This is Infertility is a bi-weekly podcast where we fuse narrative storytelling with experience and science to give you a new perspective on what it’s really like to go through a family building journey. Each episode dives into the emotional, physical, and financial burdens carried by those who experience infertility on their path to parenthood. Be it IVF, IUI, egg freezing, surrogacy, adoption, etc., the path is never the same and it can be long, painful, and lonely. It’s our mission to give those struggling a platform to be heard, a community connection, and an opportunity to raise awareness of the 1 in 6 who, for many reasons, struggle with infertility.
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This is Infertility

BONUS Episode 1: Gretchen Rossi & Slade Smiley’s Quest for the Right Doctor

In the previous episode, you heard about Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley’s fertility journey. In this episode you’ll hear their hilarious story about how they finally got to their reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Mark Surrey from SCRC.

Guests: Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley 

Host: Lissa Kline, Director of Member Services at Progyny 

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page. 

For those who are still searching for a fertility specialist, check out Progyny’s Provider Network. If you’re a Progyny member, please contact your dedicated Patient Care Advocate. 

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com 

Lissa Kline

Host

Lissa Kline
LCSW, Director of Member Services at Progyny

Lissa oversees the Patient Care Advocates. She worked at Columbia University Medical Center for several years in the division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Involved in Patient Services and the Donor Egg Program, she loved working with patients while they underwent fertility treatment. Lissa graduated with a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University.

Podcast-Headshot-Gretchen-Christine-Rossi

Guest

Gretchen Christine Rossi
Actress, Creative Director for The Gretchen Christine Collection

Ever since debuting her first handbag line, Gretchen Christine has steadily grown the company to be a well-respected and highly sought-after fashion and beauty brand. With fans and customers in more than 144 countries, the companies’ extreme attention to detail, the quality craftsmanship, forward thinking colorways, yet simple and classic designs make Gretchen Christine handbags extremely desirable.

In June of 2008 Gretchen’s desires to create and perform where noticed by Hollywood producers who approached her about joining the wildly popular NBC/Bravo Television series, The Real Housewives of Orange County. Gretchen embraced the offer as a business opportunity, she saw the show as a way to showcase her designs to the masses. Gretchen’s presence and popularity were a consistent factor with-in the TV series over the last 6 seasons. Now entering its 12th season, the show is a huge international success recently celebrating more than 120th episodes and being aired in just over 140 countries.

Podcast-Headshot-Slade

Guest

Slade Smiley
Actor, President of Grayson Entertainment, LLC

Long before Slade became a resident of the OC and an original cast member of Bravo TV’s The Real Housewives of Orange County, he discovered he had a love for entertainment in his native town of Anchorage, Alaska. Slade joined a local performing choir at age 13 and furthered his interest in the arts by performing in musical productions and drama classes in high school and college with roles in Hello Dolly, West Side Story, The Music Man and more.

Aside from Slade Smiley’s television and entertainment work, he also continues to put his degree in international business from California State University Long Beach to good use as the owner of Grayson Entertainment, LLC. Grayson Entertainment specializes in marketing, consulting, brand development and sponsor integration for such high profile brands such as HBL/Enjoy Hair Care Products, HBL Magazine, Gretchen Christine Collection Handbags & Cosmetics, Asombroso Tequila and Armstrong Interactive Inc., RIM (Blackberry) and Verizon Wireless.

Music From This Episode:

Artist: Hans Hylkema
Track: Backyard Adventure
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hans_Hylkema/Backyard_Adventure/Hans_Hylkema_-_Backyard_Adventure

 

Artist: Doctor Turtle
Track: His Last Share of the Stars
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/The_Double-Down_Two-Step/his_last_share_of_the_stars_zeroed

Artist: Nctrnm
Track: Blonde
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Nctrnm/Blonde_-_Single/NctrnmBlonde