Talking Away the Taboo with Dr. Aimee Baron

Like so many, Pam Krooth, LCSW, spent years trying not to get pregnant, only to find herself aching for the thing she once assumed would come easily. What followed was a long, emotional road marked by pain, heartbreak, and the slow, painful shift between expectation and reality.

Throughout Pam's story, we see how the path to the family she hoped for looked nothing like what she once imagined, and how hard it was when the timing was out of her control. After infertility, postpartum depression, and a miraculous adoption, she found her way to a different kind of motherhood, which reminds us to stay open to the many ways a family can be created, because the unexpected path can sometimes lead somewhere even more beautiful.

This raw, honest conversation reminds us that there isn't one way to become a parent, and that every path, however unexpected, is miraculous.

More about Pam Krooth:

Pam Krooth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who resides in Maryland with her husband, two children and French Bulldog. She is the mother of a biological and adopted child. She is currently on the Board of Directors at The Lab School of Washington, DC, an independent private school for children with language based learning differences. And is on the Board of Directors at Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE), an organization that provides mental health treatment and education to adoptive, foster and kinship individuals and families, as well as training in adoption competency to professionals working with these populations.

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A husband and wife sit down together to share their full fertility journey - from trying earlier than expected, to three heartbreaking miscarriages, IVF, October 7th, and ultimately, welcoming two beautiful daughters. In this deeply personal conversation, Rabbi Danny and Tamara Stein speak openly about the experience from both perspectives: the pain of loss, the fear of pregnancy after miscarriage, the anxiety of parenting during times of crisis, and the ongoing work of staying connected as a couple. They also reflect on what it means for men to have space to grieve, hope, and believe, and what it's like to navigate infertility and loss while serving as clergy, balancing the role of comforting others with managing their own heartbreak.

More about Rabbi Danny Stein:

Danny Stein is the rabbi of the Selma and Lawrence Ruben Base UWS, a pluralistic Jewish community for 20s & 30s in New York-based out of his and his wife Tamara's home. He feels passionate about helping folks connect with Judaism in ways meaningful for themselves. After being supported by IWSTHAB amidst his own fertility journey filled with losses and uncertainty, Danny is proud to help change the conversation within Jewish communities. He loves studying Hasidut, eating sushi, and is an overjoyed abbah (father) to their IVF baby.

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What happens when you have a profound loss, but no grave to visit? In this episode, Danielle shares her unique fertility journey — one that challenges our assumptions about what "fertility struggles" look like. From the joy of welcoming her third child to the unexpected trauma that followed, Danielle opens up about grief that doesn't come with a funeral, the profound loss of her ability to have more children, and the moments when her pain felt invisible.

More about Danielle Mizrahi (LCSW):

Danielle Mizrahi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and certified perinatal mental health specialist (PMH-C) with a private practice in West Hempstead, NY. She currently specializes in maternal mental health and working with women throughout the reproductive lifespan. Danielle was drawn to IWSTHAB because of her own personal experiences with infertility. She is committed to supporting others through their own journeys to creating a family. Danielle lives in West Hempstead with her husband and 3 miracles, Reuben, Jacob and Sarah.

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Infertility isn't only a women's issue, though too often, it's talked about like it is. In this episode, we're digging into male factor infertility: what it means, how it's diagnosed, and how it impacts couples emotionally, physically, and relationally.

We're joined by Paul Kassebaum, a quantum physicist, and his wife Julia Cohen, an economist, who live in Westchester, NY. In 2021, their family-building journey took an unexpected turn with a diagnosis of male factor infertility. They open up about the medical and emotional twists and turns of their path, and why they hope sharing their story will help others feel less alone.

To give us a full picture, we also bring in experts: Dr. Ariel Moradzadeh, a reproductive endocrinologist, and Abbe Golding, a genetic counselor at Jscreen. Together, we explore:

• What male factor infertility actually is, what the causes are, and how it's evaluated

• Who should be doing the testing and why it matters

• The role genetics can play in male infertility

• The emotional and psychosocial impact on men and couples

• How couples like Paul and Julia navigate the unexpected and find resilience

Whether you're directly facing male factor infertility, supporting a partner, or simply learning more about the different paths to parenthood, this conversation is a mix of story, science, and support.

Briana Felsen's path to motherhood was anything but straightforward. When she learned she was a BRCA carrier, everything changed—her sense of time, her plans for the future, and her relationship with her own body. Facing a 72% lifetime risk of breast cancer, she found herself racing against the clock to build her family before needing preventative surgery. What followed was a fertility journey deeply intertwined with Jewish time—the holidays marking both medical milestones and heartbreaks. From an ectopic pregnancy on the High Holidays to finally learning she was pregnant on Chanukah, her story is one of resilience, faith, and finding light after darkness. We talk about: - How a BRCA diagnosis reshapes family planning and fertility decisions - Navigating IVF, PCOS, and genetic testing with faith and fear in equal measure - What it feels like when Jewish holidays become painful reminders instead of celebrations - The toll of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, even when a good dose of Zoloft helped her hold on For anyone navigating a genetic diagnosis or struggling with fertility challenges, this raw and heartfelt conversation is a reminder that you are never alone.

More about Briana Felsen:

Briana Felsen is a development professional who works in the Israel space. First in South Florida and now back home right outside of Washington, DC. She graduated from Indiana University with her undergraduate degree in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and George Washington University for her graduate program in Israel Education.

Briana is passionate about Jewish community building, reading good books, Hoosier basketball, and the perfect wine and cheese pairing. Briana lives in Potomac Maryland with her husband Jerry and their dog Skipper and the newest member of their family, their IVF baby, Sonny.

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