IVF Failed You - The "So Now What?" Podcast

Episode 192: How Childless Women Can Navigate the Holidays Ahead The holiday season can feel emotionally heavy when you're childless after infertility. In this episode, Lana explains why Thanksgiving and Christmas can stir up overwhelm, anxiety, numbness, and confusion when you always imagined this season with a child of your own. You'll learn how your brain and nervous system respond during this time of year, why nothing about your reaction means you're doing anything wrong, and how to feel more grounded and supported as the holidays approach. The holidays can feel complicated when you're childless after infertility. That knot in your stomach during Thanksgiving or Christmas is not your imagination. Whether you are done with fertility treatments, still navigating IVF or IUI, or childless by circumstance, this season can shine a spotlight on the life you thought you would be living by now. In this episode, you learn why the holidays often stir up so much emotion and why nothing about your experience means you're doing anything wrong. You'll understand how your brain and nervous system interpret this season, why old neural pathways get activated, and why your reactions are very normal for women who are childless after infertility or childless not by choice. Inside the episode, you'll learn: • How neural pathways built during your fertility journey impact your holidays • Why unpredictability around the holidays activates your nervous system • Why numbness is normal when the season feels emotionally loaded • Why family gatherings can trigger isolation even when you're loved • How to stop blaming yourself for how you feel this time of year • How to stay grounded when traditions center around children • Why you don't have to sit out of Christmas just because you don't have kids If you want real tools and support to help you feel more prepared and confident this year, join my free live class on Tuesday, December 16 at 11:30 AM Central: How to Deal with Your Family, Create Traditions, and Manage Celebrations Without Kids Register here! You deserve to feel grounded, steady, and in control of the rooms you walk into this season. And if you want help responding to the comments people make when they don't understand your experience, download my free guide HERE! The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless and How to Respond.

How to Feel Like You Belong Again When You Are Childless After Infertility If you have ever walked into a room and instantly wondered where you fit, this episode is going to speak directly to you. When you are childless after infertility or you are still in the middle of your fertility journey, it can feel like everyone around you is living a chapter you hoped would be yours. Conversations about kids, family schedules and milestones can leave you feeling two inches outside the circle and unsure how to take your place in the room. In this episode, you learn why this happens and how to reconnect with yourself so you can walk into any space with confidence and grounding. You will understand why your nervous system reacts before your mind catches up, why belonging feels harder when your story looks different, and how the lack of support after IVF failed can shape the way you show up socially. You will also hear how public conversations about infertility, including the reaction to Jennifer Aniston's story, influence the way you protect yourself in group settings. This episode teaches you how to honor your own experience and how to show up without shrinking or pretending. You will learn four ways to lead with connection so you can feel steady and comfortable in rooms that once felt overwhelming. You will walk away knowing how to stay anchored in who you are becoming and how to trust your own voice so you can feel a sense of belonging again, even when the conversations around you do not reflect your life. If you are ready to feel grounded in social spaces again and to rebuild a future beyond infertility that actually feels meaningful, this episode will support you every step of the way. Resources mentioned in this episode Thrive After Infertility - My 12 week coaching program for women who are childless after infertility and IVF Book a Thrive Call - Ready to spend the best 45 minutes you've spent this year? Book a free Thrive Call woith me.  We will get a plan together for what is next for you now that IVF is over.  Download your free guide The Top 27 Things People Say When You Are Childless (...and How to Respond) Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lana.manikowski TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lana.manikowski YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lana.manikowski I hope this episode helps you feel more grounded and more seen as you walk into the rooms that matter to you.

Infertility and Imposter Syndrome- When You Wonder If You Really Belong Have you ever walked into a room and instantly questioned whether you belonged there? That is exactly what happened to me t at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in San Antonio. I was surrounded by fertility doctors, clinic directors, psychologists, and researchers, all experts in reproductive medicine. And for a moment, that familiar voice whispered, Who do you think you are? In this episode, I am taking you behind the scenes of what it felt like to show up as a woman who is childless after infertility in a space that rarely represents us. You will hear how I faced imposter syndrome, found my voice, and ended up speaking on stage about the one topic that almost no one else was addressing: what happens when IVF fails and you leave fertility treatment without a baby. You will learn: Why imposter syndrome often shows up after infertility or IVF fails How to recognize the lies your brain tells you when you start something new The powerful shift that helped me turn self doubt into purpose What happened when fertility doctors lined up to thank me for speaking out How you can use the same coaching tools I did to quiet the voice that says you are not enough If you have ever thought, no one will care what I have to say or I am not qualified to lead this conversation, this episode is your reminder that your story matters. You do not have to be a doctor to create change. You only need to be brave enough to show up. Mentioned in this episode Free Guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You Are Childless And How to Respond Join our community: Childless After Infertility on Skool Learn more about my coaching program: Thrive After Infertility Whether you are sitting in a clinic waiting room or walking into a professional space wondering if you belong, this episode will remind you that your voice is needed. You are not a failed fertility patient. You are a woman who lived through what most people cannot imagine and still found the courage to keep showing up.

Episode 189 | Childless After Infertility: The Shift That Changes Everything What if you could stop living in regret after infertility and start creating a life that feels amazing to wake up to? In this episode of The "So Now What?" Podcast, Lana Manikowski shares the realization that changed everything: the moment she stopped identifying as a victim of infertility and began shaping a new story for her life after IVF failed. If you have ever wondered whether it is possible to feel fulfilled without motherhood, this episode will show you how. You will learn how to shift your mindset from loss to ownership, reconnect with your body, and rediscover your power to create joy and meaning again, even in a world that revolves around parenthood. 💬 Join My Skool Community: Childless After Infertility If you are ready to move beyond grief and step into growth, come join Childless After Infertility, Lana's new online community for women who are ready to grow beyond the pain of infertility.  If you join now it is free! Skool is a private online platform where you can connect, learn, and grow together without the noise, ads, or distractions of social media. It combines the best parts of a classroom and a community so everything we discuss stays focused and meaningful. This is not a support group. It is a growth group for women who want to create what comes next. 👉 Join Childless After Infertility on Skool Explore Coaching that Works: Thrive After Infertility If you are ready for personal support, Thrive After Infertility is Lana's 12-week coaching program that helps you rebuild trust with your body, strengthen your relationships, and create meaningful milestones beyond motherhood.   📘 Free Resource: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Tired of awkward questions and unsolicited advice? Get your free guide to navigate those conversations with confidence and authenticity.   Download it here   🩵 In This Episode, You'll Learn How to stop identifying as a victim of infertility. Why letting go of regret is essential for healing beyond childlessness. The mindset shift that helps you thrive after IVF fails. How to find connection and purpose without motherhood. What makes the Childless After Infertility community different from a support group or Facebook group. 🎧 Listen and Subscribe If you have found the content of this podcast to be helpful, please subscribe to the show and leave a review to help more women find hope and community after infertility.  Learn how to leave a podcast rating and review HERE!

When IVF Fails: How to Ask Your Fertility Clinic for the Support You Still Need When IVF fails, it can feel like your clinic disappears but you still deserve care. In this episode, learn how to ask for what you need from your fertility doctor even after fertility treatment ends. Discover how to advocate for yourself, share resources, and help your clinic better support women who are childless after infertility. If your fertility treatment ended without the baby you dreamed of, you are not alone and you are not forgotten. In this episode of The So Now What Podcast, host Lana Manikowski shares how to ask for what you need from your fertility clinic or doctor even after IVF fails. Whether you are still in treatment, deciding what is next, or already navigating life without children, you will learn how to take action, reclaim your voice, and inspire change inside the fertility industry. You will discover how to ✅ Ask for acknowledgment and emotional support from your clinic even months or years later ✅ Write a compassionate message to your IVF nurse, patient coordinator, or doctor ✅ Share what helped you heal so your feedback can support future patients ✅ Turn pain into purpose and become part of the change in fertility care for women who are childless after infertility When fertility treatment ends without a baby, silence from your clinic can feel like abandonment. But that silence does not mean you were unimportant. It means the system is incomplete. And systems change when you speak up. Lana offers a simple message template you can use to reach out to your clinic and invites you to take one small, brave step toward creating the care you and other women deserve. Your story still matters. You are not invisible. You are part of the change that can make fertility care more human, compassionate, and complete. Mentioned in this episode Listen to Episode 187 IVF Failed A Fertility Doctor's Thoughts About What Happens Next Free Guide The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless and How to Respond Book a Thrive Call to create your plan for thriving after infertility  

IVF Failed: A Fertility Doctor's Thoughts About What Comes Next When IVF fails, both patients and doctors are left asking, "What now?" In this conversation, infertility and life coach Lana Manikowski and fertility doctor Erica Bove, MD, explore what patients wish doctors understood after failed IVF, what doctors feel but rarely say, and how to create support and meaning after infertility. When IVF failed, you were not just handed a result. You were handed decisions with very little support. If you have ever left a fertility clinic wondering whether your fertility doctor truly saw your pain or what to do next, this episode will help you feel seen while considering the language to ask for the support you need. In this conversation, I am joined by Erica Bove, MD, a double board certified OB GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist at the University of Vermont. She is also the CEO and founder of Love and Science: Thriving Through Infertility. Dr. Bove has experienced both sides of treatment as a fertility doctor and as a fertility patient. Together, we explore what women wish their doctors understood after a failed IVF cycle, what doctors wish their patients knew, and how to create continuity of care when treatment ends without a baby. In this episode, you will learn: How both patients and doctors grieve when IVF does not work and why compassion on both sides matters. The post fertility treatment support you told me you needed most such as exit appointments, follow-up calls, therapy or coaching referrals, peer connection, and resources for life without children. Why many fertility doctors are not trained to deliver difficult news and how clinics can improve communication. How Dr. Bove coaches physicians through their own fertility journeys to help them practice with more empathy and confidence. Ways to redefine meaning and success after infertility so you can create a fulfilling life even if you are childless after infertility. This episode is for you if: You have finished fertility treatment without a baby and are unsure what comes next. You want to feel acknowledged and supported by your fertility doctor and your clinic. You are ready for community and guidance for life after infertility. You are a fertility professional who wants to better understand the patient experience after failed IVF. About Dr. Erica Bove Erica Bove, MD, is a double board-certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist (REI) at the University of Vermont. She is also the CEO and founder of Love and Science: Thriving Through Infertility. Dr. Bove combines an evidence-based approach with intuitive knowing in the context of a trusting relationship. She empowers professional women to build their families with confidence, self-compassion, and community. Her mission is to heal and support the healers and to create a legacy she is proud of. Website: loveandsciencefertility.com. Podcast: loveandsciencefertility.com/podcast. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erica-bove-0701a0173. Instagram: instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility. Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183. Resources mentioned Love and Science: Thriving Through Infertility. A space for both patients and doctors to find connection and support. Free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond). Thrive Call: Book your session to create a plan for what comes next. Key timestamps 00:00 Why this conversation matters when IVF fails. 06:30 What patients wish their fertility doctors knew. 18:40 How clinics can improve post treatment communication. 28:10 What doctors feel when IVF does not work. 36:15 How to find meaning and fulfillment after infertility. You are not behind and you are not alone. Even without children, you can create a life you love and you deserve real support after treatment ends. Listen now to IVF Failed: A Fertility Doctor's Thoughts About What Comes Next.

When you're going through fertility treatments, you never imagine they will end without a baby. I didn't. I believed that if I tried hard enough, followed every step, and stayed committed, eventually I would have the child I dreamed of. But when IVF failed and motherhood didn't happen, I was completely unprepared and unsupported. That gap, the silence that follows when treatments end without children, is why I became a member of ASRM, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and serve in their Mental Health Providers group.  In October I am attending the ASRM annual congress with thousands of reproductive Endocrinologists, fertility doctors, IVF nurses, and fertility specialists from around the world. My mission is to make sure the voices of women who are childless after infertility are part of the conversation. For an upcoming podcast episode I will be interviewing a fertility doctor who not only treats patients but has gone through IVF herself. This is your opportunity to shape that conversation. ✨ What do you wish you had received when you left treatments without a baby? ✨ Were you offered support, and if yes what was most helpful? ✨ If you weren't, what do you think would have made the biggest difference? ✨ And what is one question you would love me to ask a fertility doctor about life after treatment? 👉 Share your input here: Fill out the form Your name will never be used on the podcast, but if you'd like me to thank you personally you'll have the option to share your name and email at the end. Your experience matters. What you went through is real, and if I can help bridge your story with the professionals shaping fertility care, we can change the way life after infertility is understood and supported. 🔗 Related Episodes: Ep 147: Support After IVF - What Childless Women Really Want (click here to listen)  Ep 146: Finding Closure After IVF (click here to listen)  💜 Free Resource: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) → Click HERE!

Why does infertility feel so shameful? In this episode of The "So Now What?" Podcast, Lana Manikowski unpacks the weight of shame after IVF fails and motherhood does not happen. She explains why shame shows up for women who are childless not by choice, why it is optional, and how you can release it. Learn four steps to stop carrying shame so you can feel grounded, confident, and whole in the life you are creating. If you are childless after infertility, you may know the weight of shame all too well. Shame convinces you that you are the problem. That your body failed. That you let your husband or partner down. That you disappointed your parents by not giving them grandchildren. That your family name ends with you. Shame after infertility is common, but here is the truth most women do not realize: shame is optional. In this episode, I share why infertility feels so shameful, how shame sneaks into your identity, and why you do not have to carry it as part of who you are. I tell my own story of IVF failing me and the moment I believed I had let everyone down. I also share the four steps that helped me rewrite that story and start living without shame. You will learn: Why shame shows up after infertility and IVF fails The difference between facts and the shame stories your brain creates How to talk back to shame so it no longer runs your life How to choose your own headline and live into your values What shifts when you stop letting infertility define your worth When you release shame, you stop shrinking in family gatherings. You stop questioning your marriage. You begin to walk through the world with confidence and live as the whole, worthy woman you already are. If you are tired of carrying shame for something you never chose, this episode is for you. Read Chapter 1 of my bestselling book, "So Now What?" HERE. 📺 Watch the replay of the World Childless Week webinar I moderated: https://youtu.be/PZz_-H9A47U?feature=shared 💌 Free Resource: The Top 27 Things People Say When You Are Childless (...and How to Respond) Click here to download!   Tags infertility shame IVF failed childless after infertility shame after infertility why infertility feels shameful childless not by choice IVF shame infertility and identity healing after failed IVF infertility grief and shame childless woman support IVF did not work life after infertility stop infertility shame infertility podcast living childless after IVF overcoming shame after infertility infertility and womanhood IVF journey without baby thrive after infertility  

How to tell your story with pride when IVF failed and you are living childless after infertility.  When IVF fails and motherhood did not happen, it is so easy to feel like your only option is to hide. You spent years doing everything you possibly could—fertility treatments, doctors' appointments, lifestyle changes, endless waiting. You gave your body, your money, your heart, and your time to the dream of becoming a mom. And despite all of it, you find yourself living childless after infertility. In those moments, it can feel impossible to talk about what really happened. Maybe you have learned to keep quiet because the pain feels too heavy. Maybe you are tired of comments like "You could always adopt" or "At least you can sleep in." Maybe you worry about making others uncomfortable. But here is the truth: hiding from your infertility story will never create the life you crave. In this episode, I share why there is nothing more beautiful than telling your story, even when IVF failed and motherhood didn't happen. I will show you how owning your infertility story changes the way you see yourself and how others see you, and how telling your story can open the door to a future that feels powerful, grounded, and deeply meaningful. In this episode you will learn: Why you can feel proud of your infertility story even if IVF failed How hiding keeps you small and why telling your truth sets you free What life can feel like when the question "Do you have kids" no longer holds power over you How sharing your story helps you reconnect with your body, your friendships, and your future You may not have the children you dreamed of, but you can still live a life that feels rich, purposeful, and joyful. Your story is not one of failure. Your story is one of strength. And there is nothing more beautiful than learning how to tell it. 🌟 Links Mentioned in This Episode Register for my free masterclass (Wednesday 9/17): Things People Say When You Are Childless  - click HERE Join my World Childless Week webinar (Saturday, Sept 20): Register here Download my free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) click HERE.

When IVF fails and you're childless after infertility, people often try to cheer you up with "at least you can…" comments. But what these comments really reveal is how uncomfortable our society is with sadness. In this episode, I share how a recent injury reminded me of that cultural reflex, why sadness is not a flaw, and how you can create room for both grief and growth as a childless woman. Plus: details on my free class September 17 and my World Childless Week panel on September 20, Rediscovering Your Identity as a Childless Woman. Sadness and Infertility: When It Feels Uncomfortable Have you ever been told "At least you can travel" or "At least you don't have to pay for college" after your IVF failed? If you're childless after infertility, you know how painful and dismissive these "at least you can" comments feel. People think they're comforting, but they rarely land that way. In this week's episode of The So Now What? Podcast, I explore what these comments really mean, why they don't help, and how to stop internalizing the silent message they send — that sadness, disappointment, and grief are emotions you shouldn't feel. You'll hear: Why people reach for "at least" comments and what it reveals about society's discomfort with sadness How my nephew's recent soccer injury reminded me of our instinct to erase someone else's sadness The connection between these comments and what we hear when IVF fails Why sadness is not a flaw but proof that something mattered to you How to hold both infertility grief and the good that still exists in your life Why rediscovering your identity as a childless woman can shift your story from loss to strength This episode also celebrates the 4-year anniversary of The So Now What? Podcast. Four years of creating a community for women who were left without resources after fertility treatments ended without a baby.  Free Resources & Upcoming Events Free Class: Wednesday, Sept 17: Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond Without Spiraling or Shutting Down). Morning/afternoon in the US, evening in Europe.  Register here! World Childless Week: Saturday, Sept 20: I'm leading a panel called Rediscovering Your Identity as a Childless Woman at 8 AM CT / 2 PM BST. Join us live or catch the replay. Register here! Free Guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Download it for free. CLICK HERE! ☕ Help me celebrate 4 years of The "So Now What?" Podcast! If this podcast has supported you, would you leave a rating or review? Reviews help more women who are grieving infertility discover this resource. As a thank-you, I'll send you a $5 Starbucks gift card. 👉 Here's how to claim it: Follow the step-by-step directions here to leave your rating or review. Take a screenshot once your review is posted. Email it to me here: hi@lanamanikowski.com When I receive your screenshot, I'll send you a Starbucks gift card as my thank-you for celebrating this milestone with me. Sadness doesn't mean you're broken. Grief after infertility is real, but it doesn't define your whole story. Listen to Episode 183: Sadness and Infertility: When It Feels Uncomfortable to learn how to stop internalizing "at least you can" comments and start creating space for both your grief and your growth.

When IVF fails, your brain can feel like the enemy, spiraling with infertility triggers, constant comparison, and the grief of being childless after infertility. In this episode, you will discover why your brain reacts this way when fertility treatments do not work, and three simple practices to begin calming your mind and finding peace. Have you ever felt fine one moment, and then a single pregnancy announcement, bump photo, or piece of unsolicited advice left you spiraling? If IVF failed you and you are now childless, your brain may feel like the enemy. But the truth is, your brain is just trying to protect you. In Episode 182 of The "So Now What?" Podcast, you will discover why your brain works the way it does after infertility and how to start rewiring it so you can feel calmer, steadier, and more in control of your story. You will learn: Why your "smoke alarm brain" gets so sensitive after IVF fails and infertility treatments end What it means to "name it" when you feel yourself reacting (fight, flight, freeze, or fawn) How to look for glimmers of safety that calm your nervous system faster than pep talks Why bridge thoughts are more believable and more healing than toxic positivity How shifting the way you respond to infertility triggers helps you reclaim peace and confidence in your childless life Once you stop seeing your body and brain as the enemy, everything changes: your friendships, your marriage, your time, and your ability to create a meaningful future without children.  Announcements 🌍 World Childless Week On Saturday, September 20th at 2pm BST (8am CT / 9am ET) I am honored to be leading a panel: Rediscovering Your Identity as a Childless Woman. Each panelist has walked a unique path through autoimmune conditions, male factor infertility, singlehood, and female factor infertility. Together, we will share reflections on moving from "hopeful mother" to confident women living life on our own terms. This is not a conversation about what was lost. It is about what is possible. If you are ready to feel proud of the woman you are, with no disclaimers and no shame, this is for you.   Register here 🎓 Free Live Masterclass I am hosting another session of Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond), this time scheduled to fit international listeners. It is happening on September 18th at 11:30am CT / 5:30pm BST. This is a brand new class, not a replay. If you have ever frozen, shut down, or replayed conversations after someone made a comment about your childlessness, this live call will give you practical language and mindset tools to respond with confidence.  Register here Free Resource Get my free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond)   Download your copy here You do not have to stay stuck in autopilot reactions. Your brain is not broken, it just needs a new way forward. Tune in now to learn how to begin calming your brain after IVF fails so you can feel safe, steady, and proud of the life you are creating without children.  

Episode 181: Childless Legacy – How to Create One If you are childless after infertility, what kind of legacy are you leaving? When IVF, IUI, or years of trying to conceive did not lead to the family you dreamed of, it can feel like your story has nowhere to go. Like your legacy disappeared along with the possibility of motherhood. But what if you could create a legacy that does not depend on having a child? In this episode of The "So Now What?" Podcast, Lana shares a deeply personal reflection on what legacy really means when you are childless not by choice. Inspired by her grandfather's 118th birthday and the stories passed down about the life he lived, she challenges the belief that legacy begins when you are gone or only matters if you are remembered by children. Your legacy is how you show up in your life today. It is how you treat yourself, how you treat others, and how you decide to keep living even when life turned out differently than you hoped. In this episode, you will learn: What a childless legacy really is, and why it matters now more than ever Why waiting to be remembered is keeping you from feeling fulfilled How to reflect your values in your day-to-day life A new way to define meaning and purpose after infertility Why you do not have to wait for someone else to tell your story A challenge to start building your legacy now, not later If you have ever wondered how to create a life that feels meaningful without the children you dreamed of, this episode will speak directly to you. 📅 Free Masterclass on August 26 "Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond)" Learn how to respond with calm, confidence, and clarity to the unsolicited comments and advice that often come your way after infertility. Register here! 🌟 Resources and Mentions Free Guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless and How to Respond Download it here: lanamanikowski.com/thingspeoplesay Join the Back-to-School Photo Challenge Tired of feeling invisible while everyone posts pictures of their kids? Post a photo of you and celebrate who you are in this season. Tag @lana.manikowski on Instagram to join the challenge. Read the Book: So Now What? by Lana Manikowski – A guide for women living childless after infertility Book a Thrive Call: If you are ready to stop wondering what is next and start shaping a life that feels good again, schedule your free Thrive Call here You do not need a child to create a legacy. You just need to decide how you want to live yours.  

Infertility and Othering: When You Don't Belong Have you ever walked into a room and instantly thought, "I'm the only one here without kids"? That sinking feeling in your body is what is known as othering. Othering happens when you are seen, or you see yourself, as separate because you do not fit a societal mold. If you are childless after infertility or your IVF journey ended without the child you dreamed of, you know how often othering can happen. You get left out of conversations, your life experiences are dismissed, or someone makes a comment that forces you to explain why you do not have children. But here is something you might not have considered. You may be keeping yourself in that "other" role without even realizing it. In this episode, you will discover how you might be self-othering and how to shift the way you show up so you feel more connected and less defined by childlessness. I share why this topic is so personal to me after my own seven-year journey through IVF failed and ended without a child. You will learn the exact mindset shift that helped me stop letting "childless" be my headline and start introducing myself in ways that made me feel confident and part of the room. You will learn how to: Recognize when you are self-othering without realizing it Stop letting childlessness become your whole identity Walk into social settings feeling prepared to lead the conversation with who you are beyond motherhood Use simple questions to connect with friends, family, and colleagues without the focus being on parenting See yourself as more than the one without kids so others can too I also share a Thrive After Infertility client story that shows how one small change in how you show up can completely change how you are seen and how you feel in social situations. If you have been feeling disconnected, overlooked, or like you will never belong in rooms where most people are parents, this episode will help you step out of the "other" box, create your own sense of belonging, and feel empowered in any setting. Links from this episode Free Class: Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Learn practical ways to handle comments without shutting down or feeling small. Register here! Thrive After Infertility: 12 Week Coaching Program Work with me to create a life you love even without the children you dreamed of  Learn more here Book Your Free 45 Minute Thrive Call HERE! In this call, you and I will create a plan for how you can start thriving and loving your life after infertility. Book your call Follow me on Instagram @lana.manikowski If you are ready to stop letting childlessness define your story and start living in a way that reflects all of who you are, press play on this episode now.

Your Infertility Journey: How to Stop Explaining It If you are childless after infertility, you have probably been on both sides of the spectrum: staying silent because you do not have the words or emotional energy to talk about your journey, and then overexplaining to justify that you "did enough" to try to become a mom. In this episode of The So Now What? Podcast, we talk about the exhausting pressure to explain why you did not keep going with fertility treatments, adoption, or donor eggs, and how to protect your peace when people ask intrusive questions. I share a personal passage from Chapter 1 of my bestselling book So Now What? about the moment I learned my final embryo was not viable, and how that phone call ended my fertility journey but not my life. You will learn why the way you tell your story is one of the most powerful tools you have, and how you can start telling it in a way that feels true, peaceful, and rooted in who you are now as a woman without children. This is the exact work I do with my clients inside Thrive After Infertility. I help you reclaim your story, stop overexplaining, and feel confident and proud in conversations about your life, even when it turned out differently than you dreamed. In this episode, you will learn: The two extremes: staying silent vs. overexplaining your childlessness Why overexplaining feels like putting your pain on trial How to stop offering your grief as "evidence" to be believed A real-life excerpt from my book So Now What? How to start telling your story on your terms without apology Why this shift changes how you feel about yourself in every room you walk into Links from this episode: Register for my free live class on Auguat 26, 2025 : Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Download your free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Download Chapter 1 of my book So Now What?: Get it here Book your free Thrive Call: Schedule here If you are ready to create a life you love without the children you dreamed of and finally feel rooted, confident, and proud of who you are, I can help you get there.

What if the hardest part of infertility wasn't just the treatments… but the fact that no one even knew how hard you tried? In this episode of The "So Now What?" Podcast, we're talking about an overlooked reality: what it feels like to go through years of IVF and fertility treatments and never even get a positive pregnancy test. No bump. No loss others can see. Just you, quietly rearranging your life around the hope of motherhood… with nothing to show for it when it didn't work. This is for you if you're childless after infertility and have felt the sting of being dismissed, forgotten, or misunderstood because your story doesn't come with "visible" grief. Here's what we cover: Why IVF without pregnancy leaves a haunting silence around your story The reality of disenfranchised grief when you're infertile and childless Why comparing your pain to others doesn't bring healing, it brings shame The myth that you have to love your story in order to find peace How to stop minimizing your experience and start creating a future you feel proud of What it looks like to reclaim your voice and move forward without motherhood You don't have to keep shrinking your grief or hiding your truth just to make others comfortable. This episode reminds you that you were in it. And that's enough to matter. If you've ever wondered whether your story counts because you never got pregnant—this episode is your reminder: You don't need proof to be seen. You don't need a baby to validate your grief. You were there. You gave everything. And that matters. ✨ Mentioned in this episode: 📆 Free Masterclass: "Things People Say (and How to Respond)" Join me on Tuesday, August 26 at 6pm CT for a powerful free class where I'll teach you how to navigate comments about your motherhood status—without spiraling, shutting down, or feeling like you need to justify anything. Register here.    📘 Download Chapter 1 of my book "So Now What?"  FREE The day I found out I'd never become a mom, and what happened next.   📝 Click HERE - Free Guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond)   📺 Watch this episode on YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@lana.manikowski Let's connect: 🌐 Website: https://www.lanamanikowski.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lana.manikowski/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lana.manikowski 📕 Buy my book: https://www.lanamanikowski.com/book

You love your friends. You've grown up together, lived through milestones, and shared so many memories. But now they're raising kids, and you're navigating life after infertility. You're the only one in the group chat without a child, and suddenly, the conversations feel distant. Do you go and feel left out? Or do you stay home and feel even more alone? In this episode of The "So Now What?" Podcast, Lana shares the story of reuniting with three of her closest college friends (all moms) and what it now feels like to show up to these friendships as a proud, childless woman. Years ago, she would have dodged the invitation. But now? She's looking forward to it—and she shares exactly how that shift became possible. If you've ever: Avoided girls' weekends or coffee dates because you're childless after infertility Sat through motherhood conversations feeling invisible or irrelevant Wondered if your friendships could survive your childlessness ...this episode will help you imagine what's possible when you no longer feel like the outsider. 💭 Imagine going to a girls' weekend and not faking a single smile. 💭 Imagine feeling proud of your story and connected to your friends, even if their lives look different from yours. 💭 Imagine leaving your reunion feeling recharged and in love with the life you're building. This is what thriving after infertility can look like. Lana also shares how this kind of transformation is possible through the work she does in the Thrive After Infertility Mastermind—and how you can begin by joining her free masterclass. 🎓 FREE CLASS: How to Respond to the Things People Say When You're Childless On Tuesday, August 26th at 6pm CT, Lana is teaching a free class to help you respond to unsolicited comments about your motherhood status—without spiraling, shutting down, or plotting someone's demise in the grocery store. 🔗 Register here: https://lana-manikowski.myflodesk.com/masterclass   🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode: ✨ Register HERE for the Free Masterclass (August 26) 📞 Book Your Free 45-Minute Thrive Call HERE: 📘 Click HERE to Buy My #1 Bestselling Book, So Now What?:   📱 Follow Me on Instagram:   📺 Watch on YouTube:   🎵 Follow Me on TikTok:

If you are a woman who is childless not by choice, you know the heartbreak of infertility does not end when treatments stop. You might still feel like shame and guilt are following you around every day. In this episode, you will hear why infertility shame and secrecy can stay with you for years after IVF or other fertility treatments. Lana shares insights from a 1998 doctoral thesis that described shame as the central emotion of infertility and explains why so little has changed in how women feel about themselves today. You will discover how guilt convinces you that infertility was your fault, how secrecy keeps you isolated, and why infertility does not define your worth or your future. If you are tired of feeling like you failed or like you are living life on the sidelines, this conversation will help you imagine how thriving after infertility is possible for you. In This Episode, You Will Learn Why shame is often the hidden part of infertility no one talks about How guilt after IVF or failed fertility treatments can feel like punishment What happens when secrecy becomes your coping mechanism A client story showing how she went from feeling invisible to creating a life she is proud of How infertility coaching can help you rebuild your identity and confidence without children Ready to Thrive After Infertility? You do not have to keep guessing how to feel like yourself again after infertility. That is exactly what the Thrive Method is for. Inside Thrive After Infertility, you will learn how to: Rebuild confidence in who you are without motherhood as your identity Reconnect with your partner and friendships you have been avoiding Create milestones that bring purpose and joy to your next decades If you are ready to stop living in guilt and shame and start creating a life you love, book your free 45-minute Thrive Call.   💖 Links and Resources 📘 Download your free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You Are Childless (and How to Respond Authentically) Get your copy 🌟 Explore Thrive After Infertility: Learn more about the 12-week coaching program for women who are ready to thrive without the children they dreamed of. Explore the program 💬 Book Your Thrive Call: Create a plan to rebuild your identity and find clarity about what is next. Schedule your call ✨ Follow Lana for more inspiration: Instagram | TikTok | YouTube  Share This Episode If you know a woman who is childless after infertility and still carrying shame or guilt, please share this episode. She deserves to know she is not alone and there is a way to create a life she is proud of.

If you have spent years going through fertility treatments like IVF, pouring everything into your dream of motherhood, and still found yourself without a child, you know how heavy it feels to imagine a future that could ever feel as meaningful. In this week's episode, Lana shares a deeply personal story about standing on a piece of vacant land in Michigan, a place she and her husband dreamed of building their future home, and realizing that the path to something beautiful isn't coming without obstacles. If you're childless after infertility, it's so easy to believe your life will always feel smaller or less significant than those who got to have a child or raise children. You probably haven't seen many examples ofchildless women living fulfilling, connected lives without kids, so your brain fills in the blanks, telling you that it must be impossible for you. But just because you don't see the path doesn't mean it isn't there. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Why your brain convinces you that a meaningful life after infertility doesn't exist—and how that belief is just a story, not a fact. ✨ What to do when you feel like you're staring at a mound of sand that's blocking everything you wanted. ✨ How learning to trust yourself, even without a roadmap, is the first step to feeling proud of your life again. ✨ The truth about why feeling stuck doesn't mean you're broken, it just means you haven't been shown another way yet. If you're ready to stop assuming nothing will ever compare to motherhood and start creating a life that feels purposeful and satisfying, this episode will remind you: more is possible, even if you can't see it yet. Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 🌿 Book Your Free 45-Minute Thrive Call If you want help mapping out where you are now and how to get to a life you feel proud of—even without the children you dreamed of—book your free Thrive Call with Lana here: 👉 Schedule Your Call HERE 🌿 Download Your Free Guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) This resource will help you feel confident navigating the questions and comments that can make you feel misunderstood or judged: 👉 Download the Free Guide 🌿 Follow Lana on Social Media for Daily Encouragement and Tools: ✨ Instagram ✨ TikTok ✨ YouTube Whether you're feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure how to begin, remember: your dreams didn't end when motherhood didn't happen. They are still waiting for you to claim them.  

 Your Meaning as a Childless Woman After Infertility If you ever find yourself waking up on a Saturday, staring at a day that is completely yours and feeling more suffocated than free, this episode is for you. Maybe you spent years picturing weekends packed with soccer games, birthday parties, college visits, and noisy family trips.  You imagined how all the hard parts of infertility and IVF would feel worth it once you finally had your baby in your arms. But here you are, childless after infertility, and the quiet moments you thought would feel peaceful just feel heavy. And if you have ever caught yourself actually enjoying your life now, maybe a spontaneous trip, an afternoon reading, or a coffee date with your partner, only to feel instant guilt because you think it "looks bad" to be happy without kids, you are not alone. You might think: I shouldn't enjoy this because it means I am okay with what happened. I am betraying the woman I was, the one who fought so hard to be a mom. Other people will think I didn't care enough if I can move on. This episode will remind you: ✨ You are allowed to love parts of your life right now. ✨ You are allowed to find meaning, peace, and purpose, even if motherhood didn't happen. ✨ You don't have to spend the next 40 years waiting for something that will never come. Inside this conversation, you will learn: ✔️ Why weekends and free time feel so triggering when you are unexpectedly childless ✔️ How to stop feeling guilty for enjoying what you have now ✔️ Why this struggle doesn't mean you are broken or that you didn't want motherhood enough ✔️ How to start creating a life you genuinely love without comparing it to the life you dreamed of This is exactly why I created Thrive After Infertility. Thrive is my 12-week coaching program for women who are tired of feeling stuck, invisible, or like life is just happening to them instead of for them. Inside Thrive, you will learn how to: 🌿 Own your time and create experiences that feel expansive and meaningful 🌿 Let go of the guilt that comes when you enjoy your life without children 🌿 Feel connected, confident, and purposeful again on your terms If you are ready to stop surviving and start living, this is your invitation. You don't have to figure this out alone. 💛 Ready to take the next step? Book your free 45-minute Thrive Call. We will create a plan for what is next so you can start designing a life you love, even though it turned out so differently than you expected. ✨ Book Your Free Thrive Call 🎧 Mentioned in this episode: Download The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (And How to Respond) Subscribe to my Substack for weekly reflections and support  Learn more about Thrive After Infertility Order my #1 bestselling book, "So Now What?" 💌 Stay connected with me: Instagram TikTok YouTube You are allowed to love this life, even if it broke your heart.  You are allowed to build something beautiful, even if it wasn't the story you planned.  And you are allowed to start today.  

If you're childless after infertility or IVF and wondering how to move forward in a life that looks nothing like what you imagined, this episode of The "So Now What?" Podcast is for you. You did everything you could to become a mother. You prayed, tried, hoped, and gave it your all. And now you're living in the aftermath of a dream that didn't come true, with no guide for how to feel whole again. Maybe the world has led you to believe that without children, your life is supposed to be quiet, sad, or incomplete. Perhaps you've been carrying that weight so long, it feels like part of your identity. But what if it isn't? In this episode, I'm offering you one of the most radical truths I've ever learned on the other side of IVF and infertility: 👉 You get to choose how you feel. I share how I went from living reactively and constantly triggered by baby showers, pregnancy announcements, and other people's comments, to learning how to stop bracing for emotional pain and start creating emotional freedom. Inside, you'll hear: Why you're not wrong or broken for grieving the version of you that never became a mom How the grief of infertility includes not just a baby, but an identity, milestones, and meaning you expected to have How you've inherited outdated beliefs about women without children,  and how to stop wearing them like a stained old t-shirt What post-traumatic growth looks like when you're ready to create purpose, peace, and joy without the children you dreamed of The power of choosing your thoughts, your emotions, and your next chapter You don't have to stay stuck in sadness or silence just because motherhood didn't happen for you. And you don't have to accept a narrative that was never written with your truth in mind. There's a different path available...and I'll help you find it. ✨ Resources to support your next steps: 📘 Get your copy of my #1 bestselling book, So Now What? Rediscover purpose and meaning after infertility. 👉 Buy it now 🧭 Book your free 45-minute Thrive Call Let's create a personalized plan for what fulfillment can look like for you now, even though life turned out differently. 👉 Schedule your Thrive Call 💬 Download your free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Get real scripts to help you navigate intrusive questions and comments — without having to explain yourself. 👉 Download it here 📲 Let's stay connected: Instagram: @lana.manikowski TikTok: @lana.manikowski YouTube: Watch here Website: lanamanikowski.com You're not less than. You're not invisible. You're just living a life no one taught you how to navigate. But you don't have to do it alone. 💛 If this episode speaks to you, share it with a friend or leave a review so more women who are childless not by choice can find the hope, healing, and community they deserve.