What happens when the most fertile years of your life are taken from you? How do you rebuild when trauma collides with your deepest hopes for motherhood? What does it mean to pursue fertility after prison? In this powerful episode of Brave & Curious, you’ll hear Dr. Lora Shahine’s conversation with Amanda Knox who spent four years in an Italian prison and eight years fighting a wrongful murder conviction. Amanda has turned her pain into purpose. With the recent release of her groundbreaking miniseries on Hulu ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’, she sheds light on an often overlooked consequence of incarceration: the profound impact on women’s reproductive health. In this conversation with Dr. Shahine, Amanda shares her journey through miscarriage, the emotional weight of delayed motherhood, and the stigma women face when fertility collides with trauma and injustice. In this episode you’ll hear: [0:50] Amanda Knox's background and wrongful conviction [1:34] The impact of incarceration on fertility [4:27] Amanda’s fertility journey & personal struggles [7:36] A new beginning with Christopher Robinson [14:51] Amanda's miscarriage experience [17:04] Reflections on miscarriage and fertility Learn more about Amanda Knox, her books, podcasts, and projects at amandaknox.com. Dr. Shahine’s Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
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Ep 139 To Fly or Not to Fly and Other Travel Tips for Fertility
Have you ever wondered if flying could impact your fertility? Worried about what happens if you need to travel after an egg retrieval? Curious whether that long-awaited vacation might interfere with success with embryo transfer? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Shahine answers the most common questions about fertility, flying, travel and IVF. She includes practical tips for travel days and leaves you informed to make the right decisions for you with your own doctor’s guidelines. In this episode you’ll hear: [1:18] Flying & fertility treatments [2:20] Traveling & fertility care: what the evidence shows [4:55] Egg retrieval & travel tips [8:02] Embryo transfer & flying [10:19] Advice from a doctor [12:43] Essential travel tips for IVF patients [15:04] A few final tips Resources mentioned: Article on circadian rhythms, international travel, and reproductive health https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21872642/ Dr. Shahine’s Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
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Ep 138 Fertility Over 40: What You REALLY Need to Know About Conception, Testing & IVF
Trying to get pregnant in your 40s and feeling bombarded with terms like “geriatric pregnancy” or “diminished ovarian reserve”? Wondering if age is the final word in fertility? Curious about what you can do instead of what you can't? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is getting real about trying to conceive after 40—with clarity, compassion, and science-backed strategies. She covers the impact of age on fertility, the power of early testing, and why aligning your family-building goals with real timelines is more important than ever. You’ll learn practical steps to optimize your fertility, when to consider IVF, and how to feel empowered—not discouraged—by the numbers. Whether you’re just starting or still holding onto hope, this episode is your go-to guide for navigating conception in your 40s with confidence. In this episode you’ll hear: [1:47] Age & fertility [9:40] An important first step: family building goals [12:25] Next step: don’t wait for testing [15:38] Tips for trying to conceive [18:44] Is IVF right for me? Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events: Weekly Newsletter Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
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Ep 137 CoQ10 and Fertility: What You Need for Egg and Sperm Health
Thinking about adding supplements to your fertility journey? A quick search online can leave you swimming in advice—or drowning. How do you know what really works and what’s just hype? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine takes a deep dive into one of the most talked-about fertility supplements: CoQ10. This naturally occurring antioxidant has been linked to improvements in egg quality and sperm health—but is it right for you? Dr. Shahine breaks down what the research actually says, the potential benefits, and what risks to keep in mind. In this episode, you’re getting clear, evidence-based insights that can help you have a more informed conversation with your healthcare provider—and decide if CoQ10 deserves a spot in your supplement lineup. In this episode you’ll hear: [2:04] What is CoQ10? [3:41] How CoQ10 works [4:45] Possible side effects [5:47] Evidence of CoQ10 for female fertility [14:55] Evidence of CoQ10 for male factor [17:46] What Dr. Shahine tells her own patients about CoQ10 Resources mentioned: Review article of nutrients for IVF, Hart et al. 2024 RBMO www.rbmojournal.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1472-6483%2823%2900869-6 Review article CoQ10 info, Rodriguez-Valera 2021 J Molecular Science www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/17/9541 CoQ10 levels decrease in levels with age, Ben-Meir et al. 2015 Fert Stert www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001502821500374X Animal studies showing improved egg and embryo quality with CoQ10 supplementation journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.4137/CMRH.S14681 Randomized controlled trial CoQ10 aneuploidy rates in women doing IVF/ICSI, Bentov et al. 2014 Sage journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.4137/CMRH.S14681 Review article on antioxidants (including CoQ10) and male fertility, Kaltsas et al. Medicine 2023 www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/59/10/1769 Sperm motility improved in men given CoQ10, Balercia, G.2009 Fert Stert www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(08)00487-1/fulltext Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events: Weekly Newsletter Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
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Ep 136 How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? Understanding Caffeine and Fertility
Is your morning coffee helping or hurting your fertility? Should you quit caffeine cold turkey while trying to conceive—or during pregnancy? And where can you turn for solid, trustworthy advice? (Hint: NOT random internet forums) In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine breaks down what we really know about caffeine and reproductive health—from both Western and Eastern medical perspectives. Dr. Shahine shares the actual caffeine content in your favorite drinks, answers the most common questions she hears from patients, and offers guidance on how to personalize your caffeine habits based on your own goals and body. Listeners will walk away with clear, practical information—and a little more peace of mind. Just remember: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, so be sure to check in with your own healthcare provider, too. In this episode you’ll hear: [1:55] Western evidence-based approach to caffeine and fertility [7:00] Eastern medicine approach to caffeine and fertility [9:27] How much caffeine is in your favorite pick-me-ups? [10:30] Dr. Shahine’s personal recommendations Resources mentioned: Caffeine Chart - find out how much is in what you’re having: www.cspinet.org/caffeine-chart 1988 Wilcox Study Caffeine Harms Fertility Large Danish Study Reassuring Results on Caffeine and Fertility Men’s Fertility and Caffeine Study mentioned Planting the Seeds of Fertility: An Integrative Approach to Fertility Care Dr. Shahine’s Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Fertility, reproductive health, and wellness are deeply personal—and sometimes, deeply challenging. Brave & Curious is a space for open, honest conversations about the science, emotions, and decisions that shape our reproductive journeys.
Hosted by Dr. Lora Shahine, a double board certified OBGYN and reproductive endocrinologist, author, and advocate, this podcast blends evidence-based medicine with empathy and curiosity. Whether you’re navigating infertility, exploring reproductive health, or simply seeking knowledge, this show will equip you with insights, expert interviews, and real stories to support your journey.
New episodes drop weekly—subscribe and join the conversation. Until next time, stay brave and curious.
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