Marc Maron is a stand-up comedian and host of the podcast, WTF. If you've never listened, I only recommend about 30 minutes of his most recent interview with the actor Elizabeth Banks. Elizabeth Banks has been open about her years of infertility and use of a gestational surrogate to carry her two children.
I think this episode (at least 30 minutes of it) is unique and important because Marc Maron is kind of an asshole. Not to Elizabeth Banks, but just in his general demeanor (narcissistic, neurotic, insecure). He knows nothing about infertility, IVF or gestational surrogacy (or so I assume). In other words, he is the kind of person you might find yourself talking to and trying to explain IVF or why you did not adopt. And that is exactly what Elizabeth Banks did.
It was a casual, non-journalistic, non-medical and really honest conversation about how Banks and her husband created their family. It was a REAL conversation about infertility. The kind that we all have had. Perhaps, more importantly, his audience probably isn't made up of married, middle-aged white women and stay-at-home moms.
I think it is almost more important for audiences to hear that kind of interview, a real conversation about infertility and its treatment, with all the dumb questions, and their truly honest answers.
To listen to the interview, visit http://www.wtfpod.com/guide (scroll down to episode 352 or search) or find the podcast on itunes (it's free). Elizabeth Banks talks about gestational surrogacy at around the 1:03:00 mark. One potential warning: adoption advocates may cringe at the way Banks explains adoption. But again, she is honestly answering the question of why they did not choose adoption.
5 comments:
Wow! Very interesting! I think she seems very confident that she made the right decision for her, and that is important! I am glad that she is talking candidly about mourning being pregnant and desiring her own genetic child. I hope in the future more celebs will disclose their IF treatment choices
Thanks for the recommondation, I enjoyed listening to it. It's great that people are talking about infertility and I applaud her for being so open and vulnerable. I love that she says that people are idiots about the topic and she doesn't care what they think. BUT, I have to say I was a bit taken back by her comment about adoption (1:10). I respect her decision to use a surrogate but I dislike her saying that with adoption it isn't your actual baby and that it was a secondary choice to gestational carrier. I know I am biased because I did not have the option to use my own eggs but it didn't sit well with me. I would never say that using someones womb was secondary to using an egg donor. It is just a different decision. I get that she meant she wanted her biological child it was just her choice of wording. Obviously it is her opinion and Iappreciate her honesty it just stung me a little.
I agree, KC. What bothered me was the way she emphasized that by using their gametes, their children were more 'theirs' than if they had adopted (i think she said, "they are OURS" more than once). I knew that would sting for many people. But I do think she explained why adoption is different and loved when she said adoption is not a prescription for infertility or even an option for many infertile couples (As it is not for us).
Thanks for sharing that! I liked how open and honest she was, even if she may have rubbed some the wrong way. She followed the path that felt right to her, and ultimately, that's what it's all about.
HI from ICLW!!!
I can't wait to listen to this podcast! Someone just mentioned it to me at work as well!
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