In this Mother's Day special of All Things Conceivable, Lara Herzer shares her personal path to parenthood—navigating egg donation, surrogacy, and the emotions that came with those decisions—and how that journey inspired the children’s book Me the Great.

The conversation explores how intended parents and surrogates build trust, offers guidance for prospective donors and carriers, and aims to normalize and celebrate modern paths to family building.

Learn more about becoming a surrogate and helping another woman like Lara become a mom at How to Become a Surrogate.

Learn more about building your family through surrogacy at ConceiveAbilities.com.

Weaning is one of the most emotional and often confusing transitions in the breastfeeding or pumping journey—and no two experiences look the same. In this episode of All Things Conceivable: A Surrogacy Podcast, host Nazca Fontes is joined by Abby Theuring, founder of the Badass Breastfeeder community, to unpack everything moms (and surrogates) need to know about weaning.

Together, they discuss how to know when the right time to wean truly is, how to gently and safely reduce milk supply, and what physical and emotional changes—including post-weaning depression—can arise along the way. Abby shares practical, step-by-step guidance for pumping parents, breastfeeding parents, and those choosing to suppress lactation altogether, while emphasizing the importance of community support and working with a lactation consultant.

This conversation also speaks directly to women preparing for a surrogacy journey, including those who are still breastfeeding or pumping and need to plan their timeline thoughtfully before moving forward. From milk donation and lactation advocacy to empowerment, autonomy, and self-care, this episode offers expert insight and reassurance for anyone navigating the end of their lactation journey.

Whether you’re weaning by choice, necessity, or in preparation for surrogacy, this episode will leave you feeling informed, supported, and less alone.

How do you bring up the idea of becoming a surrogate with your spouse or partner—especially when it’s something you’ve been considering for a long time? Starting this conversation can feel overwhelming, emotional, and deeply personal.

Joining us are two experienced surrogates and trusted surrogacy experts: Lori Jurecko, MA, LSW, a ConceiveAbilities mental health professional and experienced surrogate, and Allyson Meadows, a surrogacy legal assistant and current surrogate. Together, they break down how to talk to your partner about becoming a surrogate with clarity, honesty, and confidence—sharing real-life insight, emotional guidance, and practical advice from both a professional and personal perspective.

Whether you’re just exploring surrogacy or looking for the right words to say, this episode offers thoughtful guidance, reassurance, and practical tips to help you approach the conversation with confidence and care.

Learn more about becoming a surrogate at ConceiveAbilities.