481. From Sports Cards to Male Infertility Jon Waldman TEDx

Jon Waldman is a Winnipeg-based writer, TEDx speaker, and advocate for infertility awareness. His book 100 Things Jets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die was shortlisted for the Winnipeg Book Award. His work has appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, The Hockey News, and The Toronto Sun, and he’s been featured by CBC and HuffPost.

After a six-year infertility journey with his wife Elana, Jon became a leading voice in the conversation around male infertility. Their daughter, Kaia, was born in 2015. Today, he serves as a spokesperson for Fertility Matters Canada, using storytelling to break stigma and build community.

In this episode of Better Call Daddy, Reena Friedman Watts sits down with TEDx speaker Jon Waldman for a conversation most men aren’t having but should be.

After six years of infertility, Jon opens up about the emotional toll, the silence surrounding male infertility, and how it reshaped his identity, marriage, and sense of legacy.

This episode drops during National Infertility Awareness Week—a reminder that 1 in 6 couples face this reality, yet men are often left out of the conversation.

From collecting sports memorabilia to confronting one of life’s hardest challenges, Jon shares how storytelling became his way through—and why speaking up matters.

This isn’t just about infertility. It’s about fatherhood, identity, and what we leave behind.

What We Cover

• Why male infertility is rarely talked about—and why that needs to change
• The emotional impact on men, relationships, and self-worth
• How Jon turned pain into purpose through his TEDx talk
• The surprising connection between sports memorabilia and legacy
• Using humor to navigate heavy conversations
• Building support and breaking isolation

Episode Highlights: - (00:00) Welcome to the Better Call Daddy Show - (05:30) Introduction of Jon Waldman and his TED Talk - (15:00) The statistics of infertility and its impact on men - (25:00) Jon’s journey in the sports memorabilia world - (35:45) The importance of storytelling in personal experiences - (45:00) Wayne’s insights on legacy and compassion - (55:00) Closing thoughts and reflections

Don't miss this thought-provoking episode that encourages listeners to embrace their stories and foster connections. Tune in and discover how vulnerability can lead to strength and understanding in the journey of fatherhood and beyond.

Connect with Jon Waldman

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwaldman/

Connect with Reena Friedman Watts: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube (00:00) The Better Call Dream Daddy Show features interviews with influential and controversial fathers (01:54) Jon Waldman did a TED talk on the subject of infertility (07:26) Talk to me about how you started becoming a collector (11:29) In high school, in grade 10, I took our journalism program (13:02) Have you written any favorite pieces? Um, funny question (15:12) There are many people who you dream of interviewing as a sports fan (20:49) Comedian discusses his fertility journey in a new podcast (23:23) The world of infertility, especially around males, is vast (28:05) Is there anything that didn't make it into the book (29:37) Are there any organizations or people like books that you read, anything that helped you (32:17) Have you ever spoken up at all in the Jewish community (38:17) How do you instill the enjoyment of collecting in the next generation (42:37) Jon Waldman says collecting things can be part of your legacy

This episode is part of National Infertility Awareness Week, helping raise awareness around male infertility, IVF, and the emotional impact on families.

More info on National Infertility Awareness

https://www.asrm.org/advocacy-and-policy/take-action/national-infertility-awareness-week/