Defrost the Chicken

Building Trust with Your Teen: A Parenting Journey

In this episode of "Defrost the Chicken," host Natalie Calderon and guest Paula explore the vital topic of creating open lines of communication with children. Paula shares her personal experiences and challenges as a single mother raising her 19-year-old son. She emphasizes the importance of building trust and fostering an environment where children feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics. The conversation highlights the complexities of modern parenting, from handling teenage relationships to balancing discipline and support.
The episode delves into Paula's journey of raising her son alone, the effects of maintaining a close mother-son relationship, and the lessons learned from past parenting decisions. Paula opens up about a significant incident involving her son and the measures taken to address it, underscoring the value of trust and understanding between parent and child. Through heartfelt anecdotes and candid discussions, this episode provides valuable insights for parents striving to create a safe space for their children.

Loss of Identity in Motherhood: The Unspoken Shift

In this episode of Defrost the Chicken, we’re diving into something so many moms feel but rarely say out loud—losing yourself a little (or a lot) in motherhood.
From juggling friendships and marriages to managing expectations that were basically handed down with zero instructions, we’re keeping it real with candid convo and personal stories that’ll have you laughing, nodding, or possibly yelling, “Same!” at your phone.
We unpack what it really means to hold on to your identity while raising tiny humans, and why putting yourself last might not be the badge of honor we’ve all been sold.
This one’s for the moms who feel overwhelmed, under-caffeinated, and still determined to find their way back to themselves. Come for the honesty, stay for the solidarity—and yes, there’s a little colorful language, because motherhood is messy, and so is this conversation (in the best way).

Motherless Mothering: Grieving while Giving

What does it mean to mother when you didn’t have one—or lost yours too soon? In this episode of Defrost the Chicken, we dive into the emotional weight and resilience behind mothering without a mother. Whether you’re grieving, navigating strained relationships, or simply figuring it out without a blueprint, this one’s for you.
We talk about the ache, the unexpected strength, and the beauty in it all.
It’s messy. It’s honest. It’s real. And if you’ve ever felt like you’re mothering from scratch—this episode will remind you that you’re not alone.
Explicit language ahead—because feelings and f-bombs often go hand in hand.

Cycle Breaking: Healing but still Yelling Sometimes

What’s something your parents did that you know you won’t do with your own kids?
In this episode, I asked a bunch of parents that exact question—and I’m sharing some of their answers along with my own.
Breaking cycles isn’t easy. A lot of us are out here trying to unlearn some of the weird, wild, or straight-up toxic stuff we grew up with while figuring out how not to totally screw up our own kids. Fun times, right?
Heads up: there’s some strong language—because talking about childhood trauma without swearing? Couldn’t be me.

Parenting Leave: When Nobody's Really Off

In this episode, we’re revisiting some thoughts from episode one while diving deeper into the very real struggles of maternity leave.
Do moms actually get enough time off? Well… that depends on where you live. We’re unpacking the differences between maternity and paternity leave in the U.S. versus other countries, and how those policies (or lack thereof) impact families during such a tender (and let’s be honest, totally chaotic) time.
We also talk about the mental and emotional toll on new moms—from sleep deprivation and the invisible workload to those quiet “WTF am I doing?” moments that no one prepares you for.
Plus, we hear one mom’s gut-wrenching experience navigating the broken system just to get a little more leave while battling postpartum depression. Spoiler: it shouldn’t be this hard.
We keep it real, and sometimes that includes a few colorful words—because parenting doesn’t always come wrapped in a bow.

Defrosting My Truth: The Shit I was Scared to Say

Being a good parent is not for the weak.
There are a million ways to mess it up, and even more moving pieces to juggle. In this first episode, I’m taking you inside the mind of a mother navigating postpartum anxiety and depression—yep, that mother is me.
This is my truth. My healing journey.
This episode will not only give you a glimpse into who I am, but also why I decided to share the one thing I’ve been most ashamed of with a bunch of strangers: my mental health.
Because it matters. And because maybe, just maybe, you’ll feel a little less alone hearing it.
I speak from the heart, and when I'm passionate, that sometimes includes a bit of strong language, It's never meant to offend just to be real.