Infertile AF: Infertility and Modern Family Building through ART

Model, entrepreneur, and new mom Analicia Chaves (aka Ana Montana on socials) joins Ali to share the fertility journey that led her to motherhood—and the mission that grew from it.Ana opens up about her experience with infertility and IVF, revealing how little she knew about fertility challenges before facing them herself. "I didn't even know infertility was a thing until it happened to me," she says. While her friends seemed to be getting pregnant naturally, Ana found herself navigating a world of uncertainty, fear, and overwhelm.She shares her struggles with endometriosis, heavy bleeding, and painful periods—symptoms she once assumed were simply a normal part of being a woman—as well as the many lifestyle changes she made while trying to conceive, from giving up alcohol and changing her diet to acupuncture, lymphatic massages, and finding support and education through TikTok's TTC community.Ana also discusses launching I AM FERTILITY, a foundation dedicated to supporting others on their family-building journeys. She shares details about the foundation's first initiative, the HOPE Grant Program, which will award two hopeful mothers $5,000 each toward IVF treatment.For more info, go to https://iamfertility.co/IG: @iamfertilitynonprofitEPISODE 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

Angela Rastegar knows firsthand just how overwhelming — and expensive — the family-building journey can be. Before co-founding Sunfish, she spent years working in healthcare and tech while navigating her own fertility journey, including egg freezing and later, embryo creation. Now, she’s turned that experience into her life’s work. Through Sunfish, Angela is helping make fertility and family-building care more accessible with emotional support plus real financial savings — we’re talking $8,000 to $18,000 per cycle. And the best part? Sunfish is built for anyone on any path to parenthood.In this episode, Angela opens up to Ali about the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatment, the realities of trying to preserve options for your future self, and why she’s so passionate about changing this space for others.Disclaimer: Sunfish provides personalized financial plans using proprietary software to estimate costs for each Program. If actual costs exceed projections, eligible patients may receive a partial refund under program terms. Sunfish is not a medical provider. Terms and conditions apply.For more, go to www.joinsunfish.com IG: @joinsunfishEPISODE 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

LISTEN AGAIN NBC News correspondent and former CNN entertainment reporter Chloe Melas joins Infertile AF for an incredibly honest conversation (from 2020) about the emotional toll of infertility, navigating IVF in the public eye, and the pressure so many women feel to “do it all” while struggling behind the scenes. Chloe opens up about her two-year journey to parenthood with husband, Brian, after diagnoses of low ovarian reserve and male factor infertility. She shares the heartbreak, uncertainty, and resilience that ultimately led to the birth of both of their sons through IVF — plus what she wishes more people understood about fertility struggles and assisted reproduction.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.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

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