Welcome to Conversations, the podcast with Surrogacy Australia.
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Join Anna McKie in conversation with surrogates and parents who have navigated Australian altruistic surrogacy. Anna is a gestational surrogate, high school Math teacher and surrogacy educator working with Surrogacy Australia and running SASS (Surrogacy Australia’s Support Service).
These podcasts were recorded as part of our free, fortnightly webinar series. If you would like to attend one, check out our dates and registration links. The recordings can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.
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Recent episodes
Episode 116 – Kristy – straight mum
Kristy and Ben from Canberra became parents when their surrogate, and now life long friend Marnie, birthed their daughter Sienna in August 2018. Kristy was one of our original SASS Parent Mentors and has helped many IPs at the beginning of their journey.
Episode 115 – Fraser – gay dad
Fraser and David, from Sydney, became dads to their son (Harry) in June 2024. Harry was carried by their surrogate Rachel who is David’s sister. It was traditional surrogacy, meaning Rachel was the surrogate and egg donor. They went through IVF (as opposed to home inseminations) and were successful first go.
Episode 114 – Education – Ideas for IPs (Intended Parents) in waiting
This series of episodes springs from my work with SASS (Surrogacy Australia’s Support Service). When Intended Parents (IPs) have completed their profile and are in the pool of IPs waiting to connect with a surrogate, I do monthly check-ins to make sure they’re still active and waiting. I like to give some guidance and support along the way because the waiting game can be hard.
This series of episodes are designed as though they are a letter to the waiting IPs.
Episode 113 – How to tell your child their birth story
Hear the simple yet meaningful technique that Psychologist Katrina Hale has developed to help you develop the unique birth story narrative for your child.
Katrina and covers questions such as:
❤️ How do I tell my child their birth story?
🧡 When to tell them?
💛 Why is it important?
💚 How much information do I share?
💙 What language do I use?
💜 How often should I tell them?
🤎 How formal/informal does it need to be?
SJ birthed as a surrogate in Brisbane in March 2025 for a couple who were initially strangers and are now life long friends. They had a little girl, Blake, and her parents are Emma and Steve who also live nearby on the Gold Coast. SJ is a member of the Surrogacy Australia Board, a regular on our Zoom monthly catch ups and advocates for surrogacy at every chance she gets!
Episode 111 – Laura – straight mum
Laura and husband Brendan from Penrith, became parents to their son (Mason) in February 2025. Mason was carried by surrogate Brie, who is Brendan’s sister, and was also created using donor eggs from Laura’s niece, Tiger. It was a very long journey to parenthood with endometriosis, adenomyosis, a full hysterectomy and low AMH levels (meaning low egg reserves). So Mason was nearly a 10 year journey in the making.
Episode 110 – Education – I’m nervous about surrogacy
It’s very normal to be nervous about surrogacy, both as an Intended Parent and as a potential surrogate. There are others who have gone before you, as well as experienced counsellors who can help you to navigate through those feelings.