“Fertility is a lonely process.” That is how Ashlee describes why Fertility Nurses Unfiltered exists, and it is the thread running through this week’s season finale.

After 36 weekly episodes, Laura and Ashlee are sitting down on their own for the first time in months. They look back on what started as an experiment between two nurses who had only known each other for a year, and on the conversations that shaped the season. They also share what they learned at the ASRM Congress in Baltimore and finally open up about Rooted Fertility Co., the company that grew out of this podcast.

In this episode, we cover:

• A look back at season one, from the very first guest to the topics that surprised us most
• Why we are taking a break, and the guest lineup already waiting for season two in 2027
• Our biggest takeaways from ASRM, including a shift toward improving the patient experience, early blood tests for endometriosis, needle-free IVF, and new ideas around sperm health
• The tension between running a fertility clinic as a business and caring for patients with compassion
• How to spot red flags when choosing outside support, including anyone who promises an outcome, and why the term “coach” is so complicated
• Why we left the clinic setting and what Rooted Fertility Co. offers: 1:1 support, on-demand texting, virtual and in-home injection teaching, and a nurse-led community grouped by where you are in your journey
• How you can shape what comes next with your feedback and topic ideas

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More than anything, this episode is a thank you. Fertility is not a linear journey, and nobody should have to navigate the noise alone. Being supported, educated, and confident in the decisions you make is what we are here for.

If you are in the middle of treatment, supporting someone who is, or work in this space, this episode is for you. The holiday season can be tough when you are navigating a journey, so be kind and patient with yourselves. We are rooting for you, even if we have never met you in person.

We will see you in 2027.

Connect with Rooted Fertility Co.:

Website: https://www.rootedfertilityco.com

"I was told that I wasn’t gonna have kids when I was 16.” That is where Dr. Alison Peck’s path into reproductive medicine began, and it shaped how she thinks about being proactive with your fertility.

This week we sit down with Dr. Alison Peck, a double board certified reproductive endocrinologist with more than 20 years of experience at HRC Fertility in Encino and Westlake Village, California. We get into why so many of us were taught how to prevent pregnancy but never learned what it actually takes to get pregnant, and what it looks like to take charge of your reproductive health before you feel any pressure. Dr. Peck brings both clinical expertise and her own story to a conversation about education, advocacy, and intention.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why so many people come into fertility care with a knowledge gap, and how education, environment, and access play a role
• Early signs worth paying attention to, from cycle patterns to health history, and why telling someone matters
• What fertility testing like AMH and antral follicle count can and cannot tell you
• The pros and cons of at-home fertility testing
• Egg freezing: when people consider it, what to expect, and the biggest misconception
• Everyday habits that support your body, including sleep, movement, nourishment, and stress
• Why being intentional matters more than doing everything, and why guidance is worth seeking before adding supplements

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More than anything, this episode is a reminder that being proactive does not mean being perfect. It means learning about your body, asking questions, and making a plan that fits your life.

If you are curious about your fertility, planning for the future, or feeling unheard in your own care, this episode is for you.

Connect with Dr. Alison Peck:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonpeckmd/Website: https://havingbabies.com/physicians/alison-c-peck-md-facog/

"You are going through this together, but it is a completely different experience for everyone involved.” That is how Kristina D’Antonio describes it to her patients, and it is the heart of this week’s conversation.

So much of the fertility conversation centers on the person going through treatment. This week, Laura and Ashlee turn to the people standing beside them: partners, parents, siblings, friends, and even coworkers. Joined by Jessica Erickson, LCSW, and Kristina D’Antonio, LCSW, co-founders of Sana Psychotherapy, a practice focused on reproductive and perinatal mental health, we talk about how to support someone through IVF or fertility treatment without losing yourself along the way.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why support people often feel they don’t have the right to struggle, and why “I don’t get it” can be exactly what someone needs to hear
• Comfort or solutions? One simple question that can change how your support lands
• How to ask for space and name your own needs without feeling selfish
• Why “I’m noticing” works better than “you are” when a loved one is spiraling on social media or Reddit
• How to repair after saying the wrong thing, and the difference between intention and impact
• What to do when someone you love is struggling and you have a pregnancy announcement to share
• Navigating disagreements with a partner about next steps, like trying another round or taking a break
• Fertility treatment and the workplace: how coworkers can help, and how to think about what you share
• What to do when a partner isn’t showing up for appointments, bloodwork, or consents, and how the care team can help
• Why support needs to last the whole journey, not just the moment someone first opens up

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The biggest takeaway? Perfection is not the goal. Support people will say the wrong thing, and that is okay. What matters is acknowledging the gap between intention and impact, staying open to repair, and tending to your own needs too, because no one can pour from an empty cup.

If you are supporting someone through fertility treatment, navigating it yourself, or want to understand what the people around you may be carrying, this episode is for you.

Connect with Sana Psychotherapy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sana.psychotherapy/Website: https://www.sanapsychotherapypllc.com/

"It was just such an identity shock for me. I'm the kind of person, I'm good at things. This isn't who I am." That is how Jessica Sirias Vasquez describes stepping into infertility and pregnancy loss after a lifetime of working hard and getting results. It is a feeling so many people trying to conceive know all too well.

This week we sit down with Jessica Sirias Vasquez, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of Nurture and Bloom, a therapy practice supporting women through trying to conceive, pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. We talk about what happens to your sense of self when fertility treatment starts to take over your life, and how to stay connected to who you are while living in the limbo between your old identity and a future you can't see yet. Jessica brings a decade of clinical experience and her own story of infertility and loss to a conversation about boundaries, people pleasing, grief, and learning to let yourself be supported.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why infertility can feel like such an identity shock, especially for people used to achieving whatever they work hard for
• How to live in the "state of limbo" between who you were and who you are becoming
• Practical ways to filter social media, starting with asking whether an account is bringing any value to your life right now
• Setting boundaries with friends and family, and why almost every choice comes with some kind of cost
• Navigating cultural and family pressure to have kids, and deciding how much, if anything, you want to share
• How fertility treatment can bring out people pleasing, masking, and the fear of being a burden, even with your own care team
• Grieving the relationships, plans, and pregnancy story you thought you would have
• Starting with what makes you feel "just okay," and why receiving support matters just as much as asking for it
• Rediscovering and learning to love yourself on the other side, whatever the outcome

More than anything, this episode is a reminder that losing yourself a little during fertility treatment does not mean something is wrong with you. What you are feeling right now is not permanent, and you do not have to carry all of it alone.

If you are in the thick of trying to conceive, feel like you no longer recognize yourself, or love someone who is walking this road, this episode is for you.

Connect with Jessica Sirias Vasquez:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurtureandbloom.co/Website: https://www.nurtureandbloom.co/

"You don't qualify. You're not infertile yet." That is what Amanda Rice heard from her insurance company when she called, diagnosed with cancer for the third time before age 40, asking for help freezing her eggs before chemotherapy. Instead of accepting that answer, she built a movement.

This week, just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we sit down with Amanda Rice, three-time cancer survivor and founder and CEO of The Chick Mission, a nonprofit helping cancer patients protect their fertility before treatment begins. Amanda shares her story from the very first symptom she had to push to get checked, to the fertility decisions she had to make while facing her own mortality, to the rejection that sparked The Chick Mission. We talk about why so many patients are never told that cancer treatment can affect fertility, how fast these decisions really have to happen, and why every patient deserves the chance to make an informed choice about their future family.

In this episode, we cover:

• Amanda's journey through three cancer diagnoses and how she navigated fertility preservation along the way
• How quickly fertility preservation can happen after a cancer diagnosis, and why oncology and fertility teams need to be talking to each other
• How The Chick Mission's Hope Grants work, with no essays, no upfront copay, and clinics submitting on your behalf
• The legislative progress that has brought fertility preservation coverage to nearly half of U.S. states, and how one phone call can help
• Why egg freezing vs. embryo freezing is a bigger decision than many people realize
• Why choosing not to pursue fertility preservation, or not to have children at all, is just as valid
• How The Chick Mission is teaching fertility education to high school and college students
• Amanda's call to be the CEO of your own body, from self breast exams to showing up prepared for every appointment

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More than anything, this conversation is a reminder that cancer takes a lot of control away, but it does not get to make every decision for you. You deserve to know your options, and you deserve support in choosing what is right for you.

If you or someone you love is facing a cancer diagnosis, if you work in oncology or fertility care, or if you just need a reminder this October to schedule that mammogram, this episode is for you.

Connect with The Chick Mission:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chickmission/Website: https://www.thechickmission.org/

"The biggest red flag for an agency is when they say we have a tiered program where the more you pay, the faster you'll match." That's how Dr. Brian Levine sums up what's broken in American surrogacy, and he has spent the last several years trying to fix it.

This week we sit down with Dr. Brian Levine, double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and OB/GYN, founding partner and practice director of CCRM Fertility New York, and founder of the surrogacy platform Nodal. Dr. Levine walks us through his winding path into fertility medicine, the mentors who shaped him, and the ethical frustrations that pushed him to rethink how surrogacy works. Whether you're considering surrogacy, supporting someone who is, or working in the fertility space, this is an honest look at a part of family building that is still too often wrapped in secrecy.

In this episode, we cover:

• How a single medical school lecture on genetic testing of embryos changed his career plans overnight
• The bold escalator moment that led to the founding of CCRM New York
• How surrogacy becoming legal in New York changed the market, and why he started Nodal
• Why Nodal lets the surrogate make the first move, and the meaning behind the name
• The changing policy landscape around IVF and surrogacy, from state-level legal questions to recent efforts to lower fertility medication costs
• Why the words we use matter, and why "use a surrogate" should be retired
• Red flags and green flags to look for when you vet a surrogacy agency
• Why he keeps his clinic and his surrogacy company completely separate

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More than anything, this conversation is a reminder that surrogacy should put the surrogate first, because she's the one doing the heavy lifting. For everyone involved, that means transparency, fair fees, and a real person on the other end of the phone when something goes sideways.

If you're exploring surrogacy, feeling overwhelmed by what you're seeing in the headlines, or want to understand what a good agency relationship should look like, this episode is for you.

Connect with Dr. Brian Levine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbrianlevine/Nodal: https://www.nodal.com/Nodal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nodalhealth/CCRM New York: https://www.ccrmivf.com/ccrm-fertility-doctors/brian-levine/

While everyone else was focusing on the baby, she focused on me." That is how Lauren Dewey describes the moment her sister-in-law handed her a care basket after her son was born, and it is the moment that changed the course of her life.

This week we sit down with Lauren Dewey, founder of brooksybox, for an honest conversation about all the parts of the motherhood journey that people forget to show up for. After struggling with infertility and welcoming her son Brooks through IVF, Lauren realized how much attention goes to a new baby and how little is left for the mother recovering behind the scenes. That realization became brooksybox, thoughtfully curated care packages for every stage a woman is actually in, from infertility to loss to pregnancy to postpartum, all sourced from or created with women-owned businesses. Whether you are in the thick of it yourself or trying to support someone who is and have no idea what to say, this one is full of real talk and practical ways to show up.

In this episode, we cover:

• How a single care basket from her sister-in-law sparked the whole idea, and where the name brooksybox came from
• Lauren's fertility journey, from a Hashimoto's and PMOS diagnosis to IUIs, IVF, and a retrieval complicated by ovarian hyperstimulation
• The complicated emotions of a spontaneous pregnancy after infertility, including guilt, and the very real weight of deciding what to do with remaining embryos
• Why toxic positivity ("just relax, stay positive, you're so strong") so often misses the mark, and what actually helps instead
• Her husband's simple game-changing question, "do you want comfort or do you want solutions?"
• How infertility and loss can quietly strain friendships, and how to keep showing up without taking distance personally
• What goes into the boxes and why every product is clean, intentional, and made for the stage she is in

More than anything, this episode is a reminder that showing up does not have to be complicated or expensive. Even the strongest women need support, and women never forget who showed up when they were barely hanging on.

If you are navigating your own journey, loving someone who is, or you just want to be the person who shows up well, this episode is for you.

Listener offer: use code UNFILTERED15 for 15% off your first care package.

Connect with Lauren & brooksybox:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooksybox/

Website: https://brooksybox.com/

"A low AMH does not mean you can't get pregnant on your own." Dr. Roy Handelsman says it more than once in this episode, on purpose, because it may be the single most misunderstood number in fertility care.

This week we sit down with Dr. Roy Handelsman, a board-certified OB/GYN and fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertility, for a clear, honest, and genuinely fascinating deep dive into anti-Müllerian hormone, aka AMH. If you have ever had your AMH tested and walked away more confused or more anxious than before, this one is for you. Dr. Handelsman has an engineering background and a gift for the "why," and he uses both to explain what AMH actually measures, what it can't tell you, and how to think about your own number without spiraling into comparison.

In this episode, we cover:

• What AMH really is, where it comes from in the ovary, and why fertility providers test it
• The difference between egg quantity and egg quality, and why age, not your AMH, is most closely tied to quality
• Why a low AMH does not mean you can't conceive, and why a high AMH is not a guarantee
• Whether you can actually raise your AMH, and which lifestyle factors genuinely matter
• How birth control affects your AMH result, and how long to wait after stopping before you test
• The other ovarian reserve tests (FSH, estradiol, and antral follicle count), and what to do when they disagree
• Why AMH runs high in PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, the new consensus name for PCOS) and what that means for egg quality
• What an "average" AMH looks like by age, and why average is not the same as normal
• Why seeing a fertility doctor does not automatically put you on the path to IVF

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More than anything, this episode is a reminder that one number was never meant to define your fertility. Your AMH is a snapshot, not a verdict, and understanding it is a way to take your reproductive goals into your own hands rather than a reason to panic.

If you have had your AMH tested, are thinking about it, or just want to finally understand what all of it means, this episode is for you.

Connect with Dr. Roy Handelsman:Website: https://havingbabies.com/physicians/roy-handelsman-md/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royhandelsmanmd/