Episode 26: Rethinking Fertility, Faith & Womanhood with Eloise Drane

Dec 24, 2025
2 min read

Ever found yourself navigating womanhood thinking, “I should already know how this works”… even though no one actually taught you any of it?

In this episode, Allison sits down with fertility expert, agency founder, and six-time egg donor + three-time surrogate Eloise Drane for a powerful, deeply human conversation about modern family building: the beauty, the complexity, and the emotional realities no one prepares you for.

Eloise shares her remarkable journey from kidney donor to becoming the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency owner in the U.S., and how her lived experience continues to shape the way she supports families today. Together, they unpack what third-party reproduction really looks like, why emotional readiness matters just as much as medical readiness, and the mindset shifts women need before stepping into egg donation, surrogacy, or assisted fertility.

You’ll hear the conversations most people avoid: the identity layers of donating or receiving genetic material, how to talk openly with children about their origin stories, why mental health and nervous system regulation matter for fertility, and how to choose the right clinic or agency without losing your peace in the process.

Whether you’re exploring family-building options, supporting someone who is, or simply want a more honest understanding of fertility in today’s world, this episode is a grounding, compassionate invitation to step out of shame and into empowerment.

Tune in to hear:

Eloise’s powerful path from kidney donor to six-time egg donor and three-time surrogate
Why egg donation requires a deeper “why” beyond financial incentives
The emotional and identity considerations donors and recipients must navigate
How secrecy around donor conception harms families and how transparency heals
What most people misunderstand about surrogacy and why it should never be the first step
The holistic factors affecting fertility: hormones, stress, nervous system state, weight, cannabis use, and more
Why choosing the right clinic or agency matters more than choosing the closest one
How burnout, people-pleasing, and boundary issues impact fertility journeys
The mindset work Eloise had to do to protect her peace after decades of carrying others’ stories
Why mental preparation is just as essential as medical preparation for anyone entering fertility treatment