IVFU Podcast Press Kit

The struggle to make a family can be so painful, sometimes you just have to laugh about it.

Launched everywhere Sept 1, 2020 through the Inside Voices podcast network, IVFU explores the pain, joy, angst and love of trying to make a family the “new-fashioned” way. Singer-songwriter/storyteller Sam Shaber hosts a series of honest, uninhibited interviews with patients, doctors, egg donors, adoptive parents and more – all while on her own journey to have a child via surrogacy. 

As the name suggests, IVFU isn’t sappy or maudlin, rather it lives in the raw space created by infertility where sometimes you just have to laugh. Or vent. Or drink wine and eat chocolate. We do all of that on this pod. It’s a shared experience when life feels nothing like what you’d planned.

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Download the IVFU Press Kit here

Audience

According to the National Infertility Association, 1 in 8 couples in the US will have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. On average 7.4 million US women will access some form of fertility treatment during their lifetime.

IVFU is for people currently experiencing infertility and for those who've come out the other side. It's an inclusive podcast, not just for straight couples, but also for LGBTQI people for whom IVF is an essential part of their family-making plans, for people adopting, for the IVF-curious, for potential egg and sperm donors and surrogates, care providers – and all of the friends and family looking for ways to better understand and support their loved ones.

IVFU is a community that’s non-judgmental, informative, a bit taboo... and funny. Where people struggling to make a family can feel understood, cheered up and safe from the bombardment of invasive advice. ("Why don't you just adopt?" "Have you tried not eating tofu?" "My friend went on vacation and then she got pregnant by accident!") This podcast understands them, because we’ve been there. Shit, have we been there.

Impact

It's our hope that IVFU will fill a gap in the podcasting world by creating a place where those struggling to make a family and their loved ones can connect on a topic that's not spoken about openly or often enough. This connection can form meaningful friendships, support networks and groups inspired to take action.

When people become a community based on a shared experience, amazing things can happen. Uniting the diverse voices navigating this infertility journey can affect real change on a personal, cultural, governmental and medical level. There is a lot to advocate for in the IVF space and IVFU might just be the podcast to do it.

About the host: Sam Shaber

After 25 years as an indie musician, releasing 12 albums and touring over 200,000 miles, Sam suddenly had to change gears when she was told it's now or never if she wanted to have a baby. The erratic schedule and expense of IVF meant tours were cancelled, recording budgets replaced with medical bills and future career plans put on hold indefinitely. This led to despair, identity crisis, anger and isolation.  

And then a strange thing happened: Sam discovered the world of live storytelling, and in less than a year was performing an award-winning solo musical at the Edinburgh Fringe, "Sam Shaber: Life, Death & Duran Duran," which then went on to fill houses and win awards in Los Angeles and New York City.

Sam’s struggle with infertility formed a big part of her show, but she didn’t expect the outpouring of stories she heard from audience members who came up to her afterwards each night. Realizing the need for connection, Sam suddenly found herself an unintentional – yet passionate – infertility advocate. She created IVFU as a means to bring support, information and restoration through shared humor, cynicism, fear and fearlessness. In her words: “Infertility sucks. We might as well go a little crazy with it.”

Format

Structure: Each of the 12 episodes in Season 1 of IVFU is 40-50 minutes long, centered around a full-length, no-holds-barred interview exploring all aspects of the quest to make a family. Introducing each episode, is a short, topical, live story performance by Sam. These live pieces add a texture which differentiates IVFU from more conventional interview shows.

Story: Informing and shadowing the conversations is Sam’s real-time progress as an intended parent, working with surrogate, Kaylee. In Episode 11, Sam talks openly with Kaylee while she's 8 1/2 months pregnant with Sam’s son. And in the season finale, baby Darwyn has been born, and Sam and Kaylee discuss their birth experience and this whole crazy process.

Release schedule: Season 1 launched Sept 1, 2020 on Apple Podcasts and all other podcast apps, with a new episode live every Tuesday. Planning for Season 2 is already underway, with interviews lined up exploring even more versions of the “new-fashioned” family-making process, with an extra focus on diverse and international stories.

Social media

IVFU has a robust social media plan which gives our audience the opportunity to extend the conversation and engage with the podcast content and each other. Creating a dynamic and supportive online community is key to keeping listeners connected and an important avenue to affect change.

Follow IVFU on:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

Live extensions

Because Sam is, at heart, a performer, IVFU could be taken on the road as a live show to further connect with audiences. The show could feature interviews, musical performances and/or live storytelling events, similar to The Moth, of which Sam is an alum. Audience stories from live events could be woven in to become part of Season 2 episodes.

Contact us

Reach out to us for representation, sponsorship or just to share your story.

IVFUPodcast.com

Creator/Host:
Sam Shaber

Producer:
Emmeline Summerton

Inside Voices Media
Gary Scott, President

Bonus track:

Brought to you by Inside Voices Media