Hi friends, it’s Kasia — and today, I’m dropping in with a solo episode that’s deeply personal. I’m sharing an update on my fertility journey, including my recent diagnosis of stage four endometriosis and the path I’ve been walking with IVF, pain, and uncertainty.

This episode is for anyone navigating the silent, often invisible world of chronic health issues — especially those that impact fertility. I talk about the emotional weight of receiving a severe diagnosis, the maze of medical decisions, and the moments that brought me to my knees — and also back to my breath.

You’ll hear about the practices that have supported me: meditation, therapy, spirituality, and the small rituals that have helped me stay connected to myself in the midst of it all. My hope is that this conversation feels like a soft landing — whether you’re in the thick of something similar or simply holding space for someone you love.

Let’s begin.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

02:18 Personal Infertility Journey Begins

04:12 Exploring Fertility Treatments

07:31 Discovering Endometriosis

11:07 Meeting Surgeons and Getting Diagnosed

14:22 Coping with the Diagnosis

19:26 Preparing for Surgery and IVF

22:38 Spirituality and Mental Health

29:04 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

In today's episode of The Other Way, I'm joined by Sahana Jayaraman as we dive into the often invisible and emotional journey of infertility. Sahana shares her deeply personal experience of undergoing seven rounds of IVF, nine embryo transfers, three miscarriages, and one ectopic pregnancy. This conversation is not just about her story but also about shedding light on the silence that surrounds infertility, the myths about female timelines, and the societal narratives that need shifting. We talk about raw truths, real stats, and the emotional and physical toll of fertility treatments. If you're on your own fertility journey or know someone who is, this episode provides valuable insights and a powerful message of resilience and hope. Join us as we honor the non-linear paths to motherhood and the strength it takes to hold onto oneself through it all.

About Sahana:

Sahana is an entrepreneur, strategist, and storyteller who navigates both personal and professional challenges with authenticity and passion. As the founder Zagging Goats, she helps startups and innovators craft bold, breakthrough brand strategies – guiding them to think differently and solve real business problems with bold messages and storytelling, even when it means zagging when others zig.

Beyond her career leading brand marketing for more than 20 years, Sahana has built her own personal brand through LoveSahana - a creative project centered around themes of love, connection, and personal growth. Recently on her Instagram channel @Love_Sahana, Sahana shares real talk about her own deeply personal experience with fertility and the IVF journey. By sharing her story, she hopes to foster connection and remind others that they’re not alone in navigating the complexities of fertility.

Whether she’s building brands or sharing her own path, Sahana’s mission is clear: to inspire others to live authentically, lead with love, and embrace the mindset shifts that fuel growth.

To connect with Sahana:

IG: Love_Sahana

LI: linkedin.com/in/sahanajayaraman

If you've ever been told that your bloating is just normal, or you've cycled through probiotics hoping that they'd fix everything, this episode is going to change how you think about your gut and your health entirely. I'm joined by functional gut health practitioner and host of the Nutrient-Dense podcast, Hannah Aylward. We explore the intricate connections between gut health and conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, anxiety, and burnout. From understanding the impacts of antibiotics to why probiotics aren't a one-size-fits-all solution, we delve into how the nervous system and immune dysfunction show up as gut symptoms. If you've tried various diets and supplements without feeling better, this episode is for you.

About Hannah:

Hannah Aylward is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, functional gut health practitioner, and the founder of HAN. After struggling with her own chronic digestive issues for years, Hannah dove headfirst into the latest in gut health research, seeking answers to her bloating and food sensitivities. With her science-backed formula, Hannah has overcome her own digestive issues and helped hundreds of other women around the world do the same. Today Hannah leads a team of functional practitioners that help clients transform their gut health and overcome their never-ending digestive issues with functional nutrition, targeted supplementation, and advanced lab work.

To connect with Hannah:

IG: hannahaylwardhhc

TikTok: hannahaylwardhhc

Gut Health Root Cause Quiz: https://go.hannahaylward.com/gut-health-root-cause-quiz

How do we redefine ambition and passion in a way that nourishes us — rather than depletes us?

What happens when we shed the armor of who we think we should be… and meet who we actually are underneath?

How might creativity, sexuality, and self-intimacy be woven together on the path to true freedom?

Today, I’m joined by HeatherAsh Amara — author of nine books, including the bestselling Warrior Goddess Training and her latest, Wild, Willing, and Wise. HeatherAsh’s work gently, yet powerfully, guides us from self-judgment to self-intimacy, from victimhood to vulnerability, and into deeper steadiness and presence.

In this conversation, we talk about ambition, presence, and cyclical living. About how to soften the grip of over-responsibility and perfectionism. About the connection between creativity, sexuality, and surrender — and how freedom often lives on the other side of fear.

I hope this conversation invites you, as it did me, to consider: What if the way back to power isn’t about striving harder, but about remembering who you are beneath the armor?

Let’s dive in.

About HeatherAsh:

HeatherAsh Amara is the author of nine books, including the bestselling Warrior Goddess Training, The Seven Secrets of Happy and Healthy Relationships with don Miguel Ruiz Jr., and her latest book Wild, Willing, and Wise. She skillfully and unconditionally guides people to shift from self-judgment to discernment, victimhood to authentic vulnerability, and to shed limiting domestication so they can ground into their self-intimacy, steadiness, and stillness.

Raised in Southeast Asia, HeatherAsh has traveled the world from childhood and is continually inspired by the diversity and beauty of human expression and experience. She brings this open-hearted, inclusive worldview to her writings and teachings.

To connect with HeatherAsh:

IG: heatherashamara

FB: heatherash.amara

Today, I’m joined by Amber, an experienced herbalist and teacher, deeply passionate about connecting with nature and supporting women, especially mothers. Amber shares her journey from a nature-loving child to a dedicated herbalist and mother. We delve into her special connection with chamomile and discuss the importance of an ancestral, nutrient-dense diet in preconception. Amber highlights the significance of aligning with the natural world and reducing toxic exposure for overall health and fertility. She also recommends herbal remedies, including chamomile, lavender, and nettle, that support women on their journey to motherhood. This conversation is a gentle reminder to cultivate our relationship with nature and nourish our bodies spiritually and physically in preparation for life's biggest transitions. Let’s dive in.

About Amber:

Amber Young was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and currently resides on the traditional lands of the Squaxin, Nisqually and Coast Salish Peoples in Olympia, WA. She is a child of an Aquarius Sun and Scorpio Moon. This celestial alignment has propagated the humanitarian spirit that is innate in her. Amber loves facilitating women’s circles and honoring and practicing the Wise Woman Ways.
She was recently initiated as Mother after free-birthing her daughter Sequoia Moon. She has been profoundly changed and humbled by the experience of supporting and nourishing life through pregnancy, giving birth, and mothering. Her intention is to help support Womban in their birthing year and beyond through ritual arts and herbal medicines.
Amber earned a Masters in Education with a focus in Social and Emotional Learning through the University of Washington. She studied elementary education and anthropology at Western Washington University and has been an educator for 11 years. She studied herbalism through the School of Evolutionary Herbalism. Amber has completed mentorships in alchemical Earth Wisdom through the Academy of Oracle Arts and methodologies in Indigenous curanderismo, healing arts, and music through Intikhana School of Intuitive Arts.

To connect with Amber:

IG: sacred.rite
Earthwisemothering.com

In this episode, we sit down with Jasmine Nena to explore the future of spirituality, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Jasmine shares her journey from the digital world to creating meaningful offline spaces, and how a personal social media "detox" helped her reconnect with her true voice. We dive into the rise of the analog renaissance, cultivating authentic creativity, and the shifting landscape of online business. Jasmine also offers beautiful insights on the evolving relationship between New Age spirituality and traditional religion — and how finding a "middle way" can create deeper alignment.

Tune in if you’re craving a stronger sense of authenticity, considering a social media break, seeking deeper spiritual connection, or navigating how to weave your passions, spirituality, and livelihood into a life that feels true to you.

About Jasmine:

I’m Jasmine but everyone calls me Jas.

I'm the Co-Founder of Erah Society, an oasis for spiritual seekers & founders. I host the internationally recognized podcast, Counter Cultural where I explore in-depth topics like Esoteric Spirituality, Aquarian Entrepreneurship, and Holistic Wellbeing. For over a decade, I've traveled the World learning from mentors in various industries & lineages, on the hunt to better understand who we are as Divinely Human beings & why we're here.

Today you’ll find me inside our digital teahouse brewing philosophies & supporting new paradigm entrepreneurs build businesses for the future.

To connect with Jasmine:

IG: erahsociety

www.erahsociety.com

Feeling out of alignment or burnt out? In this episode, we dive into finding your purpose with Maike Gabriela, a human design reader and deconditioning expert. Maike shares her journey from struggling entrepreneur to thriving in alignment with her human design type. Together, we explore the concept of purpose, addressing burnout from the perspective of different energy types within human design, and the importance of embracing life's challenges. Tune in for a deep and insightful conversation on reconnecting with your true self and authentic path.

About Maike:

Maike Gabriela is a Human Design Reader and Deconditioning expert supporting conscious people like you to find back to themselves and their purpose.

Due to her understanding of psychology and deep knowledge of Human Design, she helps to solve self-sabotaging patterns and blockages so that you can pursue your true calling. Since starting her business during the Pandemic in 2020 Maike Gabriela has had the opportunity to guide and read for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people from over 50 countries all over the world and all walks of life. Helping her community when struggling with loss of direction, low sense of self-worth and struggling to make a mark, redirecting their energy to implement positive changes in their daily lives to align energetically and start showing up more authentic in the world.

To connect with Maike:

IG: @maikegabriela

TikTok: @maike.gabriela

YouTube: @TheHumanDesignPortal

www.maikegabriela.com

In this episode, we delve into the often-overlooked value of caregiving in a society obsessed with speed and material success. Our guest, Keely Semler, a doula and health educator with a master's in maternal and child health, shares her journey from the nonprofit world to becoming a doula. We discuss the misconceptions about birth, the transformation women experience during pregnancy, and the societal shift away from family values and caregiving. Keely emphasizes the importance of both external resources and internal intuition in navigating the complexities of birth and fertility. Tune in for a profound conversation about the trade-offs women face in modern society and the importance of embracing our innate wisdom.

About Keely:

Keely’s career began with a deep commitment to service, working with a nonprofit that provided medical devices to vulnerable populations in war-torn regions.

Driven by this mission, Keely pursued a Master’s in Maternal and Child Health from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. With this newfound clarity, Keely transitioned to offering her expertise as a Doula and Health Educator, initially providing pro bono support to underserved communities in Los Angeles. Over the years, Keely has supported hundreds of families in both hospital and home settings, always with a focus on holistic, compassionate care. Keely’s teaching philosophy draws on her diverse training, including Public Health, Medical Anthropology, and holistic wellness. With this well-rounded approach, she works to foster healthy, informed communities where women are at the center of their care.

To connect with Keely:

IG: we.are.motherlands

Www.keelysemler.com

Www.wearemotherlands.com

The motherlands podcast on Spotify, Apple and Substack.