Same Sex, Same Sht (Rochelle and Maddy)

Sarah was raised in the church by an ordained Presbyterian Minister and in this episode shares how she navigated discovering her sexuality and coming out (being forced out of the closet) after an incredibly closeted and homophobic upbringing.

We all want our kids to trust us, and feel completely comfortable to tell us anything right? In the second half of the episode we explore why Sarah became a psychologist, her professional insights as a psychologist specialising in youth mental health, the secret to creating an open relationship with your kids and how to support their mental well-being and identity development.

You will gain so much more from this episode than you realise!

Personal IG: @those.twomums

Podcast IG: @samesexpodcast

Podcast TikTok: @samesexpodcast

How do you even go about a home insemination as a same-sex couple? Hilary and Amy have been on a JOURNEY to conceive their two little ones. From home inseminations, IUIs, IVF, ICSI, changing clinics, known donors, anonymous donors and more. I don't think there is an aspect of the IVF journey they haven't been through.

This week we discuss how all of those different parts of the journey looked for them, their mental health through it all and how they navigated when Hilary wanted to carry but wasn't falling pregnant, then Amy did.

Absolute legends and absolute great chat.

We answer all of your juicy questions and help you get to know us a little bit better. This is such a fun, light hearted and easy listen. We chat about:

• How did we meet?
• Who wears the pants in the relationship? Is that even a thing with lesbians?
• How do we share and support each other as parents?
• Do we feel comfortable with PDA in public?
• Do we fight? and how often?
• Have we both been with males before? When/how?
• Do we find it "easier" being two females rather than a male/female relationship?
• Plus we discuss a DITL of our jobs as a firefighter and paramedic and do we love or hate shift work??

Follow us at @those.twomums to stay up to date with the pod and our queer daily life

Ingrid shares how her internal values and feelings on personal identity shaped the path of her and her wife's IVF journey. It's no secret that same-sex IVF journeys are well thought out and planned processes, but sometimes when navigating the waters you can get lost in medical jargon, what the professionals think is "best" for you and end up following what is considered a standard progression of IUIs, onto IVF, onto ICSI and a whole lot of confusion and even more medical procedures that come with it.

Ingrid shares how not to get lost through the IVF process and become another statistic in the medical world. Identity is a huge factor within the queer community and our IVF journeys encounter so many other personal factors that need to be considered. Learn how to stand up for yourself, your values and do your best to stay true to yourself through the journey.

Ingrid also shares her and her wife Kaylas IVF journey to their 3 beautiful little ones and how it all went down, using her wifes brother as a sperm donor.

Follow us @those.twomums on IG and @samesexpodcast on TikTok to stay up to date with the pod and bts of our daily queer life x

Maddy shares what it is like to go through pregnancy carrying your partners embryo and the emotions and feelings that come with carrying a baby that is biologically not yours.

We chat about the decision making process of reciprocal IVF from the non-biological parents perspective, bonding with the baby during pregnancy and after they're born, how to navigate family opinions from both sides and how Maddy felt when she thought she would never carry her own embryo after many failed attempts during conceiving for our second.

Follow us to stay up to date with the podcast and bts of our daily lesbian life

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Kayla sheds some much needed light on what it is like going through IVF as a same-sex couple, using sibling sperm donation. Kaylas wife Ingrid carried their three kids using her egg, and Kaylas brother as their sperm donor. Kayla shares the early conversations around their IVF journey, how they made the decision to use her brother as their donor and every other aspect that comes with that decision.

Kayla presents this topics so well and is such an inspiration for anyone considering going down this path on their own IVF journey, as well as those who are unaware of the process of using a known donor.

Her story is a MUST listen!

Follow us @those.twomums to stay up to date with the pod and our daily queer life x

Laura shares her and her wife Georgies fertility journey to their little boy Rupert. Laura initially opens up about her journey in discovering her sexuality and how it led her to her now wife Georgie. For their fertility journey, she speaks on how anonymous sperm donation did not align with their family building goals due to previous family history.

Laura shares their journey with a known donor and how they navigated that alongside a fertility clinic. In this episode she discusses in detail the known donor world, their unsuccessful home insemination and everything surrounding what was involved in that and then onto their (surprise) successful IUI on their second attempt.

Laura explains all of these topics so beautifully and in so much detail, she also touches on their discussions around RIVF for their second baby and the journey they're about to embark on with that.

Personal IG: @those.twomums

Podcast IG: @samesexpodcast

Podcast TikTok: @samesexpodcast

Today Jess shares her fertility journey with her partner Bianca. Jess opens up about exploring her sexuality later in life, meeting Bianca and their discussions around having kids, IVF and who would carry first.

Jess shares how they had to navigate extremely long sperm donor wait lists and the avenues they explored after feeling deflated by the whole process. Jess and Bianca went through IUIs and reciprocal IVF on their journey to daughter Stevie.

Jess opens up about the challenges they faced, including navigating the healthcare system as a same-sex couple, the emotional highs and lows of the IVF process, and how their relationship has grown stronger through it all.

Personal IG: @those.twomums

Podcast IG: @samesexpodcast

Podcast TikTok: @samesexpodcast

WE LOVE A GOOD BIRTH STORY!! This week, for our first ep, we are bringing you Maddys birth story with our daughter Macklyn. We talk about:

• Why she chose to have an elective caesarean (spoiler)
• Going through the private hospital system
• The lead up to the day and what we did to prepare
• How her birth day played out
• Recovering from a caesarean

And so much more!!Follow us on instagram to stay up to date with all future episodes at @those.twomums

We get very vulnerable in this episode, sharing both of our (very different) coming out stories. How did we know we were gay? and when? What do we identify as? We also chat about why representation is SO important in the lgbtqi+ space and share some stories about times we have been assumed straight.This is a safe space and we hope that this conversation helps, educates or speaks to someone.

Follow us @those.twomums to stay up to date with the pod and our daily queer life x

Ali Brigginshaw was told at the age on 12 that she wasn't allowed to play NRL anymore, because she was a girl. Now 22 years on she is the captain of the Brisbane Broncos, QLD State of Origin squad and Australian Jilaroos. This week on the podcast, Ali shares her journey to becoming an professional sports star in the NRLW and what happens when you never give up on your dreams. She shares advice for the younger generation who are pursuing their dreams and goals as well as her love for competition and athleticism.

Ali also opens up about why she will always show PDA with her wife in public, her coming out story and how to be inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly within team sports.

Follow us at @those.twomums on IG and @samesexpodcast on TikTok to stay up to date with the pod and bts of our daily lesbian life x

Queers, queens and in-betweens! Maddy and Rochelle sit down to discuss in detail, their second IVF journey for baby #2. They talk on how they went about it second time around, why Maddy is carrying again, their experiences with navigating different highs and lows for the first time, using the same donor / limited donor sperm as well as Maddy going through IVF for the first time. AND they have some very exciting news!!!

Follow at @those.twomums to stay up to date with the pod and their daily queer life x

Why is coming out so difficult and how to be more confident with your sexuality. As a queer person, coming out never stops. To the doctor, a new colleague, the friendly stranger at your kids swimming lessons. And while over time, it can get easier, it can also still be hard, and scary and awkward. On this weeks episode we delve into just WHY is coming out so hard? and so scary? and so awkward? We chat about:

• Pivotal awkward moment in our early coming out days
• Navigating those difficult conversations when coming out
• What factors contribute to making coming out EVEN harder?
• Why do we crave acceptance so much?
• How to be more confident with your own sexuality
• Fostering support and acceptance in our kids while they're growing up
• What do to if your loved ones don't accept you after you come outFollow at @those.twomums to stay up to date with the pod and their daily queer life x

In our second episode we get deep and chat about something near and dear to our hearts and that is our IVF journey. We keep saying "this is the episode we needed when we were going through our journey", so if you're planning on starting IVF, currently going through it or just interested in the whole process.. this is the ep for you!

We chat about:

• Why we chose to do reciprocal IVF
• What we did to prepare ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally and financially
• Step by step through the entire process
• Our decision making process behind choosing a donor
• How much the whole thing actually cost us?!

and so much more!

We don't delve into all parts of fertility treatments as we can't speak on that behalf but we hope you find this episode super informative and get a few good tips out of it!

Follow us at @those.twomums to stay up to date with the pod and our queer daily life

This week Rochelle shares her thoughts and feelings around the idea of becoming pregnant for the first time, and tosses up whether this is something she wants to do. She has never had a desire to carry, never entertained the idea of a baby bump and even more so has just never actually wanted to be pregnant. In this weeks episode, Rochelle and Maddy break down where these feelings are coming from, how to navigate them and validate others in a same-sex relationship who don't necessarily align with wanting to carry a pregnancy as well.

**we do discuss lack of desire and conversations around not wanting to be pregnant, so if you are currently on your TTC journey this may be a sensitive topic for you. Please feel free to skip this episode and come back to an episode that feels more aligned to you x

Personal IG: @those.twomums

Podcast IG: @samesexpodcast

Podcast TikTok: @samesexpodcast

This week, we are unpacking how we label ourselves and chat all things gender expression. Grab a coffee, beer or beverage of your choice, sit back and enjoy the rouge, unfiltered lesbian conversation that is ahead. Rochelle has a problem that she wanted to unpack on the mic so Maddy (and you guys) are her therapists for the week. We talk about labels within the lesbian community and what gender expression means to us. Rochelle and Maddy have very different journeys with sexuality and gender expression and how they've navigated both together. This is their take on this topic, everyone has their own experiences and remember labels are only fun if they feel GOOD and RIGHT for you x

Follow us at @those.twomums to stay up to date with the pod and our queer daily life x

Sperm is a hot topic in the lesbian world... but only when it comes to IVF of course.

Welcome to Episode 1 of our new IVF mini series; where you'll find bite sized pieces deep diving into specific aspects of a same-sex IVF journey.

This week we discuss (+ more):

• Our donor + donor picking process and information you get
• Where do you even start? Step by step process
• Australian vs International donors
• Known vs Anonymous donors
• Budget + cost
• Wait times for donor registry access
• How many do I actually get to pick from??
• Meeting donor siblings
• How to navigate your kids asking about their donor

Follow us at @those.twomums on IG and @samesexpodcast on TikTok to stay up to date with the pod and bts of our daily lesbian life x

This week I chat with Georgia Hinkley who is part of a same sex couple from WA and has two beautiful daughters, that her wife Kayla carried. Georgia is so open and raw in this conversation about the thoughts and real life situations that she has faced being the non-birthing parent.What does it feel like becoming a mum but not actually giving birth?? or not being the one to carry the baby? How on earth do I bond with it? THIS is the episode that I needed going through mine and Maddys own IVF journey and as the "non-birthing" parent, I struggled with how I was going to bond with the baby when Maddy, my fiance', gave birth. Georgia and I discuss:

• How we made the decision who in the relationship was going to carry our children
• What it felt like being the support person of a pregnant woman, from a women's perspective
• Tips that helped us to bond with our babies
• How Kaylas first birth went and why Georgia felt so unheard as a female partner
• Times when we have dismissed as the partner

Follow at @those.twomums to stay up to date with the pod and their daily queer life x

You're a lesbian and you want to have a baby.. where the HECK do you begin? Welcome to episode 3 of our IVF mini series, where you'll find bite sized pieces deep diving into specific aspects of a same-sex IVF journey. This week we break down the steps we took when embarking on our IVF journey.

1. Research
2. Baseline appointment: bloods, testing, consultations, family building goals, lots of questions
3. Counselling session
4. Choosing your donor
5. Pay lots of money, sign lots of forms
6. IUI/IVF

A lot of this information is based on our journey as well as information we have picked up by following other people journeys. This isn't specific advice, so make sure to ask all of your own questions and do more of your own research BUT hopefully this helps make the process a little less confusing to navigate!

(I also mention that we have recorded an in-depth eg retrieval episode... we haven't oops.. but it's coming!)

Personal IG: @those.twomums

Podcast IG: @samesexpodcast

Podcast TikTok: @samesexpodcast

Monica Cvoro is a queer Accredited Sports Dietician who specialises in performance nutrition. Monica has dedicated her career to helping high-intensity athletes achieve peak performance through optimal nutrition. Today, she shares her journey, both personal and professional, and offers valuable insights into sports nutrition, performance, and inclusivity.

In todays episode we discuss:

Mon's experience questioning her sexuality at 25

Discussion on the challenges and advantages of coming out with more life experience and maturity

Mon describes her coming out experience:

• Initial self-realisation and acceptance.
• Reactions from family and community, and how she navigated those reactions.

Mon's qualifications and journey to becoming a dietician:

• Why she chose to specialise as a sports dietician.

Nutrition and Performance:

Protein intake:

• Recommended amount of protein.
• Timing of protein intake and its impact on sleep.
• Best plant-based protein sources.

• Importance of fuelling before and after exercise.
• Ideal macro and micronutrients for pre- and post-workout nutrition.
• Discussion on fasted workouts and their pros and cons.
• Common nutrition mistakes made by athletes and the general population.

Supplements:

• Essential supplements for optimal athletic performance.
• Benefits and potential drawbacks of creatine supplementation for athletes.
• Recommended supplements for plant-based or vegetarian athletes.
• Impact of vegetarian or vegan diets on athletic performance and strategies for optimising nutrition.
• Tips for achieving a combination of fat loss and muscle gain.
• Practical nutrition tip for busy parents.
• Simple and effective strategies for improving nutrition despite time constraints.

Follow Mon at @fuellingperformance

Personal IG: @those.twomums

Podcast IG: @samesexpodcast

Podcast TikTok: @samesexpodcast

This week we bring Georgia Hinkley back on the podcast to talk about how we have both navigated becoming a mum, as the non birthing women a same sex couple.

THIS is the episode I needed when my fiance was pregnant. I thought how the hell am I going to bond with the baby? How do I deal with comments (that I can't answer) about pregnancy and birth when out in public with my baby? How do I stop feeling like I'm not the real mum?

We are here to help you through it all.

Follow us @those,twomums to stay up to date with the pod and our queer daily life x

Kate has always liked and dated girls but after tough breakup (lesbians IYKYK) and then unexpectedly falling pregnant with a guy, she found herself thrown into a life that she didn't feel prepared for. Kate then found herself again and rediscovered her sexuality after a divorce and has gone on to marry the love of her life, Ali. On the episode today Kate opens up and talks about:

• Her early life and discovering her sexuality
• Dating girls
• Going through her 'single and having fun' time
• Falling pregnant unexpectedly with a guy
• Mental health and the importance of putting yourself first
• Divorce and finding yourself afterwards
• Meeting Ali, their wedding and raising a family together
• What it was like being with a girl again after so long

And MORE!

Follow us at @those.twomums on IG and @samesexpodcast on TikTok to stay up to date with the pod and bts of our daily lesbian life x

After 2 years of just us, and our daughter, we have now found out our second little babe is a BOY (we're only mildly shting ourselves). In todays episode we chat all things gender preference from a two-mum perspective. Is it different being a whole household of girls and now having a little boy added into the mix? We ask and kinda answer the hard hitting questions like what do we even do with a boy, do we suit a boy and how much will it change our family dynamic.

We also get into how our own personal experiences influenced how we pictured our family dynamic.

SPOILER: we can't bloody wait to be boy mums!!

Follow us at @those.twomums on IG and @samesexpodcast on TikTok to stay up to date with the pod and bts of our daily lesbian life x

We love being gay so much, that we made a podcast all about it!

"This is what I needed when I was coming out", "This is what I needed when I started my IVF journey". We hear those statement so often as lesbians, as same-sex couples. Well, here it is! We have dedicated every spare minute of ours to bringing you a space where you can feel comfortable to be your lesbian self, where you have access to free information on how to start your IVF journey, where you are reminded that you are NOT ALONE and are a part of our community.

This ep is all about why we started, why we do what we do in this space, and why we will never fail.

Follow us @those.twomums to stay up to date with the pod and our daily lesbian life x

What a niche. Friendships as a lesbian mum. Today we chat about losing friends as adult, making incredible new ones, letting go of what was and accepting what is now. Co-dependancy in a lesbian relationship is a real thing, toxic or not, it happens. Which also adds an extra layer to the hot topic of lesbian mum friendships.

We've never heard anyone talk about this but I bet you'll find something to relate to in this one. You're not alone.

Personal IG: @those.twomums

Podcast IG: @samesexpodcast

Podcast TikTok: @samesexpodcast

Is there actually anything you can REALLY do to improve chances of a successful embryo transfer? Well we can't know for sure, but this week we share our top tips and what we did / supplements we took during our IVF journey.

Welcome to Episode 2 of our IVF mini series; where you'll find bite sized pieces deep diving into specific aspects of a same-sex IVF journey.

This week we discuss (+more):

• Supplements we took during our IVF journey
• Little tips and tricks on what helped us during the process
• The one thing that Maddy changed before our successful embryo transfer
• Is there any truth behind all of these IVF myths???

Follow us at @those.twomums on IG and @samesexpodcast on TikTok to stay up to date with the pod and bts of our daily lesbian life x

None of what is spoken about in this episode is specific health advice. Please consult your health practitioner on what is best for you.