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I'm so pleased to share this conversation. In this episode, I interview Dr. Shabana Bora and Dr. Kate McLaren about their innovative fertility clinic, Alma emphasising personalised care, holistic approaches, and the importance of trust and honesty in fertility treatment. We talk about: The founding story of Alma Clinic and its independent model The importance of continuity of care in fertility treatment Holistic and personalised approaches to fertility and women's health Addressing misinformation and online myths about fertility The emotional support essential during fertility journeys Future plans for Alma and expanding women's health services I'm so grateful to both of these amazing women who founded Alma for their support in bringing the final episodes of the Life Raft Podcast to your ears by sponsoring me. Alma are the only clinic to offer free access to the coaching platform Fertility Life Raft that I have been running since 2020. It's been an incredible privilege to support their patients. resources Alma Fertility Clinic - https://almafertility.com/ Fertility Action - https://fertilityaction.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feeling in need of a reset? Take our free quiz to find out what sort of self care will best suit you - because not everyone needs a meditation: https://fertilityliferaft.com/quiz On this episode, I’m joined by leading health psychologist and author of It's All in Your Body: A Practical Roadmap to Healing, Dr Sula Windgassen, to talk all things mind–body connection and what it means for your fertility journey. Dr. Sula shares her personal experience of living with chronic, debilitating bladder symptoms that left her feeling dismissed by the medical profession. When traditional medical routes didn’t provide answers, it was as a last resort she began exploring mindfulness thanks to her Dad's suggestion; she finally found relief and this led to a her research and vocation as a health pyschologist. This is a MUCH needed voice in the mind-body space... We talk about: What the mind–body connection actually means (and what it doesn’t) The difference between stressors, stress reactions, and your response Reframing your relationship with your body during infertility Letting go of self-blame How mindfulness can change your relationship with symptoms and uncertainty If you found this helpful please leave a review! It takes 30 seconds and means a lot. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING! Dr. Sula Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_health_psychologist_/ Ready to learn how to take ownership of your mind and live your life even through infertility? Join my coaching membership, shortlisted for Best Coach and Best Fertility Service: https://fertilityliferaft.com/membership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want to find your fertility voyager archetype? Click here to take my quiz and receive a personalised self care report: https://fertilityliferaft.com/quiz Jennifer Edmonds is one of those people you cannot help but be drawn to online! Her hilarious RELATABLE reels combined with gentle invitations to reconnect to your body through yoga and pilates is so needed in the fertility space. The founder of Elements Pilates & Yoga, Jen, based in Australia but with a global audience, supports women through infertility and pregnancy loss using fertility yoga, pilates and nervous system work. Jen shares her own fertility journey in this episode, which includes an early menopause diagnosis in her early 30s, which led to cycles that didn’t respond to IVF medication, and years of trying to understand what was happening in her body. Against the odds, she conceived her daughter through IVF. But when she later faced secondary infertility, multiple failed treatments and pregnancy loss, everything changed again. It was discovering yoga during the COVID lockdown that helped Jen reconnect with her body, regulate her nervous system, and slowly rebuild trust in herself. We talk about: Being diagnosed with early menopause in your 30s IVF cycles that don’t go to plan Secondary infertility and the guilt that can come with it The role of nervous system regulation in fertility How yoga and spiritual practices supported Jen through loss and pregnancy So much of the fertility journey happens in the spaces between appointments. Those days, weeks and months where you are waiting for answers. How you care for yourself during those stretches makes a huge difference. Jen's yoga programme link is here (affiliate) Alice x PS are you enjoying these episodes? Could you take 2 minutes to rate and review the show on Apple podcasts or Spotify? THANK YOU SO MUCH! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you keep calm and stop spiralling when you don’t have control of the outcome? I KNOW it feels impossible... So here's my take on how to focus your mind so you feel less spiral-ly when your life is planned around appointments; your mood depends on the next phone call and your brain has already begun examining things that haven’t happened yet. Your thoughts can feel SO LOUD during fertility treatment. So, in this episode, I’ll talk about: What “inner narrative” actually means (in normal language) Why thoughts are not facts How to cope with cancelled cycles and scan anxiety Getting through the two week wait without constant symptom-checking Being there for someone else, while protecting your own energy Got a question you'd like me to talk about or a topic you really want to hear? Send me an email to [email protected] or a dm to @fertilityliferaft Alice x   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Need help living your life while you try to have a baby? Take the free quiz to find out what sort of Fertility Voyager Archetype you are: https://fertilityliferaft.com/quiz I LOVED this conversation with Lindsey Keohane who is bringing such a breath of fresh air to my social media feed. I knew I had to have her on the pod as - if you've been here a while you'll know - living and waiting at the same time is what we're about. Lindsey has experienced three pregnancy losses and is now going through IVF with genetic testing...but this conversation really isn't about treatment, even though it is of course a part of the story. It’s about what happens to your life when everything begins to revolve around “maybe this month.” We talk about Lindsey's story so far; how she's managing social media and why it's so important to trust your doctor. We also break down an Instagram post Lindsey shared that resonated with thousands of women: her decision to stop putting life on hold while trying to conceive and how she's planning to do it, including things like: To buy clothes she enjoys now; not for pregnancy.To plan holidays even if treatment might interrupt them.To do things that bring joy without attaching them to fertility outcomes. Living does not mean you don’t care, and enjoying your life does not reduce your chances. If you feel like everything is paused…If you feel guilty making plans…If you’ve been measuring your life in cycles and months… You're going to love this. Alice x Lindsey's account: https://www.instagram.com/littlebylindsey/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Take my Fertility Archetype Quiz for free here: https://fertilityliferaft.com/quiz In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Lucky Sekhon, fertility doctor and board certified OBGYN, and author of The Lucky Egg. She’s guided thousands of women through IVF, egg freezing and conception… and she’s also been a patient herself. We talk about lots of the things I see every single day in my work. The belief that if a cycle didn’t work, you must have done something wrong. You worked too much. You exercised too hard. You didn’t relax enough. You ate the wrong thing. You were stressed. Dr. Lucky explains why, biologically, that usually isn’t true. We talk about: Her own experience of cancelled cycles, self-blame and IVF emotions Why “being perfect” during treatment doesn’t determine the outcome The overlooked role of sperm in embryo development Red flags to watch for in online fertility advice What a good fertility clinic relationship should feel like Many women try to control fertility by controlling themselves — their food, their routines, their stress, their bodies. But fertility treatment doesn’t work like a test you can revise harder for. Human reproduction is inefficient. Biology is messy. And when treatment doesn’t work, your brain looks for a cause and often chooses you. If you’ve ever replayed a cycle in your head… If you’ve ever believed a failed transfer was your fault… If you’ve ever thought “maybe I ruined my chances…” I hope this episode lets you breathe a little easier. Alice x PS did you find this helpful? please take a couple of seconds to review this episode! thank you SO much for your support, it means the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

- Take the quiz to find out your fertility voyager archetype and get your personalised self care report here: https://fertilityliferaft.com/quiz This conversation addresses the reality of having to keep showing up, at work, in meetings, in your life, while you feel like you're falling apart. I’m joined by excellent Chloe Sowter. She’s an IVF mum, a travel influencer; an executive coach and a former HR director before she chose the entrepreneur life... Chloe is also a previous coaching client so we know each other really well which always makes for excellent conversation! Chloe brings something different - a deep understanding of what it means to hold ambition, grief, identity, and hope all at the same time. She shares her story of trying to conceive while working in high-pressure government roles through Brexit and COVID. Of navigating IVF, miscarriage, and loss while continuing to lead, deliver, and perform. Of believing, like so many women do, that infertility was her problem to manage quietly, without burdening anyone else. We talk about: How work can be a lifeline, not a threat, during infertility Why stress is often misunderstood in fertility conversations The emotional reality of miscarriage that doesn’t fit neat timelines Making the deeply personal decision to be “one and done” Letting go of embryos and what that really requires This is a really inspiring episode of how to deal with fertility and work while you hold ALL the complexities of IVF at the same time - and the power of personal development for this season and all of the following ones too... Links: Little Green Shoots @thatholidaymum on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you taken my quiz? https://fertilityliferaft.com/quiz for a personalised self care report -click the link and spend 2 minutes answering a few questions and I'll send your results over to you ,so you know exactly what to focus on. Links: Find out more about OVUM at s⁠tartwithovum.com⁠ 15% off with code LIFERAFT This episode is a full-circle moment for me after Jenny approached me back in 2022 to ask if they could feature a meditation of mine inside their pregnancy test boxes. Of course I said YES. This is a conversation about science, but more than that, it’s about care. It's about what happens when businesses, clinics, and medical professionals choose to discuss infertility with integrity and honesty. I’m joined by Jenny Wordsworth, founder of OVUM, who support fertility through innovative products and supplements. It’s a brand that has never felt like a “brand” to me, but an ally in the background saying: we see you, and we won’t lie to you. If you’ve ever felt blamed, rushed, or sold to then this episode is for you. We talk about: Why emotional support belongs in fertility care from the very beginning Bringing men into the fertility conversation The myth of “silver bullet” supplements What ethical fertility care actually looks like The one question Jenny believes every IVF clinic should ask you This episode isn’t about doing more but about doing what helps. It’s about recognising that fertility is biological, psychological, and social, and how we can build a future where fewer people feel dismissed, blamed, or alone. If you’re in the middle of this, you’re not imagining how hard it is and you don’t have to carry it all by yourself. Alice x I want to thank OVUM for helping me get this podcast out to you with their sponsorship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let's be honest, January can feel a bit MEH, especially if you’re on a fertility journey and facing another year of uncertainty. Planning can feel impossible when you don’t know what’s going to happen, so I’m sharing my unique approach to planning when you have no idea how the year is going to go. If January feels grey and overwhelming, this episode should feel like a bit of a lifeline! SUPPORT NOW: You can join my free 10-day walking challenge anytime and download the free journal https://fertilityliferaft.com/walk I’m also running my Visions & Intentions 2026 workshop you can come live or grab the replay: https://yes.thisisalicerose.com/visions2026 Or do yourself an amazing service for 2026 and join us in the Fertility Life Raft membership, where you'll get access to EVERYTHING at:https://fertilityliferaft.com/membership you can cancel any time and it is just bloomin' brilliant if I do say so myself xx Thanks for being here, I'm so glad you are :) Take care, Alice x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Full Masterclass Audio! I've done something a little bit different this week - if you missed my live free masterclass last week, then fear not... for: VOILA! I have shared the full audio from the Big Calm Reset complete with meditations, journal prompts, affirmations and more, all here for you to listen to at your pleasure! Absolutely thrilled to be enrolling new students into my beautiful 6 week mindset course: RECLAIM right now you can find out the info and join us (we start November 3rd) right here: https://fertilityliferaft.com/reclaim Need to run through anything or ask me some questions? No problem, send me an email [email protected] or drop me an IG message https://www.instagram.com/fertilityliferaft/ (I'm partial to a voice note!) Take care Alice x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ Resistance, Acceptance & the Unexpected Path to Motherhood This is one of those episodes that will stay with you long after you’ve listened. I’m joined by two remarkable guests — Kreena Dhiman and Seetal Savla — for a deeply layered, honest, and soul-shifting conversation on fertility, cultural pressure, and what it means to stop resisting and begin accepting the journey as it is. Both women share their raw paths to motherhood — cancer, heart failure, miscarriage, surrogacy, donor conception, and finally, miraculous birth — each story laced with grief, hope, grit, and love. We explore: South Asian cultural expectations and the shame-silence loop Redefining success and letting go of “the plan” What it means to surrender without giving up How hope evolves beyond outcomes Why grief and gratitude often walk hand in hand 🔥 Special Segment for the Soul:"I didn’t just survive death to listen to you tell me how to live." Kreena’s moment of purpose and Seetal’s redefinition of hope will hit you straight in the heart. 💥 FREE LIVE EVENT 👉 Sign up for The Exhaustion Remedy, a transformative space to reconnect with yourself as you navigate TTC. 📲 Kreena Dhiman Instagram: @kreendhiman Website: kreendhiman.com 📲 Seetal Savla Instagram: @seetalsavla LinkedIn: Seetal Savla 🛟 Your Life Raft Reminder: Grief and gratitude can live in the same breath. Hope isn’t one fixed outcome — it’s a shape-shifter. Let this episode remind you of your strength — even if all you’re doing is breathing through today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if the very thing you’re doing to try and stay in control… is actually what’s making you feel so lost? In this solo episode, I’m unpacking what happens when the journey to conceive takes over everything. Not just your calendar, your diet, your sleep, and your supplement regime — but your sense of self. I’m sharing my own experience of feeling consumed by advice, routines, “must-dos,” and the crushing pressure to optimize every detail of my fertility — right down to one very memorable (and strangely guilt-inducing) slice of ham. Because when we’re in the thick of it, even the smallest deviation from the plan can feel catastrophic. And that’s the problem. This episode is for you if: You’re feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to “do everything right” You’ve lost touch with the person you were before TTC You need permission to just breathe without tying it to fertility outcomes Let this be your reminder: you are allowed to reconnect with yourself — not just as someone trying to conceive, but as someone worthy of compassion, space, and care… now. Not “once it works,” but now. I’ll walk you through what that kind of reconnection can look like and why it’s not just fluff — it’s essential. If you’re nodding along, make sure to sign up for the free Fertility Exhaustion Remedy — we start soon and I’d love to support you inside. 👉 fertilityliferaft.com/remedy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can’t sleep… even though you’re bone tired? I get it — and so does today’s guest, Khaliah O’Guillory, certified sleep coach and founder of Nap Bar. Whether your insomnia or sleep issues are tied to stress, fertility struggles, burnout, or just a brain that won’t switch off… this episode is here to give you both comfort and actual tools to help. We talk about: What to do in those dreaded 2am wide-awake moments The “don’t look at the clock” rule (seriously, stop doing that) How to stop putting pressure on sleep so you can actually… sleep What segmented sleep is and why it might be a game-changer for you The 10-3-2-1-0 method for better sleep hygiene (even if you’re a night owl) The surprising impact of joy and true rest on your health + resilience We also explore the deeper stuff — like how rest isn’t just about sleep, but about reclaiming who you are when life feels overwhelming. If you’ve been feeling like a shell of yourself, or you’re trying to “push through” exhaustion (hello, type-A energy), this is your gentle invitation to pause and rethink what your body really needs right now. Khalia’s blend of infectious positive energy, science, soul and seriously practical advice makes this one of the most grounding and encouraging conversations I’ve had in a long time. Come for the sleep tips, stay for the reminder that you’re a dope human who deserves rest. Subscribe so you never miss these life-rafty convos. Follow Khaliah @kogspeaks + @napbarhou Nap Bar’s curated sleep playlists on Spotify: search “Nap Bar Sleep Scape” Book recommendation: Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith Resources & Links: When you know yourself, you can give yourself what you need - take our Fertility Voyager Archetype quiz and start your path of reclamation today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this deeply moving and empowering conversation, Alice welcomes Katie to the Fertility Life Raft Podcast. Katie shares her unexpected journey through infertility, the decision to step away from treatment without a baby, and how she has built a joyful and fulfilling life on her own terms. Together, they discuss: The "escalator of life" and the social conditioning around marriage and motherhood Two distinct chapters of infertility in Katie’s 30s The intentional decision-making process before trying again in her mid-30s The relief and grief that came with walking away from IVF Creating Afterglow, Katie’s Substack community for women navigating life after fertility treatment Why we need more honest stories about when treatment doesn’t work out How acceptance, joy, and personal growth can coexist with grief Katie’s story is an inspiring reminder that fulfillment and purpose don’t depend on following society’s blueprint, and that there is beauty in rewriting your own story. Katie is the writer and founder of Afterglow, a growing Substack community for women who are considering stepping away—or have already stepped away—from fertility treatment. Through honest essays and personal reflections, she challenges dominant fertility narratives and creates a compassionate, uplifting space for those navigating life beyond IVF. Follow Katie on Substack: Afterglow Connect on Instagram: @afterglow_by_Katie Listen to related episodes: Jessica Hepburn Kat Brown Katie is a client and previous Life Raft member; you can click here to see what sort of support is available now: http://fertilityliferaft.com/everything ✨ “It’s such a personal decision to walk away, but for me it was about realising a baby would add to my life—not complete it.” ✨ “There aren’t enough stories about when fertility treatment doesn’t work out—and how that can still be a happy ending.” ✨ “Energy flows where attention goes. Once I stepped away, I had the space to build a joyful life in a new way.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mini chat with Alice and Lucy on what happens when both of you feel burnt out (relevant if you're doing this solo too) and discussing a post by Katie from the wonderful https://fertilityaction.org/ on gel nail polish... Come and follow us on social media https://www.instagram.com/fertilityliferaft Email us with a Message in a Bottle: [email protected] Get some free support https://fertilityliferaft.com/quiz See you next week, Alice and Lucy x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices