fertilyfe

| fertilyfe Podcast Season 1
"Make it a Great Day." My Dad shared this every morning.
One year into his passing, it became my mantra. It’s about saying "yes" to life. 
This mantra supported me in coping with grief and seven years of IVF.
This episode shares his wisdom in honor of his legacy and in support of anyone in the throes of grief and IVF. 

At fertilyfe, we talk a lot about Intentional Coping. Often, that means finding ways to make it a great day even when it feels impossibly heavy. But to truly move forward, we must first honor and validate the space we’re in.
For those navigating the agony of miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, carrying that weight can feel incredibly isolating.
That’s why the latest podcast episode is so meaningful. It features Paul Caine, co-founder of Griffin Cares, a foundation dedicated to honoring Paul and Pam’s son, Griffin, by supporting families through pregnancy and infant loss.
We had a deeply moving conversation about community, including Remembrance Day, and how we carry our stories forward. Some highlights:
Saying Their Names: The profound power of speaking our loved one’s names out loud as an act of intentional coping.
The Wave of Light: The power of global connection, every October 15th, to remember the light we all hold within - and how it beams brighter when supported by community.
Validating the Weight of Grief: The necessary part of honoring grief.
Carrying the Story Forward: Integrating our past into a life of purpose.
Support Groups as a Safe Harbor: Finding communities where everyone "gets it."
The "Journey" vs. The Life Path: Reframing the word "journey" into a life-long walk we do together.

| fertilyfe Podcast Season 1
When feeling down, looking up can be a physical way to truly shift your perspective. We are so often looking down - at our phones in particular- that we forget about the beauty of the world around us. When life feels contained to grief, looking up and around can be a way to remember a way forward. 

What does it take to find a fertility doctor who truly understands your case? How do you process the grief of changing your family-building plans?
In this episode, Rachel sits down with her dear friend and medical innovator, Dr. Angie Beltsos. 
From building and selling Vios Fertility, to founding the MRSI conference, opening her new clinic Aretee, and working with National Geographic to save the white rhino via IVF—Dr. Beltsos approaches her work with incredible ease and humility.
This conversation covers critical topics for the fertilyfe community:
The Doctor-Patient Partnership: Why you deserve a physician who takes the time to know your name and your case.
Exploring Your Options: Navigating the grief of IVF and making empowered, informed decisions about alternative paths.
The Gift of Surrogacy: Rachel and Angie share their personal experiences with surrogacy, honoring the incredible women who helped them bring their daughters into the world.
The Future of IVF: Innovations in science and the push for a better, high-touch patient experience.
Remember: If you want to be a parent, you will be a parent.
Learn more on the websit: fertilyfe.com

| fertilyfe Podcast Season 1
'Make It A Great Day' isn’t just  a cheerful greeting. It started as a survival tactic based on the answer to my prayer, when I was in despair on a desolate beach in December 2020.
In this episode, I share the raw, unedited story of the 'Twilight Zone Nightmare'— suddenly losing my Dad while navigating “futile IVF as the world shut down for COVID—and the exact moment I heard my Dad’s voice give me the guidance to keep going.
This is the story of how I went from screaming into the void to finding my agency and embracing life.

| fertilyfe Podcast Season 1
"If you want to be a parent, you'll be a parent." 
That was my mantra throughout seven years of IVF, including surrogacy. 
My Dad said it when I first started IVF.  Then, he unexpectedly passed away.
Coping with cumulative grief, I leaned on my Dad's wisdom during the hardest years of my life.
This episode expands upon the article published with Columbia University Fertility to address the interconnectivity of grief with the fertility experience, and the value of acceptance and optionality.

Seven years ago, I was navigating a "futile" infertility diagnosis while grieving the sudden death of my father, Alan Gerber. I was suffering in silence, facing a medical and legal "Wild West."
This episode details the reality of post-traumatic growth through cumulative grief, prolonged IVF, and the isolation of the COVID pandemic.
When we were faced with the daunting IVF process, my father inspired us to move forward while remaining open to all options. He told us: "If you want to be a parent, you'll be a parent."
Months later, he passed away. Approaching the one-year anniversary of his passing, I found a directive in his most powerful lesson: "Make It A Great Day."
That realization allowed me to become the CEO of my own experience.
In this episode, we discuss:
Compound Grief: Navigating fertility trauma alongside loss.
The "CEO" Mindset: Moving from passive patient to active leader.
The Mantras: Mindset shifts as survival tools.
ABOUT FERTILYFE:
fertilyfe is a clinically informed media platform and coping community dedicated to solving the critical void in fertility patient advocacy. Our mission is to empower Aspiring Parents (APs) to bring their parenthood dreams to lyfe through intentional coping and informed decision-making.
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: https://www.fertilyfe.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fertilyfe/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilyfe/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fertilyfe?_r=1&_t=ZT-926hUQW6Rfa
 

| fertilyfe Podcast Season 1
Welcome to fertilyfe. We are a clinically informed media platform and coping community dedicated to the interconnectivity of grief and fertility.
Mission: To empower Aspiring Parents (APs) to bring their dreams to lYfe through intentional coping and informed decision-making.
Our Story: Founded by Rachel Gerber Kule and Matthew Kule, fertilyfe was born from seven years of IVF, surrogacy, and the "wild west" of medical advocacy. Amidst prolonged treatment, Rachel navigated the sudden loss of her father, Alan "Al" Gerber, and the isolation of a global pandemic.
These concurrent, transformational experiences revealed a critical void in the patient experience: Intentional coping and informed decision-making.
Our Philosophy:
We are done with the word "journey." Fertility is a significant life event.
It’s YOUR life. The tree of life is yours to nurture.
The "Y" is intentional. It represents our "Why"—to help you become the CEO of your own experience.
The Mantras: Inspired by Rachel's father, we operate on two core beliefs that helped us power through cumulative grief:
"If you want to be a parent, you’ll be a parent."
"Make It A Great Day."
We encourage every Aspiring Parent to stay open to your options, accept your path, and embrace the flow of life.
Subscribe to follow our new series.
Connect with us:
Website: https://www.fertilyfe.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fertilyfe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilyfe/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fertilyfe?_r=1&_t=ZT-926hUQW6Rfa
#fertility #ivf #surrogacy #grief #mentalhealth #fertilyfe #makeitagreatday