Fertility Forward

Rena Gower & Dara Godfrey of RMA of New York

Fertility Forward, the official podcast of RMA of New York, is dedicated to bringing listeners cutting edge and accurate information on different aspects of the fertility space. Hosts Rena Gower and Dara Godfrey interview a wide range of experts including medical professionals, mental health specialists, wellness practitioners, personal trainers, and entrepreneurs in the fertility realm. Each podcast concludes with a message of positivity, authenticity, and a healthy dose of gratitude.

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English

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#197
Thursday · 38 min
Ep 197: Slowing Down as a Superpower with Carlos Diaz
What if slowing down is not something you earn after burnout, but a practice you can begin in seconds? In this episode, Rena and Dara welcome meditation teacher and retreat facilitator Carlos Diaz. His work combines meditation, mindfulness, conscious living, and personal transformation to help people slow down, gain clarity, and reconnect with themselves. In their conversation, they explore how simple, consistent practices can bring the benefits of a calm nervous system into everyday life. They discuss why effort and consistency matter when building a sustainable wellness practice, how small choices can create more space for stillness, and how recognizing what adds or releases tension can support a more intentional way of living. Carlos also shares the deeply personal turning point that led him to self-love and meditation, clears up a common misconception about quieting the mind, and guides listeners through an accessible meditation practice. Tune in to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and discover how even a few intentional breaths can begin to shift your day!
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#196
September 10 · 17 min
Ep 196: Why PCOS Is Now Called PMOS with Dr. Kimberley Thornton
PCOS has a new name, but what does that actually mean for patients? In this episode, Dr. Kimberley Thornton, reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New York, explains why polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) and why the change better reflects the condition. She clarifies what has changed, what hasn't, and how the new terminology may reduce confusion and lead to earlier diagnosis. Dr. Thornton breaks down the current diagnostic criteria for PMOS, its metabolic and hormonal features, and why irregular ovulation affects fertility. She also addresses common misconceptions, including why not everyone with PMOS has ovarian cysts, and reviews treatment options ranging from lifestyle changes and medications to fertility treatments. Discover what this updated definition means for patients and fertility care!
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#195
August 13 · 41 min
Ep 195: Integrating East Asian Medicine in Fertility Care with Dr. Ting Wu
How do we bridge the gap between Eastern and Western medicine and create a holistic approach to patient care in order to get the best possible fertility results? Today on Fertility Forward, we welcome the founder of NYC Acupuncture + Wellness, Dr. Ting Wu, to discuss her integrative East Asian medicine approach to women’s health, fertility, and reproductive wellness. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how research and perception of East Asian medicine have changed over the last decade, her unique approach to HPA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) axis and how it helps with fertility issues, and more! We delve into how Dr. Wu is working to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western medicine within her patient care and the power of collaboration, before discussing the importance of listening to your own body above anything else when it comes to your health. Our guest even challenges us to do an internal audit of our lives. Finally, and as always, we all talk about what we are grateful for today. Thanks for listening!
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#194
July 23 · 31 min
Ep 194: Navigating the Financial Challenges of Fertility Care with Angela Rastegar
What if the biggest barrier to building a family is not medical, but financial? In this episode, Angela Rastegar, CEO and co-founder of Sunfish, joins the conversation to share how her own fertility journey inspired her to create a company designed to help patients better navigate the financial and logistical challenges of fertility care. Angela opens up about spending more than $50,000 out of pocket on her own treatments and explains how that experience revealed major gaps in fertility care that extend beyond the clinical side. The conversation explores how Sunfish helps patients manage the financial realities of fertility care, better understand insurance coverage, access personalized planning tools, and receive support throughout every stage of family building. The episode also dives into the emotional weight of fertility treatment, the need for more personalized care, and why having better guidance before and during treatment can make all the difference. Join us for an insightful conversation about reimagining fertility care and how Sunfish is helping reshape the patient journey.
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July 9 · 33 min
Ep 193: Navigating Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and the Path to Fertility with Dr. Zoran Pavlovic
Imagine living with debilitating pain for years, only to be told it’s “just a normal period,” before discovering that endometriosis and adenomyosis have been affecting your body all along. In this episode of Fertility Forward, Dr. Zoran Pavlovic (Dr. Z) joins Rena to unpack these complex inflammatory conditions and explain why they require far more than hormone-based treatment alone. Together, they discuss the key differences between endometriosis and adenomyosis, as well as the two primary treatment approaches: excision surgery and lesion burning. Dr. Z also explores the role of dynamic ultrasounds in accurate diagnosis, how long-term oral contraceptive use may impact these conditions, and why building a multidisciplinary care team is essential. Most importantly, he offers hope, encouraging patients to advocate for themselves and emphasizing that with early intervention and proper care, building a family is absolutely possible. Thanks for listening!
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#192
June 18 · 36 min
Ep 192: Finding Connection After Infertility with Erin Bulcao
Infertility can be isolating, but sharing the story can help people feel less alone. In this episode of Fertility Forward, Rena and Dara sit down with Erin Bulcao, a wife, mother of three, and content creator. In their conversation, Erin shares how she discovered she was not ovulating in her twenties, the steps to getting pregnant with triplets after intrauterine insemination (IUI), making the difficult decision to have a medical reduction, and later going through years of failed transfers and miscarriage before welcoming her youngest daughter. She also talks about her marriage, therapy, friendship, and the pressure of trying to live normally while going through fertility treatment. They also delve into how infertility can affect relationships, why support looks different for everyone, and how honest conversations can create connection. Hear about Erin’s current content around motherhood, women’s health, perimenopause, and normalizing the conversations many people are still afraid to have. Tune in for insights into navigating infertility, resilience, friendship, and the value of being open about the hard parts of life with Erin Bulcao.
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June 4 · 28 min
Ep 191: Behind the Scenes at Fairfax Cryobank with Lisa Lightbourne and Andrea Darrington
Choosing a sperm donor can feel overwhelming, emotional, and deeply personal, especially when you’re not sure where to begin. In this episode of Fertility Forward, hosts Rena and Dara are joined by Lisa Lightbourne, Clinic Relations Manager, and Andrea Darrington, General Manager at Fairfax Cryobank, for a behind-the-scenes look at how donor sperm programs really work. Lisa and Andrea explain how intended parents navigate the donor selection process, what goes into screening and approving donors, and why only a small percentage of applicants are accepted. They also discuss donor identity release, how to approach narrowing down donor choices, and the emotional realities many patients face when considering donor conception. Along the way, the conversation explores the growing openness around donor conception, the importance of diversity and representation, and how more insurance coverage is helping improve access to care. Tune in for an insightful conversation about donor conception and modern family building!
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#190
May 21 · 39 min
Ep 190: Generations of Life: Stephanie Butnick’s Genetic IVF Journey
In this episode of Fertility Forward, Rena and Dara are joined by journalist and mother, Stephanie Butnick, for an honest conversation about IVF, genetic testing, and the emotional complexities of building a family. Stephanie shares how her journey with RMA began after learning her husband carries a BRCA1 mutation, and why they chose to pursue IVF with pre-implantation genetic testing. She reflects on her second IVF experience and how it differed from the first, while also opening up about the incredible support she received throughout her care. Together, they discuss what it was like for her husband to navigate these experiences as the BRCA1 carrier and how they plan to one day talk to her daughters about the journey that brought them into the world. Stephanie also shares how speaking openly about her experience has helped her connect with others facing similar challenges, emphasizing the importance of community, transparency, and keeping sight of the bigger picture throughout the fertility journey.
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#189
May 7 · 28 min
Ep 189: Decoding the Vaginal Microbiome for Better Outcomes with Priyanka Jain
For many women, trying to get a clear answer to their health problems can be challenging, if not downright frustrating. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Joining us today is Priyanka Jain, co-founder and CEO of Evvy, a women's health technology company focused on closing the gender health gap by decoding the vaginal microbiome. In this conversation, Priyanka shares how her own experiences with unanswered symptoms led her to question the limits of traditional testing and explore overlooked areas of female biology. She explains the role of the vaginal microbiome in protecting reproductive health, how imbalances can contribute to inflammation and fertility challenges, and why many conditions are still misdiagnosed or missed entirely. They also discuss how Evvy’s at-home testing works, what makes it more comprehensive than standard approaches, and where it can support patients across the fertility journey, from early planning to IVF. Tune in for an informative and empowering conversation about an often-overlooked factor in women’s health!
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#188
April 23 · 36 min
Ep 188: The Lucky Egg with Dr. Lucky Sekhon
What if you could find joy through your infertility journey? Today on Fertility Forward, we welcome Dr. Lucky Sekhon back to the show to tell us about her amazing book, The Lucky Egg, and how it supports women battling fertility lovingly, practically, and by encouraging them to focus on the journey, not just the destination. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what inspired Dr. Sekhon to write this book, how her incredible team helped her make it happen, why she wanted readers to feel like they were reading a book written by a friend, not a doctor, and so much more! We delve into how Dr. Sekhon detached from the outcome and surrendered to the process when writing this book, and how powerful doing that is, before discussing the mental health pieces of infertility she touches on in the book. Dr. Sekhon goes on to share her own struggles with secondary infertility and how it made her a more empathetic fertility doctor. We also talk about the importance of compassion in the fertility space and why comparison is so dangerous. Finally, and as always, we share what we are grateful for. Thanks for listening!
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March 19 · 48 min
Ep 187: Weight Health with Ashley Koff
Welcome to another episode of Fertility Forward! Today, we are joined by registered dietitian and bestselling author Ashley Koff to discuss weight health and fertility. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Ashley’s new book, Your Best Shot, and what inspired her to write it. We talk about what agonists are, the pros and considerations of weight health therapy, and how we can understand weight loss hormones using a pizza analogy! Ashley delves into why nutrient reduction to lose weight when trying to get pregnant is dangerous, before discussing the use of GLP-1 agonists in fertility treatment, pregnancy, and postpartum. We even touch on the psychological piece of weight health, how trauma affects the function of the vagus nerve, and weight health, why you cannot bully yourself about your weight, and so much more. Finally, Ashley reminds us of the importance of including joy in weight health treatment programs. This is a conversation you don’t want to miss, so be sure to press play now!
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#186
March 5 · 48 min
Ep 186: The Psychological Aspects of Ovum Donation with Dr. Georgia Witkin
Choosing ovum donation is an emotional and potentially daunting process. But there is great power in embracing it as the best decision for you and as a gift you are giving yourself instead of as an obstacle to overcome. Today on Fertility Forward, Dr. Georgia Witkin is back to discuss ovum and sperm donation and the emotional effects of each. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how Dr. Witkin helps patients become excited about ovum donation by busting some myths about the process, bonding concerns parents may have, why these concerns don’t actually come to fruition, and so much more! We delve into how sperm donation differs from egg donation from a psychological perspective before discussing the importance of normalizing donation for the child. We touch on how we use language to help our patients change their mindset about sperm or ovum donation, and why stress is not responsible for infertility. Finally, we discuss the importance of prioritizing self-care as women. To hear all this and, as always, what we are grateful for, be sure to press play now!
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#185
February 19 · 51 min
Ep 185: The Power of Choosing Single Motherhood with Eboni K. Williams
In this episode of Fertility Forward, hosts Rena and Dara welcome Eboni K. Williams—acclaimed lawyer, author, and television host—for a powerful and personal conversation about her journey to single motherhood by choice. Known for her work on Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams, Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams, and as a former cast member of The Real Housewives of New York City, Eboni shares how she froze her eggs at 34 to preserve her options and later conceived her daughter, Liberty, through donor sperm and IVF. She speaks candidly about female self-sufficiency, taking ownership of fertility decisions regardless of relationship status, and challenging the stigma often attached to single parenting. This episode offers an empowering perspective on reproductive planning, intentional motherhood, and the importance of building a strong support system along the way.
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#184
February 5 · 48 min
Ep 184: Fertility Legislation with Dr. Kaylen Silverberg
Infertility is a treatable and curable disease, and infertility treatment needs to be more accessible and affordable to the average American. Today on Fertility Forward, we are joined by Dr. Kaylen Silverberg from the Texas Fertility Center to discuss something we haven’t really touched on before: fertility legislation and the importance of advocating for our rights to start a family! Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Dr. Silverberg’s career, what led him to fertility legislation, how he has worked with the government, and what he sees happening in the near future in fertility policy and the impacts of these changes. We delve into why IVF needs to be covered by insurance before discussing how you can get involved in making real changes to infertility policy. We even talk about how the conversation about infertility has changed over the years. Finally, and as always, Dr. Silverberg shares what he is grateful for today. Thanks for listening!
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#183
January 22 · 15 min
Ep 183: Building a More Accessible Future in Fertility Care with Dr. Amelia Kelly
Sometimes the most powerful insights in fertility care come from lived experience. In this episode of Fertility Forward, we sit down with Dr. Amelia Kelly, the newest reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New York’s Brooklyn office, to explore the personal and professional journey that brought her to this field. She shares how her mother’s volunteer work in reproductive health first opened her eyes to the importance of family building on your own timeline, and how training at institutions like Weill Cornell and NYU strengthened that early interest. Dr. Kelly also reflects on her own egg freezing experience and how it shaped her understanding of what patients navigate. We discuss her research on physician infertility, the stresses residents face, and why expanding access to care remains one of her biggest passions. Tune in to hear how Dr. Kelly’s path as both clinician and patient informs her approach and why compassionate, accessible fertility care matters now more than ever!
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#182
January 8 · 20 min
Ep 182: Reflecting on 2025
This episode of Fertility Forward is a very special and highly anticipated one! Today, we are reflecting on the year that is about to end and sharing our hopes for 2026. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what we want to leave in 2025, what we want to take with us into next year, our words for 2026, and more! From the best books we read this year to manifestation, this episode touches on it all. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast, and we can’t wait to see you next year!
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Dec 18, 2025 · 27 min
Ep 181: Adjusting to the Reality You Find Yourself Living In with Jared Walker
Couples journeying through infertility often grieve differently and find themselves disconnecting. Our guest’s solution to this was to write a book for his beautiful wife. Joining Rena and Dara on the Fertility Forward podcast today is Jared Walker, the Founder and Executive Director for Dollar For. Dollar For, founded in 2015 in Portland, Oregon, is a national non-profit organization that helps patients access financial assistance. Jared is on a mission to eliminate as many medical bills as possible, while making charity care accessible, easy, and fair. His latest accomplishment is the release of his book on fertility, titled The Empty Nest. Tune in to hear Jared share their infertility journey and the inspiration behind writing his book, why readjusting to your reality is part of the journey, and his thoughts on being the partner sharing the experience. Jared expands on starting Dollar For, what they do, and how the process works, and gives details on how to get your hands on his book. For all this and more, don’t miss this episode!
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#180
Dec 4, 2025 · 31 min
Ep 180: Redefining the Path to Motherhood with Cheri Bergeron
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of pregnancy loss and fertility challenges. Please take care while listening, and pause if you need to. Motherhood doesn’t always follow a traditional script, and you don’t need a fairytale to build a family. In this powerful episode of Fertility Forward, best-selling author, speaker, and life coach Cheri Bergeron joins us to share her extraordinary journey to parenthood on her own terms. From navigating IVF and donor conception to facing unimaginable loss and ultimately winning a landmark custody case in Texas, Cheri opens up about the decisions, detours, and resilience that shaped her family. She reflects on the emotional toll of fertility struggles, the importance of genetic testing, and the support systems that made all the difference. We also explore how Cheri’s experiences inspired her nonprofit, Cheri’s Choice, and her memoir, Mission Motherhood, both of which were created to help women explore alternative paths to parenthood. Tune in to hear how one woman turned pain into purpose and why hope and self-advocacy are essential companions on the fertility journey!
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Nov 20, 2025 · 16 min
Ep 179: Mosaic Turner Syndrome and IVF Outcomes with Dr. Emily Clarke
Discoveries made during fertility testing can sometimes reveal more than patients expect. In this episode of Fertility Forward, Dr. Emily Clarke, a third-year fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at RMA of New York, shares new research on Mosaic Turner syndrome and what it can mean for patients undergoing IVF. She explains how many people discover this chromosomal condition incidentally, why it can vary so widely in presentation, and how understanding it helps improve counseling and care. We explore the emotional impact of unexpected genetic results, the reassurance that information from these types of studies can bring, and how compassionate counseling empowers patients to move forward. Tune in to learn how clearer data and compassionate communication can empower patients on their path to parenthood.
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#178
Nov 13, 2025 · 25 min
Ep 178: Dr. Stein & Dr. Reckhow on Their Latest Research for ASRM
Joining Rena and Dara on the podcast today are two special guests, a reproductive endocrinologist and partner, Dr. Daniel Stein, who leads a team at our West Side office, as well as an RMA Fellow and native New Yorker, Dr. Jensen Reckhow. Our guests have co-authored an abstract titled ‘Predicting treatment futility in patients undergoing autologous IVF’, which they’ll be presenting at the ASRM Conference. Join the conversation today as they expand on their study, diving into what inspired the topic, what they based their research on, the details of the study, and the intended application-related goal of the outcome. They also share the most surprising takeaways from their findings, how their findings will influence future treatment plans, and we end our podcast by sharing what we are grateful for today. Thanks for listening!
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