Jaimie sits down with her assistant Nicole and her wife Shannon. Despite Nicole having worked on this podcast about queer families for over two years, they still haven’t decided if they want to have kids. As they weigh the pros and cons, the conversation covers the unique challenges queer couples face when it comes to starting a family—especially when you have two uteruses and no sperm. Jaimie offers her personal insights on parenthood, and the discussion marks the start of a mini-series that will tackle LGBTQIA+ family building. Over the next few episodes, they'll explore questions like: Does a genetic tie matter? Who gets the tie? Who will carry? Should they use a known or anonymous donor? If genetics aren't crucial, should they adopt or consider foster care? And, of course, how will they afford it all?

Join them as they speak with experts from organizations, guiding them—and listeners—through the many paths to parenthood available to queer couples.

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🏳️‍🌈Key Takeaways:🏳️‍🌈 

• Diverse Family-Building Paths: Nicole and Shannon explore multiple avenues for starting a family, including using known donors, sperm banks, adoption, and fostering.
• Personal Experiences: Both guests share their personal journeys and how their backgrounds influence their thoughts on parenthood.
• Challenges and Considerations: They discuss the practicalities and emotional challenges of deciding to have children, including financial considerations and the importance of support systems.
• Benefits of a Supportive Community: Emphasizing the need for a supportive network, they acknowledge that making the right decision also involves understanding the kind of support available to them.
• Future Planning: Taking tangible steps towards possible parenthood, such as freezing eggs and interviewing specialists in the field

🏳️‍🌈About The Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈 Nicole and Shannon: Nicole is the long-time assistant and right-hand human on The Queer Family Podcast. She has been working on the show for two years, helping to highlight, uplift, and normalize LGBTQIA families. Shannon, Nicole's wife, comes from a background in working with children, particularly in the foster care system. Together, they explore the complexities and considerations of starting a family as a queer couple.

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🏳️‍🌈Edited by Jerson Barajas. Theme song: ⁠⁠⁠Tiffany Topol⁠⁠⁠\ Logo art: Daneen Stevenato.

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