Cate & Ty Break It Down

Latest Episodes:

Breaking Cycles: Addiction & Kinship Adoption with Amber Boone (PART 2) Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

In this part 2, Amber Boone returns to unpack the beautiful and complex reality of motherhood across generations.

Amber shares her journey of becoming a grandmother at 32, navigating the shock of her daughter’s teenage pregnancy, and the battle against a broken foster care system to bring her granddaughter home. She explains the devastating toll of addiction, the long road to three years of recovery, and the unique, often confusing dynamics of co-parenting a grandchild you’ve legally adopted. Amber opens up about the generational trauma she’s working to undo, the importance of choosing compassion over judgment, and why she believes the true alchemy of life is found in the moments of stillness between the chaos.

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Young Grandma Amber Boone: Escaping Domestic Abuse & Blended Family Dynamics (PART 1) Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

In part one of this conversation, Cate and Tyler sit down with fellow Detroiter Amber Boone (@getrealwithab). She opens up about the reality behind her viral 25-million-view TikTok, surviving severe childhood trauma and system failures, escaping a life-threatening teenage marriage, and talks about the complexities of navigating generational trauma as a helicopter mom—only to watch her own daughter follow closely in her footsteps.

This is PART 1 of a two-part discussion!

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The Day I Grew Up: Finding Out My Cousin Was My Mother (PART 2) Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Cate is back with D.A. (@difficult.adoptee) to continue the exploration of trauma, systemic failure, and survival. DA shares her journey of growing up in a controlling, highly restrictive kinship adoption and the moment she realized her family was built on performance and lies. From navigating a volatile reunion with her biological mother and a dangerous encounter with her biological father, DA reflects on the systemic lack of regulation in kinship placements. She also shares the layering grief of losing her infant son in the second trimester, drawing powerful parallels to her own mother’s unacknowledged postpartum grief.

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The Cousin Who Was Actually My Mother: Kinship Adoption with D.A. (PART 1) Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

In this deeply personal episode of Break It Down, guest D.A. (@difficult.adoptee) joins the show to deconstruct her experience growing up within a kinship adoption. She shares her journey of discovering at age seven that the woman she thought was her cousin was actually her biological mother. She discusses navigating preverbal trauma, surviving a toxic and narcissistic home environment, and the challenges of advocating for her own mental health as a teenager in a system that often preferred silence over real healing.

This is PART 1 of a two-part discussion!

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Camping Trip Recap & Summer Routine Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Mercury is in retrograde and out to get us. Cate & Ty are back from their camping trip and share how they plan to keep up with the kids this summer. They share their thoughts on the double standards between young girls and boys when it comes to dressing "appropriate"

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ENCORE Genetic Mirroring and Brain Wiring: Understanding Adoptee Development w/ Psychotherapist Amy Silvia Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Let's revisit an episode from 2025

Cate & Ty sit down with psychotherapist and adoptee Amy Silvia (@psychotherapist.amy_) , who shares her personal journey through the Baby Scoop Era and the complex process of reconnecting with her birth family. Drawing on decades of clinical experience working with thousands of adoptees and birth parents, Amy unpacks the profound impact of genetic mirroring, attachment trauma, and the crucial need for "adoptee-focused" therapy. Amy sheds light on the crucial difference between "adoption competence" and truly "adoptee-focused" care, highlighting the mental health struggles faced by adoptees and birth parents, including the shockingly high rates of suicidal ideation. Discover how normalizing difficult adoption conversations can lead to profound healing for the entire adoption triad.

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ENCORE Dr. Abby Hasberry: Navigating Adoption as an Adoptee and Birth Mother Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Let us go back into the vault and listen to an episode from 2025 when Cate & Ty sat down with Dr. Abby, a transracial adoptee, birth mother, and adoption-informed therapist.

Dr. Abby breaks down the true meaning of informed consent in adoption, revealing the systemic issues and personal traumas often hidden beneath the surface. She also shares her personal journey, from her coerced relinquishment as a teenage birth mother to her own experience as an adoptee navigating identity and reunion.

For more information visit https://adoptingprivilege.com/

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Deep Thoughts with Nova: Space, Dress Codes, and School Bullies Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Summer is officially here, and Nova is back on the mic to break it all down! Fresh out of the fifth grade, Nova sits down with Mom to tackle a lightning round of fun and thought-provoking questions from the "Children Are Human" card deck. From her current obsession with The Sims and the mind-bending physics of colliding black holes, to a blunt critique of the middle school dress code and what it really means to stand up to school bullies, Nova pulls no punches.

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Pregnant at 13: Bri's Story Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

Bri shares her incredible journey from childhood abuse and foster care to becoming a mother at 14. She opens up about being groomed by an adult predator, navigating the foster system, resisting adoption pressure, and fighting to keep her child against overwhelming odds. In this candid conversation, she reflects on the experiences and turning points that shaped her life and led her to where she is today.

https://www.tiktok.com/@briinthemaking

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Unexpected Updates & The Amanda Arrest Fallout feat. Elle Bee May 27, 2026

Show notes

Cate, Ty, and Elle dive into the latest shocking updates surrounding Unexpected, including Hunter and Bella’s breakup, custody developments, and the ongoing court drama involving their families. The conversation then shifts into a deeper discussion about reality TV ethics, child exploitation, addiction, and the pressures that come with growing up in the public eye. They also react to the recent Amanda arrest news, relapse concerns, and the emotional impact addiction has on families, recovery, and children caught in the middle.

Follow Elle on YouTube and Tik Tok!

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