Fertility Inc.: When the Surrogate Gets Left With the Bill
The Journal.Reproductive technology is a modern miracle. It's made it possible for millions of people to become parents who might otherwise not have been able to. But growing demand has spawned a multibillion-dollar industry that’s largely unregulated in the U.S.
In our first episode looking at the wild west of the fertility industry, Ryan Knutson speaks with a three-time surrogate who ended up in a big legal battle. Nia Trent-Wilson was left with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt after a family didn’t pay up after delivery. WSJ’s Katherine Long reports on how the industry fosters a dramatic power imbalance between surrogates and intended parents.
Further Listening:
- The Mystery of the Mansion Filled With Surrogate Children
- America’s Maternal Health Crisis
Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Read more
The most important stories, explained through the lens of business. A podcast about money, business and power. Hosted by Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson. The Journal is a co-production from Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.
Explore more content:
News & Politics A random podcastHow can I listen to other podcasts?
Click here to discover another podcast randomly, or here to browse our categories. Lazy? That's okay, we did some research and selected podcasts just for you.
And what is Podmust?
Podmust is a french project aiming to promote the best podcasts. You can help us by sharing this page (this also helps the podcast, by the way). Thank you! 🙏
Stay informed, the audio way.
Podmust curates what you need to listen.
Discover some of our collections:
our best TV & Film podcastsour best Sports & Recreation podcastsour best News & Politics podcasts.
Is the U.S. 'empire' beginning to show cracks?
The Trump administration's recent military actions have had certain observers asking... are we going full empire? But Daniel Immerwahr, a historian and the author of How to Hide an Empire,… Code SwitchDo prediction market bettors make anything better?
Have you noticed a lot of young people getting into antenna-maxxing as alpha? Or, maybe searching for any bit of copium after they fat-fingered and got rinsed? Or maybe they farmed during a… Planet MoneyUS Seizes Iranian Ship, Starmer Nears Showdown, More
Bloomberg News NowBrussels’ plan to ease the energy crisis
FT News BriefingTesla kicks off Mag 7 earnings
Wall Street BreakfastOne Thing: A Former NASA Scientist Turns Anger Into Action
CNN 5 ThingsIn one Iowa city, public schools compete in the free market. Are students better off?
Up FirstReadback: Johnson's FISA failure
The Daily Punch
Stonewall’s new chair on trans rights, JK Rowling and the future of the LGBTQ+ movement
An exclusive interview with Kezia Dugdale on the charity’s mistakes and the future of the LGBTQ+ movement. With reporting by Libby Brooks. Help support our independent journalism at… Today in Focus
My daughter was shot dead by her father. Why wasn’t he arrested?
Jane Coates’ daughter Lucy was just 23 when she was shot and killed by her father, while visiting him in Texas. US authorities quickly ruled her death an accident and no charges were… The Story
‘The Queen had seen plenty of narcissists’: Inside Meghan's rift with Elizabeth II
Camilla and Hannah are joined by bestselling royal biographer Robert Hardman, author of the explosive new book Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, to reveal the secrets… The Daily T
The NHS Debate: waiting lists, delayed discharge and funding
Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, we bring together three experts to debate how to save the NHS.Dr Jane McLaren is the vice-chair of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine… ScotcastWell, the bad news is: we're French. But the good news is: Podmust curates the world's podcasts so you can focus on staying informed or entertained. And voilà!
© Podmust