Catriona Nunn York’s tradition of using creativity and communication for social good is reflected in the work of alumna Becky Saer (English & Politics, 1992), co-host of Becky & Ben’s Fertility Spotlight, a podcast offering support and solidarity to those navigating infertility and IVF. Alumni Voices speaks to Becky about how her time at York helped shape the confidence to speak openly about difficult experiences, and how she and her partner, Ben, have transformed personal challenges into a compassionate platform that breaks stigma, and helps listeners feel less alone on their fertility journeys.
Warm, honest, and never afraid to speak out, Becky Saer has translated personal experience into public support as the co-host of Becky & Ben’s Fertility Spotlight | The IVF Support Podcast. Through candid storytelling paired with expert advice, Becky and Ben’s project provides a lifeline for those navigating the emotional and medical rollercoaster of infertility: “Knowing how incredibly hard it is to navigate and cope with IVF treatment, I wanted to help others suffering with infertility and their families and friends,” Becky explains. Their podcast isn’t just a show – it’s a growing community, breaking the silence that so often surrounds fertility struggles.
Becky looks back on her formative years at York with affection and clarity: “I definitely explored my creative side at York, studying English Literature, reading lots of inspiring books, chatting to Hermione Lee in tutorials and other great teachers in seminars. I didn’t write as many essays as I should have done! But I threw myself into acting and also ran the Anti-Apartheid organisation. So I suppose I developed my skills as a communicator and as a person not afraid to speak out on issues that really matter to me. A podcast gives you the freedom to be creative and say what matters!”
After York, Becky embraced diverse experiences worldwide: “It’s been an interesting life journey since leaving York… I knew straight away, after graduating, that I wanted to have interesting life experiences and work abroad, so I moved to California for four months, volunteering for a charity. I had to return to the UK for personal reasons, and a year later, after becoming a TEFL teacher in London, I went to Australia, trained as an actor, and worked there for three years. I returned to London, set up a theatre company, and then went to live in Toulouse for a couple of years and worked at a French company. I then worked in London again, for three years, at an Actors Agency. Missing the more creative side of life, I realised I wanted to be a drama teacher. I loved kids acting, and combining the two was my perfect vocation. I met my partner, Ben, in my late thirties. We married, settled outside London, and discovered we couldn’t have children. After five years of harrowing fertility treatment, we formed our own company, ‘yourivfjourney’. Twelve years later, we created our own podcast.”
“Looking back, my time at York gave me the confidence to speak out on issues that really matter to me,” Becky emphasises, reflecting on the path that led her to the microphone.
The seed for Becky & Ben’s Fertility Spotlight was inspired by community spirit. “A friend’s sister mentioned she was doing a local community podcast and Ben and I thought, why not create one for fertility?” Becky recalls. Their goal was clear from the start: “We wanted to create the resource we wish we’d had when we started our own journey.”
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, as Becky describes: “It’s gone down really well, thankfully! Our listeners are growing every day and we’ve had amazing feedback, saying how open, kind and professional we are, which is wonderful…” And the most powerful moments come from those they’ve helped directly: “Having feedback from lonely or struggling women in particular, saying that listening to our stories and interviews with experts in the field of infertility has been a lifeline, or of great comfort to them.”
They’re motivated by these connections, seeing the podcast as a blend of vulnerability and practicality: “It’s a balance that needs to be thought about carefully. We both agreed that in order to break down the stigma and ignorance around donor conception, in particular, that we had to be really open about our own personal experiences. But at the same time, we wanted to offer professional support and information as we knew how helpful this could also be.”
The impact of Becky & Ben’s Fertility Spotlight has now been recognised on a national stage. On 27 November 2025, Becky and Ben won Best Presenting Team at the Audio Podcast Awards in London, beating major names including Sky News, French & Saunders, and Mel & Sue. The win attracted wider media attention, with the BBC featuring the pair on BBC South East television, followed by live appearances on BBC Radio Kent, with another BBC radio interview scheduled for January. They have also recently been nominated for an Aria ( the Oscars of Radio & Audio). The recognition marks a significant milestone for the podcast, reflecting both its professional quality and its growing influence within and beyond the fertility community.
Despite the high stakes, Becky and Ben keep their recording process light and genuine: “We make sure we are prepared and have a structure of notes for our episode. But we like to improvise and see where the conversation or interview takes us when recording. Nothing is scripted as it feels too stilted. We hop on the train into central London, meet our wonderful producer and his assistant at the studio and kick off pretty quickly, for about two or three hours, depending on the number of guests we have and the intros and outros we have to do.
We’ve had a few memorable guests. When a brave IVF dad opened up about his testicular cancer. And a donor egg mum was so moving about her love for her daughter.” Even the little details have a big effect: “Discovering a nice comfy sofa, in a studio in Soho, is a place where interesting, relaxed chats can happen! One of the most unexpected things about podcasting has been discovering how a comfy sofa can spark such honest, healing dialogue.”
The journey has only strengthened Becky’s resolve, though it has shifted her awareness of the broader community: “Maybe, we have more of an understanding of the fertility community on social media. But our essential values and desire to help others hasn’t changed.” For Becky, success is measured one person at a time: “If our podcast helps even one couple feel less alone, then it’s worth it.”
To York students and alumni dreaming of making a difference, Becky’s advice is simple: “My advice would be to get life experience, live abroad, work in different jobs, volunteer if you can. Take an interest in other people. Be kind and things will work out!”
