Fertility Journeys
31 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsThe Fertility Journeys Podcast features diverse stories of women who have navigated infertility helping to break the silence and stigma that still surrounds infertility. While infertility is a disease that impacts 1 in 8 couples and is not uncommon, most stories are never shared and thus it can be terribly isolating and lonely.
In this podcast, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., discusses topics to support you on your fertility journey, while optimizing health and wellness using integrative techniques. Dr. Salem has worked with patients on their fertility journey for over a decade. She was fellowship trained in Integrative Medicine under the world renowned expert Dr. Andrew Weil, and now uses her training to support those struggling with infertility.
Integrative Medicine takes into consideration all factors that influence health and wellness: the mind, body, spirit and community and combines alternative and conventional methods to facilitate the body‘s own healing response.
On the Fertility Journeys Podcast you will hear from experts who specialize in mental health, mind-body, nutrition, acupuncture, environmental toxins and more, to help educate you on the things that not only will support optimal fertility, but achieve optimal wellness for you.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Dr. Tayyaba Ahmed- Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis
May 24, 2022 10:00 - 45 minutes - 34.4 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D. speaks with Dr. Tayyaba Ahmed, a doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation. She was born and raised in New York, completed the BS/DO program at New York Institute of Technology, and was trained at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Northwell Health Plainview Hospital and the NYU Langone Medical Center/RUSK Institute for Rehabilitation. A board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician, Dr. Ahmed is a...
Dr. Marissa Long- Infertility and Relationships
May 17, 2022 10:00 - 51 minutes - 46.3 MBOn this week's episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., speaks with Dr. Marissa Long who began her doctorate with a plan to complete specific education, research and training in reproductive health. Fourteen years later, she is a sought after expert in the field with a wealth of knowledge and experience in reproductive psychology. She is dedicated to helping individuals and couples who are going through fertility treatment, and women with high risk pregnancies and pregnancy loss ...
Parijat Deshpande- Infertility Trauma
May 10, 2022 10:09 - 1 hour - 51.4 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., speaks with Parijat Deshpande, the leading integrative high-risk pregnancy specialist, somatic trauma professional and speaker, and author who guides women to improve their pregnancy complications so they can reduce their risk of preterm birth. Her unique neurobiological approach has served hundreds of women to manage pregnancy complications and reclaim a safety and trust in their bodies that they thought was eroded forever. Pari...
Dr. Natasha Stamper- My Story of Healing after Pregnancy Loss
April 26, 2022 10:00 - 49 minutes - 42.4 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., speaks with Dr. Natasha Stamper, a clinical pharmacist and online fertility coach. She found her love for all things fertility while living in a remote Alaska village navigating her own IVF journey alone. After many miscarriages, two ectopic pregnancies, and one cervical ectopic, she had her two miracle babies. Now with over 12 years of clinical pharmacy experience and her own experiences, she is so excited to be helping families ...
Dr. Rashmi Schramm- Beginner’s Guide to Meditation
April 19, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 51.8 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., takes a deep dive into meditation with Dr. Rashmi Schramm, M.D., a board certified family physician and a certified Integrative Health Coach and Meditation Teacher. She is the founder of Optimal Wellness, where she incorporates evidence-based meditation techniques into her individual and group coaching programs. Dr. Schramm helps busy women to ditch guilt and tap into inner peace and power so they can live more energetic and purpos...
Dr. Christine Maren- Thyroid Health and Fertility
April 12, 2022 10:00 - 50 minutes - 44.3 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, MD, has an in-depth conversation with Dr. Christine Maren, D.O. a board-certified physician and the founder of a virtual functional medicine practice in Colorado, Michigan, and Texas. Dr. Maren was introduced to functional medicine after struggling with pregnancy complications and recurrent miscarriages. A functional medicine approach helped her address her own underlying health issues associated with gut infections, hypothyroidism, ...
Zermina Akbary, RN- PCOS and Infertility
April 05, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBOn this episode of the Fertility Journeys podcast, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., welcomes Zermina Akbary, MSN, BSN, RN- a Registered Nurse and Holistic Nutritionist with graduate training in Functional Medicine and Nutritional Science. Her journey to becoming a Women's Health Nurse specialist was rooted in her own health challenges. Her Diagnoses of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Hashimotos, and ultimately thyroid cancer were barriers faced when she wanted to start a family. She decided to turn...
Lily Nichols, RDN- Eating Real Food for Optimal Fertility
March 29, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem MD, welcomes Lily Nichols, RDN, a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and critical of outdated dietary guidelines. She is co-founder of the Women’s Health Nutrition Academy and the author of two books, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Lily’s bestse...
Dr. Kalea Wattles- Effects of Lifestyle on Fertility
March 22, 2022 10:00 - 55 minutes - 47.1 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem MD, talks with Dr. Kalea Wattles, ND a Naturopathic Physician specializing in fertility and Functional Medicine. She earned her doctorate from Bastyr University and is certified as a Functional Medicine Practitioner by the Institute for Functional Medicine. Dr. Wattles combines her Naturopathic and Functional Medicine training to treat patients with a “Functional Fertility” perspective, using a root-cause, science-based, body-systems ap...
Narissa Roper- Faith and Hope on my Fertility Journey
March 15, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, MD, speaks with Narissa Roper, a Wife, Mom and Infertility Advocate. Narissa and her husband Kenneth began their IVF journey in 2018 with a male factor, and after a few tests following two failed transfers, Narissa was diagnosed with Chronic Endometritis. After treatment they had a successful transfer and their daughter Kennedy was conceived. Their next transfer sadly ended in a early miscarriage and they began again on a 2nd retrieval ...
Rima Chahbar- Endometriosis and Infertility
March 08, 2022 11:00 - 51 minutes - 42.9 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D. speaks with Rima Chahbar . Rima shares her personal fertility journey, her diagnosis of endometriosis, recurrent pregnancy losses and how she is managing the grief of infertility and loss. Rima is a second generation Lebanese-Canadian secondary school teacher, and staunch infertility, loss and human rights advocate. She firmly believes in the importance of representation and inclusion in all avenues and works hard to break the s...
Dr. Aly Cohen- Reducing Your Exposure to Environmental Toxins
March 01, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.4 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., talks with Dr. Aly Cohen. Dr. Cohen is the co-author of the bestselling consumer guidebook, Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World, Non-Toxic, published by Oxford University Press, and part of the Dr. Weil Healthy Living Guides. Dr. Aly Cohen is triple board-certified in rheumatology, internal medicine, and integrative medicine, as well as an environmental health expert in Princeton, New Jersey. She has collabora...
Sayeda Abbas- Navigating Fertility Treatment
February 22, 2022 11:00 - 58 minutes - 49.1 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., speaks with Sayeda Abbas, a racial justice lawyer living in New York City. She is an infertility advocate and the face behind Brown Girl Infertility, a social media platform to raise awareness and create a space for women of color in the infertility community. She started the page to diversify the conversation around infertility and to break the stigma on this topic in her community. She shares her own journey through IVF cycles a...
Kezia Okafor- The Mind-Body Connection
February 15, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 51.7 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem M.D., interviews Kezia Okafor, a Fertility Mindset Coach and infertility counselor, working with women struggling with the emotional distress of infertility. She helps them take charge of their emotions and mindset, so they feel in control of their infertility journey and life, which maximizes their chances for a successful and healthy pregnancy. Kezia's own experience with infertility and experiencing the lack of emotional support has...
Jennifer Robertson- The Injustice of Infertility
February 08, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 50.3 MBToday's guest on this episode of Fertility Journeys with Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., is Jennifer Robertson, a fertility coach who has helped women all over the world transform their mindset and take back control of their life in the midst of infertility. She is also author of "The Injustice of Infertility," a deeply inspiring and raw account of her own seven-year fertility journey. Throughout her own fertility journey, Jen discovered that her old ways of pushing and working hard weren’t servin...
Nimisha Gandhi- Ayurveda and Fertility
February 01, 2022 11:00 - 49 minutes - 42.9 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, talks with nutritionist, mother, researcher and educator, Nimisha Gandhi who is well-known for her work and life passion for women’s health issues. Nimisha Gandhi is a functional medicine nutritionist, Ayurvedic counselor, Yoga Nidra/meditation teacher, and former tech founder. She holds a B.S. in pre-med Psychobiology from UCLA and has years of additional education in her field. In Nimisha’s private practice, Moon Cycle Nutrition, sh...
Dr. Jenna Hua- Testing Your Environmental Toxin Exposure
January 25, 2022 11:00 - 55 minutes - 46.9 MBThis episode of Fertility Journeys features Dr. Shala Salem,M.D., interviewing Dr. Jenna Hua, RD, MPH, Ph.D. An environmental health scientist and dietitian by training, Jenna is passionate about the environment, public health and everything food. Frustrated by the lack of data for how harmful chemicals (like BPA, phthalates and parabens) from plastics and everyday products affect our health and clinical outcomes, and the absence of personalized approach to mitigate harmful chemical exposu...
Aisha Balesaria- Childless Not By Choice
January 18, 2022 11:00 - 54 minutes - 43.9 MBIn this episode of Fertility Journeys with Dr. Shala Salem; Aisha Balesaria shares her fertility journey – where a late diagnosis of stage IV endometriosis revealed the primary cause of Aisha’s infertility. Over 11 unsuccessful IVF attempts and many miscarriages later, Aisha and her husband Billahl decided to embrace their childfree-after-infertility life. With real courage and determination, they eventually got to a place of healing and acceptance. Aisha shares her infertility journey in t...
Faiza Shireen- Making the Decision to Freeze my Eggs
January 11, 2022 11:00 - 52 minutes - 45.5 MBOn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem, MD, sits down with Faiza Shireen. Faiza shares her experience and decision to freeze her eggs. Faiza is a corporate philanthropy professional in New York City. A second generation Pakistani American, Faiza shares her experience navigating her hyphenated identity, as well as coping with anxiety and grief through personal essays and poetry which she shares on her blog faizashireen.com. She also co-hosts a podcast, The Femmedamentalists,...
Allison Schaaf- Maintaining Hope after Pregnancy Loss
January 04, 2022 11:00 - 55 minutes - 47.6 MBOn this episode of the Fertility Journeys Podcast, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., speaks with Allison Schaaf, founder of Miscarriage Hope Desk, which she created as the resource she wanted during her years long struggle with recurrent pregnancy loss. Miscarriage Hope Desk provides evidence-based research articles, stories of hope and community for those struggling with recurrent loss. Allison has a background as a chef and dietitian and is also a serial entrepreneur. She founded the meal planning...
Lisa Pineda- The Benefits of Yoga on the Fertility Journey
December 28, 2021 11:00 - 54 minutes - 46.6 MBOn this episode of the Fertility Journeys Podcast, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., talks with Lisa Pineda, an advanced yoga and meditation instructor, host of The Dismantling You Podcast, documentary Executive Producer of The Yogi, a two-time TEDx speaker, wellness coach, and global yoga retreat leader. She advocates for individuals and families who are struggling to start a family with Yoga For Fertility. Yoga For Fertility was created from her own personal experiences while struggling to conceive...
Dr. Jessica Chen- Supporting your Fertility with Acupuncture
December 21, 2021 11:00 - 56 minutes - 47.4 MBIn this episode of Fertility Journeys Dr. Salem speaks with Dr. Jessica Chen, L.Ac., DAOM, about supporting fertility with acupuncture. Dr. Jessica Chen is a Board Licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Licensed Acupuncturist with a speciality degree in women’s health and reproduction Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Chen grew up with a strong herbal tradition — her mother often used medicinal herbs in seasonal dishes when preparing the family’s daily meals. As a result, Dr. Chen c...
Brandon Johnson- Male Infertility and Mental Health
December 14, 2021 11:00 - 50 minutes - 44 MBIn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem speaks with Brandon Johnson, LCSW about male infertility and mental health. For men on the fertility journey it can be extremely difficult to find the support they need. Brandon discusses the challenges men face on the fertility journey, and how a couple can navigate a male infertility diagnosis. Brandon also discusses his own fertility journey and how his infertility diagnosis made him realize there was minimal support available to me...
Dr. Meredith Broderick- Sound Sleep for Optimal Health and Fertility
December 07, 2021 11:00 - 58 minutes - 49.2 MBIn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem speaks with Dr. Meredith Broderick, a neurologist and sleep specialist, about all things Sleep. Sleep is arguably the most important pillar of health and wellbeing yet it is still not given the attention it deserves. Dr. Broderick addresses what you can do to support optimal sleep and dispels several myths around sleep. In addition, she also speaks about the conditions of insomnia and sleep apnea. Dr. Meredith Broderick, MD, is a ...
Michelle Byrd- How to Prepare for Fertility Treatments
November 30, 2021 11:00 - 51 minutes - 44.1 MBIn this episode of Fertility Journeys Dr. Shala Salem, MD, speaks with Michelle Byrd a licensed therapist and fertility coach about how to prepare both mentally and emotionally for fertility treatments. Research has shown that one of the most common reasons for a patient to drop out of fertility treatments is stress. And while we know that infertility is a condition that can prove to be as stressful as dealing with cancer, there is still a gap in the mental support for those struggling. Mic...
Josephine Atluri- Mindfulness & Meditation on the Fertility Journey
November 23, 2021 11:00 - 57 minutes - 46.8 MBIn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem interviews Josephine Atluri about the practice of mindfulness and meditation. Josephine has been helping clients to use mindfulness and meditation to cultivate calm and improve their mind body connection on the fertility journey. She also takes us through a guided meditation proving you only need to set aside 5 minutes a day to create a little calm in your life. Josephine Atluri is an expert in meditation and mindfulness, helping thous...
Lara Adler- Environmental Toxins & Fertility
November 16, 2021 11:00 - 51 minutes - 43.8 MBOn today's episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Salem sits down with environmental toxins expert Lara Adler to discuss how environmental toxins can negatively impact hormones and fertility. Lara discusses the lack of regulation in the chemical industry and how you can protect yourself from the dangers of environmental chemicals we are all exposed to on a daily basis. Lara Adler is an Environmental Toxins Expert & Educator and a Certified Holistic Health Coach who teaches health coaches, nut...
Dr. Vivian Chen- Optimizing Your Microbiome for Fertility
November 09, 2021 11:00 - 58 minutes - 52.5 MBIn this episode of Fertility Journeys, Dr. Shala Salem’s guest is Dr. Vivian Chen, a UK Physician with 15 years of clinical experience. She is board certified in the UK in both internal medicine and family practice. They explore the importance of supporting your gut microbiome, the health of which is key to promoting optimal overall health, and the evidence emerging that it plays a large role in fertility. Dr. Chen reveals how your diet, stress, and exposure to toxins can negatively impac...
Marilyn Gomez- A Story of Hope & Healing on the Fertility Journey
November 02, 2021 11:48 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBIn this episode of Fertility Journeys with Dr. Shala Salem, Marilyn Gomez shares her fertility journey, and how she healed the trauma of infertility through therapy, Reiki and advocating for herself. Marilyn Gomez is a speaker, self-advocate, podcast host, and entrepreneur who got her Reiki certification to help her heal through the trauma of infertility. She had her daughter in 2016, from her 3rd IVF transfer. In 2019, she attempted to expand her family with transferring the last two of he...
Dr. Loree Johnson- The Importance of Mental Health on the Fertility Journey
October 26, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 65.3 MBIn this premier episode of the Fertility Journeys podcast, Dr. Shala Salem, M.D., welcomes Dr. Loree Johnson, Ph.D, LMFT. Dr. Johnson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Coach in private practice with more than 25 years of experience as a clinician, educator, and clinical supervisor. Specializing in women’s mental health and reproductive health, Dr. Loree helps her clients overcome the emotional challenges that come with infertility - including pregnancy loss and emotional tra...
Fertility Journeys Podcast Trailer
October 21, 2021 23:37 - 5 minutes - 6.62 MBA preview of episodes to come on Fertility Journeys. Dr. Shala Salem interviews expert guests about how to support optimal wellness on the fertility journey. She also speaks with individuals who share their own stories about their struggles with infertility.