Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice
Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice — the podcast for women who are done waiting for “the one” and ready to become a parent on their own damn terms. We’re talking fertility, pregnancy, the emotional chaos, and the village it takes to raise a kid.
Sometimes you cry in the bathtub. Sometimes you're crying because your toddler bit you. And sometimes, you cry because you chose all of this.
Unfiltered conversations about solo motherhood—because doing it alone doesn't mean doing it quietly.
Episodes
66 episodes
The Gift of Adoption: Jennifer's Story
Jennifer Johnston brings a truly unique perspective to Choosing Chaos — she was adopted at birth, and years later, she became an adoptive mom herself.In this episode, Jennifer shares her experience building her family through ad...
Connie: Booked, Busy & Loving Six
What happens when the stage of motherhood you thought you’d love… turns out not to be your favorite?In this episode, Laura sits down with Connie Rutherford, single mom by choice to six-year-old twin girls, for a candid and often hilariou...
Noam & The Hopeful Bunny
In this episode of Choosing Chaos, Laura sits down with Noam Friedlander, a writer, author, genealogist, and solo mom, for an honest conversation about the realities of motherhood in the toddler years.Noam shares what life looks...
What We Learn Along the Way: Alicia’s Story
On this week's episode, Alicia shares her journey through motherhood by choice, navigating the toddler and preschool years, career pressures, and the unexpected possibility of growing her family. We talk about letting go of perfection, adapting...
Growing Together: Anka’s Story
What does solo motherhood look like years after becoming a mom? Anka shares an honest look at raising a school-aged child, navigating the evolving challenges of solo motherhood, balancing work and family, finding community, and the lessons she'...
Just Keep Moving: Sandra’s Story — Part 2
In Part Two of Sandra’s story, we continue to explore the realities of raising a child as a Single Mom by Choice, navigating the pressures of life and motherhood, caring for aging parents, managing burnout, and finding the strength to just keep...
Just Keep Moving: Sandra’s Story — Part 1
Sandra shares what it looks like to navigate 11 years of Single Motherhood by Choice—from raising a donor-conceived daughter and navigating questions around family and identity, to balancing work, finances, aging parents, burnout, and building ...
Things Will Work Out: Catrina’s Journey
Catrina joins us to talk about the deeply personal path that led her to solo motherhood after losing her husband to melanoma. We talk about choosing motherhood, building a life around her son, navigating the everyday realities of raising a todd...
Healing While Raising Humans
In this episode of Choosing Chaos, Stephanie shares her journey to becoming a single mom by choice to twin boys and how motherhood became the catalyst for healing, conscious parenting, and redefining the life she wanted to create for h...
Life Is...Full: Alex's Story (Part Two)
In Part Two of my conversation with Alex, we explore the parts of solo motherhood that often go unspoken. Alex shares what it's like to carry the weight of always being the strong one, how she has navigated dating while raising a toddler, and t...
Life Is...Full: Alex's Story (Part One)
Life is beautifully full—and sometimes incredibly hard. In Part One of Alex's story, we explore what it looks like to intentionally build a life that makes room for both joy and grief. Alex shares how she prioritizes creating meaningful moments...
Trust the Magic: Dena's Journey
In this episode, Laura sits down with Dena to talk about the intentional choices, unexpected turns, and quiet magic that led her to solo motherhood. After years of pursuing a more traditional path to parenthood, Dena made the courageous decisio...
I Did a Damn Good Job: Kristin's Story
In this episode of Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice, Laura sits down with Kristin, a solo mom by choice, former professional ballet dancer, and owner of a dance retail store specializing in pointe shoe fittings.Kristin ...
Financial Planning with Phil Weiss
Financial planning is one of the biggest questions many women face when considering solo motherhood—but it doesn't have to be overwhelming.In this episode, I sit down with financial planning expert Phil Weiss to discuss how women can bui...
Hope & Uncertainty
This episode is a deeply personal one. I open up about the hope, uncertainty, and heartbreak that can come with trying to grow your family as you get older. From fertility struggles to questions about what the future may hold, I share the emoti...
Staying Grounded While Choosing a Different Path
What happens when the life you choose doesn't align with the expectations of those around you?In this episode of Sparks of Change, Laura sits down with Joayne Larson, facilitator, coach, and intercultural competence practitioner...
Unfiltered Conversations: Part 2
Part 2 of Controversial Topics continues the conversation with Andrea, Annie, and Kristen as we shift from some of the more divisive parenting opinions into the deeper layers of the Single Mom By Choice journey.In this episode, ...
Unfiltered Conversations: Part 1
In Part 1 of Controversial Topics, Andrea, Annie, and Kristen dive headfirst into some of the biggest conversations surrounding the Single Mom By Choice journey. From structured vs. unstructured learning and differing views on vaccinat...
The Long Game: Kathleen Did It Her Way
In this episode, we sit down with Kathleen, who became a Single Mother by Choice in 2000 after spending years in sports and ultimately choosing a new path toward building her family. She shares what it was like making that decision at a time wh...
Maternal Mental Health with Erika
In this special Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month conversation, we are joined by Erika Schmitt, Director of Counseling and Family Support Services at a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, to explore the importance of reproductive mental health sup...
From Baby Dolls to Baby Girl: Mom Life with Bernie
This week on Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice, Laura sits down with Bernie — a newer mom to a baby girl conceived through embryo donation — for one of the most honest and entertaining conversations yet.Bernie opens up a...
She Blooms: Healing from Within
In honor of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice explores the emotional realities of motherhood—across every stage of the journey.From fertility and infertility to pre...
Beyond the Diagnosis: Tori’s Story
In this episode of Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice, Laura sits down with Tori to share her journey through endometriosis, fertility challenges, and ultimately, building her family in a way she never expected.After year...
I Knew Something Wasn’t Right: Pregnancy, Delivery & Postpartum
In this deeply personal episode, I share my pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum journey—from a physically challenging first trimester to navigating gestational hypertension and postpartum preeclampsia.I open up about months of severe mig...
Why Early Intervention Matters for Kids
In this episode, we’re joined by Taryn, a pediatric physical therapist from First Steps Physical Therapy, to talk about supporting your child’s development in the early years.I also share a bit of my own journey navigating Early Interven...