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I Tried to Have a Kid With My Best Friend. It Got Complicated.

Modern Love

Shownote

Joseph Osmundson spent years joking about having a baby with his best friend. But one day, she told Joe she was serious about it. Joe was elated. Growing up, he had always wanted to be a father, but he didn’t realize how deep that yearning was until the mo...

Highlights

In this deeply personal episode, host Anna Martin sits down with author Joseph Osmundson to explore the intricate and often painful realities of queer co-parenting. Osmundson shares his journey from a childhood fascination with birth to the complex, adult decision to build a family with his best friend. The conversation candidly reveals the emotional highs and devastating lows of a plan that challenged conventional notions of family, love, and identity.
02:54
I learned to be present and caring from a young age.
10:39
The joke became urgent and real as she approached her mid-30s.
27:40
It unlocked a deep desire for a permanent, unbreakable connection.
43:18
I found fulfillment in nurturing the children of friends.

Chapters

A Dream of Fatherhood: From Lamaze Classes to Chosen Family
00:00
The Plan Takes Shape: Navigating IVF, Legalities, and a Boyfriend's Objection
08:01
The Heartbreak of a Collapsed Plan: When the Dream of a Donor is Shattered
24:54
Redefining a Life: Grief, Repair, and Finding Fulfillment Without Parenthood
40:20

Transcript

Speaker 3: It's that time of year again. Fancy? New phones were just announced, and your carrier says they can upgrade you for free. Like, free, free. Or am I just paying more monthly? And is there a multi-year contract involved? It's all kind of confusing...