Bridget and Marco share their journey from loss to hope, reflecting on the challenges, lessons, and love that shaped their path to starting a family. From navigating heartbreak to celebrating a new pregnancy, they open up about the highs, lows, and everything in between — and how awareness, connection, and resilience brought them here.

🎵 Music by Ethan Lotenero 👉 Find Ethan on TikTok: @avodeae, Vimeo: Ethan Lotenero, and Spotify: Avondeae.📲

Instagram: @douniitalks
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Hosts: Darian
Guest: Bridget & Marco

Naomi and Micky, a same-sex couple, about their journey to becoming parents. We talk about everything—from choosing sperm and doing IUI, to the surprise of having twins, and all the highs and lows that came with it. Naomi gets really real about postpartum depression and living with bipolar, and how having Micky’s support made all the difference. We also dig into what it’s like to navigate parenting as a same-sex couple, the unexpected challenges, and the ways love and partnership can carry you through even the hardest moments. This episode is honest, heartfelt, and a reminder that building a family doesn’t come without struggles—but it’s worth it.

🎵 Music byEthan Lotenero 👉 Find Ethan on TikTok:⁠⁠@avodeae⁠⁠, Vimeo:⁠⁠Ethan Lotenero⁠⁠, and Spotify:⁠⁠Avondeae⁠⁠.

Instagram ⁠@douniitalks⁠

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This episode has two big updates to share:

First, what’s new with Dounii Talks — why the podcast looks a little different now, what’s changing, and where we’re headed next.

Second, a personal share: my trying-to-conceive journey so far. I open up about the emotional ups and downs, what I’ve learned along the way, and how I’m navigating this season.

🎵 Music byEthan Lotenero 👉 Find Ethan on TikTok:⁠@avodeae⁠, Vimeo:⁠Ethan Lotenero⁠, and Spotify:⁠Avondeae⁠.

📲Instagram @douniitalks

Join the community and newsletter:⁠⁠ www.dounii.com⁠⁠

Hi, welcome to Dounii Talks! Today, we’re joined by Annie for a raw and insightful conversation about navigating fertility in an unpredictable world. Annie walks us through her decision to freeze her eggs after being laid off, what it meant to take control of her timeline, and the unexpected emotional and ethical complexities that followed. We talk about everything from hormone injections and the disconnect she felt from her body, to the heavy realities of legal paperwork and genetic testing—and what it’s like to discover you and your partner are both carriers for the same condition. This episode is all about the real side of egg freezing—the fear, the freedom, and the weight of planning for a future that isn’t guaranteed. It’s honest, eye-opening, and a must-listen for anyone navigating their own reproductive choices.

🎵 Music by Ethan Lotenero 👉 Find Ethan on TikTok:⁠@avodeae⁠, Vimeo:⁠Ethan Lotenero⁠, and Spotify:⁠Avondeae⁠.📲
Instagram: @douniitalks

Sign up for our newsletter:⁠⁠ www.dounii.com⁠⁠

Hosts: Darian & Audrey

Guest: Annie

Hi, welcome to Dounii Talks! Today, we’re joined by the thoughtful and deeply honest Ale, who shares what it was like to be laid off, move cross-country, and find out she was pregnant — all at the same time.

We talk about what happens when the excitement you're “supposed” to feel… just isn't there. Ale opens up about feeling disconnected from her baby during pregnancy, the guilt that came with it, and the personal work it took to reconnect — not just with her baby, but with herself.

We also get into the beauty and complexity of receiving help from family, and how Ale learned to set boundaries in order to protect her new identity and her growing family. It’s a conversation full of nuance, growth, and so many quiet truths about becoming a parent.

🎵 Music by Ethan Lotenero 👉 Find Ethan on TikTok:⁠@avodeae⁠, Vimeo:⁠Ethan Lotenero⁠, and Spotify:⁠Avondeae⁠.📲
Instagram: @douniitalks

Website:⁠⁠ www.dounii.com⁠⁠

Hosts: Darian & Audrey

Guest: Ale

Hi, welcome to Dounii Talks! Today, we’re joined by the incredible Ariel Amarkarian, full-spectrum doula, reproductive health educator, and lifelong advocate—for a powerful conversation on what it truly means to support people through birth.We dive into Ariella’s journey from community organizing and ethnic studies to birthwork, and how a transformative experience in Armenia led her to her calling. She opens up about what it feels like to be in the room during birth, why education and access matter, and how her cultural background shapes her approach to care.We also explore the emotional side of doula work, the challenges of making this support accessible, and the deep joy and purpose Ariella finds in every birth she attends. It’s heartfelt, real, and full of insight—don’t miss it.

🎵 Music by Ethan Lotenero 👉 Find Ethan on TikTok:⁠@avodeae⁠, Vimeo:⁠Ethan Lotenero⁠, and Spotify:⁠Avondeae⁠.📲Instagram @douniitalks

Sign up for our newsletter:⁠⁠ www.dounii.com⁠⁠

Hosts: Darian & Audrey

Guest: Ariel

Hi, welcome to Dounii Talks!

In this episode, we sit down with Lorena and Emmanuel to talk about their experience with two miscarriages, the decision to stop trying, and the unexpected arrival of their son, August. We get into what it’s like to navigate grief as a couple, how fear shaped their next pregnancy, and the pressure to feel joy when you're still carrying loss. Lorena shares how the community became essential, and Emanuel reflects on showing up through the unknown. It’s a conversation about real-life parenting after loss — the kind that doesn’t follow a plan.

🎵 Music by Ethan Lotenero 👉 Find Ethan on TikTok:⁠@avodeae⁠, Vimeo:⁠Ethan Lotenero⁠, and Spotify:⁠Avondeae⁠.📲

Instagram: @douniitalks

Sign up for our newsletter:⁠⁠ www.dounii.com⁠⁠

Hosts: Darian & Audrey

Guest: Lorena& Emmanuel

⚠️Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of suicidal thoughts and children self-harming in the context of autism and caregiving. Please listen with care.
Hi, welcome to Dounii Talks! Today, we’re joined by the incredible Bonyue for a deeply raw and honest conversation about raising her non-verbal autistic daughter, Ava. Bonyue opens up about the early days of navigating Ava’s diagnosis, the emotional toll of advocating for her child, and what it means to live in two worlds—Ava’s world and the one outside it. Bonyue also shares how she learned to speak up, educate others, and ensure Ava is always seen, heard, and celebrated. This is a powerful episode about love, resilience, and what it means to advocate truly.It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. 💙

🎵 Music by Ethan Lotenero 👉 Find Ethan on TikTok:⁠@avodeae⁠, Vimeo:⁠Ethan Lotenero⁠, and Spotify:⁠Avondeae⁠.

Instagram: @douniitalks

Sign up for our monthly newsletter:⁠⁠ www.dounii.com⁠⁠

Hosts: Darian & Audrey
Guest: Bonyue

💛 If you or someone you know is struggling, you're not alone.

Support Resources:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (USA): Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for free, 24/7, confidential support.
• Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741 for support from a trained crisis counselor.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): www.nami.org
• Autism Society: Offers advocacy, education, and resources – www.autismsociety.org
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): Run by and for autistic people – www.autisticadvocacy.org
• The Arc: Supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities – thearc.org

You are seen. You are not alone. 💙