Our Families Ourselves

Send us a Text Message.We're baaaack! It's been a few months ... Maria had a baby, summer is summer'ing, and Ann-Sophie's Tuff Shed now doubles as a sauna.Join us we recap some of our fave moments and surprising turns from Season One. And we're giving you a sneak peek of what's in store for Season Two. THANK YOU to everyone who supported us on our foray into professional podcasting. We're living the dream, y'all.For more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves Learn more about us: LA Parent Mag

There's no better guest to wrap our first season than Shay Wafer, arts & culture powerhouse and grandmother who chose to become a single parent in the 80s. She also managed the theater where Maria and Ann-Sophie met when they were just babies themselves. We couldn't be happier to have our forever “boss mom” on to share her wisdom!Tune in to hear us chat about:Why Shay choose to be a single and “older” mom at a time when it wasn't the normPursuing studies (at Yale, no less) and a high-level career while raising a young childThe hard decisions Shay had to make to balance career ambitions and caretakingChoosing natural childbirth and why it was so important to herAssumptions people make about single, Black mothers - then and nowHow Shay's daughter taught her to open up and communicate moreThe beauty of becoming a grandmother and seeing lessons passed on to the next generation We'll be back soon with a Season 1 Wrap Up and what's to come for Season 2!For more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

There's no one like your auntie, your tía, who slips you sweets, remembers your baby chub days, and keeps all your secrets. And there's no one like Jess Matos, Mexico City-based creative strategist and comedian, who runs the hilarious and insightful The Tía Chronicles. Join us as we talk all things tía life and beyond!Listen in to hear:How Jess started The Tía Chronicles as a love letter to the tías in her lifeHow the women in our lives, from aunties to teachers, shape and mold usExpectations (among MANY) that society places on women to have childrenThe experience of growing up a first generation kidWhy parents can call on their village when they need help/time away/a good cry Why tías have more fun Check out more of Jess' brilliance here:The Tía Chronicles InstagramThe Tía Chronicles Podcast (Season 2 dropping soon!)For more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

It could be a Lifetime movie or a work of fiction, but it's one of the most incredible  stories we've heard. Mark Caffee, communications consultant (and Ann-Sophie's former boss), shares the remarkable journey of meeting his bio mom and bio dad — 50 years after he was adopted. Grab a mug of warm tea and get out your tissues for this  episode!Listen as we chat about:The journey of self-discovery growing up gay and adoptedHow adoption was very different in the 60s compared to todayThe rollercoaster journey of finding biological parents in a closed adoptionWhy open adoption is so important for adoptees to feel accepted and loved Nature vs. nurture in shaping self-identity Two amazing organizations mentioned in this episode:Hope Cottage Casa of Los Angeles For more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

What an absolute *treat* this week as we chat with powerhouse Laura Leigh Hughes, LA-based actress and founder of The Unusual Suspects Theater Company, a non-profit serving youth. Laura is candid, funny, and shares her incredible journey of navigating the foster care system to adopt her now 15-year old daughter. And hot off the heels of her concert, Maria & Ann-Sophie share their lifelong love of another blonde performer and mom -- Madonna.Join us as we talk:How the foster care system impacts thousands of children each year The ins and outs of adopting through LA's foster care systemSystemic racism embedded in the systemUnexpected bonds formed between a foster child's different caregivers Assumptions people make about adoption, and the challenges and realities of interracial adoptionFor more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

It's our youngest guest yet! Seven month-old Meyer and his dad, LA-based actor Corey, tell us their family's experience with surrogacy. Maria and Ann-Sophie also get political this week as we rail against the dismantling of reproductive rights in the US. Tune in for our rant, stay for the delightful guest and adorable baby sounds.Listen to learn about:How surrogacy works from start to finishThe relationship between a surrogate and expectant parents The ups and downs of a fertility journeyWhat goes into the decision-making process of how to form your familyHow the definition of family can change after you have childrenMaria & Ann-Sophie's feelings on reproductive justice and the current political climateFor more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

We met a man who may just be a walking advocate for vasectomies - yay! But in all seriousness, LA-based fight choreographer, actor, and director Edgar charmed us with his enlightened view on the dreaded “v” word, and how he and his partner have embraced a child-free life. Join us as we chat about:Showing up as an uncle…often with the “un-cool” gifts The decision to have a vasectomy and why men shouldn't be afraid of itWhat does it even mean to leave a “legacy”? And, really, are kids even worth it? The importance of “chosen family” in our livesWhy Disneyland is hands-down more fun without kidsFor more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

We've had *a lot* of sperm talk these past few weeks, so we're more than ready to explore the other side of the equation — eggs! This week we sit down with four-time (yes, you read that right) egg donor Kristi, who opens up about her experience  with candor and humor. Listen in to learn about: Why a woman might choose to donate her eggs (hint: it's not just about the money) The physical demands of being an egg donor Making the choice to not have kids The surprises you might face on 23andMe For more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

We talk to our dear friends Fei & Lee about their experience starting a family as an interracial, lesbian couple. It's a long and winding road that takes them from spa-like fertility clinics to wheeling sperm through Target. Listen to learn about:The challenges of starting a family as a LGBTQ+ coupleHow LGBTQ+ folks can feel less isolated in the processWhy shorter men need not apply to be sperm donorsThe painful truth about fertility treatment costsWhy the Dutch national soccer team is the perfect analogy for familyFor more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

From the freezing depths of Ann-Sophie's Tuff Shed, we bring you the warmth and delight of Atlanta-based actor Bill Murphey. A chance encounter at a neighborhood Kroger led him down the path to single parenthood, and it's unlike any story we've heard!Join us as we talk:Foster-to-adopt in the USSingle parenthood and finding support from your communityWhy not to book expensive vacations with teenagers Supporting a boy's freedom of expression (whether wearing skirts or dyeing hair!)Balancing boundaries and unconditional love in parentingFor more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

This week, we chat with the delightful Melissa and Kenny about the experience of adopting their daughter. Adoption in the US has evolved in the past few decades, and the Lindseys challenge common misconceptions about adoptive families, birth families, and adoptees. Also, they're probably some of the sweetest people you'll ever hear!Join us as we talk:Private adoption vs. foster careWhy “open” adoption is more common these days Adopting during a global pandemic (spoiler alert: it's more stressful)The grief of a “disrupted” adoption Why dads don't create the same networks as moms - seriously, WHY?For more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

For our very first ep, we sit down with the woman who inspired us to get on the mic: Molly Hawkey - actress, comedian, and host extraordinaire of Spermcast.Molly shares her journey to “solo parenting,” from interviewing comedian friends on why their sperm fits the bill, traveling cross-country pregnant during a global pandemic, to her own podcast audience helping her through very tough times. We promised a rollercoaster, and here it is … hold on tight!Join us as we chat about:The freedom and challenges of solo parenting The joy (and sometimes annoyances) of grandparents Sperm, sperm, sperm! Known-donor, anonymous donor, genetic mutationsIUI, IVF …  all the acronyms“Diblings” i.e. donor siblings - yes, it's a thing.*Trigger Warning* This episode contains themes of miscarriage and TFMR (termination for medical reasons). Links:Listen to Spermcast.Support Molly's Patreon.Follow Molly (and her adorable baby) on her IG.For more surprising and authentic conversations about family-forming, subscribe to Our Families, Ourselves:Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google PodcastsJoin the conversation and follow us on Instagram:@ourfamiliesourselves 

Allow us to introduce ourselves! Maria and Ann-Sophie share who they are, why they thought the world needed another podcast, and how you can expect zero tech skills but all the quality content about family-forming.