Shows / becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation
"becoming babyREADY" is a Queer-centred podcast exploring the journeys of 2SLGBTQIA+ family creation. Through conversations with Queer parents and professionals, we dive into what it takes to build intentional families — from legal and financial prep to emotional support and hands-on care. Rooted in Canada and reaching around the world, these stories offer insight, inspiration, and community for anyone growing their family with pride.
Episodes
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationDads by Choice: Kevin and Aaron - Navigating the Adoption Process Together
Sometimes the best love stories begin with a mutual friend’s introduction. 💛 Kevin and Aaron unknowingly crossed paths years ago in overlapping social circles…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationFrom Trash Bags to Backpacks: Restoring Dignity in Foster Care with Rob Scheer
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…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationThe Business of Building Family: Law, Cost & Emotion in Surrogacy with Stephanie Martin of Be Parent
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…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationWhen Online Connections Become Life Partners, Parents & Creative business collaborators
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…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationDesigned by Love: Two Dads, Two Adoptions, One Unstoppable Family
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…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationTwo Moms, One Storm, and a Baby Boy - Emma & Julianna's Path to Parenthood
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…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationShe Knew She’d Become a Mom — Just Not How - a conversation with Zoë Kellett
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…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationBecoming Mom, Twice Over: Ariana's Journey Through RIVF and Foster-to-Adopt
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…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationFrom Best Friends to Best Life: Sydney & Brit's Journey to Building Their Family
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…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationThree Weeks of Heartbreak, One Miracle: The Journey to Becoming Dads - a conversation with Jake and Mike
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…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationLove, Family & the Unexpected Twists Along the Way - a chat with Lisa Boccuzzi
When Lisa met Ali in 2013, she was simply taking a class that Ali was teaching. What began as a friendship would grow into a partnership, a marriage, and…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationThe Very Best Part: 18 Queer Parents Share What They Love Most About Parenting
What’s your favourite part of being a parent? It’s a question I ask at the end of every episode of becoming babyREADY — and this week, I decided to bring some…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationPerimenopause Isn't Just About Midlife—It's a Fertility Conversation (with Dr. Sheila Dyer, ND) Too
At first glance, a conversation about perimenopause might seem like an unexpected topic for a podcast dedicated to family building. But as you'll discover in…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationThe Postpartum Gap: Why Queer Families Need More Support, a conversation with Slade Riverfield
From the moment you begin speaking with Slade, it's clear that compassion, respect, and a genuine commitment to caring for others are at the heart of…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationFrom Military Life to Storytime: Jessica Trammell's Journey to Family, Creativity & Blast Off, Eleanor
Being a 2SLGBTQIA+ family in the military can be incredibly hard — especially when you're constantly trying to "find your village” and rebuild your network…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationA Dad, an Adoption Story & a Book That Helps Kids Feel Seen: a discussion with Ian Duncan
By their second date, Ian and Danny were already talking about something big: they both dreamed of becoming fathers. For Ian, that dream of fatherhood would…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationKate McMahon: Three Kids. One Ex-Spouse. Countless Lessons About Family.
When Kate begins sharing her family-building story, you might think you know where it's headed. But like so many Queer family journeys, this one doesn't follow…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationEmpowering Queer Families with Tom Tracy
What a way to celebrate 150 episodes of becoming babyREADY — with none other than Tom Tracy joining me for this milestone conversation! Today we're diving into…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation"One and Complete": Nick & Steven's Journey to Fatherhood Through Surrogacy
That first cry you hear from your newborn in the operating theatre — after your surrogate delivers via caesarean on your behalf — is a moment that marks your…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationBuilding Community, One Connection at a Time: Megan's Journey from Pandemic Parenting to Gay Moms Club
When Megan and her wife first got together in 2012, parenthood wasn't immediately part of the plan. After building a strong foundation and settling into…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationAgainst All Odds: One NICU Dad's Journey Through Premature Birth, Pride, and Parenthood
What happens when you're thrown into parenthood when an unexpected baby arrives 10 weeks early? August didn't wait to find out. When his daughter arrived…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationSemper Forward: Ashley Christman's Battle Through Cancer, Service, and Motherhood
What happens when a decorated Marine officer — who has faced deployments, cross-country moves, and the fight for the right to marry the woman she loves —…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationLove Is the Director: Sheldon Larry's Journey to Fatherhood
What happens when a world-travelling filmmaker decides the most important story he'll ever tell is the one happening at home? Sheldon Larry has spent decades…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationSwiped Right, Moved States: How One Man's Bold Relocation Sparked a Love Story for the Ages
What happens when you match with someone incredible on Hinge — but they live in a completely different state? For Oscar, the answer was heartbreak... until it…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationFrom Tinder Match to Two Kids: Shawn & Tyler's Beautiful Journey to Parenthood
What started with a swipe became a love story for the ages. Shawn and Tyler met on Tinder during the chaos of Covid — and from the very beginning, they just…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationMoney, Identity & Building Wealth on Your Own Terms — With Parisa Pajooh of Diverse Wealth
Talking about money is uncomfortable. Planning for your financial future? Even more so. But here's the truth: for those of us in the queer community, financial…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationFrom 'Maybe Baby' to Malcolm: One Dad's Journey Through Love, Advocacy & Running for Office
What does it look like when love becomes legacy? Jamie McGonnigal's story is proof that the most powerful families are built with intention — and a whole lot…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationFrom Classrooms Across the World to Building a Family: Danny Neville on Love, Surrogacy, and Writing Books That Matter
What happens when a globetrotting teacher finds love between adventures? Pure magic — and a story worth telling. Danny Neville's life reads like the kind of…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationFrom Decision to Dadhood: Nate & Jason's Adoption Journey
By the time Nate and Jason knew they wanted to become parents, one thing was already clear — adoption was their path. But choosing how to adopt is its own…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationWhen Everything Changes: Coming Out Late, Co-Parenting, and Protecting Your Peace - with Dr. Lorri Sulpizio PART 2
What happens when you finally live your truth — but your truth comes with a marriage, kids, and a whole family dynamic that now needs to shift? In this deeply…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation"Fighting for Family: Queer Parenthood, Legal Battles & the Love That Built It All" with Dr. Lorri Sulpizio
This is the first of two powerful conversations with the incredible Dr. Lorri Sulpizio — and we are diving in. From blended families to birth certificates…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation"We Knew By Date Two": How Michael & Andrew Built Their Family Through Foster Care and Adoption
Some couples take years to talk about kids. Michael and Andrew needed exactly two dates. From the moment they knew they had a future together, becoming parents…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationPotholes & Possibilities: Melissa & Vanessa's Road to Family
Sometimes the road to building a family is anything but straight — and Melissa Torres knows that better than most. In this deeply moving episode, Melissa opens…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationDada Takes A Trip: How a Secret Service Agent Wrote His Son a Love Letter at 30,000 Feet
What do you do when your job takes you away from the little person who needs you most? If you're Cory Allen, you write them a book. Cory has spent 25 years…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationBorn With Love: Sarah & Emily’s Birth Story (Part Two)
⚠️ Content note: This episode includes a frank, detailed discussion of childbirth and the postpartum recovery period. If graphic descriptions of the birthing…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationFrom Vows to Viability: Emily & Sarah's Journey to Parenthood (Part One)
What does it really look like to build a family through fertility treatments — from the inside? In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with Emily and…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationWhen the Dream Doesn't Come Easy: Grief, Family, and Finding Your Way Through
Let's be real — when you're dreaming of building your family and things aren't going the way you hoped, it doesn't matter how many times someone says "you're…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationAgainst All Odds: One Father's Journey to Expand His Family Through Armenian Surrogacy
Imagine wanting to give your eight-year-old child a sibling, only to discover that door after door slams in your face. For many prospective parents over a…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationRaising Children in a Terrifying World: Why Turning Off the News Might Be the Most Radical Parenting Move You'll Make
We are living in a time where headlines feel heavier than ever — rising hate, political division, threats to bodily autonomy, attacks on Queer and marginalized…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationWhen the Second Time Isn’t Easier: A Queer Family’s Birth Story
At first glance, it looked like a postcard moment: two moms cuddled up on the couch, a newborn wrapped in blankets, love absolutely everywhere. And that’s…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationQueer Fertility, PCOS, and Holding Hope: Michelle & Lisa’s Family-Building Journey
Content Note / Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of fertility challenges, medical complications, pregnancy loss, and barriers to family…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationInternational Surrogacy, Pregnancy Loss, and Becoming Gay Dads: Heitor & Wayne’s Story
Sometimes family begins with timing, courage, and a leap into the unknown. Nearly 15 years ago, fate brought Heitor and Wayne together when Heitor relocated to…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationEthical Egg Donation and the Right to Know: Why Identity-Affirming Family Creation Matters
Today on the podcast, we’re joined once again by Christina Alicea — a familiar and deeply valued voice in conversations around fertility, donation, and ethical…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation✨ becoming babyREADY: A year of stories. A world of families. ✨
In this special reflective episode of becoming babyREADY, Sam looks back on the conversations that shaped 2025 — a year defined by courage, complexity, and…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationA Love That Found Its Way: Honouring Bret Shuford
There are many ways to build a family with the support of a surrogate. Some people work with agencies; others move forward independently. Some are supported by…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationFinding Love, Family, and Home — Jess Walker’s Story on the becoming babyREADY podcast
When you move thousands of miles away, start over in a new city, and finally find friends who feel like home, life starts to click into place. For Jess Walker…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationParenting by Three: A Queer Co-Parenting Story with Dr. Markus Harwood-Jones on the becoming babyREADY podcast
What happens when three adults choose to build and raise a family together—under one roof, sharing every joy, challenge, and decision equally? This week, we’re…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationMany things in life can be true at once - Logan Blackburn-Issitt chats with becoming babyREADY
Many things in life can be true at the same time. You can have a uterus and know you never want to use it to give birth. You can know deep in your soul that…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationBuilding Families in Ireland: Seamus’ Journey to Parenthood and Advocacy
🎙️ After Seamus and his husband got married, they set out on a journey familiar to so many queer couples — figuring out how to build their family. What began…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationReproductive Law, Rights, and Reform with Sara Cohen on the becoming babyREADY podcast
When it comes to family creation, the legal side can feel overwhelming — but Toronto-based fertility lawyer Sara Cohen has made it her mission to change that…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationStef Vachon of "Together Moving Forward" chats with becoming babyREADY
A Divine Future — Stef Vachon’s Journey to Fatherhood ✨ Sometimes, you hold onto the dream of becoming a parent… until the years pass and you gently let that…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationJameel Mayers of Fathernetics chats with becoming babyREADY
Meet Jameel—a dad, podcaster, author, and all-around powerhouse. He and his husband Nicholas have been together for 22 years, and eight years ago, they began…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationRowan & Dani of Understory Cafe chat with becoming babyREADY
✨ Chances are Rowan Jette Knox + Dani Gaede have already touched your Queer life — through their words, their work, or their fierce advocacy. I had the honour…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationAuthor Allison Olson chats with becoming babyREADY
✨ What happens when you’re both an adoptee and an adoptive parent? You gain a powerful perspective — one that can challenge, reshape, and rewrite the…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationAuthor Kirsty Loehr chats with becoming babyREADY
✨ Life has a way of sparking the most wonderful things. ✨ Take Kirsty Loehr for example 👇 A chance to study creative writing abroad inspired her first book, A…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationSharon Leya of "My Donor Story" chats with becoming babyREADY
✨ The journey to parenthood is rarely simple — and for single/solo parents by choice, it’s often a whole other level of complex. While there are beautiful…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationGail, Lalita & Katherine chat with becoming babyREADY
✨ Today I’m so excited to share the brilliance of editor Gail Schwarz and two of her powerful contributors, Lalita and Katherine — just a few of the many…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationCristina & Adriana chat with becoming babyREADY
🌍✈️ If you love Queer joy, globe-trotting adventures, and heartwarming family vibes — you need to follow @loveislovearoundtheworld 💕✨ Cristina & Adriana have…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationDavid Morgenstern from Gaddies chats with becoming babyREADY
Becoming a gay parent can feel incredibly isolating. How do you find other gay dads? Where’s the sense of community? And why does it often feel like nothing in…
becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & CreationNess Dixon chats with becoming babyREADY
Midwifery care looks vastly different depending on where you are in the world—and even from one region to another. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Ness…