Thinking about surrogacy or donor conception? 🌈 In this episode of Building Your Family, Dr. Julian Escobar — fertility expert, LGBTQ+ advocate, influencer, and dad — joins Lisa Schuman to explore the real questions hopeful parents face when building a family through assisted reproduction.

💬 What you'll learn in this episode:

The emotional and financial realities of surrogacy

How to think about donor selection from a medical and psychological perspective

Common mistakes hopeful parents make (and how to avoid them)

Advice for LGBTQ+ couples pursuing parenthood

Why openness and long-term thinking matter in donor conception

🎧 Whether you're planning your path to parenthood or supporting someone who is, this warm and informative conversation will help you feel more grounded and confident in your decisions.

🧠 Hosted by Lisa Schuman, LCSW — award-winning reproductive therapist, author, and founder of the Building Your Family platform.

Follow Dr. Julian Escobar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjulianescobar/

As part of our Pride Month celebration, we’re honored to welcome Richard Westoby and Julio Gaggia — better known as the IVF Daddies and hosts of the popular podcast by the same name.

In this episode, they share their personal family-building stories — from Richard's surrogacy journey over a decade ago with his then-partner, to Julio’s experience becoming a parent through step-parenting. Together, they model a beautiful and honest version of gay fatherhood that embraces advocacy, growth, and breaking traditional norms.

🎧 You'll hear:

What the IVF process looked like for gay dads a decade ago

How Julio navigated his step-parenting journey with care and love

Why they use their platform to advocate for women’s rights and broader family equity

Their advice for anyone building a family in a way that defies expectations

These two dads are proof that love and family come in many forms — and that being true to your path matters most.

📺 Watch now or listen on your favorite podcast platform. 🔗 Learn more at: https://familybuilding.net/

Follow the IVFDaddies on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivfdaddies/

Start Pride Month with love, hope, and a heartwarming story. In this episode, Jove Meyer and Kyle Torrence—two dads-to-be and beloved LGBTQ+ influencers—share their family-building journey.

From choosing a donor and surrogate to deciding how much to share online, Jove and Kyle bring humor, heart, and intention to every step. If you're curious about surrogacy, donor conception, or simply love a powerful family story, this episode is for you.

Family Building community Events and webinars: https://familybuilding.net/events-page/

Learn more about Jove Meyer: https://jovemeyer.com/ Follow Jove Meyer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jovemeyer/ Follow Kyle Torrence on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyletorrence/