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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

00:44:37

"Fighting for Family: Queer Parenthood, Legal Battles...

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

2026/04/09

This is the first of two powerful conversations with the incredible Dr. Lorri Sulpizio — and we are diving in. From blended families to birth certificates, this episode is equal parts heartfelt, eye-opening, and long overdue.Dr. Lorri opens up about her beautifully complex family life — her current spouse, her ex-wife, and the four amazing adults they raised together. But this isn't just a story about family structure. It's a story about what it actually took to become a parent when the

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00:53:43

"We Knew By Date Two": How Michael & Andrew Built...

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

2026/04/02

Some couples take years to talk about kids. Michael and Andrew needed exactly two dates. From the moment they knew they had a future together, becoming parents wasn't a question of if — it was a question of how.Their path to parenthood began with conversations about surrogacy, but life had other plans. After watching a close friend navigate foster care in Missouri, they found themselves drawn into a story that would change everything. That friend was fostering a child who would eventually become

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01:07:02

Potholes & Possibilities: Melissa & Vanessa's Road to...

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

2026/03/26

Sometimes the road to building a family is anything but straight — and Melissa Torres knows that better than most. In this deeply moving episode, Melissa opens up about the winding, emotional, and at times heartbreaking journey she and her wife Vanessa have traveled to become the family of three they are today.When Melissa and Vanessa first met, they both knew they had inner work ahead of them — but that awareness didn't slow down the pull they felt toward each other. What followed was a love

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00:50:47

Dada Takes A Trip: How a Secret Service Agent Wrote...

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

2026/03/19

What do you do when your job takes you away from the little person who needs you most? If you're Cory Allen, you write them a book.Cory has spent 25 years serving the public — in the military, as a police officer, and in the Secret Service, where he worked alongside Michelle Obama on her iconic Becoming book tour. But ask him what he's most proud of, and the answer has nothing to do with any of that. It's being a dad.Cory and his husband are parents to an almost two-year-old son, with a

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00:40:22

Born With Love: Sarah & Emily’s Birth Story (Part Two)

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

2026/03/12

⚠️ Content note: This episode includes a frank, detailed discussion of childbirth and the postpartum recovery period. If graphic descriptions of the birthing process aren't something you're comfortable with, you may want to skip this one — and that's completely okay.We're back with Emily and Sarah for Part Two of their family-building journey — and this episode is the one we've all been waiting for. The baby is here.In today's conversation, Emily and Sarah share their birth

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01:08:20

From Vows to Viability: Emily & Sarah's Journey to...

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

2026/03/05

What does it really look like to build a family through fertility treatments — from the inside? In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with Emily and Sarah, a couple whose path to parenthood began just after their September 2024 wedding. Their story is one of hope, patience, and the kind of love that finds a way.Our host has known Emily since she was a little girl, which makes this conversation all the more meaningful. After Emily's mom reached out about the couple's plans to start a

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01:05:10

When the Dream Doesn't Come Easy: Grief, Family, and...

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

2026/02/26

Let's be real — when you're dreaming of building your family and things aren't going the way you hoped, it doesn't matter how many times someone says "you're not alone in this." It doesn't matter that others have walked this road before you. The pain is yours. It's in your body. It's in your bones. And it is completely valid.You grieve. You feel the loss. You feel like your body isn't on your side, like the system was built for literally everyone except

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00:41:15

Against All Odds: One Father's Journey to Expand His...

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

2026/02/19

Imagine wanting to give your eight-year-old child a sibling, only to discover that door after door slams in your face. For many prospective parents over a certain age—especially single ones—the path to surrogacy can feel like navigating a maze designed to keep you out.This is the reality Oded faces. As a single parent by choice, he's encountered obstacle after obstacle in his quest to expand his family. Age restrictions? Check. Single parent status? Double check. It seems like every criterion

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00:10:21

Raising Children in a Terrifying World: Why Turning...

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

2026/02/12

We are living in a time where headlines feel heavier than ever — rising hate, political division, threats to bodily autonomy, attacks on Queer and marginalized communities, and the quiet but persistent fear that nowhere is truly immune.Even here in Canada, many of us feel the ripple effects of what is happening beyond our borders. The pain is real. The fear is real. And for parents and caregivers, the question becomes unavoidable: How do we raise emotionally safe, resilient children in a world that

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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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