Hopefully Kidding

Ep 12: IVF, Psychedelics, & Learning to Let Go

When our first IVF cycle failed spectacularly, we had to face a brutal reality—after years of trying, we were no closer to having a baby. So, we did the only thing left to do: hit pause. Lauren doubled down on research, acupuncture, and spreadsheets. Alex flew to the jungles of Peru to drink ayahuasca with shamans. One of us was tracking fertility supplements. The other was having visions of fatherhood (and dodging giant spiders). In this Hopefully Kidding season finale, we’re talking about what happens when you’ve tried everything and still have nothing to show for it. From navigating a fertility reset to the unexpected ways healing actually happens, this episode is about making peace with uncertainty—and finding hope when it feels impossible. What to Expect: When IVF Fails Spectacularly – Facing the fallout after spending $25K with nothing to show for it. Hitting Pause – Why stepping back was the hardest (and smartest) thing we did. Alternative Healing – Lauren’s deep dive into acupuncture, dietitians, and spirit baby readings. Ayahuasca & Fertility – Alex’s solo trip to Peru, psychedelic insights, and a life-changing moment in the jungle. The Emotional Reset – A new fertility clinic, new doctors, and the unexpected relief of a fresh start. Season 2? – What’s next for us, and what we want to hear from you. Let’s Connect: Hang out with us on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@hopefullykidding] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@HopefullyKidding] @HopefullyKidding Connect with Alex on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hooperhairpuff] @HooperHairPuff Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com [hopefullykidding@gmail.com] If this season made you laugh, cry, or feel a little less alone, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us keep sharing these raw, ridiculous, and painfully real fertility stories. 💛

Ep 11: Rolling The Dice on IVF

IVF is the ultimate gamble — one that comes with endless injections, mounting costs, and the constant hope that this cycle will be the one. After weeks of hormones and an egg retrieval that felt like a high-stakes bet, we were left with one big question: Did we hit the jackpot or bust out completely? In this episode, we break down the numbers game of IVF—how many eggs we got, what happened in the lab, and the gut-wrenching moment when we finally got the embryo report. Spoiler: it was not what we expected. What to Expect: High Stakes Egg Retrieval – The moment of truth: How many eggs did we actually get? Embryo Roulette – What really happens in the lab after retrieval (and why it’s so unpredictable). The Never-Ending Costs – More procedures, more unexpected fees — because IVF isn’t expensive enough already. Hope vs. Reality – When the numbers don’t add up and your best-case scenario suddenly isn’t an option. The Final Results – The gut punch that left us questioning everything. Let’s Connect: Hang out with us on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@hopefullykidding] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@HopefullyKidding] @HopefullyKidding Connect with Alex on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hooperhairpuff] @HooperHairPuff Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com [hopefullykidding@gmail.com] If this episode made you laugh, cry, or feel a little less alone in the madness of IVF, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us share these raw, real, and ridiculous fertility stories with others going through the chaos. 💛

Ep 10: IVF: Follicles, Freakouts, & Fertility Shots

IVF comes with a lot of expectations… and even more unexpected twists.  For Lauren, that moment of total loss of control hit outside her office, sobbing in her car over a single number: four. Four follicles. Four possible eggs. After weeks of injections, hormone fluctuations, and spending even more money on medications, her body had decided it was a slow grower—and there was nothing she could do about it. In this episode, we’re unpacking the emotional rollercoaster of IVF stimulation. From injecting menopausal nun urine (yep, that’s a thing) to playing the will-my-follicles-grow waiting game, we’re sharing the highs, lows, and WTF moments of this stage of the journey. Plus, the shot that could make or break everything: the infamous trigger injection. What to Expect: IVF Meds 101: What’s actually in those hormone injections (and why some come from nun pee). The Follicle Freakout: When your numbers are way lower than expected. More Money, More Meds: The constant upcharges that make IVF even more expensive. Shot Time Rituals: Ice packs, color-coded charts, and why Lauren refused to let Alex do the injections. The Final Countdown: The anxiety of the trigger shot—and why one mistake could ruin everything. Let’s Connect: Hang out with us on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@hopefullykidding] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@HopefullyKidding] @HopefullyKidding Connect with Alex on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hooperhairpuff] @HooperHairPuff Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com [hopefullykidding@gmail.com] If this episode made you laugh, cringe, or feel a little less alone in the madness of IVF, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us share these raw, ridiculous, and painfully real stories with others navigating fertility treatment. 💛

Ep 9: Cyst Happens

Just when we were ready to start IVF, a stubborn ovarian cyst decided to crash the party. Instead of jumping into injections, we spent three months stuck in fertility limbo—waiting, hoping, and trying to evict an uninvited guest from Lauren’s ovary. Oh, and it cost $3,000. Because of course it did. In this episode, we’re breaking down the unexpected delays, surprise diagnoses, and the financial gut-punch that came with it all. From questioning every treatment option to navigating the fresh vs. frozen embryo transfer debate (spoiler: we werevery confused), this is the reality of trying to conceive when your body refuses to cooperate. What to Expect: The Squatter in Lauren’s Ovary: How a tiny cyst delayed IVF by three months. The $3,000 Reality Check: When insurance won’t cover the procedure you suddenly need. Fresh vs. Frozen Debate: The research spiral that broke Lauren’s brain. The Surprise Diagnosis: What we learned about endometriosis (while still groggy from surgery). Injecting in the Desert: Prepping for IVF during a girls’ trip to Joshua Tree. Let’s Connect: Hang out with us onTikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@hopefullykidding] andYouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@HopefullyKidding] @HopefullyKidding Connect with Alex onInstagram [https://www.instagram.com/hooperhairpuff] @HooperHairPuff Got a story to share? Email us athopefullykidding@gmail.com [hopefullykidding@gmail.com] If this episode made you laugh, cringe, or feel a little less alone in your fertility journey, please rate and reviewHopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us share these real, raw, and ridiculous stories with others navigating infertility, IVF, and the unexpected detours along the way. 💛

Ep 8: Sex Math: A Trying to Conceive (TTC) Story

Timed sex. Ovulation test strips. Performance anxiety. Welcome to the unsexy science of trying to conceive (TTC). In this episode, we dive into the reality of tracking cycles, scheduling intimacy, and overanalyzing every symptom — plus the social media rabbit holes that made things even more chaotic. From fertility TikTok trends to sperm-friendly lifestyle changes (bye, weed), we’re sharing the ups, downs, and absurdity of turning baby-making into a full-time job. What to Expect: Sex on a Schedule: The romance-killing reality of TTC timing. Fertility Tracking Madness: OPKs, BBT, and why apps are both helpful and infuriating. The Plastic Purge: Supplements, environmental changes, and the expensive quest for “optimal” fertility. When Life Gets in the Way: Stress, loss, and the moments that threw everything off course. Let’s Connect: Hang out with us on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@hopefullykidding] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@HopefullyKidding] @HopefullyKidding Connect with Alex on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hooperhairpuff] @HooperHairPuff Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com [hopefullykidding@gmail.com] If this episode made you laugh, cringe, or question your own TTC sanity, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us share these real, raw, and ridiculous stories with others navigating the chaos of fertility. 💛