becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation

Sometimes the best love stories begin with a mutual friend’s introduction. 💛Kevin and Aaron unknowingly crossed paths years ago in overlapping social circles, but fate—and a well-timed introduction—finally set the stage for something lasting. Eleven years of dating, four years of marriage, and now, the joy of fatherhood. Their path to building a family wasn’t traditional, and that’s exactly what makes it worth sharing.In this episode, Kevin and Aaron open up about their decision to adopt, the emotional and logistical realities of working with Beginnings Family Services, and what it’s been like watching their daughter grow these last 8 months. We’re also joined by Bethany from Beginnings Family Services, who demystifies how matches are made, walks us through the agency’s process, and shares what prospective parents often overlook in their early planning stages.Whether you’re actively mapping out an adoption journey, quietly wondering if it’s right for you, or just looking for real, unfiltered stories about modern family building, this conversation is packed with actionable advice and hard-won wisdom.🎧 Listen now and leave us a review if this episode helps you feel one step closer to your own family dreams.🔗 Learn more about Beginnings Family Services: https://www.beginnings.ca/ 📸 Follow Beginnings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beginningsfamilyservices/

There’s a strength in Rob Scheer that hits you the moment you meet him — a grounded, genuine kindness that radiates through everything he does. Twenty-one years ago, that same warmth caught the eye of his husband, Reece, at a chance meeting in a bar. Back then, they were navigating very different chapters of life, but one dream was already taking root: they both knew they wanted to build a family.That dream took shape in the most profound way when Rob and Reece opened their home to foster care adoption. While Rob had experienced the system himself as a child, carrying his few possessions in a worn-out trash bag, it was Reese who gently nudged him toward adoption, recognizing the stability and love he could offer. Today, they’re proud parents to five, beautiful, grown children.Rob’s personal history fuels a relentless mission: to restore dignity to every child navigating the foster care system. As founder and CEO of Comfort Cases, he’s replaced those symbolic trash bags with carefully packed backpacks filled with essentials, comfort, and hope. Through his advocacy, keynote speaking, and initiatives like the Pathways Program and Hope Scholarship, Rob is actively reshaping how society supports youth aging out of care — helping them access education, build independence, and step into futures full of possibility.In this episode, we sit down with Rob to talk about love, fatherhood, the unexpected turns that led to their family, and the vital work of Comfort Cases. Tune in to hear how one man’s past is powering a movement for millions of foster youth.🔗 Learn more about Comfort Cases: comfortcases.org | @comfortcases on IG🔗 Learn about the TV episode Rob discusses: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9055320/ (Episode 6) - I found clips on YouTube!🔗 Follow Rob: @rob_scheer on Instagram | scheerfocus.com 

Today we’re stepping outside the usual mould. While most of my guests have been fellow members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, this episode features Stephanie Martin of Be Parent Surrogacy—a professional whose mission is dedicated to supporting queer hopeful and intended parents on their surrogacy journeys. Having personally navigated the intended parent pathway herself, Stephanie brings a rare dual perspective: lived experience paired with frontline consultancy work across Mexico, Colombia, and Cyprus.We unpack the full intended parent journey from the first inquiry to embryo transfer. We dive into evolving legal landscapes, the critical importance of emotional support, navigating donor gamete selection, realistic timelines, and passport considerations for cross-border care. And yes, we tackle the elephant in the room: cost. Because every surrogacy is uniquely structured, we skip rigid numbers and focus on the variables that actually drive pricing, helping intended parents make informed, confident decisions while building their families.Whether you’re exploring surrogacy, advising hopeful parents, or simply curious about how modern consultancy is reshaping the landscape, this conversation offers grounded, practical insights.Key Takeaways: • The evolution of the intended parent experience in modern surrogacy • Legal frameworks, emotional support, and donor gamete navigation • Cross-border care: passport considerations & clinic selection • Breaking down the cost variables without one-size-fits-all estimates • How intended parents make confident, personalized decisionsResources Mentioned: https://beparentsurrogacy.comFind them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beparent_surrogacy/

What starts as scroll-stopping posts can quietly become the foundation of a family. In this episode, we sit down with Jen and Karina—two women who connected through social media long before they ever shared a room. A connection that began as a DM - or two - about having coffee in San Diego turned into a shared realization: becoming a parent wasn’t just a dream for either of them. It was a non-negotiable.Instead of compromising, they leaned into alignment. Today, they’re raising a beautiful baby boy, scaling their brand Mami Mafia faster than they ever imagined, and proving that intentional connections—both personal and professional—can build legacies.In this conversation, you’ll discover: • How a chance social media interaction sparked a life-changing friendship • Why “wanting to parent” became their ultimate filter for partnership and business • The life-altering shifts that helped them launch Mami Mafia and watch it grow overnight Whether you’re navigating fertility, planning for parenthood, or exploring how friendships can evolve into co-creation, this episode is a masterclass in intentionality, trust, and building a life that actually fits your values.Links & Resources 🌐 Find Mami Mafia: https://www.mami-mafia.com📸 Follow Jen & Karina: https://www.instagram.com/mamimafiasd/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@jen.and.kari

Sometimes the most intentional choices begin with the most unexpected moments. In this episode, we sit down with Brian and Jason, a husband-and-dad duo whose story starts on the floor of a political convention in 2009. What began as a chance encounter quickly turned into a grounded friendship, a surprise engagement in 2015, and a wedding in 2016. But their real adventure was just beginning.Together, they navigated two completely different adoption journeys—each with its own timelines, paperwork, and emotional pivots—and welcomed their children, Sydney and Boston, into their lives.Along the way, they documented the remodel of their family home, their path to parenthood and what their daily life looks like and they do it with raw honesty and sometimes a dash of humour, building a beloved Instagram community (@dadsbydesign) that celebrates queer family life, adoption transparency, and the beautiful chaos of modern dadhood.What You’ll Hear • How a chance meeting at a political event sparked a lifelong partnership • The reality of two very different adoption processes—and what they taught them about patience and advocacy • Balancing public storytelling with private family boundaries • Practical wisdom for 2SLGBTQIA+ parents and prospective adoptive families • Why “designing” your family takes courage, flexibility, and a whole lot of heartWhether you’re navigating your own path to parenthood, supporting a loved one through adoption, or simply looking for a story that celebrates unconventional love, this episode will stick with you.Listen & Connect 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform. 📸 Follow Brian & Jason on Instagram: @dadsbydesign

Emma and Julianna both knew, early on, that they wanted to become parents. But wanting a family and building one are two different things — and for a while, the how stayed unspoken. Julianna pictured adoption but wasn't sure it was their path; Emma quietly hoped she would one day carry a child herself.Then, on a rainy drive to the cottage in the early days of Covid, things shifted and they conversation evolved. This discussion sparked a decision, and from there, Emma and Julianna began mapping out the road ahead — the choices, the hopes, and the plans that would shape their family.With the help of a known donor, they welcomed a beautiful baby boy. Their path to parenthood unfolded exactly the way it needed to.In this episode, we talk about:The conversation that shifted everything from "someday" to "now"Navigating the decision between adoption and carryingChoosing donor-assisted family building — and what that choice meant to themHow that conversation shaped their timeline and their plansWhat it feels like to finally hold the family you dreamed ofThis episode is for educational and storytelling purposes and is not medical or legal advice.

For many of us, there’s an almost automatic assumption that when we become parents, we’ll do it with a partner. We rarely begin the journey thinking, I want to do this my way — and I think I want to do it on my own.Zoë did.She knew from the beginning that becoming a parent was something she wanted to experience on her own terms. She also knew she wanted to have two very different experiences of becoming a parent: pregnancy and birth, and adoption.For Zoë, pregnancy wasn’t necessarily about having a biological connection to a child. It was about wanting to know what it felt like to grow and bring another human being into the world. And because she wasn’t sure how pregnancy would affect her body, she felt that if she was going to experience pregnancy and birth, she wanted to do it before pursuing adoption.Her path took her through both IUI and IVF. And as that process was winding down, Zoë began looking more closely at the foster care system.What followed was a family-building journey that took years — and eventually brought her to five-week-old twins who were in foster care.Fast forward to today, and those tiny babies are now three-year-old boys who Zoë officially adopted in August 2026.Her story is a beautiful reminder that there is no single blueprint for becoming a parent. Sometimes the path we imagine at the beginning changes completely along the way. Sometimes family arrives through a combination of paths we never expected. And sometimes the most important part is simply knowing that you get to decide what your journey to parenthood looks like.You can follow Zoë and her family on Instagram at @the_colorful_kelletts.

Ariana dreamed of being a mom since she was a little girl — and as a queer woman, she always knew that path might not be simple. In this episode, we talk with Ariana about the two very different roads she's walked to build her family.Ariana's journey began when she partnered with a woman who also wanted to be a parent. Her partner didn't want to carry a pregnancy, but she did want a genetic connection to the child, which led them to reciprocal IVF (RIVF). It's a beautiful option, but not an inexpensive one — Ariana walks us through the months of research it took to find a fertility clinic whose payment plan let them delay payments until after their son was born.After their son arrived, Ariana's relationship broke down — but she knew her family-building journey wasn't finished. She felt called to adopt a child who needed a home, and set out on an entirely different path: working with child protective services, completing the required courses, home studies, and casework to apply through the umbrella foster-to-adopt program.Five months ago, a two-month-old baby boy was placed in Ariana's care. Now, as they wait for the courts to complete their due diligence, Ariana is holding onto hope that by the end of his first year, she'll be able to call herself his mother — formally and legally.This is a story about persistence, about the many forms family can take, and about what it means to keep showing up for the dream you've had since childhood.In this episode:Growing up queer and dreaming of motherhoodChoosing reciprocal IVF (RIVF) as a path to parenthoodNavigating the cost and logistics of fertility treatmentFinding a clinic with a payment plan built for real familiesLife after a relationship ends but the dream doesn'tFoster-to-adopt: the courses, casework, and waitingHoping for a legal, forever "mom" title within the first yearResources mentioned:Fertility clinic: CNY Fertility https://www.cnyfertility.comConnect with Ariana: Follow her family's story on TikTok @a_dennis21

How many times have you heard someone say they want to fall in love with their best friend? For Sydney and Brit, that wasn't just a wish — it's their real life.In this episode, we sit down with Sydney, who first met Brit in high school when their overlapping friend groups brought them together. What started as friendship deepened into something much bigger when they decided to spend their gap year exploring the world together before college. By the time they came home, they were, forever both changed and connected.Life pulled them apart geographically — Brit headed to school on the west coast, Sydney to the east — but it didn't take long for Sydney to realize her small liberal arts community wasn't the right fit. She packed up, moved home, and within months, she and Brit finally admitted what had been building between them all along.From there, things moved fast in the best way. By their second date, they'd already mapped out a shared dream: four kids. Turns out mother nature had other plans — the two of them ended up with four children and a bonus fifth, like a little gift with purchase.Today, Sydney and Brit are raising their beautifully dynamic family and sharing their story with the world on Instagram at @thesharonmoms. Tune in to hear how a high school friendship turned into a lifelong love story — and a family five kids strong.In this episode:How Sydney and Brit's friendship first formed in high schoolWhy they chose to spend a gap year traveling togetherThe turning point that brought them back to each otherFalling in love with your best friend — and what that really looks likePlanning a family of four... and getting fiveBuilding a beautifully dynamic, blended family lifeConnect with Sydney & Brit: Follow their family's story on Instagram @thesharonmoms

Sometimes the path to parenthood begins with a swipe right.Jake and Mike first connected online through social media. They worked in similar professions and had initially followed one another simply to see how the other approached their work. Then, in 2019, they matched—and swiped right.The rest, as they say, is history.When the pandemic arrived, COVID brought them together under one roof much earlier than they might otherwise have planned. It turns out, though, that they were exactly where they were meant to be. Years later, they're still together, stronger than ever, and building the family they had always dreamed about.Once they were married, Jake and Mike began researching the many different ways they could become parents. Adoption quickly emerged as the path that felt right for them, and they jumped in with both feet.But their journey was anything but simple.There were incredible highs and devastating lows. And then came three long weeks that brought every adoptive parent's worst nightmare to life.And then… a miracle.Today, Jake and Mike are a family of three. And as of July 2026, it is officially official: these two beautiful humans are proud dads to their son.In this episode of becoming babyREADY, Jake and Mike share the very real, emotional and ultimately joyful story of how they became parents. Their journey is a powerful reminder that family-building doesn't always follow a predictable path—and that sometimes, after the hardest chapters, comes the most extraordinary one of all.They also talk about Connecting Hearts, an organization that played a role in their journey and may be a valuable resource for others considering adoption. https://www.connectingheartsadoption.comAnd if you'd like to follow along as this family continues to blossom and grow, find Jake and Mike on Instagram at @twofloridadads