Womb Work: How One Black Woman Changed the Fertility Playbook

Eloise Drane has been a 6-time egg donor and 3-time surrogate, but her greatest legacy might be how she’s reshaping the fertility industry itself. In this powerful episode of BACKtalk, host Janice Robinson-Celeste speaks with Eloise about founding Family Inceptions, the first Black woman-owned fertility agency in the U.S., and how she’s breaking down barriers for intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors, especially Black women. From discrimination in fertility clinics to the emotional and physical realities of surrogacy, Eloise gets real about what it takes to build a family and why inclusion matters.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps – Womb Work with Eloise Drane

00:00 – Welcome and introduction to the episode
01:00 – Meet Eloise Drane and the inspiration behind Family Inceptions
04:00 – Icebreaker: A childhood lesson that still guides Eloise
06:00 – Eloise’s first experience as an egg donor and how it went wrong
10:00 – The turning point: discovering Black women do need fertility support
13:00 – Becoming a surrogate and founding her own agency
17:00 – Facing discrimination in the fertility space
20:00 – The emotional and mental strength required for donation and surrogacy
24:00 – Why the fertility industry is dominated by white leadership
27:00 – How fertility work impacts legacy and community
30:00 – Compensation details and requirements for egg donation and surrogacy
34:00 – Understanding gestational vs. traditional surrogacy
37:00 – Steps to become an egg donor or surrogate
40:00 – Fertility360: Full-spectrum reproductive care and education
43:00 – Why Black families need early education on reproductive health
46:00 – Costs and options for families seeking surrogates or donors
49:00 – Addressing Black maternal health risks and state laws
52:00 – Where to find Eloise and learn more about Family Inceptions
54:00 – Final thoughts and wrap-up from Janice Robinson-Celeste