After 313 days of setbacks, heartbreak and relentless determination, I finally started freezing my eggs. From a devastating fall to the daily sting of IVF injections, this episode shares the raw reality of what it took to get here as a disabled woman navigating a system that wasn’t built for me.

This is the most personal part of the story yet and the one I fought hardest to tell.

Let's Make IVF Ableism A Thing Of The Past:

Please reach out to me directly through my email icantstandpodcast@gmail.com or via social media. My handle is @Petahooke https://www.instagram.com/petahooke/

You can share your story anonymously if needed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the story of how persistence and advocacy helped me reclaim my hope and take the final steps toward freezing my eggs. A journey of heartbreak that pushed me closer to the edge of total despair, than I ever had been before. Then after months of setbacks, I found a team that believed in me and my right to choose motherhood.

Let's Make IVF Ableism A Thing Of The Past:

Please reach out to me directly through my email icantstandpodcast@gmail.com or via social media. My handle is @Petahooke https://www.instagram.com/petahooke/

You can share your story anonymously if needed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when disability isn't part of the plan? From inaccessible medical equipment to dismissive policies, I uncover the systemic challenges of freezing my eggs with cerebral palsy. This episode is about resilience, advocacy, and finding the strength to fight for what’s right.

Let's Make IVF Ableism A Thing Of The Past:

Please reach out to me directly through my email icantstandpodcast@gmail.com or via social media. My handle is @Petahooke https://www.instagram.com/petahooke/

You can share your story anonymously if needed.

Transcript: part-two-when-the-system-isn’t-ready-for-you

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Motherhood was never part of my original plan—until one moment changed everything. Join me as I share the doubts, hope, and resilience behind my decision to freeze my eggs as a disabled woman. This is where my journey begins, and the barriers start to show.

Let's Make IVF Ableism A Thing Of The Past:

Please reach out to me directly through my email icantstandpodcast@gmail.com or via social media. My handle is @Petahooke https://www.instagram.com/petahooke/

You can share your story anonymously if needed.

Transcript: part-one-the-decision-to-freeze-my-eggs

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eggs is a compelling limited podcast series that follows the journey of a disabled woman navigating the deeply personal and challenging process of freezing her eggs. What should have been a straightforward medical procedure turned into a fight for dignity, access, and equality.

This series sheds light on the barriers disabled women face when trying to take control of their reproductive futures—barriers that test resilience, challenge self-worth, and demand advocacy for basic rights. Through moments of heartbreak, breakthroughs, and triumphs, Eggs explores the universal themes of choice, empowerment, and perseverance. If you’ve ever faced a system that wasn’t built for you, this story will resonate deeply and remind you of the strength it takes to fight for your future.

Transcript: eggs-trailer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As 2024 comes to a close, join Peta for a special highlight episode of The I Can’t Stand Podcast. Reflecting on her favourite moments from Season Four, Peta revisits powerful stories of acceptance, resilience, allyship, and the importance of disability employment. Whether you’re a long-time listener or new to the podcast, this episode celebrates the voices and experiences that made this season unforgettable.

Want to hear more? You can listen to the full episodes featured in this highlights episode, just check the links below and dive into the incredible conversations that shaped season four.

Maya Dove: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/the-art-of-confidence-with-maya-dove

Fiona Murphy: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/exploring-the-beauty-of-sound-through-deafness-wit

Chloe Tear: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/navigating-the-pressure-to-succeed-when-you-have-a

Flic Manning: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/flic-manning

Deanna: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/reframing-ms-transforming-mri-scans-into-art-with

Annabelle Moult: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/annabelle-moult

Jarrod Sandell-Hay: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/jarrod-sandell-hay

Michael Hingson: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/surviving-9-11-how-fear-and-guide-dogs-can-teach-u

Khadija Gbla: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/from-refugee-to-advocate-khadija-gbla-on-being-bla

Emma Bennison: https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/emma-bennison

Connect with Peta:

Instagram: @petahooke

Website: www.icantstandpodcast.com

Email: icantstandpodcast@gmail.com

Episode Transcript:https://www.icantstandpodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Peta speaks with Carolyn Campbell-McLean and Jaxon Taylor, two people living with Muscular Dystrophy. Carolyn reflects on her decades of experience as a woman with MD, emphasising the importance of purpose and connection in navigating life’s challenges.

Meanwhile, Jaxon offers insights as a young man in his late teens, sharing his confidence, determination, and passion for fostering community. Together, they discuss the challenges and triumphs of life stages, support systems, and living life to the fullest.

Connect with MDNSW:

Website: https://mdnsw.org.au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musculardystrophynsw/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MDNSW

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel

Connect with Peta:

Instagram: @petahooke

Website: www.icantstandpodcast.com

Email: icantstandpodcast@gmail.com

Episode Transcript:https://www.icantstandpodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy International Day for People with Disability! Today, we’re joined by Hayden Moon, a 2024 Ambassador for this significant day. In this episode, Hayden shares their remarkable journey as a queer, trans, legally blind advocate and leader.

Together, we explore the importance of diverse representation in disability advocacy and his experiences at Parliament House to push for systemic change last week. Hayden also opens up about their passion for dance, their community-focused advocacy, and the challenges of breaking barriers in traditionally binary spaces.

Connect with Peta:

Instagram: @petahooke

Website: www.icantstandpodcast.com

Email: icantstandpodcast@gmail.com

Episode Transcript:https://www.icantstandpodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.