Seeking Different
Single Mother by Choice (former co-host of The Mocha SMC Podcast) Hera McLeod teams up with her precocious nine year old daughter Estela for the podcast "Seeking Different". The Mom and Kid duo explore what it looks like to navigate the world as a non-traditional family. They discuss hot topics such as donor sibling relationships, family travel, school choice, race relations, and navigating the playground.
Episodes
26 episodes
Season 3: Episode 1: Revolutionizing Donor Identity Disclosure with Dylan Morgan from Cascade Cryobank
Ever wondered what it's like to transition from a sperm donor to the Chief Operations Officer of a leading cryobank? Join us in an eye-opening episode of Seeking Different as Dylan Morgan, COO of Cascade Cryobank, takes us through his personal ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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28:53
Season 2, Episode 11: Navigating the Thrills and Spills of Tween Crushes and School Yard Gossip
Remember the flutters of first crushes and the buzz of schoolyard whispers? Together with my daughter Estela, we take a heartfelt plunge into the world of tween crushes and the ensuing gossip that can feel like navigating a minefield. We swap s...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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22:40
Season 2, Episode 10: Defying Silence: A Mother's Memoir and the Fight for Children's Justice
Hera and Estela bring you a new episode - that explains why they've taken a bit of a hiatus. They've both been writing books! And Hera has just released her memoir, ten years in the making, that's both deeply personal and universally touching. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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19:21
Season 2, Episode 9: Part II of Donor Dylan's Story - The Sperm Donor with 97 Biological Children
This is Part II of Donor Dylan's story.Picture this – you just found out you have 97 biological children. Baffled? So was our guest, Donor Dylan, when he discovered this shocking revelation due to sperm donation. In a heart-to-heart con...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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22:30
Season 2, Episode 8: The Man with 97 Biological Children (Part I) - Donor Dylan's Tale of Sperm Donation and Discovery
Ever wonder what it's like to walk into a sperm bank, answer some peculiar questions, donate, and then years later discover you have 97 biological children? That's exactly what happened to Donor Dylan, our guest in this riveting discussion. Dyl...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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21:51
Season 2, Episode 7: Confronting Discrimination: A Tale of Hair, Friendship, and a Beyonce Concert
What happens when the feeling of belonging is put to the test? You're about to hear the tale of a Beyonce concert, a couple of extra guests, and an unexpected lesson in friendship and values. We laugh, we cringe, and we learn as we recount that...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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23:46
Season 2, Episode 6: Embracing Diversity - A Conversation on Unique Family Structures
This week we recap on the first week of school and discuss how kid social interactions have changed post pandemic (particularly for kids who were school aged during the height of it). Have you ever considered how remote learning impacted childr...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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28:05
Season 2, Episode 5: Conquering Black-to-school Anxiety and Planning Epic Play Dates
Remember the buzz of preparing for a new school year? Those summer play dates that were the perfect blend of fun and preparation for the upcoming educational journey? We, Hera and Estela, take you back to those times, sharing personal anecdotes...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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27:51
Season 2, Episode 4: Planning Adventure Travel with Kids (Costa Rica)
In this episode, Hera and Estela discuss planning a non-traditional family adventure. Recorded while in Costa Rica, they walk through how to find lodging and flights as well as what a day at language immersion camp looks like at Explornatura Ki...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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27:42
Season 2, Episode 3: Fireside Chat with Donor Conceived Community (DCC) Founder Melissa Lindsey
In the second episode of Season two - Hera and Estela sit down to chat with Melissa Lindsey, the founder and director of The Donor Conceived Community (DCC). DCC provides peer support, education, and resources for people navigating donor concep...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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47:06
Season 2, Episode 2: I'm a Barbie Girl, In a Barbie World (Movie Review and Deep Thoughts)
In this episode, Hera and Estela review the new Barbie movie. They discuss the parallels between Barbie and real life as well as review the movie from the perspective of a mom and of a kid. Hera also breaks down the parts of the movie that were...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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25:26
Season 2, Episode 1: Summer Recap and CONSENT
In the first episode of season two, Hera and Estela and joined by little sister Isa as they give a quick summer camp recap and discuss the topic of consent. Hera explains to the girls how everything from touching hair to hugs and kisses are thi...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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16:00
Season 1, Episode 13: Interview with Angela Stepancic, Founder of the First Black Owned Sperm Bank - Reproductive Village Cryobank (RVC)
In the final episode of season one for Seeking Different, Hera and Estela sit down with Angela Stepancic (founder of Reproductive Village Cryobank) to discuss her plans to open the first Black owned cryobank that's specifically focused on helpi...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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25:11
Season 1, Episode 12: Growing the Family from Two to Three
In this episode, Estela dishes about what it was like becoming a big sister and Hera shares her thoughts on the differences between having one child as an SMC and having two. They also discuss how their family was built on top of the tragedy of...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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24:29
Season 1, Episode 11: Family Trip to Colombia
In this episode, Hera and Estela discuss traveling as an SMC family to Cartagena, Colombia. Highlights include a scary bus incident in Playa Blanca and the incredible experience they had in the Afro-Colombian Village of Palenque. They share the...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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26:09
"Bonus Mini EP": Season Recap and "Into the Mind of a Four Year Old"
In this mini episode, Estela and Hera look back on the first season thus far to talk about favorite moments, things they learned, and Estela discusses how ignorance about non-traditional family can play out in the school setting. Isa makes an a...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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13:46
Season 1, Episode 9: It Goes Down on the Playground
In this episode, Hera and Estela discuss recess and the playground where ALL the drama goes down. From navigating bullies to the evolution of kid conversations. The littlest McLeod - Isa - also makes a special appearance in this episode and rev...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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18:21
Season 1, Episode 8: It Takes a Village
In this episode of Seeking Different, Hera and Estela interview Lara McLeod (Hera's sister) and discuss the importance of having a village. Being a parent is hard no matter what type of family you have, and having a strong village to help raise...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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32:40
Season 1, Episode 7: Two Moms, a Son, and Two Households
In this episode of "Seeking Different", Hera and Estela interview Mom Denise and her Son Sawyer. Sawyer explains how he feels his family is "normal" in their progressive town in the suburbs of Tampa, Florida. They also discuss what it's like to...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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24:40
Season 1, Episode 6: School Choice - Featuring Kid Logic
It was Independent School Decisions week in the DMV this past week and our house is all a buzz! In this episode of Seeking Different, Hera and Estela discuss what goes into deciding on a school and give an inside look from a kid's perspective o...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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31:20
Season 1, Episode 5:Seeking Different: Season 1, Episode 5: Divorce, Blended Families, and Gender Identity
In this episode of Seeking Different, Hera and Estela interview mother Abigail from The Podcast "The Judgement Free Zone" and her child Kenley "KG". They candidly discuss what it's like to have a blended family, divorce, and gender identity. Ke...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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27:54
Season 1, Episode 4: Baby Making: A Conversation with Alease The Embryologist
"Mama, where do babies come from?" Is this a question you've had your kids ask and don't even know where to begin? Is your child donor conceived and this question feels even more complicated as a result? We are here to help you sort through how...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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33:47
Season 1, Episode 3: Black History Month Reflections
We wish Black History Month could be all year long, but this Black History Month we'd like to share our thoughts on some of the current events - Like Ron DeSantis trying to whitewash history and the things we wish schools would teach as it rela...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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20:53
Season 1, Episode 2: A Mama, Mom, and Twin Donor Siblings
In this episode of Seeking Different, Hera and Estela chat with Asher, Ari, and Mom Leah of the Pryor-Lease Family (a two Mom Family). Asher and Ari are twins and two of Estela's donor siblings. The kids chat about what it's like to tell people...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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25:20
Season 1, Episode 1: Living Out McLeod: Single Mother by Choice Family
On the first episode of Seeking Different, co-hosts Hera and Estela give a brief intro about why the show is called Seeking Different, a little about the family, what you can expect from the show, and leave you with their top tried and true tra...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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28:12