The Rare Life
Madeline CheneyThis 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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 309 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ParentingKids & Family | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Imagine this: You’ve just finished going through the diagnostic process for your child’s rare disease. You’re trying to find your new normal. And in the midst of all this, you continue to uncover your own medical complexities.
That story isn’t fore... more
Parenting a medically complex child without a partner or co-parent can bring a new level of difficulty.
From managing the financial realities of a solo parent household to the emotional weight of making all the decisions on your own to the uncertai... more
As parents taking care of disabled and medically complex kids, we could probably use a little more help and support than the average person... But that doesn’t make it easy to ask for it.
From guilt to societal pressure to simply not having anyone y... more
As our disabled and medically complex children grow and mature, caring for and navigating their sexual health can be a tricky topic.
From appropriately navigating sexual activity, consent, basic hygiene and even more complicated topics like birth c... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Hosts
Reviews
- 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 Podcasts5A rare mom
United Statesa year 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 Podcasts5ReneeWrayUnited Statesa year 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 Podcasts5DuckFaninOregonUnited Statesa year 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 Podcasts5JerichokauaiUnited Statesa year 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 Podcasts5littlebit322United States3 years ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #147 |  Ireland/Kids & Family/Parenting |
Apple Podcasts | #159 |  Chile/Kids & Family/Parenting |
Apple Podcasts | #182 |  Colombia/Kids & Family/Parenting |
Apple Podcasts | #219 |  Netherlands/Kids & Family/Parenting |
Apple Podcasts | #238 |  Sweden/Kids & Family/Parenting |
Apple Podcasts | #246 |  New Zealand/Kids & Family/Parenting |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | |
|---|---|
| Gender Skew | |
| Location | |
| Interests | |
| Professions | |
| Age Range | |
| Household Income | |
| Social Media Reach |
Frequently Asked Questions About The Rare Life
What is The Rare Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A candid, emotionally resonant show focused on parenting medically complex and disabled children. Across episodes, listeners hear about navigating healthcare systems, education rights, caregiving burnout, and advocacy, all through intimate conversations with parents, caregivers, and professionals. Notable throughlines include NICU experiences, homecare logistics, inclusion and accessibility, and practical strategies for safety, planning, and community building. The format favors vulnerable storytelling balanced with real-world tips, making it a solid resource for families and professionals seeking perspective, validation, and concrete steps they can apply. A standout element is the strong emphasis on community and peer support, with recurri... more
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?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Rare Life, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for The Rare Life?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Rare Life, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
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. Raising Disabled
2. Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness
3. Thanks For Asking
4. 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms
5. Going West: True Crime
How many episodes of The Rare Life are there?
The Rare Life launched 6 years ago and published 309 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.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Rare Life?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Rare Life. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on The Rare Life?
Recent guests on The Rare Life include:
1. Carrie Harbath
2. Joanne Bay-Rachel
3. Robin Kozerginski
4. James Catchpole
5. Kyrie Herman
6. Madeline Cheney
7. Cindy Reinhard
8. Ashley Caywood
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.