Cord blood or stem cells — which one actually matters, and why does it feel so confusing?
In this clear and eye-opening episode, Whitney sits down with Korbet Annis, a stem cell expert with years of experience educating families and medical professionals, to explain the real differences between cord blood banking and newborn stem cell banking.
Korbet breaks down what cord blood is truly used for, why most families never use privately banked cord blood, and how newborn stem cells from umbilical cord tissue work differently. Together, they unpack common misconceptions, explain how stem cells are grown and stored, and discuss how these cells are being used today in regenerative medicine.
This conversation helps parents move out of fear-based decision-making and into clarity — understanding what questions to ask, what options actually exist, and how to evaluate whether stem cell banking makes sense for their family.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The real difference between cord blood and newborn stem cells
- Why cord blood is typically used for donor transplants, not personal use
- How stem cells are extracted, multiplied, and stored for future access
- What regenerative medicine looks like today and where it’s headed
- How stem cells may help with inflammation, immune conditions, and injury
- What questions families should ask before choosing a bank
- How stem cell collection works in surrogacy births
If you’ve ever wondered “Which one should we choose?” — this episode gives you the facts you need to decide with confidence.
Learn more about Vital Cells
