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Artwork for The Rare Life

The Rare Life

Madeline Cheney
Disability Parenting
Family Dynamics
Medical Complexities
Parenting
Community Support
Friendship
Mental Health
Sexual Intimacy
Support Systems
Hospitalization
Disabled Children
Glass Children
Holidays
Grief
Sibling Relationships
Children's Health
Emotional Support
Caregiving
Rare Disease Day Fundraiser
Community Building

This is the real, raw, and all the feels of loving a child with disabilities. Episodes feature parent-guests, professionals, and solo episodes with host Madeline Cheney. Their authentic conversations don’t shy away from the strong and mixed emotions that often accompany medically-complex parenting. Parents listen in to feel seen, validated, and receive much-needed solidarity. Professionals working... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes265Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ParentingKids & Family

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Artwork for The Rare Life

Latest Episodes

Making friends as a disability parent sounds like it should be easy. We’ve already got so much in common. But in reality, it’s complicated.

In this episode, Alyssa and Madeline share community stories about what makes these friendships so hard to bu... more

When your child has complex medical needs, the question of more children isn’t always simple.

And for some parents of disabled children, the decision to stop at one might not even feel like a decision at all.

In this episode, Alyssa shares response... more

What happens when your child’s rare disease doesn’t look “serious enough” to the outside world?

For Ali Platt, the invisibility of her daughter’s Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) meant battles with doctors, endless appeals to Medicaid, and colleagues... more

Season 12 is here and, once again, the theme is all about relationships: the relationships we have with our children, our partners, our children’s medical teams, and even each other.

We’ll be sharing episodes featuring incredibly tender stories, exp... more

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Recent Guests

Madeline Cheney
Founder and President at The Rare Life
The Rare Life
Episode: 197: When Meaningful Friendship with Other Disability Parents Feels Elusive w/ Madeline Cheney
Ali Platt
Mother of Paisley, who has Eosinophilic Esophagitis, sharing her journey and struggles in parenting a child with a rare syndrome.
Episode: 195: An Invisible Disability, Living in Survival Mode + Giving Up Her Dream Career | Ali’s Story
Jessica Loey
Mother discussing the emotional complexities of parenting a child with disabilities.
Episode: Mixed Feelings When Your Child’s Health Stabilizes w/ Jessica Loey
Chrissy McGuire
Yoga teacher and mindfulness coach, single mom to two children with disabilities.
Episode: Mindfulness for Medical Parents w/ Chrissy McGuire
Rosey Schaefermeyer
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Episode: 185: Medical Parent Trauma | Dealing with Triggers + Ongoing Trauma w/ Rosey Schaefermeyer, LCSW
Hailey Adkisson
Wise and articulate parent advocate and educator with a focus on disability-related topics.
Episode: 183: Epilepsy | Unpredictability + Emotional Toll it Takes on Parents w/ Hailey Adkisson
Kait Parrish
Retired emergency room nurse and author of 'Be Different, Be You'
Episode: 181: Kait’s Story | Fertility Struggles, A Surviving Twin, + “What Could Have Been”
Jessica Fein
Writer and author of a memoir called Breath Taking, A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Episode: 178: Jessica Fein’s Story |Adoption, a Progressive Disease, + The Illusion of Control
Kara Berasi
Poet and advocate for parents of children with disabilities
Episode: Holiday Mini 3: The Silent Suffering | A Poem Reading + Discussion w/ Kara Berasi

Host

Madeline Cheney
Host and creator, Madeline Cheney leads candid conversations that navigate the emotional experiences of parenting children with disabilities, often featuring parent-guest stories and professional insights.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 270 ratings
  • Awesome

    As a parent of a child with a disability and medical complexities this podcast meets me right where I am. I enjoy listening and have listened for several years.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DuckFaninOregon
    United States6 months ago
  • Just what I needed

    As a parent of a child with a disability, this podcast has truly saved my sanity! Simply hearing that I am not alone and that what my husband and I go through is an experience shared by so many is extremely comforting. I wish I could meet all of these amazing parents that are shared on this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jerichokauai
    United States7 months ago
  • A belonging I longed for

    Thank You Madeline, so much for The Rare Life. Your content touches more people than you may think. I am a mother of a medically complex child, though he does not have a rare diagnosis of any kind. I had a complicated pregnancy and traumatic birth with my son Vincent, who arrived unduly early at 25 weeks gestation. Due to his very early arrival, he has a laundry list of diagnoses. He’s now 17 months and I only recently saw “medically complex child” written in his medical record. Interestingly en... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    littlebit322
    United States2 years ago
  • 5-Star Review - Dr. Tay

    I love this podcast because of the honest and authentic conversations Madeleine brings to the table. As a licensed psychologist that works with neurodivergent children, it makes my heart so full that there are resources like this podcast for all families to listen to!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    doctorTND
    United States2 years ago
  • Nicu nurses

    I am a nicu nurse. It was so nice to hear how so many of us feel. And what parents can expect. I am retired now but I still miss the babies and the families I got close too. It is a privilege to take care of these little babies who fight to live. And make no mistake we do love the babies I mean real love.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    555387654
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners express that this show provides a sense of community and belonging, helping them feel less isolated in their experiences as parents of children with disabilities.
Many emphasize the emotional depth and honesty of the conversations, praising the candid discussions that tackle difficult subjects related to parenting and caregiving.
Reviewers appreciate the wealth of resources and support shared, finding value in the insights offered by both guests and hosts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

192: Season 11 Finale | Poolside Chats with Texas ECI, Production Chaos, + Summer Mini Eps w/ Alyssa Nutile
Q: How was season 11?
Season 11 was filled with controlled chaos, both good and bad, with pride in the episodes produced amid the challenges.
190: Colleen’s Story | Epilepsy, Brain Surgery, + Rage Hiking
Q: What advice do you have for other families?
I think it's important for people that are new to the diagnosis to get connected with their community and see how families are still happy and do family activities together with a kid with disabilities.
184: Rachel’s Story | Widowed During Pregnancy, Misdiagnoses, + Sibling Dynamics
Q: Have you found yourself seeing those families and being envious at any point?
Initially, Rachel struggled with memories of two-parent families during weekends and holidays but eventually found solidarity with friends who also faced challenges.
184: Rachel’s Story | Widowed During Pregnancy, Misdiagnoses, + Sibling Dynamics
Q: When they gave you that kind of tentative diagnosis, did you feel relieved, or was it enough where you were like, that just doesn't sit right?
Rachel felt it was jolting to receive a tentative diagnosis, recognizing the permanent challenges ahead but found relief when she got the definitive diagnosis of JdVS.
184: Rachel’s Story | Widowed During Pregnancy, Misdiagnoses, + Sibling Dynamics
Q: Can you tell us when you're pregnant with Wells and the first time that you found out that he had any disabilities or medical complexities?
Rachel describes a whirlwind journey with her seemingly normal pregnancy that turned complicated with the unexpected loss of her husband, leading her to navigate the medical complexities after realizing Wells wasn't developing as expected.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Rare Life

What is The Rare Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations focus on the emotional realities and challenges of parenting children with disabilities, providing both personal stories from parents and professional insights from experts in the field. The topics covered often include grief, emotional self-care, mindfulness, and creating supportive communities, with guests ranging from parents sharing their experiences to mental health professionals offering guidance. This unique perspective creates a rich tapestry of discussions aimed at fostering a sense of belonging among listeners who may feel isolated in their journeys, while also offering practical advice to those navigating the complexities of disability parenting.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Rare Life?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Rare Life. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Rare Life and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Rare Life get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Rare Life?

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How many subscribers and views does The Rare Life have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Rare Life has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Rare Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Rare Life:

1. Couple Things with Shawn and Andrew
2. Once Upon A Gene
3. What We Spend
4. HERself
5. The Girl Next Door Podcast

How many episodes of The Rare Life are there?

The Rare Life launched 5 years ago and published 265 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Rare Life?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Rare Life?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Rare Life from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Rare Life?

Recent guests on The Rare Life include:

1. Madeline Cheney
2. Ali Platt
3. Jessica Loey
4. Chrissy McGuire
5. Rosey Schaefermeyer
6. Hailey Adkisson
7. Kait Parrish
8. Jessica Fein

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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