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SHORT BIO – NATE BIRT

Nate Birt is a veteran journalist whose portfolio includes work for AOL/Patch.com, the Boonville (Mo.) Daily News, the Boulder (Colo.) Daily Camera, the Columbia Missourian, the Columbia (Mo.) Tribune, Credit Sesame, the Detroit Free Press, ScribbleLive, Social5 and Visual.ly. His first book, “Frozen, But Not Forgotten,” is a humorous and encouraging step-by-step guide to embryo adoption for parents told from a Christian perspective. It publishes April 1, 2019, from Carpenter’s Son Publishing and is sold and distributed by Ingram. Subscribe to his blog on embryo adoption and parenting at www.natebirt.com.

FULL BIO – NATE BIRT

Nate Birt is a veteran journalist who has been published twice in The Washington Post’s On Parenting blog. He and his wife, Julie, and their three biological sons—Micah, Titus, and Ezra—welcomed their adopted embryo baby, Phoebe, in March 2018. His first book, “Frozen, But Not Forgotten,” is a humorous and encouraging step-by-step guide to embryo adoption for parents told from a Christian perspective. It publishes April 1, 2019, from Carpenter’s Son Publishing and is sold and distributed by Ingram. He shares practical embryo adoption insights and advice for parents at his blog, www.natebirt.com.

When he isn’t chasing his children, Nate is Trust In Food™ Program Manager at Farm Journal. His team helps farmers expand their conservation agriculture practices and helps Americans reconnect with farmers and the food system. His portfolio includes work for AOL/Patch.com, the Boonville (Mo.) Daily News, the Boulder (Colo.) Daily Camera, the Columbia Missourian, the Columbia (Mo.) Tribune, Credit Sesame, the Detroit Free Press, ScribbleLive, Social5 and Visual.ly.

He holds a master’s in journalism from the University of Missouri. Alongside his family, Nate raises chickens, honeybees, and abundant weeds on a few beautiful acres of northeast Missouri soil. He serves as a Board Director on the Mexico Board of Education, as Secretary of the University of Missouri Extension Council for Audrain County, and as a part-time preacher for the Mexico Church of Christ. Follow him on Twitter at @natebirt, join the conversation on Facebook at @AuthorNateBirt or connect on LinkedIn.

PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS

“Nate Birt has written one of the most important pro-life stories of our generation, revealing to parents that each frozen embryo created through in vitro fertilization is, in fact, a precious baby with its own individual DNA. Families that place these babies for adoption are heroes. “Frozen, But Not Forgotten” guides parents through the joys and challenges of embryo adoption—and sheds light on the unintended consequences of our society’s embrace of assisted reproductive technology. Like Birt, I seek a world in which each of these children has a home—and in which this book becomes a footnote in history because no frozen embryos remain.” —Nick Loeb, director, "Roe v. Wade"

“I have read the few books that exist about embryo adoption. This book makes a unique contribution: helping people really envision themselves as adoptive parents. Birt helps prospective adoptive parents become psychologically healthy to prepare for adoption, with profound advice on topics such as how to explain your story to other people in front of your children. Anyone considering embryo adoption, or working in the field of artificial reproductive technology should read this book.” —Daniel Nehrbass, Ph.D., President of Nightlight Christian Adoptions

“God made life to be good, purposeful and precious. We cannot deny this fact for any form of life. These precious souls ... need the voice of Frozen, But Not Forgotten to plead their case and educate the world." —Dana Marrs Carrozza, Co-Founder, Sacred Selections

“Nate and Julie showed an immense love and generosity when they adopted the embryo of their little Phoebe. However, it is even more admirable that they have now decided to share their experience. We could write a book filled with love, devotion and gratitude to life from every child born thanks to the adoption of embryos.” —Dr. Marisa López-Teijón, CEO at Institut Marquès assisted reproduction center, driver of the first European embryo adoption program

“Embryo adoption is simply not discussed in the church today, leading to scant Christian resources and bewilderment. Nate Birt has written a storyline on his family’s adoptive process that is captivating. This unique and practical book is a timely resource to equip church leaders and prospective adoptive parents to walk through this confusing subject with sound wisdom.” —Daniel J. Hurst, Ph.D., Cahaba Family Medicine Residency

"Frozen, But Not Forgotten is a comprehensive overview of the embryo donation and adoption process. Written by an adopting dad, it gives the reader a hands on feel for how the process works, while addressing issues and hurdles that are all part of the journey. A great embryo adoption guideline, and we will offer this to our families as another resource." —Maria D. Lancaster, President and Co-Founder, Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park

BIOGRAPHICAL TALKING POINTS: ABOUT NATE BIRT

Nate Birt is the author of “Frozen, But Not Forgotten,” a humorous and encouraging guidebook for Christian couples seeking to grow their families through embryo adoption (Carpenter’s Son Publishing, 2019). He has twice been published in The Washington Post’s “On Parenting” blog. His personal blog, at www.natebirt.com, combines embryo adoption insights with parenting tips and encouragement. He has worked as a professional writer, editor and marketer for the past decade and holds a master’s degree in journalism from the prestigious University of Missouri School of Journalism.

1. Nate became an adoptive dad by accident.

Nate and his wife, Julie, have three biological sons ages 7 and under. When Nate suggested they have a fourth child, Julie said yes—but only if they pursued embryo adoption. In “Frozen, But Not Forgotten,” Nate describes why he initially didn’t want to go through with the process of adopting frozen embryos from couples whose families have been completed with in vitro fertilization (IVF). But any good journalist digs for the facts before reaching a conclusion, and Nate soon discovered that as a Christian dad, he had a mountain of reasons to pursue adoption. To Nate, his daughter, Phoebe, is evidence of the value of every single human life, even those frozen at life’s earliest stages.

2. Nate uses his experience as a journalist to help families navigate the complexities of adoption.

· His blog, www.natebirt.com, offers insights to couples curious about the embryo adoption process as well as hope and encouragement for parents from all backgrounds. Some of his best-read posts include “Why Couples Without Infertility Adopt Embryos” and “Three Reasons You Should Keep Hustling When You’re Dog Tired.”

· Rather than shying away from difficult topics, Nate tackles often controversial pro-life issues with empathy and clarity from a Christian worldview. He acknowledges the misconceptions people often have about adoption, breaks down the origins of those misconceptions and shares how adoptive parents can broach difficult subjects with their family, friends and children.

· No parenting or adoption journey is complete without a healthy dose of parenting humor and quotes from witty children. Nate publishes both types of content on Twitter at @natebirt and on Facebook at @AuthorNateBirt.

3. In addition to writing about adoption, Nate is passionate about his family and the food system.

· He has been married to his wife, Julie, for 10 years.

· They have three sons and one daughter, in addition to a dog, a cat and five chickens.

· They live in Mexico, Missouri, home to more than 11,000 people and lots of soybeans and cattle.

· He is Program Manager for Trust In Food, a division of Farm Journal helping farmers build their conservation agriculture practices and connecting consumers to farmers and the food system.

He is here [this morning/this afternoon/this evening] to speak to us on the topic of [speech title]. Please join me in welcoming Nate Birt.

How to Sound Like You’ve Read the Book

More than 1 million U.S. children have been born with help from in vitro fertilization (IVF) or another form of assisted reproduction.[1] Yet the blessing of family building has had an unintended consequence: An estimated 1 million frozen embryos are held in storage.[2] Some couples continue to use those embryos, while others struggle with a tremendously painful decision: Should we preserve our remaining embryos or discard them?

But there is a solution many don’t know about. Embryo adoption brings couples together for the purpose of giving those embryos, each a unique and precious human, the best chance at life.

In his new book “Frozen, But Not Forgotten,” adoptive dad, veteran journalist, and parenting blogger Nate Birt helps parents on both sides of the adoption question navigate the embryo adoption process. Told through a Christian lens with humor and compassion, Birt—an embryo adoption skeptic turned advocate—tackles adoption myths head on, shares how parents can talk openly about their child’s adoption story and addresses the sobering reality many embryos don’t survive the thawing process.

Rather than shying away from controversy over the unborn, Birt offers a rallying cry to honor all human life. Each of us began as an embryo. How might this frozen generation impact our world for good—if only we choose to let them?

[1] https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/fertility-blog/2018/march/ivf-by-the-numbers

[2] https://www.elle.com/culture/a12445676/the-leftover-embryo-crisis/

Interview Topics and Angles

· The unintended consequences of IVF and assisted reproductive technology

· Why couples that choose to preserve and place their embryos are heroic

· Why so many prospective dads are skeptical about adoption – and how to overcome those barriers

· How embryo adoption is similar to, and different from, other forms of adoption

· The important distinction between embryo donation and embryo adoption

· 5 common myths about embryo adoption and the truth about each

· Why some Christians oppose embryo adoption – and an embryo adoptive Christian parent’s response to those concerns

· How embryo adoption fits into the pro-life and pro-choice debate

· Why a marketplace for human embryos is a bad idea

· 5 reasons embryo adoption isn’t right for every couple

· How an open adoption really works – and why it’s critical for your adopted child

· How to politely answer politically incorrect adoption questions from family and friends

· How to talk with your biological children about your adoption

· Why couples without infertility adopt embryos

· How to mourn and find closure for the loss of embryos that don’t survive being thawed

· Questions to ask your adoption agency or fertility clinic about embryo adoption

· Whether embryos are people or property

· Future demand for assisted reproductive technology and how it will affect embryo adoption

· Surprising statistics about embryo adoption

· The debate over embryos for family building versus for research

· Five benefits of embryo adoption for couples