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 8 who, for many reasons, struggle with infertility.

Episode 11: Matt and Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure and Reflection on Male Infertility

The conversation surrounding infertility frequently revolves around women and their reproductive systems. There is often a lack of focus on male infertility, and the unique challenges it can bring to individuals and couples trying to conceive.  

Infertility can be an extremely tough journey, regardless of the cause, and it is often crucial for people going through fertility treatments to have an outlet for expressing their emotions and frustrations. Today’s guests, Matt Mira and Doree Shafrir, share how they created their own outlet: the hit podcast Matt and Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure. 

When Matt, a veteran podcaster and television writer (ABC’s The Goldbergs), discovered that he had an extremely low sperm count, him and his wife Doree, a senior writer at Buzzfeed and author (Startup), began their fertility treatment plan. They decided to document their journey through a series of podcasts, where they discuss in detail what it’s like to deal with male factor infertility, undergo multiple rounds of IVF, and encounter unexpected hurdles along the way. 

Guests: Matt Mira and Doree Shafrir, hosts of Matt and Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure 

Expert: Dr. Natan Bar-Chama, RMA of New York 

Host: LaTisha Maxwell, Patient Care Advocate at Progyny 

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page , Matt and Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure, and RMA of New York. 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. 

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

Host

LaTisha Maxwell, Patient Care Advocate at Progyny

LaTisha has been working in the healthcare field for about 10 years. She worked at institutions that focused on women’s health. Her last position was as a Medical Assistant and Case Manager at Sher Fertility Institute before her transition to Patient Care Advocate at Progyny. She plans to obtain her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and hopes to have a more integral part in everyone’s fertility journey.

Guests

Matt Mira and Doree Shafrir, hosts of Matt & Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure

Matt has been doing podcasts almost since podcasts existed – he’s a co-host on Nerdist, James Bonding, FEAB, and Talk Salad & Scrambled Eggs, and has been a guest on more podcasts than he cares to remember. He currently works as a writer on ABC’s The Goldbergs.

Doree Shafrir is the author of the novel Startup. She is also the co-host of the podcasts Forever35, a podcast about self-care. Doree worked at BuzzFeed News for six years in a number of editorial positions, including Executive Editor, Senior Culture Writer, and Senior Tech Writer.

Dr. Natan Bar-Chama, board-certified Urologist, Male Infertility Specialist, and Director of the Center of Male Reproductive Health at RMA of New York

Following his urology residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he was awarded the New York Academy of Medicine F.C. Valentine Fellowship and sub-specialized in Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at The Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. For the last 20 years, Dr. Bar-Chama has been the Director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery and is on faculty in both the Departments of Urology and Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Science at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Music From This Episode:

Artist: Kai Engel
Track: Brand New World
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kai_Engel/Sustains/Kai_Engel_-_Sustains_-_01_Brand_New_World

Track: Holiday Gift
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kai_Engel/Sustains/Kai_Engel_-_Sustains_-_03_Holiday_Gift

Artist: Jason Shaw
Track: Sailors Lament
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/SAILORS_LAMENT____________3-08

Artist: Gilman Mom
Track: Leona Heights
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Gilman_Mom/Revisionist_History/Gilman_Mom_-_Revisionist_History_-_05_Leona_Heights

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

Artist: ROZKOL
Track: Golden Sphere
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/ROZKOL/Roadside_Picnic/ROZKOL_-_Roadside_Picnic_-_14_Golden_Sphere

Artist: Steve Combs
Track: A vital piece of music for all your soundtrack needs
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Steve_Combs/Jaw/Steve_Combs_-_Jaw_-_01_A_Vital_Piece_of_Music_for_All_Your_Soundtrack_Needs

Artist: Jahzzar
Track: Curves
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/handmade/Curves

Track: Dew
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/handmade/Dew

Artist: Swelling
Track: Dawn II
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Swelling/Projector_Music_For_Visual_Media/Swelling_-_Projector-_Music_for_Visual_Media_-_07_Dawn_II

Artist: Breath Before the Plunge
Track: End of All Things
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Breath_Before_the_Plunge/Breath_Before_the_Plunge/Breath_Before_the_Plunge_-_Breath_Before_the_Plunge_-_03_End_of_All_Things