logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
26m 9s

The Spermageddon is coming | Am I Normal...

TED
About this episode

"You should start thinking about kids at your age! Your biological clock is ticking!” When we talk about fertility, there's one section of the population that's consistently subjected to fear mongering: the people with the ovaries. But is that worry backed up by data? Should we be stressed out about sperm too? Scientist Joe Osmundson divulges his own fears and findings on the journey to save his sperm, and Mona breaks down the scientific, cultural, and psychological elements that have shaped the way we think and talk about fertility.

This is an episode of Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. For more episodes, follow Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi wherever you're listening to this.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
The human cell is wildly complex. Can AI decode it? | Silvana Konermann
Silvana Konermann and the team at Arc Institute are trying to crack one of science's most difficult problems: why complex diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer remain so stubbornly unsolvable, even as research advances. Her solution is a universal “virtual cell” — an AI model trai ... Show More
20m 49s
Sep 15
The benefits of nontraditional healthcare with Dr. Charles Moore
When Dr. Charles Moore, professor in the Otolaryngology or ENT department (Ear, Nose, and Throat), saw patients coming in with undiagnosed late-stage diseases, he decided to do something about it. Dr. Moore got into his car and drove directly to neighborhoods to administer care. ... Show More
27m 42s
Sep 8
What listening to live concerts do to your ears with Jim Hudspeth (Senses Miniseries #5)
When attending live music events, it’s tempting to want to immerse in the full experience—standing by the stereo, head banging near the stage, singing at the top of your lungs. But in maximizing your concert experience, are you harming your body? In this final episode of the Sens ... Show More
36m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2021
Am I Normal?: The Spermageddon is coming
"You should start thinking about kids at your age! Your biological clock is ticking!” When we talk about fertility, there's one section of the population that's consistently subjected to fear mongering: the people with the ovaries. But is that worry backed up by data? Should we b ... Show More
29m 11s
Mar 2024
TED's Sunday Pick: The Spermageddon is coming
Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today: an episode from Am I Normal?, a podcast where endlessly curious data journalist Mona Chalabi dives into the numbers of our most pressing questions."You should start think ... Show More
30m 3s
Feb 2019
004: Age and Fertility
Join host Dr. Natalie Crawford as she talks about the number one question she gets asked as a fertility doctor: when should I have kids? Learn about your fertility, understand how age impacts reproduction, and discuss when an evaluation by a fertility specialist is recommended. E ... Show More
31m 59s
Mar 2023
The Science Of The Biological Clock (And What YOU Can Do About It)
<p>When you’re looking for a partner to have a family with, the pressure of the timeline imposed on you by your biological clock can make the whole process overwhelming. (Not to mention, when you’re fearful that time is running out, you can end up making bad dating choices.) In t ... Show More
1h 12m
Oct 2025
A Closer Look at Women's Health
If you’ve ever stressed about your biological clock or worried what your future fertility might look like, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Kirsten Karchmer, a reproductive health expert who’s worked with over 10,000 couples through infertility and founded Conceivable to ma ... Show More
40m 4s
Apr 2019
Fertility Cliff: Is It Real?
We’re often told to have kids quickly, before our biological clock strikes and we fall off the fertility cliff. This week we find out if that’s true for women or men. And if the cliff is real, can you do anything about it, like freezing your eggs? Plus, the sperm-aggedon! We spea ... Show More
41m 55s
Mar 2022
The Case for Freezing Your Eggs with Dr. Obehi Asemota
Getting pregnant can be a straight shot for some and a source of stress for others. Today on the pod, we talk with fertility specialist Dr. Obehi Asemota about her passion for helping families grow, the complexities of conception, the importance of thinking ahead if you see pregn ... Show More
34m 6s
Feb 2023
Not Ready For Kids
On this episode we talk about the fear and dilemma that so many women are facing around running out of time to have kids, when to have kids and if they even want to have kids at all. It's not an accident if so many people in our generation are genuinely feeling this, so how can w ... Show More
23m 5s
Oct 2020
Trying To Conceive
Should you have sex multiple times a day when you’re ovulating? Is there an ideal time of day? What about lube? And what are the best ways to track ovulation to hit baby bingo? From scheduling sex to cervical mucus, nothing is off-limits in this hilarious and informative mother-d ... Show More
37m 45s