Episodes
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Today’s guest embodies the purpose of National Infertility Awareness Week. Each year the infertility community, led by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, takes this week to amplify and educate the public about reproductive health and issues that make building a family difficult for many.
Danielle Zoll has dedicated herself to advocacy and awareness through her St. Louis based organization, Making a Miracle. The isolation Danielle felt along her path to parenthood with endometriosis, lack of coverage, and pregnancy loss, inspired her to build a community that supports others along their family building journeys.
Tune in for how Danielle made her miracle.
Guest: Danielle Zoll, founder of Making a Miracle
Host: Emma Gallagher, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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With a focus on her career and a determination to find the right "other half” for her child, today’s guest shares her journey to being a single parent by choice.
Navigating the stress of her ticking biological clock, Gloria Soler went from realizing that the perfect parenting partner was not yet on her horizon to manifesting her own dreams of parenthood. Gloria went to find the doctor, the right sperm donor, the right treatment, and with a comprehensive employer-sponsored benefit, Gloria met the love she had been searching for all along, her son Emmet.
Tune into Gloria’s journey with Progyny to learn how she navigated her path to parenthood.
Guest: Gloria Soler, Progyny Member
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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Missing episodes?
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The journey to ideal health is a constant battle. And when emergency surgery is needed, most may not think twice about the impact this will have on their future fertility. In today’s episode, we hear from Haley, who shares her family building journey. It’s one marked by multiple diagnoses, surgeries, and financial strain. Despite these setbacks, Haley was determined to become a parent. She advocated for herself and found a doctor that she could trust. She then learned her employer had a fertility benefit, which relieved the financial pressure and helped her to reach her goal.
Haley's journey embodies the realities that many face on the path to parenthood: a mix of setbacks, doubts, and ultimately, hard-won victories.
Guest: Haley, Progyny Member
Host: Shannon Zuber, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert.
This week's guest, Dr. Paul Dudley, Medical Director of Pinnacle Fertility Atlanta, dives into what tests are expected during an initial consultation, including the need for a blood test, semen analysis (if a partner is involved), and comprehensive assessments like an ovarian reserve evaluation. He also shares his perspective on at-home fertility testing kits and when to seek guidance from your doctor when trying to conceive.
Guest: Dr. Paul Dudley, Medical Director, Pinnacle Fertility Atlanta
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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Today’s episode delves into a supportive yet often overlooked contributor to the birthing process and much more: the role of doulas.
Our guest, Latham Thomas, Founder of Mama Glow, elaborates on the diverse responsibilities of doulas, ranging from offering emotional and physical support in co-creating your birth plan, to advocating for individuals and facilitating communication between patients and healthcare providers. She explains what to keep in mind when finding the right doula for you. And highlights how doulas work to address birth disparities within marginalized communities.
Latham shares Mama Glow's mission of democratizing doula support, which aims to transform maternal care on what she describes as the childbearing continuum.
Guest: Latham Thomas, Founder of Mama Glow
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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Times are changing, and more employers are choosing to prioritize fertility and family building benefits to attract and retain talent. Investing in employee benefits isn't just about cost, it’s about fostering a positive employee experience, driving engagement, and ultimately enhancing business performance.
Today's guest, Purvi Tailor, Vice President of Human Resources at Ferring U.S., describes Ferring’s groundbreaking approach to employee benefits. With a focus on enhancing the family building journey for employees, she discusses the implementation of the, "Building Families at Ferring" package, which includes access to unlimited financial support for family building care, 26 weeks of paid parental leave, and a supportive workplace culture.
Tune in to learn how you can start reimagining your company's benefits package for a brighter future.
Guest: Purvi Tailor, Vice President of Human Resources at Ferring U.S.
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
Music:
Artist: Andy G Cohen
Track: A Perceptible Shift
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/Artist: Josh Woodward
Track: Hollow Grove Instrumental Version
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/Artist: Jahzzar
Track: MainSquare
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ -
Struggling with disbelief, enduring back-to-back treatments, cancelled appointments, and an overwhelming emotional toll - these experiences are all part of Sonya Heer's journey to building a family. How did she get here? Sonya and her husband embarked on what most couples do: they got married, spent some quality time together, and then wanted to expand their family. But, after months of not having success, Sonya turned to a specialist where she was diagnosed with unexplained infertility. This left Sonya with more questions, but she persevered and continued treatment. After more rounds, she realized there must be something else to her diagnosis.
In this episode, hear how Sonya navigated her journey, how she advocated for herself and found the right doctor, how unexplained infertility turned into diminished ovarian reserve, and why despite it all she continued. Sonya also shares the stress of paying for treatment and the difference when she gained access to a comprehensive family building benefit through her employer.
Guest: Sonya Heer, Progyny Member
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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Today’s guest spent a great deal of time juggling a lot of things many tasks on a tight schedule – she was busy creating a successful career for herself , as she was creating a successful career for herself as a senior producer at a media and entertainment companySenior Producer at Warner Brothers Discovery Sports. Lakia Holmes At 37 years old, Lakia Holmes realized one day that her to-do's at work may not be the only thing functioning on a tight schedule.
Aware of her biological clock, Lakia looked into freezing her eggs, so she could continue waiting for the perfect partner for her and her future baby. However, her doctor informed that her best chance What she wasn’t prepared for her doctor to tell her was that her best bet at motherhood was through IVF. and that she had two blocked fallopian tubes, leaving her with a 2% chance of natural conception. Lakia was shocked into a realization; being a mother is what she has always wanted, partner or no partner.
In this episode, Lakia dives into her decision to become a single parent by choice, her family building experience, and the impact of having access to family building benefits. Tune in for Lakia’s
journey of single motherhood by choice, and how she was able to do it with donor sperm and the help of her Progyny PCA.
Guest: Lakia Holmes, Progyny Member
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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As the sixth season of This Is Infertility comes to a close, we wanted to thank all of our incredible listeners for keeping us part of your journey. This episode has been requested by many of our listeners, and certainly could not have been made without you.
Today our host sits down with 30 of our amazing in-network reproductive endocrinologist to answer your burning questions. Wondering what these doctors are thinking along your journey? Tune in for their expert medical opinions, taste in waiting room music, and unrelenting support for the people they treat every day.
For more episodes featuring our medical experts, check out:
Episode 166: Reproductive Urologists and Endocrinologists: What’s the Difference?
Episode 162: Fertility 101: Unexplained Infertility
Episode 150: Fertility 101: Preparing for Your First Fertility Clinic Appointment
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
Guests:
Alex Quaas, Shady Grove Fertility
Allison Rodgers, FCI
Anate Brauer, Shady Grove Fertility
Anish Shah, Shady Grove Fertility
Emily Barnard, Shady Grove Fertility
Gayane Ambartsumyan, RPMH
Ian Waldmen, CCRM
Jason Yeh, Aspire HFI
John Crochet, Shady Grove Fertility
Jonah Bardos, CCRM
Joseph Davis, Shady Grove Fertility
Karissa Hammer, IHR
Kemi Nurudeen, Aspire HFI
Lucky Sekhon, RMA NY
Marc Gualtieri, IVF Florida
Maria Costantini-Ferrando, RMA NJ
Ndeye-Aicha Gueye, RMA NJ
Paul Shin, Shady Grove Fertility
Priya Maseelall, Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility
Rachel Warwar, Reproductive Gynecology and Infertility
Serena Chen, CCRM
Seth Levrant, IHR
Shruti Malik, Shady Grove Fertility
Sina Abhari, CCRM
Stephanie Thompson, CCRM
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
Music credit:
Artist: Jahzzar
Track: Joke
URL: https://freemusicarchive.orgTrack: Talk to Me
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org -
Almost three years ago, we published a list of our Top 17 Favorite Fertility Podcasts. Topping that list was a podcast called, If These Ovaries Could Talk, a show centered around the lesbian experience of fertility and family building.
Today’s guest, Jaimie Kelton, created this podcast after going through the journey to build her family, and struggling to find relatable content and education for queer identities. As her following has grown, so has her podcast. Jaimie explains how her show has now evolved into The Queer Family Podcast, a podcast for diverse identities, and all LGBTQIA+ stories alike. She dives deep into her story, the evolution of the podcast, and the reality of family building in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Guest: Jaimie Kelton, Host of The Queer Family Podcast
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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Today’s guest walks us through her experience with the wrong physician, the wrong clinic, the wrong treatment, the wrong coverage, and the wrong...well, everything. Sherri Sawyerr describes her experience of trial and error in pursuing parenthood, and how taking the wrong path can often pave the way for the right one.
During her journey with multiple physicians and IVF cycles, inadequate coverage, limited representation, and ultimately, the decision to use donor eggs: Sherri realized that it’s important to have a voice through all of this. And she uses that voice on her YouTube, @SherriYvette, where she encourages perseverance and togetherness through an experience that so many women are silently living through. In this episode, hear from Sherri on the other side of trial and error. She dives into how she found Progyny through her new employer, a clinic that suits her needs, and the progress she’s been able to make in her journey.
Guest: Sherri Sawyerr, Progyny Member
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
Music:
Artist: Kai Engel
Track: Brand New WorldURL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Artist: Lee Rosevere
Track: Maximum RelaxURL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Track: All the AnswersURL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Track: Easy LifeURL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Track: Sad Marimba PlanetURL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Track: Making a ChangeURL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Track: BetrayalURL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
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This Veteran’s Day, we’re featuring Brian Tucker, a Veteran who is outspoken about his experience with male factor infertility. He is also an HR disruptor who knows that employers, are, in part, responsible for executing the American Dream.
On the path to building a family, Brian and his wife, Jenny, found themselves at a financial crossroad. Their coverage for fertility treatment was miscommunicated, which left them confused about what they actually need to pay vs what was covered. Left completely in the dark, with one common goal of having a child, they chose the only clear-cut financial benefit that was laid out for them, a Veteran’s discount. Having experienced this, Brian now speaks about his experience – and has presented at DisruptHR, where he discussed the need for more support in the workplace.
Listen to him here: Brian Tucker: Work LIFE Balance Talk
We also hear from Dr. Tolulope Bakare, a Reproductive Urologist from Posterity Health, and Dr. Ron Feinberg, Reproductive Endocrinologist from RADfertility of CCRM, about the treatment options when diagnosed with male factor infertility.
Guest:
Brian Tucker, Director of Human Resources at Elior North America, Veteran, and Infertility Advocate
Dr. Ron Feinberg, RADfertility
Dr. Tolulope Bakare, Posterity Health
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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In the LGBTQIA+ community, options for family building are often limited – some by the ways employers choose to define infertility, and who can gain access to the benefit. Today’s guest, Stephanie Kalili, always knew she wanted to be a mom, but she didn’t know what this journey might look like for her. After meeting her wife and building a life together, Stephanie knew she was interested in conception through reciprocal IVF. The only problem was access and affordability.
Luckily for Stephanie, she happens to be employed Amazon, an employer that offers inclusive family building benefits through Progyny.
In fact, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, honors an organization each year with the Hope Award for Access. This award is given to an organization that is really moving the needle and expanding access to fertility and family building care – and this year this honor goes to Amazon.
To learn more about Amazon’s benefits, visit here. To learn more about RESOLVE’s annual Night of Hope gala, visit here.
Guest: Stephanie Kalili, Progyny Member
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert.
In today’s episode, our host speaks with Dr. Anate Brauer, IVF Director at Shady Grove Fertility New York about all things egg freezing. She answers questions ranging from, “Why do people freeze their eggs?” to “How does it even work?”
If you’re questioning whether you would like to freeze your eggs, or just wonder about this modern medical practice, let this educational episode serve as a starting place.
For additional resources and answers to frequently asked questions, check out:
Egg Freezing: Frequently Asked Questions
Progyny Webinar: Egg Freezing 101
Five Egg Freezing Myths and Facts
Guest: Dr. Anate Brauer, IVF Director at Shady Grove Fertility New York
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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People are increasingly having children later in life and for some, the decision is to have no children at all. Those who teeter between the options, unsure of their decision, know that one thing is true; time is ticking.
Today’s guest, Shannon Fender, wasn’t always certain about parenthood, but at one point she realized she should put things in place in case that was something she wanted to pursue in the future. In this episode, Shannon dives into her experience with egg freezing and her gratitude for employers like hers, who have chosen to invest in the lives of their employees. Shannon is joined by Dr. Kathy Hong, an REI from RMA of NJ, where she describes the medical preparation and procedure that’s part of the egg freezing process.
Guests: Shannon Fender, Progyny member, Dr. Kathy Hong, RMA of New Jersey
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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September is Urology Awareness Month, which is quite necessary considering there are less than four hundred practicing Reproductive Urologists in the United States. This episode serves as an opportunity to understand the intense training it takes to become a Reproductive Urologist (RU), what role they play in men’s health and reproductive health, as well as how they work in conjunction with Reproductive Endocrinologists.
In today’s episode, Progyny’s Chief Medical Officer and Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Janet Choi gives insight into the role of RUs and how they differ from Reproductive Endocrinologists (REIs).
Dr. Choi expands on her own position as an REI; what kind of training she received, who she treats, and how male patients can benefit from seeing an RU if they are already seeing an REI.
Video mentioned in this episode: Reproductive Urologists Can Help Men with Infertility
Guest: Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer at Progyny
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert.
In today’s episode, Progyny’s Chief Medical Officer and Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Janet Choi gives an overview about all the things you need to know about menopause.
Menopause has long been an undiscussed and overlooked medical issue despite the fact that it will impact half of the population after the age of 50. While the scope of care for those going through menopause is not yet where it needs to be, becoming well-versed in the concept is the first step to caring for yourself or others in this transitional stage of life. Dr. Choi breaks down the classic symptoms and mental health effects surrounding menopause, as well as how one might mitigate these bodily changes with treatments. She also touches on her own experience and outlines life with menopause, next steps, and why menopause should be better supported.
Guest: Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer at Progyny
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
Music:
Artist:
Doctor TurtleTrack: The Ants Built a City on His Chest
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Track: Where I lay my hat that’s my wife
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/Artist: Steve Combs
Track: Small Spaces
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/Artist: Jahzzar
Track: Sleepin’
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Track: Dew
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Track: MainSquare
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ -
Football is a waiting game. Fans all over America watch their teams anxiously for months with one common desire, a chance to win. Today’s guest, Patriots fan, Chris Callahan, knows this waiting game quite well and it may have even prepared him for the most worthwhile wait of his life – the journey to his son, Brady.
In this episode, Chris dives into their dual diagnosis of endometriosis and male-factor infertility, and the obstacles he and his wife faced on their path to parenthood. While they did have fertility coverage through Chris’ work, two rounds of IVF were still a financial burden. Chris, impacted mentally, physically, and financially, decided to share his story on social media in hopes to encourage others to know they’re not alone in this journey. In his post, he highlights the importance of employers choosing to invest in the lives of their employees through family building benefits. The responses took him a bit by surprise, and he soon found a whole community that was standing with him in solidarity and sharing stories of their own.
Guest: Chris Callahan, Workplace Fertility Advocate
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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In Episode 86: The Broken Brown Egg, we were introduced to Regina Townsend, the passionate voice behind The Broken Brown Egg; a blog, resource hub, community, and nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering, informing, and advocating for those who are questioning or dealing with infertility, with a particular focus on the Black experience.
Today, we meet Sametra Thompson, an active-duty service member in the U.S Army. After receiving a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and experiencing a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, Sametra became the recipient of of The AHA Grant, a grant established by The Broken Brown Egg in partnership with Progyny. This grant has played a crucial role in Sametra's journey, reflecting her unwavering determination in the face of discouraging results. Her story also brings attention to the challenging realities of fertility treatment costs without proper insurance coverage, underscoring how sometimes the best decision may not be financially viable.
Guest: Sametra Thompson, AHA Grant Recipient
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert.
In today’s episode, Dr. Callum Potts breaks down the unexplained infertility diagnosis. He walks us through the four factors of fertility, how they work collectively to create a natural pregnancy, and why these four factors could test normally without positive results. Dr. Pott’s discusses treatment options such as IUI and IVF, and how someone may decide on which path to take.
While an unexplained infertility diagnosis is frustrating, Dr. Potts emphasizes that treatment options are not limited and testing normal is a positive thing.
Guest: Dr. Callum Potts, CCRM in Miami
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].
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