinary experience of being mentored by Dr. Scott Woodward and his visionary team that took shape in the earliest days of this burgeoning field. She has been a part of nearly every stage of driving the discovery process forward: field specimen collection, marker selection and assay design, data management and computational processes, analysis, and algorithms, and investigating population-level research questions. She has lectured throughout the United States and international venues on the applications of molecular biology to elucidating ancient and recent genealogical connections. She has authored and co-authored many peer-reviewed scientific publications, as well as general articles on genetic genealogy. It is a pleasure for her to see the accelerating developments in genetic genealogy, and the wide accessibility and application it has for the average human curious about their origins.

Listen to Jayne and Diahan, as they discuss with Ellen and Jen:

•	How the two started out as college friends embarking on a research project together. 
•	How DNA is analyzed and what the results really mean.
•	Ethnicity results and the clues of family history and groups or communities.
•	Medical genealogy with DNA testing, possibilities and current challenges. 
•	Issues of anonymity with DNA testing.
•	Differences between DNA testing companies: values, terms and conditions, and what the companies do with your information. 
•	How does knowledge of your genetic connections affect and/or define your relationships.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.
Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 
Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 
Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 
Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 
Recommended links:
Book Link: https://www.yourdnaguide.com/your-dna-guide-the-book 
First article in in-depth series about ethnicity results: https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/2019/4/15/dna-ethnicity-changes-thats-not-what-it-said-before 
free download about finding birth parents: https://www.yourdnaguide.com/dna-birth-family

Episode 123: Your DNA Guide –Diahan Southard and Jayne Ekins

Entrepreneurship has always been Tess Kossow’s dream profession. And after having her miracle baby boy, Ferris, she realized this was a now-or-never moment to jump in and become an author with a product the world needs. Ferris was her last embryo and the answered prayer of faith, love, and science through IVF. Reading holds a very special place in Tess’s heart, and this next stage of her career has her creating something she is so very passionate about in the lives of children through her picture books: in vitro fertilization.

In November 2019, Tess was a finisher in the New York City Marathon. In October 2020, she survived sudden cardiac arrest and was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Still through it all, she loved to host parties and celebrate life, no matter the occasion! She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Elmhurst College, which is also where she met her best friend and husband, Dan. She has a Havanese named Gatsby and a Siamese cat named James Bond. (Both of which are Ferris’ partners in crime).

Tess is a mother, first and foremost, and everything else comes second. She believes you really can have and achieve anything you want…but you are going to have to work for it and expect nothing to be handed to you. Her husband often calls her his real-life Steve Jobs, because of how she lives her life and leads by example for her son to believe in the following: “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Ferris is her inspiration, and her husband, Dan, is the motivation that keeps her running the extra mile in all she does.

Listen to Tess as she discusses with Ellen and Jenn:

•	How Tess and her husband found themselves needing fertility assistance and IVF.
•	How her pregnancy changed her lifestyle.
•	Finding ways to normalize and discuss the struggles of pregnancy and post-partum experiences.
•	What changed in her view of life to start to write children’s books.
•	Tess’s story of cardiac arrest and survival.
•	Her mission to get her story out there and help others.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.
Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 
Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 
Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 
Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 
Learn more about Tess Kossow and her blog, books and more at https://tesskossow.com/

Episode 125: I’m Very Ferris – Tess Kossow

Dr. Julie Bindeman graduated from the George Washington University and is the co-owner of the practice Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington, a private psychotherapy practice located in Rockville, Maryland. As a result of her own reproductive story, she pursued post-graduate training in the field of Reproductive Psychology, where she actively writes, lectures, and presents on the topic. She has been on several committees for the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine including serving as Chair of the Continuing Education Committee and a past chair for the Social Media committee, and a member of the Antiracism Task Force.

Dr. Bindeman is a member of a variety of organizations that are focused on Maternal Mental Health. She was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to serve on the Maternal Mental Health Task Force representing psychologists in the state. In 2014, Dr. Bindeman was honored to receive both the Woman Who Dared Award conferred to her by the National Council of Jewish Women and the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Maryland Psychological Association. In 2021, she was honored to receive Division 31 of the American Psychological Association’s Karl Heiser Award for advocacy. She authored a chapter in the book, “Psychological and Medical Perspectives on Fertility Care and Sexual Health” (Elsevier, 2021) as well as the book, “Prenatal and Preimplantation Diagnosis: The Burden of Choice” (Springer, 2015). Dr. Bindeman is the editor of a forthcoming book that will be published by Springer about Abortion. 

Dr. Bindeman is a Certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist and received her training in 2017 from EMDR of Greater Washington. She retrained with the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and is an approved consultant who did her training under Dr. Mara Tesler-Stein. Dr. Bindeman became an approved consultant under Dr. Tesler-Stein as well. She knows EMDR to be a powerful modality that creates real and lasting change within people.

Listen as Dr. Bindeman discuss with Ellen and Jenn:

•	Navigating the new laws and encouraging adequate discussion of abortion in surrogacy.
•	Considering with Intended Parents and Gestational Carriers the differences between first, second, and third trimester abortion scenarios.
•	The importance of location in the US. 
•	Whether an abnormal ultrasound might not be disclosed depending on a care provider’s views.
•	Embryo disposition options in the new environment. 
•	Being recruited to write a book on religion and abortion.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.
Check out The Surrogacy Consultant here: https://thesurrogacyconsultant.com 
Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 
Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 
Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 
Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Episode 166: Shackled by State– Dr. Julie Bindeman

Andrea Syrtash is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of pregnantishTM, the first online lifestyle magazine dedicated to helping people navigate their fertility. She’s been on Oprah and The View. She’s also a renowned author and dating and relationship expert.

Hear Andrea’s amazing story as she discusses:
• Her 10 year fertility journey while juggling a very public career.
• Her major surgery, miscarriages, and intense fertility procedures before turning to another option.
• How she had to fake it on national television while injecting herself with fertility drugs between takes.
• The latest update on her journey.
• How and why she started pregnantishTM and what it’s all about.
• Advice on what to say and what not to say to those dealing with infertility.
• Her nomination for a WEGO Health Award as a Patient Leader Hero. There are a couple days left to endorse her! Nominations close August 17, 2018 (https://awards.wegohealth.com/nominees/award/2018-wego-health-awards-patient-leader-hero?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search%5Bkeywords%5D=syrtash&search%5Bwith%5D%5Baward_ids%5D=)

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about our podcast: iwanttoputababyinyou.com 
Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: brightfuturesfamilies.com Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: trachmanlawcenter.com 
Learn more about pregnantishTM: www.pregnantish.com

Episode 20: Dealing with Infertility While in the Spotlight with Andrea Syrtash

Carole LieberWilkins is a renowned Marriage and Family Therapist in the West Los Angeles area. She’s been working in family building, infertility, reproductive medicine, adoption, egg donation, sperm donation and surrogacy for the past 30 years.

Listen as Carole talks about:

• The devastating news she received about her own infertility at the agof 30. 
• The adoption experience with her first son (before egg donation was even available!).
• Her experience being one of the first people in the world to receive and become pregnant with an egg donor’s egg.
• The amazing process back in the 80s of how egg transfers USED to be done (and how INSANELY far they have come!).
• How her experience launched her mental health career.
• Dealing with your and your child’s emotions when discussing their birth story, especially if they are not genetically related to you.
• Practicing your family-building story when you are pregnant or when your surrogate is pregnant.
• Techniques and talking points when explaining to your children about their story.
• Her (strong!) opinion on the anonymity of egg/sperm donors.
• Books and other resources to help you talk to your children about their birth story.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about our podcast: iwanttoputababyinyou.com
 Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: brightfuturesfamilies.com
 Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: trachmanlawcenter.com 
Learn more about Carole’s practice: http://www.lafamilybuilding.com

Episode 25: It’s Not Just The Hormones! Mental Health Is Key To ART with Carole LieberWilkins

Shelly is the Marketing Manager for Men Having Babies, helping hundreds of couples a year make their dreams of a family come true. She is part of a team that empowers and educates men on surrogacy, and before working for Men Having Babies, Shelly personally helped multiple families. 

Tune in as she shares with Ellen and Jennifer about:
-How being a part of a mom’s group planted the idea of surrogacy.
-Her first experience with an agency and their reaction when she said she wanted to work with a same-sex couple.
-The first “date” errr….the match meeting over Skype with the couple whose profile she selected.
-Their first in-person meeting — and her outfit dilemma.
-The timing delay after losing 2 egg donors.
-Her pregnancy experience — the vomiting…oh the vomiting.
-The beautiful birthing experience.
-The story of her second surrogacy journey.
-Her scary experience with heavy bleeding while pregnant with her singleton 2nd surro baby.
-The request from the surrogate parents from the 2nd journey for a baby sister.
-The amazing work she does with Men Having Babies.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about our podcast: iwanttoputababyinyou.com 
Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: brightfuturesfamilies.com 
View the schedule of events for Men Having Babies here: menhavingbabies.com/surrogacy-seminars/

Episode 49: Surrogacy and Unicorns — Shelly Marsh

Eve Wiley, originally from a small rural town in East, Texas, uncovered a life changing family secret about her genetic identity. Becoming a modern day Erin Brockovich, she found purpose for her pain by single handedly lobbying for a fertility fraud bill that passed the Texas House and Senate unanimously and exposed the dark side of the grossly unregulated fertility industry. Eve’s story, documented by ABC’s 20/20, thrust her into an advocacy role for donor conceived rights and women’s reproductive rights. As a licensed professional counselor, she is passionate about the mental health implications of genetic identity family secrets that commercial DNA testing is revealing.

Tune in as Eve chats with Ellen and Jennifer about:
-When and how she found out she was donor conceived (yes…this included snooping through her mother’s email ya’ll)
-How the confrontation with her mother went after she found out she was donor conceived
-Finding Steve, who she thought was her biological father and how she reached out to him
-Their first meeting and how their relationship progressed — including her mom first meeting Steve!
-What it was like meeting Steve’s “social children” and his wife
-How she found her two half-brothers and how this ended up with her telling one of them he was donor-conceived
-Finding out Steve was not indeed her biological father but rather her mother’s doctor was
-The draft of the letter she wrote to her mother’s doctor that explained how he was her biological father and his smoke and mirrors response
-What she did in response to this gigantic debacle — like helping to create a law to stop other doctors doing this in the future — yeah NBD
-Her advice to other donor conceived offspring 

And don’t go away because we have a bonus episode. Steven Scholl is an independent scholar of Islam and comparative religion. He has lived and traveled extensively in the Middle East after doing his graduate studies in Islamic philosophy and history at McGill University. Steve is the founding publisher of White Cloud Press and is the editor of several books including "The Peace Bible:  Words from the Great Traditions" and "Common Era: Best New Writings on Religion." He writes on religion and culture for newspapers and magazines and is a contributor to the "Encyclopedia of Religion" (ed. by Mircea Eliade). His new book is “Muhammad,” co-written with Sam Deeb.

Steve, the person Eve believed was her father, chimes in with his side of the story and discusses:
-How he got into sperm donation — it involved a poster on a pole — yep…a side hustle for pocket cash
-Whether he thought through the ramifications of donating sperm — hint…nope
-His thoughts 13 years later when he got the phone call from the sperm bank asking him to update his records and then the email that he got that Eve was looking for him
-How his wife did a 180 regarding his relationship with Eve, his thought-to-be donor conceived daughter
-How his children responded when they found out about Eve
-His feelings when Eve called to say he wasn’t her dad after all
-Whether he has a relationship with his other donor-conceived children

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about our podcast: iwanttoputababyinyou.com
 Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: brightfuturesfamilies.com Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: trachmanlawfirm.com

Episode 50: 3 Dads and The Journey To Find The Truth — Eve Wiley & Steve Scholl

If you’re uncomfortable with TMI and talking about the birds and the bees…this is NOT the podcast for you. Sister duo, Jennifer White and Ellen Trachman explore topics from sperm and eggs to babies and everything in between. You’ll learn about artificial insemination, gestational surrogacy, egg retrieval, egg donation, and more. I Want To Put A Baby In You will have you laughing and crying with informative and touching stories on surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology. Tune In!

Episode 166: Shackled by State– Dr. Julie Bindeman

I Want To Put A Baby In You

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