Best ILL CONCEIVING Podcasts (2025)

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Oh No! More Mailbag 44:07

Play Pause

44m ago44:07

44:07

We dug into the mailbag again for thoughts on how natalists pass that shit on, fulfilling or shirking your family’s desires for your life, TeenPact, being a T4T tradwife, the natural gendered division of labor, the impact of benevolent sexism, daddy/daughter dances vs. father/son camping trips, and handing your daughter off to her husband. Our prog…

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A Tale of Two Swords: I Samuel 18-21 17:27

10h ago17:27

17:27

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! In today's episode we're looking at the circumstances around two different swords. One is given and one was taken. The symbolism surrounding their stories couldn't be more different. If you thought King David's story was about someone perfect who was chosen by God because he had it all together in t…

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Does God Punish With Mental Illness? 28:00

1d ago28:00

28:00

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! If we're being honest about reading the Bible as true, cover to cover, we can't just gloss over the parts that seem to make God sound bad. My faith needs to be strong enough to lean into the difficult spots and question my Creator to find an answer. In 1 Samuel 16 we're told that God "sent an evil s…

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Ro Huntriss: Fertility Dietician and Egg freezing, What's Worth Doing? 59:28

6h ago59:28

59:28

I'm lucky enough to have met a lot of leading fertility experts over my time working in the space and Ro Huntriss, award winning fertility dietician is one of them. In this episode I'm honoured to have Ro share more than ever before about her personal story - choosing to freeze her eggs after her engagement ended - and what choices she made to incr…

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Lessons I've learned (and wish I had known) before having fertility treatment abroad 26:05

13h ago26:05

26:05

Lessons I’ve Learned (and Wish I Knew) Before Having Fertility Treatment Abroad Show Notes: If you’re considering IVF or fertility treatment abroad, you might be feeling excited about the possibilities - but also overwhelmed by all the unknowns. I get it, because I’ve been there myself. In this episode, I’m sharing the key lessons I’ve learned thro…

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Whose Armor Are You Wearing?: I Samuel 15-17 14:01

4h ago14:01

14:01

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! We are told to "put on the armor of God". We are told that we have the ability to do that, but it's an important distinction that not just anyone can put on God's armor- it's only those whose identity has been rooted in Christ. Only Christians can take up God's protection. Saul wanted to be a good k…

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Quiverfull 1:25:38

7d ago1:25:38

1:25:38

Quiverfull is an evangelical Christian philosophy that takes the Biblical command to "be fruitful and multiply" extremely literally by refusing to use any contraception, including natural family planning. It rarely sees coverage in the mainstream media, so this week, Josh and June look into the principles and practical lifestyle of Quiverfull and d…

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Behind the Scenes of Fertility Life Raft: Lucy Shares Her Story for the First Time 56:06

1d ago56:06

56:06

WE ARE BAAAACK! Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of pregnancy loss, recurrent miscarriage, IVF, and TFMR (termination for medical reasons). Please take care of yourself as you listen. While we do talk about incredibly tough experiences, the conversation is shared with compassion and honesty and it’s one that ultimately leaves you f…

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How to research, plan and have fertility treatment abroad with confidence, calm and the best results - my step by step process 17:32

7h ago17:32

17:32

Thinking about going abroad for IVF or fertility treatment but feeling completely overwhelmed about where to even begin? Or maybe you are feeling OK but understand you don't know what you don't know and want to ensure you are doing things safely, confidently, calmly in order to get the best results? You’re not alone and can quickly get stuck in a m…

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75 | From IVF to Baby #3: The Surprising Tool I’m Using Now 28:43

8d ago28:43

28:43

Trying to conceive can feel like a never-ending cycle of guessing, hoping, and waiting. In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what I’m doing differently as my husband and I begin trying for baby #3. I share my personal fertility journey—from battling infertility and IVF to welcoming two miracle girls—and why this season feels differen…

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Tradwives 1:33:57

11d ago1:33:57

1:33:57

Within the last few years, women portraying themselves online with a “trad wife” aesthetic have skyrocketed in popularity. This new trend embraces long dresses, traditional gender roles, cooking homemade meals, and raising massive families. Josh and June take a look into what the Trad Wife life experience is all about, what’s so appealing about it …

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The truth about Unexplained Infertility: Why it happens and what you should do about it 18:20

7d ago18:20

18:20

The truth about Unexplained Infertility: Why it happens and what you should do about it. Being told you have “unexplained infertility” can feel like hitting a brick wall. How can everything look appear 'normal' yet you’re still not getting pregnant? In this episode, we break down what unexplained infertility really means, why it happens, and most i…

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74 | Making Plans While TTC: How to Live Beyond the Due Date Calculator ‘What Ifs' 23:30

22d ago23:30

23:30

Do you ever feel like your whole life is on pause while you’re trying to conceive? Maybe you find yourself asking, “Should I plan that trip?” or “What if I’m pregnant by then?” Living in limbo can leave you exhausted, anxious, and unsure of how to move forward. In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to make plans while you’re waiting—without f…

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Purity Balls & Daddy-Daughter Dates 1:23:12

11d ago1:23:12

1:23:12

Purity is a load-bearing concept in the conservative Christian ideal of family and reproduction. From as young as five years old, Christian girls are told to guard their hearts and bodies against men with bad intentions. But what about a positive model of masculine pursuit? This week, Josh and June take a look at the men who believe the best way to…

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Is fertility treatment abroad right for you 12:26

17d ago12:26

12:26

In this popular encore episode Emma explores if fertility testing and/or abroad could be right for you. Download Emma's free checklist for more help to decide if fertility testing and/or treatment abroad could be right for you. www.yourivfabroad.co.uk/whoisivfabroadfor Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free m…

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Oops! All Mailbag 1:08:16

15d ago1:08:16

1:08:16

Josh is still really tired from his trip to Europe so we talked about James Dobson for a bit and then read some listener mail. Our regular programming will resume Friday, and we thank you for all of your thoughtful feedback! ***WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKLY MAILBAG! Send an email with feedback about this week's episode to illconceivedpod@gma…

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The Pitfall of Giving Away Your Power: I Samuel 12-14 11:17

18d ago11:17

11:17

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! The almighty "If/Then" statement... part math, part logic and part contract. The clear understanding here is that there are two sides to the equation. It only works if both sides are balanced one with the other. We are constantly being romanced, in current Western culture, into believing that someho…

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Rejecting God for a King: I Samuel 8-11 17:02

1M ago17:02

17:02

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! When Israel begged for a king so they could be like all the other nations around them Samuel told them they were being wicked. God flat out said that they were rejecting Him in favor of an earthly king. But God has always put people in positions of authority... Moses, priests, judges, men at the hea…

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Golden Tumors: Samuel 4-7 13:37

19d ago13:37

13:37

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! What happens when God's hand rests heavily on you and you have no intermediary? The Philistines cast golden representatives of the tumors that happened in every one of their cities as the ark of the covenant traveled among them! In the old testament, it took a priest who had lived a life set apart a…

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Nature, Nurture, or Something Else Entirely?: Samuel 1-3 14:45

1M ago14:45

14:45

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! Hannah made a deal with God for healing her infertility- that she would give the only thing she owned in the world right back to Him... for life! That meant that she would give Samuel away to Eli the priest to be raised. Eli, it turns out, may have been a decent priest, but he was an absolute disast…

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The Hidden Costs of Fertility Treatment in the UK (That No One Warns You About) 20:15

21d ago20:15

20:15

When you think about the cost of fertility treatment, you probably picture the price on the clinic’s website. But here’s the truth - that figure is just the beginning. In this short solo episode, I break down the three biggest 'hidden costs' of fertility treatment in the UK that most people don’t discover until they’re already in the thick of it: F…

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The Power of a Woman's Choice: Ruth 1-4 10:06

1M ago10:06

10:06

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! Don't let anyone ever tell you that God does not think women are important! Here in Ruth is proof positive that honors a woman's choice in powerful ways... allowing these choices to change the course of history and take part in His ultimate plans. Men may be featured in a lot of the stories told in …

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73 | How to Make the Two Week Wait Holy Ground, Not Anxiety Ground 23:48

1M ago23:48

23:48

The two week wait can feel like an emotional battlefield — every twinge, every symptom, every day dragging by with anxious questions. But what if these 14 days could become holy ground instead of anxiety ground? In today’s episode, I share my own experience with the two week wait, biblical truth that brings lasting peace, and 5 practical tools you …

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Inheriting The Earth and The Law of Compost: Psalms 34-37 8:30

1M ago8:30

8:30

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! The meek and humble are said to inherit the earth, but I don't think that happens simply because of their character. There is an action that the meek and the humble take in relation to "the earth" that guarantees there is something to inherit. I think David captures it beautifully in Psalms 37. He s…

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Project 2025 and the Future of Sex Education 1:18:27

1M ago1:18:27

1:18:27

The era of the Christian political agenda and conservative cultural hegemony took a backseat after Obama ushered in a time of progressive social optimism. For a moment, it felt like conservatives would never win again, especially on social issues. But they did. This week, June and Josh explore how the Obama administration rolled back abstinence-onl…

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Does Sin Make You Sick? Psalms 30-33 13:09

1M ago13:09

13:09

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! Are we ill because we (or someone in our family) sinned? When we're sick- does it mean we're "bad"? If we believe that God designed our bodies, we must accept that He knows how to make that design work best. If we further believe that sin is anything that goes against His will... any time we go our …

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Hanging With a Bad Crowd: Psalm 26-29 9:36

1M ago9:36

9:36

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! I'm sure you were encouraged as a kid to be careful who your friends were... that you might be trying to do the right thing, but if your friends were up to no good, you might get caught up in the mess? Unfortunately, it is all too human to want to fit in.. to be liked... and so it's pretty easy to m…

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The truth about IVF success rates and what fertility clinics don't tell you 17:24

29d ago17:24

17:24

The Truth About IVF Success Rates: What Clinics Don’t Tell You Are you comparing IVF clinics by their success rates? You’re not alone - but relying too heavily on these numbers can be a big mistake. In this short but important episode, I break down why IVF success rates might not be the reliable decision-making tool they appear to be. From cherry-p…

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72 | Trusting God or Playing God? The Line Between Faith and Fertility Science 32:25

1M ago32:25

32:25

In this 20-minute episode, Courtney walks listeners through four common TTC tensions—creating embryos (IVF), genetic screening/selection, donor eggs/sperm & surrogacy, and data-driven tracking—without handing out black-and-white verdicts. Instead, she anchors each topic in Scripture (Psalm 139; Job 31:15; Jeremiah 1:5; Proverbs 16:9; Genesis 2:24; …

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Abstinence-Only Sex Education 1:32:53

1M ago1:32:53

1:32:53

There's one guaranteed way to never get pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted infection: not having sex. In the 1990s, the United States government expanded efforts to fund programs that taught adolescents this fact. Unfortunately, that funding came with a few restrictions—most notably, the programs weren't allowed to promote or demonstrate a…

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Whose Counsel Do You Value?: Judges 18-21 14:33

2M ago14:33

14:33

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! It's incredibly easy to consult ourselves when faced with life's choices. Sometimes we may feel like our problems are too trivial to bother God with... and sometimes we seek answers within ourselves because we like our answers better than God! The trouble with looking for our own answers... or askin…

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Why choosing a local fertility clinic might not be the 'easy' option you think 15:00

2M ago15:00

15:00

In this popular encore re-release episode from 18th March 2024 Emma talks to you about why choosing a fertility clinic mainly based on geographical location for ease, may not end up being the easy option. Tune in and listen to this popular episode! Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfab…

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71 | Everyone’s Moving On Without Me—Finding Peace When You Feel Left Behind in Infertility 10:35

2M ago10:35

10:35

Ever feel like the whole world is moving forward without you? Everyone’s announcing baby #2… Starting preschool drop-offs… Celebrating milestones you’re still praying for. Meanwhile, you’re stuck in the same place—same cycle, same ache, same unanswered prayer. In today’s heartfelt episode, we talk about the grief that comes from feeling left behind…

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5 things I wish I had known before having fertility treatment abroad 17:14

1M ago17:14

17:14

In this popular encore re-release episode from September 12th 2022 Emma shares the 5 things she wishes she had known before having fertility treatment abroad so that you can be prepared. Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass FREE 15 minute video call - ready t…

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70 | God Never Promised You a Baby—Here’s What He Did Promise 21:15

2M ago21:15

21:15

What if healing isn’t the same as getting pregnant? In this powerful episode, we unpack a truth many Christian women overlook during infertility: healing is not always the outcome we expect—but it’s always available. Courtney explores what the Bible actually says about healing, why we often chase results instead of Jesus, and how to let God meet yo…

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Lyman Stone, Marriage Defender 59:02

2M ago59:02

59:02

With natalism coming to the forefront of American politics in recent years, people who have long been writing about the declining birth rate have begun to take center stage in the larger political discourse. Many of these thinkers skew toward a conservative ideology. This week, Josh and June read through the writings of a modern conservative natali…

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Reasons why people head abroad for fertility treatment - costs 23:17

2M ago23:17

23:17

In this popular encore re-release episode from May 16th 2022 Emma looks at one of the reasons why people consider and then have fertility testing and/ or treatment abroad - costs in more detail. A must listen episode if you haven't already heard it! Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfa…

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69 | When Infertility Makes You Feel Betrayed by God: 3 Ways to Rebuild Your Faith While Waiting to Conceive 19:45

2M ago19:45

19:45

Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—praying, tracking, believing—but nothing is changing? Like you’re emotionally and spiritually frozen in place while the months pass and hope slowly fades? In this episode, Courtney gets honest about the spiritual “stuckness” so many women feel while trying to conceive. She unpacks 3 hidden r…

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James Dobson & Focus on the Family 1:19:37

2M ago1:19:37

1:19:37

In the history of the evangelical Christian family movement, one figure stands tall above the rest: a children's psychologist from Louisiana named James Dobson. For three decades, Dobson built up his media empire, Focus on the Family, on the back of his plain-spoken traditionalist approach to child rearing. Then, as the broader cultural tide shifte…

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Samson Was An Entitled Bully: Judges 15-17 15:57

2M ago15:57

15:57

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! Just because your mama prayed you into this world doesn’t mean you’re walking with God. ⠀ Samson had a calling on his life… but not much interest in answering it. Entitled. Impulsive. Reckless. Sound familiar? ⠀ His mom vowed him to God from the womb — but a personal relationship with the Lord isn’t…

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Answering some of your frequently asked questions about having fertility treatment like IVF abroad in mainland Europe 18:49

2M ago18:49

18:49

In this encore episode from December 2022 Emma answers some of her most commonly asked questions about going abroad for fertility treatment to help you to decide if this could be the right option (or not) for you. This is one of the podcast's most downloaded episodes, so a must listen if you haven't heard this one already. Want to learn more about …

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Never Make A Deal You Can't Live With: Judges 11-14 17:23

2M ago17:23

17:23

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! Ever found yourself bargaining with God in a desperate moment? You’re not alone — but the Bible warns us to be very careful with our words. ⠀ Jephthah made a vow he couldn’t take back. And the cost? Unimaginable. ⠀ This week’s episode dives into the danger of overpromising and the seriousness of mak…

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There's No Such Thing As A Coincidence: Judges 4-6 14:04

2M ago14:04

14:04

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! Ever find yourself saying, “What are the chances?” 🚪 A door opens. 📞 Someone calls at just the right time. 💬 A conversation answers a prayer you didn’t even speak aloud. When you’re walking the narrow path… these things don’t just happen. They’re not accidents. They’re assignments. What we call “coi…

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Who's In Charge?: Judges 7-10 17:03

2M ago17:03

17:03

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! When things fall apart—we’re quick to hand it over: “God, please take this.” But when things start going right? We just as quickly take credit. 🚗 It’s like we want God to drive through the storms, but jump into the front seat the moment the skies clear. The truth? You can’t pick and choose when God …

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Catholics, Evangelicals, and the In Vitro Fertilization Debate 41:54

2M ago41:54

41:54

When the first human baby was born through the use of a blossoming treatment called in vitro fertilization in the late 1970’s, society largely viewed this as a miracle of science that gave those struggling with fertility a chance to start a family. Catholic leadership, believing that taking procreation out of pregnancy went against God’s will, alig…

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Good Judgement Isn't A Birthright: Judges 1-3 16:16

2M ago16:16

16:16

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! Good judgment isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you choose to grow. 📖 The Israelites—the very people God chose—are a living cautionary tale: They struggled with peer pressure. They gave in to fear. They wavered with the winds of culture and bad decisions. Sound familiar? The truth is:…

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Dry Bones and The Swear Jar: Proverbs 15-17 13:04

3M ago13:04

13:04

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! Did you grow up in a home with rules about swearing? I sure did! But here’s a question… Was it really about the words themselves— Or about the spirit behind them? 📖 Proverbs reminds us that our words have power— Not just to offend, but to heal or to harm. Harsh words can “dry the bones”… 💀 Leaving o…

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Sinking Sand: Joshua 21-24 15:19

3M ago15:19

15:19

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! How do you know you’ve built your life on sinking sand instead of solid rock? 📖 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh chose land outside the Promised Land—land that looked good… but wasn’t where God had led them. And what happened? Suddenly, they needed to build witnesses and monuments…

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Online Clinic Matching Tools vs. Real Expertise: What’s the Difference? 17:37

2M ago17:37

17:37

Clinic Matching Tools vs. Human Expertise: What’s the Difference? Have you ever filled out one of those online clinic-matching tools, hoping it would tell you exactly where to go for fertility treatment — only to feel more confused or unsure? In this short and powerful solo episode, I’m breaking down why those tools often don’t work the way you thi…

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Bloom Where You're Planted: Joshua 17-20 10:25

3M ago10:25

10:25

I'd love to hear from you, text me your thoughts! Manasseh and Ephraim had plenty. But instead of fully inhabiting the land they’d been given, they came to Joshua asking for more. 📖 Joshua’s response? “If you’re really as numerous and strong as you say, go clear the land you already have.” Meanwhile, Caleb and the daughters of Zelophehad asked humb…