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PODCAST

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation

"becoming babyREADY" is a Queer-centred podcast exploring the journeys of 2SLGBTQIA+ family creation. Through conversations with Queer parents and professionals, we dive into what it takes to build intentional families — from legal and financial prep to emotional support and hands-on care. Rooted in Canada and reaching around the world, these stories offer insight, inspiration, and community for anyone growing their family with pride.

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

00:49:48

When the Second Time Isn’t Easier: A Queer Family’s...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2026/02/05

At first glance, it looked like a postcard moment: two moms cuddled up on the couch, a newborn wrapped in blankets, love absolutely everywhere. And that’s exactly how my conversation with Reme and Jess began.Their five-year-old daughter Jade was off at school, while three-week-old Jude soaked up quiet newborn time with her moms. But behind this picture-perfect scene is a story full of intention, resilience, and the many different ways queer families grow.Reme and Jess have been together for twelve

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01:07:18

Queer Fertility, PCOS, and Holding Hope: Michelle &...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2026/01/29

Content Note / Trigger Warning:This episode includes discussion of fertility challenges, medical complications, pregnancy loss, and barriers to family expansion. Please listen in the way that feels safest and most supportive for you.Today, I had the honour of sitting down with Michelle and Lisa Cast, a couple whose love story spans nearly 25 years and whose family-building journey has been anything but simple.Michelle and Lisa first met in 2001, when they were just 18 years old and sophomores in

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01:07:10

International Surrogacy, Pregnancy Loss, and Becoming...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2026/01/22

Sometimes family begins with timing, courage, and a leap into the unknown.Nearly 15 years ago, fate brought Heitor and Wayne together when Heitor relocated to Ireland for work. From early on, they shared a quiet but steady knowing: they both wanted to become parents someday. What they didn’t yet know was how that dream would take shape.With openness, intention, and a deep commitment to understanding what was involved, Heitor and Wayne embarked on a surrogacy journey. Working with an agency based in

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00:47:34

Ethical Egg Donation and the Right to Know: Why...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2026/01/15

Today on the podcast, we’re joined once again by Christina Alicea — a familiar and deeply valued voice in conversations around fertility, donation, and ethical family creation.When Christina first joined us a few years ago, she was working within a fertility clinic and sharing her experiences primarily as an egg donor. Since then, her professional journey has evolved in powerful ways. Today, Christina joins us in her current role as a Program Analyst with Everie, where her work centers on examining

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00:22:33

✨ becoming babyREADY: A year of stories. A world of...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2026/01/08

In this special reflective episode of becoming babyREADY, Sam looks back on the conversations that shaped 2025 — a year defined by courage, complexity, and connection.This season brought together Queer parents, hopeful parents, professionals, artists, advocates, and storytellers from around the world.From filmmakers and authors to midwives, lawyers, coaches, and everyday families, each guest shared deeply personal stories of how their families came to be.Across continents — from Canada and the U.S

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00:00:38

A Love That Found Its Way: Honouring Bret Shuford

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2026/01/04

There are many ways to build a family with the support of a surrogate. Some people work with agencies; others move forward independently. Some are supported by gestational carriers or egg donors they know or are related to, while others aren’t. The possibilities are wide and deeply personal.What is always true is this: this path is not fast. It is not inexpensive. And it is never without profound emotional highs and lows.Today, we pause with heavy hearts and immense gratitude as we share a

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01:05:42

Finding Love, Family, and Home — Jess Walker’s Story...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/12/11

When you move thousands of miles away, start over in a new city, and finally find friends who feel like home, life starts to click into place. For Jess Walker, that journey took an unexpected and beautiful turn when she met a new roommate — who would soon become the love of her life.In this heartfelt episode, Jess shares her story of self-discovery, embracing her sexual identity, and building a Queer family through RIVF — with Jess carrying their child. It’s a story about love, courage, and the

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01:01:06

Parenting by Three: A Queer Co-Parenting Story with...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/12/04

What happens when three adults choose to build and raise a family together—under one roof, sharing every joy, challenge, and decision equally?This week, we’re joined by Dr. Markus Harwood-Jones, who co-parents alongside his husband, Andrew, and their co-parent, Hannah, in a small Ontario city. Together, they’re raising their children in a home that celebrates collaboration, love, and the many ways families can take shape.Markus brings deep reflection and warmth to our conversation. He’s a writer,

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00:52:14

Many things in life can be true at once - Logan...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/11/27

Many things in life can be true at the same time.You can have a uterus and know you never want to use it to give birth.You can know deep in your soul that you were meant to be a parent.You can also know that the sex you were assigned at birth doesn’t reflect who you truly are.How do you bring all of that truth into your life — especially after you’ve fallen in love with your person?In this week’s episode, I sit down with Logan Blackburn-Issitt, a trans dad, husband, and father of six. Our

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00:49:50

Building Families in Ireland: Seamus’ Journey to...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/11/20

🎙️ After Seamus and his husband got married, they set out on a journey familiar to so many queer couples — figuring out how to build their family.What began as a hopeful research project quickly became a crash course in the complexities of Irish law, parental rights, and the many barriers faced by LGBTQ+ parents. From comparing routes to parenthood to navigating the emotional and financial realities of family creation, Seamus’ story highlights both the challenges and the deep determination behind

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00:42:36

Reproductive Law, Rights, and Reform with Sara Cohen...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/11/13

When it comes to family creation, the legal side can feel overwhelming — but Toronto-based fertility lawyer Sara Cohen has made it her mission to change that.Sara works with intended parents, donors, surrogates, and agencies to help make family-building possible — and she’s also one of the most respected voices advocating for modern, inclusive updates to reproductive law in Canada and beyond.In this episode, Sara and I dive into the world of fertility law, reproductive rights, and the importance of

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00:42:01

Stef Vachon of "Together Moving Forward" chats with...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/11/06

A Divine Future — Stef Vachon’s Journey to Fatherhood✨ Sometimes, you hold onto the dream of becoming a parent… until the years pass and you gently let that dream go. That was true for Stef Vachon and his husband — until one unexpected moment changed everything.After years focused on their careers and relationship, one movie night set a new path in motion. Within 24 hours, they made the life-changing decision to begin their foster-to-adopt journey. ✨More than two years later, they met the child who

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00:56:32

Jameel Mayers of Fathernetics chats with becoming...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/10/30

Meet Jameel—a dad, podcaster, author, and all-around powerhouse. He and his husband Nicholas have been together for 22 years, and eight years ago, they began their foster-to-adopt journey, welcoming their now 12-year-old son into their lives.In our chat, Jameel opens up about the raw vulnerability of navigating the foster care system in Arizona, and what it really meant to open their hearts and home.But that’s not all—Jameel also hosts the podcast Fathernetics, where he dives into modern Queer

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00:59:13

Rowan & Dani of Understory Cafe chat with becoming...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/10/23

✨ Chances are Rowan Jette Knox + Dani Gaede have already touched your Queer life — through their words, their work, or their fierce advocacy.I had the honour of sitting down with them to talk life, love, family, and the BIG dreams they’re cooking up next.Between the two of them, they’ve written powerful books, driven DEI initiatives, slayed in marketing, and fought for equity across so many spaces. And now? They’re onto something brand new: a cozy, community-rooted café + wine bar in the heart of

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00:41:20

Author Allison Olson chats with becoming babyREADY

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/10/16

✨ What happens when you’re both an adoptee and an adoptive parent?You gain a powerful perspective — one that can challenge, reshape, and rewrite the narratives we’ve all been told about adoption.Today I’m sitting down with Allison Olsen, who never set out to become an author. But when she couldn’t find children’s books that told the adoption story with honesty, compassion, and balance… she wrote them herself. 📚💡Now, Allison is on a mission to shift the way adoption is talked about — for adoptive

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00:46:04

Author Kirsty Loehr chats with becoming babyREADY

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/10/09

✨ Life has a way of sparking the most wonderful things. ✨Take Kirsty Loehr for example 👇A chance to study creative writing abroad inspired her first book, A Short History of Queer Women — a brilliant tribute to the Queer women who came before us and walk alongside us today. 🌈📚Then, choosing to grow her family with her (now) ex-wife opened up even more questions: How exactly do Queer women navigate parenting?That journey gave birth (pun intended 😉) to her newest book: A Short History of Queer

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00:38:48

Sharon Leya of "My Donor Story" chats with becoming...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/10/02

✨ The journey to parenthood is rarely simple — and for single/solo parents by choice, it’s often a whole other level of complex. While there are beautiful overlaps with Queer family-building, solo parenting comes with its own unique set of emotional, financial, and logistical challenges. 🍼💸💪Carrying, birthing, and raising a child on your own? That’s no small feat. And then come the big questions from our kids: “Where did I come from?” “Why is our family different?” 😅That’s why I’m thrilled to

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00:54:17

Gail, Lalita & Katherine chat with becoming babyREADY

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/09/25

✨ Today I’m so excited to share the brilliance of editor Gail Schwarz and two of her powerful contributors, Lalita and Katherine — just a few of the many voices behind the groundbreaking new book, “Boyhood Reimagined.” 📖💫Co-edited by Gail and Ada Malone, this collection brings together stories and reflections from Queer parents — cis, trans, and non-binary mothers — who are raising sons in a world that doesn’t always reflect our families back to us. 🌈👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏾Together, we dive into what it

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00:56:29

Cristina & Adriana chat with becoming babyREADY

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/09/18

🌍✈️ If you love Queer joy, globe-trotting adventures, and heartwarming family vibes — you need to follow @loveislovearoundtheworld 💕✨Cristina & Adriana have known each other for over 20 years (most of that time as a couple!), but it’s only been in the past decade that they’ve finally shared the same city, the same home — and now, the same passport stamps. 🌎💌These two fierce mamas are now travelling the world with their beautiful baby girl, proving that Queer family love truly knows no

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00:38:32

David Morgenstern from Gaddies chats with becoming...

becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer... ·

2025/09/11

Becoming a gay parent can feel incredibly isolating.How do you find other gay dads?Where’s the sense of community?And why does it often feel like nothing in the parenting world was designed with you in mind?That’s where David Morgenstern comes in. A gay dad to a 4-year-old with a background in marketing, David set out to build something more than just a brand—he built a movement.Gaddies is fun, stylish, and community-driven. What started as a line of apparel meant to make a statement has grown into

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130 results

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