Fertility Cafe

What does it mean to consciously choose not to have children, especially in a culture that often defines womanhood by motherhood?

In this episode of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane welcomes back filmmaker Chiquita Lockley, creator of the documentary Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility. This time, Chiquita shares her personal journey and decision to live childfree by choice. It is a thoughtful, often emotional, and deeply grounded conversation about identity, legacy, caregiving, and the path not taken.

With clarity and compassion, Chiquita speaks about what it means to opt out of motherhood on her own terms, while still living a life rich in love, purpose, and community. The conversation invites listeners to reflect honestly on their own desires, pressures, and timelines.

Whether you are questioning your path, navigating reproductive decisions, or seeking affirmation for a choice that goes against the grain, this episode offers space to breathe and consider what a full life looks like for you.

You’ll Learn

What distinguishes being childfree from being childless, and why the difference matters

How Chiquita’s thinking shifted over time through research, health challenges, and aging

The emotional weight of redefining motherhood and letting go of a lifelong checklist

Why caregiving does not require parenting, and how mentorship and godparenting fill her cup

What legacy means beyond biological children

Common misconceptions about childfree women, including the myth of selfishness

Practical and emotional advice for those in a space of uncertainty or transition

About Our Guest

Chiquita Lockley is a writer, filmmaker, and producer known for her feature documentary Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility, which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Her work centers on storytelling that uplifts Black women’s experiences and expands the public understanding of reproductive health and autonomy.

She continues to serve as a mentor, advocate, and board chair for multiple nonprofit and creative initiatives. Her voice is a vital part of the cultural shift toward more inclusive and informed conversations about fertility, family, and freedom.

Resources & Links

Visit Chiquita’s Website: www.chiquitalockley.com
Follow Chiquita on Instagram: @chiquitalockley

Watch and learn more about Eggs Over Easy: www.eggsovereasyfilm.com
Follow Eggs Over Easy on Instagram: @eggsovereasyfilm
Like Eggs Over Easy on Facebook: Eggs Over Easy Film

Related Episodes

Ep 119 – The Grief of Waiting: Invisible Losses in Family Building
Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood

Chapters

(00:00:02) - 9 Stories of People Who Choose Not to Have Children
(00:00:54) - Fertility Cafe: The Journey to Parenthood
(00:02:44) - Eggs Over Easy: Will I Be Happy With My Decision
(00:09:00) - Mariah Carey on Being Good Without Having Children
(00:11:22) - I Had A Hysterectomy To Have Kids
(00:16:45) - How To Get Out Of Your Mid-30s
(00:22:41) - When You Decided To Not Have Children,
(00:25:44) - I Said I Don't Want A Parent in My Life
(00:32:24) - Black Women Who Don't Have Kids
(00:36:51) - Do you have a lot of People similar to that made the same
(00:38:32) - Sarah Fawn on Legacy
(00:40:20) - Kalei Stewart on How To Decide If You Want Kids
(00:44:56) - Olive Winfrey on Reproductive Health
(00:45:57) - Black Women Speak Out About Reproductive Health

When we talk about fertility care, we often focus on the patient experience—what it’s like to navigate appointments, insurance, cycles, and emotional ups and downs. But what happens when we zoom out?

In this episode of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane sits down with Griffin Jones, founder of Inside Reproductive Health, to explore what’s really happening behind the scenes of the fertility industry. From private equity takeovers to digital automation and AI-driven care, Griffin breaks down the trends shaping the future of IVF, patient access, and provider autonomy.

He also shares how he went from generalist marketer in Buffalo, NY to creating the leading trade media company in the fertility field—one that now serves clinics, labs, executives, and innovators across the globe.

Whether you’re a fertility patient, donor, surrogate, or someone working in the industry, this conversation offers a rare and honest look at the systems shaping reproductive care—and what needs to change for the better.

You’ll Learn

Why more fertility clinics are being bought by private equity—and what that means for patient care

What Griffin is hearing from behind the scenes about AI, automation, and remote fertility care

The disconnect between how clinics say they’re improving patient experience vs. what’s actually happening

Why many REIs (reproductive endocrinologists) are seeing their roles change—sometimes drastically

The risk of fertility care becoming too "factory-like"—and how to preserve patient-first care at scale

What Griffin hopes patients will start doing to drive real, lasting change

Why leaving honest, specific reviews (yes, even 3 stars!) might be the most powerful tool for reform

What the future may hold for access, affordability, and scaling care for everyone—not just the privileged few

About Our Guest

Griffin Jones is the founder of Inside Reproductive Health, a trade media company serving the fertility industry. He began his journey in marketing, helping small clinics with branding, websites, and video before expanding into podcasting and industry journalism. Today, his platform covers the business, clinical, and policy trends shaping reproductive health care across the U.S. and beyond.

Griffin also hosts the Inside Reproductive Health podcast, where he interviews key players—from embryologists and clinic execs to policymakers and startup founders—about the future of fertility medicine.

Resources & Links

Visit Inside Reproductive Health for podcasts, articles, and industry updates

Listen to the Inside Reproductive Health podcast

Follow Griffin on LinkedIn: Griffin Jones

Related Episodes

Ep 100 – The Gut-Fertility Connection

Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood

Ep 90 – Eastern Medicine and Egg Quality

Ep 103 – Fertility Supplements: What Works and What Doesn’t

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The fertility industry's growth, challenges
(00:00:48) - Fertility Cafe: The Business of Infertility
(00:01:59) - Fertility Cafe
(00:02:45) - A Taste of Your Hot Takes
(00:02:57) - Inside Reproductive Health: From Marketer to Industry Leader
(00:06:24) - The Future of Fertility Clinics
(00:13:35) - Obamacare: Do the Networks Tell Doctors How to Practice Medicine?
(00:18:17) - Patient Care: Quality and Accountability
(00:23:54) - The Future of Fertility Care
(00:26:34) - Will Remote Care Increase the Need for IVF?
(00:29:56) - Venture Capital and Private Equity: The Future of Infertility
(00:36:13) - What Do We Need to Change in the Fertility Space?

When it comes to fertility care, we often hear about IVF protocols, medication regimens, and surgical procedures. But what about the tools that help prepare the body for conception and support healing along the way?

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise Drane sits down with Dr. Beck Hoehn, licensed acupuncturist, reproductive health expert, and founder of Mighty River Wellness, to talk about how acupuncture can be a game-changing part of your fertility journey.

Dr. Hoehn shares how her own personal health crisis led her into the world of Eastern medicine, and how she now helps people optimize their hormone health, support IVF cycles, manage painful periods, and navigate menopause with more ease and empowerment.

From egg quality and low ovarian reserve to painful periods and PCOS, this conversation is packed with practical insights and refreshingly honest takes on what it really means to care for your body while trying to conceive.

You’ll Learn

Why acupuncture is more than just needles and how it supports hormonal balance, stress reduction, and blood flow

How acupuncture can improve IVF outcomes, egg quality, and follicular development

The difference between Western and Eastern approaches to painful periods, PCOS, and endometriosis

What to expect during your first acupuncture visit

How to find a fertility-focused acupuncturist with the right training

The role of herbal medicine in regulating cycles, calming hot flashes, and reducing cramps

What data-driven hormone tracking tools are helping acupuncturists personalize care

Why symptom relief is just the beginning. This is about whole-body support for every phase of reproductive health

About Our Guest

Dr. Beck Hoehn is a licensed acupuncturist, reproductive health specialist, and the founder of Mighty River Wellness in Los Angeles. After a career in the film industry and a personal injury that left her seeking alternative healing methods, she discovered the profound impact of acupuncture.

Now, with a doctorate in fertility research and over a decade of clinical experience, Dr. Hoehn helps individuals and couples navigate fertility challenges, menstrual health, and menopause transitions. She is also the creator of the Make a Baby Bundle, an educational resource for those looking to optimize their fertility health from home.

Resources and Links

Mighty River Wellness: https://www.mightyriverwellness.com

Dr. Beck on Instagram: @drbeckhoehn

Make a Baby Bundle Course: https://www.mightyriverwellness.com/bundle

ABORM Certified Acupuncturists Directory: https://www.aborm.org

Related Episodes

Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-118-surrogacy-and-the-emotional-journey-to-motherhood/

Ep 103 – Fertility Supplements: What Works and What Doesn’t
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-103-fertility-supplements-what-works-and-what-doesnt/

Ep 100 – The Gut-Fertility Connection
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-100-the-gut-fertility-connection/

Ep 90 – Eastern Medicine and Egg Quality
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-90-eastern-medicine-and-egg-quality/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
(00:00:45) - Amy Poehler on Acupuncture and Reproductive Health
(00:03:55) - What Kind of Support Can Acupuncture Offer During IVF or i
(00:07:21) - What Would An Acupuncturist-Endocrinologist Relationship
(00:12:17) - How Herbs and Acupuncture Work Together
(00:15:46) - How to help with period cramps with acupuncture
(00:19:45) - How to improve your fertility with acupuncture?
(00:21:06) - How to Supplement Your Body
(00:22:00) - Do acupuncturists help with low ovarian reserve?
(00:27:39) - How to Manage Menopause
(00:32:01) - How to Get pregnant
(00:33:04) - Wonders of the World Chat

Surrogacy is often talked about as a beautiful and rewarding journey, but what happens when that journey takes an unexpected turn?

In this episode, Eloise Drane sits down with Pamela Marshall, a gestational surrogate whose experience challenged everything she thought she knew about pregnancy, risk, and resilience.

Pam shares her deeply personal story of entering surrogacy with excitement and confidence, only to face a rare and serious medical complication that changed the course of her pregnancy. From being hospitalized for weeks to navigating separation from her own children, her journey reveals the emotional and physical realities that many never see.

Pam explains what carried her through the hardest moments and why, despite everything, she would make the same decision again. This conversation offers an unfiltered look at the realities of surrogacy and the extraordinary people who choose to walk this path.

Guest Bio:

Pamela Marshall is a mom of 3 boys, living in Pennsylvania and she is a licensed social worker. She has been a surrogate and loves helping build families! She is also currently a journey manager at Family Inceptions.

You’ll hear about:

Why Pam chose to become a surrogate

What happens when a pregnancy becomes high risk

Being hospitalized for weeks away from family

The emotional toll of unexpected complications

How support systems make all the difference

Why she would still choose surrogacy again

Related episodes:

Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-118-surrogacy-and-the-emotional-journey-to-motherhood/

Ep 93 – U.S. Surrogacy for International Parents
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-93-u-s-surrogacy-for-international-parents/

Ep 85 – Surrogacy for Same-Sex Couples: Carnell Roberts Tells His Story
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-85-surrogacy-for-same-sex-couples-carnell-roberts-tells-his-story/

Ep 49 – Social Surrogacy
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-49-social-surrogacy/

Ep 37 – Husband’s Are You Prepared (Partner Involvement in Surrogacy)
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-37-husbands-are-you-prepared/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Surrogacy: The Journey to Parenthood
(00:01:26) - The Unfortunate Journey of Surrogacy
(00:02:43) - Surrogacy in the US
(00:04:30) - What Were You Hoping For Your Baby's Journey?
(00:05:07) - The Secret To A Match
(00:05:38) - The Matching Process For Your Baby
(00:06:18) - The Process of Choosing an Agency
(00:07:09) - The Surrogate's First Egg Transfer
(00:08:28) - Pregnant Woman on Her First Week
(00:09:04) - The Baby's First Anatomy Scan
(00:10:39) - What Happened When I Learned I Had a High-Risk
(00:16:18) - Baby's umbilical cord rupture forced me to be hospitalized from
(00:21:33) - How Did Your Husband Manage the Surrogacy?
(00:23:20) - How to Keep Yourself From Going Insane While In the Hospital
(00:28:45) - Baby's birth disrupts parents' life
(00:29:13) - C section for my first baby
(00:34:23) - The Surrogacy Experience
(00:36:52) - Having been a surrogate myself
(00:37:44) - Pamela's story of surrogacy

Surrogates often begin their journey excited, hopeful, and ready to help a family grow, but few truly understand the depth of the medical steps involved.

In this conversation, Eloise Drane sits down with reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Shannel R. Adams to demystify every stage of the surrogate medical and IVF process, breaking it down into simple, reassuring, and practical explanations.

Eloise guides listeners through the realities of medical screening, clearance, genetic discussions, mental health evaluations, and partner requirements, bringing clarity to the questions surrogates commonly ask but rarely get answered fully. Together, they unpack why timelines vary, what doctors look for at each step, and how clinics ensure safety for both the surrogate and the baby she carries.

Dr. Adams also walks through the IVF medication protocol, embryo transfer, ultrasound schedule, hormone monitoring, and what actually happens when things don’t go as planned. She explains the “why” behind the rules, from avoiding THC to requiring birth control.

Whether someone is preparing for their first journey or wanting deeper insight into the medical side of surrogacy, this episode offers a clear path forward for anyone who wants to feel confident and supported.

Guest Bio:

Shannel R. Adams, MD, FACOG is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist. Highly skilled in all areas of reproductive health, Dr. Adams has a particular expertise and interest in third party reproduction, oncofertility, fertility preservation, male fertility, and holistic care of both mind and body.

Dr. Adams graduated from Duke University with an undergraduate degree in Ethics and went on to medical school at Oregon Health and Science University. She completed residency at the University of Hawai’i John A. Burns School of Medicine and her REI fellowship at the University of Cincinnati.

You’ll hear about:

Why surrogates are surprised by the medical timeline

What OB clearance involves

Genetic and psychological screening requirements

Partner testing and FDA rules

Key blood work surrogates must complete

Tubes, fibroids, and conditions needing treatment

Medication protocols explained simply

Lining checks and hormone levels

How embryo transfer actually works

Pregnancy confirmation

Ultrasounds and early monitoring

Bleeding in early pregnancy

Single embryo transfer guidance

Episode Resources:

Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss -https://www.amazon.com/Not-Broken-Approachable-Miscarriage-Recurrent/dp/0998714607

Planting the Seeds of Pregnancy: An Integrative Approach to Fertility Care -https://www.amazon.com/Planting-Seeds-Pregnancy-Integrative-Fertility/dp/0996348727

Related episodes:

Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-118-surrogacy-and-the-emotional-journey-to-motherhood/

Ep 93 – U.S. Surrogacy for International Parents
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-93-u-s-surrogacy-for-international-parents/

Ep 85 – Surrogacy for Same-Sex Couples: Carnell Roberts Tells His Story


Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Process of Surrogacy and IVF
(00:01:28) - Dr. Chanel Adams
(00:02:26) - What drew you into reproductive endocrinology in the first place?
(00:06:49) - What To Know About The Surrogacy Process
(00:09:02) - The Medical Timeline of Surrogacy
(00:11:22) - What is the Medical Screening Every Surrogate Completes
(00:14:54) - OB Clearance for Surrogates
(00:17:06) - Surrogacy Medical Screening
(00:19:40) - What about sexual screening during pregnancy?
(00:22:33) - How To Get pregnant with a Surrogate
(00:27:22) - Uterine lining and contraception
(00:31:17) - Transfer of an Embryo 1
(00:36:39) - Is bed rest required on the day of the transfer?
(00:37:51) - How to Tell If You Are Expecting a Pregnancy with a
(00:41:08) - How long should a surrogate wait to get a pregnancy ultrasound? (
(00:48:09) - Transfer and pregnancy 1, Sex during pregnancy
(00:48:55) - Is surrogacy high risk for children?
(00:51:22) - Dr. Chanel Adams on Surrogacy
(00:53:52) - Do we Transfer More Embryos than One?