Episode 16

Episode Summary

In this episode, Bret Shuford, a Broadway performer and one-half of @BroadwayHusbands, shares his heartfelt journey to parenthood through surrogacy with his husband, Stephen. Bret dives deep into the emotional and financial challenges of surrogacy, the unexpected joy of parenting, and the intentionality behind raising their son, Maverick, in a world that still has much progress to make for LGBTQ+ families.

Fun Fact

Bret has starred in iconic Broadway productions like Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid while building his family and creating content as part of Broadway Husbands.

What Bret Wishes He Knew Before Having Kids

"I wish we had known to front-load our boundaries with extended family. It would have saved us so much stress later."

Advice Bret Gives His Friends

"Know your boundaries as a family and communicate them clearly before the baby arrives. The clearer you are, the easier your early months will be."

The Most Impactful or Challenging Part of His Journey

The financial and emotional toll of surrogacy, including navigating the heartbreak of a miscarriage, balancing complex legal and medical processes, and maintaining hope during a four-year journey.

What Has Brought Him Unexpected Joy in Parenthood

"I never expected to gain such a deep respect for women and the female reproductive process. Watching our surrogate, I saw the true strength and generosity of what the female body can do."

A Sentence on What Has Been the Most Impactful Part of His Parenthood Journey

Bret describes parenthood as both healing and triggering, offering the opportunity to reparent himself while raising his son to set boundaries, speak up for himself, and grow into an authentic, confident person.