The AllPaths Podcast

AllPaths has always been committed to using storytelling as a tool for support and advocacy, and our podcast is a natural extension of that work. From the hallmark parent panels at in-person conferences, to the peace that can come from opening up to “your people” during a support group or as an advocate, the value of sharing real-life stories is woven throughout our organization. Shared triumphs and struggles are central to providing connection, comfort, and hope to our community. 

“It has been so exciting to launch the AllPaths podcast this year, which we lovingly call the ‘pathcast’," shares AllPaths Executive Director Kate Weldon LeBlanc, who is also one of the podcast hosts. “It is powerful to share the real stories of people from our community that are traveling, or have travelled, different paths to try to grow their family, and are at all different stages.”

The Mission Behind the Podcast

At its heart, the AllPaths Podcast is about more than just telling stories—it’s about creating a platform for voices that often go unheard. While in recent years conversations around fertility and family building have become less stigmatized, these topics are often relegated to niche pockets of social media or lean heavily towards the ‘miracle baby’ narrative in mainstream media. This podcast aims to celebrate the diverse voices and experiences of the family building community, while also normalizing the many different ways there are to be a family. 

The format is simple but compelling: each episode features a conversation with someone who is navigating or has navigated a challenging family building journey or with an expert in this space. And no matter the path traveled, it underscores the overarching mission of AllPaths - finding a way to ensure every person is able to try to grow the family of their dreams.

“I joined as a host of the AllPaths Podcast because I believe in the power of sharing stories to build community, foster understanding, and inspire hope. After my own experience with infertility and family building, I realized how impactful it is to hear voices that validate our experiences and provide guidance,” explains Alexis Goulette, a member of the AllPaths Board of Directors. 

Meet the Hosts

Hosting alongside Goulette and LeBlanc is AllPaths Operations Manager Emily Lindblad. Together, the team brings their personal experiences with fertility and family building challenges and a deep understanding of the barriers that many people face when struggling to grow the family of their dreams to each conversation.

“What’s been wonderful about the podcast is that it’s a new way for us to provide the connection, comfort, and hope that has always been at the core of AllPaths’ programming,” says Lindblad. “Much like our support groups, this podcast doesn’t shy away from difficult stories and emotions; it’s about creating a space where every person's journey is held and celebrated.”

Episode Highlights

Here’s a look at the first few episodes of the AllPaths Podcast, which launched earlier this fall:

• “Haya’s Journey: Unexplained Infertility - So Many Variables and Unknowns” – A Boston-based healthcare product strategist with a passion for social impact and community building, Haya shares her story, from unexplained infertility and loss, to pursuing fertility treatment (IUI & IVF) as a path to parenthood, culminating in a complicated twin pregnancy and postpartum experience. 🎧 Listen Now
  
• “Polly’s Journey: Someone shouldn’t have to experience tragedy for things to be equal.” – Director of Family Advocacy at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) and recipient of the 2024 AllPaths Advocacy Award, Polly Crozier shares her own challenging family building story, as well as her advocacy for parentage equality inclusive fertility insurance bills throughout New England. 🎧 Listen Now
  
• “Jennifer’s Journey: Still a family, just a family of two.” – Jennifer Redmond shares her story of infertility, loss, and embracing life as a family of two, how her own fertility journey has influenced her personal and professional life, and reflects on the evolution she’s seen in the fertility and family building space over her career. 🎧 Listen Now
  
• “Andy’s Journey: Mourning the loss of what you thought your family was going to be.” – Andy Lamb shares his story of male infertility, mental health struggles, and the reinvention of who he was and what really mattered in life and family on his road to become a father to three girls adopted through foster care. 🎧 Listen Now

Each episode is a window into the complexity of family building and an opportunity for those currently struggling to find community. As the AllPaths Podcast continues to unfold, listeners can expect more powerful stories, in-depth explorations of resources and options, and ways that listeners can help ensure that every family has support and access to a myriad of pathways.

Tune In and Get Involved

The AllPaths Podcast is more than just a podcast—it’s part of the organization’s larger mission.  

“This platform allows [us] to connect with others, amplify diverse perspectives, and continue [our] advocacy for breaking down barriers in family building,” explains Goulette. “It’s a way to give back, educate, and remind people that they’re never alone on their path.”

The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms, with new episodes released every Tuesday. To listen to the AllPaths Podcast and share your story, visit https://allpathsfb.org/podcast/.

As this show continues to grow, it’s been wonderful for AllPaths to have a new way to highlight more diverse experiences and voices from our community, raise awareness, encourage empathy, foster connection and inspire action. 

As one recent listener reflected, “I'm so grateful for this space and for showcasing so many different diverse stories. To me, the beauty of the community is how all of these people are connected and how you can see some positives through what are otherwise really tough circumstances. And it's so rare now that we get to feel like we're part of positive communities. . .I find these podcasts incredibly therapeutic. . .and I hope other people feel the same benefits that I do.”