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Navigating the world of assisted reproduction with Mary Fusillo

In this episode, we speak with Mary Fusillo, a practitioner in assisted reproduction for over 25 years. Mary shares insights on her company, Family Solutions International, which provides egg donation, surrogacy, and fertility consulting. She contrasts US and European practice, particularly around donor compensation, and details the screening and selection of egg donors. We examine financial, logistical, and emotional aspects of egg donation and surrogacy, including cost breakdowns, roles and expectations for surrogates and intended parents, and ethical questions around donor anonymity. Mary also highlights psychological impacts and common challenges for all involved. This episode gives a comprehensive look at the complexities, joys, and ethical considerations of assisted reproduction

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
00:08 Mary’s background and career in assisted reproduction
00:52 Focus on egg donors and surrogacy
01:17 The egg donor process in the US
01:38 Compensation and selection of egg donors
03:41 Fresh vs frozen eggs
04:59 Costs and European perspective
06:11 Ethics and anonymity in egg donation
08:54 Logistics and travel for egg donation
16:03 Progesterone support in early pregnancy
21:03 Donor-egg cycle timeline
22:44 Age and ethics in donor-egg usage
25:46 Reasons for choosing donor eggs
28:09 Attachment to DNA and family
30:23 Introduction to surrogacy
33:11 Cost of donor-egg surrogacy
34:26 Typical surrogate profile
36:05 Surrogate relationships and dynamics
43:00 Cross-border surrogacy trends
47:49 Single men and surrogacy
50:23 Genetic testing and embryo screening
53:39 Ethics of telling children about their origins
56:33 Regrets and relief in egg donation and surrogacy
01:00:04 Final thoughts on third-party parenting

Social Media Links

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/familysolutionsinternational/

https://www.facebook.com/DonorSolutionDotCom/

Instagram:

@the_eggsplanation_pod

@familysolutionsinternational

@donorsolution

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

1. Egg Donation & Surrogacy Pathways

• Egg Donation – Discussed as a family-building option for individuals and couples facing infertility, genetic conditions, or age-related fertility decline.
• Gestational Surrogacy – Explained as a process where the surrogate carries a pregnancy but has no genetic link to the baby.
• Key Distinction Covered:
  • Traditional vs gestational surrogacy
  • Donor eggs vs intended mother’s eggs
    
    

2. Legal & Ethical Considerations

• Importance of legal contracts for:
  • Egg donors
  • Surrogates
  • Intended parents
• Discussion of cross-border surrogacy risks
• Emphasis on using licensed agencies and fertility clinics
• Consent, autonomy, and long-term wellbeing of all parties involved

3. Medical & Screening Processes

• Psychological screening for donors and surrogates
• Medical testing and fertility screening
• Hormonal stimulation and egg retrieval (egg donation)
• IVF processes involved in surrogacy journeys

4. Emotional & Human Aspects

• Emotional readiness of intended parents
• The lived experience of donors and surrogates
• Importance of counselling and emotional support throughout the journey
• Reframing stigma around non-traditional family building

Insta/TikTok: @BiohackingEve
Website: www.BiohackingEve.com

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Harnessing the Power of Cycle-Syncing for Female Productivity with Maggie McDaris

In this episode of Biohacking Eve, Judith speaks with Maggie McDaris, founder of Phase, about the untapped potential of aligning work with female biology. Contrary to popular belief, every phase of the menstrual cycle—menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal—comes with its own surprising cognitive superpowers. We explore how understanding and leveraging these shifts can help women optimise focus, creativity, communication, and decision-making at work, while reducing burnout. Maggie shares insights from neuroscience and endocrinology on why the traditional 9–5 model often clashes with women’s natural rhythms, and how cycle-synching can transform workplace productivity. This conversation is a practical roadmap for women—and the organisations that support them—to harness biology as a strategic advantage.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
00:59 The problem with traditional work schedules
02:21 Maggie’s personal burnout story
03:59 Introduction to cycle-synching
05:00 How Phase works
07:27 The four cycle phases and their superpowers
12:38 Phase integration in the workplace
22:19 User feedback and future plans
33:50 Embracing strengths during the luteal phase
35:03 Challenges in building Phase
35:56 Integration and user experience
39:08 Addressing irregular cycles and contraception
41:04 Future of hormone tracking and integration
48:10 Cycle-based vertical opportunities
01:02:33 Cultural and organisational challenges
01:12:30 Medium-budget wellness solutions
01:13:29 High-budget organisational wellness
01:15:59 Cultural shifts for wellness
01:18:24 Phase app: current features and plans
01:20:00 Personal insights and feedback mechanisms
01:23:15 Engaging with Phase: user participation
01:25:41 Lightning round: myths, metrics, and personal hacks
01:37:21 Investments in personal well-being
01:40:56 Future breakthroughs and sentimental reflections

Social Media Links

LinkedIn (Maggie McDaris): Maggie McDaris

Instagram: @maggiemcdaris

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode

1. Phase.io – Cycle-Aware Productivity App
   
   
   
   • A neuroscience- and endocrinology-informed app that helps women align work and wellbeing with their hormonal cycles.
     
     
     
   • Features: personalized daily insights, “cognitive radar,” workplace integrations (Google Workspace, Office 365), and mobile app.
     
     
     
   • 🌐 Website: Phase.io – Meet the team and learn more about the mission
     
     
     
2. Related Research & Concepts
   
   
   
   • Cycle Syncing – Adapting lifestyle, work, and wellbeing to the four phases of the menstrual cycle.
     
     
     
   • Feasibility Study (University of Greenwich) – Early research validating demand for cycle-aware productivity tools.
     
     
     
   • Cognitive Radar – Mapping six key strengths: energy, focus, motivation, creativity, communication, reflection.
     
     
     
   • Future Integrations – Google Calendar, Office 365, Slack, Asana, Todoist, Reclaim.ai.
     
     
     
3. Referenced Tools & Comparisons
   
   
   
   • Oura Ring – For sleep, stress, HRV, and cycle insights.
     
     
     
   • Headspace & Calm – Examples of integrated wellness resources.
     
     
     
   • Peloton & Zoey – Models for

Insta/TikTok: @BiohackingEve
Website: www.BiohackingEve.com

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The Invisible Factors Impacting Women’s Health: A Deep Dive with Dr Fady Shmouni

In this episode, we sit down with Dr Fady Shmouni, a physician-scientist trained in endocrinology, internal medicine, and genetics, to explore the often-overlooked, invisible factors affecting women’s health at a cellular level.

Dr Shmouni introduces the concept of the exposome—the full range of environmental exposures that influence our biology—and how these shape women’s long-term wellbeing. We explore the surge in autoimmune conditions, the roles that digital twins and multi-omics may play in female longevity, and practical ways to mitigate everyday environmental toxins such as microplastics, endocrine disruptors, and light pollution.

He also shares insights into hormonal imbalances, the emerging world of peptides, and the potential of digital twin technology to redefine personalised medicine.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Dr Fady Shmouni and Personalised Health
00:51 Understanding the Exposome
03:10 Impact of Food and Home Environment on Health
07:37 Lighting and Its Effects on Health
15:52 Measuring and Mitigating Exposome Risks
27:29 Makeup and Cosmetics: Hidden Health Risks
37:37 Autoimmune Disorders in Women
40:34 Epigenetics and Exposome Interaction
44:03 Understanding Exposomes and Genetic Susceptibility
46:04 Early Signs of Autoimmune Disorders in Women
48:09 Hormonal Influence on the Immune System
51:11 Exploring Peptides and Their Benefits
01:01:25 The Future of Medicine: Digital Twins and Multi-Omics
01:14:41 Practical Advice for Women’s Health and Longevity
01:18:02 Closing Thoughts and Curveball Questions

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode

1. 🌍 The Exposome & Environmental Health
   
   
   
   • Exposome Moonshot Initiative (Washington D.C.) – a global collaboration defining and researching environmental exposures and their impact on long-term health.
     
     
     
   • Government Environmental Databases – lists such as the US “Dirty Dozen” and Clean 15 foods for minimizing pesticide exposure.
     
     
     
   • Key Topics Covered: microplastics, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, circadian lighting, indoor air pollution, cosmetics toxicity, and heavy-metal exposure.
     
     
     
2. 🔬 Testing & Monitoring Tools
   
   
   
   • Ellie Health – Cortisol Test Strips
     Home saliva testing for cortisol and circadian rhythm health.
     (brand mentioned by Fady)
     
     
     
   • Environmental Toxin Tests
     
     
     
     • Heavy metal analysis (mercury, lead, cadmium).
       
       
       
     • Mycotoxin testing for fungal toxins.
       
       
       
     • Microplastic & PFAS testing (dry blood or urine samples).
       
       
       
   • Air Quality Tools
     
     
     
     • CO₂ Monitors and home air sensors (Fady recommends using affordable Amazon devices).
       
       
       
     • Dyson Air Purifier – combines purification and CO₂ tracking.
       
       
       
3. 💡 Wellness & Longevity Technologies
   
   
   
   • Digital Twin Medicine – personalized, data-driven replicas of a patient’s biology using multi-omics (genomics, epigenomics, microbiome, exposome, wearable data).
     
     
     
   • Wearables – Apple Health, smart mirrors, sleep sensors, and circadian lighting systems.
     
     
     
   • Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) – advanced clinical detoxification method discussed for toxin removal and biological-age reduction.
     
     
     
   • Peptide Therapies – including BPC-157, TB-500, copper peptides, and GLP-1 analogs for recovery, regeneration, and longevity.
     
     
     

Insta/TikTok: @BiohackingEve
Website: www.BiohackingEve.com