About this episode

Mike Albo discusses his unexpected journey into parenthood as a sperm donor for friends, exploring themes of identity and family.

Writer, comedian, actor Mike Albo joins host Ophira Eisenberg on Parenting is a Joke for a conversation about becoming a sperm donor for two close friends and finding himself in a version of parenthood he never expected. Albo traces the decision back to a deeper question—whether, as a gay man who came of age during the AIDS crisis, he believed he deserved the kind of full family life that once felt out of reach. What follows is both thoughtful and absurd: months of fertility clinic visits in Murray Hill, navigating the “Goldilocks” timing of sperm donation, getting performance reviews on his sperm motility from a stern Eastern European technician, and discovering that even sperm can apparently show up hungover. The discussion moves from the legal realities of donor agreements to the emotional nuances of being a child’s biological father without being a traditional parent, including why he avoids the word “dad,” how his role has evolved as his daughter has grown older, and why preserving his artistic life felt important both for himself and for her. Along the way, Albo and Eisenberg compare notes on horror movies, practical effects, creative identity, and the many ways families…

People in this episode

Host: Ophira Eisenberg

Guest: Mike Albo

Topics covered

• sperm donation
• parenthood
• gay parenting
• family dynamics
• fertility clinics
• creative identity

Keywords

• sperm donor
• gay man
• AIDS crisis
• fertility clinic
• biological father
• family life
• horror movies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Murray Hill

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