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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes275Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyParenting

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Artwork for The Rare Life

Latest Episodes

When you have a child with a disability or other medical complexity, the holidays can feel like a minefield, as trauma triggers, anxiety, and grief for what we wish the holidays could have been for our families lurk around every corner.

And on top o... more

For medically complex families, relationships with ourchildren’s medical teams are anything but simple.

In this episode, Madeline and Alyssa dig into what makesthem so emotionally loaded: the power imbalance, the fear of being dismissed,the exhaust... more

For many of us, this year has felt so heavy, from loss inthe community, to terrifying policy changes and the stress of uncertainty, to another emotional reality many didn’t expect: feeling disconnected from the people who love us but don’t understand... more

What do you do when your baby is seizing and the people who are supposed to help you tell you that you’re overreacting?

For Abbey, the fight to be taken seriously began early, and it shaped everything that came next. Her daughter Avery’s rare metabo... more

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Recent Guests

Abbey Benjamin
A mother and former pediatric nurse navigating the complexities of raising a child with an ultra-rare diagnosis.
Not provided
Episode: 204: Abbey's Story | An Ultra-rare Diagnosis, Shifting perspectives + Holding onto Faith
Roya Malika
A disability parent sharing her journey and insights
Episode: 201: Roya's Story | A Diagnosis Without a Map, Learning to Advocate + the Journey Back to Herself
Stephanie Stanley
Grieving mother and advocate for parents navigating child loss
Episode: 200: Facing End of Life Choices + The Way Life Changes After Child Loss w/ Stephanie Stanley
Kristen Henry
An adoptive mother who navigated infertility and adoption, discovering her daughter has cystic fibrosis
Episode: 199: Adopting a Medically Complex Child w/ Kristen Henry
Ashley Kaywood
Mother who experienced complex pregnancies and lengthy NICU stay for her son Bim
Episode: 198: Ashley’s Story | A Year in the NICU, Impossible Choices + Complex Joy
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: Ali’s Story | An Invisible Disability, Living in Survival Mode + Giving Up Her Dream Career
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

Hosts

Alyssa Newtile
Co-host for Season 12, contributing insights and facilitating discussions on disability parenting.
Madeline Cheney
Host, leading heartfelt discussions on the emotional journeys of parenting children with disabilities and facilitating community conversations.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 276 ratings
  • A lifeline

    Such a good listen! The topics and interviews are real and relatable. It’s hard to find people who “get” my experience, and this podcast feels like talking with friends. They work hard to include a variety of voices and experiences, and their online (IG) content is thoughtful, inclusive and relatable too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A rare mom
    United States2 months ago
  • A Very Meaningful Podcast

    I found The Rare Life early on in my disability parenting journey, and I’ve committed to listening ever since. Madeline and her team work hard to share stories and address topics that truly make rare families feel less alone. Each episode is created with so much intention and love. I would absolutely recommend! I look forward to listening in for many years to come.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ReneeWray
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States8 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 States9 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

Listeners Say

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

The content's focus on mental health and self-advocacy resonates strongly, providing both practical advice and emotional reassurance.
Many express gratitude for the sense of community it creates, helping them feel less isolated in their journeys as parents of disabled children.
Listeners appreciate the authenticity and emotional depth of the conversations, often feeling validated in their experiences.
Parents highlight a common thread of connection and understanding, making the episodes relatable and impactful for those navigating similar challenges.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

204: Abbey's Story | An Ultra-rare Diagnosis, Shifting perspectives + Holding onto Faith
Q: How has faith played a role in your journey?
Faith has been essential, even through hard questioning; it provides strength despite the suffering of watching a child deal with medical issues.
204: Abbey's Story | An Ultra-rare Diagnosis, Shifting perspectives + Holding onto Faith
Q: What would you say to a family who's kind of at the beginning right now?
It's important to feel the moments of sadness but not get stuck; there's still beauty despite the challenges.
199: Adopting a Medically Complex Child w/ Kristen Henry
Q: Did you have much experience with disability prior to Joanna walking into this?
Kristen notes that her experience with disability was limited, but she had worked as a behavior analyst for autistic children and teens, which provided her some perspective.
199: Adopting a Medically Complex Child w/ Kristen Henry
Q: What did the process of adoption look like for your family?
Kristen describes the private adoption route they took, mentioning the importance of adopting a child from as young an age as possible to learn parenting from early on.
199: Adopting a Medically Complex Child w/ Kristen Henry
Q: What brought you to adoption?
Kristen shares that their decision to adopt came after several years of struggling with infertility, leading them to feel a need to change direction.

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?

Content focuses on the challenges and emotional nuances of parenting children with disabilities, blending personal accounts and expert insights. Topics range from friendship dynamics among disability parents to navigating healthcare concerns, coping with grief, and understanding the realities of raising medically complex children. Notably, the conversations foster a sense of community and recognition among listeners, encouraging them to share their own stories and experiences. The emphasis on mental health and self-advocacy within the parenting landscape highlights a supportive environment where listeners feel acknowledged and empowered.

This platform's strength lies in its authentic and relatable discussions, unearthing the complexities t... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Rare Life?

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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. Give It To Me Straight
2. Shining With ADHD by The Childhood Collective
3. Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness
4. All Things Sensory by Harkla
5. Uniquely Human: The Podcast

How many episodes of The Rare Life are there?

The Rare Life launched 6 years ago and published 275 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. Abbey Benjamin
2. Roya Malika
3. Stephanie Stanley
4. Kristen Henry
5. Ashley Kaywood
6. Madeline Cheney
7. Ali Platt
8. Jessica Loey

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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