Infertile AF: Infertility and Modern Family Building through ART

This week on Infertile AF, Ali sits down with comedian, creator and storyteller Candice Guardino for a heartfelt and deeply honest conversation about infertility, IVF, pregnancy loss, endometriosis, and finding light through the hardest moments. Candace opens up about freezing her eggs, navigating fertility treatment while building her career, the emotional toll of trying to conceive, and how comedy became both a coping mechanism and a way to connect with others.They also talk about the pressure women feel around timelines, relationships, and motherhood, plus the importance of telling these stories out loud. Equal parts funny, vulnerable, and validating, this episode is for anyone who’s ever felt alone on the path to parenthood.Make sure to check out Candace's comedy special, Italian Bred, about growing up and her Italian upbringing. Follow on IG: @candiceguardinoEPISODE SPONSORS: THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIESAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe 3-book bundle is now just $49 (normally $79)!The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them.PHERDALIG: @pherdal_sciencePherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com.Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off.CARAWAYCaraway cookware is beautiful, first of all — like, actually gorgeous sitting on your stove — but it also makes cooking feel easier and less stressful. Visit carawayhome.com to take an additional 10% off your next purchase using code INFERTILEAF at checkout.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today on Infertile AF, Ali is talking to Kat — better known online as @theivfbaby. And yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like: Kat was conceived through IVF herself, long before people were openly talking about infertility, assisted reproduction, or what it means to grow up as an IVF-conceived person.Now, she’s using TikTok and Instagram to normalize IVF from a perspective we rarely hear — the IVF-conceived person herself. Through myth-busting videos and answering the questions people are sometimes too afraid to ask, Kat is helping break down stigma in a big way.In this episode, she shares her full story — what it was like learning she was conceived through IVF, how it’s shaped her identity, the good and bad reactions she gets online, and why she believes visibility matters so much right now. They also talk about misinformation, the weird comments people make about IVF babies and why she’s so passionate about changing the conversation around ART.EPISODE SPONSORS: THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIESAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe 3-book bundle is now just $49 (normally $79)!The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them.PHERDALIG: @pherdal_sciencePherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com.Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off.GENERATIONS CRYOVAULTIG: @generationscryovaultWebsite: www.gencryo.comIf you’re going through fertility treatment, you already know—every decision matters. But here’s one thing most people don’t realize: you DO have a choice in where your eggs, sperm, and embryos are stored. Most clinics just keep them… or quietly move them to a partner facility. No conversation. No options. But that’s not your only path. Enter Generations CryoVault. Their motto says it all: Your tissues. Your choice. They specialize in one thing—secure, long-term reproductive storage—and they do it better. Because they’re independent, and they’re not juggling procedures or upsells. Use code INFERTILEAF26 to  receive one month off an annual plan. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today’s guest is someone so many of you already know and love from IG and TikTok—Loren Rosko—and her story goes way beyond the viral song parodies and infertility anthems. Loren started making TikToks during COVID, at a time when so many of us were feeling isolated and searching for connection. What began as a creative outlet quickly turned into something much bigger—a space where she could share everything she was going through in life, including navigating infertility. In this episode, Ali and Loren get into all of it, including PCOS, miscarriage, IVF, loss, what it feels like to share something so personal to a community of millions. Loren also talks about being pregnant—and due very soon — with her baby girl, and how she’s used humor, honesty, and music to make people feel less alone. Follow on IG: @lorenroskoEPISODE SPONSORS: THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIESAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe 3-book bundle is now just $49 (normally $79)!The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them.PHERDALIG: @pherdal_sciencePherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com.Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off.GENERATIONS CRYOVAULTIG: @generationscryovault Website: www.gencryo.com If you’re going through fertility treatment, you already know—every decision matters. But here’s one thing most people don’t realize: you DO have a choice in where your eggs, sperm, and embryos are stored. Most clinics just keep them… or quietly move them to a partner facility. No conversation. No options. But that’s not your only path. Enter Generations CryoVault. Their motto says it all: Your tissues. Your choice. They specialize in one thing—secure, long-term reproductive storage—and they do it better. Because they’re independent, and they’re not juggling procedures or upsells. Use code INFERTILEAF26 to  receive one month off an annual plan. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if the products you use every single day—your water bottle, your skincare, your food containers—are quietly impacting your fertility? In this episode, Ali dives into The Plastic Detox on Netflix—the documentary that has everyone questioning what’s in their homes (and their bodies). Ali is joined by Dr. Shanna Swan, one of the world’s leading researchers on environmental exposures and reproductive health—and a featured expert in the film. Ali and Dr. Swan talk about how the doc came to be, the real link between plastics, chemicals, and fertility, and how you can make realistic, non-overwhelming changes in your daily life. EPISODE SPONSORS: THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIESAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe 3-book bundle is now just $49 (normally $79)!The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them.PHERDALIG: @pherdal_sciencePherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com.Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off.BELIIG: @belibabywww.belibaby.com Are you thinking about growing your family? Whether you're just starting to plan or are actively trying to conceive, preconception health is key. Beli has vitamins to help both women and men optimize their health before pregnancy. With essential nutrients like Folate, Iodine, and Zinc, Beli ensures your body is ready for this exciting next step. Give yourself and your future baby the best foundation for a healthy start.Visit Belibaby.com today and use code IAF15 for 15% off your first order. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week’s episode, Ali sits down with an icon and true pioneer in the infertility space: double board-certified REI and infertility warrior, Dr. Natalie Crawford. Natalie opens up about her own journey through four pregnancy losses before welcoming her two children—and what it’s like to be on both sides of the stirrups as both doctor and patient. She shares the unique challenge of navigating infertility as someone who “knows too much,” and how that knowledge can be both empowering and overwhelming. They also talk about how Natalie has built a massive, trusted community by showing up authentically on social media, why she decided to break away and co-found her boutique clinic, Fora Fertility in Austin, Texas, and what it really took to start her own thing.Plus, Natalie shares insights from her new book, The Fertility Formula—including how to advocate for yourself in the exam room, what her patients taught her along the way, and what she wants every fertility patient to hear right now.For more, and to order The Fertility Formula, visit www.nataliecrawfordmd.comIG: @nataliecrawfordmdEPISODE SPONSORS: THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIESAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe 3-book bundle is now just $49 (normally $79)!The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them.PHERDALIG: @pherdal_sciencePherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com.Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off.BELIIG: @belibabywww.belibaby.com Are you thinking about growing your family? Whether you're just starting to plan or are actively trying to conceive, preconception health is key. Beli has vitamins to help both women and men optimize their health before pregnancy. With essential nutrients like Folate, Iodine, and Zinc, Beli ensures your body is ready for this exciting next step. Give yourself and your future baby the best foundation for a healthy start.Visit Belibaby.com today and use code IAF15 for 15% off your first order. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy