My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast

Welcome back and Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

We're back this week talking all about Genetics and the importance of Genetic Counselling and why you may need it. It's a fascinating episode, hosted this week by Wes and two special guests Lizzie and Alyssa from Igenomix UK, who also support all our members as we supply genetic screening to CGT plus, which screens 450 genes for 550 conditions.

What are genetic diseases?

Genetic diseases are caused by mutations – changes to our genes. Mutations associated with recessive genetic disease can be present in DNA without affecting the individual – they are a carrier of the condition. 82% of individuals are carriers of at least one condition.

Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.

Our season sponsor

We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies.

For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.

Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?

Bios;

Lizzie

Lizzie is an experienced genetic counsellor with Igenomix UK, specialising in reproductive genetics services. Lizzie worked previously in the NHS, covering a broad range of cases including prenatal, cancer and general genetics. Prior to her career as a genetic counsellor, Lizzie undertook a degree in Biochemistry and Genetics at The University of Nottingham and then worked in Medical publishing as an Editor and Medical Writer, before undertaking an MSc in Genetic Counselling at Cardiff University. She lives in Cranleigh, Surrey, with her husband and two young children.

Alyssa

Alyssa is originally from Canada and studied Biology at McGill University in Montreal before obtaining her MSc in Human Genetics and Genetic Counselling from Stanford University in California, USA. She previously worked for the NHS in Oxford as a Principal Genetic Counsellor specialising in inherited heart conditions. She joined Igenomix UK in 2021 where she focuses on reproductive genetic services. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys exploring the Cotswolds where she lives with her partner and two whippets.

Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

Michael and Wes are your hosts, and as parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.

Today’s teaser episode is all about The Commissions recommendations for future surrogacy laws in the UK. Wes chats to two experts, Andrew Powell, Barrister at 4PB and Andrew Spearman Partner and Head of Family Team at Laytons ETL Global. We explore all the avenues of the bill and ask the question, can we even see this current Conservative government even taking forward the law commissions recommendations?

Our wonderful guests tell us all more about whether they agree with the proposals and what was the most disappointing discovery with the final proposal - listen to find out more.

Guest bios:

Andrew Spearman, Partner and Head of Family Law

Andrew is an experienced family law practitioner with a specialism in Surrogacy & Fertility law and financial disputes on marital breakdown involving company and trust structures. He became a Partner at Laytons in 2019 and is Head of the Family Team, ensuring the highest quality of service and client care for each client. In 2019, he was identified as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 team for his work in the field of surrogacy law and parenthood. As a consequence of his extensive work, seminars and involvement with surrogacy charities, he is recognised both as a leader in his field and as having an ability to give practical, proportionate solutions to complex problems.

Andrew Powell, Barrister.

Andrew is a family law barrister called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2008 based at 4PB, a leading specialist family law barristers’ chambers based in central London.

He is widely recognised for his expertise in cases concerning children. He is listed in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading barrister and was recently described in Chambers and Partners as having “..an absolutely encyclopaedic knowledge of surrogacy law”.

His practice focuses on parental disputes about arrangements for children after separation, international children law including child abduction, and applications to relocate children to another country. He regularly represents parties in surrogacy, adoption and declaration of parentage cases. He has appeared in some of the leading cases concerning surrogacy and adoption in the High Court.

Andrew was awarded the ‘Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year Award’ in 2021 and has published a book about the legal aspects of surrogacy.

My Surrogacy Journey is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

Let's talk about emotional support; quite often the topic most parents and patients shrug off. But why is it so crucial and how can it safeguard your journey?

Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.

Our season 3 sponsor

We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies.

For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.

Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?

Bios;

Angela Periculous-Smith

BIO here

Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

This weeks episode is designed to take you through the surrogacy programme for Manchester Fertility, hosted by Wes and Michael with special guests Olivia and Paula.

Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.

Our season 3 sponsor

We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies.

For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.

Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?

Bios;

Olivia Tindall, Surrogacy Co-ordinator, Manchester Fertility.

Olivia is the Surrogacy Coordinator at Manchester Fertility and the lead contact for our intended parents and patients as they progress through surrogacy treatment. Her primary role is to offer advice and support, facilitating communication between all parties involved. With a deep understanding of the complexities and nuances involved in surrogacy. Olivia is committed to helping fulfil the dreams of those building families through surrogacy.

Paula Lynch, Senior Fertility Nurse, Manchester Fertility

With a long career history in fertility care at units and clinics in Ireland, Essex and London, Paula works with all patients at Manchester Fertility, helping them through various stages of treatment. She has vast experience in overseeing fertility nursing teams, egg donation and surrogacy and likes to keep abreast of the latest developments in the field through HFEA and nursing forums. Paula has the privilege getting to know the many different people who come to Manchester Fertility for help. She recognises everyone's circumstances are different and as a fertility nurse she’s here to give support wherever it's needed, working together towards the goal of creating a family.

Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

Michael and Wes are your hosts, and as parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.

Today’s episode takes a light hearted and interesting viewpoint of what can be a monotonous and rather dull topic, especially given the exposure of it this year. I feel like we're all talked out! However, this episode looks into some of the more undiscussed areas of the The Commissions recommendations for future surrogacy laws in the UK. Wes chats to two experts, Andrew Powell, Barrister at 4PB and Andrew Spearman Partner and Head of Family Team at Laytons ETL Global. We explore all the avenues of the bill and ask the question, can we even see this current Conservative government even taking forward the law commissions recommendations?

Our wonderful guests tell us all more about whether they agree with the proposals and what was the most disappointing discovery with the final proposal - listen to find out more.

Guest bios:

Andrew Spearman, Partner and Head of Family Law

Andrew is an experienced family law practitioner with a specialism in Surrogacy & Fertility law and financial disputes on marital breakdown involving company and trust structures. He became a Partner at Laytons in 2019 and is Head of the Family Team, ensuring the highest quality of service and client care for each client. In 2019, he was identified as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 team for his work in the field of surrogacy law and parenthood. As a consequence of his extensive work, seminars and involvement with surrogacy charities, he is recognised both as a leader in his field and as having an ability to give practical, proportionate solutions to complex problems.

Andrew Powell, Barrister.

Andrew is a family law barrister called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2008 based at 4PB, a leading specialist family law barristers’ chambers based in central London.

He is widely recognised for his expertise in cases concerning children. He is listed in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading barrister and was recently described in Chambers and Partners as having “..an absolutely encyclopaedic knowledge of surrogacy law”.

His practice focuses on parental disputes about arrangements for children after separation, international children law including child abduction, and applications to relocate children to another country. He regularly represents parties in surrogacy, adoption and declaration of parentage cases. He has appeared in some of the leading cases concerning surrogacy and adoption in the High Court.

Andrew was awarded the ‘Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year Award’ in 2021 and has published a book about the legal aspects of surrogacy.

My Surrogacy Journey is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.