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Imagine you found out when you were a teen that your father was not your biological father.

That is what happened to both of our guests on this episode of Audacious.

One woman, Eve, then found out that her biological father was not the sperm donor her parents chose, but their fertility doctor. This is called “fertility fraud“. It is only illegal in 12 states (not including Connecticut), and not at all illegal on the federal level.

Another woman, Laura, developed health issues that were inherited. After finding half-siblings who were also struggling with similar issues, she asked her donor to disclose his medical records. He has refused. And there are no laws forcing him to comply.

Laura and Eve are now advocating for legal protections and changes to regulations in the fertility industry.

Find support groups for people navigating donor conception at Donor Conceived Community.

GUESTS: 
Laura High: A New York-based comedian who is trying to get medical records from her biological father after developing a benign brain tumor and hormonal disorders
Eve Wiley: After finding out that her biological father was not the donor her parents chose, but their fertility doctor, Dr. Kim McMorries. She was part of the advocacy effort that led to Texas making fertility fraud a felony with punishment of between six months and two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000

Imagine you found out when you were a teen that your father was not your biological father.
That is what happened to both of our guests on this episode of Audacious.
One woman, Eve, then found out that her biological father was not the sperm donor her parents chose, but their fertility doctor. This is called “fertility fraud“. It is only illegal in 12 states (not including Connecticut), and not at all illegal on the federal level.
Another woman, Laura, developed health issues that were inherited. After finding half-siblings who were also struggling with similar issues, she asked her donor to disclose his medical records. He has refused. And there are no laws forcing him to comply.
Laura and Eve are now advocating for legal protections and changes to regulations in the fertility industry.
Find support groups for people navigating donor conception at <a href="https://donorconceivedcommunity.org/">Donor Conceived Community</a>.
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.laurahighfive.com ">Laura High</a>: A New York-based comedian who is trying to get medical records from her biological father after developing a benign brain tumor and hormonal disorders</li>
<li><a href="https://evewiley.com/ ">Eve Wiley</a>: After finding out that her biological father was not the donor her parents chose, but their fertility doctor, Dr. Kim McMorries. She was part of the advocacy effort that led to Texas making fertility fraud a felony with punishment of between six months and two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000</li>
</ul>

Audacious with Chion Wolf will highlight the uncommon experiences of everyday people – asking the hardest, most uncomfortable questions. With curiosity and compassion, Connecticut Public producer and host Chion Wolf digs deeper, encouraging listeners to ask hard questions in their own lives.

Find out more at https://www.ctpublic.org/audacious

Audacious with Chion Wolf will highlight the uncommon experiences of everyday people – asking the hardest, most uncomfortable questions. With curiosity and compassion, Connecticut Public producer and host Chion Wolf digs deeper, encouraging listeners to ask hard questions in their own lives.
Find out more at https://www.ctpublic.org/audacious

Audacious with Chion Wolf

Audacious with Chion Wolf will highlight the uncommon experiences of everyday people – asking the hardest, most uncomfortable questions. With curiosity and compassion, Connecticut Public producer and host Chion Wolf digs deeper, encouraging listeners to ask hard questions in their own lives.

Find out more at ctpublic.org/audacious

Audacious with Chion Wolf will highlight the uncommon experiences of everyday people – asking the hardest, most uncomfortable questions. With curiosity and compassion, Connecticut Public producer and host Chion Wolf digs deeper, encouraging listeners to ask hard questions in their own lives.
Find out more at <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/about">ctpublic.org/audacious</a>

Conception deception: The fight for transparency in the fertility industry

In the movies, cyborgs often don't have a soul or a conscience.

But in real life, some people become cyborgs in order to enhance the human experience and to be more connected with nature.

Like Neil Harbisson. He was born colorblind, but now, thanks to an antenna implanted into the base of his skull, he can hear colors!

And choreographer, Moon Ribas, had implants embedded in her feet that vibrated every time there was an earthquake of at least 1.0 on the Richter scale.

They are co-founders of the Transpecies Society and the Cyborg Foundation.

This episode originally aired on September 16, 2023.

GUESTS: 
Neil Harbisson: For almost 20 years, has had an antenna implanted into the back of his skull that translates color into sound
Moon Ribas: A choreographer who, for seven years, had implants in her feet that vibrated every time there was an earthquake of 1.0 on the Richter scale

In the movies, cyborgs often don't have a soul or a conscience.
But in real life, some people become cyborgs in order to enhance the human experience and to be more connected with nature.
Like Neil Harbisson. He was born colorblind, but now, thanks to an antenna implanted into the base of his skull, he can hear colors!
And choreographer, Moon Ribas, had implants embedded in her feet that vibrated every time there was an earthquake of at least 1.0 on the Richter scale.
They are co-founders of the <a href="https://transpeciessociety.wixsite.com/transpeciessociety" data-cms-ai="0">Transpecies Society</a> and the <a href="https://www.cyborgfoundation.com/" data-cms-ai="0">Cyborg Foundation</a>.
This episode originally aired on September 16, 2023.
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.cyborgarts.com/neil-harbisson" data-cms-ai="0">Neil Harbisson</a>: For almost 20 years, has had an antenna implanted into the back of his skull that translates color into sound</li>
<li><a href="https://www.cyborgarts.com/moon-ribas" data-cms-ai="0">Moon Ribas</a>: A choreographer who, for seven years, had implants in her feet that vibrated every time there was an earthquake of 1.0 on the Richter scale</li>
</ul>

Hearing every color, feeling every earthquake: Life as a cyborg

People modify their bodies all the time. A piercing here, a tattoo there… But what if you took it to the extreme, and reshaped yourself into something mythical?

Meet two people who use body modifications to turn themselves into dragons.

Related episodes:
Change Of Art: Stories About Tattoo Coverups
Retired CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez on magic, technology and the art of deception
(Almost) Everybody Hurts: An Exploration of Pain
Going Flat, or Building New Breasts: Two Women’s Post-Mastectomy Stories
Hearing every color, feeling every earthquake: Life as a cyborg

GUESTS: 
Legion the Dragon: Based in Los Angeles, and legally known as Tiamat Legion Medusa, he describes his transformation into a dragon as a metamorphosis 
Burns the Dragon: Also known as Josh Burns, he is a Vancouver-based performance artist 

People modify their bodies all the time. A piercing here, a tattoo there… But what if you took it to the extreme, and reshaped yourself into something mythical?
Meet two people who use body modifications to turn themselves into dragons.
Related episodes:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/arts-and-culture/2020-08-28/change-of-art-stories-about-tattoo-coverups" data-cms-ai="0">Change Of Art: Stories About Tattoo Coverups</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2024-03-07/retired-cia-chief-of-disguise-jonna-mendez-on-magic-technology-and-the-art-of-deception" data-cms-ai="0">Retired CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez on magic, technology and the art of deception</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/health/2020-10-16/almost-everybody-hurts-an-exploration-of-pain" data-cms-ai="0">(Almost) Everybody Hurts: An Exploration of Pain</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/health/2020-06-26/going-flat-or-building-new-breasts-two-womens-post-mastectomy-stories" data-cms-ai="0">Going Flat, or Building New Breasts: Two Women’s Post-Mastectomy Stories</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2023-09-13/hearing-every-color-feeling-every-earthquake-life-as-a-cyborg" data-cms-ai="0">Hearing every color, feeling every earthquake: Life as a cyborg</a></li>
</ul>
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@legion.the.reptil4" data-cms-ai="0">Legion the Dragon</a>: Based in Los Angeles, and legally known as Tiamat Legion Medusa, he describes his transformation into a dragon as a metamorphosis </li>
<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@vancouver_silverman" data-cms-ai="0">Burns the Dragon</a>: Also known as Josh Burns, he is a Vancouver-based performance artist </li>
</ul>

Conversations with two dragons

When people imagine becoming parents, they don’t often envision their child being born with a condition that requires lifetime care.

Hear reflections and wisdom from “forever parents” whose children have autism with anxiety and OCD; a disorder that caused 100 seizures a day; and Down Syndrome.

GUESTS: 
Carrie Cariello: Mother of five children, including 18 year-old Jack, who has Autism, OCD, and anxiety. She’s the author of two books, and writes regularly for the Huffington Post
Adriana Piltz: Mother of three, including 24 year-old Nicky, who was born with tuberous sclerosis. He is non-verbal, has violent outbursts, and needs 24/7 care. She is the founder of Nicky’s Gardens of Hope, which raises money to create a more supported living situation for people with disabilities
Cathy Carmode Lim, Marcelino Lim, and Marissa Lim: Cathy and Marcelino are parents to four daughters, including Marissa, a 24 year-old woman with Down Syndrome. Cathy writes about her experiences in parenting and more at lifeandlims.com

When people imagine becoming parents, they don’t often envision their child being born with a condition that requires lifetime care.
Hear reflections and wisdom from “forever parents” whose children have autism with anxiety and OCD; a disorder that caused 100 seizures a day; and Down Syndrome.
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://carriecariello.com/%C2%A0" data-cms-ai="0">Carrie Cariello</a>: Mother of five children, including 18 year-old Jack, who has Autism, OCD, and anxiety. She’s the author of two books, and writes regularly for the Huffington Post</li>
<li><a href="https://www.scarymommy.com/parent-of-adult-child-with-special-needs" data-cms-ai="0">Adriana Piltz</a>: Mother of three, including 24 year-old Nicky, who was born with tuberous sclerosis. He is non-verbal, has violent outbursts, and needs 24/7 care. She is the founder of <a href="https://nickysgardensofhope.com/" data-cms-ai="0">Nicky’s Gardens of Hope</a>, which raises money to create a more supported living situation for people with disabilities</li>
<li>Cathy Carmode Lim, Marcelino Lim, and Marissa Lim: Cathy and Marcelino are parents to four daughters, including Marissa, a 24 year-old woman with Down Syndrome. Cathy writes about her experiences in parenting and more at <a href="https://lifeandlims.com/2016/08/24/new-territory-having-adult-child-with-down-syndrome/%C2%A0" data-cms-ai="0">lifeandlims.com</a></li>
</ul>

Conception deception: The fight for transparency in the fertility industry

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