Madeline And Alyssa - Podcast Details

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The Rare LifeMedicaid Cuts | Implications for Families Like Ours + What We Can Do About ItWhen the federal government slashes Medicaid funding, states are left to decide what happens next... and families like ours are left bracing for the fallout.In this mini episode, Madeline and Alyssa talk about what these federal cuts really mean for families of disabled and medically complex children. They break down the impacton Medicaid HCBS waivers, what states can (and might) do next, and why the math just doesn’t add up for our kids.They also get real about the mental health toll of uncertainty, the pain of being ignored, and what it means to...2025-07-1726 min

The Rare LifeDreams That Stir Up GriefWhat does it mean when a dream brings you to tears before breakfast?In this mini episode, Alyssa and I dive into grief dreams: those vivid, emotional dreams where our children speak, run, play, or show up in ways they can’t in waking life. Sometimes they comfort us. Sometimes they wreck us for the day.We share stories from the community about the longing, guilt, tenderness, and pain these dreams bring up, and how they reveal just how deep our grief can go. If you’ve ever woken up from a grief dream that colo...2025-07-0316 min

Unofficial Book Club PodcastBooks Are Beautiful Pieces of Art with Maika and Maritza MouliteIn this episode, Maika and Maritza Moulite join me again to discuss their relationship to reading and all of their favorite books! Authors Discussed in this Episode: Madeline Miller Jenni Howell Brandon Sanderson Alyssa Cole Books Discussed in this Episode: The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros James by Percival Everett Circe by Madeline Miller The Song of...2025-06-2658 min

The Rare LifeEverything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About AlyssaWe usually cover a different guest and topic each episode, but this week, we’re peeling back the curtain to get to know Alyssa: the show’s producer, right-hand lady, and longtime member of the community. In this special mini episode, Alyssa shares more about herself, from her life as a caregiver and mom to her love of swimming, salted caramel ice cream, and why getting dressed up feels like the ultimate chore.She talks about going from listener to producer, how she copes with heavy topics, and why she’d rather talk about her hatred...2025-06-1914 min

The Rare LifeBook Review: “How to Handle More Than You Can Handle” by Amanda Griffith-AtkinsWhat does it really mean to care for yourself while raising a disabled child? Not the bubble bath kind of self-care—but the kind that starts with naming your anger, your grief, your jealousy, and not pushing them down just because “good parents don’t feel that way.”In this episode, Amanda Griffith-Atkins joins Alyssa and I to talk about her new book How to Handle More Than You Can Handle: Caring for Yourself While Raising a DisabledChild. Amanda shares what led her to write this book and how the book is structured to be helpful...2025-06-1224 min

The Rare Life192: Season 11 Finale | Poolside Chats with Texas ECI, Production Chaos, + Summer Mini Eps w/ Alyssa NutileSeason 11 is coming to a close, and it’s been one of our most emotional seasons yet. From intense behind-the-scenes chaos to topics that pushed the boundaries of what we’ve covered before—this season stretched us in all the right ways.In this finale episode, I’m joined again by Alyssa to reflect on what made this season both overwhelming and meaningful, from grief and seizures to politics and prenatal diagnoses. We’re also sharing a powerful listener testimonial from Michelle, who describes how her favorite episode from the season helped her feel validated and seen.And o...2025-05-2240 min

The Rare Life191: Abortion + Parents of Disabled Kids w/ Alyssa NutileNo one expects to be here. But many of us are.In this episode, Alyssa Nutile and I open up a raw and rarely discussed topic: abortion after a prenatal diagnosis. We talk about how these decisions are shaped by love, by fear, by systemic failures, and by the weight of what it means to bring a child into the world when you know what they might face.We also explore what it means to carry both love and grief into that decision-making space and why so many parents are left feeling like there was...2025-05-1551 min

Check This BookoutOur Book PhasesThis week, we’re getting nostalgic & taking you through all of our book phases — from the picture books we loved as kids to the fantasy series & romances that shaped our high school & college years. We talk about the books that made us fall in love with reading (& the ones we probably shouldn’t have been reading so young), the magic of scholastic book fairs, our wattpad eras, vampire series, fallen angels, & everything in between. 🤍 CTB Links!: https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout 📖 Books Mentioned: The Rainbow Fish - Marcus Pfister Chicka Chicka B...2025-04-291h 23

The Rare LifeMini-episode: Why We Are Delaying Our Next Few Episodes w/ Alyssa NutileFor the first time in The Rare Life history... we need a little extra time to work on the next few episodes. Not because we haven’t been preparing and planning, but because some current events have thrown a wrench into the works.In this episode, Madeline and Alyssa talk generally about some of the recent events that have come up, how the community has been feeling about it, what it says about the world we’re living in right now, and why some of the upcoming topics needed just a little more time and context before they...2025-04-2421 min

The Rare Life187: Do You Miss Who You Used to Be Prior To Disability Parenting? w/ Alyssa NutileFor a lot of us, the answer isn’t simple. You can miss your lighter, less-traumatized self and feel proud of who you’ve become.That’s the tension so many of us sit in as medical parents: grieving the carefree, well-rested version of ourselves while also seeing strength, resilience, and depth we didn’t know we had.In this episode, I’m joined by Alyssa Nutile to unpack the big, messy feelings that come with identity loss, personality shifts, and how we change when our child’s life is on the line, plus the unexpected w...2025-04-101h 05

The Rare LifeBONUS: The Current Political Climate + How Disability Parents Feel About It w/ Alyssa NutileWhen the systems your child depends on are under threat, it doesn’t feel political—it feels personal.In this episode, Madeline and Alyssa unpack the deep unfairness of having to constantly justify your child’s worth while watching essential supports unravel in real time. They also discuss the fury that bubbles up when people call your fear “political,” the heartbreak of realizing who around you doesn’t care, and the exhaustion of never being allowed to rest.This isn’t about debates or party lines—it’s about fear, frustration, and the deep grief of feeling unsuppo...2025-03-2754 min

The Rare Life181: Kait’s Story | Fertility Struggles, A Surviving Twin, + “What Could Have Been”When Kait Parrish found out she was pregnant with twins, she imagined matching outfits, sibling giggles, and the life she had always dreamed of. Instead, at 24 weeks, she gave birth to two fragile babies fighting for survival in the NICU. Then, two weeks later, she lost one of them.In this raw and deeply personal episode, Kait shares the heartbreak of losing Avery, the terrifying rollercoaster of Addie’s early medical battles, and how her perspective on parenting shifted when she became pregnant again. We also talk about the complexity of raising a medically complex child alongside a...2025-02-2044 min

The Rare Life180: Does Disability Parenting Ever Get Easier? Survival Mode, Burnout Mode, and Beyond w/ Erica Stearns and Alyssa NutileThe age old question: Does this life ever get easier? And if so, when?Just as you might expect, the answer isn’t quite cut and dry, but in this episode, I’m joined by Erica Stearns and Alyssa Nutile to sort through this complex question. Using their Caregiver Continuum framework, they offer a way for you to orient yourself and gain footing as a disability parent, even if life doesn’t always feel like it’s getting easier.If you’ve been feeling lost and overwhelmed in this parenting journey, this episode is here to give yo...2025-02-1359 min

The Rare Life179: The Exhaustion of Being a Disability Parent w/ Alyssa NutileThe exhaustion that comes with disability parenting isn’t just about sleep deprivation.It’s everything else too: the mental exhaustion of managing a child’s entire medical life. The weight of being the only one who knows all the details. The grief. The fear. The constant pressure of doing everything right with so little support. And that’s just scratching the surface.In this episode of The Rare Life, I’m joined by our producer, Alyssa Nutile, to share responses from the community about all the things contributing to our collective exhaustion and why, some days...2025-02-061h 09

The Rare Life177: Kicking Off Season 11 | Episode + Fundraiser Sneak Peeks w/ Alyssa NutileIt’s time to officially kick off Season 11! This season, we’re diving deep into how this life affects you—the parent. From mental health to medical trauma to grief, and even hobbies, this season is all about how the experience of parenting a medically complex or disabled child shapes our lives too. We’re also launching our second annual Friends and Family Fundraiser this season, running from 2/14-2/28. This fundraiser allows your friends, extended family, and broader support system to show up for you in a tangible way by supporting The Rare Life. And we are not aski...2025-01-2326 min

The Rare Life176: Season 10 Finale | A Spicy Season, Sticker Club Tallies, + What’s Coming Next w/ Alyssa NutileSeason 10 is coming to a close, and it’s been a good one! While a little shorter than seasons in the past, we covered some big topics from hospitalizations to crunchy medical parenting to online bullying with some amazing stories mixed in. Outside of the podcast, we added two new board members, and we had our most successful round of Sticker Club yet! So to celebrate the end of this season, per tradition, we’re sharing a little recap of the season, plus audio from three listeners as they describe which episodes touched them the most from Seas...2024-11-2130 min

The Rare LifeSC Mini #3 | The Last Day of Sticker Club & What It Takes to Make One Episode of The Rare Life with Alyssa NutileIt’s our final Sticker Club mini episode, and today, Alyssa Nutile, producer and doer-of-all-the-things at The Rare Life, is here to break down what production looks like for each episode of the podcast, from start to finish. (It’s probably a lot more than you would think!) And for the sake of transparency, we’re also sharing our mission here at The Rare Life, why we only fundraise twice a year, and how we use those funds. If you’ve ever wanted to get a glimpse of how The Rare Life works behind the scenes, this episode...2024-11-1530 min

The New Garde with Alyssa VinganThe Fashion and Sport Report (w/Madeline Hill)If you’re a follower of fashion, you’ve surely felt the influence of sports on the industry steadily increase over the past several years. This week, Alyssa is joined by Madeline Hill, author of the Impersonal Foul newsletter and co-host of The Sports Gossip Show podcast, to discuss the flourishing relationship between fashion and sport, and how they sit at the intersection of many pop culture interests. Tune in to hear Madeline’s lore as a teen model and a key player on Fashion Twitter, as well as her insights on how celebrity courtside culture, Instagram mood boards, and at...2024-11-131h 12

The Rare Life174: A Case Against Silencing Disability Parents on Social Media w/ Alyssa NutileWe all have stories to tell, and we all have a right to tell them... but on social media, sometimes it feels like we have to do it in a specific way. Because if we don't use the perfect words and the right framing, we risk a small but vocal cohort of other disability parents and disabled adults coming into our space, monitoring our content, and sometimes harassing us through comments and messages. And it goes without saying that this kind of behavior is not okay and can actually cause long-term harm for both parents...2024-11-071h 40

The Rare Life171: The Financial Strain of Medical Parenting w/ Amanda Griffith-Atkins + Alyssa NutileIt’s no secret that parenthood is expensive. But when it comes to parenting a medically complex kid, the dial is turned up to 100. Everything with an “accessible” label is marked up 10x. We have to make renovations to our homes and vehicles with little to no financial assistance. And that’s often on top of career and work changes that have made our finances tighter to begin with. In this episode, I’m bringing back Alyssa Nutile and Amanda Griffith-Atkins to sort through the thoughts, feelings, and anxieties from this community about the financial aspect of this life...2024-10-171h 05

The Rare Life170: Hospitalizations | Triggers, Shoddy Sleep and Food, + Discharge Hangover w/ Alyssa Nutile and Larisa BothmaThere are few things as intense as an inpatient stay with your child. The pressure is on, the anxiety is at an all-time high, and the hypervigilance is ever present. And honestly? It doesn’t even matter if it’s a planned observation or an emergency situation, it’s still so stressful. In this episode, I talk through the whole experience of hospital stays with Alyssa Nutile and Larisa Bothma. We discuss experiences and thoughts shared from the community, as we cover topics like the lack of food and sleep, the triggers that are all over the hospit...2024-10-101h 28

Real Life Real CrimeRLRC Daily 9/25/24 | Louisiana Teen Arrested for Sharing Snapchat Video, Madeline Soto Tragic StoryIn this episode, we discuss several current crime news stories making headlines. We start with a Louisiana boy's arrest for a Snapchat video that raised school safety concerns, featuring Sheriff Jason Ard's insights on responsible social media use. We then examine the tragic murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto in Florida, highlighting parental responsibility in cases of abuse, followed by a discussion on teacher-student misconduct with Haley Clifton Carmack's case. We also revisit Alyssa Bustamante's 2009 murder case, touch on a bizarre Florida incident, and reflect on a Massachusetts police recruit's tragic training death. The episode wraps up...2024-09-2545 min

The Rare LifeSeason 10 Kickoff | Episode Sneak Peaks, Newsletters + ISO a Final Board Member w/ Alyssa NutileIt’s time for Season 10! And once again, we’re coming back to the topic of our children’s disabilities and medical complexities. We have episodes on what we wish therapists knew, being a “crunchy” parent with medical complex children, some heart-wrenching story episodes, and a few *spicy* (and currently secret) episodes that’ll come out toward the end of the season. But, before we dive into our sneak peeks at the end of the episode, we’ve got some exciting updates for you! We’re launching a newsletter that you should join so you never miss an episode, upda...2024-08-2225 min

The Rare Life162: Season 9 Finale | A Season of Growth, Listener Thoughts + Summer Mini-Episodes w/ Alyssa NutileWe’re finally rounding out Season 9, and what a season it’s been. The topic of this season was relationships, and perhaps as expected, the episodes this season were weighty, tender, and so touching. And besides the production of the podcast, we were busy coming into our own with some big milestones for The Rare Life as a nonprofit with grant submissions and running our first major fundraiser. In this episode, per tradition, we’re sharing a little recap of the season, plus audio from three listeners as they describe which episodes touched them the most from Season...2024-05-2347 min $That\'s Dark$ That's DarkInside the Madeline Soto Cast 2024: Exclusive Insights from Kissimmee,Step into the heart of the Madeline Soto Cast 2024 in Kissimmee, Florida, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews! Join us as we delve into the excitement, the drama, and the unforgettable moments from this year's event. Don't miss this insider's look at one of the most talked-about casts of the year! Subscribe now to stay updated!2024-04-171h 18

The Rare Life148: The Family + Friends Perspective | What it’s Like to Watch us Navigate Life with Our Medically-Complex Children w/ Kassie HarbathOur kids touch the lives of everyone around us, but especially our close family and friends. But we don’t always get to hear that perspective from the outside. So on this episode of The Rare Life, we’ll finally get to hear from those close to us about what it was like to watch us endure trauma, explore parenthood with a medically complex child, and try to figure out the best ways to support us. Kassie Harbath, auntie of Sloan, a little girl with CHARGE syndrome, joins us to sort through all these complex feelings.A...2024-02-151h 27

The Rare Life144: Season 9 Kickoff | This Season’s Theme, Our Friends + Family fundraiser, & a Sneak Peek of Upcoming Episodes w/ Alyssa NutileIt’s wild to think about, but we’re kicking off Season 9 of The Rare Life! And this season, it’s all about relationships. Relationships with your child, your spouse, your peers, your friends, your loved ones, and more! We’re not holding anything back, so some of these topics might get a little spicy! Plus, we’re introducing our 2024 Friends + Family Rare Disease Day Fundraiser! It’s our first major fundraiser, and if it goes well, we could raise funds to keep running this podcast and supporting and uplifting you for the entire next year! And the best par...2024-01-1830 min

Be Living WaterWhy should we read more short stories? - The Whole Church PodcastGetting hype for our Book Fair next year in Charlotte, NC! Hosts, Will Rose, TJ Blackwell, Christian Ashley, and Joshua Noel discuss 5 short stories they read recently and what makes short-form story telling so special! Each of the hosts picked one short story for us all to read, and author Alyssa Wong chose one of their own works for us to include as well!.What are examples of literacy? Why is reading important? What is the Fisher Queen about? How has the Church made excuses for awful behaviors in the past? Where is the line...2023-12-131h 16

The Whole Church PodcastWhy should we read more short stories?Getting hype for our Book Fair next year in Charlotte, NC! Hosts, Will Rose, TJ Blackwell, Christian Ashley, and Joshua Noel discuss 5 short stories they read recently and what makes short-form story telling so special! Each of the hosts picked one short story for us all to read, and author Alyssa Wong chose one of their own works for us to include as well!.What are examples of literacy? Why is reading important? What is the Fisher Queen about? How has the Church made excuses for awful behaviors in the past? Where is the line...2023-12-131h 16

Let Nothing Move YouWhy should we read more short stories? - Systematic GeekologyGetting hype for our Book Fair next year in Charlotte, NC! Hosts, Will Rose, TJ Blackwell, Christian Ashley, and Joshua Noel discuss 5 short stories they read recently and what makes short-form story telling so special! Each of the hosts picked one short story for us all to read, and author Alyssa Wong chose one of their own works for us to include as well!.What are examples of literacy? Why is reading important? What is the Fisher Queen about? How has the Church made excuses for awful behaviors in the past? Where is the line...2023-12-121h 20

The Bible After-HoursWhy should we read more short stories? - Systematic GeekologyGetting hype for our Book Fair next year in Charlotte, NC! Hosts, Will Rose, TJ Blackwell, Christian Ashley, and Joshua Noel discuss 5 short stories they read recently and what makes short-form story telling so special! Each of the hosts picked one short story for us all to read, and author Alyssa Wong chose one of their own works for us to include as well!.What are examples of literacy? Why is reading important? What is the Fisher Queen about? How has the Church made excuses for awful behaviors in the past? Where is the line...2023-12-121h 20

Systematic GeekologyWhy should we read more short stories?Getting hype for our Book Fair next year in Charlotte, NC! Hosts, Will Rose, TJ Blackwell, Christian Ashley, and Joshua Noel discuss 5 short stories they read recently and what makes short-form story telling so special! Each of the hosts picked one short story for us all to read, and author Alyssa Wong chose one of their own works for us to include as well!.What are examples of literacy? Why is reading important? What is the Fisher Queen about? How has the Church made excuses for awful behaviors in the past? Where is the line...2023-12-121h 20

The Rare Life143: Season 8 Finale | International Listeners, Frantic Behind-the-Scenes Work, and Surprising Popular Episodes w/ Alyssa NutileWe’re closing out Season 8, and this time I have Alyssa Nutile with me to celebrate the end of another successful season. The Rare Life went through some major changes this past year (if you remember from the Season 8 Kickoff – we're a nonprofit now!) And that meant we spent a ton of time working behind the scenes on some really exciting projects to keep us going for years to come. We dive into all those details alongside our usual recap of episode clips and insights from three listeners from around the world on their favorite episodes of the...2023-11-1640 min

The Rare Life140: Alyssa’s Story | A Mistaken Brain Surgery, Rebuilding Trust in The Medical System, + A Life-Limiting PrognosisThere’s this moment in every parent of a rare or medically complex kid’s life, where you suddenly realize that the medical team you’re working with doesn’t know everything and might not know how to make the best medical decision for your child. It’s terrifying... but it also feels a little bit like a rite of passage by now, and you can only hope that the way you find this out isn’t through pain and trauma for your child. In Alyssa’s case, her daughter and her family weren’t so lucky. In this episode...2023-10-2656 min

Law&Crime SidebarMissing Minnesota Mom Madeline Kingsbury’s Ex-Boyfriend Arrested After Dead Body FoundMinnesota mother Madeline Kingsbury vanished after dropping her kids off at daycare on March 31. Kingsbury was reportedly planning on leaving the father of her children, Adam Fravel, before her disappearance, which investigators described as “involuntary and suspicious.” Kingsbury’s body was found Wednesday and Fravel was arrested in just two days. The Law&Crime Network’s Angenette Levy breaks it down with retired NYPD sergeant Joseph L. Giacalone.LAW&CRIME SIDEBAR PRODUCTION:YouTube Management - Bobby SzokePodcasting - Sam GoldbergWriting & Video Editing - Michael DeiningerGuest Booking - Alyssa...2023-06-0912 min

Finding FearlessAnti-Racism in the Workplace Begins with YOU with @arleadership - S4:E3TW: Violence against Black bodies, racism towards POC, and transphobia Welcome back to Finding Fearless! We have an incredibly educational and thoughtful conversation for you this week. We have the AMAZING Alyssa Hall of @arleadership on to talk about anti-racism in the workplace. Alyssa Hall is an African-American/Cuban woman and a life coach. Upon completing her training at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), she began her journey coaching corporate leaders and business owners on mindset and leadership. She now uses those same skills to...2023-05-171h 08