Special thanks to CCRM Fertility of Boston for sponsoring this episode and for their support and commitment to the AllPaths community.
In this episode of the AllPaths Podcast, we welcome Kayla Branstetter, an educator and author, to share her personal journey through unexplained infertility and miscarriage. Currently pursuing a doctorate in healthcare with a focus on narrative medicine, Kayla shares how her experiences and the subsequent “masking” of her grief led her to go public with her story to combat the societal judgment that often surrounds family building, from when and how someone has children to the size of their family and the parenting choices they make. Drawing on her research in narrative medicine, she explores how storytelling can dissolve shame and create vital connections.
The discussion turns to Kayla’s new book, Don’t Be an Athena, which examines the historical and systemic issues of medical gaslighting and misogyny. Throughout the book, Kayla highlights the critical need for self-advocacy, exposing the historical and systemic minimization of women’s health with a range of personal and interviewed stories from the 1950s to today. She explains the book’s central metaphor, the myth of Athena and Medusa, to illustrate how society often demonizes victims instead of empowering survivors through visibility, resources, and validation.
Finally, Kayla offers practical wisdom for navigating the “noise” of family building, emphasizing that partners should protect their family unit and make decisions based on their own physical and mental health rather than external expectations. For those supporting friends or family, she stresses the importance of providing a safe, “listening ear” free from unsolicited advice. This episode serves as a powerful resource for anyone feeling invisible in their struggle, offering a message of empowerment, survival, and advocacy.
Get your copy of Don’t Be an Athena through the AllPaths Bookshop and a portion of your purchase supports our mission at no extra cost to you!
Kayla Branstetter is a writer, English instructor, and doctoral researcher in healthcare whose work explores infertility, miscarriage, reproductive trauma, and narrative medicine. She is the author of the book Don’t Be an Athena, and her writing has appeared in more than 40 journals worldwide. Her work brings together lived experience, research, and storytelling to examine how women’s pain is understood, dismissed, and reclaimed.
Interested in sharing your story? Get in touch here!
