When our first IVF cycle failed spectacularly, we had to face a brutal reality—after years of trying, we were no closer to having a baby. So, we did the only thing left to do: hit pause.

Lauren doubled down on research, acupuncture, and spreadsheets. Alex flew to the jungles of Peru to drink ayahuasca with shamans. One of us was tracking fertility supplements. The other was having visions of fatherhood (and dodging giant spiders).

In this Hopefully Kidding season finale, we’re talking about what happens when you’ve tried everything and still have nothing to show for it. From navigating a fertility reset to the unexpected ways healing actually happens, this episode is about making peace with uncertainty—and finding hope when it feels impossible.

What to Expect:

When IVF Fails Spectacularly – Facing the fallout after spending $25K with nothing to show for it.

Hitting Pause – Why stepping back was the hardest (and smartest) thing we did.

Alternative Healing – Lauren’s deep dive into acupuncture, dietitians, and spirit baby readings.

Ayahuasca & Fertility – Alex’s solo trip to Peru, psychedelic insights, and a life-changing moment in the jungle.

The Emotional Reset – A new fertility clinic, new doctors, and the unexpected relief of a fresh start.

Season 2? – What’s next for us, and what we want to hear from you.

Let’s Connect:

Hang out with us on TikTok and YouTube @HopefullyKidding

Connect with Alex on Instagram @HooperHairPuff

Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com

If this season made you laugh, cry, or feel a little less alone, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us keep sharing these raw, ridiculous, and painfully real fertility stories. 💛

IVF is the ultimate gamble — one that comes with endless injections, mounting costs, and the constant hope that this cycle will be the one.

After weeks of hormones and an egg retrieval that felt like a high-stakes bet, we were left with one big question: Did we hit the jackpot or bust out completely?

In this episode, we break down the numbers game of IVF—how many eggs we got, what happened in the lab, and the gut-wrenching moment when we finally got the embryo report. Spoiler: it was not what we expected.

What to Expect:

High Stakes Egg Retrieval – The moment of truth: How many eggs did we actually get?

Embryo Roulette – What really happens in the lab after retrieval (and why it’s so unpredictable).

The Never-Ending Costs – More procedures, more unexpected fees — because IVF isn’t expensive enough already.

Hope vs. Reality – When the numbers don’t add up and your best-case scenario suddenly isn’t an option.

The Final Results – The gut punch that left us questioning everything.

Let’s Connect:

Hang out with us on TikTok and YouTube @HopefullyKidding

Connect with Alex on Instagram @HooperHairPuff

Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com

If this episode made you laugh, cry, or feel a little less alone in the madness of IVF, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us share these raw, real, and ridiculous fertility stories with others going through the chaos. 💛

IVF comes with a lot of expectations… and even more unexpected twists.

For Lauren, that moment of total loss of control hit outside her office, sobbing in her car over a single number: four. Four follicles. Four possible eggs.

After weeks of injections, hormone fluctuations, and spending even more money on medications, her body had decided it was a slow grower—and there was nothing she could do about it.

In this episode, we’re unpacking the emotional rollercoaster of IVF stimulation. From injecting menopausal nun urine (yep, that’s a thing) to playing the will-my-follicles-grow waiting game, we’re sharing the highs, lows, and WTF moments of this stage of the journey. Plus, the shot that could make or break everything: the infamous trigger injection.

What to Expect:

IVF Meds 101: What’s actually in those hormone injections (and why some come from nun pee).

The Follicle Freakout: When your numbers are way lower than expected.

More Money, More Meds: The constant upcharges that make IVF even more expensive.

Shot Time Rituals: Ice packs, color-coded charts, and why Lauren refused to let Alex do the injections.

The Final Countdown: The anxiety of the trigger shot—and why one mistake could ruin everything.

Let’s Connect:

Hang out with us on TikTok and YouTube @HopefullyKidding

Connect with Alex on Instagram @HooperHairPuff

Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com

If this episode made you laugh, cringe, or feel a little less alone in the madness of IVF, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us share these raw, ridiculous, and painfully real stories with others navigating fertility treatment. 💛