S4:E13 - Callum & Lara - Part 1

Solo Dad by Choice: Callum’s Surrogacy Journey to Fatherhood and Baby Lara

Callum shares his journey from marriage breakdown to becoming a solo dad through surrogacy in the US, and all the emotion, research, and heart that went into creating his daughter Lara.

IFor the first time on No Need for Prince Charming, we welcome a solo dad by choice.

In this deeply thoughtful and emotional episode, Callum shares how, after a marriage breakdown and years of soul-searching, he made the bold and intentional decision to become a parent on his own. What followed was a complex, global surrogacy journey that spanned COVID, border closures, and countless spreadsheets.

Callum walks us through:

• Why adoption and foster care weren’t the right path for him

• How he chose the US for surrogacy—and why a continuing relationship with both his egg donor and surrogate was essential

• The risks, red flags, and research required to find the right clinic, agency, and team

• Why he selected a daughter—and the emotional impact of a failed transfer

• How he coordinated the birth from halfway around the world

• And how he’s making sure Lara knows exactly how loved, wanted, and intentional her creation was

This episode is part one of Callum’s story—stay tuned for part two, where we explore life now as a solo dad to a thriving three-year-old.

Key Highlights:

• Choosing Fulfilment Over Simplicity – How Callum made the decision to pursue fatherhood alone after his marriage ended.

• Why Adoption and Foster Care Weren’t Right for Him – And the moment he realised he needed a child of his own.

• The Power of Transparency in Surrogacy – What he learned about red flags, risk, and choosing the right clinic and surrogate.

• Selecting a Daughter – Why gender was part of the decision, and how he emotionally navigated a failed first transfer.

• Creating a Relationship-First Family – Why ongoing contact with both the surrogate and egg donor was non-negotiable.

• A Gift That Keeps Giving – How his remaining embryos helped another woman become a mum—and built an unexpected extended family.

City Fertility Offer

I couldn't continue to make this podcast without the help of our fabulous sponsor, City Fertility. If you're looking into fertility treatment on your own, make sure you take advantage of the exclusive 20% discount for No Need for Prince Charming listeners. Learn more here.

Considering Solo Motherhood?

Feeling overwhelmed about becoming a solo mum? The Considering Solo Motherhood course walks you through everything—from emotional readiness to finances and fertility—so you can make a confident decision. - Find out more

Expecting Solo?

Pregnant or TTC as a solo mum? The Expecting Solo course is designed for your first trimester—helping you feel informed, confident, and supported from the start. Includes 2 live sessions + expert resources - View the next course dates

The Bump Membership

Pregnant or trying to conceive on your own using a donor? Join our warm, supportive monthly membership made just for solo mums-to-be. Includes connection calls, WhatsApp group, discounts, and free resources - Find out more