Podcast Spotlight: If These Ovaries Could Talk
If These Ovaries Could Talk is a podcast where hosts Jaimie and Robin discuss having kids and a family in a non-tradition fashion. Each week they host a new guest to discuss their experiences and challenges in starting and raising a family.
I was fortunate enough to get the chance to email with both Jaimie and Robin about their podcast, what they didn’t expect when starting it, and who their dream guest would be. See below for our Q&A.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher
Discover Pods: Was there a tipping point or a certain moment where you finally decided to podcast?
JAIMIE: My wife had our first child and we decided I would carry the second. I mistakenly thought I’d get pregnant very easily because i’m younger than my wife, and truthfully who thinks they’re going to have a problem with infertility… until they do. I ended up having 3 IVFs and at least 10 IUIs over the course of 2 1/2 years. And we spent more money than one can imagine. During that time, things started to get a bit dark for me emotionally and I began researching books, videos and podcasts to try to hear my story from other women. Almost everything I found was geared toward straight couples, and my creative side kicked in, and I thought that this is a podcast that needs to be created. These stories need to be told.
ROBIN: I’m also a mom of two. I’m an actress and a writer and am perpetually overcommitted. And I had just finished up the first season of a digital short series that I wrote, produced and acted in called “Stupid Michelle and Dumb Robin”. I ran into Jaimie at the annual gay pride family picnic where a bunch of us always meet up. Jaimie asked me if I had any interest in co-hosting this podcast with her and I jumped at the chance because I had free time and didn’t know what to do with myself. When we started the podcast we were originally thinking it would be just about fertility and the many hoops gays have to go through in order to create a family. But as soon as we began delving into the show – scripting and guest research, etc, we realized that what makes ITOCT special is these people’s stories. Yes we talk about what they went through to make their family, but it’s much more than that, it’s what it’s like to live in their particular family. Obstacles, fears, parenting, sexuality. All of it. And each story is unique, yet resonates and feels accessible or similar.
JAIMIE: And I have to be honest. I just thought this was an idea I had, but I didn’t really think it was going to get made. I had no idea that robin was such an insane (and I mean that in the best way) task master.
ROBIN: It’s true. The producer side of me kicked in and within 10 minutes of our first meeting, I had created five shared googled docs and I had my designer wife working on our logo.
DP: As a brand new podcast, what’s something you didn’t expect diving into the project?
ROBIN: I’ve always been a producer of my own work, from plays to my digital short series, so it seemed like natural fit to pick this up on my own and produce it. I’m also lucky that my day job is working in the industry, so I’ve learned quite a bit and have a lot of resources to lean on.
DP: How has the listener feedback been?
JAIMIE: So far, the listener feedback has been fantastic. We hit 4k downloads on our first episode and we were asked to be included in SiriusXM’s new app called Spoke, that curates podcast in order to help find content. We’ll be included in their playlist called “The Gay Agenda.”
ROBIN: We’re also hearing great feedback from the LGBTQ community that this podcast is filling a void. This is a community that has been very underserved for many years, so folks are happy to hear the stories we’re sharing.
DP: Who’s your dream podcast guest?
ROBIN: I love the every day stories of the people among us. I like highlighting the humanity of people you know and love. BUT if we’re talking famous people, I want Rosie O’Donnel to share her story. It’s a great story with adoptions, divorces, deaths, hard kid situations. I think people would love to hear that story.
JAIMIE: Wanda Sykes. She’s funny and fun and has kids with a french lady.
DP: What’s the biggest challenge you face as an indie podcaster?
ROBIN: Our biggest challenge, hands down, is getting our podcast out to podcast listeners. We’re actively working all our social media channels, but that next step of getting our show in front of regular podcast listeners (outside of our social circles) is a challenge. We’re getting press, but it’s a slow and steady climb.
What are your five favorite podcasts?
ROBIN:
WTF
The Black Tapes
36 Questions
Missing Richard Simmons
Serial / S-Town
JAIMIE:
Strangers
Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations
The Daily
This American Life
Nancy
DP: Anything else you’d like to add?
ROBIN: Well, my dad was a used car salesman, so I can’t help myself from saying we’d like everyone to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on all the usual social media spots (twitter @ovaries talk and FB “If These Ovaries Could Talk”). But in all seriousness, I say that because I want to create a community, make a place where others can talk about their kids, their family, their experiences out in the world and feel alike and supported. We may not be able to interview everyone (although, we may try), but we can create a place where everyone’s story is out there.
JAIMIE: What Robin said, please tune in, download, listen religiously. Reach out to us. The more we share our stories, the more “real” we become to the rest of society. Our stories are special and unique, yes, but they’re also very normal in that they’re everywhere. I’d love it if this podcast could help “normalize” LQBTQ families. Were all out there doing our best, hopefully raising amazing, kick-ass kids who will make the world a better place.
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