When Medicine Goes Too Far: Surrogacy, Gender Clinics & the Ethics We Ignore | Kallie Fell
Brave New Us: Choosing Human in the Age of Biotechnology
When does medicine cross the line from healing to harm?In this episode of Brave New Us, bioethicist and nurse researcher Kallie Fell, Executive Director of the Center for Bioethics and Culture (CBC), joins Samantha Stephenson to expose critical ethical questions around reproductive technologies, gender medicine, and medical consent.We dig into:The hidden risks and ethical concerns of IVF, egg donation, and commercial surrogacyHow “informed consent” often fails in fertility treatments and gender-affirming careThe rapid rise of pediatric gender clinics and controversies surrounding transgender medical interventions for minorsWhat the CBC is uncovering about the commodification of human bodies in reproductive and gender medicineHow profit motives influence both the fertility industry and gender-affirming healthcareWhy women and vulnerable populations often bear the brunt of unregulated medical innovationThis episode offers a clear-eyed look at the intersection of bioethics, reproductive technology, gender medicine, and medical ethics, asking what it truly means to protect human dignity in an age of rapid biomedical change.Mentioned in the EpisodeCenter for Bioethics and CultureCBC DocumentariesPaul Ramsey InstituteThe Detransition Diaries bookKallie on XLeave a Review + Share the Show Rate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctorKeep the conversation going at bravenewus.substack.comGrab a copy of Samantha’s book Reclaiming Motherhood—a theology of the body for motherhood in the age of reproductive technologies.
About Podcast
From gene editing and artificial wombs to brain implants and digital immortality—what does it mean to be human in a world trying to remake us?
Brave New Us explores how emerging technologies are reshaping what it means to be human. Hosted by Catholic bioethicist and author Samantha Stephenson, the podcast sits at the crossroads of faith, science, and ethics, featuring expert interviews and incisive commentary on biotechnology, AI, transhumanism, reproductive technologies, human enhancement, and the moral questions they raise.
Whether you're questioning the ethics of cutting-edge science, navigating a rapidly changing technological world, or simply seeking clarity in an age of unprecedented innovation, Brave New Us will help you think critically, live intentionally, and choose what is deeply human.
Samantha Stephenson holds master's degrees in theology and bioethics, served as a Paul Ramsey Fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Culture, and taught for the McGrath Institute at the University of Notre Dame. She is the author of several books helping readers grow in faith and navigate the spiritual and ethical questions shaping our rapidly changing world. In addition to hosting the Brave New Us podcast, Samantha writes the Choosing Human newsletter on Substack where she explores faith, family, and the future of being human. Learn more at www.snstephenson.com.
Subscribe now—and stay human in an age that’s forgetting how.