If you’ve gone through IVF or fertility treatments and didn’t end up with the child you always dreamed of, this episode is for you. During National Infertility Awareness Week 2025, it’s easy to feel like the spotlight is only on the stories that end in a baby. But what if yours didn’t? What if you're childless after infertility, and you’ve spent years wondering where your voice fits in? This week, we’re finally talking about the part no one wants to say out loud: The silence that follows when fertility treatments don’t work. The awkward comments. The unsolicited advice. The way people try to “fix” you with adoption suggestions, miracle stories, or spiritual shortcuts. But in this episode, you’ll hear what you’ve been longing to hear: You are not an afterthought. You are not a failure. And you are not alone. Lana shares: Why awareness doesn’t always mean inclusion, especially when your journey ends without a child How society struggles to hold space for grief that’s not “fixable” What it’s like to be left without resources or support when you leave your clinic for the last time A reading from Chapter 14 of her new book So Now What?, called “Avoiding Isolation and Strengthening Existing Connections” What you can do to start reconnecting with yourself and others in an authentic way without having to explain or justify your path Whether you’ve felt misunderstood, judged, or completely invisible, this episode will help you feel grounded, seen, and empowered to move forward, even when life looks nothing like you planned. 🧡 Want to keep going beyond the podcast? Here’s how to get support and stay connected: ➡️ Join me LIVE during National Infertility Awareness Week: April 28 – Infertility, Identity, and the Fight to Be Seen – So Now What? at Indiana University Northwest, 11:30 AM April 28 – Interview on WCPT Radio in Chicago May 1 – Book reading and signing at City Lit Books, 6:30 PM (Logan Square, Chicago) May 10 – The 4th Annual Other’s Day Brunch, a powerful gathering for women without children on the Saturday before Mother’s Day Get all the details at: www.lanamanikowski.com/events 🎧 Ready to talk about what’s next for you? Book your free 45-minute Thrive Call with Lana and start mapping out what your future can look like, even if it doesn’t include motherhood. 👉 Book now 📚 Haven’t read the book yet? Download the foreword by Jody Day and Chapter 1 of So Now What? 👉 Get your preview 💬 Struggling with how to respond to awkward or hurtful comments? Download the free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You’re Childless (...and How to Respond) 👉 Get the guide If this episode spoke to you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear that a meaningful life is still possible, even without the children they dreamed of. 📲 Connect with Lana on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube: @lana.manikowski on IG @lana.manikowski on TikTok YouTube Channel
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15:13
Infertility Isn’t a Finish Line
If you’ve been through fertility treatments like IVF or IUI and ended your journey without the baby you dreamed of, you might be waiting for the day you finally feel “healed.” But what if healing isn’t something you ever fully complete? What if infertility isn’t a finish line—but a beginning? In this episode of The “So Now What?” Podcast, you’ll discover that you don’t have to be completely healed to start feeling proud of who you are becoming. You’ll explore how to notice your growth, even on the hard days, and how small steps forward are worth celebrating—even if no one else sees them. I’ll also be sharing details about a few special public events coming up, including a reading from Chapter 11 of my book, So Now What?, titled “Who Are You Now? Who Do You Want to Become?” This question is at the heart of reclaiming your life after infertility, and I hope it inspires you the way it inspired me. ✨ Upcoming Events (All Open to the Public): 🗓 April 28 at 11:30 AM Speaking at Indiana University Northwest Topic: Infertility, Identity, and the Fight to Be Seen – So Now What? 📚 May 1 at 6:30 PM Book Reading and Signing at City Lit in Logan Square Featuring Chapter 11: “Who Are You Now? Who Do You Want to Become?” 🥂 May 10 at 11:30 AM The 4th Annual Other’s Day Brunch in Chicago A celebration for women without children to feel seen, supported, and celebrated 🎟 Get your ticket 🎧 Listen now if you’ve ever thought: “I still feel sad, so I must not be healed yet” “I didn’t become a mom, so what do I celebrate about myself?” “I don’t even know who I am without motherhood” This episode is your reminder that you are growing, even if your grief still exists. Your story didn’t end when your treatments did. It just started taking a new shape—one that you get to define. 📞 Ready to take the next step? Book a free 45-minute Thrive Call with me We’ll create a plan together for how to start building a life that feels meaningful without the children you dreamed of. 👉 Book your Thrive Call 💬 Free Download The Top 27 Things People Say When You’re Childless (...and how to respond) An authentic and empowering guide to help you feel steady and confident in conversations that often feel uncomfortable. 📥 Download it here 📲 Stay connected: Instagram: @lana.manikowski YouTube: @lana.manikowski TikTok: @lana.manikowski Website: www.lanamanikowski.com
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14:13
From Infertility to Impact: Why This Chapter Matters
Have you ever looked around and thought, “So now what?” after years of trying fertility treatments that didn’t work? You’re not alone. This week’s episode is for you. In this deeply personal and empowering episode, you’ll hear Lana reflect on the powerful launch of her new book, So Now What?, which became a #1 New Release in the Fertility and Infertility categories on Amazon. That milestone wasn’t just about sales. It was about finally being heard after years of feeling silenced by a childless outcome. Whether you’ve gone through IVF, IUI, or spent years navigating the complex, emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatments only to leave without a baby, this episode will remind you that your story still matters. You’ll hear: How Lana’s unexpected injury mirrored the unpredictability of infertility Why So Now What? was written for women just like you A powerful reading from Chapter 3 of the book that will leave you feeling seen and understood Why this book belongs in every fertility clinic and how you can help make that happen 🎧 This episode is for you if: You feel like no one talks about what happens after treatment doesn’t work You’re searching for hope, community, and guidance in your childless life You’re ready to believe that your life can still be meaningful even without the children you dreamed of ✨ Help Us Spread the Word Lana is currently sending So Now What? to reproductive endocrinologists, clinics, and therapists. She wants your help reaching more professionals who need this resource. If you know of a doctor, clinic, or support group that could benefit, email Lana or send her a DM on Instagram, or TikTok 📍 Upcoming Book Events If you’re in the Chicago or Northwest Indiana area, join Lana at one of her upcoming events: April 28 at 11:30 AM – Infertility, Identity, and the Fight to Be Seen at Indiana University Northwest May 1 at 6:30 PM – Book reading at City Lit Books in Logan Square, Chicago May 10 – The Other’s Day Brunch (a celebration for women without children by circumstance, not choice) Get your ticket: lanamanikowski.com/othersday 📚 Get Your Copy of So Now What? Available now on: Amazon Barnes & Noble Blackwell’s (UK) Or visit the new landing page: lanamanikowski.com/book 💬 Free Download: The Top 27 Things People Say When You’re Childless… and How to Respond Tired of awkward, intrusive conversations about your childless status? This free resource will help you feel more confident, clear, and authentic. Download it here: lanamanikowski.com/thingspeoplesay 💬 Remember: You are not behind. You are not broken. You are not alone. Your life still has purpose, joy, and connection ahead. Let this episode be your reminder that your next chapter is waiting to be written.
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13:56
Infertility Takes Everything From You… Or Does It?
Are you childless after infertility, feeling stuck in the “in-between” after years of fertility treatments and IVF? Have you spent years yearning for motherhood, only to be left wondering what life looks like now? If that sounds like you, this episode was created with your heart in mind. In Episode 162 of The So Now What? Podcast, I share a deeply personal reflection that started on a seemingly ordinary Saturday. It was a day filled with movement, joy, connection, and the kind of freedom I never expected to feel in a life without children. But by the end of the night, everything changed. That moment forced me to think about what I had built and who I had become. You’ll hear how that experience helped me step even more deeply into ownership of a life I never imagined living, and how you can do the same. 💬 In this episode, you’ll hear: Why your life without children can still feel full, meaningful, and chosen How waiting for time to heal might be keeping you stuck An excerpt from Chapter 9 of my new book So Now What? called "Learning Not to Fear Change" How fear of failure, shaped by the language of fertility treatments, impacts your ability to move forward Why So Now What? is already a Top New Best Seller on Amazon before it has even launched A heartfelt invitation to stop waiting and start rebuilding your life 📘 So Now What? is the guide you didn’t know you needed If you’ve ever said, “I thought I’d be a mom by now,” this book was written for you. So Now What? is more than a book. It is a guide, a lifeline, and a blueprint for the woman who never received the tools to navigate a future without motherhood. This book meets you where you are and shows you that you do not have to stay there. It is already being celebrated as a Top New Best Seller on Amazon, even before the official launch on April 2. 🛒 Pre-order your copy of So Now What? 📅 Release Date: April 2 💬 Ready to stop wondering what’s next? If you feel stuck or unsure how to begin, I invite you to schedule a free 45-minute Thrive Call with me. This is your opportunity to map out a personalized plan and walk away with clarity and direction. You will not be asked to have all the answers, only the willingness to start. 📞 Book your free Thrive Call here 🎁 Free Download: Not sure how to respond when people offer advice or make assumptions about your childlessness? Download my free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You’re Childless (...and how to respond) 📥 Get your copy here ❤️ You are not alone If your fertility journey has left you childless, and you feel like you are the only one navigating this unexpected life, this episode will remind you that you are not alone. You have found your community. You have a coach who understands. You have a starting point. Your story is not over. It is just beginning. Let today be the day you take ownership of what is next. 🎧 Press play now and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. 📱 Let’s stay connected: Instagram: @lana.manikowski TikTok: @lana.manikowski YouTube: Lana Manikowski Website: https://www.lanamanikowski.com #childlessnotbychoice #infertilitysupport #ivfwarrior #childlessafterinfertility #lifecoachforinfertility #soNowWhat #infertilityjourney #lifeafterivf #thrivingafterinfertility #purposewithoutmotherhood #navigatingchildlessness #ivf
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12:18
Infertile & Childless: The Myths We Believe
🎙 Listen now to The 'So Now What?' Podcast with Lana Manikowski, Episode 161 So now what? Did these three words race through your mind time and time again during fertility treatments? You poured everything—your energy, your time, your heart—into trying to have a child. But when that dream didn’t come true, you were left wondering: What now? If you've ever felt like motherhood was the missing piece, the thing that would finally make you whole, you are not alone. And today, we’re challenging that belief. In this episode, we’ll explore: ✅ Why focusing on what’s missing keeps you stuck in the absence of a child ✅ How to shift from dwelling in loss to expanding into new possibilities ✅ The false narrative that motherhood completes you—and what actually does ✅ How to rediscover your purpose and joy beyond motherhood You spent years believing that having a child would bring fulfillment. But what if your ability to create a meaningful life was never dependent on motherhood in the first place? You are not incomplete. You are not without purpose. You are just beginning a new chapter—one that is waiting to be fully lived. ✨ Are you ready to step into joy again? Book a free 45-minute Thrive Call with me, where we’ll map out your next steps toward fulfillment and purpose. → Schedule your call here 📚 Pre-order my book, So Now What?, available now on Amazon! This is the resource I wish I had when I realized I would be living a life without children. It’s filled with insights and strategies to help you move forward with confidence. Order today and be one of the first to receive it when it releases on April 2nd! 💌 Get your free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You Are Childless (...and How to Respond) → Download it here 🌸 Join us for The Other’s Day Brunch on May 10 in Chicago! A beautiful space for childless women to connect and celebrate a life that is meaningful—without children. Get your tickets here → lanamanikowski.com/othersday 💬 Let’s connect! 📌 Instagram: @lana.manikowski 📌 TikTok: @lana.manikowski 📌 YouTube: Watch Here If this episode spoke to you, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. It helps other women on this journey find the support they need. 🎧 Listen now and remember—you are so much more than this one dream. You have an entire life waiting to be lived fully. 💜
I am an infertility survivor—the kind you never hope to become: childless. After enduring multiple rounds of IUI and IVF at some of the leading fertility centers, I was advised to discontinue treatment. When my fertility journey ended, I was offered no resources to help me navigate the reality of an unexpected childless life. I was left asking:
So now what?
In the years that followed, I tried to convince myself I’d be OK, but I wasn’t. I felt shattered, alone, and failed—not just by the process but by my own body. I longed for someone who truly understood the pain I felt, a guide to help me navigate a life without children.
But I couldn’t find it.
So, I decided to create it.
Today, I am still childless, but I’ve redefined what that means. I’ve learned that a meaningful and purposeful life is possible, even without motherhood. I’ve learned to love myself and embrace the body I once felt had let me down. Through my certification in life coaching and my own transformation, I’ve discovered tools and insights that helped me thrive—and I’m here to share them with you on The "So Now What?" Podcast.
If you’ve been on this journey, join me as we build what we were never offered: a sisterhood for the bravest women I know. Together, we’ll rewrite the narrative, shedding labels like failed, unexplained, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, not-viable, or advanced maternal age.
Follow me on Instagram: @lana.manikowski for resources, inspiration, and opportunities to live a fulfilling life without the children you dreamed of.
New Zealand