Cate & Ty Break It Down

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...

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" Thank you to our sponsors! Better Help: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/BreakItDown today to...

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...

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 relinquishm...

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 r...

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...

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 A...

Cate and Ty are finally back in today's episode! The episode begins with Tyler sharing stories of his late grandmother, a resilient matriarch who raised eight children. Ty also shares his dream he had of her the night before her passing. They shift to discussing the upcoming Hollywood Demons series and the positive impact 16&Pregnant had on their lives. Lastly, the episode ends with some anony...

Cate is joined again by Elle Bee ( @ellebee_official ) to break down TLC's Unexpected . They share their concerns regarding the custody case of Bella and Hunter, and their newborn child. Cate and Elle both share their experiences and opinions on fame, healthy family dynamics, and the exploitation in reality television. Follow Elle on  YouTube  and  Tik Tok ! Thank you to our sp...

Cate & Ty sit down with David Shane (@davidbshane), an adoptee who shares stories of love, mindfulness, and human connections on social media, but one day decided to share his journey of being contacted by his biological mother. David opens up about his upbringing, filled with open communication from his adoptive parents, which instilled in him a strong sense of self from a youn...

For this week, Cate does a rare solo Q&A session, also recapping the current sickness sweeping through the Baltierra household. She delves deep into her 17-year journey with Teen Mom, providing some behind-the-scenes insight of reality TV production and reflecting on the impact of documenting their open adoption journey. Cate also hints at an upcoming project for MTV/Paramount that has them he...

Cate & Ty dive into listener questions, tackling some personal topics such as whether Cate considered abortion when she found out she was pregnant. Her and Ty talk about the fear and panic surrounding an unplanned pregnancy at sixteen, emphasizing the importance of an educated decision when facing a crisis pregnancy. They also provide an update on their relationship with adoption facilitator D...

​C​ate & Ty are in downtown Detroit​ for today, ​feeling ​"old and lame" after staying up until 5am.​ They talk about the struggles of getting older, ​t​heir mutual love for the "Irish Goodbye" and ​how Tyler​ doesn't like it when plans are altered. ​Things get serious ​w​hen Cate asks about the impact of Tyler’s absent father, whose life was defined by addiction and time in prison. Tyler...

This week, Tyler sits down with Holly from Hope with Holly . They discuss her journey with Christian fundamentalism and how she was able to break away. From attending Liberty University and marrying into a religious family to the devastating loss of her first daughter, which became the catalyst for her deconstruction, Holly details how and why she's so passionate in helping other women find their...

Cate & Ty continue with Elle Bee ( @ellebee_official ) in this Part 2 to explore the complexities of life in the public eye. She discusses the world of content creation, from vetting exclusive stories to managing the burnout that comes with 24/7 reporting. The conversation then shifts to Tyler and Cate's 16 and Pregnant journey. They address long-standing rumors, clarifying the reality of thei...

In this two-part episode, Cate & Ty welcome Teen Mom content creator Elle Bee ( @ellebee_official ) for a deep dive into her life and career. Elle opens up about growing up with teen parents, navigating her mother’s four marriages, and how childhood experiences with yelling and abuse shaped her "helicopter mom" parenting style. Elle recounts her journey from recording makeup reviews in a cramp...

In today's episode, Cate is joined by friend and content creator Rei Clarke ( @rei_clarke ) to discuss life's transitions and the power of breaking generational cycles. Ray shares her journey from debt collector to content creator, her experiences with burnout, and her dedication to advocating for children in the public eye. Cate reflects on the challenges of raising daughters in the spotlight and...

Nova is back with her bearded dragon, Mochi, but this time joined by Ty! Nova shares the secret behind her high school-level reading scores and her experience as a young author. Tyler reads some audience questions, covering everything from reptile care and artistic anatomy to Nova’s bold stance on social media for kids. The episode concludes with a heartfelt discussion on kindness, the importance...

On today's episode, Cate is joined by a very special guest: her 11-year-old daughter, Nova! The duo dives into Nova's unique perspective on growing up in the reality TV spotlight since birth. Nova opens up about her relationship with her sisters, including the deep impact of meeting her adoptee older sister, Carly. Nova also answers fan questions about her favorite things to do with her parents, h...

Cate and Ty talk about celebrating Veda’s 7th birthday and also getting first place in her cheer competition. They also discuss the long-term benefits of holding her back in kindergarten and her success with her IEP. Lastly, listeners ask for advice regarding a cheating BFF, dealing with your partner's toxic family, and thoughts on embryo adoption. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priv...

Let's revisit an episode from 2025! Join Cate & Ty as they sit with Connor Howe, known as  @Adopted_Connor  on social, as he challenges conventional narratives surrounding open adoption and exposes the often overlooked complexities of the adoption industry. As an adoptee himself, Connor discusses how open adoption, while intended to be a solution, can still lead to pain, confusion, a...

In this episode, Ashley Salazar ( 16 and Pregnant  Season 2) joins Cate & Ty to discuss her journey with kinship adoption. Ashley reflects on the emotional challenges of relinquishing her daughter to her aunt and uncle, including the difficult period when she briefly changed her mind. Cate & Ty bring up the unaddressed trauma of birth parents, the lack of specialized support...

This week, Cate & Ty share their survival story from the brutal cold snap in Michigan, detailing their struggles with a broken furnace, frozen pipes, and keeping the kids' lizards warm. They dive into the chaos of school's Spirit Week, reminisce about the 90s cleaning product "Greased Lightning," and how they once used it on brown nicotine-stained walls. Lastly, Cate addresses a serious family...

Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary to Cate & Ty! On today's episode they dive into their relationship's evolution, including past separations and therapy missteps. But the main event? Ty's recent autism diagnosis! From getting kicked out of daycares, being hyper-focused on social cues, and having a compulsion to do somersaults, Ty describes the frustration he felt throughout his chi...

​C​ate & Ty are in downtown Detroit​ for today, ​feeling ​"old and lame" after staying up until 5am.​ They talk about the struggles of getting older, ​t​heir mutual love for the "Irish Goodbye" and ​how Tyler​ doesn't like it when plans are altered. ​Things get serious ​w​hen Cate asks about the impact of Tyler’s absent father, whose life was defined by addiction and time in prison. Tyler...