Amelia Oberhardt has returned with a second docuseries, 18 months in the making, looking at the emotional and complex world of fertility.

Secrets We Keep: By Any Means examines the rise of IVF and anonymous sperm donation, to the current donor shortage in Australia pushing people to Facebook sperm groups. These challenges were highlighted by a recent IVF mix-up that saw a Brisbane woman give birth to someone else’s baby after the transferal of the wrong embryo.

The podcast explore altruistic vs commercial surrogacy, and why many Australians are forced overseas in search of options and the resulting uncertainty.

Amelia said:

“Throughout this series, I’ve listened to the stories of those who’ve lived it — parents, donors, and children — those who’ve found joy, and those still in search for it.

By Any Means came to us as a title — because for some, the dream of having a family is so strong, they’ll go to extraordinary lengths.

This series is for anyone who’s struggled, felt alone, or wants to understand what it can take to create a family.”

Amelia Oberhardt

Amelia’s first series, Secrets We Keep: Shame, Lies and Family came about after the former SCA Brisbane breakfast news reader discovered at her mum’s wake a photo of her as a teenager, wearing a wedding ring, standing beside her apparent husband and cuddling an unknown baby. While the baby was not her mother’s, the podcast delves into hidden pregnancies, shotgun marriages and forced adoptions with heartbreaking accounts from those affected.

Secrets We Keep: By Any Means features host Amelia Oberhardt, senior producer Claudianna Blanco who takes you inside the international surrogacy trade, culminating in an undercover operation in Colombia, supervising producer Romy Sher, sound designer Kyle Hopkins and a team of fact checkers.

The podcast’s six episodes are available now via the free LiSTNR app and elsewhere from May 28.