This film sheds human light on the surrogacy boom in the U.S.—specifically, in Boise, Idaho

[Editor’s note: Throughout this piece, the term “surrogate” is used as colloquial shorthand for gestational carrier (GC). The American Society of Reproductive Medicine defines a gestational carrier as “an arrangement where a woman carries and delivers a child for another couple or person (intended parent[s]). When using a GC, the eggs used to make the embryos do not come from the carrier. Because the eggs will be retrieved from one woman and implanted in another, this technique requires the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF).”] It’s a scene many adult women can relate to—two unacquainted women sit next to each other, eating lunch at a baby shower. They make small talk, one telling the other she’s a coworker of the mother-to-be. “And how about you, what’s your connection?” “I’m just the surrogate!” replies the other, relishing the polite shock on her neighbor’s face. They share a good-humored laugh. This is Made in Boise , a film full of compassion, heart and an intimate entry point into the human side of commercial surrogacy in the U.S.—which has been on the rise for the past 20 years and is currently experiencing a boom in Boise, Idaho. Directed and produced by Beth Aala, an award-winning filmmaker and mother of two, the film follows four different women who have chosen to be gestational carriers as they navigate their agreement to carry a child (or two) for intended parents they met through an agency. As the stories unfold and relationships develop on screen, it is immediately reinforced that these women are more than ‘just’ surrogates. All of the strong women featured have their own stack of responsibilities beyond their surrogacy arrangement—Nicole, the woman from the opening baby shower scene, is on her fourth(!) surrogacy journey. She is also a mother of two and the CEO of A Host of Possibilities, the local surrogacy and egg donor agency through which we meet our other subjects. Chelsea, carrying twins on her second surrogacy journey, is a mother to four of her own children. Cindy, taking on her first surrogacy pregnancy at 42, is a NICU nurse and a single mother of five (two biological, three adopted). Sammie is a 26-year-old nail technician and single mother to a toddler. All women choose to carry for different reasons, and each face different challenges and triumphs along their way— physical, emotional and cultural. (All are heroes, in my book). See a clip of the film’s youngest featured surrogate, Sammie, here: We had the opportunity to catch up with the film’s director and producer, Beth Aala, and the film’s producer, Beth Levison, who both happen to be talented working mothers themselves. Aala approached the story from a personal place. Shortly after having her second child eight years ago, a close friend who had struggled with many years of infertility and repeat miscarriages asked Aala to be a gestational carrier for her child. Though she was not personally interested in being pregnant again, Aala did say yes knowing the difficulties her friend had faced, and having firsthand experience with how life-changing motherhood could be. Months after agreeing, her friend became pregnant, so Beth didn’t end up acting as a surrogate. Regardless, the experience remained with her. Aala explains, “The ask of it all framed my perspective when the story did come to me, and I thought—okay. I need to tell this story. I’ve had so many friends who have struggled getting pregnant and starting their families… and as a mom, I know what it’s like to have a child. I know the joys of it all and how incredibly meaningful—it’s something that has changed my life.” You can stream Made in Boise now through Sunday, November 10 on PBS.org + on the PBS app .