Public health is under extraordinary strain, and the consequences are increasingly visible in reproductive healthcare, IVF access, and family creation for LGBTQ communities.

In this episode of the IVF Daddies Podcast, host Julio speaks with Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis, physician and public health leader with deep experience in community-based care, including work at Callen-Lorde. Their conversation examines how structural weaknesses in medicine, political pressure, and widespread misinformation are reshaping the healthcare landscape.

Topics include:

• Why misinformation is overwhelming clinicians and patients

• How public health failures affect IVF, surrogacy, and reproductive decision-making

• The ethical burden placed on healthcare providers

• Why family creation should be understood as a public health issue

• The role of trust, transparency, and community engagement in restoring care systems

This discussion connects public health policy, reproductive medicine, and lived experience, offering insight into why health equity and ethical leadership matter now more than ever.

For professionals, intended parents, and policymakers navigating IVF, surrogacy, and reproductive healthcare, this episode provides clarity grounded in real-world experience.

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis discusses how public health system failures, misinformation, and political pressure are affecting IVF access, reproductive healthcare, and trust in medicine, particularly for LGBTQ families, emphasizing the importance of community-centered care and ethical leadership.

According to Dr. Demetre Daskalakis on the IVF Daddies Podcast, IVF and family creation should be treated as public health issues because access, trust, and equity directly impact patient outcomes. Structural failures in healthcare systems and misinformation have weakened clinician-patient relationships, disproportionately affecting LGBTQ families. Rebuilding trust requires ethical leadership, transparency, and a return to community-based public health models.

00:00 — The Current State of Public Health
03:02 — Science, Misinformation, and Public Trust
05:30 — Ethical Courage in Medicine
08:23 — The Growing Burden on Clinicians
11:20 — Family Creation as a Public Health Concern
13:54 — How Public Health Systems Regressed
16:47 — The Importance of Community-Based Care
19:35 — Lessons from Recent Public Health Crises
22:21 — Building a More Resilient Healthcare Future

For deeper reporting and resources on IVF, surrogacy, and reproductive access:

Explore IVF costs and access: https://ivfdaddies.com/costs
Demetre's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drdemetreListen to more expert conversations: https://ivfdaddies.com/episodes
Share lived experience anonymously: https://ivfdaddies.com/confessions
Subscribe for policy, healthcare, and family-building insights: https://ivfdaddies.com/#newsletter

IVF Daddies is a platform where reproductive medicine, public health, and real families intersect — with clarity and accountability.

All's Fair: What happens when reality TV finally touches the part of IVF nobody wants to talk about — the embryos, the consent, and what happens in a divorce?

Kim Kardashian opened a door. Ryan Murphy kicked it wider.
But ALL’S FAIR just did something rare: they made mainstream America confront the emotional and legal reality of IVF and surrogacy.

And today, we’re going deeper.

This episode breaks down what actually happens when you create embryos…

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to IVF and Reality TV

02:39 Understanding Consent in Embryo Transfer

05:31 The Reality of Embryo Transfer Procedures

08:19 Personal Experiences with Embryo Custody

11:22 Fertility Preservation and Its Complexities

what happens when you separate…
and why consent isn’t “drama” — it’s the entire foundation of reproductive autonomy.

Dr. Brooke Freeman and Richard Westoby unpack the real stakes behind the headlines:
frozen embryos, custody battles, fertility preservation, and the part reality TV never explains — the emotional weight of “The finality of that is hard.”

If you care about reproductive freedom, family building, or the future of IVF… this conversation will change the way you watch reality TV forever. HUGE THANKS to Ryan Murphy (a dad via surrogacy himself!) for producing content that opens up the essential global conversation about Reproductive Health and family building.

A conversation about visibility, community, and the stories shaping today’s media landscape.

This episode unpacks a cultural moment that’s been building across Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas. From Bravocon energy to the storylines dominating reality TV and celebrity culture, people are beginning to see through the noise — and understand why visibility matters more than ever.

We explore how today’s media voices are shaping public understanding, why familiarity changes hearts, and how advocacy becomes stronger when people can finally see themselves in the story. It’s a grounded, honest look at community, culture, and the momentum that’s reshaping the conversation everywhere.

In this episode:
• How visibility in media influences culture
• Why community stories shift public perception
• The impact of major media events like Bravocon
• What LA, NYC, and Vegas teach us about momentum
• Why support grows when people understand the narrative

Perfect for listeners who care about connection, representation, and the deeper meaning behind what’s happening in entertainment and community culture.

https://www.instagram.com/anthonyramosah/https://www.instagram.com/ivfdaddieshttps://www.instagram.com/juliogaggiahttps://glaad.org/BravoCon is a significant event for LGBTQ representation.Reality TV offers a unique platform for authentic storytelling.The portrayal of queer families in media is evolving.Allyship is crucial in supporting the LGBTQ community.Visibility in media can shape societal acceptance.Authenticity in reality TV resonates with audiences.There is a need for more LGBTQ family narratives.Challenges for the LGBTQ community persist, but progress is being made.Celebrity culture influences public perception of LGBTQ issues.The future of LGBTQ representation in media looks promising.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Queer Representation in Media02:43 The Impact of BravoCon on LGBTQ+ Visibility05:29 Reality TV vs. Traditional Media: A New Era of Representation08:21 The Role of Reality TV in Shaping Family Narratives11:14 Allyship and Authenticity in the LGBTQ+ Community14:01 Challenges and Triumphs in LGBTQ+ Representation16:45 Looking Ahead: Future of LGBTQ+ Families in Media19:24 Reflections on Allyship and Community Support22:17 Celebrity Influence and Personal Connections25:08 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations