black single mother by choice

In the second episode of Season two - Hera and Estela sit down to chat with Melissa Lindsey, the founder and director of The Donor Conceived Community (DCC). DCC provides peer support, education, and resources for people navigating donor conception and DNA discoveries. Melissa shares her story, why she started the organization, and some tips for both parents of Donor Conceived People as well as children who are Donor Conceived. 

In the final episode of season one for Seeking Different, Hera and Estela sit down with Angela Stepancic (founder of Reproductive Village Cryobank) to discuss her plans to open the first Black owned cryobank that's specifically focused on helping Black families by sourcing Black donors. Angela talks through her journey to opening (coming summer 2023) to include why she was called to start this business, her thoughts around regulations in the sperm industry, and some of the things her bank is looking to do to revolutionize the way we think about sperm donation and improve access for Black families. 

"Mama, where do babies come from?" Is this a question you've had your kids ask and don't even know where to begin? Is your child donor conceived and this question feels even more complicated as a result? We are here to help you sort through how to explain embryo creation to a child. Estela and Hera ask Alease Barnes (also known as Alease The Embryologist) about her career, what it's like being one of the only Black Embryologists in her field, and "technically" how babies are made. 

Former Mocha SMC Co-Host Hera teams up with her precocious nine year old daughter Estela in the new Podcast, "Seeking Different". They explore what it looks like to navigate the world as a non-traditional family. This mother and daughter duo will discuss hot topics such as donor sibling relationships, family travel, school choice, race relations, and navigating the playground. Follow @ Seeking Different on social media, Subscribe to our podcast "Seeking Different", and stay tuned for our first episode launching on January 31, 2023. 

In this episode, the Mocha SMCs debrief what they heard in the twins episode - spending time discussing the realities of high risk pregnancies, childcare cost, and always making decisions thinking about how your future child might feel about the decision you are about to make.

In this week's episode, the Mocha SMCs discuss the realities of living life as an SMC, what that means to us, and how integrity is woven throughout the SMC narrative. Aisha and Hera chat about what it's like to grapple with what to tell your friends and family and how to explain to complete strangers that there is no baby daddy. 

In this episode of the Mocha SMC Podcast, your Mocha SMCs catch you up on how things have been this summer and how they get the kids ready for the start of school. Highlights are the "kiss and ride", which is how Aisha refers to the carpool lane and hilarious anecdotes about the kids "tucking and rolling" out of the car and what kids look forward to as the hottest new thing to wear on the first day of school.

This is the second of the two part series on parenting tweens. Jennifer, Joy, and Yana join us again to discuss the topics of "content", "dating", and advice for new moms.

In this episode, the Mocha SMCs provide an update on the last few weeks and discuss topics such as changing covid protocol in schools, dating, the Black sperm shortage, and handling the awkward conversations from school parents when they ask "Where's the Daddy".

The Mocha SMCs are bringing you a special holiday episode where we talk about what it's like for SMCs around the holidays. We give tips and tricks to holiday survival to include where and how to hide gifts, how to handle the elf on the shelf, and what to do with TTC disappointment during the holiday season. Make sure your kids aren't around when listening because we discuss Santa and the Elf!

Join us for the second part of our season two ask us anything episode. I this episode we discuss things like - what to tell your friend when she's intent on setting you up with a guy while you are TTC, how to handle when your friends all seem to be popping out babies but you are not getting pregnant, and several others. 

This week on the Mocha Single Mothers by Choice Podcast we chat with Mocha SMC Kim. Kim was in her late twenties when she learned she had aggressive fibroids that required invasive surgery to remove. At that time, her doctor informed her that if she wanted children she'd need to consider conceiving within five years or risk not being able to have a biological child. Kim talks to the Mocha SMCs about how she discovered fibroids, her decision to become an SMC and the harrowing journey she went to have and carry her little girl.

We found a Black Embryologist ya'll! This week we chat with Alease the embryologist on the science behind baby making. We will discuss things like - what does a quality egg look like, can you still inseminate with a mosaic embryo, and is it me or HIM (male infertility and how this should factor into sperm choice)