MILES: Men, Infertility, and Life Experiences

In this episode of The MILES Podcast, we explore the deeply complex and often misunderstood experience of Terminating for Medical Reasons (TFMR). Joined by Dr. Julie Bindeman, PsyD—a licensed psychologist and expert in reproductive mental health—we unpack the psychological layers that accompany this difficult decision.Dr. Bindeman brings both clinical insight and compassionate understanding to a conversation that many individuals and couples face in silence. Together, we discuss the impact of TFMR on grief, relationships, and mental health, as well as the importance of validating these experiences without stigma or judgment.This episode creates space for honesty, education, and empathy—whether you are someone who has experienced TFMR, are supporting a loved one, or are a clinician seeking to better understand and support your clients.Dr. Julie Bindemanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebindeman/https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliebindeman/Steven J. Miller, APSWhttps://www.instagram.com/sjmiller2024/https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-miller-7082b1191/

In this episode of The MILES Podcast, Steven sits down with Dr. Julia Woodward to explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can support individuals and couples navigating infertility.Infertility is filled with uncertainty, loss of control, grief, and the constant pull between hope and heartbreak. Dr. Woodward breaks down how ACT helps people stop fighting their internal experience and instead build psychological flexibility — making room for painful thoughts and emotions while still moving toward what matters most.Together, they discuss:Why “positive thinking” isn’t the answerHow acceptance is different from giving upDefusing from shame, self-blame, and identity threatsSupporting men who feel pressure to “fix” the problemStaying connected to values in the middle of medical uncertaintyThis conversation is both practical and compassionate, offering tools clinicians can use in reproductive medicine and language that resonates deeply with those personally walking the infertility journey.Whether you’re a mental health professional, someone trying to conceive, or supporting a partner through infertility, this episode offers a grounded, evidence-based framework for living meaningfully — even when outcomes are unknown.Because while we can’t always control the results, we can choose how we show up.Dr. Julia Woodwardhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-woodward-9746387/Steven Miller's Social Media⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sjmiller2024/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-miller-7082b1191/⁠

In this episode, we explore how infertility affects couples — emotionally, relationally, and individually. While infertility is often discussed as a medical diagnosis, its impact on communication, intimacy, identity, and partnership can be just as profound. Couples may find themselves navigating grief, uncertainty, shifting roles, and different coping styles, all while trying to stay connected to one another.I’m joined by Dr. Liz Grill, a psychologist specializing in reproductive mental health, to talk about the complex dynamics infertility can introduce into relationships. Dr. Grill shares insights on how partners can support one another through fertility treatment, as well as practical strategies for maintaining empathy and connection during stressful moments.Whether you are personally experiencing infertility, supporting a loved one, or are a mental health or medical professional seeking to better understand the couple experience, this conversation offers validation, guidance, and hope.Dr. Liz Grillhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drlizgrill/https://www.instagram.com/dr.lizgrill/Steven Miller's Social Media⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sjmiller2024/⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-miller-7082b1191/

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Anna Flores-Locke, LPC, for an insightful conversation on the impact of infertility within the Latinx community. We explore the unique cultural, systemic, and access-related barriers that individuals and couples may face, as well as the powerful resilience factors that are often overlooked. Dr. Flores-Locke also unpacks the role of machismo in infertility experiences—challenging common assumptions and asking an important question: Is machismo always harmful, or can it also be a source of strength? Tune in for a nuanced, culturally grounded discussion you won’t want to miss.Dr. Anna Flores Locke is an international award-winning author and educator who has worked in the mental health profession for more than fifteen years. She holds a doctorate in counseling and is a licensed professional counselor in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Puerto Rico. She currently owns Charlandra Counseling Services, a virtual infertility counseling center, and is an assistant professor at Nyack College. Dr. Anna is an active leader in the American Counseling Association and the author of Body Betrayal: Understanding and Living with Infertility and Introduction to 21st Century Counseling: AMulticultural and Social Justice Perspective. From her personal and clinical experience with infertility, Dr. Anna created the Fertility Clarity © approach to infertility counseling. She is a Latina twin mom from Chicago, currently lives in New Jersey, and enjoys dancing and going to the beach. Dr. Anna is available for seminars, consulting, group book discussions, and speaking engagements. Learn more at www.charlandra.com or contact her at alocke@charlandra.com. Social MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/charlandra1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.anna.flores.locke/Steven Miller's Social Media⁠https://www.instagram.com/sjmiller2024/⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-miller-7082b1191/

Welcome to the 4th Season of The MILES Podcast!Steven Miller and Elizabeth Carr, the first baby born through IVF in the U.S., discuss their experiences with infertility and the importance of education and awareness. They explore the emotional impact, the role of nonprofits, and how open conversations can reduce stigma and support mental health.Elizabeth Carr's Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/ejordan12/https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethc/Steven Miller's Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/sjmiller2024/https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-miller-7082b1191/

This week's episode was a recording that got away from me and was never released. This was not due to the quality of the conversation with Lisa, but just an error on my part. Lisa Schuman, LCSW, is a leading expert in family building and has helped people around globe build the families of their dreams. She has lectured extensively and has written numerous articles on a variety of family building subjects including LGBTQ, and single parent family building. Ms. Schuman also runs workshops and offers counseling for parents and children who have formed their families through sperm and egg donation or adoption. Ms. Schuman has been working as a licensed therapist for more than two decades and is currently the Director of Mental Health Services for Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut and Gay Parents to Be.  Participant Form for Peer Support Program ⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/NseN5TW7JcdBWwCs8⁠⁠⁠ Volunteer Form: ⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/eSQJ46mRjTK57fVT8⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.menshelpline.org⁠⁠

In this episode, I have the honor of interviewing Dr. Dan Nayot from Toronto, Ontario. Dr. Nayot is currently the Medical Director of The Fertility Partners, Canada’s largest network of IVF clinics. As part of the executive team, he is committed to optimizing patient outcomes, physician education, implementing technological innovation, and spearheading research and development.  Participant Form for Peer Support Program ⁠⁠https://forms.gle/NseN5TW7JcdBWwCs8⁠⁠ Volunteer Form: ⁠⁠https://forms.gle/eSQJ46mRjTK57fVT8⁠⁠ ⁠⁠www.menshelpline.org⁠⁠

This week I had the privilege of interviewing Brian Decker from the Seattle, Washington area. Brian was the first to sign up as a volunteer for our Peer Support program. Brian and his wife have gone through IUI, IVF, and a miscarriage, and was successful with IVF, with the birth of his son. We discuss his experience with the fertility journey and the support he received. Participant Form for Peer Support Program ⁠https://forms.gle/NseN5TW7JcdBWwCs8⁠ Volunteer Form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eSQJ46mRjTK57fVT8⁠ ⁠www.menshelpline.org⁠

This week's episode, I interviewed Karyn Rosenberg, quite a while ago, but as we were getting Men's Helpline up and running, my attention had been distracted. Karyn and I discuss that often when we think about infertility, we don't always think it is grief that we are going through. We also talk about disenfranchised grief, as it relates to Mother's Day and Father's Day. Karyn Rosenberg, LCSW, PMH-C has a private psychotherapy practice in Florida and North Carolina. She is a trauma trained clinician in EMDR. (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). She specializes in grief, loss, trauma, and reproductive mental health. She holds a certification in perinatal mental health assisting clients with postpartum depression and anxiety. She works in the field of third-party reproduction, offering consultation, mental health screenings and evaluations, and counseling with egg/sperm/embryo donors, gestational carriers, and Intended Parents. Karyn has been an invited speaker at professional conferences and serves as a lecturer and trainer for the community. She is invited to work with schools and workplaces offering crisis counseling and providing critical incident stress debriefing. Karyn is a published contributing author in The ABA Guide to Assisted Reproduction: Techniques, Legal Issues and Pathways to Success (ABA Consumer Guide) (2016) and Understanding the Journey: A Lifespan Approach to Working with Grieving People (2019). Karyn is happily married to her husband and has two beautiful and smart daughters. When she isn’t seeing clients, you will find her on her Peloton, reading a great book, or jamming out to live music. Instagram: @karynlcsw Participant Form for Peer Support Program https://forms.gle/NseN5TW7JcdBWwCs8 Volunteer Form: https://forms.gle/eSQJ46mRjTK57fVT8 www.menshelpline.org

Welcome to the 3rd season of The MILES Podcast. This special episode commemorates International Bereaved Father's Day, first held in Australia in 2010. This day recognizes parents who have lost children through miscarriage or stillbirth, as well as young and adult children. I would include failed embryo transfers, too. Jonathon Cheslock is this episode's guest. Jonathon shares his experiences with multiple miscarriages. Recently experienced his wife having a twin pregnancy, resulting in one twin, boy, passing away at 31 weeks, while delivering a baby girl at 34 weeks. How to Acknowledge International Bereaved Father’s Day? | Cake Blog | Cake: Create a Free End of Life Plan (joincake.com) Peer-To-Peer – MensHelpline Volunteer – MensHelpline

In this week's episode, I have the privilege of talking with Brian Koszala, a colleague whom a mutual co-worker introduced to me. Brian Koszala is 40 years old and from Wisconsin. He lives with his wife and boy/girl twins. He has a history of mental health issues and addictions. He considers himself in long-term recovery from it and now helps others along in their recovery as a Certified Peer Support Specialist. Brian found out about his Klinefelter Syndrome diagnosis at the age of 33 while trying to have his kids. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/klinefelter-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353949 The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter (2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook Email:  themilespodcast@gmail.com

In this week's episode, I talk with Dr. Ku from Dallas IVF about his experience with Infertility.  Yes, even fertility doctors can have infertility.  We talk about how Asian culture can create barriers and stigma for infertility patients, as well as what it was like to experience infertility while doing fertility treatments for his patients.   Lowell T. Ku, M.D. is an award-winning and leading provider of infertility treatments in the Southwest United States. As a senior physician at Dallas IVF, he is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Ku is a pioneer in the field of infertility. He has published numerous papers in respected medical journals, including Fertility & Sterility. Dr. Ku recently published an article on technology and Infertility treatment. Nationally, Dr. Ku has presented his cutting-edge research on infertility, PCOS, frozen embryos, and the effects of estrogen deficiency on the immune system. Dr. Ku is currently on the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility board serves on the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He serves on the board of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He also serves as the Chairman of the Technology Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Ku has served as the Chief of Staff of Forest Park Medical Center - Frisco. He is a past president of the Alumni Association Board of Trustees at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – Medical School. Dr. Ku has been awarded numerous recognitions, including Texas Monthly Super Doctor® and as a D Magazine Best Doctors in Collin County and Dallas. However, the best award is being nicknamed Dr. KnockedUp by his patients. As one of Dallas’ highly respected infertility experts, Dr. Ku is regularly seen on television and social media, sharing his medical expertise on infertility and reproductive health. Having personally struggled with and overcome infertility, Dr. Ku has a never-ending determination to help his patients overcome seemingly impossible odds to achieve their dreams of parenthood. Social Media  Instagram:  @drknockedup Twitter: @DrKnockedUp www.dallasivf.com References in the Episode Mental Health Professional Group of ASRM:  https://connect.asrm.org/mhpg/home Domar AD, Zuttermeister PC, Friedman R. The psychological impact of infertility: a comparison with patients with other medical conditions. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 1993;14 Suppl:45-52. PMID: 8142988. The MILES Podcast Instagram:  @sjmiller2024  @milespodcast Twitter: @miles_podcast Email: themilespodcast@gmail.com Facebook:  Search The MILES Podcast for the page Please subscribe and rate the show on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts.  This will help other men and couples find the podcast quicker, which means more people being validated that they are not alone.  If you would like to be a guest, please message me on my social media or by email.  "The only way we can reduce shame and stigma is by normalizing the experience, and we do this through conversation." -Brene Brown

Today's episode is the first part of Joey Guzman-Kuffel's journey to becoming a father through surrogacy.  Joey is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in San Diego, California, and part of the LGBT Community.  He and his husband built their family through surrogacy and using donor eggs.  During our conversation, we could only get one part of the story and plan on having him back on record for part 2.  There was a lot I learned from Joey in this episode, and we can all be enlightened by his experience.    Having been an intended parent and having a daughter through surrogacy, Joey came to realize the important role that mental health professionals play in the IVF and surrogacy process. This led him to transition from working in treatment centers to founding his own private practice, Counseling with Joey.  Joey's Social Media  Instagram:  @counseling_with_joey  Twitter: @JoeyKuffel www.counselingwithjoey.com The MILES Podcast can be followed at  Instagram: @sjmiller2024 or @milespodcast  Twitter:  @miles_podcast Please like, subscribe, and comment on whichever platform you use to help other men and couples find this podcast. The podcast is available on Apple, Google, Stitcher, Spotify, Anchor, or Overcast.  If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, I can be reached at any of my social media platforms or email themilespodcast@gmail.com.  "The only way we can reduce stigma and shame is by normalizing the experience, and we do this through conversation." -Brene Brown  

Chase Pierce shares his experience with being diagnosed with Y Chromosome Infertility and the difficulties in processing this. We talk about ways that he has and still is coping with infertility and the thought processes that he has had. He had reached out to me via Facebook to be a guest, and you can be one too.  I have more information on Y Chromosome Infertility listed below and on my social media accounts.  Y Chromosome Infertility https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/185/y-chromosome-infertility Instagram: sjmiller2024 & milespodcast Twitter: @miles_podcast Email:  themilespodcast@gmail.com

Father's Day can be just as tough for men, as Mother's Day is tough for women.  In this first episode, I share my experience with male infertility and navigating IVF.  I have referenced the Mental Health Professional Group through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.  The link is listed below.  I encourage the men that have experiences with family building whether that be adoption, ART, childfree not by choice, or other scenarios, it would be great to have you as a guest.  Your experience can help out another man that is navigating a similar journey.  I can be reached at themilespodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram, @sjmiller2024, or @milespodcast.  Thanks in advance for listening to this first episode.  Home - Mental Health Professional Group (asrm.org)

Trailer for the MILES: Men, Infertility, and Life Experiences podcast.  1 in 8 couples in the United States are affected by infertility and 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage.  Men are often considered the silent partner when it comes to family building journeys despite 30-40% of cases being diagnosed with male factor infertility.  There is very little information out there on infertility and mental health for men, as I quickly noticed when I was going through infertility myself. This podcast will be exploring the experiences of other men who have gone through infertility journeys that are MILES long.  Join me when I release my first episode on Father's Day on June 19th, 2022. 

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, we explore the complex and often misunderstood topic of reproductive trafficking. Joining us is psychologist Kristin Chambliss, who brings clinical insight and an ethical perspective to a conversation at the intersection of mental health, reproductive medicine, human rights, and global inequality.Together, we unpack what reproductive trafficking is, how it can manifest in fertility treatment contexts, and why vulnerable individuals and families may be at increased risk. Dr. Chambliss discusses the psychological impact on intended parents, donors, and surrogates.Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the systemic factors that contribute to exploitation, including financial desperation, lack of regulation, stigma surrounding infertility, and disparities in access to care. We also explore how clinicians, advocates, and patients can recognize warning signs, promote ethical practices, and support policies that protect reproductive autonomy and dignity.This episode is essential listening for mental health professionals, fertility providers, social workers, and anyone interested in reproductive justice. Join us for a nuanced conversation that challenges assumptions, elevates awareness, and highlights the importance of compassion, informed consent, and advocacy in reproductive spaces. National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888Dr. Kristen Chamblisshttps://www.instagram.com/drkristenchambliss/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-chambliss-90670b17/Steven Miller's Social Media⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sjmiller2024/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-miller-7082b1191/⁠

This episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Clayton Brigance, who recently got his PhD in Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. We talk about his own experience through infertility, as well as the research he has been doing regarding trauma and infertility. A recent study of his showed that 43% (primarily women) had symptoms of PTSD due to reproductive trauma. Dr. Clayton Brigance, PhD, LPC, is the founder and clinical director of Shiloh Counseling, LLC, in Ballwin, Missouri (just outside of St. Louis). Clay’s clinical focus and utmost passion is working with couples, navigating infertility and reproductive loss. Clay and his wife have had their own experiences with infertility, which was recently published as a duoethnography in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy. Clay has also published several other articles as well on counseling couples going through infertility and reproductive trauma in some of the top scientific journals, such as The Family Journal, Contemporary Family Therapy, and Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Clay is on the Healthcare Task Force for the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care in San Diego, California, where he works with medical doctors, nurses, and other mental health professionals on how to advocate for couples going through the unique journey of infertility. Clay has spoken on this special topic across the country to various audiences, including the American Psychological Association. Clay is currently Level III trained in Gottman Method Couple Therapy and will soon seek full certification. Clay’s dissertation was focused on how couples achieve couple satisfaction in their relationship during infertility from the lens of the Gottman Method. Clay, his wife, and their two miracle boys live in Ballwin, Missouri (though Clay is often pining away for his home state of Kentucky). Clayton Brigance, PhD, LPC | LinkedIn Shiloh Counseling (shilohcounselingllc.com) The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info ⁠Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos⁠ ⁠Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos⁠ ⁠The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter⁠ ⁠(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook⁠ Email:  themilespodcast@gmail.com

Happy National Infertility Awareness Week! To kick off the week, I decided to release a couple of episodes, and this is the first one. At some point in our fertility journey, we have all been told to relax and that stress is the cause of our infertility struggles. I have heard several people talk about this through my connections and on the internet. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Angela Lawson, a licensed psychologist at Northwestern Fertility and Reproductive Medicine in Chicago. We discuss if this anecdote is either fact or fiction and what is behind the idea of stress causing infertility. This episode is for all the people that have been told to relax. Dr. Lawson is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Psychiatry at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. She is a clinical and forensic psychologist specializing in women’s reproductive health and sexual and other traumas. She joined the faculty at Northwestern in 2008, where she provides clinical consultation as well as psychotherapy related to infertility and other reproductive concerns. She also conducts research on the psychological aspects of infertility and trauma. Dr. Lawson serves as a past Chair of the Executive Committee for the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, is the Chair of the Mental Health educational track at the annual Midwest Reproductive Symposium International conference, and the Chair of the LGBTQ Speciality Interest Group of ASRM. Angela K. Lawson, PhD | Northwestern Medicine Fertility and Reproductive Medicine (nm.org) The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info ⁠Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos⁠ ⁠Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos⁠ ⁠The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter⁠ ⁠(2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook⁠ Email:  themilespodcast@gmail.com

In this week's episode, I talked with Dr. Kristin Brogaard, the Chief Scientific Officer at Inherent Biosciences. We discuss the lack of research on male infertility and what Dr. Brogaard is doing about this issue. Kristin Brogaard received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Northwestern University developing a novel epigenetic technology that allowed for single-base pair resolution mapping of DNA binding proteins genome-wide. To continue her training in technology development, Dr. Brogaard worked as a postdoc with Dr. Leroy Hood, a pioneer in personalized medicine technologies, developing new methods for low-level antibody capture and quantification in blood for early detection of autoimmune diseases. After her postdoc, she continued to work with Dr. Hood as the director of a human-subjects clinical trial based on Dr. Hood’s vision of the intersection of systems biology and personalized medicine. From the results of the clinical trial, the team launched a scientific wellness start-up, Arivale, where Kristin was the Director of Program Management and responsible for directing the formation, communication, resourcing, and tracking of Arivale’s quarterly strategic objectives and their associated key performance indicators.  Kristin co-founded Inherent Biosciences Inc. and acts as Chief Scientific Officer to combine her passion for epigenetics and personalized medicine. At Inherent, she uses epigenetic discoveries to answer unexplained medical conditions, providing better diagnostics and treatment plans. Outside of work, Kristin loves to hike, cook, and spend time with her husband, two kids, and crazy dog. (4) Inherent Biosciences, Inc.: Overview | LinkedIn SpermQT (“Sperm Quality Test”) (@path.fertility) | Instagram Inherent Biosciences The MILES Podcast Social Media and Contact Info Steven Miller, MS (@sjmiller2024) • Instagram photos and videos Steven Miller, MS (@milespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos The MILES Podcast (@miles_podcast) / Twitter (2) The MILES Podcast | Fort Atkinson WI | Facebook Email:  themilespodcast@gmail.com