Send us a text From missing Thanksgiving and family parties to navigating the "reentry anxiety" of the holiday season, this episode explores the intentional boundaries Chelsea and their husband have set to protect their health while raising two "neuro-sparkly" children. It is a candid look at the intersection of parenting, disability, and the profound impact of simple acts of consideration from friends and community members. 🗝️Key Takeaways The High Stakes of Common Viruses: For those w...

Send us a text In this honest and energizing conversation, Chelsea is joined by Sarah Johnston: entrepreneur, infertility warrior, and proud parent of a rainbow-loving toddler. Sarah shares her winding path to motherhood through infertility and IVF, the mental toll of a complicated pregnancy, and the terrifying postpartum OCD symptoms that followed. Together, they unpack everything from generational perfectionism and reparenting, to toddler meltdowns and the joy of rainbow birthday part...

Send us a text In this episode, Chelsea connects with Dr. Sandra Fernandes, a family physician turned burnout coach, for a candid conversation about how motherhood shattered her carefully planned life. Sandra opens up about her experience with multiple ectopic pregnancies, breastfeeding struggles, pandemic-era burnout, and the quiet expectations that nearly broke her. As a physician, Sandra knew the risks. As a mom, she felt every loss. Her story is one of strength, identity shifts, and learn...

Send us a text Content Warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including suicide and psychiatric hospitalization. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. In this special Quiet Confessions mini-episode, Chelsea's partner, Ben, steps behind the mic to share his perspective on the intense trauma the family has navigated over the last three years, brought on by severe PMADS (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders). As Chelsea has been battling a re...

Send us a text After a traumatic birth experience left her feeling dismissed and unseen, Brittny found herself battling postpartum depression without realizing what was happening until nearly a year later. In this candid conversation, she discusses being gaslit by providers, how she learned self-advocacy, and the moment she realized her pain was valid. Learn more about Brittny on her website or Instagram. 🗝️ Key Takeaways Birth trauma can leave invisible scars, even when providers...

Send us a text A Note from Chelsea: This episode was pre-recorded, but the content definitely still applies to my current situation. I've been battling a respiratory virus on top of chronic illness and exhaustion in an endless germ cycle. In this episode, and today, I remind myself that some phases of parenting aren't about thriving; sometimes, just surviving is enough. 🗝️Key Takeaways The Revolving Door: The constant cycle of sickness—one kid, then the other, then the spouse —leads t...

Send us a text *This episode discusses some topics that may be triggering to some individuals, including abortion trauma, and intrusive thoughts. In this episode, Chelsea is joined by multidisciplinary artist and healer Casey Urban. Casey shares her raw journey through postpartum depression, perinatal mental health struggles, abortion trauma, and rediscovering her creative voice. She speaks candidly about the healing power of performing arts, music, microdosing, and community, and how e...

Send us a text Due to a break for health and recovery, I'm bringing you the full, uncut version of a popular bonus episode. This episode, originally titled My Story Part 2, was first released in its entirety exclusively to Patreon subscribers in 2024, with a bite-sized snippet available during Season 3 of Quiet Connection. I'm offering the full deep dive now to check in with you. I’m sharing the traumatic medical crisis that compounded my severe PMADs, including postpartum anxiety, depression...

Send us a text What happens when a perinatal mental health specialist finds herself overwhelmed by postpartum OCD, PTSD, and anxiety—right in the middle of a pandemic? In this powerful episode, I sit down with Kara Kushnir, LCSW, a therapist, author, and mom who shares her deeply personal journey through birth trauma and postpartum mental health struggles. Kara opens up about her C-section experience gone wrong, the unexpected NICU stay, and the lonely spiral into anxiety that followed. Despi...

Send us a text In this week’s Quiet Confessions, I'm sharing a big change in our family that came with a surprising mix of feelings. We finally upgraded from our beloved, tiny Honda Fit (the TARDIS!) to a minivan, a Kia Carnival, and yes, I am now officially a van parent (even though I swore I never would be!). But this episode isn't just about car shopping. It's about an embodiment of evolution, a reminder to stop shrinking my dreams to match what I think I deserve. Listen to feel seen, vali...

Send us a text What does it mean to grow through fatherhood while navigating shame, rage, grief, and joy? In this week’s Quiet Connection, Chelsea sits down with Daniel, a musician, creative coach, and father of three, whose story is as lyrical as it is raw. From becoming a dad at 18, to navigating rage and self-abandonment, to grieving his father’s death while welcoming a new baby, Daniel shares his journey of learning to surrender, to love himself, and to root deeply in order to rise higher...

Send us a text In this week’s Quiet Confession, Chelsea shares the real, unfiltered magic and chaos of their family’s recent trip to Disney. From the long drive down the East Coast to the unforgettable moments in the parks, they open up about the joys, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. Expect a mix of laughter, meltdowns, gratitude, and the gentle reminder that even the most magical experiences can still come with a few bumps. To learn more about Laraine and Rainy's Magical...

Send us a text In this episode of Quiet Connection, I’m connecting with Holly Frances, who shares the raw and emotional story of becoming a mother—just as her body was shutting down from Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Diagnosed just weeks after giving birth, Holly spent nearly three months in the ICU, fighting for her life. She opens up about the physical toll of GBS, the guilt of not being able to care for her daughter, and the slow, determined climb toward healing. Holly’s story is one of resilie...

Send us a text In this Quiet Confession, Chelsea reflects on a conversation with an old friend that led to a realization — Disney isn’t just a destination, it’s a feeling. It’s the space where “little me” exhales, where play and magic return, and where identity exists outside of motherhood, partnership, and responsibility. Through this story, Chelsea invites listeners to rediscover their version of “Disney” — the place, activity, or ritual that reconnects them to who they are underneath all t...

Send us a text What actually is a doula—and why do so many parents say they’d never give birth without one again? This week I’m joined by Kristin from Gold Coast Doulas, who’s on a mission to transform the way we support birthing individuals from conception through the chaos of early parenting. Kristin shares how her own birth experiences sparked a passion for advocacy and led her to create the kind of business she wishes existed when she became a mom. We dive into the misunderstood role of d...

Send us a text In this Quiet Confession, Chelsea opens up about the lifelong belief that saying “no” equals failure, and how motherhood has challenged that mindset. Between constant illness in their household, navigating hormone replacement therapy, and juggling an endless list of commitments, they're learning that saying “no” isn’t selfish. It’s survival. This episode dives into the messy, emotional practice of setting boundaries, rejecting burnout, and redefining love as something that incl...

Send us a text Motherhood is rarely what we expect—and sometimes it’s life-threatening. In this episode of Quiet Connection, Lisa, a mom of three, shares her powerful story of an unexpected pregnancy, a dangerous case of preeclampsia, and the challenges of NICU life. She opens up about navigating postpartum depression, anxiety, and rage, and how listening to her inner voice and reaching out for support became lifelines. Lisa’s story is a reminder that maternal health matters, prenatal and pos...

Send us a text In this week’s Quiet Confessions, Chelsea gets real about marriage in survival mode. With sick kids, nonstop appointments, and the relentless weight of the world, they share how love can sometimes look less like date nights and more like passing the baton at bedtime. From the honesty of being “sleep divorced” with twin Tempur-Pedics and CPAP machines, to the reminder that relationships ebb and flow, Chelsea offers reassurance that quiet love is still love. This episode is for e...

Send us a text In this week’s Quiet Confessions, Chelsea reflects on the small, everyday moments of parenting that are equal parts exhausting and heart-melting — the duality we don’t always recognize until it’s gone. From preschool mispronunciations like “B-member” and “preschoo,” to bedtime bathroom excuses, to popcorn-for-dinner movie nights, Chelsea shares the sweetness hidden beneath the chaos. This episode is a gentle reminder to notice what we’ll miss one day — not because we have to sa...

Send us a text In this week’s Quiet Confessions, Chelsea gets vulnerable about the mom guilt that comes with trying to balance parenting and personal growth. With both kids now in school, they share the challenges of juggling preschool pick-ups, three-hour Zoom trainings, and the ever-present temptation of screen time for their toddler. From Paw Patrol marathons to the sweetness of a preschooler “working” on their lap, Chelsea opens up about the tension between logic and guilt, passion and pa...