What does it really take to let go of the fairy tale you were raised with and create a life, and family, that’s truly your own? In this episode, I sit down with Cheri Bergeron, Austin author, single mom by choice, and passionate advocate for women navigating new paths to motherhood.

Cheri's journey has included fertility challenges, marriage and divorce, donor conception loss, and ultimately, building her family in unexpected and deeply intentional ways. Her story is raw, emotional, and so relatable for anyone who has found themselves facing a future far different from the one they once imagined. We talk honestly about the push and pull between career ambition and the dream of motherhood, and what happens when timelines, biology, or relationships don’t line up the way you hoped.

Cheri shares the lessons she learned about advocating for yourself in the fertility world, building non-traditional village support, and making empowered choices no matter how many pivots your journey requires. We also open up about the real fears so many single mothers by choice face: Will our children be okay? What will people think if we have kids “later”? And how can intentional community shape the way we (and our kids) experience solo motherhood?

In this episode, we talk about:

• Cheri's path from a “Prince Convenient” marriage to solo motherhood by choice
• The realities and surprises of using donor eggs and navigating IVF in your 40s
• Grieving the losses that come with fertility challenges and transitions
• Why clarity around your values can guide even the hardest decisions
• Rethinking what your village looks like, and building a non-traditional support system
• Handling judgment, both real and imagined, from family and yourself
• How to hold space for kids’ questions and thrive as a single-parent family

Connect with Cheri:

• Website
• Cheri's book, Mission: Motherhood

👩‍👧‍👦 The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌 Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

✍️ Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

ℹ️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Single Greatest Choice or its host, Katie Bryan. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, mental health, or professional advice. Every fertility, donor conception, and parenting journey is unique, and listeners are encouraged to use discernment and consult appropriate professionals regarding their individual circumstances. By listening, you acknowledge responsibility for your own decisions, interpretations, and actions.

Donor conception is changing faster than most fertility clinics or sperm banks can keep up. More and more women are looking for alternative paths to parenthood that put autonomy, transparency, and connection at the center. If you’ve ever wondered about the world of known, open, and peer-to-peer sperm donation, or wanted more control and clarity on selecting a donor, this episode is for you.

Today, I’m joined by Sofie Hafstrøm Kritsotaki, CEO of Y factor, a Copenhagen-based startup helping solo moms (and others) connect directly with sperm donors in a safe and user-friendly way. Sofie shares how Y factor works, why donor and recipient choice matters, and all the behind-the-scenes details about vetting, agreements, communication, and what it looks like to use the app.

We break down what it’s actually like to search for a donor outside of the typical bank system, including logistics, legal considerations, and the emotional side of creating your family story. If you’re feeling both curious and cautious about moving beyond the default options, I hope this conversation helps you feel informed, empowered, and confident in exploring what’s possible.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How peer-to-peer sperm donation gives both donor and recipient more agency and choice
• What makes the Y factor platform different from banks and Facebook groups
• Ways to prioritize safety, legal clarity, and personal preference in open donor arrangements
• The real motivations behind why men become donors, and how that impacts your decision
• Navigating conversations about expectations, boundaries, and future contact with the donor
• Why so many single mothers by choice are leading the way in this new model
• What to consider if you want siblings or want to connect with your child’s donor or half-siblings

Learn more about Y factor and download the app here!

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

When I first connected with today's guest, Aliza, I felt such a spark of resonance. She has created exactly what she wished had existed on her own fertility journey. It’s an international, holistic, community-based egg freezing retreat designed to transform what can be an isolating, clinical, and overwhelming experience into something deeply supportive, connected, and even joyful.

In this episode, Aliza shares her powerful story of navigating egg freezing in Vancouver, feeling the weight of soaring costs and emotional isolation, and realizing there had to be a better way. We dive into how her own medical and fertility path led to the founding of Fertility Co-Living. This is where women come together in Mexico City for a holistic egg freezing journey: acupuncture, red light therapy, nutrition guidance, nurse support, yoga, city excursions, and true companionship.

We also open up about reclaiming the magic and meaning of becoming a mother on your own terms, and how stepping off the beaten path can create a life richer than you imagined. If you’ve thought about freezing eggs, are considering solo motherhood, or simply want to hear how one woman took her pain and turned it into collective healing, you’ll feel seen and supported in this conversation.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Aliza's journey through egg freezing, disappointment, and the high financial and emotional costs in Canada
• Why fertility options abroad can offer both lower costs and richer support
• How Fertility Co-Living turns egg freezing into a restorative, communal, and even beautiful experience
• The importance of addressing mind, body, and spirit throughout the fertility journey
• Navigating timelines, urgency, regret, and learning to trust your own intuition, not just the numbers or the pressure
• Who joins these retreats, and why the community you build is as transformative as the medical process itself

Connect with Aliza:

• The Fertility Co-Living website
• Instagram: @thefertilitycoliving

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.