Tiny Huge Decisions

We have a special episode to share this week from the podcast, The Best Advice Show.  The Best Advice Show is your twice-weekly reminder that there are weird, delightful and effective ways to make life slightly and sometimes profoundly better.  In every (very short) episode of the show, a different contributor offers their take on making life more joyful, healthful and livable and it's likely gonna be something you can...

In “Episode 3: Where does the love start and end?”, Dalia played clips for Mohsin of calls she'd had made to Michelle – who had been a surrogate for her sister-in-law. This bonus episode is an extended cut of that interview. Michelle talks about her motivations and her experiences during and after the pregnancy, and gives some useful advice to Dalia.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.tinyhugedecision...

In “Episode 1: Are they serious?”, Mohsin and Dalia discussed his struggles at university. At this time, Mohsin saw a university counselor named Maureen. The pair developed a friendship outside of their counseling relationship and have been close for 20 years – Maureen even came to Mohsin and Matthew’s wedding. Mohsin put the producers in touch with Maureen when they were conducting research for the series. While the inter...

In “Episode 4: Meet Matthew”, Mohsin played Matthew clips from an interview he conducted with Paul Morgan-Bentley, a journalist and author who has had a child through a surrogate. In this first bonus episode, here is an extended cut of Mohsin’s conversation with Paul, where they discuss the shape of the relationship between parents, surrogates and children.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.tinyhugedecis...

Is a vague idea between friends about to become a reality? A year into the process, and on the verge of a decision, Mohsin and Dalia sit down with a dozen pages of a surrogacy agreement, and hash out the details of exactly how this could work. There’s little decisions to make about conception, pregnancy and birth – and these old friends don’t always agree. Then, Mohsin drops a bombshell that could change everything.

Fo...

This decision won’t just affect Mohsin and Dalia, but everyone around them. Now, it’s time to open up the conversation to friends and family. When Mohsin first came out, there were times his mother wouldn’t even speak to him – but now, they’re having a heart-to-heart about the importance of family, with a few parenting tips thrown in. Meanwhile, Dalia opens up to her friend Emily, who provides insight from her own experien...

There's someone we haven't spoken with so far... Mohsin’s husband, and the other intended parent, Matthew. Together, Mohsin and Matthew speak about the journey of their relationship. It’s an intimate insight that takes some surprising turns – through identity, race, and guilt. What does Matthew think about all this? Who’s going to be the biological father? And what happens if Dalia says no?

For a full transcrip...

What is it really like to be pregnant with someone else’s child? Dalia shares some of her anxieties from the difficult experience she had with her first pregnancy. Then, she shares some of her own research with Mohsin. She’s spoken to surrogates, finding differences, similarities and common emotional ground. As she learns more about surrogacy, which way is she leaning?

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.t...

So... how does this all work? Mohsin's done some research, and he’s ready to guide Dalia through some of the fine print of the surrogacy process. There are different approaches in the US and the UK – with financial and legal implications. But these complex technicalities come back to emotional realities - why does Mohsin want to go through this with Dalia? And what's her motivation?

For a full transcript of thi...

When Dalia said she could carry her best friend Mohsin’s baby, she was… half-joking? But now, they’re talking about it for real. Mohsin and his new husband want a child, and Dalia could be the one to make it happen. So, will they? Won’t they? They’ve committed to exploring the possibility together, before reaching a final decision. But who are these two? Why are they even considering doing this? They reflect on their frien...