OnOn this week's episode of the OVAREACTION podcast, I am joined by our first featured storyteller, my sister and bestie, Maaden Eshete Jones. On today's episode, I am pleased to be joined by our first featured storyteller, my sister and bestie, Maaden Eshete Jones. Maaden Eshete Jones is a writer, podcastor, and encourager. A purveyor of gifts and guides for healing through hospitality, she is the owner of Love, Maaden and the Love Goods Co. And has created a thriving community around daily practices in living a life of love. Madi, as she is known to friends, holds a Master of Public Health ..read more

On the Season 2 Finale of the OVAREACTION podcast, I give the listeners my most real time update EVER! Alot has happened since I celebrated selecting my donor at the end of Episode 7: Who Dat Is? I share what's ahead for me, personally, and what you can expect from Season 3 of the podcast. As I share in the episode, I am not exactly sure when I will be back for Season 3 but just know I will be back.  Season 3 will transition from sharing my story to giving voice to women on their own reproductive health journeys and the people who love them - I CAN'T WAIT! As I lean more than ever into ..read more

Due to some circumstances within my control and a few outside, Episode 7: Who Dat Is? is coming to you a little late - I appreciate the grace! On this episode, I share the story of how I found my donor. After a few failed shopping trips and patiently waiting on the Lord, my future baby daddy showed up in my inbox. With my donor selected and the vials purchased, it was time to celebrate this major milestone in my journey. Head over to my blog at www.tennilledaniels.com/blog to see how I celebrated this major step with some of my closest friends. This week's song of the episode is MyBabyDaddy ..read more

It's time to do one of my favorite things - SHOP!  On this episode, I share my experience shopping for my future baby daddy.  This process left me feeling like a woman who is looking for the perfect dress for an event and goes to every store in town only to end up with nothing. I discuss the availability, or lack thereof, of Black male sperm donors and why the pickings are slim. The song of the episode is BROTHA by Angie Stone. This song is dedicated to and celebrates Black men. My hope is that women who have a need for a sperm donor have access to a reasonable pool of Black men to ..read more

There was one question all my family and friends asked when I told them I wanted to embark on this single mother by choice journey, "Don't you have someone you could ask to be the father of your child?". On this episode, I discuss the answer to this one question. I also share how I had to boss up for my unborn child. The song of the episode is Best I Never Had by Beyonce. Although Beyonce is talking about a romantic relationship, there are a few lines that resonated me during this part of my journey.  We always have to remember that God's plan is always greater than our own! You can fi ..read more

On today's episode, I discuss the results of my genetic carrier screening and the impact they have on my selection of a baby daddy ;-) The song of the episode is DNA by Kendrick Lamar. A benefit of using donor sperm for the IVF process is the ability to know the genetic makeup of your baby daddy and how it may impact your future child. Hear this song and the many others that have provided the soundtrack for my reproductive health journey on the OVAREACTION podcast playlist available on Apple Music or Spotify.  ~Tennille ..read more

On today's episode, I share a few results of my 2020 fertility assessment and the first step in my 2021 fertility roadmap.  First stop, an early 2021 surgery to have something all women have two of but don't necessarily need both of to have a child - you have to listen to the episode to find out what I had removed or maybe you can guess from the title ;-)  I also share one of my words for 2022 - CONSISTENCY - and how it relates to why I have been MIA for the past couple months. Let me just say sometimes you have to hit pause and spend time resting, reflecting and recharging for the ..read more

On today's episode, I share the first active step I took on my fertility journey to become a single mother by choice. That step was the initial appointment with my doctor at Shady Grove Fertility.   The initial appointment is a chance for the doctor to gather information and share potential options for your journey.  This appointment is followed by a fertility workup which includes a number of blood and imaging tests. The fertility workup, for me, is like getting your car checked out before a long road trip.  You want to make sure the car or your body, in this case, is ready for ..read more

I've been summering so hard but I am finally back for Season 2 of the OVAREACTION podcast! On Episode 1, I give a summer recap which includes Hollywood (Florida), a Southern Belle Vacay in South Carolina, a surprise pop up in Miami and a night to remember with Bruno Mars. Head over to my blog to get the deets on my Southern Belle Vacay - where we stayed, what we did, the sexy Black male actor we saw ;-) I am also excited to share with you a major life update.  I am taking active steps to create the life I want to live by embarking on a new journey. You have to listen to the episode to h ..read more

On this week's episode of the OVAREACTION podcast, I share how I got the fresh start I was looking for at the end of 2011. Never did I imagine the fresh start God had in store for me was a move to the Windy City. Part of settling into my new home required me to find a reproductive endocrinologist who could help me manage my endometriosis. Following our initial consultation, my doctor recommended a full panel of bloodwork to assess my reproductive health based on my hormone levels. The results of this assessment led to a diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve and a recommendation to consider ..read more