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.

Becoming a single mother by choice is complicated enough, but when you add layers of cultural expectations, family pressure, and the uncertainty of fertility, it can feel like there’s just no roadmap and no one who gets it. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Reema Kiran, executive coach, founder of Choice Mom Coach, and now published author of the book, Choice Mom. We go deep into her process of navigating unexplained infertility, cultural traditions, and making the call to prioritize motherhood on her own terms.

Together, we share the real, lived experience of choosing this path despite fears and grief over what “should have been". Reema opens up about childhood dreams clashing with grown-up realities, the importance of mindset, and what it meant to face questions from family and her Indian community. We talk about what’s helped us both, and what it has looked like for our families (and ourselves) to come around to single motherhood by choice. Whether you’re in the thinking stage, facing fertility challenges, or wrestling with letting go of the life you imagined, this is a truly supportive, honest conversation.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Navigating cultural expectations and family reactions as a single mother by choice
• The emotional side of infertility, failed fertility treatments, and shifting your mindset
• Reema's experience with egg freezing and entering the world of IVF on her own
• Grieving the loss of the partner and child vision, and finding your own way forward
• Day-to-day realities and surprises of solo motherhood (from mental load to mom guilt)
• How to speak with confidence to loved ones who might not understand your choices
• The power of self-compassion, community, and taking just one next step

Connect with Reema:

• Website
• Instagram: @choicemomcoach
• Choice Mom: An Empowering Guide to Becoming a Single Mother by Choice

👩‍👧‍👦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.

Sometimes the path to motherhood asks us to step into the unknown with courage, intention, and trust, especially when the journey doesn’t look anything like we first imagined. In this episode, I’m joined by Regine Smith, solo mom by adoption, and founder of SMBC Resources. Regine shares her powerful story of building her family through adoption as a single woman, navigating years of research and uncertainty, and ultimately embracing a version of motherhood that feels deeply right for her.

We talk honestly about fear, doubt, and the pressure to “get it right” when becoming a solo parent, and how those feelings can nearly eclipse the beauty and healing that motherhood brings. Regine opens up about the realities of the adoption process, the challenges and joys of parenting a young child, and her commitment to making it easier for other women to find trustworthy support on their own journeys. Whether you’re considering adoption, donor conception, or simply exploring your options, I hope this conversation leaves you feeling seen, informed, and a little more at ease about what’s possible.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. Regine’s journey to solo motherhood and building her family through toddler adoption
2. What it’s really like to navigate years of decisions, research, and uncertainty before becoming a mom
3. The emotional impact of fear and doubt, and why holding space for your child’s feelings is so essential
4. How adoption actually works for single women (versus the stories we tell ourselves about what’s impossible)
5. Finding community and autonomy as a solo mom, plus the realities of parenting through anxiety, growth, and change
6. The story behind SMBC Resources, and how Regine is helping other single moms access vetted, supportive professionals
7. Why the privilege of creating a safe, loving home can sometimes matter more than any plan we once had

Connect with Regine:

1. SMBC Resources website: smbcresources.com
2. Email: ray@smbcresources.com
3. Instagram: @smbcresources

👩‍👧‍👦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.

There’s a unique kind of bravery in deciding to build your own family, especially when the path looks nothing like what you once imagined. In this season 9 opener, I’m joined by Lisa Proeber, fellow solo mom by choice, serial entrepreneur, and children’s book author. Lisa and I started this episode as strangers but quickly found ourselves deep in conversation about everything from demotions to starting businesses, surrogacy, solo travel, and the honest realities of single motherhood.

Lisa shares her winding journey: early marriage in a conservative family, divorce, years of dating with the singular goal of becoming a mom, and ultimately making the leap into solo motherhood...during a global pandemic. We discuss the heartbreaks, the unexpected joy, and how the challenges of COVID, job loss, advocating for her son’s health, and taking big risks in business all wove together. Lisa opens up about what it’s really like to juggle it all as a single mom, why she loves the flexibility of entrepreneurship, and how she’s helping to tell new stories for families like ours through her board book, Mama Cow.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. The courage and chaos of picking a sperm donor (and throwing a hilarious sperm party!)
2. Navigating solo motherhood through the shock of a pandemic
3. What it looks like to get fired for being pregnant - and fight back
4. How Lisa leveraged adversity to launch multiple businesses, and the freedom she’s found in working for herself
5. The gap in children’s books about nontraditional families, and why telling our stories matters
6. Helpful tips for finding support, outsourcing, and building a thriving solo mom life
7. Dating, surrogacy, and talking to kids about different families

This is a warm, funny, and deeply honest conversation for anyone thinking about single motherhood by choice, or just looking for ways to write their own story!

Connect with Lisa:

1. Mama Cow board book + swag
2. Instagram: @mamacowbooks

👩‍👧‍👦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.