My Surrogacy Journey: A Safer, Smarter Path

#surrogacy 
#ivf 
#surrogate 

My Surrogacy Journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialmysurrogacyjourney?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Mexico City surrogacy gets talked about like it’s a gamble, but the details tell a very different story. We sat down with Michael Johnson Ellis, a dad of three through surrogacy and the co-founder of My Surrogacy Journey, to unpack what’s actually happening on the ground and why so many intended parents are rethinking where and how they build their families.

We walk through how My Surrogacy Journey was created after a bumpy early experience in the UK, and why their mission is to make the journey feel equal for everyone involved. Michael explains their “membership” approach and what full support looks like in practice: clinical coordination, legal guidance, counseling, and real continuity of care so you’re not bounced between clinics, lawyers, and third parties. We also get into the problem he calls financial infertility, where the cost of surrogacy forces people to delay parenthood or give up completely, and why accessibility matters just as much as ethics.

Then we go deep on Mexico City. Michael breaks down the legal framework, including procreational will and a pre-birth order pathway, along with the safeguards they use to prevent exploitation. We also cover what strong surrogate screening looks like, how matching timelines can be shortened when clearance happens upfront, and why their milestone-based payment structure is designed to reduce risk and increase transparency. If you’re researching ethical surrogacy, the cost of surrogacy, LGBTQ family building, or international surrogacy options, this conversation gives you better questions to ask and clearer signals to look for.

If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with someone exploring surrogacy, and leave a review so more intended parents and surrogates can find these stories. What’s the biggest surrogacy myth you want us to tackle next?


MSJ Website: https://us.mysurrogacyjourney.com

LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/MySurrogacyJourney?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAQ2O7NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadzJCJgYWwb8mIXmIexfkeU6vh8QusssKYGF2T6-w5wFoSjlmXrZoWrqE5taA_aem_oSUVgoBOYDuZJLUI8zn_2g

https://stopsitsurrogate.com

Transcript

Welcome And Sponsor Message

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome. We are a mother-daughter podcast about all things surrogacy. Together, we have brought eight beautiful babies into this world, and we would like to share through education and knowledge about surrogacy with those who want to educate themselves on the topic. This is Stop, Sit, Surrogate. This episode is sponsored by U.S. Surrogacy LLC. If you've ever dreamed of helping grow a family or are hoping to grow your own, U.S. Surrogacy LLC is here to guide you every step of the way. They are a dedicated surrogacy agency committed to supporting intended parents and surrogates through a compassionate, ethical, and well-supported journey. U.S. Surrogacy LLC works with amazing women who want to make a life-changing difference by becoming a surrogate while also helping intended parents experience the incredible gift of parenthood. Their team focuses on transparency, strong communication, and personalized support so that everyone involved feels confident, cared for, and informed throughout the entire process. If you've ever considered becoming a surrogate, or if you're an intended parent exploring your options, US Surrogacy LLC is ready to help you take that next step. To learn more about their programs and how you can get started, visit us-surrogacy.com. That's us-surrogacy.com. And now let's get into today's episode.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

Hey everyone, welcome back to Stops at Surrogate with Kennedy and Ellen. We have a very wonderful guest with us today. Kennedy and I are intrigued to hear how this all works. So we're gonna let him introduce himself and we'll take it away.

SPEAKER_00 1:43

Hello, everybody. Um, I'm Michael Johnson Ellis. Um I am a dad to three children through surrogacy. Um, Talula, who's nine, and Duke is six, and Otto is six months old. So um I'm also co-founder and co-CEO of my surrogacy journey.

SPEAKER_01 2:03

My surrogacy journey. Okay. Well, first of all, huge congratulations.

SPEAKER_02 2:07

Right.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 2:09

Good for you. Can I I know we're not here to talk about that, but are they all from the same surrogate or no?

SPEAKER_00 2:14

So the first two were from Caroline, who was our gestational surrogate. And uh yeah, so the first two, Tular and Duke, were born uh with the amazing help of Caroline, and our third was born in Mexico City through our incredible surrogate Marcella. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Okay, that's so sweet. I love that. Oh my gosh.

unknown 2:37

Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 2:38

All right, so you said you you briefly touched on it, but that's what we're here to talk about today. It's called My Surrogacy Journey. So, what what is that to you? Like, where did this come from?

SPEAKER_00 2:51

So um, me and my husband um founded the organization in 2021. Um prior to to that, we obviously had two children. We had Tolula and Duke at the time, and we had quite a bumpy um surrogacy journey with with Tolula and Duke, uh, more so with Tolula because it was back in 2015, 2016. Uh, and Tulula and Duke were both born in the UK, um, where surrogacy is altruistic. Um, and we didn't know what we didn't know, and we we made a bunch of mistakes, and we, you know, fertility clinics weren't really built for us. Uh, the healthcare service definitely wasn't built for us. So we were we had tons of challenges, and we created a platform called 2Dads UK, which is our Instagram kind of family channel now. Um, but that was our activism arm because we we went on to do a lot of work with government and law reform and law change and policy improvement to support surrogates better and intended parents better through through maternity services. So we had already got the bug for awareness raising, really. And then, you know, the in the UK, the the surrogacy landscape, there were there were three agencies and they've you know they do a great job, and but they've always done what they've always done. Um, and we often felt as an intended parent not all of our needs were were heard, and definitely the support wasn't there. Um so COVID hit and our jobs dried up, and me and Wes, who's my husband, were like, right, let's we've always wanted to do this, let's create an organization that doesn't exist, that really makes the journey equal for everybody. No one's on a pedestal, everyone's balanced and equal, but journeys will be managed with clinical, professional, legal, practical, um, and uh emotional support. So we built all of those mechanics to really do do full service surrogacy, which included matching. So that's my surrogacy journey. It's been going since 2021, and we're now a team of 95 people.

unknown 4:59

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 5:00

Wow. Based all over, or are everybody kind of Yeah, we have three legal entities.

The Three Recommended Surrogacy Destinations

SPEAKER_00 5:06

So we have one in the US, one in the UK, uh, which is nonprofit, and then one in Mexico City. Um, so yeah, it's we we, you know, after about 18 months, we kind of wanted to change the landscape of how surrogacy was managed in the UK, and that was all that was our mantra back then. Um, and that was successful. We became um the largest organization out of all of them um after about 18 months, and then um continue to develop services for antenny parents from uh over nearly 20 different countries now that we support. Um but but we only recommend three destinations. So uh depending on where you're from or what you can access or what your time scales or budget might be, uh yeah, we we we kept on doing the doing and helping build families. And yeah, it's it's pretty awesome.

SPEAKER_02 5:57

You said three destinations, so you're saying three destinations to have a surrogate deliver your child in.

SPEAKER_00 6:02

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 6:02

Can I assume they're the UK, Mexico, and US, or no?

SPEAKER_00 6:05

Correct.

SPEAKER_02 6:06

Okay, good guess, Mom.

SPEAKER_00 6:08

We used to recommend Canada, um, but then the wait times were, you know, we cut we kind of you know saw them start to breach sort of three, four, five years, and the agency landscape in Canada changed dramatically and was oversubscribed. And intended parents who've already had you know long agonizing waits were were just left in the dark, and you know you we were seeing odd behavior from from that sector. And so we stopped recommending Canada to to do surrogacy, still to create embryos because the clinics are great. Okay, but yeah, so USA, Mexico City, we only work in Mexico City, and we'll talk about why in a bit and the UK. But the you can only do UK surrogacy if you're UK domiciled. So you have to you don't have to be a British national, but you have to be domiciled, which is your legal tax kind of status, um, anchoring you to the UK.

SPEAKER_02 7:02

Okay. And I'm just gonna say, um, 2021, we just entered 2026, and you are huge. Well, it's like snowball.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

Do you know what I often tell people um you know at head and my back then, you know, it's been it's been tough.

SPEAKER_03 7:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:21

Um, but you know, I think the right, you know, sometimes doing the right thing, it requires hard work, right? And but we have a phenomenal team, and um we wanted to be different. That was totally, totally deliberate. And we created something which, you know, we're on a trajectory to be the largest surrogacy organization in the world. We're almost at the same point of one of the largest in the US. So we're we're nearly in 600 journeys a year.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Um my God.

SPEAKER_00 7:52

Yeah, it's cool.

SPEAKER_02 7:53

Like I was giving you props, but oh my god, that's amazing. That's yeah, it's going really well.

SPEAKER_00 7:58

We're we're really you guys. Yeah, thank you. That's really common.

SPEAKER_01 8:02

Yeah, yeah. No, it's it's great. Because I mean, off I mean, and on this podcast, oftentimes we have surrogates come on and you know, have they share their stories, oftentimes because you know, it's a very personal journey for intended parents themselves. So to know that there's like this destination for intended parents to go and it's like a one-stop shop, so it seems.

SPEAKER_00 8:25

It it is. We kind of built this ecosystem because you know, what we were seeing from most surrogacy organizations or agencies was, you know, you go to them for one bit and then you're passed to your attorney, or then your egg bank, and then your clinic, and then then if you've got to return, you've got immigration to put in the mix, then you've got your counseling, and then there might be some genetics history or or or some embryology elements you need to talk through. And then there's the surrogates, and yeah, so we were like, right, let's create an ecosystem of of brands and organizations that we founded, and we we hold everyone's hand throughout and surrogates also throughout right the way through to fourth trimester and um lactation support and everything else that's included. We've got doolers and midwife professionals that support all of our where where do you get your surrogates?

SPEAKER_02 9:14

Do you have a surrogate agency or is that within your hub or no?

SPEAKER_00 9:18

So my surrogacy journey is the surrogacy agency as such. Um, and then within that, we've got business functions that manage all of the other elements. We we also have two clinics, um, a clinic in Mexico and a clinic in the UK. Um, so we and an egg donation agency. So again, it just keeps things and communication, as we know, surrogacy journeys, communications often where they all fall down. Um, and that was key that you know that continuity of care, whoever you are, um, was was of the highest regard and consistency. So yeah, MSJ is the agency, as such all the brand now. Um and that's where we have the three legal entities, so UK, Mexico, and um and the US. The US, we tend to work more with partner um surrogacy agencies, um, and mainly and only mainly because you know we've seen a real decline in sort of Europeans coming to the US for for third-party reproduction now, um, due to cost, mainly. Um, so we wanted to just find another destination that had ethical standards and great healthcare, and that's when Mexico City was born in 2023.

SPEAKER_01 10:31

So, question, because I don't we've I think we've talked to one person from Mexico, I think it was actually Mexico City, like forever ago, years ago. So are surrogates compensated? Because where my question is going is because the UK is considered altruistic. I know there's like I think maybe there's like expenses, yeah, like there's like reimbursements for for some things, but you know, uh the US is very commercial-based. I hate that term, but yeah, commercial-based. So is Mexico City altruistic, commercial-based?

SPEAKER_00 11:07

Like, no, it's compensated, so it's commercial. Um, so yeah, and and the one thing, I think the one misconception about Mexico that people don't quite understand is um it's one of the few countries in the world that's got a Supreme Court ruling about surrogacy, which protects that pathway. It has amazing family law called procreational will, which allows surrogates to relinquish their it's so in Mexico, everyone has a legal right to have a baby. Um, so which one of the only countries in the world that has procreational will. And so that means as a surrogate, you can relinquish procreational will when you're a surrogate. So when you give birth, you are not the mother. Um, so that then Mexico has a pre-birth order pathway, like most of the US states do, which adds protection for everybody, right? Right. Um and yeah, it's uh that there's some legislation is literally a new legislation is about to come in in Mexico, which makes it even safer and makes the whole process uh even smoother, um, which which is great to hear because we you do hear some awful things about surrogacy in Mexico, and uh you know that still exists in certain parts, but with us it was about the new mantra for MSJ setting the standard for global surrogacy. So, you know, we do so much for surrogates, in particular in Mexico, because of the previous risks of exploitation.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

Okay. Wow, that thing thank you for that explanation. Yeah, that's a lot, that's a lot. We don't ever get to hear about Mexico City. I know, and like for some people, they they do have misinformation on it. I have misinformation on it 100%.

SPEAKER_00 12:50

And I think especially at the minute, as we know.

SPEAKER_01 12:52

Right. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:53

You know, it's and it's and it's really what what is happening in certain parts of Mexico is is obviously horrendous. Yeah, the history of certain states being cartel run is commonplace, and we've that that's always been in the news and media and in Mexico's history. And whilst that's not cool, um, there are parts of Mexico that aren't like that and are incredibly, you know, Mexico City is one of my most favorite places on earth. Um, it's so safe. My kids love it. Uh, it's very LGBTQ friendly. Um, it's got some of the best LGBTQ legislation protections. Trans men that give birth in Mexico are fathers, not mothers. The only country in the world that has that protection. That's so awesome.

SPEAKER_01 13:42

US take note, come on.

SPEAKER_00 13:45

Do you know what I mean? And but as well, when people do talk down about surrogacy in Mexico, especially Mexico City, and you talk about the the legal framework here, um, it's got you know so many advantages. Um, and I think the US is is that gold standard, right? You know, that's that's what it's pitched as, but this is the other gold standard.

SPEAKER_02 14:08

And I think to be, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

Yeah, and you know, and especially when you start hearing about how you know surrogate screening is here um and what surrogates go through it's by far more than any country does to protect surrogates.

SPEAKER_01 14:23

Wow, that's amazing. Yeah, I don't think the US, this might be a controversial thing for me to say, but I don't think the US has the gold standard as we once did for surrogacy.

SPEAKER_00 14:33

I agree. I think it's slipped. I do think it slipped, I really do. And in a number of ways, right? And you know, I think what the US is complicit in, and this is a bit controversial, is the rise of financial infertility. People are not having families now because of cost, or they're making bad decisions, or going to bad destinations, or doing surrogacy that probably shouldn't be, you know, isn't safe. And or not having a family at all, which is heartbreaking, right? So, you know, we're seeing financial infertility rise. And that was why we launched MSJ in Mexico to tackle financial infertility, and we launched it to the US in November last year.

SPEAKER_02 15:17

Oh wow. So so kind of just to segue into that, like you don't have to give us fee uh monetary numbers, but I'm happy to. Okay, but based on US and based on Mexico, what like what's a couple looking at? Are we looking at half the cost in Mexico? Are we looking at two-thirds?

SPEAKER_00 15:35

The average saving for an American to do a Mexican journey creating embryos in Mexico versus a domestic journey, um, they'll save about$160,000.

SPEAKER_02 15:46

Can you say that again?

SPEAKER_00 15:48

$160,000, they'll save up to pick up the mouths, pick up the jaws.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

Oh my gosh. So that but that's with creating embryos in Mexico City. Correct.

SPEAKER_00 15:56

If you're transporting embryos, so we offer two types of membership always, okay, whether you're creating or transporting. So we manage all of the cryo shipping, all the cryo transports, all of the FDA clearances. We that's all that we've got.

SPEAKER_03 16:09

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 16:10

Um and if you're so if you're creating embryos, it's$102,000, everything. That's and that's even your US return immigration legals and all of your other compensation legals. And then if you're creating embryos, it's$82,000. If you're transporting, sorry, it's$82,000,000 versus quarter of a million, the average cost of a US journey.

SPEAKER_02 16:32

Wait, out the door with a surrogate?

SPEAKER_00 16:35

Yeah. All that you need to pay after is are your flights and accommodation. That's all that you need. Every we've baked everything in.

SPEAKER_02 16:43

Are you inundated right now?

SPEAKER_00 16:44

Yes, we are.

SPEAKER_02 16:46

Yeah, I bet you are. Oh my that's that just that I want to cry, number one, because you what you said, the the term you use, the financial infertility. This makes it so accessible. Like you could, I hate to say it, but you could mortgage your home and start a family. Like there's ways for people to do it. You don't have to have$300,000 in the bank.

SPEAKER_00 17:09

Like you don't have to draw down your 401k, you don't have to borrow, you don't have to sell your, you know, your your your your your beach home or whatever, you know, you've been left. And that's and and me and my husband do all of the consultations. That's what we have committed to always do, and they're always free, and people can have as many as they want. And we do about 60 consultations a week. And um, and I'd probably say now about 50% of that is coming from the US. Okay. Um and the just the everyone lands at surrogacy at a different point, whether you're heterosexual or whether you're you're gay. And you know, when people have been on a 20, 25 year trying to conceive journey, and they are in debt up to their eyeballs, and they've, you know, they're just they've borrowed, they've begged. And when they know that they can do this and do this safely and ethically, um, and matched within three months that and they're matched to a medically cleared, legally cleared, sociologically assessed surrogate, ready to go by by month five of them joining embryo transfers as scheduled.

SPEAKER_02 18:16

Do you just people breaking down sobbing, hearing all of this, going, oh my god, there's honestly, it's it's but it's the best job in the world to be able to give that hope.

SPEAKER_00 18:26

And as a parent myself through it, you know, when when you've got everything against you, especially for heterosexual people, you know, yeah. Um, that's that's what what makes this the best job in the world.

The Membership Model And Full Support

SPEAKER_01 18:38

Okay, so question I'm gonna go back. So you you talked, you mentioned the word membership, yeah, right. That's the first time that I've ever heard that term. So is that just what you call it? Like, oh, you're with us, you're a membership, or is this like can you explain?

SPEAKER_00 18:52

No, so we call everyone members and we call that because we we we call them that because our experience of being a intended parent, yeah, um, you know, you're labeled very early on, and your behavior has to reflect your label, right? So as an intended parent in an altruistic destination, you've got to be grateful. You've got to walk on eggshells, you can't upset anyone because am I gonna be blacklisted, they're gonna work with me. Um, so you're you're almost disingenuous, really. You're not being yourself, you're constantly saying, Oh my god, I'm gonna go and have my godsons this weekend, and we're gonna go to the playground, and you you paint this like picture picture that's not you. Yeah. Whereas we wanted everyone to be equal, everyone gets the same level of support, um, but we provide membership benefits. So being a member with us, they then access their support, their counselling, their their um um um marital guidance, they get genetic testing, their IVF will be included, their fertility nurse consultant, their midwife, their endocrinologist, the embryologist and andrologist, the nutritionist. All these people are our scaffolding that we put around them, and then they're supported on the journey. So they're a member to what we feel is the the best infertility club in the world. And then, you know, that membership is lifelong and takes them through to parenthood and go and then goes beyond parenthood for those that need it. So yeah, we the benefits, you know, there's there's I think over 60 different benefits and everything from pediatric first aid through to um you know induced lactation um for intended mothers that want to induce lactate, they're you know, there's their doula, there's their psychologist. Everything that you need to, you know, we arm them as best as we can for parenthood, or to be a surrogate, or to deal with post-birth and hormones and fourth trimester, or if they're a donor, what does that mean? Is it open? Is it anonymous? Is it donor release? Again, the education is the kind of the foundation of MSJ. It was all about educating so people make the right decision, whether it's whether they choose us or not, yeah, that I can they can leave knowing a little bit more. And that's that's kind of the the mission and the vision.

SPEAKER_02 21:11

I think they're choosing, yeah. I I think I think they're choosing, yeah. Just just from your growth alone.

SPEAKER_01 21:19

600 journeys and and your genuosity just by talking with you right now, like it comes from a place of not just experience, but like full heart. Like it is like no for sure. We this is this is how it always should have been done. This this is how it should this this is the gold label.

SPEAKER_00 21:38

This is this is setting the standard, right? This is and and what I like, um, because I never I never look at competition as as a threat or I don't obsess over competitors, but what what we did in the UK is they all then raised their standard. They all started giving more support, they all started caring for intending parents better or clinic started. Started writing specific pathways for gay men. And you know, andrology rooms started to change to accommodate gay men giving sperm samples, for example, because you know, when we did it our journey, that was a horrendous experience. But the standards all moved, and you know, we've seen the dial start to move in the US and in Mexico, and that's good because that means people are cared for better, surrogates are listened to and heard, and intended parents are held. And that and then at the end of that is a gorgeous baby that's born through uh a beautifully supported ethical framework.

Escrow Concerns And Payment Milestones

SPEAKER_01 22:37

Yeah, that's amazing. I because it's at the top of my head right now, I do not want to turn this into like a big conversation on it. But because you're in the community, you definitely have heard about escros and things like that. Are you because you have the membership? I know, look at your face. So because you have the membership, I'm like, wait, are you in-house escrow or do you're not? Okay, okay.

unknown 22:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

No, we all well, we've all been, we all know what's been happening in the US with the escrow, don't we? And and I think that's where the the gold standard crown slipped, you know. Once, okay, I get it. Twice, third, fourth time. Yeah, that's so how it works in um, so in the UK, escrow doesn't exist. And and journeys in the UK, you know, a total cost for a for a gestational journey with all with all of everything included, you know, you're looking at between 50 and 65,000 pounds. So what$75,000?

SPEAKER_01 23:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 23:30

Um yeah, so and it's and it's all and it's you know, services are rendered to clinics and then surrogates are paid directly because of reasonable expenses. So we it it can't use escrow and it doesn't exist in the UK. Um for Mexico, people can choose to use escrow, and we, you know, we can we work with an escrow organization, nothing to do or linked to us. Um, but we've structured our fees because people that choose Mexico City are budget conscious. So front loading everything is just gonna not enable family building. So um and none of our fees are ever up front. They're they're all triggered and in parallel with how the journey's running. So they're triggered at certain points. So that money is released only from the intended parents or the members to the organization or direct to the clinical, the lawyer, or the um the surrogate. You know, we we we don't want to be the middleman, we don't want to handle those funds. We'll handle all of the membership funds that that come through. Um but the indicative cost of the journey, we will make sure that there are legal frameworks and contracts with any partner that's that's providing those services. So all of the lawyers are independent, for surrogate and for intended parents. And uh yeah.

Surrogate Screening And Matching Timeline

SPEAKER_01 24:51

That's lovely. That's great. Thank you for touching on that because I know that people were gonna be wondering.

SPEAKER_02 24:56

You mentioned um uh intended parents could be matched within about three months.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

Yeah, in Mexico City, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:03

Okay, Mexico City. What's an onboarding for a surrogate look like in Mexico City? If everything's going, she she contacts you guys and and wants to be a part of your, wants to be a member, a part of your organization. How how long before she gets matched?

SPEAKER_00 25:16

So onboarding process, let I'll take you through onboarding. So, you know, they will first reach out to to us, they'll be met with our engagement team who will do uh a pre-qualification, um, just assess their and whether they meet criteria. So uh no more than two C-sections, um, they're a very strict BMI. Um, they've got to have had a live birth, um, they have to be within an age limit, and they have to be from Mexico City, they can't, and we don't have surrogates coming in from other states because that is exploitative potentially. Yeah, um they um will obviously have to consent to going through facility treatment. And once they get through the qualification, they then speak to the recruitment team that dive a bit deeper into you know their their reasons for wanting to do this. So they'll then, you know, within a couple of days, then speak to the recruitment team who will then go through in a bit more detail their medical history um and their motivations for for doing this. Uh, and then they'll be passed then for full medical assessment, which is a full medical questionnaire by our in-house doctors and endocrinologists. Um, they will then be passed for blood work. So they'll go then to have all of their um STD checks, all of the relevant blood work, HIV, HEP B, HEP C. And they'll do um thyroid check, vitamin D. Um, they will have a um saline infusion scan to make sure there are no polyps, cysts, abrasions, or previous scarring, make sure that the uterus is healthy. Um and uh providing all of that is done, they'll have then vaginal pap smears. Uh, once they come back clear after culture of five days, um, they're then medically clear. From then, they go into a social and economic assessment to make sure that they are not in poverty, they're not doing this as a means to survive, they're not being coerced, they've got income to support themselves. They have three social worker visits at their home to make sure that the home is conducive with a healthy pregnancy and birth. Three. One at joining, one at 12 weeks, and one at 26 weeks.

SPEAKER_03 27:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 27:23

Um, anyone in their home over the age of 18 has a criminal backgrounds check. Um, they will have a criminal backgrounds check as well and do full toxicology reporting. Um, after that, they go into legal assessment and do their legal contracting to make sure they're not known to social services, that their children live with them. Um, and then after that stage, they will then go for a full psych evaluation nutritionist, they will speak to them, check their BMI, confirm that it's under 30. Um, and then they will uh we start their insurance. So at that point, they start their major medical and life insurance uh because we have to have a period of claim, claimable period in the insurance policy.

SPEAKER_03 28:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 28:07

Um we may not match them, but we take that hit on all of that cost to now because it's about being efficient rather than what happens a lot in Mexico and in the US is match breaks. And the IPs and the surrogate bears the trauma of that, right? You know, cost, delay, um, building a relationship, then it all disappears. Whereas we're matching them to someone that is ready to go. And then they'll build their profile on our system MSJ match. Both parties will. And the matches is the surrogate has the first call. So the surrogate will be given um who what's important to you? Is it where they're from? Is it uh heterosexual, same sex, single, um, embryos already, how many embryos, religion? Um, once she approves for her profile to be seen by other intended parents, and we've agreed that then we start sharing profiles and that that onboarding is about seven weeks, um, and then match. We match, we match within three months, and then we go to embryo transfer by month five. So they'll have two months of getting to know.

unknown 29:14

What?

SPEAKER_00 29:14

Um, and then holding their baby within 15 months.

SPEAKER_02 29:18

Oh, that's a wow. Wow. 15 months is a blink, you know?

SPEAKER_00 29:23

Seriously. We've like it's taken, you know, we we've we've learned the hard way, we've made mistakes, we've not always got it right, but yeah, um this is why we wanted to show what how that it's possible, right? And that we can we can show that just because it's Mexico, it's it's non-exploitative.

SPEAKER_02 29:41

Um correct, because I think that's the biggest misconception.

SPEAKER_00 29:44

Yeah, it's it is and and that's and that makes me cross, you know. My son was born here, he's Mexican by by dual citizenship. And you know, I'm I'm really passionate about this country and and how Mexicans have had a bad rep in all senses, right? Yeah, um, but this is a wonderful, a great legal framework, pre-birth orders and uh and a smooth exit. You usually in country for about six weeks post-birth. Um none of this with people getting stuck and all of that. It tends to be because they don't get legal advice, they don't follow the framework, they keep the surrogate on as the mother and the birth certificate, and we don't do that. We do pre-birth orders, surrogates in Mexico. What's beautiful is that surrogates are named as gestational carriers on a birth certificate. So they're not erased from the child's birth record, they are named as carried by surrogate name.

SPEAKER_02 30:38

That's on a birth certificate? That's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 30:44

That's really, really cool.

SPEAKER_00 30:46

You get the medical certificate and your birth certificate. So the surrogate is never erased from from, you know, and I I don't ever recommend you know misleading your child of how they were born. But you know, our surrogates are huge in our kids' lives, and they should be celebrated and recognized.

SPEAKER_02 31:03

Then this may be a very quick answer. So you wouldn't do a journey that's got an NDA on it, would you? Or would you?

SPEAKER_00 31:11

We we have done NDAs where we've we're working with people that um have wanted some protection, but they still have a direct they they have to have a direct relationship with the surrogate. Okay, else you can't work with us. You have to you have your own communication channel that we're not in. Um you pay them direct. You we we want um we're not you know, not everyone wants to be best mates, but we want a relationship at least. We don't want this to feel like a transaction. And thank you for using that word. We want that, we want this to feel more meaningful than that.

SPEAKER_02 31:45

I I I I can't see where this is not a win-win for every single person involved. I mean I can't. I'm trying my sitting over here going, what's the negative? What's the negative? No, I can't see it.

SPEAKER_01 31:56

And I'm and I'm also sitting over here going, like, oh my gosh, wait, like, because let's move to make it because you you thought of you thought of everything. Like you thought of everything, but it breaks. I mean, I don't know the backstory, but I'm like, wait, hold on. Did you guys or do you clearly you know someone or you guys went through it yourself, or you guys had maybe heartbreak or trauma or things like that, because nobody just gets here by not being experienced. And I think that that you guys bring a huge asset by being like, we went through it, we know it. This is this is the way it needs to go because for sure you need peace, everybody needs peace, understanding, being heard.

SPEAKER_00 32:35

Yeah, and I think I think I I also want my kids to be really proud of their dads, you know. My family, you know, our family looks different, so we you know, we do have to navigate daily life very differently to you know, a heterosexual couple with children. Um, so I think we've always had to overcompensate a little bit more just to just to not to prove that we're we're a great family and we're great people, but you know, we are also very open to criticism because of what we do, because we're two men, um, that we had to absolutely make sure that we're doing everything right. And and we, you know, we continue to lobby with the Senate in Mexico to insist on stronger regulation because we're the only surrogacy agency in the whole of Mexico, and there's nearly 100 agencies that's legally registered with the government, with the only one.

SPEAKER_02 33:33

No way. How? Yeah, so wait, okay, and we won't dive into it too big, but is there something you've done that everyone else hasn't?

SPEAKER_00 33:41

You've just um no, just registered with the government and pay tax in Mexico.

SPEAKER_02 33:45

Okay, and and that was like a normal company would do, right?

SPEAKER_00 33:49

But that was all of the other big agencies are in California or Miami or Norway, and um but you know, I think that's I I don't have an issue with the ethics behind that because when you're a registered company here and you pay tax, you also get an employment license. So you can employ Mexicans and you can pay their social security, you can pay their health care, right? And and as well, our members benefit because they get a continuation of support rather than contractors coming and going because we can employ and look after people. Um, so again, it's it if we're gonna say we're doing things right and setting the standard, it's gotta always run through. Um but yeah, that so we're the only one. It's wild that it that we are. That is crazy.

SPEAKER_02 34:33

Wild. Yeah, but good for you. Yeah, good for you. Like I I'm really I'm just dumb, I'm really not at a loss for words ever. This is this is insane. This is wonderful, beautiful, phenomenal. I cannot tell you how proud I am of you guys. I've just met you. I just I think this is so cool.

SPEAKER_00 34:53

Yeah, it is cool. It is, and you guys know as well, right? You know, this when you enter into the world of surrogacy, no matter your your part that you play, it's with you forever. And and it and it changes your life, whether as a surrogate or you know, I I'm a sperm donor as well as being a dad through surrogacy. And I think that you it's with it, it's I'm grateful for all of the components and the people that have that have helped me have three amazing kids. And and I think when you're into it like we are, and I'm talking about the two of you, um you you are constantly banging that drum to educate people about what this is versus what this isn't.

SPEAKER_01 35:33

Correct. Correct. Yes. And thank you for looking, you're educating us because like this is nothing like I thought we were gonna hear today.

SPEAKER_02 35:42

Like I'll be blind. I didn't know.

SPEAKER_00 35:44

Oh, I'll be blind is better.

SPEAKER_02 35:46

Oh, it's fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 35:47

Oh, wonderful. Oh, it's good, tremendous. And I just have to back up because my I don't know how much you know about us, but like my mom only did this for gay males. And so I I went into this being like, okay, I gotta do this just for gay males. And it is so heartbreaking to hear because I know a lot of people think like this too in your in in the LGBTQ community, but there is still something to prove. No, you guys are phenomenal. A lot of the times, I like the LGBTQ community a lot more than the heterosexual community at times. It's just it's just a love fest. Like all like the LGBT community is so understanding of everyone, there's no judge.

SPEAKER_00 36:33

And that's that's the joy of of when you come from this community. Yeah, and what what I what I'm really proud of with with my children is you know, because of their dads, their their use of language is phenomenal, they're tolerant, they understand pronouns, they respect trans people. You know, they they we had a conversation the other day about Siri, um, because the car Siri and the Home Hub Siri had a different voice. And Chulula, who was eight at the time, was like, I think Siri must be non-binary because the um their voice sounds different in the car than than at home. So and I'm like, I love you. Oh my gosh, you know. And people that are, I know, right? But but I think our community that arrive at surrogacy, it's often our choice and it's our first decision. So it's very celebratory and and it doesn't come with loss or trauma necessarily. And so I think for a surrogate as well, it's it can sometimes feel well, you you you're you're you're you're joining it at a point of joy rather than pressure of oh my gosh, you've got one embryo left and you've been on this journey for 20 years. This is I'm gonna I want to help you, but this, this, this weight's heavy. And yeah, you know, I I I get that because we heterosexual members of ours say the same. They often go, Will we ever be matched because of our situation? And that just makes me want to work even harder for them, right? Because we're all deserving of it, and no matter how we end up at needing surrogacy.

SPEAKER_01 38:05

I couldn't agree more. Anybody, I've always said it, anybody who wants a baby should have a baby. Like there should be no stops if they want a baby.

SPEAKER_00 38:12

That's what Mexico does. Everyone has that legal right, regardless of who you are. They have third gender here on birth certificates. It's just, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:20

It really is.

The App That Manages The Journey

SPEAKER_01 38:22

It's just fascinating. Gosh. Um I'm just gonna leap over because I have it in my notes. Do you guys have an app?

SPEAKER_00 38:30

We do have an app, yeah. So we have, and it's in the App Store and Google Play Store. It's called My Suragasi Journey, your journey app. And all of the journey management and case management is managed through there. There's educational content, restaurant reservations, the doolas, educational content, live stream content. We communicate through it and it's great. We launched that three years ago as our prime method to safely talk to our members because you know Facebook groups are declining, they're full of opinions.

SPEAKER_01 39:05

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 39:06

Um that's a nice way to put it. The app's moderated, there's clinicians in it. So someone's having a doubt or a concern, there's there's an army of people that can jump to it, and there's loads of there's hundreds of educational videos to watch, and you know, meditation, things to do in your two-week waits, you know, reflex, you know, um therapy techniques for surrogate donors and intended parents.

SPEAKER_02 39:34

And that's all available when you're a member, like when you become part of it.

SPEAKER_00 39:40

You have your own channel in there with your membership manager, that your experience manager that's with you. And then when you wherever what that if you then land in Mexico or or US, you your the US team then come into your channel, and then like the comms continue. Um, so there's always there's always that continuity of of of experience managers with them.

SPEAKER_02 40:00

Oh my god. You guys have thought of it all. Like seriously, I yeah, I do mind.

SPEAKER_00 40:05

Well, not everything, but we've tried.

Founder Background And Where To Start

SPEAKER_02 40:07

Do you mind 98.9%? What was you and your husband's background before your jobs just dried up and you decided, hey, we're doing this?

SPEAKER_00 40:17

So I um worked in healthcare, uh healthcare recruitment. So I I recruited fertility staff for healthcare providers. So I knew the fertility industry and I knew all the clinics, and I knew what what they were good at and what they weren't good at. So I I had that in-road already. Yeah. Um, my husband worked in um project management. Uh, so he worked in um mainly high stadium events. So he worked for the London Olympic Games, he then worked for a major football club. So when everything stopped, so did our work. Um so we, you know, we took stock and we we decided, but I've we've we've both always been um, you know, we take risks and sometimes that's good and sometimes that works, but we we we've always been um, I think because we're gay as well, you know, activism and you know, really pushing down and breaking down those doors is something that we've always had to do.

SPEAKER_03 41:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:18

And we saw the fertility space uh as being a space that needed modernizing uh because people like us couldn't access it. Um so that was that was, you know, I think that drive was the was was as what is what's helped us.

SPEAKER_02 41:34

Yeah. Clearly. So tell okay, so we talked a little bit about the app. If if if people are listening to this and they're like, I I need to get a hold of these people, like what's the best way?

SPEAKER_00 41:46

Um so they can find us on any of our socials. So um the UK socials are official My Sorrogas Journey. Um, and then in the USA, it's um My Sorgus Journey uh underscore USA. Um, you can find us at the website MySorgusjourney.com. Um you'll be taken to the US site if you're in the US or the Mexican site if you're in there. And and then, or you can find the app. Uh, and then we've got we've got a podcast too. So we've got four seasons of our podcast. Oh my gosh. Yeah, so we have four seasons and then two seasons all about the Mexico pathway as well that take you through in chronological order from start to returning with your baby.

SPEAKER_01 42:25

Wow, that is just mind mind blowing. Mind blowing. This is also you two are far too kind.

SPEAKER_02 42:34

No, no, no. You know, we're five, and and and you're by far and no dissing to any of our other guests, but one of the most intriguing educational yeah, put it out there helping everyone. And I don't just meet surrogates and intended parents. You're hiring people in Mexico City. You're I I I'm I don't even know how to put it into words. It just seems like there's no loss here. It's all win-win. Yeah. Everybody's benefiting.

SPEAKER_00 43:05

Everybody. I think so. I think we've got but I you know, I don't underestimate the power of our team, you know. They're yeah, it's not and and we we were we had a work event the other day, and everyone's you know, this isn't work.

SPEAKER_02 43:17

No, right.

SPEAKER_00 43:18

This is a privilege to see what we know. We take people that they're most vulnerable from an intended parent point of view, and we you know, we we we take them to the goal and uh to to witness that um is just uh a privilege.

SPEAKER_02 43:33

Uh goosebumps every day. How many babies since the inception of the are do you keep it together or do you you US, UK, Mexico?

SPEAKER_00 43:44

Yeah, we we we we kind of put them in um verticals of of where where those births happen. Um so at the moment in Mexico there are 72 pregnancies. Um we've had 34 babies born in Mexico. We've had nearly 40 in the UK. Um, we've had seven through US. Um uh yeah, you know, it's it's it's amazing. It really is.

SPEAKER_02 44:11

It's it is because it takes nine months to have a baby, and so uh yeah. Uh huh.

SPEAKER_00 44:16

But what but yeah, and I think the thing is it's about efficiency, and I don't mean that in a crude commercial sense. I mean a lot of people, a lot all of us, you know, we might have everything in the world, but we can't buy time. And when you've been on an infertility or a fertility journey anyway, there's it's just unknown. So we have to be efficient. Um and that that was you know, we use a ton of technology um at MSJ and and a lot of pioneering technology that we launched when we started. That a lot of people were like, oh come on, guys. But it's it's now technology that's now in most clinics, or you know, it's embracing where fertility is going. And and I and I group surrogacy in that sector um because you know people are you know, we're seeing infertility on the rise, we're seeing sperm and egg health decline. Um, education around what we're putting in our bodies is needs to be improved. Kids aren't taught how to get pregnant, we're taught how not to get pregnant, which creates other issues. So we're we're doing a big piece of work in the UK with education in England about educating and getting surrogacy on the curriculum to talk about family building and talk about how to get pregnant. And you know, you should get your AMH checked as as soon as you can, and you should get your sperm checked when you're a teen, because we don't know, and we should be preserving fertility and normalizing that.

SPEAKER_01 45:48

Yeah, yeah, I completely agree with you. I mean, because there's you hear stories all the time like, oh, you know, I'm taught in sex ed, you know, like take birth control, do this. Well, had I known that I wasn't even fertile, why did any of that matter?

SPEAKER_00 46:01

Like and am I going through the menopause? You know, like we had a we've we've got a a gorgeous, gorgeous member of our team that that was when everyone joins our organization um as part of benefits, they get a facility check. And if they want egg freezing, they can get egg freezing. If they want their sperm freezing, they can freeze their sperm. And she was 19 and she um was going through the menopause, had not known, so she managed to freeze 10 eggs. And and and would have c and would have carried on through just thinking she had a problem with the periods because she used to be a dancer, but she her AMH level was virtually non-existent. It was this equivalent of a 47-year-old woman.

SPEAKER_02 46:41

Oh my God. So, in a sense, you guys have given her the opportunity to hopefully have a family when she wants to have one.

SPEAKER_00 46:47

Yeah, but it but but it's it's but it's the education of that because it's it's it's not necessarily, oh my god, look how amazing we are. It's it's it's talking to our children about about what our bodies do. And it's when we want children, what needs to work and not always take birth control, use protection. Yes, that's important, but let's own our fertility.

SPEAKER_01 47:09

Yeah, yes, yeah, 100%. Those are just quick fixes. That's not like a like a not a fix, but like, you know.

SPEAKER_00 47:17

But it's preventative, right? It's it's preserv it's preservation, and and you know, we we should be we should be doing more of that.

SPEAKER_01 47:23

Yeah. Wow. I could just talk to you for hours and hours and hours. I I know I keep saying it, but like it's just we've been this is our what our fifth, sixth season, something like that. And like it's just this is just this has been a long time coming. This this has been needed in the community, and half of it we didn't even know was needed until you started talking, and we're like fine, but that's totally fine.

SPEAKER_00 47:47

That is that's one of the joys of of of being able to pass this on, right?

SPEAKER_02 47:52

Right. And now our certain our podcast is gonna pass it on, and hopefully somebody will recommend it from there and then they'll find you and yeah, full circle. I just I think it's phenomenal. Technology, man.

Advice For New Intended Parents

SPEAKER_00 48:01

It's just insane, it is wild.

SPEAKER_01 48:03

Do you have any advice for like intended parents, especially that might be like starting their journeys? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 48:12

Um yeah, I I think you know, if it doesn't feel right, then it's it's not right. So listen, let's listen to the to the gut. Um surrogacy should be you should be going into it with your eyes wide open and you should be um uh doing your research and don't just pick the first agency that comes across or or or it has the cheapest cost, uh, because that's not gonna, you know, we all see how that goes wrong. Um I think uh you know perseverance and patience is key in surrogacy, regardless of it being a 15-17 month journey or a five-year journey. Um there are still unexpected bumps in the road, and you do need to prepare for that. But you know, research is key, um, cheap isn't always best. Um, and you know, take your time in making these decisions, you know, really get recommendations, get referrals, check out their legal status of their organization. Are they registered in that country where they're operating? You know, how long have they been running? Can you speak to other people that have been through the journey? You know, definitely do your homework.

SPEAKER_02 49:20

Yeah. Is there anything we didn't touch on that maybe you had a note that you wanted to say and we we just didn't get there? Because I want to give you that.

SPEAKER_00 49:28

No, this was good. I like the fact that we, you know, we went rogue and this we did.

SPEAKER_02 49:33

We always do. That's our that's our specialty.

SPEAKER_00 49:36

You were no one year in five seasons. This is cracking. Um I no, I think you know, there's nothing else that I feel I need to add. This was gorgeous and and and a nice conversation, and it felt right. I you know I'm super perceptive over um the perception of Mexico because I do think Mexico is gonna be the next fertility destination. I do too. Without a doubt.

SPEAKER_01 50:05

After listening to you, yes.

SPEAKER_00 50:07

Fertility clinics here, uh you know, I've spent my life in fertility clinics, yeah, and um I've never seen labs and fertility clinics as good. And I've been in all the ones in Hollywood, I've I've done New York, I've seen the ones in Europe, and your mind's blown when you walk into these places. They are they oh my gosh, they are next level in terms of the the support. They've most have got yoga studios and wellness and juice bars and just the labs, you know, the AI robotic labs are here, so you know the clinics are using fully robotic embryologists.

SPEAKER_02 50:41

Just it just makes my heart so happy that people who me too. Yeah, right. That that might not think that there's a hope for them. You guys exist, you exist. This might be fine, all what they're looking for, wrapped up in one. Yeah, I hope so. It I hate to say it seems too good to be true, but you're real, you're totally real.

SPEAKER_00 51:03

And I'm really boring, and you're proving it.

SPEAKER_01 51:05

No, you're not boring at all. This isn't here. No, we're probably biased, but this is very fascinating.

SPEAKER_00 51:12

No, I I incredible. I love the work that I'm involved in. Yeah, and it shows and I'll and I'll do it forever, right? Uh and yeah, this was gorgeous, ladies. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 51:23

Thank thank you. Yeah, no, thanks to you. Right. Seriously, we are honored that you came on. Honored. Yes. Keep doing what you're doing. Gosh. Kudos to your husband, too, because we know he's an integral part of this too.

SPEAKER_00 51:35

I mean, he and my husband is like we we both work hard, but my husband is like always striving for the next thing to fix within you know, within the the ecosystem or within the the industry that is, or the the sector, rather, I hate the word industry, the sector that is broken. Um, and and that's why we tackled the the US from a different angle.

SPEAKER_03 51:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:00

Because we we don't, you know, the the all the agencies that do a great job there cracking. And and I'm and I um I'm I'm all for them. Um, but we're not them, and we're doing something different. We want to work with the intended parents that don't have that budget, that aren't their clients anyway, right? So we're taking the ones that couldn't afford them. So we're not taking anything away from the US in terms of the surrogacy world, right? We're working with those intended parents that couldn't afford them, right?

SPEAKER_02 52:28

But we're still gonna make them parents, and didn't have another option until possibly they found you. And now, now look, like they're gonna be parents, they're gonna have a family, God willing. Fingers crossed.

SPEAKER_01 52:39

And honestly, who cares if you take intended parents from the US? This is way better. This is way better opportunity impact.

SPEAKER_00 52:47

This one stop shop is I do agree, but you know, let's I know you couldn't say it, so I said it for you, but you can say it. You can say it.

SPEAKER_01 52:56

I can say it. But yeah, no, this is gorgeous. This this was truly amazing. You are phenomenal, your husband's phenomenal, everything you guys are doing. Congratulations on your three kiddos, and you're six months old. Oh my gosh, how fun!

SPEAKER_00 53:12

Yeah, he's gorgeous. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 53:14

Oh my god, thank you for coming on.

SPEAKER_00 53:15

We won't thank you for reaching out. This was this was just joyous.

SPEAKER_01 53:20

Hey, I'm glad. I'm glad people are like, Yes, we enjoyed it. I'm like, okay, good. I'm always so nervous.

SPEAKER_00 53:25

I need to probably grab myself a little beer in case of anything nervous.

SPEAKER_01 53:29

Apple juice.

SPEAKER_00 53:30

No, I know. I was gonna say it's iced tea, but I was like, I'll be honest with you, it was beer.

SPEAKER_01 53:35

Hey, live your life. It's five o'clock somewhere.

SPEAKER_00 53:40

There you go.

SPEAKER_01 53:41

Perfect, there you go. Love it, awesome. Well, thank you so much. This was a delight, honestly. It was, and more power to you. Congrats, keep going, keep going.

SPEAKER_00 53:51

Thank you so much. Love it. Love it. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 53:53

Have a great evening.

SPEAKER_00 53:55

Thank you, beautiful, bye-bye.

SPEAKER_02 53:56

Bye-bye.

SPEAKER_01 53:58

Wow, pow! I can't just like can I move to Mexico City for hours. Can I move to Mexico City? I would. Honestly, it's so crazy. And I don't I don't mean this disrespectfully. It's just the way that it was always portrayed to me in the surrogacy world is that Mexico was like dirty. Like it, like it was like a dirty place to go. I know and and like surrogacy and things like that. And to know that it's like the complete opposite, it's like, what lies? What other lies for you people feeding me? Right. Because like that's so phenomenal. The opportunities, the benefits, the everything.

SPEAKER_02 54:37

And I didn't want to just like be like Mexico City, Mexico City, but like come on from the like he just said, he's not taking people from the US intended parents. He's giving those parents who don't fall into those categories and that financial aspect of it. He's giving them hope, he's giving them dreams, he's giving them which is a lot of people and his husband. Yeah, yeah, that they can actually be parents and not break the bank or be in debt for the rest of their lives. What a weight lifted. I've never gone through infertility, only through my surrogacy journey. Okay, but what a weight lifted. People who feel like they couldn't have never done this before now find my surrogacy journey and kind of go, what? I huh, this is possible. What? And it's all include what it's I hate to say it, but it's almost like an inclusive resort down in Mexico, where you just go and you okay, and you just come home with a baby. I'm not, I know that is simplistic. I understand it. Totally, but I get where you're coming from. Honestly, that is what it's making me feel like, these good, good vibes and good, good feels.

SPEAKER_01 55:37

Yeah, well, it was the way he explained everything so for thoroughly, like the steps, it was easy breezy. Like on, like on I mean, I get it. It's like everything has to line up properly and things like that, but like and the first part of the surrogate where she goes through six or seven weeks of stuff.

SPEAKER_02 55:57

My surrogacy journeys from what he said is is taking them from it. That they do it. And then so it's not like give me X amount of dollars in the six figures and let me put it in a little account, and then we're gonna start taking away. I'm not saying that that's the wrong way to do it. I'm just saying I like their idea of when things come up, then it's paid. Okay, in two months you're gonna owe this. And into yeah, so it's not coming up with an exuberant amount of money. It's it's pay, I hate to say pay as you go, but it kind of is. It's it's there's milestones. But yes, yeah, there's milestones, and you move a bit more than that is a little bit more uh enticing to a couple breathable or person, yeah, who's who's in the finance like he called it financial infertility. Yeah, it's what a term.

SPEAKER_01 56:45

Wow. I really did not expect lightning to go that way.

SPEAKER_02 56:49

This was phenomenal. No, this was so great. Thank you so much, Michael. I know and and West of your day. I know and West, yeah. Yes, there's a lot of things.

SPEAKER_01 56:58

No, so yeah, wow. Okay, okay. Um blown away. I know I'm like still like blown away by it all.

SPEAKER_02 57:05

But it's just I let me say one more thing. I mean I'm always in the back of my mind, because we've done surrogacy and we've been part of it, and we just knew that there was something, something missing, something better to come, something it should be different. I think this is it. I think my surgacy journey is it. We've arrived, and that's all I'm gonna say. We've arrived, and we open power to Michael and Wes for creating what seems like a beautiful entity. And I just can't even thank them enough for giving that to all those the communities, the three communities that they help. I can't. Yeah, phenomenal. That's a lot, it's and it's beneficial on all sides, really. That's what I said from the very beginning. It's helping everyone. Yeah, who can say that?

SPEAKER_01 57:51

Yeah, Michael and Wes.

SPEAKER_02 57:52

There you go.

Sponsor Thanks And Subscribe Reminders

SPEAKER_01 57:57

Um, if anyone has any questions or stories they would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out to us on Instagram at stop period sit period surrogate or at our email at stop periodsitperiod surrogate at gmail.com. And uh this has been another super fun episode of Stops It Surrogate with Kennedy and Ellen. Bye guys. Hi everyone. Before we wrap up, a huge thank you to our sponsor, U.S. Surrogacy. Their support helps us continue to share real stories, educate our community, and connect families through the incredible journey of surrogacy. Thanks so much for tuning in to Stopsit Surrogate, where every story matters and every journey is worth sharing. We'll see you next time.

SPEAKER_02 58:40

If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to give us a like and subscribe. Also, check out the link to our YouTube channel in the description. And be sure to also check out our children's book, My Mom Has Superpowers, sold on Amazon and Etsy.