Fertility Forward
Health, Fitness & Longevity
About
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.
Episodes
- Ep 189: Decoding the Vaginal Microbiome for Better Outcomes with Priyanka Jain
Priyanka Jain, CEO of Evvy, joins Fertility Forward to discuss the vaginal microbiome's impact on reproductive health and fertility. The conversation covers how imbalances can lead to inflammation and misdiagnoses, and introduces Evvy's co…
- Ep 188: The Lucky Egg with Dr. Lucky Sekhon
Dr. Lucky Sekhon returns to Fertility Forward to discuss her book, "The Lucky Egg." The episode explores how the book supports women through their fertility journeys, focusing on the process rather than just the outcome, and addresses the…
- Ep 187: Weight Health with Ashley Koff
Registered dietitian Ashley Koff joins Fertility Forward to discuss weight health and fertility. The episode covers her book 'Your Best Shot,' the pros and cons of weight health therapy, understanding weight loss hormones, and the dangers…
- Ep 186: The Psychological Aspects of Ovum Donation with Dr. Georgia Witkin
Dr. Georgia Witkin discusses the emotional journey of ovum donation on Fertility Forward, debunking myths and exploring parental bonding concerns. The episode also covers psychological differences between egg and sperm donation and the sig…
- Ep 185: The Power of Choosing Single Motherhood with Eboni K. Williams
Eboni K. Williams shares her personal experience with single motherhood by choice on Fertility Forward. She discusses freezing her eggs, using donor sperm and IVF, and emphasizes female self-sufficiency and ownership of fertility decisions.
- 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 Cente…
- 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 e…
- 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…
- 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 Jar…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- Ep 177: ‘Time to Undetectable HCG Following Early Pregnancy Loss in ART Pregnancies: A Comparison of Management Strategies’ with Dr. Erkan Buyuk
Welcome back to another sneak peek of the upcoming ASRM Conference. Today, we welcome Dr. Erkan Buyuk back to the show to hear about his abstract at the ASRM Conference titled, ‘Time to Undetectable HCG Following Early Pregnancy Loss in AR…
- Ep 176: An ASRM Abstract: ‘Outcomes for Patients Who Underwent Oocyte Cryopreservation at Age 35 Years and Older: Results from a Large, Multi-Centre Cohort’ with Dr. Michelle Bayefsky
Is fertility preservation worth it for women over the age of 35? In this episode of Fertility Forward, we welcome Dr. Michelle Bayefsky to discuss her ASRM Abstract, ‘ Outcomes for Patients Who Underwent Oocyte Cryopreservation at Age 35 Y…
- Ep 175: Postpartum Care with Dr. Jessica Vernon
Dr. Jessica Vernon is a board-certified OBGYN who has cared for thousands of people throughout their reproductive journeys over the past 15 years. She is an Associate Medical Director and Director of Mental Health at Oula , a women’s healt…
- Ep 174: Midwifery Uncovered: Navigating Holistic Maternity Care with Casey Selzer
What if your pregnancy care was centered on your values, offering personalized support every step of the way? In this episode of Fertility Forward, licensed midwife Casey Selzer shares her two decades of experience advocating for holistic,…
- Ep 173: Surrogacy with Carly Joseph
Surrogacy is often considered a ‘last resort’ for people dealing with infertility, but it can be an incredibly beautiful (and challenging) way to start a family. In this episode of Fertility Forward, Carly Joseph joins us to share her surr…
- Ep 172: Navigating the Cost of Your Fertility Journey with Dr. Taraneh Nazem, Carissa Simek, and Ben Howard
Insurance coverage, healthcare benefits, and navigating the fertility journey from a cost perspective are incredibly important topics of discussion. Today on Fertility Forward, we welcome Dr. Taraneh Nazem and Carissa Simek back to the sho…
- Ep 171: Fertility and Perimenopause Dr. Adrienne Mandelberger
Perimenopause is a topic that is not discussed often enough and having the conversation helps empower women to know that they don’t need to suffer through it! Today, on Fertility Forward, we are discussing all things perimenopause with the…
- Ep 170: Inside the Embryology Lab with Rick Slifkin
The embryology lab is often a mystery to patients, but it plays a critical role in every IVF journey. In this episode, we’re joined by Rick Slifkin , Embryology Associate Laboratory Director at RMA of New York, for a rare behind-the-scenes…
- Ep 169: Sperm Health and Family Planning with Deb Valentin of Sage Wellness (Part 2)
The male factor is one-third of fertility overall and therefore, sperm health is imperative to fertility! Welcome to part two of our conversation with Deb Valentin about sperm health! In this part of the conversation, we discuss how diet a…
- Ep 168: Sperm Health and Family Planning with Deb Valentin of Sage Wellness (Part 1)
What if the key to unlocking fertility lies in addressing both partners equally? Today on Fertility Forward, we’re joined by Deb Valentin , a renowned integrative acupuncturist, herbalist, fertility specialist, and founder of Sage Wellness…
- Ep 167: Navigating Pregnancy and Parenthood as a Transgender Man: A Conversation with Trystan Reese
Joining us on the Fertility Forward podcast today is Trystan Reese , an award-winning author, facilitator, and longtime advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion with nearly two decades of experience in the trans community. Trystan is…
- Ep 166: Support for the Journey to Motherhood with Dr. Catherine Birndorf
The journey from trying to conceive, to pregnancy, to postpartum, can be the most beautiful time of someone’s life, but also the hardest, and that’s where finding the right support is key. Dr. Catherine Birndorf is a reproductive psychiatr…
- Ep 165: Raising Awareness for Perinatal Mental Health with Hamish Magoffin from the PAM Foundation
Today’s guest is leading the charge in raising awareness for perinatal mental health (PMH). On the Fertility Forward podcast today is Hamish Magoffin , Founder of the Pranaiya & Arthur Magoffin (PAM) Foundation . Hamish established the PAM…
- Ep 164: The Power of Knowledge with Dr. Taraneh Nazem and Carissa Simek
Here on the Fertility Forward podcast, we often say that knowledge is power — and that you are your own best advocate! Joining Rena and Dara on the show today are two passionate guests who are dedicated to educating women about infertility…
- Ep 163: Mosaic Embryo Transfers and the Future of Fertility with Dr. Phillip Romanski
How can data enable doctors to best support their patients? Reproductive endocrinologist and associate research director Dr. Phillip Romanski joins us in conversation to discuss the annual Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Conference (PCR…
- Ep 162: Navigating Fertility and Cancer Treatment with Alexandria Touris and Dr. Matthew Lederman
When is the right time to have children? What if you put having a family on the back burner and then something tragic happens that prevents you from conceiving? Today, we are joined by cancer survivor and RMA client Alexandria Touris and h…
- Ep 161: Alleviating the Financial Strain of Infertility in the Jewish Community with Jenn Leffell
An infertility journey comes with many stressors, from emotional and social challenges to family pressures and the unavoidable financial strain. Today’s guest, Jenn Leffell , co-founder and COO of the Stardust Fertility Foundation , is wor…
- Ep 160: A Journey of IVF, Ovarian Cancer, Surrogacy, and Motherhood with Jess Jata
Every single fertility journey is unique and often, things don’t go as planned. Today on Fertility Forward, we are joined by ovarian cancer survivor and mom of twins, Jess Jata to hear all about her unexpected journey and how infertility a…
- Ep 159: Microbiome Health and Fertility with Cheryl Sew Hoy
Could the secret to better fertility and lasting health be hidden in the tiny world of your gut microbiome? Cheryl Sew Hoy, CEO and Founder of Tiny Health , shares how her children’s health challenges inspired her mission to empower famili…
- Hopefulness and Being Open to New Ideas with Jaclyn Fieberg and Dr. Matthew Lederman
During your infertility journey, it’s important to align yourself with an ethical physician who is going to be honest with you about when your plans need to pivot. Today, we’re joined by the wonderful Dr. Matthew Lederman and one of his fo…
- Ep 157: Reflecting on 2024 and Leveling Up for 2025 with Rena Gower and Dara Godfrey
As the year comes to an end, we’re reminded of the value of reflecting on the past, looking ahead, and setting meaningful goals. In this episode of the Fertility Forward podcast, join Rena and Dara as they take a moment to ground themselve…
- Ep 156: The Power of Somatic Therapy with Sarah Geissah
Are you overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions that come with infertility? Today, we welcome Sarah Geissah , a Columbia University School of Social Work graduate, to explore the transformative power of somatic therapy. Sarah explains how…
- Ep 155: The Fight for Families: Advocating for Fertility Rights and Accessible Care with Dr. Kimberley Thornton
When access to fertility treatments is under threat, advocates like Dr. Kimberley Thornton step up to protect the rights of patients. In this episode of Fertility Forward, Dr. Thornton , a leading reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New…
- Ep 154: ‘Evaluating the Relationship Between Ejaculatory Abstinence and the Incidence of Embryo Mosaicism’ with Atoosa Ghofranian
Does ejaculatory abstinence really affect embryo mosaicism? Today on Fertility Forward, Fellow at RMA New York, Dr. Atoosa Ghofranian joins us to discuss her study titled: ‘Evaluating the Relationship Between Ejaculatory Abstinence and the…
- Ep 153: ASRM Abstract: The Effect of Trophectoderm Rebiopsy on Serum B-Human Chronic Gonadotropin Levels in Pregnancies Resulting in Live Births with Dr. Erkan Buyuk
Joining Rena and Dara on the Fertility Forward podcast today is Dr. Erkan Buyuk , who is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and OB-GYN practicing at RMA of New York’s Eastside office. He currently serve…
- Ep 152: Understanding Egg Maturation with Dr. Keri Bergin
Knowledge is power and understanding the nuances of egg maturation is incredibly helpful in any fertility journey. Based on her abstract on Assessing the Reproductive Potential of Late Mature Oocytes and Egg-Freezing Cycles , Reproductive…
- Ep 151: Revolutionizing Reproductive Medicine: The Future of Genetic Testing and Single Euploid Embryo Transfers with Dr. Rachel Danis
Imagine a world where parents have the power to protect their future children from inherited genetic disorders before they even take their first breath. In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking science of single euploid embryo tran…
- Ep 150: The Revive Project: Navigating Your Unique Fertility Journey with Christina Honeysett
Each patient’s journey comes with a unique set of challenges – especially in the vast landscape of infertility treatments – and finding the right support is essential. Christina Honeysett , co-founder of The Revive Project at Well Collab ,…
- Ep 149: Holding Onto Hope, Patient Advocacy, and Choosing the Right Reproductive Endocrinologist with Dr. Rachel Danis and Kristen Tomlan
So many women battle with having thin uterine linings when trying to conceive and today’s guest, Kristen Tomlan joins us today with her reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Rachel Danis , to walk us through how she combatted this issue and br…
- Ep 148: Navigating Fertility Choices: Understanding SART Rankings and Choosing the Right Clinic with Dr. Eric Flisser
Choosing the right fertility clinic can be overwhelming for prospective parents, with so many options and factors to consider. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Eric Flisser , a leading reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New York, t…
- Ep 147: The Link Between Dental Health and Fertility with Dr Katie Lee
In today's episode, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Katie Lee , a multifaceted professional hailing from Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Lee is a dentist, speaker, author, and coach. She also consults for health technology companies and provides impla…
- Ep 146: Optimizing Western and Eastern Medicine to Help with Infertility and IVF, with Dr. Mary Sabo
We are excited to welcome Dr. Mary Sabo to the podcast. Dr. Sabo is a licensed and board-certified acupuncturist, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, and the founder of Lily +Horn , an integrative reproductive health clinic in New…
- Ep 145: What You Didn’t Know About Celiac Disease with Jessica Lebovits, RD, CDN
Most people know (or have at least heard) of gluten and understand that some may be affected by an intolerance of it, but many are unaware that this immune reaction to eating gluten is actually called celiac disease. Today on Fertility For…
- Ep 144: Being a Fertility and Reproductive Health Influencer with Dr. Lucky Sekhon
Medical professionals have a duty to educate their patients and help them learn how to advocate for themselves and a great platform to do so is social media! Today on Fertility Forward we welcome Dr. Lucky Sekhon back to discuss her experi…
- Ep 143: IVF as a Same-Sex Couple with Ashley Quintero and Amy Deal
Navigating infertility is an incredibly difficult journey as it is, but there are even more hurdles involved for same-sex couples. Today on Fertility Forward, we are joined by wonderful RMA clients, Ashley and Amy Deal to discuss their fer…
- Ep 142: Expanding Maternal Healthcare with Jennifer Jolorte Doro
Whatever the nature of your fertility journey, you’re bound to face some stressful decisions and the truth is that we could all use some extra support. One of the areas where American moms could really use a helping hand is in the realm of…
- Ep 141: Peripartum and Reproductive Depressions with Dr. Ida A. Eden
We need to be talking more about perinatal, postpartum, and peripartum depression to reduce the stigma around these disorders. Here today, to do just that, is Dr. Ida A. Eden . Dr. Eden is a board-certified psychiatrist with formalized tra…
- Ep 140: A Whole Systems Approach to Fertility with Dr. Beck Hoehn
Are you considering acupuncture on your fertility journey? Well, this is the podcast for you! Today, we are joined by Dr. Beck Hoehn , a Los Angeles-based board-certified acupuncturist who treats pain, digestive disorders, stress, and horm…