Brave & Curious with Dr Lora Shahine

What if the hardest part of your fertility journey isn't the medicine, it's affording the best treatment? How do you plan for IVF costs when coverage is unclear or incomplete? And is there a smarter, more supported way to navigate the financial stress of building a family? 
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Angela Rastegar, CEO and founder of Sunfish, joins Dr. Lora Shahine. They are honoring National Fertility Week through their conversation that explores the real cost of fertility care and why financial planning is just as critical as medical care.
Angela shares her deeply personal fertility journey, including multiple rounds of egg freezing without financial support, and how that experience led her to build a platform designed to support patients through every step of their family-building journey, from egg freezing and IVF to surrogacy. Dr. Shahine and Angela talk about the hidden gaps in insurance coverage, the rising reality of fertility-related debt, and how Sunfish's data-driven, AI-powered programs aim to reduce uncertainty with personalized care plans, cost transparency, and even financial protections for IVF and egg freezing outcomes.
In this episode you'll hear:
[0:34] Angela Rastegar's personal journey, without financial support
[3:28] Along comes Sunfish
[5:45] The IVF Success Program
[8:35] The hidden costs of IVF
[13:40] Common misconceptions with insurance coverage
[19:53] Step-by-step breakdown of cost
[23:01] Grants, loans, and creative solutions
[27:08] New AI-powered egg freezing program
[30:55]The "silent tax" of egg freezing
[37:00] Getting connected to Sunfish
Resources mentioned: 
joinsunfish.com
Sunfish provides personalized financial plans using proprietary software to estimate costs for each Program. If actual costs exceed projections, eligible patients may receive a partial refund under program terms. Sunfish is not a medical provider. Terms and conditions apply.
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
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This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

IVF is under fire. So, what happens when access to IVF is suddenly at risk? How much power should policy have over your ability to build a family? And what can one voice, or one story, really do to protect fertility care for millions? 
In this timely episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is joined by Danielle Melfi, the new CEO of RESOLVE, who brings a powerful blend of policy expertise, personal fertility experience, and a deep commitment to family-building equity. 
Airing at the start of National Infertility Awareness Week, Dr. Lora Shahine and Danielle are talking about the real-world impact of recent legislative threats to IVF, including the Alabama ruling that temporarily halted treatment. They explore how advocacy organizations mobilize quickly to protect patients. 
Danielle shares her own egg freezing journey, her background in government and healthcare advocacy, and how RESOLVE is working to expand access, improve patient education, and fight misinformation in an increasingly complex fertility landscape.
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:41] Meet Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE
[5:45] Why IVF Stopped in Alabama
[10:55] What RESOLVE Does
[14:15] Fertility Care Coverage in California and Recent Advocacy Wins
[19:29] The Power of Fertility Stories
[21:48] Restorative Reproductive Medicine Movement: A Threat in Disguise?
[23:12] Personhood Bills Explained
[36:55] RESOLVE's Strategic Plan
[38:31] Get Involved
 
Resources mentioned: 
resolve.org
@resolveorg on Instagram
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

What if your PCOS diagnosis is about more than fertility? What if the symptoms you've been told to "just manage" are actually your body asking for deeper support? And what if you could take back control in a way that feels empowering rather than restrictive?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with registered dietitian and author of PCOS is My Power Cory Ruth, RDN  to explain all about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and why it's often misunderstood. Cory shares her personal journey to diagnosis and how it shaped her mission to help women better understand the metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive components of PCOS. 
Dr. Shahine and Cory cover the diagnostic criteria, common misconceptions (like "just lose weight"), and the evolving science around lifestyle interventions, blood sugar regulation, and long-term health outcomes.
This episode will give listeners a clearer understanding of how to manage PCOS through sustainable nutrition, movement, and mindset shifts, without falling into restrictive or shame-based approaches. Cory's refreshing expertise helps us reframe PCOS as a potential catalyst for lifelong health—giving you the tools to feel informed, supported, and back in the driver's seat.
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:56] PCOS "triple threat": reproductive, metabolic, & hormonal
[5:40] Cory Ruth's personal journey
[8:01] Early signs of PCOS
[11:43] The Rotterdam criteria
[17:33] PCOS is a weight issue: MYTH
[19:09] Nutrition is the foundation of PCOS management
[22:24] Simple, realistic meal ideas to support PCOS
[31:25] Intermittent fasting & PCOS
[34:27] Mental health & PCOS
[37:35] Long-term risks of PCOS
[40:10] Sustainable lifestyle changes that actually work
[43:05] Reframing PCOS as an opportunity for lifelong health
 
Resources mentioned: 
www.thewomensdietitian.com
@thewomensdietition on Instagram

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Are you struggling with unexplained infertility and wondering if endometriosis could be the missing piece? Have you been told that surgery is the only way to get a diagnosis? What if a simple test could offer answers without going into the operating room? 
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes guest Dr. Bruce Lessey, a double board certified OBGYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist with decades of research experience and over 150 peer-reviewed publications. Together they explore a groundbreaking question in reproductive medicine: can we diagnose endometriosis without invasive surgery?
Dr. Lessey and Dr. Shahine explain the science behind BCL6 testing, a biomarker found in the uterine lining that may signal inflammation linked to endometriosis. Dr. Lessey also shares how this research evolved from studying implantation markers to developing a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool, and why timing in the menstrual cycle is critical for accurate results. 
They also discuss the realities of delayed diagnosis, the connection between endometriosis and unexplained infertility, and how this test is already being used in clinical settings.
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:21] Meet Dr. Bruce Lessey
[4:27] Why does diagnosing endometriosis take years?
[7:16] Introducing BCL6 testing
[16:20] Timing the biopsy window
[22:51] IVF outcomes study
[25:42] Fresh vs. frozen transfers
[27:22] Treating expected endometriosis
[28:44] Lupron and surgery explained
[30:42] BCL6 in recurrent pregnancy loss and recurrent implantation failure
[33:04] Progesterone resistance and benefits of letrozole
[40:48] Timing and testing pitfalls
[43:02] Future research and wrap up
Resources mentioned: 
Overexpression in Eutopic Endometrium of Women With Endometriosis. doi: 10.1177/1933719116649711.  
Endometrial BCL6 testing for the prediction of in vitro fertilization outcomes: a cohort study. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.09.017.  
Unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss and unexplained infertility: twins in disguise. doi: 10.1093/hropen/hoz021.  
This episode is sponsored by Cicero Diagnostics.
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

What if inflammation is quietly affecting your fertility? What if the key to improving egg quality and hormonal balance isn't just medical treatment, but the everyday choices you make? And what if understanding your body earlier could change your entire fertility journey? 
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes fertility specialist Dr. Natalie Crawford to explore how inflammation influences reproductive health and what women can do to support fertility from the inside out.
Dr. Natalie Crawford is the author of The Fertility Formula, and she is here to share how her own experience with infertility and pregnancy loss shaped her passion for empowering patients with science-based fertility education. 
Together, she and Dr. Shahine discuss the growing role of chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, environmental exposures, and lifestyle factors in fertility challenges. Dr. Crawford explains why fertility medicine often reacts too late in the process and why understanding hormones, ovarian reserve, and reproductive health earlier can help people advocate for themselves and make informed decisions.
In this episode you'll hear:
[2:32] Dr. Natalie Crawford's fertility journey
[7:00] Chronic inflammation and fertility
[20:59] Insulin resistance impacts hormones, ovulation, & egg quality
[26:34] The connection between stress, cortisol, and fertility outcomes
[28:09] Sleep is an important fertility-supporting habit
[32:41] Strength training to improve hormone health
[41:23] Nutrition basics that work
[48:25] Dr. Crawford's framework: Educate, Advocate, Optimize
[54:26] Connecting with Natalie

Resources mentioned: 
nataliecrawfordmd.com
As A Woman Podcast
@nataliecrawfordmd Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube
 
Ep 157 Why Sleep is the Most Powerful Habit You Can't Ignore with Dr. Meredith Broderick



Dr. Shahine's Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.