Listen to my full conversation with Jim Olson at the link in our bio. 

#fertilyfe #MentalHealthAwareness

#fertilyfe #CompoundGrief #MentalHealthAwareness

• The "In-Between": Finding purpose in the waiting room of life.
• "What Got Us Here, Won't Get Us There": Jim's philosophy on reinvention.
• Tailwind: Insights from his new book (out now!).
• "Make It a Great Day": Choosing gratitude over 20/20 vision.

Recorded on the anniversary of Jim's father's passing.

In this episode of fertilyfe, host Rachel Gerber Kule sits down with Andrea Bryman, founder and CEO of Thallo Health, a specialized telehealth company providing mental health assessments and counseling for individuals and organizations involved in third-party reproduction.

Drawing from personal experiences of compound grief and navigating the "in-between," Rachel and Andrea discuss the systemic gaps in fertility care and why advocating for your own mental health is a necessity, not a luxury.

In this episode, we cover:

• Setting Boundaries: Why establishing clear communication expectations between Intended Parents (IPs) and surrogates from Day 1 is the ultimate act of Intentional Coping.
• Advocating for Mental Health: Transitioning from the profound grief of loss and miscarriages to demanding foundational mental health support in fertility clinics.
• The True Goal of Surrogacy: Stripping away the transactional view to focus on the rare, concrete altruism and the shared human goal of bringing a child into the world.
• Sharing the Vision: The powerful realization that both the Intended Parent and the surrogate hold the exact same vision for the birth—giving you the strength to navigate the agonizing waits.

Whether you are in the middle of a "Two Week Wait" or pivoting to surrogacy, remember our macro-mantra: If you want to be a parent, you will be a parent. The path might change, but the outcome is certain if you stay strategic.

A "Great Day" isn't something you simply have; it’s something you make through conscious choice. 

This episode provides the daily, practical tools championed on the fertilyfe platform to help you shift from passive waiting to active living.

🔗 Connect with us & learn more:

• Follow us on Instagram: @fertilyfe
• Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn: Rachel Gerber Kule
• Learn more about Thallo Health: https://www.thallohealth.com/ 
• Join the fertilyfe community: www.fertilyfe.com 

#fertilyfe #MakeItAGreatDay #SurrogacySupport #IntentionalCoping #StrategicHope #InfertilitySupport

"Make it a Great Day." My Dad shared this every morning.

One year into his passing, it became my mantra. It’s about saying "yes" to life. 

This mantra supported me in coping with grief and seven years of IVF.

This episode shares his wisdom in honor of his legacy and in support of anyone in the throes of grief and IVF. 

For those navigating the agony of miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, carrying that weight can feel incredibly isolating.

That’s why the latest podcast episode is so meaningful. It features Paul Caine, co-founder of Griffin Cares, a foundation dedicated to honoring Paul and Pam’s son, Griffin, by supporting families through pregnancy and infant loss.

We had a deeply moving conversation about community, including Remembrance Day, and how we carry our stories forward. Some highlights:

• Saying Their Names: The profound power of speaking our loved one’s names out loud as an act of intentional coping.
• The Wave of Light: The power of global connection, every October 15th, to remember the light we all hold within - and how it beams brighter when supported by community.
• Validating the Weight of Grief: The necessary part of honoring grief.
• Carrying the Story Forward: Integrating our past into a life of purpose.
• Support Groups as a Safe Harbor: Finding communities where everyone "gets it."
• The "Journey" vs. The Life Path: Reframing the word "journey" into a life-long walk we do together.

When feeling down, looking up can be a physical way to truly shift your perspective. We are so often looking down - at our phones in particular- that we forget about the beauty of the world around us. When life feels contained to grief, looking up and around can be a way to remember a way forward. 

In this episode, Rachel sits down with her dear friend and medical innovator, Dr. Angie Beltsos. 

From building and selling Vios Fertility, to founding the MRSI conference, opening her new clinic Aretee, and working with National Geographic to save the white rhino via IVF—Dr. Beltsos approaches her work with incredible ease and humility.

This conversation covers critical topics for the fertilyfe community:

• The Doctor-Patient Partnership: Why you deserve a physician who takes the time to know your name and your case.
• Exploring Your Options: Navigating the grief of IVF and making empowered, informed decisions about alternative paths.
• The Gift of Surrogacy: Rachel and Angie share their personal experiences with surrogacy, honoring the incredible women who helped them bring their daughters into the world.
• The Future of IVF: Innovations in science and the push for a better, high-touch patient experience.

Remember: If you want to be a parent, you will be a parent.

Learn more on the websit: fertilyfe.com

'Make It A Great Day' isn’t just  a cheerful greeting. It started as a survival tactic based on the answer to my prayer, when I was in despair on a desolate beach in December 2020.

In this episode, I share the raw, unedited story of the 'Twilight Zone Nightmare'— suddenly losing my Dad while navigating “futile IVF as the world shut down for COVID—and the exact moment I heard my Dad’s voice give me the guidance to keep going.

This is the story of how I went from screaming into the void to finding my agency and embracing life.

"If you want to be a parent, you'll be a parent." 

That was my mantra throughout seven years of IVF, including surrogacy. 

My Dad said it when I first started IVF.  Then, he unexpectedly passed away.

Coping with cumulative grief, I leaned on my Dad's wisdom during the hardest years of my life.

This episode expands upon the article published with Columbia University Fertility to address the interconnectivity of grief with the fertility experience, and the value of acceptance and optionality.

This episode details the reality of post-traumatic growth through cumulative grief, prolonged IVF, and the isolation of the COVID pandemic.

When we were faced with the daunting IVF process, my father inspired us to move forward while remaining open to all options. He told us: "If you want to be a parent, you'll be a parent."

Months later, he passed away. Approaching the one-year anniversary of his passing, I found a directive in his most powerful lesson: "Make It A Great Day."

That realization allowed me to become the CEO of my own experience.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Compound Grief: Navigating fertility trauma alongside loss.

• The "CEO" Mindset: Moving from passive patient to active leader.

• The Mantras: Mindset shifts as survival tools.

ABOUT FERTILYFE:

fertilyfe is a clinically informed media platform and coping community dedicated to solving the critical void in fertility patient advocacy. Our mission is to empower Aspiring Parents (APs) to bring their parenthood dreams to lyfe through intentional coping and informed decision-making.

CONNECT WITH US:

Website: https://www.fertilyfe.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fertilyfe/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilyfe/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fertilyfe?_r=1&_t=ZT-926hUQW6Rfa

Welcome to fertilyfe. We are a clinically informed media platform and coping community dedicated to the interconnectivity of grief and fertility.

Mission: To empower Aspiring Parents (APs) to bring their dreams to lYfe through intentional coping and informed decision-making.

Our Story: Founded by Rachel Gerber Kule and Matthew Kule, fertilyfe was born from seven years of IVF, surrogacy, and the "wild west" of medical advocacy. Amidst prolonged treatment, Rachel navigated the sudden loss of her father, Alan "Al" Gerber, and the isolation of a global pandemic.

These concurrent, transformational experiences revealed a critical void in the patient experience: Intentional coping and informed decision-making.

Our Philosophy:

• We are done with the word "journey." Fertility is a significant life event.

• It’s YOUR life. The tree of life is yours to nurture.

• The "Y" is intentional. It represents our "Why"—to help you become the CEO of your own experience.

The Mantras: Inspired by Rachel's father, we operate on two core beliefs that helped us power through cumulative grief:

1. "If you want to be a parent, you’ll be a parent."

2. "Make It A Great Day."

We encourage every Aspiring Parent to stay open to your options, accept your path, and embrace the flow of life.

Subscribe to follow our new series.

Connect with us:

• Website: https://www.fertilyfe.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fertilyfe/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilyfe/

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fertilyfe?_r=1&_t=ZT-926hUQW6Rfa

#fertility #ivf #surrogacy #grief #mentalhealth #fertilyfe #makeitagreatday