On today's episode, Cate & Ty sit down with Kelsey Ranyard, a co-author of "Adoption Unfiltered," as well as a birth mom, to get another perspective on adoption. Kelsey shares her story of relinquishing her child in 2016, opening up about the lack of support from those around her, societal pressures, and the emotional aftermath that followed. Kelsey emphasizes the critical importance of open and honest communication in adoption, navigating the challenges of the ongoing relationships in her life, and the wide range of emotions birth parents face. They continue to highlight the flaws within the current adoption system, advocating for crucial policy changes and separate legal representation for birth parents. Plus, Ty brings up the unique journey of parenting after relinquishment, the impact on subsequent children, and Cate speaks on the often-unspoken experience of postpartum depression. This episode is a call for understanding, reform, and a reminder that every adoption story is profoundly different.

Find Kelsey on Instagram @fromanothamotha and her book Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, and Allies wherever books are sold

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Join us for a powerful and deeply personal conversation with Alé (@wildheartcollective), who shares her incredible journey as an international adoptee. Adopted from Brazil at just four months old, Alé's story is one of emotional complexities, and ultimately, profound self-discovery. Alé opens up about the unique challenges she faced growing up—navigating feelings of difference, grappling with mental health struggles, but also shares the remarkable tale of how, with the support of her adoptive family, she was able to find her biological family in Brazil. Alé passionately advocates for a fundamental shift in how society views adoption, emphasizing the critical importance of prioritizing the child's needs above all else - the raw, honest, and eye-opening exploration of adoption from the inside out.

For more information visit Alé Cardinalle at wildheartcollective.care

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Join us for a powerful conversation with Erin, known as Adoptee Advocate Erin (@woodorwater) on Tiktok​, who shares her deeply personal adoption story, revealing the complexities and hidden truths behind the "beautiful" narrative​ that adoption has sold. Erin ​explains "the fog," a common experience where adoptees suppress their true feelings, and details the shocking discovery of her adoptive mother's lies about sealed records. She passionately advocates for adoption reform, highlighting the need for education, birth mother support, and an end to the commodification of children. Erin emphasizes the crucial importance of listening to adoptees and creating space for their diverse experiences. ​A must-listen for anyone touched by adoption​ or wanting to learn more than what we've been told.

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On today's episode, Gretchen Sisson, author of ​Relinquished, ​sits down with ​Cate & Ty​ to discuss​ about her research​ on the gap between the cultural perception of adoption and the lived experiences of birth parents.​ Gretchen talks about the coercion and ​lack of ​resources​ playing a significant ​part that often le​d women to choose adoption​, emphasizes that many would have chosen differently had ​t​hey had more financial stability​ and support. The conversation also delves into the adoption industry​ using marketing tactics, ​their financial aspects,​ and the ethical concerns ​surrounding the system's inherent inequalities​. ​Is every adoption a failure of society to provide adequate support for families​? Cate & Ty break it down with Gretchen as she provides a nuanced look at adoption, challenging common assumptions and highlighting the need for change to better support birth parents, adoptees, and families in need.

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Cate & Ty are joined by Teen Mom castmate Maci and her Expired podcast co-host Natalie Gard to talk all about how they decided to start their podcast, how Natalie has dealt with the Teen Mom audience, and how they've seen teen pregnancy numbers go down in this generation. Maci also shares how she's been dealing with Bentley getting older and filming, how her journey has been with therapy and accepting that she is not responsible for the other parent's issues.

(Previously recorded in 2024)

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Jordy Cray (@jordycray) comes in hot on Break It Down! In today's episode, Cate & Ty explain why they continue to talk about their adoption story despite the backlash with the public and the growing issues with the adoptive parents. While acknowledging a better understanding of the adoption community​ and learning of the adoptive parent's hypocrisy, Jordy still questions Cate and Ty's choice to vent publicly on social media​ but agrees that there is always more to the story than what everyone sees online.

(Previously recorded in 2024)

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The one and only Kail Lowry sits down with Cate & Ty to catch up on all things Kail. She talks about some of her regrets on having such public fallouts with friends on Teen Mom and how certain people started having expectations from their friendship. Ty explains how he's come up with a way to hold himself accountable when he starts to ramble and Cate shares with Kail how she was emotionally monitoring Ty early on in their relationship, something Cate learned was linked to her childhood.

(Previously recorded in 2024)

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Cate & Ty continue to bring their insights and further explain some of their situations that were caught on camera, as well as the things that were not! Cate talks about when producers focused too much on her weight loss journey. Ty revisits the infamous heifer comment, explains his initial misunderstanding of Cate's postpartum depression, and how it manifested as frustration when he couldn't find answers. Both Cate and Ty reflect on the crucial decision to seek professional mental health support in order to keep their family together. On today's new segment, Unlicensed Advice, how do you have a relationship with a toxic parent? How to give sex advice to a partner without hurting their feelings? And lastly, is there any ethical adoption?

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