"becoming babyREADY" is a Queer-centred podcast exploring the journeys of 2SLGBTQIA+ family creation. Through conversations with Queer parents and professionals, we dive into what it takes to build intentional families — from legal and financial prep to emotional support and hands-on care. Rooted in Canada and reaching around the world, these stories offer insight, inspiration, and community for anyone growing their family with pride.
The Business of Building Family: Law, Cost & Emotion in Surrogacy with Stephanie Martin of Be Parent
Today we’re stepping outside the usual mould. While most of my guests have been fellow members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, this episode features Stephanie Martin of Be Parent Surrogacy—a professional whose mission is dedicated to supporting queer hopeful and intended parents on their surrogacy journeys. Having personally navigated the intended parent pathway herself, Stephanie brings a rare dual perspective: lived experience paired with frontline consultancy work across Mexico, Colombia, and Cyprus.
We unpack the full intended parent journey from the first inquiry to embryo transfer. We dive into evolving legal landscapes, the critical importance of emotional support, navigating donor gamete selection, realistic timelines, and passport considerations for cross-border care.
And yes, we tackle the elephant in the room: cost.
Because every surrogacy is uniquely structured, we skip rigid numbers and focus on the variables that actually drive pricing, helping intended parents make informed, confident decisions while building their families.
Whether you’re exploring surrogacy, advising hopeful parents, or simply curious about how modern consultancy is reshaping the landscape, this conversation offers grounded, practical insights.
Key Takeaways:
• The evolution of the intended parent experience in modern surrogacy
• Legal frameworks, emotional support, and donor gamete navigation
• Cross-border care: passport considerations & clinic selection
• Breaking down the cost variables without one-size-fits-all estimates
• How intended parents make confident, personalized decisions
Resources Mentioned: https://beparentsurrogacy.com (https://beparentsurrogacy.com/)
Find them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beparent_surrogacy/ (https://www.instagram.com/beparent_surrogacy/)
15 Oct 2026
When Online Connections Become Life Partners, Parents & Creative business collaborators
What starts as scroll-stopping posts can quietly become the foundation of a family. In this episode, we sit down with Jen and Karina—two women who connected through social media long before they ever shared a room. A connection that began as a DM - or two - about having coffee in San Diego turned into a shared realization: becoming a parent wasn’t just a dream for either of them. It was a non-negotiable.
Instead of compromising, they leaned into alignment. Today, they’re raising a beautiful baby boy, scaling their brand Mami Mafia faster than they ever imagined, and proving that intentional connections—both personal and professional—can build legacies.
In this conversation, you’ll discover:
• How a chance social media interaction sparked a life-changing friendship
• Why “wanting to parent” became their ultimate filter for partnership and business
• The life-altering shifts that helped them launch Mami Mafia and watch it grow overnight
Whether you’re navigating fertility, planning for parenthood, or exploring how friendships can evolve into co-creation, this episode is a masterclass in intentionality, trust, and building a life that actually fits your values.
Links & Resources
🌐 Find Mami Mafia: https://www.mami-mafia.com (https://www.mami-mafia.com/)
📸 Follow Jen & Karina: https://www.instagram.com/mamimafiasd/ (https://www.instagram.com/mamimafiasd/) and https://www.tiktok.com/@jen.and.kari (https://www.tiktok.com/@jen.and.kari)
8 Oct 2026
Designed by Love: Two Dads, Two Adoptions, One Unstoppable Family
Sometimes the most intentional choices begin with the most unexpected moments. In this episode, we sit down with Brian and Jason, a husband-and-dad duo whose story starts on the floor of a political convention in 2009. What began as a chance encounter quickly turned into a grounded friendship, a surprise engagement in 2015, and a wedding in 2016. But their real adventure was just beginning.
Together, they navigated two completely different adoption journeys—each with its own timelines, paperwork, and emotional pivots—and welcomed their children, Sydney and Boston, into their lives.
Along the way, they documented the remodel of their family home, their path to parenthood and what their daily life looks like and they do it with raw honesty and sometimes a dash of humour, building a beloved Instagram community (@dadsbydesign) that celebrates queer family life, adoption transparency, and the beautiful chaos of modern dadhood.
What You’ll Hear
• How a chance meeting at a political event sparked a lifelong partnership • The reality of two very different adoption processes—and what they taught them about patience and advocacy
• Balancing public storytelling with private family boundaries
• Practical wisdom for 2SLGBTQIA+ parents and prospective adoptive families
• Why “designing” your family takes courage, flexibility, and a whole lot of heart
Whether you’re navigating your own path to parenthood, supporting a loved one through adoption, or simply looking for a story that celebrates unconventional love, this episode will stick with you.
Listen & Connect
🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform.
📸 Follow Brian & Jason on Instagram: @dadsbydesign
Who has been a guest on becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Michael
Dan
Cyndel Celestil
Kendra
a parent
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
92
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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Guest appearances
Books guests
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Questions about becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson
Who hosts becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson?
Sam Leeson host the show. Published by Sam Leeson.
How often do new episodes come out?
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Does becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson take guests?
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