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
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 build a strong financial foundation before and throughout their journey as a Single Mom by Choice. Together, we explore practical strategies for preparing for fertility and family...
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 emotions of not knowing whether I'll be able to give my son a sibling—or if my body is capable of making that dream a reality. A vulnerable and emotional conversation about h...
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, to explore how we navigate differences in our relationships while staying true to ourselves. Through the lens of Single Motherhood by Choice, they discuss family expectations, societal norm...
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, we talk about the donor experience — including navigating the donor process, genetics, donor-conceived sibling connections, and the emotional weight that can come with making these deci...
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 vaccinations, to the importance of male role models, dating during pregnancy, and what it really takes to build a strong support system — nothing is off limits.
This honest conversation d...
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 when the process looked very different—long before digital profiles and modern fertility platforms, when donor information often arrived in the mail in catalog form.
Kathle...
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 support across the entire journey into motherhood — from trying to conceive, through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.
Erika shares her perspective on expanding access to c...
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 about knowing from a young age that motherhood was always part of her dream, the relationship that almost changed the course of her journey, and how she ultimately found her way to...
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 pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond, mental health is a thread that runs through it all—yet it’s often the part we talk about the least.
Laura is joined by Cathie from She Blooms,...
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 years of navigating chronic pain and difficult medical decisions—including the loss of both fallopian tubes—Tori was forced to rethink what her path to motherhood could look like. Her...
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 migraines and sickness, the anxiety of advocating for my health, and why I chose to keep my pregnancy private early on. I also reflect on becoming a single mom by choice, the mixe...
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 Intervention and what it looked like to advocate for my son and get him the support he needed.
We break down what pediatric physical therapy looks like, how to spot early signs yo...
Nathalie thought she was living the life she was supposed to want—married, settled, and planning for motherhood. But a life-changing moment at an OB appointment shifted everything.
What followed was a journey of healing, self-discovery, and redefining what truly felt aligned. Nathalie made the difficult choice to leave behind what no longer served her, explored new paths, and ultimately chose to pursue motherho...
Jessica’s path to motherhood took an unexpected turn when life—and timing—presented challenges she couldn’t ignore. In this episode, she shares how changing circumstances led her to make a bold, unconventional choice: saying “I do” to an old friend who stepped up in a way she never could have planned.
What followed was a journey filled with uncertainty, resilience, and the complexi...
In this episode, we sit down with Brittinie Tran from Hot Mess Express, a women-led nonprofit creating a judgment-free space for women navigating life’s overwhelming moments.
Hot Mess Express is built on the belief that no one has to go through hard seasons alone—whether that means help with cleaning and organizing or simply having a compassionate community show up when it matters most.
Tune in to hear Bri...
Nicole’s journey to motherhood didn’t follow a typical path. Early menopause and unexpected challenges didn’t stop her from defining her own path.
In this episode, we explore embryo donation, family surprises, and the importance of telling children their stories. Nicole also shares how she now supports women pursuing single motherhood by choice, offering guidance and encouragement along the way.
Some...
Beth opens up about burnout in the tech industry and the moment her inner voice spoke up on a drive, leading her to choose single motherhood by choice. She shares what it’s like raising her daughter in some of the biggest tech cities, how she built her support village, and the leap they took to live abroad for a bigger adventure—balancing world schooling with launching her own company.
This conversation i...
In this episode of Choosing Chaos, we sit down with Laura Scrieber, a soon-to-be single mom navigating a rollercoaster of fertility and pregnancy. Coming from a strong conservative family, Laura shares the hesitation, courage, and love that have guided her journey to motherhood.
Hear her candidly ask Kristen and me the questions on her mind as she prepares for labor—including her concerns about having a C-secti...
In this episode of Choosing Chaos, we’re joined by Caroline, owner of Pathfinder Birth Works, for an honest and empowering conversation about the role of a doula in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Caroline shares how doulas provide steady support through one of the most transformative seasons in a woman’s life—offering evidence-based information, emotional reassurance, physical comfort measures, a...
In this episode of Choosing Chaos, we sit down with Jess to talk about what it really looks like to pursue single motherhood by choice later in life.
Jess froze her eggs in her younger years, believing she was preserving an option for the future. But when she ultimately decided to conceive in her 40s, she learned those eggs were no longer usable — and she had to pivot. What followed were multiple rounds of IVF,...
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